Conjuring Curiosities

We’re back with part 2 of the most notorious Victorian serial killer, Jack the Ripper! In this episode, we discuss the final 2 canonical victims, focusing on who they were before their murders. Clara explains the media frenzy that this case stirred up, as well as the general paranoia in London at the time. To deal with their lack of control over the situation, citizens were writing letters to the police with a lot of “helpful” advice…including the Queen herself!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of topics!SOURCESRumbelow, Donald. The Complete Jack the Ripper. New York Graphic Society Ltd., 1975.Bad Women: The Ripper Retold (Season 1)Casebook - Catherine EddowesCasebook - Thomas ConwayWikipedia - Catherine EddowesJack The Ripper Tour - Catherine EddowesJack The Ripper Tour - Squibby Chased By The MobWikipedia - Jack the RipperWikipedia - Mary Jane KellyThe Guardian - Jack the Ripper’s victims had to be whores. Anyone saying different risks a trollingAETV - A Surprising New Theory About Jack the Ripper's VictimsAll That’s Interesting - The Victims Of Jack The Ripper And Their Tragically Overlooked StoriesWikipedia - ChapbookJack the Ripper 1888 - THE JACK THE RIPPER TIMELINECasebook - By Accident or Design? A Critical Analysis of the Murder of Catherine EddowesJack the Ripper Tour - Queen Victoria As Sherlock HolmesCasebook - Letter from Queen Victoria in "Ultimate Jack the Ripper Sourcebook"Crimes Through Time - The Women of Whitechapel: Mary Jane Kelly 1888Casebook - Inquest: Mary Jane KellyCasebook - THE MAN WHO SHIELDED JACK THE RIPPER: George Hutchinson & his statement – An analysis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Water is an incredibly powerful and versatile element, capable of the gentlest bath, yet also the roughest typhoons. This episode, Sabrina is bringing tips to help you harness that energy for your spellwork! Whether you need to amp up the chaos, release emotions, or cleanse, we have suggestions you can dive into!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of topics! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s our 50th episode! To celebrate, we're finally covering one of the most notorious macabre aspects of the Victorian Era, Jack the Ripper. Clara is trying her best not to slip too deep into the rabbit-hole that is possibly the most famous serial killer of all time, but she may have finally bit off more than she can chew. With an identity so mysterious that even Sherlock Holmes would be stumped, there is an entire community of people that dedicate their lives to deducing who could have committed these horrific crimes. But sometimes lost in the salacious details is the identity of the victims, and how they may be mischaracterized. Journey back with us to 1888 to hear their stories, but make sure you hold your nose and watch your step!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCESRumbelow, Donald. The Complete Jack the Ripper. New York Graphic Society Ltd., 1975.Bad Women: The Ripper Retold (Season 1)Jack the Ripper Tour - Putting the Ripper into ContextBBC - How the stories of Jack the Ripper’s victims are finally being toldJack the Ripper 1888 - FREDERICK CHARRINGTONWikipedia - Mary Ann NicholsJack the Ripper - WILLIAM NICHOLSJack the Ripper 1888 - ANNIE CHAPMAN - MURDERED 8TH SEPTEMBER 1888Medium - Annie Chapman — Remembering the Victims of the Whitechapel KillerWikipedia - Annie ChapmanJack the Ripper’s Whitechapel - A Suspect In The Murder Of Annie ChapmanJack the Ripper 1888 - ELIZABETH STRIDE - MURDERED 30TH SEPTEMBER 1888Wikipedia - Elizabeth StrideCrimes Through Time - The Women of Whitechapel: Elizabeth Stride 1888Jack the Ripper Tour - East End Versus West End Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode, Sabrina talks about something she's wanted to address for a long time…the parts of spiritual glow ups that nobody puts on their vision board. It turns out, feeling lost is a period of spiritual crisis that many practicing witches cross on their path. Feeling wrong may just mean that things are going very right. Relationships shift, your priorities change, and the world you once felt comfortable in can start to feel like it no longer fits.We also discuss spiritual ego, and the dangers of bypassing real emotional work in favour of "love and light" thinking. If you’ve been hitting a wall in your shadow work, this might just reframe the way you think about what it means to grow.See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is a self-love spell different from a love spell aimed at someone else? When does manifestation cross into control? This week, we’re breaking down the difference between consensual and