That Witch Life

Oregon doesn’t really have spring, but the Witches are going to discuss it, anyway. With special guest Luna Pantera, we discuss the Magickal energies of the springtime, spells for renewal, home blessing activities, the role of gratitude in your practice, and the importance of the Magickal “Yet”. Plus, Courtney has a new puppy who is now the cutest BFF with Hilary’s dog, and we learn that Kanani’s daughter will one day rule us all.

Luna Pantera is a Native San Franciscan whose mother always teased her

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Today, we’re talking all about the Goddess! Frodo Okulam, professor at Portland State University, joins us to talk about the history of the Goddess and her own journey into Witchcraft. We also discuss modern swings in Witchcraft popularity and acceptance, Magickal book and Netflix recommendations, and fully inappropriate movie that’s good for Witchy souls. Plus, Kanani’s kids have always known she keeps a cauldron and talks to spirits, but only NOW do they think their Mom is a Witch because of one surprising reason…

Frodo Okulam obtained her Doctorate in Ministry from San Francisco Theological Seminary/Marylhurst University, an M.A. in Theology from Mount Angel Seminary and has been an Assistant Professor with the Women’s Studies Department since 2000. Frodo’s teaching and research interests include Eco-Feminist and Eco-Justice Spirituality; Earth-Centered Spiritual Traditions; Spirituality and Activism; and Wisdom Traditions. These interests are reflected throughout the courses she teaches. Some of the courses that Frodo has created and taught are Women’s Spirituality, Ritual in Culture and Daily Life, paganisms Past and Present, Goddess Pre & Early history, Feminist Biblical Interpretation, and many more. In addition to authorship of several publications, she has also been the Coordinator of an eclectic women’s spirituality group called SisterSpirit since 1985. Frodo has a very broad spiritual background that embraces many traditions and centers on female divine imagery and women’s experience. She invites students to pursue their own interests, and encourages creative thinking.

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Join us on March 18 to discuss Springtime Magick with special guest Luna Pan

On today’s episode, Hilary takes us through her journey into performance art. She shares how Witchcraft and Magick have both influenced her art, and how her own performances are acts of Magick, themselves. Along with special guest Raven Ebner, Hilary introduces the concept of Blood Magick–how it has historically been used in Witchcraft and its role in contemporary Magickal performance. Plus, in honor of Black History Month, your hosts share a list of Black authors on Magick and Witchcraft you should be following. They also discuss the Witchcraft stores they all spent waaaayyyyy too much money in recently, as well as how Mr. Rogers was his own kind of Magickal being, too….

Our guest today is Raven Ebner (who also goes by the artist name Corviid) is a multimedia visual artist, fabricator, and performer whose practices in the occult are very much wrapped up in her art. She takes an intuitive approach to her ritual and sigil work, choosing to create her own path as she goes rather than sticking to any one established tradition. She was raised in a traditionally religious family and initially eschewed ritual before coming back around to rediscover how to make it come to life for herself. Her involvement with body modification and flesh hook suspension are other facets of her practice. As a performer, she choreographs fusion dance pieces (both as a soloist as well as for her troupe Ego Umbra) that explore archetypal themes, ritual, and sigils formed with the body to impact the emotions and consciousness of both dancers and audience alike. Her practice centers around communication with the subconscious and the body as the medium through which magic and change occur. Through all modes of art, her goal is transformation of the self, and an offering up of anything useful found in the process as a gift to anyone else it may serve.

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It’s our Valentine’s Day episode! We’re talking all about love spells–our greatest successes and favorite mistakes. Special guest Chiron Armand gives us advice on the best (and worst) ways to perform love spells. Plus, the strange and sexy origins of Valentine’s Day, and how your hosts almost died before doing the show (one by post office, two by ice cream…).

Today’s guest Chiron Armand is a shamanic healer, hoodoo rootdoctor, and houngan (oon-GON) in Haitian Vodou. He is the author of Deliverance!: Hoodoo Spells of Uncrossing, Healing, and Protection as well as the new title Clearing Spaces: Inspirational Techniques to Heal Your Home. Armand holds an MA in Performance Studies from New York University and a BA in Ritual Anthropology and Queer Studies from Hampshire College. His work can be found at ImpactShamanism.com.

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Kanani hosts a discussion about how she, Hilary and Courtney got their start in their Witchcraft journeys including how to read signs and follow psychic impulses. We explore the questions, “Is Wicca and Witchcraft the same?” “Do you have to identify as Wiccan to be a Witch?” “Do I need to find a Tradition to ‘fit into’?” We discuss the books that got us started and contemporary authors with excellent resources for new Witches. (Courtney meant to add Besom Stang & Sword and Traditional Wicca: A Seeker’s Guide to her list of modern recommendations)

Plus, Courtney offends Kanani with her lunch and there’s a seriously awkward moment at the end.

Courtney, Kanani, and Hilary discuss their journeys out of mainstream religion and into Witchcraft, including paranormal stuff that scared them into picking up broomsticks. They also discuss what makes a Witch, and the difference between Witchcraft as a spiritual practice and as a formal religion, and suggestions of getting started if you’re interested in Witchcraft.