New World Witchery - The Search for American Traditional Witchcraft

We flip over some US quarters to see what kinds of folk magic they might be useful for

Summary: We hexed the law and the law…turned into a lot of Disney references? We look at the history of witchcraft and the law in North America, a variety of court case workings, and discuss spells that keep one far away from the long arm of the law. Plus our monthly card reading and a … Continue reading "Episode 200 – Folk Magic in Court"

Summary: We have a little spooky season fun and discuss some of our favorite recent films, shows, and even podcasts covering supernatural and folk horror! Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome rewards at the same time. Even if … Continue reading "Episode 199 – Screen Time Spookiness"

Summary: We finish out our Scairy Tales for this year’s All Hallows’ Read by taking a trip (by way of flying mortar and pestle) to Russia, where we hear a tale of a girl, a witch, and a very helpful (if slightly terrifying) doll. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show … Continue reading "Special Episode – Scairy Tales – Vasilisa the Beautiful"

Summary: More spooky stories from the sinister Scairy Godparent this week! We tell the next All Hallows’ Read goodie, one from Japan about a boy who just can’t seem to stop drawing cats…and it may just save his life! Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a … Continue reading "Special Episode – Scairy Tales – The Boy Who Drew Cats"

Summary: This time we’re turning towards the Mediterranean to talk about djinn, daemons, and other spirits with folk sorceress and grimoire magician Mademoiselle Vendredi. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome rewards at the same time. Even if you … Continue reading "Episode 198 – Working with Spirits with Mme Vendredi"

Summary: Your Scary Godparent brings you more wicked and woeful delights with the next tale in our All Hallows’ Read series. This time, we pull from the morbid pages of Hans Christian Andersen to share “The Story of a Mother” Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as … Continue reading "Special Episode – Scairy Tales – The Story of a Mother"

Summary: We begin our descent into darkness for this year’s All Hallows’ Read with a tale from the Brothers Grimm: “The Three Army Surgeons.” Bwahahahaha! Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome rewards at the same time. Even if … Continue reading "Special Episode – Scairy Tales – Three Army Surgeons"

Summary: We venture out into the wild unknown (and our own backyards) with author, Master Gardener, and landscape engineer JD Walker to look at the role of wildcrafting and using local flora in our magical practices. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, … Continue reading "Episode 197 – Witchy Wildcrafting with JD Walker"

Summary: We open a handful of our listener emails from the past few months and answer questions about connecting with spirits, using salt in crossroads workings, finding Irish folklore, and even vampires! Plus we look back at the year so far, talk about our recent Patreon updates, and then do our cards and question of … Continue reading "Episode 196 – Letters Lore and More"

We wander out into our respective yards to look at a number of the local plants that influence (and end up in) our magical practices!

Summary: We sit down with Daphne la Hechicera to talk about the many pathways of Mexican and Mexican American folk magic, the multiplicity of influences that have shaped those paths, and what they look like today (especially in the online era). Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little … Continue reading "Episode 194 – Hechiceria with Daphne la Hechicera"

Summary: What happens when you mix a folklorist and a naughty knitter? Oh, and let’s add a dash of witchcraft for funsies? That’s us! Laine and Cory are back in the same space to record together, for the first time since 2016 (we think)! We finish up our Green Witchcraft book club, talk about plans … Continue reading "Special Episode – Together Again 2021"

Cory interviews Bones from the Cursed and Hex Files podcasts about working with witchcraft and the paranormal and how those pieces fit together with cryptids and other fearsome critters as well.

Cory and Laine have a chat with Katrina Ray-Saulis, host of the Stitch and Witch Podcast. Various and sundry topics of conversation include the role of creativity in all forms of craft, how adversity and tenacity impact that creativity, and favorite tools for crafting both mundane and magical

Laine and Cory sit down to chat about ogham, familiars, and tarot for the Green Witchcraft bookclub, then discuss divination methods they have known and loved.

We sit down to chat with J. Allen Cross, author of the new book American Brujeria. We discuss the evolution of Mexican American magical practices, his own background in folk magic, and the issues of working with traditions outside of your own.