non-consensual magic, and what to consider when you are trying to find your personal balance of ethical spellwork. Sabrina explains what consent looks like in a magical context and why certain spells (especially those involving love, influence, or manipulation) are a hard no for her. However, she always leaves room to protect those that need it, in whatever way will work best. So set your circle, and state your boundaries. Magic works better that way! See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you want to skip the ghost in the Victorian hair brooch update at the beginning, the main episode topic starts at 21:17What if the only witness to your murder…was you? This week, we’re discussing the Greenbrier Ghost, the 1897 case where a murdered woman allegedly returned from the grave to tell everyone that her “accidental death” was far from an accident. You know when Sabrina has to warn Clara that she might start channeling from the spirit realm, it’s going to be a spooky episode! So light a candle and prepare to come face to face with a ghost on a mission! See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCES:True West Virginia Ghost Stories (By Jonathan Moore)Greenbrier West Virginia ENews - Greenbrier Ghost, Zona Heaster ShueAppalachian History - The Greenbrier GhostTales of History and Imagination - The Greenbrier GhostWikipedia - Greenbrier GhostSkeptoid - The Greenbrier GhostFind A Grave - Erasmus Stribbling “Edward” ShueUS Ghost Adventures - Did a Ghost Really Testify? the Truth Behind the Greenbrier Ghost CaseAmerican Hauntings Ink - TESTIMONY FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In modern day, mirrors are a means to do your makeup or check your outfit. But they have been feared, revered, covered, and cursed for centuries. So it’s no wonder that breaking one strikes momentary fear into the heart of many of us! This week, Sabrina takes Clara through the looking glass to explain the spiritual history of mirrors, from ancient divination practices and spirit portals to superstition, protection, and the dreaded seven years of bad luck. So light a candle. Clean the glass. And reflect on why breaking a mirror is in fact a good thing!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trigger warning for discussions of infant death: 38:10 - 38:55The monster, the myth, the legend: Frankenstein. You know him, you love him, and you love to tell people that ACTUALLY, Dr. Frankenstein was the REAL monster, and the monster's name isn’t Frankenstein. But who do we have to thank for this cultural phenomenon? The ground breaking novel was the radical, brilliant creation of a teenage girl with a sharp mind and a very complicated life. This week, we’re talking about Mary Shelley, the writer who accidentally invented modern science fiction, horror, and the mad scientist archetype all at once.From The Year Without a Summer to grief, motherhood, and intellectual rebellion, we explore how Mary’s life shaped the monster we can’t stop retelling. There is so much to her, including the constant drama she was surrounded by, and the legacy some may say she far surpassed. This isn’t just the story of a book, it’s the story of how one woman’s imagination rewired pop culture forever. So grab a quill and stay away from sailboats, because this episode, we’re learning about the Mother of science fiction!CORRECTIONS: Regarding the Greek Mythology of Prometheus, he was the god that created humans, which is the parallel alluded to in Frankenstein. He did also bring fire to humans against the wishes of Zeus! Also, Nosferatu was never a book, it was originally created as a movie. See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCESNational Review - Mary Shelley among the RadicalsLiterary Hub - Did Mary Shelley actually lose her virginity to Percy on top of her mother's grave?Snopes - Did Mary Shelley Lose Her Virginity on Her Mother's Grave?History Extra - Mary Wollstonecraft: the firebrand feminist thinker with a rule-breaking lifeWikipedia - Mary ShelleyWikipedia - Mary WollstonecraftWikipedia - William GodwinWikipedia - Memoirs of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of WomanWikipedia - Free loveJane Lark - This week my scandalous woman is Mary Shelley the author of FrankensteinWikipedia - Percy Bysshe ShelleyWikipedia - Claire Clairmont Wikipedia - Lord ByronWikipedia - Ada LovelaceHistory Extra - Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: the birth of a gothic monsterHistory Extra - "Mary never shook off the consequences of eloping with Shelley": Fiona Sampson on the life of Mary ShelleyAmusing Planet - What is Galvanism, And How Did it Inspire Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein?Synapsis - Galvanism in 19th Century French Theater: Bringing Dead Words Back to Life The Ex-Classics Website - GEORGE FOSTERAnna Mazzola - Did Mary Shelley Keep Percy’s Heart? