In this episode, we dive into Charmed Season 3, Episode 3, “Once Upon a Time,” where fairy dust, invisible trolls, and childhood innocence collide. Using the Halliwell sisters’ battle to protect a fairy princess as our guide, we unpack the darker folklore roots of fairies and trolls, creatures that have always thrived in liminal spaces like forests, crossroads, and dusk itself. From ancient Celtic legends to modern romantasy vibes, this episode asks what we lose when we stop believing and what kind of magic waits in the in-between.

Trigger Warning: This episode includes references to child abandonment, child kidnapping, and harm against children. It also references threats of harm, murder, and death. 

Learn More:

• alyssanicolepallotta. (2023, May 8). Fairy folklore. Read It Or Weep. https://readitorweep.org/2023/05/08/fairy-folklore/ 

• Barone, F. (2020, March 12). Luck of the Irish: Folklore and fairies in rural Ireland. Human Relations Area Files. https://hraf.yale.edu/luck-of-the-irish-folklore-and-fairies-in-rural-ireland/ 

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• ceridwensilverhart. (2021, April 28). Quarterly bestiary: Trolls from hostile magic to lovable goofs. https://illuminatingthefoolsmirror.wordpress.com/2021/04/28/quarterly-bestiary-trolls-from-hostile-magic-to-lovable-goofs/ 

• Dragons and Beasts Live. (n.d.). Where did the trolls myth come from? https://www.dragonsandbeastslive.com/blog/where-did-the-trolls-myth-come-from 

• Dundes, A. (1980). Interpreting folklore. Indiana University Press.

• Faircloth, K. (2025, February 13). “Faerie smut” is having a moment — just like it did in 1500. Culture. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/romantasy-history-acotar-celtic-folklore 

• Goikhberg, M. (2021, April 19). The in-between. Brizo: For the Artist and the Intellectual. https://brizomagazine.com/2021/04/19/the-in-between/ 

• Halpin, D. (2024, May 17). Fairies in folklore versus popular culture. The Druids Cauldron. https://thedruidscauldron.net/2024/05/17/fairies-in-folklore-verses-popular-culture/ 

• Heckel, J. (2018, July 13). Charmed, I’m sure: A closer look at everyone’s dream prince. Reactor. https://reactormag.com/prince-charming-everyones-dream-prince/ 

• The Irish Pagan School. (2022, July 13). The Sídhe: Irish fairy folklore. https://irishpagan.school/sidhe-irish-fairy-folklore/ 

• Jones, M. (2015). The role of trolls in Scandinavian folklore and their modern adaptations. Folklore Studies Quarterly, 42(3), 210–225. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/fsq.v42i3.1234

• Lee, S. (2025, May 28). Exploring liminal spaces in mythology. Number Analytics. https://www.numberanalytics.com/blog/liminal-spaces-in-mythology 

• Lindow, J. (2001). Norse mythology: A guide to the gods, heroes, rituals, and beliefs. Oxford University Press.

• MacCulloch, J. A. (1911). The religion of the ancient Celts. T. & T. Clark.

• Muratore, G. (2022, November 1). Charmed: 10 demons who actually had roots in myth and literature. Collider. https://collider.com/charmed-demons-with-roots-classical-myth-literature/ 

• Mythos Anthology. (n.d.). Trolls: The giants of myth, folklore, and fantasy. https://mythosanthology.com/385-2/ 

• Rainbolt, D. (2022, January 20). Irish folklore, myth, and legend: The fairies. Wilderness Ireland. https://www.wildernessireland.com/blog/irish-folklore-fairies/ 

• Smith, L. (2018). Fairies and the concept of childhood innocence in European folklore. Journal of Mythological Studies, 12(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.xxxx/jms.v12i1.5678

• Valentinelli, M. (2020, December 4). Five fascinating magical beings from the original Charmed. Reactor.  https://reactormag.com/five-fascinating-magical-beings-from-the-original-charmed/ 

Wedding bells (and binding spells) are ringing in the stacks! In this episode of Witches in the Stacks: Charmed Chatter, we hyperfocus on Charmed’s Season 3 wedding-heavy episodes (“Magic Hour,” “Bride and Gloom,” and “Just Harried”) from forbidden love and corrupted rituals to Piper and Leo’s iconic midnight handfasting. Along the way, we unpack the real-world origins of familiar wedding traditions and explore how the show blends them with authentic Wiccan practices.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to non-consensual marriage and rigid gender and sexual norms.