We dig into the herbs and crystals section of our book club, which leads to a bigger conversation about correspondences. We also talk about the ways we gather our magical tools and objects into our lives (in response to the amazing #regionalwitchcraftchallenge done by Via Hedera). We do card pulls for the month and get some messages about balance, detachment, indulgence, and fantasy, then hear a listener mail about a fascinating Greek practice. We top it all off by deciding how we'd summon each other!

Our guests Erik and Morrigane share their experiences with French Canadian sorcellerie in this episode! Learn about the history of the magic, the malice spirits, and where the devil bites pigs!

We look at the dark side of magic for our book club, then discuss ritual feasting, fasting, and intoxicants.

We welcome back friend and folklorist witch Via Hedera. We talk about finding folklore resources, favorite places to connect with magic, and then get a little wild deciding who would win in a plant-based magical Pokemon-style battle between us (hint: it's her)

We kick off a new practical magical experiments series by looking at a variety of bottle spells we're trying out.

This time we have an interview with author, researcher, and practitioner Brandon Weston. We discuss woodpecker witches, seventh sons of seventh sons, passing power to avoid becoming a haint, and just what a "yarb" is anyway.

Summary: We use our book club to talk about gods, goddesses, and elementals. Then we dig into our personal practices regarding rituals for the Sabbats and Esbats. We answer a great listener question about Easter Witches, and also do our monthly cartomancy pulls. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for … Continue reading "Episode 184 – Spirits, Sabbats, and Esbats"

Summary: We break into our first book club of 2021, then discuss our own personal “rules of magic.” We also do our monthly cartomancy draw, and answer a listener question about using coins as offerings. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and … Continue reading "Episode 183 – Rules of Magic"

Summary: If you’re looking for a wide-ranging conversation on the topic of magic, Chaweon Koo is the person to go to! In this episode, we discuss atheist occultism, Korean shamanism, spiritual bypassing, Eminem, Dolly Parton, the “invisible hand” of esoteric power, keeping a skeptical outlook, ancestors, glamour, and just for fun, Tinder matches gone wrong. … Continue reading "Episode 182 – Intersections in Magic with Chaweon Koo"

Summary: We open our new year with a look back at 2020’s impact on our magical practices, some final thoughts on last year’s book club (as well as a bit about this year’s club), a discussion of planning for witchery, and some new bits involving cartomancy and listener feedback. Please check out our Patreon page! You … Continue reading "Episode 181 – Plans and Prognostications"

Summary: It’s our annual tradition! We share some old blessings for the new year in song, conversation, and charms this time. Welcome Yule! Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome rewards at the same time. Even if you can’t … Continue reading "Episode 180 – Yuletide Cheer! 2020"

Summary: We turn to the final chapters of our Scott Cunningham Natural Magic books to talk about the folklore and uses of snow and ice, as well as crafting your own rituals. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome … Continue reading "Episode 179 – The Winter Witchery Book Club"

Summary: We are filling up on magic at the dinner table as we look to the folklore and enchanted uses of ingredients like corn, apples, potatoes, and more! Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome rewards at the … Continue reading "Episode 178 – A Cornucopia of Magic"

Summary: We dampen our spirits–in the best possible way–and take a look at the folk magic of storms, fog, rain, and other wet weather in our latest Cunningham book club episode. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome … Continue reading "Episode 177 – The Stormy Spellcaster Book Club"

Summary: We feature listener feedback of the macabre, morbid, and magical in this episode. We’ll hear tales of nighttime peepers, Wild Hunt taunters, creepy floating lights, and more! Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome rewards at the … Continue reading "Episode 176 – Spooktacular Listener Tales"

Summary: We conclude our annual #AllHallowsRead with a spooky tale of New Year’s Eve terror adapted from one shared by a listener, one we’re calling “He Likes It Loud.” Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome rewards at … Continue reading "Special Episode – Camp Splitfoot – He Likes It Loud"

Summary: We continue our tales around the bewitched bonfire with our second installment this #AllHallowsRead. This time, we hear “The Avenging Voice,” a tale adapted from Midwestern folklore. Play Download: Special Episode – Camp Splitfoot – The Avenging Voice Play: -Sources- This tale is read by Laine, and adapted from a story found in … Continue reading "Special Episode – Camp Splitfoot – The Avenging Voice"

Summary: We begin our annual All Hallows Read tradition by visiting our local campsite, Camp Splitfoot. Tonight, we hear the tale of “Junior,” inspired by a local legend from author Victoria Raschke. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get … Continue reading "Special Episode – Camp Splitfoot – Junior"

