Back on the Broomstick: Old Witchcraft, New Path

Content Note: This episode contains discussions of symbolic death and transformation that may be challenging for some listeners. We explore themes of figuratively "killing" or releasing parts of ourselves as part of spiritual growth and personal transformation. While these conversations are metaphorical and focus on inner work and letting go, we understand that death imagery and themes of sacrifice, even in a symbolic context, can be difficult or triggering for those processing grief, loss, or other personal experiences. Please take care of yourself and listen when you feel ready. 

We also thank those of you who reached out to us and mentioned that while you were grateful for the PSA we included, felt that a stronger one was necessary. 

To those of you walking through grief right now: we see you, we honor the weight you carry, and we hold you tenderly with our magick and in our hearts. May you find gentleness with yourselves in the dark seasons, and know that you are not alone in your sorrow. 

This episode is a dark conversation for the dark half of the year. The witches sit down with Iberian Shamaness, Priestess, and author Ness Bosch to talk about her work, her book Sacred Bones, Magic Bones, and the deep magick of inner work and symbolic sacrifice. Living in Scotland and teaching internationally, Ness brings a grounded and ancient perspective to the conversation.

Together, they explore powerful mythic figures like Persephone, Inanna, Cailleach, and Ariadne; goddesses who carry wounds and wisdom, and who show us how to walk willingly into the shadows of transformation. This episode is full of the intensity of the season. The three witches discuss the themes of sacrifice, symbolic death, and of letting go to make room for something new when the light returns.

Prepare to be challenged, comforted, and called inward as Ness shares insights on spiritual death, ancestral healing, and the fierce power of dark goddesses, even when wounded. It's an episode about finding sacredness in surrender, and magic in the bones we carry.


National Sexual Assault Hotline Text HOPE to 64673 to get support directly on your device. 
Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 988
Depression Hotline 888-912-7630
If you are in immediate danger, call 911

Got a question? Send the witches a message here!

Support the show

Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?
Our mailing address is:

Back on the Broomstick
PO Box 21
Tioga, PA 16946

Email: [email protected]
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram
Back on the Broomstick Website

As a companion to episode 129: Water Energy – Emotion, Intuition, and the Sacred Self, this guided meditation carries you deep into the flowing current of the water element. Through breath and visualization, you will journey inward to the divine, the sacred well of the subconscious, the liminal place where the old Gods dwell and the magick of our inner witch stirs. Here, you’ll touch the currents of emotion, psychic ability, and ancestral power, allowing the protective energy of the deep to rise within you. Work with elemental water to reconnect you with your sacred self, leaving you refreshed, intuitive, and empowered.

Got a question? Send the witches a message here!

Support the show

Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?
Our mailing address is:

Back on the Broomstick
PO Box 21
Tioga, PA 16946

Email: [email protected]
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram
Back on the Broomstick Website

In the final episode of our five-part Elemental Energy series, the witches turn their attention to the most mysterious element of all, Spirit. Unlike earth, air, fire, or water, Spirit isn’t something you can touch or see. It’s the invisible force that connects everything, the energy that breathes life into matter, and the current that runs through all magickal work.

Join Laylla and Chelle as they try to define the undefinable. What is Spirit? How does it show up in our practices? And how is it different from working with Deity or calling on the Ancestors? From spirals and stillness to veils and voids, this episode dives deep into the element that weaves the rest together.

Whether you think of it as Akasha, aether, quintessence, or simply the magic in the air, Spirit invites us to listen, to feel, and to remember that we are always connected; to each other, to the earth, and to the divine.

Got a question? Send the witches a message here!

Support the show

Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?
Our mailing address is:

Back on the Broomstick
PO Box 21
Tioga, PA 16946

Email: [email protected]
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram
Back on the Broomstick Website

In this immersive episode hosts Chelle and Laylla dive deep into the sacred waters of witchcraft and explore the mystical realm of the Water Element. Flowing through ancient myths and modern magick, the witches wade into the emotional, intuitive, and transformative powers of water. From sacred springs and holy wells to the River Styx and moonlit oceans, water has long been revered as a liminal force. It is a portal between worlds, a vessel of healing, and a mirror of the soul.

The witches explore how water connects us to dreams, psychic intuition, and emotional depth, while also being the element of purification, change, and surrender. They talk about practical magickal techniques to work with water in your own practice, from ritual baths and moon water, to scrying and offerings, to water spirits.