Learn More:

Allen, K. (n.d.). The surprising truths behind common wedding superstitions. Bridal Guide. https://www.bridalguide.com/planning/wedding-ceremony-traditions/wedding-superstitions 

Buckland, R. (1986). Buckland’s complete book of witchcraft. Llewellyn Publications.

Covino, E.. (2021, November). 14 wedding traditions, explained. Johnson & Wales University. https://www.jwu.edu/news/2021/07/wedding-traditions.html

dhwty. (2019, February 14). The origins of the bridal veil and its protection from evil spirits. Ancient Origins. https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/origins-bridal-veil-0011480 

Farrar, J., & Farrar, S. (1984). A witches’ Bible: The complete witches’ handbook. Phoenix Publishing.

IMDb. (n.d.). Charmed: Bride and gloom (season 3, episode 13) – Plot summary. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0539336/plotsummary/ 

IMDb. (n.d.). Charmed: Just harried (season 3, episode 15). https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0539379/ 

IMDb. (n.d.). Charmed: Magic hour (season 3, episode 2). https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0539389/ 

jeanniehalliwell. (2021). Season 3 episode 2: I started sobbing when leo was crushingly summoned when piper and leo's wedding was about to start. Im broken even though i know good stuff will happen. But they both looked wonderful. [Online forum post]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/charmed/comments/nnp4qv/season_3_episode_2_i_started_sobbing_when_leo_was/

Jenn. (2025, April 26). Charmed 3.2, Magic Hour: The Rutabaga Dilemma. ‘90s Flashback. https://90sflashback.wordpress.com/2025/04/26/charmed-3-2-magic-hour-the-rutabaga-dilemma/ 

Larsschade. (n.d.). Charmed - spells guide. http://www.larsschade.com/e_spell.htm 

Levey, J. (2023, August 15). Charmed wedding inspiration from Piper & Leo’s midnight Wiccan handfasting ceremony. American weddings blog. https://theamm.org/articles/1783-charmed-wedding-inspiration-from-piper-leo-s-midnight-wiccan-handfasting-ceremon 

mainAbwif (2023, August 12). The origins of bridal veils. A Beautiful Wedding in Florida. https://abeautifulweddinginflorida.com/the-origins-of-bridal-veils/ 

MasterClass. (2022, December 14). Handfasting ceremony: What is handfasting? https://www.masterclass.com/articles/handfasting-ceremony 

Title, S. (2024, April 15). Is it bad luck to see each other before the wedding? Here's the history. The Knot. https://www.theknot.com/content/can-we-see-each-other-before-the-wedding 

Universal Life Church. (n.d.). Wiccan/Pagan handfasting ceremony script. https://www.ulc.org/wedding-ceremony-scripts/wiccanpagan-handfasting-ceremony-script 

Universal Life Church Wedding Officiants. (n.d.). How to perform a Wiccan wedding. Wedding Officiant Search and Guide. https://www.ulcweddingofficiants.com/officiant-training/how-to-perform-a-wiccan-wedding/ 

Wedgewood Weddings. (n.d.). 6 beautiful wedding traditions with evil roots. https://www.wedgewoodweddings.com/blog/beautiful-wedding-traditions-evil-roots 

The Wiccan Lady. (n.d.). Handfastings. https://www.thewiccanlady.co.uk/handfastings 

Wikipedia contributors. (2025, December 29). Handfasting. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Handfasting&oldid=1330148338 

Wildling Weddings. (n.d.). Celtic Pagan wedding traditions: Planning, practices, and superstitions! https://wildlingweddings.com/celtic-pagan-wedding-traditions-planning-practices-and-superstitions/ 

Half man, half demon, and endlessly conflicted, Cole Turner (aka Balthazar) becomes one of Charmed’s most compelling figures in Season 3. In this episode, we change things up a bit as we trace Cole’s emotional and moral arc, from assassin to lover to would-be redeemer, while unpacking the ancient, biblical, and occult origins of the name “Balthazar” to reveal how myth, magic, and duality collide in his character. From forbidden romance to fallen kings and demon lore, this is a deep dive into why Cole was never just a love interest, he was a legend in disguise.

Trigger Warning: This episode touches on themes of death and grief, illness, fictional and historical violence, historical discussions of race, and emotionally complicated (including manipulation) relationship dynamics.

