Magic in the United States

Thorn Mooney is a religious studies PhD student at UNC Chapel Hill, an author, magical practitioner, and a witch. 

She also has a new book about witches and witchcraft, but this one is for non-practitioners. In her new book, Witches Among Us, Thorn “dispels common misconceptions while delving into what it means to be a witch, including beliefs and practices.” 

Heather Freeman did a YouTube live-streamed interview of Thorn on August 15th, 2024, where they talked about her book, being a magical practitioner in academic spaces, and how the language we use about magic, religion, and witchcraft has meaning and nuance. 

You can watch the whole interview at https://www.youtube.com/@HeatherFreeman/streams and find links to Thorn's social media accounts and books here: https://thornthewitch.wordpress.com/ /

Latter-day Saints are a people of radical faith. Their tradition is one in which angels visit everyday people and sometimes men and women see the divine in stones. In this podcast series, hosts Christine and Chris Blythe,  examine the lived religion of Latter-day Saints, the stories they tell, and the beliefs they debate. Christine and Chris are professional folklorists and LDS converts who openly profess their faith while exploring the traditions of their chosen people. In this episode of Angels and Seerstones, Christine and Chris discuss the "martyrdom canes," relics that were made from the blood-soaked boards that transported the murdered bodies of Joseph and Hyrum Smith from Carthage to Nauvoo, Illinois. They discuss how these canes were used and where they ended up. Listen to more of their episodes at https://angelsandseerstones.buzzsprout.com/ 

After a strange voicemail about the death of her grandmother, Lucy Verdell travels to an isolated island she hasn’t visited since she was a child. Odd occurrences and powerful memories lead her to four black velvet paintings hidden in the attic — paintings of grim beings best described as ‘fairies’. The discovery unlocks a flood of emotions that surprises Lucy and prompts her to find out more about the unusual artwork.

To delve deeper into the Black Velvet Fairies story-world, visit EmeraldAnvil.com

Cast and crew credits can be found at https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31867160/

When the art collective MSCHF released their Satan Shoes in collaboration with artist and rapper Lil Nas X in 2021, all hell broke loose. According to the company, each of the 666 pairs of shoes contained 60cc of ink, including 1 drop of human blood from members of MSCHF, a bronze pentagram, and the Bible verse Luke 10:18 written on one side. The shoes were instantly condemned by social and religious conservatives, and a lawsuit from Nike resulted in MSCHF being required to give refunds for purchased shoes. Lil Nas X asserts he’s not a Satanist. But how do self-described Satanists navigate moral panics? And what does the Church of Satan have to do with this? In this episode, we’ll learn about Anton LaVey, the Church of Satan, the great diversity of actual Satanists through time. We’ll also explore why Satanic Panics might have more to do with pushing cultural norms—like normalizing being young, queer, Black, and a successful — and less to do with the Devil. 

Featuring Cimminnee Holt, Tyler McKenzie, and Ethan Doyle White.

For the Paiute of the late 1800s, the “Ghost Dance" promised a new world where the beloved dead would return home and white settlers would disappear into  the earth. It was a dance of hope and rebalance in a world devastated by U.S. policies bent on the destruction of Native cultures and sovereignty. This new dance was – and still is – often referred to as a ‘religion’ by outsiders, even though the very words ‘religion’, ‘magic’, and ‘spirituality’ are external ideas historically imposed upon indigenous practices. This story of the Ghost Dance is a story of grief, renewal and political resistance. But the story of Native dances and Ceremonies – and efforts by the U.S. government over the decades to restrict them – is also the story of just how limited the word ‘religion’ really is.

Featuring Jennifer Graber, Abel Gomez, Tria Blu Wakpa.

What exactly is a witch? When is the word a slur, and when is it a title of empowerment? And when is the word a bit of both, a slippery glamor or tricky cunning -- as in the case of Montague and Duck Moore. Little is known about Mont and Duck, an elderly couple who moved into a rural community near Rocky Mountain, Virginia, sometime in the early 1900s. But Mont and Duck engaged in magical racketeering, and their story is recounted in several books of Appalachian folklore. Appalachia has a rich history, and in this episode, we chase down the fragmentary tale of Montague and Duck Moore, unpack the role of folklore in their tale, and uncover the origins – and contemporary forms – of Appalachian folk magic. Featuring Sara Amis, Cory Hutcheson, and Trevor McKenzie.

From #manifesting, to #lawofattraction, to #luckygirlsyndrome – these hashtags are all over social media. But what do they mean and where do they come from? The idea that our thoughts can change our wealth, bodies, and fortunes is so pervasive, that we don’t realize how old – and distinctly American – these ideas really are. 

In this episode, we’ll travel backward in time from TikTok to the dawn of Christian Science and unpack the origins of manifesting our desires with our minds – and see how these very popular beliefs pit science against mysticism. 
 
Featuring Susannah Crockford, Sean McCloud, and University of North Carolina at Charlotte students Andrew, Amani, Chris, Eva, Journei, Sam, and Taylor.

In 1987, the City of Hialeah, Florida passed local ordinances that prohibited animal sacrifice for religious purposes. The laws targeted one group in particular – the Church of the Lukumi Babalu Aye. The City was taken to court, and the case eventually made it all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices ruled against the city and called the ordinances "religious gerrymandering.” Almost 40 years later, African Diaspora Religions like Lucumí still face legal discrimination over core practices. These challenges reveal a long history of bias against African Diaspora practices, beliefs, and worldviews. Featuring Dr. Danielle Boaz, Frank Burgos, Silver Daniels, and Mindy Marqués.

It’s the 1970s and New York City’s queer scene is vibrant and organizing itself after the Stonewall Riots of 1969. Meanwhile, Wicca — a form of contemporary witchcraft — is gaining traction as the new religious movement of the hour. Edmund Buczynski is a Seeker of initiatory witchcraft but is denied time and again, often due to homophobia and heterosexism. But Eddie is charismatic and inspired by magic and mythology. He won’t be stopped – even if he has to create his own witchcraft tradition. Featuring Thumper Forge, Michael Lloyd, and Matthew Sawicki.

Flowers. The first ripe berries. Love songs.

They're all symbols of springtime, and they're found on shrines and altars across the U.S. to gods, goddesses, spirits, and ancestors. But is this magic, religion, spirituality — or something else entirely?

Join host Heather Freeman for magic, religion, and spiritual remixing in Season 2 of Magic in the United States, wherever you get your podcasts. Season 2, Episode 1 airs May 7th, 2024.