Thorn Mooney

@thornthewitch

Religious Studies PhD candidate: paranormal, secularism, magic, spiritualism, ethnography. Lit MA. Publishing production day job. Witch author, Gard priestess, guitarist, fountain pen person, Swiftie, probably a werewolf.

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Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· 15d

Look at this delightfully horrible bag I bought at GalaxyCon. I cannot wait to carry this around at an academic conference, or to meetings with my committee members. It has six dangly legs and everything.

A plush backpack hung over a chair. It is light brown and shaped like a winged stag beetle, with large black safety eyes and dangling legs.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Jun 22

LOOK AT MY SHARK

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Jun 17

One book filled with several years of Craft practice, and I’m pleased to be starting a new one. I‘m grateful to past me for becoming a diligent record keeper. As someone in a tradition with its fair share of gaps, I’m happy to remedy things from my own little corner. #witchsky #occultsky

A thick journal with a soft black leather cover, closed on top of a wooden desk. It is about three inches thick and you can tell all of the pages are used because you can see bits of paint color, decorative tape, and wear on the edges.

An open, hardback leather journal, about B5 size and about an inch and a half thick. It is clean and flat, visibly unused. In the open pages, you can see a stylized watercolor of a bird from the Book of Kells, as well as a series of symbols meaningful to the owner, as a title page.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· May 9

My observant, attentive husband realized I was hyperfixating on a video game (Dredge, of course) for the first time in my life and, knowing a new game or electronic-related thing would be risky, bought me a desk mat map of the game landscape. It was one of the most unexpected and delightful gifts:

The surface of a large desk, with stacked books in the back, trinkets, cups of pens, a keyboard and a mouse, on top of a large printed rubber desk mat featuring the game map from Dredge.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· May 7

Come take classes with us—I can’t promise you Kesha, but there is a non-zero chance. #religiousstudies

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Apr 25

I came home to a box from Llewellyn and was like “If @maeviuslynn.bsky.social isn't in here so help me god I’m throwing it in the yard”

A blonde woman holding a burgundy paperbook book, called “The Holy Year of Thelema” by Maevius Lynn

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Apr 23

Last night I got to play in a showcase of UNC student songwriters at Cat’s Cradle, and it was by far the best thing that happened this whole stupid year. It is wild how much great music these students just *make* despite all the bullshit in the world. That is hope.

A digital photo with a filter to look like a film photo, with a date stamp. Two women on a lit stage, each standing in front of a microphone. One woman holds a guitar.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Apr 21

Everybody has to look at my baby

A large corn snake coiled on a branch in his enclosure. Looking directly at the camera. A red heat lamp is on, so the photo is lit in red.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Apr 14

This is not me. The account has been reported, but we all know that never really works.

A screen shot of an account by @ademolahammed076.bskt.social, displaying stolen images and texts and purporting to be “thornthewitch”

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Mar 17

Everybody has to look at my son

A grey and white cat sleeping on a quilt on the back of a couch. He has a pink nose and the most gentlemanly white whiskers. He is an angel sent to earth.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Mar 8

After two years of ongoing fieldwork, it’s finally writing time! I’m still engaged in field research, but the dissertation clock is running. It feels good to make books.

A patio table outdoors covered in books and notebooks. Books are about paranormal investigators and paranormal investigation, by both outside academic ethnographers and practitioners.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Mar 3

Class starts on March 25! www.religiondepartment.com/contemporary... #witchsky #occultsky #religiousstudies

A stylized blue and orange trxt block that reads:

What is Contemporary
Paganism, and where does it come from?
Is Paganism really an "earth-based religion"?
Do modern-day Druids, witches, Heathens, and occultists really belong under the same umbrella?
Is a "Neo-Pagan" up to something different from a
"polytheist"?
What do people working to reconstruct ancestral traditions have in common with people who are consciously creating new traditions?
Contemporary Paganism offers practitioners a vast array of cosmologies, personal practices, and models for community belonging. From the revival of ancient pre-Christian tradition to the adoption of futuristic utopianism inspired by science fiction, join Thorn Mooney in this new 8-week seminar that explores the immense and challenging landscape of contemporary Paganism.
Through case studies of individual traditions, historical accounts of prominent leaders and thinkers, close readings of influential texts, and the accounts of everyday practitioners on social media, we'll learn why contemporary Paganism appeals to so many people today and what its popularity might say about the changing religious landscape more broadly.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Jan 10

One thing about me as a guitarist is I live to show up to jams dressed in my pop girly merch because it confuses the shit out of men, who casually disparage women. WHAT’S SHE GONNA PLAY. HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY KNOW. BUT IF SHE LIKES SABRINA CARPENTER AND TAYLOR SWIFT HOW DOES SHE KNOW OTHER THINGS.