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever feel like you’re being gently nudged in a direction you didn’t consciously choose? This episode, Sabrina breaks down the world of spirit guides: Who they are, what they do, and how to recognize their presence. For anyone who has been interested but hesitant, we break down how to tell the difference between guidance that feels steady, supportive, and positive, compared to trickster energy that thrives on confusion, fear, and chaos. This episode is an open invitation to explore the unseen support system that might already be with you! See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angels, pointing hands, weeping willows, and urns. We’ve all seen them when walking through a cemetery, but what do they mean? This week, Clara takes Sabrina on a guided tour through the graveyard to decode the symbols carved into tombstones, and what they were meant to say about death, grief, and the afterlife. From religious iconography to Victorian symbolism and Secret Societies, Clara explains how headstones functioned as messages from the living to the dead (and to anyone who wandered by centuries later). It turns out that cemeteries are never as silent as they seem. Grab a flashlight and watch your footing, we’re wandering through the graves to see what the headstones have to tell us!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCESGravestone studies.org - Symbolism of GravestonesWolfe Memorial - GRAVESTONE SYMBOLS and THEIR MEANINGSCatholic-cemeteries.org - Gravestone Symbols and Their MeaningsThoughtCo. - Photo Gallery of Cemetery Symbols and IconsForest Home Cemetery Overview - Gravestone SymbolsFlickr - Unusual Headstones or Grave MarkersBurials and Beyond - The Grave of Clasped Hands: Love Conquering Death  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doorways, crossroads, and hotel hallways at midnight. The places where nothing really happens…but somehow, everything feels like it could. This week, Sabrina gives us a spiritual perspective on liminal spaces, and encourages us to embrace the in-between. After all, transformations can’t happen without transitions. Leap into the unknown with us this week as we explore the power of liminal spaces!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a wealthy widow tries to outbuild her ghosts? In this case, a confusing labyrinth of staircases to nowhere, doors that open into walls, and windows that overlook nothing. Back from hiatus, Clara and Sabrina wander the endless halls of the Winchester Mystery House, uncovering how Sarah Winchester turned her fortune (and maybe her fears) into one of the strangest architectural enigmas in history. Was she haunted by the spirits of those killed by her family’s rifles, or simply a passionate architect? Grab a map and stay close as we take you through the winding maze of madness, mourning, and meticulous design!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCESWinchester Mystery House - TimelineWinchester Mystery House - HistoryUS Ghost Adventures - Why the Winchester House Is HauntedSFGATE - Everything you think you know about the Winchester Mystery House probably isn't truePaulette Kennedy - THE ONE ABOUT SARAH WINCHESTERBeck Technology - Rebels of Construction—Sarah Winchester and Her Mysterious HouseWinchester Mystery House - The Untold Story of Isabel Merriman: Sarah Winchester's Spirited SisterWikipedia - Sarah WinchesterWikipedia - Winchester Mystery HouseCPI Inflation Calculator Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would happen if a giant tank of molasses exploded in the middle of Boston? Unfortunately, that is not a hypothetical question, because over 100 years ago, one did. In January 1919, a massive storage tank burst, unleashing an unfathomable wave of deadly syrup that tore through the streets faster than anyone could run. But even after the molasses settled, the chaos was far from over. Grab your favourite molasses catching mug and some waders and join us to hear about the stickiest year Beantown ever had!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCESHistory.com - Why the Great Molasses Flood Was So DeadlyCity of Boston - 100 years ago today: Molasses crashes through Boston's North EndScientific American - The Science of the Great Molasses FloodUSN History - A Sticky Situation: The Navy and the Great Molasses FloodWikipedia - Great Molasses FloodThe Guardian - The Great Boston Molasses Flood: why the strange disaster matters todayBoston Public Library - Molasses Disaster, Boston, Mass., 1919Britannica - How Fast Is the World’s Fastest Human? