welcome to Practical Magic, a newsletter about ritual, creativity, and modern magic for the 21st century witch. ✷
Written by Dana Cooper, owner of the Hudson Valley-based witch shop Ritualist, Practical Magic aims to empower and inspire readers with musings on astrology, tarot, ritual, and all things witchcraft.
This offering attempts to get to the heart of the question “what is a witch?” — and to show readers that witchcraft can (and should) be accessible, flexible, and inclusive. It’s meant to offer an alternative to the prescriptive how-to guides that push the narrative that there’s only one way to have a spiritual or magical practice, and to combat the idea that you need to have certain tools, specific training, or a particular identity in order to access your magic.
Practical Magic is built on the belief that everyone has magic within them, and that the most effective rituals and spells are those that feel resonant and meaningful to the individual practitioner. When carried out with intention, presence, and heart-led desire, any action can become an act of magic.
about the author
Dana Cooper lives in New Paltz, NY (on Munsee Lenape land) and spends most of her time dreaming up new ways to connect with and inspire her community through her modern witch shop & plant shop, Ritualist. Launched online in 2020 and expanded to a brick & mortar location in 2021, Ritualist carries tools for healing and magic-making — from modern tarot decks and herbal tinctures to altar candles — as well an array of houseplants and plant accessories.
When she’s not working at the shop or tending to her own indoor jungle, Dana can be found indulging her other passion, music. Her secondary business, High Voltage, hosts live shows, offers press support to bands, and acts as a platform for other creative, music-related projects.
Above all, Dana is passionate about connecting people, sharing resources, and empowering her peers (while actively fighting her own bouts of imposter syndrome.) Whether she’s introducing customers to new tools for connecting with their intuition, helping new plant parents decipher their houseplants’ needs, or introducing bands to new audiences, she’s determined to help those around her uncover and nurture their own power, creativity, and magic.
