With Beltane around the corner, we're covering this ancient Gaelic May Day festival. Observed throughout ancient Ireland, Scotland, and Isle of Man, it marks the beginning of the pastoral summer season when cattle were driven out to the summer pastures. This pagan festival  celebrates fertility (bow-chicka-wow-wow!), prosperity, protection, and honors all living things. Listen to learn it's history, how to celebrate Beltane and May Day yourself, rituals to incorporate, and even how to build your own Maypole!

References:

https://beltane.org/ - Beltane Fire Society

https://youtu.be/gqdGGjsV608 - Lora O'brien’s Beltane Rituals Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXAlBpoPB5A - Maypole Tutorial

Support the show

In this week's spooky episode, Maria covers the 1988 disappearance of 19 year old Tara Calico—an active, smart, and outgoing young woman who goes out on a morning bike ride only to never come back. Laura covers the terrifying  paranormal case of Doris Bither and the entities who violently attacked her in her Culver City home in the 1970s. This paranormal case is the true story behind the 1982 film The Entity. We also address the murder of  Daunte Wright and how important it is to be an active ally to BIPOC.

Anyone with information regarding the disappearance of Tara Calico is asked to contact the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office in New Mexico at (505) 866-2400 or the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office at (505) 889-1300.

FBI Missing Person's Posting:  https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/tara-leigh-calico

Youtube Video: Will Tara Calico Ever Be Found? | The Missing

How to help Daunte Wright's Family: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/how-to-help-daunte-wright-b1830974.html

How to support Black Lives Matter: https://www.timeout.com/things-to-do/how-to-support-black-lives-matter

Ways You Can Be a Better Ally to BIPOC: https://mashable.com/2016/01/10/ally-to-people-of-color/

Support the show

In this listeners episode, we have ghostly visitations from a grandfather, a vengeful aunt casting acne curses on her niece, and a dream about possibly a past life. Plus, we explore incorporating pop culture into your practice, and the tarot deck vs. the tarot reader. Enjoy!

Support the show

Almost a year ago, we released one of our first episodes ... E02: Types of Witches + Altars. It’s currently our most downloaded episode of all time – and for good reason! Every beginner witch wants to find their path and it helps to understand the various sectors within the very large witchy community. Now with social media and the ease of researching online in this day and age, learning about different practices and meeting many kinds of witches is easier now than ever! In this episode we briefly recap the witches we covered in E02 while also adding on some new kinds of witches to talk about. Laura and Maria also open up about what their paths as witches look like – in the past, present, and what we're looking forward towards in the future. This is also a start of a new series where we will do deep dives on different kinds of witches and their magic, and hopefully get some of those very witches to interview. We hope this episode helps shed some light on trying to find your own path. Please reach out to share your story or questions!

Episode references: Check out Jess Demitro on IG @tsumarastraya, and Christy Kato of Wisteria Readings on IG @wisteriawitch

Support the show

After weeks and weeks, Laura is finally covering true crime! And wow does she have a wild story to tell y'all. Listen to the gruesome tale of Zack Bowen and Addie Hall — an ill-fated couple who braved Hurricane Katrina together, and whose lives start unraveling for the worst. Maria dedicates her portion of the episode to our Buckeye State listeners! Learn about the Harrison House Bed & Breakfast, and its guests that just refuse to ever check out. Come for the ghosts, but stay for the gourmet breakfast. Let's get spooky!

Check out Harrison House here: https://www.harrisonhouse-columbus.com/

Or read about Harrison House and other Columbus, Ohio hauntings here: https://www.amazon.com/Haunted-History-Columbus-Ohio/dp/1609490878

Support the show

It's finally here! I'm so sorry it took so long to get this out, but I appreciate everyone's patience. This time around we only have 2, but rather long stories involving creepy cryptids and malicious witches. Hope you enjoy!

Support the show

How the Futhark are ya, dear listeners?! In this week's episode, Maria covers beginner sigil witchery and touches on the philosophies of chaos magic, while Laura does a deep dive on runes! Listen for a step-by-step guide to get started with incorporating sigils into your practice, and get a detailed breakdown on the history of runes and their general meanings. Plus, we ask the questions, Can the McDonald's arches be magical?  and What do ancient runes have to do with our electronic devices??  We learn something new every day!

Resources:
How to Make a Sigil: http://www.arcane-alchemy.com/blog/2020/3/25/how-to-make-a-sigil-witchcraft-101
Mumbles and Things blog: https://www.mumblesandthings.com/blog/create-use-sigils?rq=sigil
Labyrinthos Arcana Iris Sacra Tarot Deck: https://labyrinthos.co/products/arcana-iris-sacra-tarot-deck-cards
The Hermetic Tarot Deck: https://www.etsy.com/search?q=the%20hermetic%20tarot
Dr. Jackson Crawford (Dr. Handsome Cowboy): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXCxNFxw6iq-Mh4uIjYvufg

Rune Sources:
A Practical Guide to Runes - Lisa Chamberlain
The Poetic Edda
A practical guide to the runes - Lisa Peschel
Norse-mythology.com
Wikipedia
YouTube: Dr. Jackson Crawford
YouTube: Freyia Norling
YouTube: Arith Harger
The Book of Runes - Ralph H Blum
Runesecrets.com
Omniglot.com
Futhark, a handbook of rune magic - Edred Thorsson

Support the show

We have finally made it to the closing chapter of the West Memphis Three true crime case. Who do you think was the real murderer? Maria covers the trials of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, evidence that came to light after their convictions, and where the three are today. Laura covers the life and death of Hollywood star Jean Harlow, and the seemingly cursed house that was her final home before her untimely death.

Link to Jessie's confession transcript: http://www.dpdlaw.com/JessieFirstStatement.htm

Link to Mara Levritt's book  Devil's Knot: https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Knot-Story-Memphis-Three/dp/0743417607

Link to Damien Echols' book Life After Death: https://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Death-Damien-Echols/dp/0142180289/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1615962121&sr=1-1

Support the show

This listeners episode includes dreamscapes, visions of the future, working through trauma with shadow work, and answering your witchy questions! Plus, we meet a sea witch, listen to our first voicemail submissions, and we learn that even witches fart sometimes!

Check out @jessbaumann_ for amazing photography!

To submit your story or question for an upcoming Listener Stories episode, you can go to our contact page here, email us at [email protected], or leave us a voicemail at 707-559-8111.

If you have time, please rate and review our show! It helps more people find our podcast.

Support the show

Another sabbat is coming around, and we're breaking down the origins of Ostara, how it relates to Easter, and how to celebrate it! We're also talking about the Vernal Equinox and all the magic in the air and in the earth during springtime!

Support the show