A witch for the Nineties
SUSAN Leybourne jokes as she prepares to gaze into her crystal ball. It is hard to imagine this down to earth 28. Year-old Leeds woman is a white witch, who practices pagan rituals and tells fortunes with Tarot Cards. But as more and more people turn to alternative New Age methods to guide them on the path of life, Tarot cards and crystal balls are becoming as popular as horoscopes.
It is this that brings people to Susan's candle-lit room on Vicar Lane. Here she
spreads her Tarot cards on the table led by her 'spirit guide' into telling clients what
has
Been and what will be. Sceptical? So was I until she laid out the cards and proceeded to
outline to me events that had only happened that day and that no one else knew about,
least of all Susan.
"Quite often people come because they need guidance or advice. They won't say what
the matter is and they sit and listen. If I don't know
what the situation is I can't embroider it, I leave it blank and wait for the. Spirits to.
Guide me, explains Susan, who lives in Belle Isle, Leeds Her' contact with her
spirit guides began at the tender age of six, when she saw ghosts, fairies and visions.
''I used to say things like grand dad had come to chat and. my mum would '
tell me- not to be so. stupid," recalls Susan. But then on
her first trip
To the local library she found her self in the super natural section I took out a big tome
on astrology which l read. from cover to cover' This Saw start of her interest in the
supernatural. At school while her friends were studying normal subjects, Susan Used to
read about the old theories old mystics, master magicians, early astrologers and
numerology, She left school with: no qualifications but a gift that she didn't
know how to use, She saw the careers guidance councilor and said told her she did reading
you' can, t, do' that its not a proper job 'she laughs her family continued to be
sceptical: "They were frightened for me in case someone approached me and
said come along to this meeting," she says. But finally it was a psychic fair
that started her up' in business as a clairvoyant six years ago. 'Prior to
that she had given private readings for small donations- but even now
she still prefers not to call it a business, "I don't like to think of it as a
business. It's something 'arcane. It s like seeking out the old village wise woman,"
she explains.
Since 1951 at least, these modem day wise women have become more accessible thanks to the
abolitionof anti-witchcraft laws which were replaced with the Fraudulent
Mediums Act. But as in any business Susan admits there are those who are not
entirely genuine: "There are a lot of charlatans who work the fairs and give the good
workers a bad f name;" But Susan,, like so many of her! Fellow clairvoyants,
has been tested by the Association of Psychics Astrologers Consultants and Therapists
and,: has certificates on her walls to prove it she has no need to advertise, most of her
'Clients have heard about her through family and friends. For the most part she receives
visits
From women who she feels recognise when something is going wrong and want to know what to
do about it. Such' is' Susan's success she has been asked to go. To the United States to
give a series, Of seminars and workshops by someone who saw an article about her I'm a
magazine: "I had a telephone call from a-chap in Dallas. At first I thought it was a
wind, up but he' wants me to. Do workshops they are really into it over their and their
are a lot of people, who aren't genuine, explain Susan.
Susan also practices the old religion, a fact she doe snot reveal to all. Her clients.
Susan was a High Priestess in a group who practised pagan beliefs. These go back to the
days before Christianity and center around nature tides, fertility, old gods 'such as
earth mother and Moon goddess It involves rituals in homes or out quick to point out that
it is not as awful, as it is Portrayed. Satanism and witchcraft are two different
religions altogether. Pagan religion is all to do with beliefs. of Christian people
it goes further back than Christianity .she explains.
Most rituals are carried out in private and many groups split up with individuals
practicing on their own a lot of groups in the old days would stick together through thick
and thin to avoid Persecution explains Susan. But isn' t she wary of the same
Suspicion surrounding such Practice today, It is the same as Why they go to church''
She adds determinedly: