Thea Prothero, heathen and haunter of woods
The Creative Council
Welcome to The Creative Council, where I interview creatives about their lives and work and the ups and downs of being a creative soul.
Today’s interviewee is Thea Prothero!
Thea is primarily a Nemophilist* and a Heathen. Her passion is walking in the wildest remotest lands, places that still make the gods tremble, and she loves the challenge of finding connection through nature to the gods. She also enjoys writing, reading, taking photos, tending to her allotment, and spending time with her family. She works in education and lives in the south of the UK.
* Literally a ‘haunter of woods’ someone who loves to spend time in woods and forests.
The Interview
Hello Thea! Welcome to the Creative Council! Let’s dive right in.
· When did you start creating? Do you remember what pulled you in?
Depending on what you mean by ‘creating’, I can answer this in two ways: I have always been surrounded by artwork, my mum was a painter, and my dad was a photographer. I can remember the smell of photographic chemicals as a child more clearly than any other childhood smell, and I followed in his footsteps studying photography at university. Photography as a whole creative process is very precise, analytical and requires a huge degree of patience.
During my BA at uni, my writing seemed to shine in equal measure as my artistry, which led to my continuation in this field. I was minorly successful after finishing my BA, having photos on the covers of predominantly pagan magazines as well as illustrating articles. However, as is the way of things, life got in the way of the relentless pursuit of contracts, which meant that my photography soon became more of a hobby.
I have always written, it’s a thing I have done since I was a child, when asked at school what I wanted to do as a job, I always replied: a journalist or simply a writer. My other interests are walking and travelling, which led to my book.
· When did you start pursuing your current craft for real? As in, when did you begin to take yourself seriously as a creator?
I wrote articles for magazines on various subjects relating to paganism. In fact, I remember that I was first published when I was a teenager in a U2 fan club magazine!
I started writing my book in 2018, although it was a slow process. I still struggle with imposter syndrome, and it took a huge amount of courage for me to send my book to my publisher. I also had to get endorsements before I sent it in, which was incredibly nerve-racking. Luckily for me, both were successful.
Regarding seriousness, I take the fact that I write very seriously, although this is something I do anyway. It’s part of my DNA to write and is something I have always done; this includes journal writing, prayer and devotional writing, as well as fictional writing and non-fiction. If I am doing a larger project, I structure my free time around deadlines. I now work in a very structured way, which helps me stay focused and practiced.
· Are you still having fun? If yes, how are you making sure it stays fun?
I think the best thing I do with my writing is within my paid job. I get to work with young adults and help them with their writing. This is incredibly rewarding and it kind of gives everything I do a real-time value.
· What has been your biggest ‘mistake’ thus far, and what would you tell people about to make that same mistake?
My problem is that I like to do my own thing, and this means I don’t always manage to stick to the briefs I am given. I have learned, over time, to be a little more adaptable. I would suggest that, in relation to a brief, it’s good to re-read it daily so you remember what you are supposed to be working on.
My biggest mistake is due to imposter syndrome: I doubt my own validity so much that I over-quote other people at the expense of my own authenticity.
· Of all the milestones you’ve reached thus far, what has been your favourite? How did you celebrate it?
I am quite a modest person, so when my book was accepted for publication, I told my immediate family and a couple of friends. A few other people now know about it, and I have a large online following, where I am most present. So far, my book is my most important milestone. However, as I still write and therefore evolve, my writing is in a constant state of flux.
· What do you struggle with most as a creative person?
Sometimes, I struggle to find time to write. As I work full-time, it means I have to be somewhat flexible with my time. I find I write best first thing in the morning.
As stated above, I struggle with imposter syndrome.
· Have you always had that struggle, and what advice would you give creatives dealing with the same?
I have struggled with imposter syndrome since childhood onwards; I have always been told to ‘know my place’ and ‘not get ideas above my station.’ Meaning that I find it hard to believe that I can be good at something.
I guess the best advice is to ask someone you know and respect the opinion of to review your work. I am very lucky that my aunt is a writer and a wonderful exponent of my work. She is always willing to offer me advice and a constructive overview.
· What do you do to stay inspired?
I get inspiration from the natural world. I walk and explore or, as I put it, I wander about a lot. I find my faith is a constant source of inspiration, as well as challenging me. It is a bottomless well of knowledge.
I read a lot and try to learn as much as possible about everything.
· What would you do if you weren’t afraid?
That’s a fascinating question! I am never really afraid, that is, scared out of my wits. I am often nervous and worry a lot, but I don’t think I am ever afraid of anything.
· What is the biggest compliment you ever received about your work?
The biggest compliment is that my publisher wanted to publish my book!
· What’s the best creative advice you ever received?
Don’t give up.
· As you might know, I’m pretty woo-woo. On a scale of 1 to ‘I was burned at the stake in a previous lifetime’, how woo-woo are you? And how does that express itself in your life and/or your creative practice?
I am probably around an 8/10. I have a very deep relationship with a particular god, as well as connections to landvaettir and the world around me. I write devotionally every day and am able to speak the tongue of the land. I don’t always adhere to the standard eight-wheel year, and, as a solitary practitioner, I don’t celebrate these things in a standard way.
In my creative practice, my spirituality is what I now write about primarily.
You can find Thea and her work here on Substack, on, Facebook, and on Instagram. You can find her book, A Guide to Pilgrimage, here.
Are you a creative and would you like to be interviewed next? E-mail me at marielle@mswordsmith.nl and we’ll make it happen!
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