Circle Talk 4 Witches

Hail, and welcome, everyone, to episode 25 - “Equini” (even though we know it’s ‘equinoxes’ 😛) Sabbat Special and Meditation. In this episode, we discuss the practices of meditation and how they relate to the equinoxes. How do we practise meditation? It is just as simple as sitting still in the lotus position? Are there other ways to practise meditation? How does a regular meditation practice benefit a coven? Listen in as we discuss a variety of techniques that we use personally and in our coven work.

References, Notes, and Links:

Jason Miller’s books

Qabalah for Wiccans, by Jack Chanek

Lemon Visualisation

Keys to Perception, by Ivo Dominguez

Trance-Portation, by Diana Paxson

Wiccan Life podcasts by Lusete (for guided visualisations)

In this episode we begin to discuss practices in our circles including effective ritual triggers and skyclad practice. We ran out of time in our discussion so look forward to part two where we'll discuss how different practices impact the coven egregore. 

Circle Talk continues to circle back through the sabbats, this time revisiting Imbolc/Candlemas/Lammas and their associations with rites and practices of purification (ironically along with a lot of very impure language from Gi).

Join us for conversations on smoke cleansing, fire cleansing, water cleansing, broom tips, and lots of laughs! 

Blessed sabbat!

Welcome to our second episode of season 2! In this episode we finally talk about books!... Well, actually we've been doing that all along, haven't we? 

In any event, this is an attempt at giving a more organized list. We discuss recommended reading lists for Seekers, our coven members, and from what we're enjoying now. Before you listen you may want to be ready to make a list for your library or favorite bookstore!

List of books we mentioned:

On Alexandrian Wicca and/or Alex Sanders

A Coin for the Ferryman by Jimahl di Fiosa

A Witches' Bible: The Complete Witches' Handbook by Janet & Stewart Farrar

Eight Sabbats for Witches by Janet & Stewart Farrar

King of the Witches: The World of Alex Sanders - by June Johns

What Witches Do by Janet & Stewart Farrar

On BTW

High Magic’s Aid - Gerald Gardner

Principles of Wicca - Vivianne Crowley

Traditional Wicca: A Seeker’s Guide - Thorn Mooney

Wicca for Beginners: Fundamentals of Philosophy & Practice - Thea Sabin

Wicca. The Old Religion in the New Millennnium by Vivianne Crowley

On History

Blood and Mistletoe: The History of the Druids in Britain by Ronald Hutton 

Circle of Fire - David Rankine & Sorita D’Este

Fifty Years Of Wicca by Frederic Lamond

In Search of the New Forest Coven - Philip Heselton

Wicca Magickal Beginnings: A Study of the Possible Origins of the Rituals and Practices Found in this Modern Tradition of Pagan Witchcraft and Magick - David Rankine & Sorita D’Este

Trials of the Moon: Reopening the Case for Historical Witchcraft. A critique of Ronald Hutton's The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft by Ben Whitmore

The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft by Ronald Hutton 

On Coven Work

Coven Craft by Amber K

A Teaching Handbook for Wiccans and Pagans: Practical Guidance for Sharing Your Path by Thea Sabin  

Wicca Covens by Judy Harrow

On Life & Supporting Others

As the Last Leaf Falls - Kristoffer Hughes

Do I Have to Wear Black - Mortellus

Pagan Book of Living and Dying by Starhawk

Skills & New Practices

Crafting a Daily Practice: Revised - T. Thorn Coyle

Keys to Perception by Ivo Dominguez Jr.

Consorting with Spirits Your Guide to Working with Invisible Allies - Jason Miller

Lifting the Veil: A Witches' Guide to Trance-Prophesy, Drawing Down the Moon, and Ecstatic Ritual by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone

Magical Power For Beginners: How to Raise & Send Energy for Spells That Work by Deborah Lipp

Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Tarot Journey to Self-Awareness by Rachel Pollack 

Tarot for Real Life: Use the Cards to Find Answers to Everyday Questions by Jack Chanek

The Poison Path Herbal: Baneful Herbs, Medicinal Nightshades, and Ritual Entheogens - Coby Michael

