Mancy

RJ and Elle dive back into the world of Necromancy and discuss victorian and turn of the century mediums. Materialization is the psychic or paranormal ability to give spirits and entities physical form. Ectoplasm was a theoretical substance that would physicalize psychic power or energy. Psychics were rumored to excrete this substance whenever they were manifesting spirits. Mediums have used this theory in their shows and would have streams of ectoplasm leaking from their ears, nose, and mouth. Eva Carieariee was one such medium who was known for her scandalous shows and ectoplasm materialization. Another medium they discuss is Helen Duncan, who's ectoplasm antics led her to becoming that last person ever to be convicted of Witchcraft. Elle ends the episode by performing a medium reading for RJ, who vigilantly watches for signs of Ectoplasm.

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RJ and Elle continue their coverage of Cybermancy, Divination by computer. RJ discusses some of the odd and bizarre things people have done with AI neural networks, particularly experiments done by Janelle Shane on her AI Weirdness blog. Then RJ feeds an AI one of his poems and the AI attempts to recreate it with an image. Elle does an interpretation of this abstract image. Afterward, RJ discusses internet urban legends such as Polybius and The Bunny Man. RJ gives the history of CreepyPastas and how the internet has changed Folklore. At the end of the episode, Elle performs divination for the Spooky Science Sisters podcast using an AI called The Library of Babel, which was inspired by a short story by Borges. 

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Cybermancy, Divination by Computer and AI. So much of our daily existence is determined by Predictive Analytics and algorithms. These algorithms and analytics are the closest humanity has come to true pre-cognition and AI is getting more effective every day. RJ discusses the existing implications of algorithm based prediction, especially the ways in which it is used to control people. RJ also dives into Predictive Policing, and the AI nightmare it has caused for people in the US and China. Elle provides ethical insight, as the ethical issues that Psychics have faced through history, now plague AI and Prediction Engines. The Extra Spell is a dangerous thought experiment known as Roko's Basilisk, and the apocalyptic potential of AI. As a way to de-escalate the horrible implications of AI, RJ introduces the AI Weirdness blog, to show some of the hilarious ways AI has been used. Elle Performs a StumbleUpon divination for one of our patreon supporters.

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Elle continues the bonus episode coverage of Baba Vanga, the blind bulgarian clairvoyant that made waves all through the 20th century. Elle concludes the bonus episode by performing readings using Baba  Vanga's methods involving a sugar cube and a wristwatch.

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RJ Needed a break so Elle took over for this special Bonus episode of Mancy all about Baba Vanga, the mysterious Bulgarian soothsayer that made waves with her bizzare and accurate predictions. 

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RJ and Elle continue their coverage of Crystallomancy: Divination by gazing into a crystal. RJ discusses the Crystal Ball's history in stage magic and some notable stage magicians who have used it. The Extra Spell is all about the mysterious history of Crystal Skulls, including some famous examples of "magic" crystal skulls. RJ then goes into a short biography of John Dee, Queen Elizabeth's court magician who saw angels inside of a crystal ball. 

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RJ and Elle dive into Crystallomancy, Divination by scrying a crystal. The most famous example of this is the Crystal Ball. RJ discusses the earliest written accounts of crystal gazing, the Druid's Beryl Ball, and Lord of the Rings. RJ discusses the science of how crystal balls might work and why people might believe they are magic. In the Extra Spell RJ discusses the very real dangers crystal balls pose if you leave them uncovered. The superstition surrounding Bloodstone, and also the fushigi and contact juggling.  Afterward Elle performs a reading for Seattle using her personal crystal ball. 

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RJ and Elle continue their coverage on the history of Alcohol and Magic. RJ dives deeper into the history of alcoholism and it's connection to demonic and spiritual possession. The history of alcohol as a magic tool in other cultures around the world, and in the introduction of Alcohol to America. RJ discusses the tragic history of Alcohol as a tool of colonialism and genocide used against Native Americans. Big trigger warning for America's genocidal history. RJ discusses the damaging fire water myths spread by american colonists. When Peyote was outlawed for Native American rituals, alcohol was used. In the extra spell is about the Bizarre 90 year cheese conspiracy that has been going on in America. After that, RJ discusses the Medieval history of Tyromancy or cheese magic. Elle performs the Nathan Kessel method of Tyromancy by throwing swiss cheese onto a random book page. The Tyromancy is performed for Eli of the Flore podcast. 

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Oinomancy and Tyromancy. Divination by wine and divination by cheese. RJ and Elle discuss the history of Alcohol as a tool for magic. The consumption of Alcohol goes well into pre-history, with the earliest records existing in ancient mesopotamia. RJ Gags remembering alcohol poisoning patients he treated as an EMT.  They also discuss the Maenads, ancient greek priestesses of Dionysus who used alcohol to commune with their god. They performed several rituals at their Baccanals before the practice was outlawed by the Roman Government. In the Extra Spell, RJ discusses the history of Witches Brew and how our current image of the witch with pointy hat, cat, broomstick, and cauldron come from female brewmasters. RJ finishes his portion by touching on the history of alcoholism.  Elle performs Oinomancy in the ancient greek tradition for Shanna. 

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Part two of our coverage of Alchemy, the blurry line between magic and science. In this Episode, RJ discusses notable alchemists and their scientific achievements. Zosimos of Panopolis, Mary the Hewbrew, Ge Hong in ancient China, Jabir the Alchemist, Henning Brand, Paracelsus, Johan Faustus, and John Dee. Each of these alchemists contributed to scientific discovery in ways that would affect humanity forever. Inventions like Hard Liquor, Painkillers, Disinfectant, Glow in the Dark, and more were all the products of alchemy. At the end of the episode, RJ and Elle perform Molybdomancy, a type of metallurgy John Dee performed back in the 1500s. They attempt to help Christopher, a Middle School Science Teacher,  decide what science unit to teach next. 

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