I used to have a blog as Katje van Loon. I still have a blog as Morag Spinner. I put my writing blog on indefinite hiatus. My witchcraft blog has recently been resurrected from indefinite hiatus to a fresh start, and some posts appear here as early access.
This Substack was started as a way for me to push my witch posts earlier than on the blog, eventually possibly doing paid subscriptions to get early access. It was also intended as a way for me to continue to post things that would have gone on my writerly blog.
Monstrous (or OfMonstrousWords) is the username I use to cover both my Katje van Loon and Morag Spinner personae, so it’s naturally called Monstrous Musings.
monstro = I show
I had more to say. I always do, and I find myself writing articles — opinion pieces on current events. I always tried to move away from that in my regular blog, and inexorably found myself drawn back to it.
It’s probably incredibly fitting that I chose the username I did. My mother used to keep paper journals, for years and years, and she called them Monster, from the Latin monstro: “I show”.
(Also: I denounce, indict; I advise, teach; I point out, indicate.)
What you will find here:
Opinion pieces. My thoughts on what’s currently happening in the world, or small things that matter only to me. You don’t have to agree with me, but I ask that you be respectful in your disagreement.
Witchcraft and Religion. Long-form articles will be placed in my Priestess of the 3 section, which is for paid subscribers only. However, I will likely make mention of my faith and witchery in the public newsletter — it’s a large part of my life, and it comes up when I talk about other things.
Fiction and Poetry. As Katje van Loon I write speculative fiction and poetry. I have a Ream account where I publish early access fiction for paid supporters, but when it’s time to share those serial posts publicly, this Substack will be one of the places I do so. You’ll find my fiction under the Wild Worlds section, which can be subscribed to separately as I realize not everyone wants philosophy mixed with their escapist literature.
Posts On Writing. Okay, actually, I’m not sure this will happen at all—there’s so much out there on writing, for other writers…I may just be adding more noise to a rising ocean of it. But I also don’t want to limit myself, and I do talk about writing from time to time. So it may happen.
Like my posts? Consider sharing this publication with a friend. Or an enemy.
Everything has a price
But at this point I plan on exacting no more from you than your email.
While I do have paid subscriptions open, the majority of my posts here remain free and public. If you wish to pay to subscribe, you will gain early access to long-form articles before I publish them at my religious blog, Priestess of the 3.
Not sure if you want to do that? You can read any currently public long-form articles here:
Now, you may have some trepidation over giving a witch your email, as it might be seen as the modern day equivalent of giving a fairy your name. Rest assured I shall follow mortal laws regarding the safekeeping of such information. Your emails will not be shared, sold, or used in any spells.