Summary: Once again we dive into Cunningham’s Earth Power folk magic books, and get a little bit of everything! We talk candles, dolls, wax figures, mirrors, stars, and more in this one! Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome … Continue reading "Episode 175 – The Kitchen Sink Magic Book Club"

Summary: We talk with author and conjure worker Jake Richards about folk magic in the Southern Highlands, the many magical-cultural influences found throughout the mountains, and what people get right and wrong about Appalachia. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and … Continue reading "Episode 174 – Backwoods Witchcraft with Jake Richards"

Summary: We take a second look (after eight years) at the role of animals in folk magic. We talk about the use of animals as personal representations, issues of animal sacrifice, working with deceased pets, and animals in tarot and astrology. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as … Continue reading "Episode 173 – Magical Animals Revisited"

Summary: We are joined by geophysicist, volcanologist, and magical friend of the show Kathleen Borealis to talk about rocks, gems, and geology for witchy folk. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome rewards at the same time. Even … Continue reading "Episode 172 – Magic Rocks with Kathleen Borealis"

Summary: We use our monthly book club to look at questions surround the magic found in stones, gems, minerals, magnets, and just for fun, trees as well! Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome rewards at the same … Continue reading "Episode 171 – The Stone Magic Book Club"

Summary We are joined by author and world-traveler Gwion Raven as we discuss the ways in which food, cooking, and sharing a meal add some enchantment to the world. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome rewards at … Continue reading "Episode 170 – Food and Folk Magic with Gwion Raven"

Summary: This time we ramble a bit about how we have used our time during the past few months of pandemic life, both to keep ourselves safe and sane and also to try a few new things. We talk tarot, baking, knitting, and art. Plus we discuss the elemental magic of Water in our Cunningham … Continue reading "Episode 169 – How I Hexed My Summer Pandemic"

Summary: We welcome back author, anthropologist, priestess, and absolute delight of a human being Lilith Dorsey. We discuss her latest book, African Traditional Religions, the Divine Feminine, so much water, and what it’s like to write for a modern witchy marketplace. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as … Continue reading "Episode 168 – Orishas Goddesses and Queens with Lilith Dorsey"

Summary: We open the pages of literary witchcraft one more time, but this time we look at magic and literature from the author’s point of view. We talk with urban supernatural mystery writer Victoria Raschke about how she weaves magic into her words, and how her magical experiences in real life influence what winds up … Continue reading "Episode 167 – Writing Witchcraft with Victoria Raschke"

Summary: We rekindle (see what I did there) our monthly Cunningham book club and talk about fire magic, where we see candles and incense fitting in, way too many pop culture references, and the connections between fire and the sun. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little … Continue reading "Episode 166 – The Fire Magic Book Club"

Summary: We’re diving into the pages of some of our favorite (non-witchy) fiction today to discuss how we draw inspiration from literature and popular culture in magical practices. Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome rewards at the … Continue reading "Episode 165 – Literary Witchcraft"

Summary: We settle in by a good turf fire to chat with Morgan Daimler, author of numerous books on folklore, magic, and fairies. We discuss the role of Irish belief systems and folkways on North American magical traditions, as well as the way that fairies have evolved over time. (Content Warning: Child abduction, death, or … Continue reading "Episode 164 – Irish Folklore and Magic with Morgan Daimler"

Summary: This time we’re looking at dreamscapes and discussing sleep-based magic and folklore. We talk about lucid dreaming, dream interpretation, mara/nightmares, and ways to boost dreaming. We also discuss Air in our Cunningham Book Club (as well as the smugness of birds). Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for … Continue reading "Episode 163 – Dreams"

Summary: This episode features an interview with author Diana Rajchel about folk magic in the big city! We discuss the spirits of a city, ways to gather urban spell ingredients, and getting to know the difference between the land and the place of an urban witch’s environment. Please check out our Patreon page! You can … Continue reading "Episode 162 – Urban Witchery with Diana Rajchel"

We discuss the (apparently very large) issue of magical safety practices. We talk about how to avoid burning down your favorite home or familiar, as well as making sure to close out your Ouija board properly. Plus we discuss earth spells in our Cunningham Natural Magic book club.