A femme presenting white woman with pink hair and winged eyeliner, wearing a Taylor Swift sweatshirt and holding up a peace sign with her left hand.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Jan 7

A fake internet ad for the “Amazing Pen-tacle Talisman Charm.” A crying stock photo woman holding her forehead is obviously photoshopped to be holding a big fountain pen. Over top of the image is a necklace (the alleged talisman” with the image of a pentacle formed out of fountain pens).

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Jan 1

Isn’t this pretty much every year

A screenshot of the gif from Merriam-Webster with my alleged “2026 word of the year.” It says “mortifying.”

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Dec 30

Hahahahaha not Google Photos auto sorting pictures from my dad’s funeral

A screenshot from goggle photos’ suggested collections. A yellow box with a decorative border around a photo of a horse drawn carriage at a military cemetery carrying a coffin draped with a flag. The title is “Galloping Adventures”

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Dec 30

An important lesson I’ve learned over years of working multiple jobs, running a coven, having hobbies, getting exercise, and maintaining personal relationships is that things have to be scheduled. If it’s not on the schedule it’s not getting done. This time of year I’m drafting that schedule.

A close up of a notebook page with a hand-drawn weekly layout, covered in post-it notes that say things like “guitar practice” and “dissertation writing.”

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Dec 23

Keep looking at him

A fat grey tabby cat lays on his back, belly to the air, eyes partially closed. He is lying on a hardwood floor.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Dec 21

Everyone has to look at my mom’s son.

A fat grey tabby cat laying on his back with his paws upwards, contentedly relaxing. His head is right next to his empty metal food dish. Background is a hardwood floor. The cat is partially on top of a white dish rag.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Dec 14

People are always like “you never answer emails” or “it’s so hard to get in touch with you.” This is how it’s done:

A screenshot of messages on an iPhone. A single text from contact “Elisabeth” that reads “Coming over in like three minutes please stop playing guitar.”

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Dec 9

Morning pages is often just me writing about whatever fountain pen I’m using and commenting on the nuances of the ink (before, you know, unexpectedly launching into something random about my childhood). This lovely red one from @abigailmarkov.com arrived yesterday! Her work is absolutely delightful.

Closeup of an open notebook, with two fountain pens resting next to each other on the pages: a blue Omas and an A. Markov Bebe in a swirly red colorway called “Power.” Blue cursive writing is visible on the pages. In the background, you can see the Colorverse and Diamine advent calendar bottles lined up in front of a row of books.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Dec 9

Everybody has to look at my son

A grey and white cat curled up on the back cushion of a red couch, illuminated by yellow lamp light. His eyes are partially open and downturned so they look dark. He has the longest white whiskers in the universe, and a pink nose made from the flesh of angels.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Nov 27

Everybody has to look at my gator

Rough pencil and watercolor sketch of an American alligator resting on some tree roots.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Nov 27

New inks! The Papier Plume bottles were acquired in New Orleans, and the Wearingeul and Herbin colors are the spoils of Fountain Pen Day.

Seven Col-o-ring ink swatch cards arranged in two rows, each with a different sample of fountain pen ink, their brands and names written in neat cursive underneath each. The bottles are arranged in the background.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Nov 26

That’s exactly what I use! Have for years, and it’s great! Holds everything! (And I hope you can find another one cheap—that’s a bummer!)

“Alex” drawer set from IKEA, in navy blue, with three drawers slightly open. Inside you can see rows of fountain pen ink bottles and samples.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Nov 26

Are you fucking kidding me

A brochure with an ambulance on it advertising a subscription for access to emergency medical care, to supplement your healthcare policy.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Nov 12

Everyone at the small town coffee shop is here for Bible study meanwhile I’m the religion PhD researcher quietly like

A shiny green hardback book on a wooden table, a notebook and laptop unfocused in the background. The title reads, “Abducted: How People Come to Believe they were Kidnapped by Aliens”

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Nov 7

For the curious, my own indulgent purchase was a Benu Tessera in “black amber” that looks like the most regal amber and jet necklace on the scariest of witch queens. On sale from Atlas.

A stock photo from Benu of a black bodied pen resting on an open notebook. It is shaped into a textured, squared pattern and has sparkling orange and flakey looking gold in trim around the base of the cape and at the top of the gold clip. A second uncapped pen rests above the first, and we can see the pen section is made out of the same orange and gold resin material. The nib is gold plated steel.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Nov 7

Happy Fountain Pen Day to all who celebrate. Enjoy your local stationary shop and all of the great indie retailers online, many of which are having some great sales! Don’t give Amazon your money. 💙

My open desk drawer, with a felt green lining for holding pens. Laid out horizontally are my currently inked pens, in an array of colors, and from both budget and luxury brands.

Thorn Mooney@thornthewitch· Oct 31

We are prepped! It is my sacred duty to hand out full-sized candy. we don’t get many trick or treaters, but god damn if I don’t try to make it worth their while. Everyone who comes to the door, any age, gets offered treats.