Meet A Sister: Thessaly Parks
Meet A Sister: Thessaly Parks
In a quiet corner of Idaho, in a place aptly named Lost City, resides a witch whose lineage runs through some of the most powerful magical bloodlines in history. Today, I'd like to introduce you to Thessaly Parks, whose unique gifts and complicated past form one of the central pillars of our upcoming two-volume series.
The Witch Who Creates From Nothing
Thessaly—Tess to those closest to her—possesses a presence that commands attention through essence rather than physical form. Though she appears larger to most observers thanks to the size-altering glamour she's perfected over the decades, this is merely one expression of her masterful illusion work. With her unmanageable dark brown curls streaked with gray and her sharp, direct gaze, she draws focus through the intensity of her being rather than any physical attribute.
What distinguishes Thessaly among her magical sisters is her extraordinary ability to create from the ethereal realm—to manifest objects and energies from seemingly nothing. While many practitioners work with existing materials, Thessaly reaches into the unseen and draws forth what hasn't yet taken form. This primary skill is complemented by her unique gift for demon detection, a rare and valuable talent in a world where boundaries between realms grow increasingly thin.
Named for Ancient Power
Thessaly's name is no accident. It refers to an ancient Greek region renowned as the home of some of history's most powerful witches—a place associated with lunar magic, herb craft, and communion with spirits. In choosing this name, her parents (Countess Lethe Hellebore and Count Jonas Wardenguard) acknowledged the formidable magical heritage flowing through their daughter's veins.
The name carries weight, as does her lineage through the Wardenguard line, connecting her to her sisters Nyla Mandragoria, Ione Wardenguard, Ivy Wardenguard-Trolledotter, and Margaret Shaw, along with her cousin Temperance Scribble. This sisterhood forms a constellation of magical specialties, with Thessaly's creation magic serving as a unique point of light.
A Glimpse of Thessaly
The three cats arranged themselves in a precise triangle around Thessaly's workspace, their postures identical despite their different colors and sizes. She didn't look up from the empty space between her hands where something was beginning to take shape—a subtle distortion of air, then a gathering of light too dim to name. "Not now," she murmured to Spector, whose tail had begun to twitch. "I'm listening for something very quiet." The cats didn't move, but somehow their stillness deepened as Thessaly closed her eyes and pulled from the ether what had never before existed in the material world.
The Journey We Share
Though most of us don't manifest objects from the ethereal realm, Thessaly's journey speaks to universal experiences. Her path—studying with multiple teachers across colleges, universities, and under the tutelage of three different witches—reflects the eclectic way many of us gather knowledge in our own lives. Sometimes wisdom comes from formal education, sometimes from spiritual teachers, and sometimes from practical experience.
Her five published works on subjects ranging from tea alchemy to witch history demonstrate how she's transformed her hard-won knowledge into something she can share with others. And her partnership with J. Jacob Parks (an online alchemist pursuing his PhD) reminds us that finding meaningful connection can happen at any stage of life.
Perhaps most relatable is how Thessaly has built expertise across seemingly disconnected areas—tarot and runes, mineral folklore and old gods—creating a unique magical practice that couldn't be replicated because it's so personally tailored to her gifts and experiences. In a world that often pushes for specialization, Thessaly's broad magical education reminds us of the value of diverse knowledge streams converging in one person.
Next week, we'll introduce you to another key character in our story. Until then, if you haven't already joined our notification list, the circle remains open to those who see, who want practical magic in their regular life, and there's a place waiting just for you.
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Abigail Pierce Winters