About Third Sister
Hi, I’m Maeg.
I’m a writer, astrologer, and herbalist, and I run Third Sister. I consort with the spirits of the stars and of the green world. Astrology and herbalism are two of the ways I listen to the sparkling fishnet of timespace that holds us, and of which we are a part.
While I do this work alone, I prefer to do it in companionship — however long or brief. I prefer to notice alongside you. I specialize in the 5th House, which is a part of the birth chart that gathers stories about desire, pleasure, joy, and the part of us that wants to make things. I facilitate vibrant, thrumming human-planet relationships that support creativity and survival.
If you’d like to know what it is like to sit with me in session, take a look at the testimonials page.
Why “Third Sister”?
The name Third Sister honors the third sibling I have seen over and over in stories I loved as a kid and love now. Whether the third sibling shows up in fairy tales or in Shakespeare’s plays, the third sibling chooses humility and kindness and rejects greed and corrupting power. The third sibling’s spirit etiquette helps them traverse other worlds with curiosity and allies — which is what I hope to do with you.
Third Sister also refers to the Dark Moon, under which I was born. True communal care depends entirely on how we tend to each other when we’re in in-between, transitional spaces, or are left outside the boundaries entirely. These are the values upon which my practice is built.
Root Systems
AN INCOMPLETE LIST OF ENTANGLEMENTS
Astrology
I’m entangled among many. Chani Nicholas’s virtual workshops introduced me to traditional astrology, which set off a chain of events. First, astrology clicked in a way it never had for me. Then, through Chani’s work, I learned Demetra George exists — a blessing — and listened to as many of her lectures as I could. Her books are also the ones I take off my shelf the most (along with Marcus Manilius and Diana Rosenberg). At the same time, like many astrologers of my generation, I became a devoted listener of Chris Brennan’s The Astrology Podcast. TAP is a free library of astrological knowledge shared by some of the best minds in the field, including Chris himself.
Kelly Surtees, then a regular on the podcast, became my primary astrology teacher. Kelly’s approach to astrology is practical, accessible, and kind. She taught me to read charts with precision and care, and to leave astrological jargon at the door. Kelly’s courses have deepened my practice in ways I couldn’t untangle if I wanted to as they are so integral to my work. I also completed her timing mentorship program, which honed my predictive techniques in ways that were client-first. I highly recommend Kelly’s courses, especially if you want to sit in consultation with people.
Austin Coppock, Gray Crawford, and Jason Holley have had an indelible impact on my work as well. Their teachings offer myth, magic, and a dense forest of imagery that I so crave and from which my clients benefit. I listen and relisten to their lectures and reread their work on a weekly basis.
Herbalism
I’m indebted to Rebecca Altman, especially her courses on trauma, embodiment practices, and connecting to the elements. Rebecca changed me as a person and subsequently, as a practitioner. She opened me up to the other-than-human world and helped me trust my subtler senses. In that way, Rebecca is the foundation of everything you see on this site. There are lots of ways to engage with Rebecca’s work but I first fell in love with her writing. You may too. Read her writing here.
I studied herbalism in a few places but didn’t settle into anything truly rigorous until I enrolled in the Commonwealth Center for Holistic Herbalism’s program. I studied with Katja Swift and Ryn Midura for several years. They taught me to balance what science can tell us about herbs and what folk tradition has always known. Their thoroughness, commitment, and constant emphasis on the human in front of them keeps me coming back to their teachings.
My herbal work carries a deep imprint from my time in mentorship with astroherbalist Sarah Corbett of Rowan & Sage. Sarah offers liberation-oriented, integrity-filled, world-enchanting programs for beginners and advanced herbalists alike. Seasonal Herbcraft is perfect for folks who are excited about the combination of astrology and herbalism, but all of her programs are incredible and unlike anything else I’ve seen.