London’s local hero: the witch of Hackney Wick

ES Magazine meets the local enchantress spreading cosmic energy this summer solstice
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Introduce yourself...

My name is Semra Haksever, I’m a 45-year-old witch. I have been in London all my life, I now live in Leyton.

What do you do?

I have a little shop in Hackney that’s open by appointment where I make magic candles and potions, hold workshops, full moon rituals and do 1:1 bespoke spell sessions. My whole intention when I started Mama Moon was to create magic and make it something much more accessible because I know there’s quite a lot of mystery surrounding it. I really believe in spreading cosmic vibes around the world. I’m still pinching myself now really, that magic is what I get to do everyday!

When did you first know that you were a witch?

Both my grandmas were incredibly connected to the other side. My Turkish nana was a very infamous coffee cup reader in north London and so I grew up around ritualistic stuff. Then when I was 17, I learned to do Reiki. It really was just like this amazing, light bulb moment of energy. People have a different awareness to magic and energy now but in the 90s, I hadn’t heard of that concept before. I was feeling people’s energy all the time but I didn’t realise it.

What magic do you practise?

I call myself an eclectic witch. I take a little bit from here and there, but it is mainly herbal, scent and energy magic which could be hypnotherapy, incense, meditations and connecting to the spirits.

What is a witch’s daily routine?

I think that people have a vision of witches as spending the day at my altar, creating spells which is partly true but I’m just a regular person living life, who happens to be a witch. I’m quite practised. I can do magic anywhere. I do mantras and incarnations while I’m brushing my teeth. I can be on the tube performing spells or shifting my vibrational frequency on my 45 minute walk to work. Magic can be put into absolutely everything.

The witch of Hackney Wick

Can anyone join a coven?

Yes! It’s definitely something that more people are tuning into, being in touch with energy, nature and the positive effects of rituals. It’s addictive. But there’s a responsibility that comes with calling yourself a witch, people have got a very sort of patriarchal idea of what a witch is from films, which is fabricated and made-up. So you have to be prepared to defend witchcraft, educate people and carry the honour!

What are your favourite bewitching London spots?

Well, my shop would be number one, whenever people come here they always say that they can feel the energy straight away. Hampstead Heath and Epping Forest are amazing, there’s so many beautiful old trees that you can hug, lean on and feel how solid they are and imagine the roots going all the way down.

I can do  magic anywhere. I do mantras and incarnations while I’m brushing my teeth. I can be on the tube performing spells

How does a witch spend the summer solstice?

If I wasn’t going to Glastonbury festival this year, I would definitely be trying to get to Stonehenge. On the 21st, I’ll wake up at sunrise and take out some of my favourite herbs (pretty much every herb that you might find in your kitchen cupboard!) that I love to use in my spells and place them outside to soak up the solstice energy. It’s the best day of the year to charge them when the sun is at its strongest.

Go-to summer solstice track?

Set the Roof by Hudson Mohawke and Nikki Nair. I always do a playlist for the equinoxes and this is 100% going on there. For me, music and dancing is all about lifting your vibrational frequency.  It’s such an extreme 90s dancing number, that people may not expect but I can’t keep still when I listen to it.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give to young witches?

Don’t worry, get in touch with your intuition and ground yourself and do what feels right.

Who is your Local London hero?

I first thought of Jill, who owns an ethical crystal stall in Broadway Market. Then there’s Sister Bliss, she’s a DJ and one of my best mates, she’s just always so inspiring. She knows everything about house music and is a legend on the party scene, which is also something that’s been such a big part of my life.

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