So pour a cup of tea, run a bath, or listen near your favorite stream. This episode invites you to remember: Water shared is life shared. May you never thirst.

Got a question? Send the witches a message here!

Support the show

Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?
Our mailing address is:

Back on the Broomstick
PO Box 21
Tioga, PA 16946

Email: [email protected]
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram
Back on the Broomstick Website

This companion meditation designed to accompany the Fire episode of the Elemental Series, invites you to tap into the heat of passion, confidence, power, transformation and the sacred flame that fuels your will. Using breathwork, visualization, and hypnotic techniques, Laylla guides you to awaken your personal flame.

Fire is movement, ignition, purification, and courage. Whether you need to release, to burn away what no longer serves, or to stoke the embers of your creative spirit, this meditation offers a moment to sit with the flame and listen to its wisdom.

Got a question? Send the witches a message here!

Support the show

Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?
Our mailing address is:

Back on the Broomstick
PO Box 21
Tioga, PA 16946

Email: [email protected]
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram
Back on the Broomstick Website

In the third episode of their five-part elemental series, the witches bring the focus to Fire; the element of transformation, will, passion, and creative spark. Laylla and Chelle explore how Fire lives in the body, in the hearth, and in the heart of every magical working that calls for courage and momentum. From candle flames to blazing bonfires, Fire asks us to show up, burn bright, and let go.

They talk about classic Fire correspondences like action, desire, destruction, and inspiration; and share how to safely and powerfully raise Fire energy in your practice. Whether you’re doing spellwork for motivation, purification, or release, Fire offers the kind of energy that pushes through blocks and burns down what no longer serves.

You’ll also hear practical tips for connecting to Fire through movement, visualization, candle spells, and more. Fire is heat and transformation in motion.

So strike a match, set your intention, and let Fire burn a path through hesitation. May your magic be bold, your will be strong, and your cauldron never cold.

Got a question? Send the witches a message here!

Support the show

Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?
Our mailing address is:

Back on the Broomstick
PO Box 21
Tioga, PA 16946

Email: [email protected]
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram
Back on the Broomstick Website

In this companion meditation episode to our Air Element discussion we’re slowing things down and tuning in to the most natural and magical tool we have, our breath.

Laylla leads you through a gentle guided meditation with the element of Air, using two breathwork techniques to help you connect with the energies of tranquility, inspiration, and clarity of communication. Through a blend of witchy visualization and intentional breathing; this practice is designed to calm the chaos, sharpen the mind, and leave you feeling light, steady, and fully present.

The meditation uses two breathing techniques. The first is the physiological sigh which is shown to release tension and activate the body’s natural relaxation response. The second is a simple mantra breath to anchor your awareness and raise air energy within. 

Whether you're new to meditation or have been practicing for a long spell (terrible pun intended), this is a beautiful way to connect with the element of Air through your body, your breath, and your spirit

Got a question? Send the witches a message here!

Support the show

Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?
Our mailing address is:

Back on the Broomstick
PO Box 21
Tioga, PA 16946

Email: [email protected]
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram
Back on the Broomstick Website

In the second episode of their five-part elemental series, the witches turn their attention to Air; the whispering wind, the breath of life, and the spark of inspiration. Chelle and Laylla explore how this often underestimated element shows up in magical practice and daily life. From the feather-light qualities of thought and intention to the power of voice and communication, the witches talk about the qualities of and ways to work with air.

They discuss the correspondences of Air like intellect, clarity, and beginnings. The witches also touch on how directional associations can vary depending on your tradition, with Air being tied to East in many Western traditions but North in other paths.

Laylla shares a breath and bubble spell to help you connect with the energy of Air in an simple yet powerful way, combining visualization, intention, and breath to cleanse, charge, or empower yourself and your tools.

So light your incense, whisper a spell to the breeze, and let Air move through your mind and spirit. Sometimes magic is in the hush of a breath, the turn of a page, or the way an idea can stir something deep within. Air is waiting, witch, may your thoughts be clear and your words carry power.

Listen to Brushwood Radio online here

OFFICIAL RULES — “Season of the Witch Giveaway”

1. Sponsor & Administrator

• “Back on the Broomstick” (PO Box 106, Salem, MA 01970); governed by Massachusetts/U.S. law.

2. Eligibility

• Open to legal residents of the U.S. (excluding Quebec), Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia (and other legally allowed countries at sponsor’s discretion), 18 years+ (or legal age in entrant’s jurisdiction), excluding BotB employees, family, and affiliates.

