An Interview with
Lenny Bach

Herbalist and Witch

Why is herbalism your passion? I have always been involved in healing. I was brought up to help others. I worked as an analytical chemist in pharmaceuticals, then I married a pharmacist and we worked in the pharmacy. I was also involved in LifeLine. I am also a keen gardener and cook, so herbs have always been a part of my life! Bringing up 2 children also involved healing, one of whom was very allergic to allopathic medicines. Many a time I turned to the 'old ways' which my mom knew. When my first husband died, I moved to Johannesburg and started another garden and thought hey, why not just plant herbs? They are beautiful and functional (I am a very practical Witch).

At this time the universe brought several 'herbie' people into my life. I thought, "this is a better way of healing", the way Gaia intended. I studied and read and most importantly worked with the herbs on a healing level. WOW, what a blessing. Gaia designed them in the right way for our bodies. They work, on many levels and with fewer side effects, though some do have contra indications. Herbs also cost less and they haven't been meddled with!

Why are you a Witch?

Why isn't everyone a witch? I think we are all witches to some degree. We all do magick on some level. I studied 3 years to be a reiki master and this opened my eyes to many aspects of alternative and true spirituality. I had long been a spiritual seeker. Organised religion always seemed to disappoint me. As a Sagittarian I don't deal so well with authority and having to deal with an intermediary to speak to my deity seemed wrong to me. My grandmother was a medium and my mom reckoned I was her reincarnation. So I never quite fitted in. The esoteric community I encountered was great, but still, I searched for something more. I met a Wiccan High Priestess on the net. We were both searching for our genealogical roots in Wales. She told me of the Goddess and I read everything I could about the subject. One day I realized, hello, I have found my tribe! There is no such thing as coincidence. I connect strongly with Nature and with the seasons.

I embraced Paganism for several reasons. 'Do what you will and harm none'! No one makes us angry, we choose to react with anger. When I recognised that to be true for me, I was on my way to true inner-Self healing. The next question would be to ask why we react that way, and so the growth goes on. Painful at times, but oh so liberating. If we ask the Goddess for help, She will give more opportunities to learn the lesson. If we sit down and cry, "why me", then we will never grow spiritually. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. Some of us take longer to get it and have to return many times. Paganism also urges me to live the spiritual life 24/7, not just for one day of the week. No one is going to judge or punish me. I may not be prefect (yet) but still I am loved. So many people have feelings of not being good enough. Every time I am in my garden, I am worshipping and giving thanks. Everytime I am sewing, I am using the talents given to me. I am able to live my faith in everything I do and it feels so right. All my searching taught me many things, none is which is wasted on this journey we call life.

What role does herbalism play in the craft of the Witch?

Herbs are precious gifts from Gaia. She gives them to us freely. They have many properties to assist us. So many have fabulous vitamin and mineral content, apart from healing constituents, so are useful for maintaining our health and general well-being. If you read old pharmacopoeias, all allopathic medicines were derived from herbs originally. Why mess with them?

Many are useful as household help-mates, insect repellents, food flavourings and fragrances. By using them we can reduce the pollution of our precious Earth and reduce damaging our bodies. That said, herbs are not magic bullets. Nature intends our bodies to heal at their own rate, allowing a holistic healing of mind, body and spirit. We need time to heal on all levels. Modern medicine and modern society leads us to expect quick fixes. Quick fixes are not always the best. Sometimes we need to take the time to listen to our bodies, to our souls. Everything the Goddess created has a vibration. On a scientific level everything is made up of molecules and atoms which vibrate. Certain vibrations can assist in certain matters like protection, purification, even with assisting us to connect with the astral plane. They can't do it for us, but they are useful tools that will assist us. Like crystals, or rituals, all are used to connect us to the Source. Again we need to do the work ourselves! This is true healing on a spiritual level. Working with herbs is a ritual in itself, yet part of the overall picture.

Tell us more about the Golden Gecko. Where did the inspiration come from?

Nothing happens in a vacuum. I have always been a crafter. The Goddess sent me another husband who loves working with wood. I have been sewing from a age of 4, and having a mother who grew up in wartime England, I soon learned to make things. My mom recently passed over and when rummaging through her drawers recently I found hundreds of things I had made for her since I was a child. Bless her. I had been making herbal products and selling them while still in the corporate world. I have strong and very practical palm lines. I had been looking at Pagan products overseas, wondering how I could afford them (I am quite a frugal witch too) and the Goddess gave me one of her favourite kicks up the derrière (the subtle stuff doesn't work on me). I grew to hate my corporate job and what it represented and quit. My husband was aghast, but he supported my decision. Small steps at first and long hours making my "stuff". My aim was to provide affordable ritual items to local Pagans. And even though I had not met many yet, I was hopeful. I went to a Fair and encountered so many like minded people, all popping out of their broom closets. I listened to what they wanted and went back and figured out a way to create what was needed, with a fair bit of help from Gaia of course. The name 'Golden Gecko' I think was inspired by Her too. I didn't want anything too pretentious, it's not me, and I love the way geckos tails grow back. It kind of represented what was happening to me, my own re-invention of myself. Casting off one life and growing a new one! I work much harder now than when I was a muggle, but it is different, it is like living my spiritual life 24/7. I make my stuff with love and ritual. One great bonus is that I meet so many lovely Pagans, Real People, my tribe.

Have your children followed in your footsteps? Are they Pagans?

No, my daughter has stuck to her Anglican roots, and my son, well, I just don't know yet. But he has a Wiccan girlfriend and is not opposed to doing the odd spell. I am sure they will both find their own way when the time comes.

What kind of Pagan products can one purchase from Golden Gecko and where can Pagans find you on the web?

Well, we can equip an entire altar. Candlesticks with pewter pentacles and Goddess/God symbols, candle snuffers, altar cloths, altar pentacles, censor dishes, wands, athames, chalices and tankards, libation bottles and cake plates, besoms, Books of Shadows, scrying mirrors, robes, hats and cloaks. In consumables there is loose incense, candles, smudge stix and of course smudge herbs and resins, black salt, full moon and dark moon water. We also stock pendants with symbols and totem animals as well as earrings and bracelets with the same, crystal pendants, pendulums and dowsing rods, velvet bags for crystals, and embroidered bags for cards, candle spell kits and crystal spell kits, vibrational sprays, bath salts and oils.

Contact Lenny Bach