Trance-Portation: Learning to Navigate the Inner World by Diana L. Paxson

Qabalah

(The) Mystical Qabalah by Dion Fortune

Qabalah for Wiccans: Ceremonial Magic on the Pagan Path by Jack Chanek 

On Ritual Practices

Elements of Ritual - Deb Lipp

All Acts of Love and Pleasure: Inclusive Wicca by Yvonne Aburrow 

Inner Mysteries: Progressive Witchcraft and Connection to the Divine by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone 

The Witch Compass: Working with the Winds in Traditional Witchcraft by Ian Chambers and Griffin Ced

Other

Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter & Loyalty from the Norse Gods by Lea Svendsen

Merry Meet Again: Lessons, Life & Love on the Path of a Wiccan High Priestess – by Deborah Lipp 

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

Wicca for Beginners by Thea Sabin

Fiction

Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah Mass Market Paperback by Richard Bach

The Orphan's Tales: In the Night Garden by Catherynne M. Valente

The Saxon tales by Bernard Cornwell

The Tiffany Aching discworld books by Terry Pratchett

The Witches discworld books by Terry Pratchett

Library Apps

Libby App

Hoopla App

Happy solstice (whichever one you happen to be celebrating!) and welcome, everyone, to Season 2 of Circle Talk for Witches. After our hiatus, we bring you our first sabbat special of the season: Solstice Magic - Trance Induction.

Last season these specials focussed on what we do for the sabbats in the northern and southern hemispheres. For season two, we want to focus on different types and ways of magic. 

The bad news? The audio for this one is a little choppy due to a bad connection somewhere that we didn’t notice at the time. The good news, though, is that our NEXT episode - and the first full episode for this season - is sounding much better already, with the gods of the internet smiling on us once more.

Happy Solstice from all of us!

References, Notes, and Links:

Gardner, G (1954). Witchcraft Today.

And so the Wheel has spun full circle! Welcome to our last episode of Season 1, folks! For the next turn of the Wheel, we’re concentrating on magic and witchcraft that can be performed around each of the Sabbats. For this episode, we concentrate on Samhain (with a smidge of Bel-tân (and all the other spellings of that Sabbat 😛)), and in particular, on binding, banishing, and warding. How do we perform all of these practices? Are they the same, or are there overlaps? How do we get Practical Magic and Brasso into *this* episode? And what sound do alligators and crocodiles make, and what are they protecting? Take a listen to find out in this, Episode 20 - Samhain Magic.

References, Notes, and Links:

Suggett, R (2008). A History of Magic and Witchcraft in Wales

Farrar, J; Bone, G (2016). Lifting the Veil: A Witches' Guide to Trance-Prophesy, Drawing Down the Moon, and Ecstatic Ritual

Youtube link to the CRAFT binding 

Seeking Witchcraft episode on Magical Hygiene (is it this one: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shielding-warding-protective-magic/id1462656660?i=1000528179654)

YouTube mirror spell binding

The Australian Magical Research Project (witch bottles from 1800s): https://tasmagic.wordpress.com/ 

Songs for Samhain

• Samhain by Damh the Bard (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcDLcQk1Ntg) 

Peter’s old Welsh ‘curse’:

Crwydro y byddo am oesoedd lawer

ANGAU, Siân James - https://youtu.be/gweoI_YWuM4

Ar ryw noswaith yn fy ngwely – Upon some night in my bed

Ar hyd y nos yn ffaelu cysgu, - All through the night not able to sleep

Gan fod fy meddwl yn ddiame – Because my mind is beyond question

Yn cydfeddwl am fy siwrne. – Thinking about my journey

Galw am gawg a dŵr i ‘molchi – Calling for a bowl and water to wash with

Gan ddisgwyl hyn i fy sirioli; - Expecting this to cheer me up

Ond cyn rhoi deigryn ar fy ngruddiau – But before putting a tear on my cheeks

Ar fin y gawg mi welwn Angau – On the bowl’s edge I see Death

Mynd i’r eglwys i weddïo, - Go to church to pray

Gan dybio’n siŵr na ddeuai yno; - Assuming that he surely won’t come there

Ond cyn i mi godi oddi ar fy ngliniau, - But before I get up off my knees

Ar ben y fainc mi welwn Angau. – Upon the bench I see Death

Mynd i siambr glos i ymguddio, - Go to a nearby chamber to hide away

Gan dybio’n siŵr na ddeuai yno; - Assuming that he surely won’t come there

Ond er cyn closied oedd y siambr – But as close as the chamber was

Angau ddaeth o dan y ddaear. – Death came from beneath the earth

Mynd i’r môr a dechrau ymrwyfo, - Go to the sea and start to row

Gan dybio’n siŵr na fedrai nofio; - Assuming that he surely won’t be able to swim

