Oh, if they only knew.

Hergert lives in a tidy two-story brick home with a concrete goose on the lawn. Nothing to suggest the woman who lives here is a witch.

Inside, there's a broom hanging on the banister and a black cat named Fatama lounging in the living room. But the broom is too small for a witch to ride, and Fatama is too friendly to do any damage.

Hergert is a good witch - a pagan and devotee of the Hindu goddess Durga. This mother of three has been married for 24 years. Most weekends, they perform in a band called Snakes Rising, with other witch friends.

Hergert works as a lactation nurse and operates "3 Sisters Pet Rescue," placing puppies in foster homes.

Halloween is the most holy sabbath on the pagan calendar - the day called "samhain," when it's supposedly easiest to communicate to those "on the other side." Between work and witch duties during this busy season, Hergert found time to answer a few questions:

Question: How do people react when they find out you're a witch?

Answer: I think some people waste a lot of energy worrying about it. You hear how conservative Cincinnati is, but it hasn't been a problem for me.

Q: What does your mom think?

A: She thinks I'm an unusual person.

Q: You were raised Catholic, growing up in Fairmount and converted to paganism more than 20 years ago. Why?

A: Gradually, I just became involved with less God worship and more goddess worship. For me, it was a logical thing to go beyond something that was so limiting as a woman.

Q: So, what kind of spells do you cast?

A: I don't really like the term "spell." It's really a change of consciousness. It's like a prayer.

Q: What do you think of those witch costumes with the pointy hats?

A: I love them. We don't find them offensive. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?

Q: What's the biggest misconception about witches?

A: That we all believe the same thing, and that our beliefs are all contrary to Christianity. One big difference is we believe in reincarnation. This means we'd better take care of the planet. That's the whole problem with the heaven-cult. Why take care of the environment if you're leaving and not coming back?

Q: You seem so relaxed and content. Do you ever get stressed?

A: Probably before our (Snakes Rising) performances. Hey, you try to get 15 witches together on time.

E-mail cmartin@enquirer.com.