GYPSY

Paganism seems to be the very in thing at the moment, gypsies, black magic, symbols, spellbooks, cloaks, wicca, natural healing, gemstones, charms and perhaps if you want to go the whole way a sneaky pet crow living in a cage in your attic bedroom. The look is closely related to the 'bohemia' trend, involving being open minded, a free spirit, worshipping the earth and believing your soul is too magnificent to only live one life. However, the religion itself is older than time, and overlooked when it comes to style influences.

My mother's side of the family are Italian, so most are Catholic and won't hear of such talk, although all are very spiritual people coming from a background of (I hate to say it) peasants in the Italian hills. We believe in spirits, curses, psychic ability, positive & negative energy, the evil eye (malocchio), the after life, angels, demons and karma. Not to mention most have seen clairvoyants on numerous occasions in their lives. I developed a fascination with it all from an early age and now have been studying wicca for a year. It's not evil, it's not dangerous, it's not messing with the devil unless you go the wrong way. It's using the benefits and natural healing energies of the earth to enhance your life and you have a choice to believe in what you want.

Reccomended books are The Wicca Handbook by Eileen Holland which you can buy from almost anywhere, other books I've read I have picked up for less than £2 in antique stores.