Reviewer Profile of Cate Gardner

My name is Cate Gardner, aged between 21 and death, happily married and mother of three. I feel labels can set limitations or sound pretentious, but for the purposes of introduction, I’d probably be described by close friends as a solitary witch or wise woman. I’ve been a Tarot reader for the past 30 years and run courses at a local women’s group. My interests range from past-life regression, haunting and poltergeist activity, through spell craft and candle-making and using essential oils for both scent and power. Since childhood I have always been avidly interested in all things occult, due partly to living in a very haunted house, but also being raised in a psychic family where strange occurrences were talked about openly, rather than being swept under the carpet. I’m of Irish and Scottish descent so I guess being a bit “fey” comes with the Celtic territory. I’m also interested in all things Egyptian and have vivid memories of brown feet clad in golden sandals – though I certainly don’t claim to be Cleopatra. (ROFL). I’m a passionate reader of both non-fiction and fiction; especially books on “The Craft”. I have a media studies degree and was a journalist until disability forced me to give up. I think you can get an idea of what people are like by the places they love to visit, so for me, my favourite places are The Chalice Well, Glastonbury; West Kennet Long Barrow; Al Banda in Bahrain and Lindisfarne as it is where my grand-father’s family originated. I also think there’s nowhere better than being curled up next to wood burning stove, with my husband and cats on a winter’s night when the wind is howling – that really is Magic!