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Brief Bewitchments, we’re lighting a candle for the original lesbian icon and lyrical enchantress herself, Sappho of Lesbos! As one of the most prolific poets of Ancient Greece, her words are still widely known today, and Sabrina will dive into the sacred and spell-worthy power of her poetry. Her passionate words can be used in modern witchcraft, and have become a part of queer magic for many who practice. So whether you’re manifesting desires, setting intentions, or trying to increase your sapphic longing, Sabrina will explain how Sappho has got you covered!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Long before Freaky Friday made body swaps an onscreen trope, a small-town teen in the 1870s started the trend. This episode, we’re covering the Watseka Wonder, a very odd case that has us asking: did this 13 year old girl actually get possessed…or was she just really committed to the bit? In 1870s Illinois, Lurancy Vennum started having seizures, slipping into trances, and claiming she was Mary Roff, a girl who had died 12 years earlier. Mary’s family were all too happy to take her in and treat her as their daughter, but was it too good to be true? Or had a spirit really slipped through the veil and traded places with Lurancy? Hop on our wagon to Watseka, and travel with us to this unique occurrence that gives Victorian Spiritualism a new perspective!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCES: THE CASE OF LURANCY VENNUM - A PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY, AND AUTHENTICATED INSTANCE OF SPIRIT MANIFESTATION. BY E. W. STEVENSAncestry.com - Mary Lurancy Vennum Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever feel like speaking your truth, setting boundaries, or showing your magic might get you metaphorically (or emotionally) burned at the stake? You might be feeling the effects of the Witch Wound, but don’t worry, Sabrina’s here to explain. In this episode, we dive into the ancestral, cultural, and collective trauma passed down from centuries of witch hunts, silencing, and spiritual repression. From the fear of being “too much” to the hesitation to take up space, this wound runs deep, but it doesn’t have to define you. Sabrina walks us through the roots of this wound, how it still shows up today, and how we can start to heal it through reclaiming our power, reconnecting with magic, and refusing to stay small. It’s time to stir the cauldron, break the spell, and put on your high-beams!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Double, double toil and… total disaster? In this drama-packed episode, we’re diving into the legendary curse of Macbeth…I mean, The Scottish Play. We’ll explore some of the most infamous examples of the curse in action, from alleged fatalities to production disasters. And while we’re talking theatre history, we’ll pull back the curtain on other thespian superstitions. Like why whistling backstage might seriously injure you, and why an actor definitely will not thank you for wishing them “good luck”. Grab your ruffs and join us on stage for a behind-the-scenes look at the haunted, hexed, and hilariously dramatic world of theatre lore.See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!***CORRECTION: Daemonologie is a series of 3 books and a news pamphlet in one volume, and was published by King James VI of Scotland, who later became King James I of England and Ireland. Wikipedia - DaemonologieDEEPDIVE:CBR - How Superman Secretly Wrote Shakespeare’s MacbethSOURCES:The Austin Chronicle - Macbeth's Myriad of MisfortunesPenguin Random House - The curse of Macbeth: is it more than superstition?Wikipedia - The Scottish PlayPA Shakespeare - The Curse of Macbeth: “The Scottish Play”Broadway Direct - 13 Theater SuperstitionsLitcharts - Macbeth Translation - Act 4, Scene 1Ernestthesiger.org - “Macbeth”Stratford Festival - THE MACBETH CURSERoyal Shakespeare Company - The Curse of the Scottish PlayIndependent - Did Chris Rock suffer the curse of the Scottish Play? ‘Macbeth’ theory gains traction on Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Say hello to your Big 3: your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs. In this episode, Sabrina breaks down the astrological basics and gets real about what each of the Big 3 actually means. Whether you're a loud Leo Moon with a Scorpio Rising or a triple threat, Sabrina’s here to help you decode your chart without the cosmic confusion. And now, when your tinder date asks you for your time of birth, you’ll know what they’re really trying to figure out!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.