3. Entry Period

• Mail-in entries postmarked August 8, 2025, through October 1, 2025.

4. Entry Methods

1. Mail‑in: Legible name/address on envelope; one entry per person.
2. Benefactor Bonus: One entry for Benefactors active as of October 1, 2025; if they also send mail during the entry period, they get two total.

5. Drawing & Winner Notification

• Random drawing of all eligible entries on October 10, 2025.
• Winner must:
  • Pass a math based skill-testing question (e.g., “What is 2 + 3 × 2?”).
  • Sign affidavit of eligibility/release (where required).
• Winner notified via email and/or mail within 14 days. If unresponsive after 3 months, a second draw may occur (Australia rule).

6. Prize

• One (1) copy of Seasons of the Witch Samhain Oracle.
• Approximate retail value: $35 USD.
• No substitution; Sponsor reserves right to substitute with similar item of equal value.

Full rules available here: Official Season of the Witch Rules

Got a question? Send the witches a message here!

Support the show

Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?
Our mailing address is:

Back on the Broomstick
PO Box 21
Tioga, PA 16946

Email: [email protected]
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram
Back on the Broomstick Website

As promised in Episode 126: Earth Energy – Rooted in Magick, this guided meditation is a grounding journey into the steady strength of the Earth. Through breathwork, vivid sensory imagery, and earth-honoring practices, you’ll connect deeply with the land beneath you, root yourself in stability, and draw up the nourishing energy that sustains life. This meditation invites you to gather that power, hold it within, and carry it into your  daily life. Whether you seek balance, resilience, or a moment of stillness, this practice will leave you centered, empowered, and rooted in magick.

Got a question? Send the witches a message here!

Support the show

Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?
Our mailing address is:

Back on the Broomstick
PO Box 21
Tioga, PA 16946

Email: [email protected]
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram
Back on the Broomstick Website

In the first episode of our 5-part Elemental Series, Chelle and Laylla get grounded (literally!) as they explore the magick of Earth. From the dirt underfoot to the bones in our bodies, Earth is the element of centeredness, home, transformation, deep ancestral wisdom, and so much more. The witches talk about how to connect with Earth energy in your daily practice, why Earth is more than “just grounding,” and how this element shows up in spellcraft, divination, and ritual.

Whether you're a green witch with your hands in the dirt or someone looking to feel more rooted in your path, this episode brings solid, steady energy to support your practice.

Plus the witches send a heartfelt thank you to listeners who sent gifts and mail to the BotB PO box, and they announce a giveaway to celebrate the Season of the Witch!

Settle in, write a note to mail the witches, and plant the seeds of your next spell with us! 

OFFICIAL RULES — “Season of the Witch Giveaway”

1. Sponsor & Administrator

• “Back on the Broomstick” (PO Box 106, Salem, MA 01970); governed by Massachusetts/U.S. law.

2. Eligibility

• Open to legal residents of the U.S. (excluding Quebec), Canada (excluding Quebec), United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia (and other legally allowed countries at sponsor’s discretion), 18 years+ (or legal age in entrant’s jurisdiction), excluding BotB employees, family, and affiliates.

3. Entry Period

• Mail-in entries postmarked August 8, 2025, through October 1, 2025.

4. Entry Methods

1. Mail‑in: Legible name/address on envelope; one entry per person.
2. Benefactor Bonus: One entry for Benefactors active as of October 1, 2025; if they also send mail during the entry period, they get two total.

5. Drawing & Winner Notification

• Random drawing of all eligible entries on October 10, 2025.
• Winner must:
  • Pass a math based skill-testing question (e.g., “What is 2 + 3 × 2?”).
  • Sign affidavit of eligibility/release (where required).
• Winner notified via email and/or mail within 14 days. If unresponsive after 3 months, a second draw may occur (Australia rule).

6. Prize

• One (1) copy of Seasons of the Witch Samhain Oracle.
• Approximate retail value: $35 USD.
• No substitution; Sponsor reserves right to substitute with similar item of equal value.

Full rules available here: Official Season of the Witch Rules

Got a question? Send the witches a message here!

Support the show

Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review?
Our mailing address is:

Back on the Broomstick
PO Box 21
Tioga, PA 16946

Email: [email protected]
Youtube
Facebook
Instagram
Back on the Broomstick Website