T. Thorn Coyle

Coyle taught witchcraft in both Feri and Reclaiming traditions. Around 2009, citing the desire to integrate other mystical perspectives and their own experience,[2] Coyle separated their work from the Feri tradition. They founded the Morningstar Mystery School[3] to continue their teaching.

Coyle has published several books on magic and spiritual practice that detail meditations and exercises for personal growth and empowerment. Their first book, Evolutionary Witchcraft, serves as a "magical workbook" for the Feri tradition and reflects practices they developed including "devotional dances."[4] It also reflects the influences of Sufism, Gurdjieff, and radical Catholicism on their approach to magic.[5] Their later books on spiritual practice include instruction on using magic to support the "Great Work" of union with the divine.[6]

Coyle presented at the Parliament of the World's Religions in 2009[7] and 2015.[8]

In 2015, they began focusing on writing fiction. Most of their novels, including the series The Panther Chronicles and The Witches of Portland, are fantasy with themes of magic and social justice.[3] They have also contributed to magazines, blogs, and published collections.

Coyle is a singer and composer of pagan chants[1] who has made several recordings, including two collections of seasonal chants in collaboration with Sharon Knight.

Formerly known as Theresa Dutton, T. Thorn Coyle was born in Whittier, California, and reared in the Catholic faith. They first learned of Paganism at age 13, and had their first training as a witch at 16. They moved to San Francisco at age 18.[1] They studied the Feri tradition of witchcraft with Cora and Victor Anderson, and were initiated in Feri and Reclaiming. They cite the punk and anarchist movements as important early influences.[1] Coyle is a dancer who was part of the early spread of American Tribal Belly Dance.[9] They have studied Gurdjieff[1] and Sufism, including several years with the Mevlevi Whirling Dervishes.[10] They earned a B.A. in philosophy and religion from San Francisco State University in 2003,[11] and were initiated into Phi Beta Kappa.[12] Coyle moved to Portland, Oregon in 2016.[13]

Coyle is a life-long activist for social justice issues, and sees their writing, magical practice, and activism as interrelated.[14] They have demonstrated for causes such as anarchism[15] and anti-racism.[13]

Coyle identifies as gender non-conforming, noting that while they have long felt to be no particular gender, they have often been perceived as a woman.[16]

Thorn Coyle has many tattoos, and wrote this of them in 1997: "Tattoos are spiritual markers for me. When I started getting them ten years ago, it came from a need to have rites of passage that included spiritual reminders and physical markers. All my tattoos have a spiritual meaning to me, and layers of meaning that shift over time."[10] Some of Coyle's tattoos were photographed by Charles Gatewood.[17]

• Coyle, T. Thorn. Evolutionary Witchcraft. New York : J.P. Tarcher/Penguin, c2004. ISBN 978-1-58542-347-7.
• Coyle, T. Thorn. Kissing the Limitless: Deep Magic and the Great Work of Transforming Yourself and the World. York Beach, ME: Weiser, 2009. ISBN 978-1-57863-435-4.
• Coyle, T. Thorn. Make Magic of Your Life: Passion, Purpose, and the Power of Desire. San Francisco, CA: Weiser, 2013. ISBN 978-1-57863-538-2.

• thorncoyle.com – Magic is real. Justice is worth fighting for. - personal web page
• Audio recording of interview with Thorn Coyle by Al Billings at Ex Templo: Out of the Temple, July–August 2007: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3