Ond cyn cyrraedd dyfnion donnau – But before I got to the deep waves

Angau oedd y capten llongau. – Death was the marine captain

Ffarwel ferched, ffarwel feibion, - Farewell girls, farewell boys

Ffarwel holl ryganau gwyrddion; Farewell all green loves

Duw a faddau i mi ‘meiau, - God, forgive me my sins

Mynd sydd raid i ganlyn Angau. – I have to go and follow Death

A listener request episode, episode 19 brings you a discussion about tools of witchcraft. We talk about the stabby-boys, the pokey-boys, the swingy-boys, and everything else! How do we all pronounce the tool that begins with an ‘A’? What’s the difference between a censer and a thurible? And are all wands made equal? Do you need all the tools at the same time, or even at all to practise effective magic and witchcraft? Grab a cuppa, a glass of wine, or whatever your favourite tipple is, and take a listen to Episode 19 - Tools.

References, Notes, and Links:

Deborah Lipp’s The Elements of Ritual: Air, Fire, Water and Earth in the Wiccan Circle

Raymond Buckland’s Complete Book of Witchcraft (commonly called ‘Uncle Bucky’s Big Blue)

Jason Mankey’s The Witch’s Athame - The Craft, Lore, and Magick of Ritual Blades

Doreen Valiente’s Witchcraft for Tomorrow

Seeking Witchcraft’s episode on Crafting your Wand

Join us for the last “sabbat special” where we talk about personal practices and break down the astronomical & cultural backgrounds of the sabbats. Learn about why we don’t talk about “Mabonology” or “Ostaraology”, and about Josie’s plan to advocate for an “Easter Croc”. 

Do you have a topic that you’d like us to discuss, or even a question to be answered during the discussion? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know by e-mailing us at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can find us on Instagram and Facebook at CircleTalk4Witches or on Twitter at @Circle4Witches. Remember to like and follow us, including letting others know if you’re enjoying the podcast.

References, Notes, and Links:

Alexis Nikole Nelson, the “Black Forager” on TikTok

Meet me on the Equinox by Death Cab for Cutie

Ivakhiv, Adrian J. “Thoughts on An Equinox.” Immanence, UVM Blogs,  Sept. 21, 2021

Seeking Witchcraft Podcast; Season 3, Episode 5: Why “Mabon” is a Lie

As the Heads say in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, “It’s going to be a bumpy ride!” In this episode, we continue with the theme of Wicca as a Mystery Tradition and discuss polarity; what it is, what it isn’t, and how it can be worked with in an Initiatory Wican framework. How do the gods view polarity (hint: they don’t), how do non-cisgendered Wicans handle polarity, does gender come into it, and can polarity ever be adapted (hint: it can). How does polarity work with same-sex initiation and same-gender initiation? Is that even allowed in Initiatory Wicca? And why does the Kybalion suck? Listen to us ramble, rant, and rave during this jam-packed episode!

Do you have a topic that you’d like us to discuss, or even a question to be answered during the discussion? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know by e-mailing us at [email protected]. Alternatively, you can find us on Instagram and Facebook at CircleTalk4Witches or on Twitter at @Circle4Witches. Remember to like and follow us, including letting others know if you’re enjoying the podcast.

References, Notes, and Links:

Opening quote: The Inner Mysteries: Progressive Witchcraft and Connection to the Divine by Janet Farrar and Gavin Bone

Yvonne Aburrow’s YouTube page with lots of excellent videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/YvonneAburrow 

Alexandrian Seekers and Initiates page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/278933458939644 

Garderian Seekers and Initiates page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/387696041331452/ 

And the Wheel turns, once again to Lughnasadh and Imbolc. Welcome to Episode 16: Brasso and Bread. Take a listen to find out what Lughnasadh and Imbolc mean to each of the presenters, who John Barleycorn is, and what types of practices happen at each of these cross-quarter festivals. Bonus content for a mini-lesson in Cymraeg, Gaeilge, and etymology (yes, we geek out in this episode). Why does Brasso feature so strongly in our podcasts? Where does bread come into it? And what’s the connection between these two sabbats? Take a listen to Episode 16: Brasso and Bread to find out!