Learn More:

BibleTools.org. (n.d.). Daniel 5:22 (King James version). https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/bible.show/sVerseID/21897/eVerseID/2190

Duncan, Z. (2024, April 16). Belshazzar: The fictional Babylonian king who actually lived. Medium. https://medium.com/@zduncan/who-was-belshazzar-c82d7dc23574 

Givens, D. M. (2023, January 5). The blackening of Balthazar: Epiphany and race in the European middle ages. Comment. https://comment.org/the-blackening-of-balthazar/ 

Jones, D. N. (2024, September 23). Recognizing a master manipulator. University of Nevada, Nevada Today. https://www.unr.edu/nevada-today/news/2024/atp-recognizing-a-master-manipulator 

King James Bible. (2017). King James Bible Online. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/

Narkive. (n.d.). Can someone tell me who exactly Balthazar demon is (for a book I’m writing)? Folklore Culture Forum. https://folklore.culture.narkive.com/qhDehF2f/can-someone-tell-me-who-exactly-balthazar-demon-is-for-a-book-i-m-writing 

Poell, N. (2019, August 20). The original Cherokee story of two wolves. Dr. Nicole Poell, Psy.D. https://www.drnicolepoell.com/blog/2018/7/10/blog-headline-376gb-tm28t 

Sonshine. (2011, January 3). Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar: Who? What? bible.org Blogs. https://blogs.bible.org/gaspar-melchior-and-balthazarwho-what/ 

Wikipedia contributors. (2025, November 6). Bael (demon). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bael_(demon)&oldid=1320768773 

Yokai.com. (n.d.). Oni no Kan’nebutsu. https://yokai.com/oninokannebutsu/

In this episode, we dive into Charmed’s genie chaos—where French Stewart pops in, Dan pops out (at warp-speed aging), and the sisters’ well-intentioned wishes go predictably sideways until a remorseful genie helps set the timeline right. From there, we open the lamp on the real lore: exploring the deep history of jinn and genies, their origins in pre-Islamic belief and Islamic theology, their many types, their fears, their role in modern Muslim contexts, and how pop culture turned them into wish-granting icons. It’s a whirlwind tour of smokeless fire, tricky magic, and the surprising differences between the djinn of myth and the genies we grew up with.

Trigger Warning: This episode includes mentions of slavery and references to violence.

Learn More:

• Al-Dirassa Institute. (n.d.). Protection against jinns in Islam: Invocation and significance. Al-Dirassa. https://al-dirassa.com/en/protection-against-jinns-in-islam-invocation-and-significance/

• Arabian Tongue. (2023, September 14). What are jinns scared of in Quran: Unveiling the mysteries. ArabianTongue.com. https://www.arabiantongue.com/what-are-jinns-scared-of/

• Biblioteca Natalie. (2024, October 24.). Jinns: Beings of light and fire in Arabian folk. BibliotecaNatalie.com. https://bibliotecanatalie.com/home/f/jinns-beings-of-light-and-fire-in-arabian-folk

• Islamic Dua Ghar. (2024, June 23). Signs of jinn in house - detection and protection tips. IslamicDuaGhar.com. https://islamicduaghar.com/signs-of-jinn-in-house/

• Jinn. (n.d.). Jinn Wiki. https://jinn.fandom.com/wiki/Jinn

• Khan, A. M. (n.d.). Getting involved with jinns and the unseen. IslamQA.org. https://islamqa.org/hanafi/darululoomtt/52160/getting-involved-with-jinns-and-the-unseen/

• Life With Allah. (n.d.). Magic and Jinn. LifeWithAllah.com. https://lifewithallah.com/articles/ruqyah/magic-and-jinn/

• Misra, A. A. (2011, July 31). The jinn: The reality of their existence and how to protect ourselves from them. SeekersGuidance.org. https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/the-jinn-the-reality-of-their-existence-and-how-to-protect-ourselves-from-them/

• Mission Islam. (n.d.). Question and answer. MissionIslam.com. https://www.missionislam.com/health/questionjinnnowscared.html

• Mythos Anthology. (n.d.). Genie: The wish-granting spirit of Middle Eastern and Western folklore. MythosAnthology.com. https://mythosanthology.com/genie/

• Praveen, D. (2023, 25 Oct.). Jinn and Genies: Exploring the Differences. Super Natural Saga. https://supernaturalsaga.com/difference-between-jinn-and-genies/ 

• Saber, I. F. (2022, February 20). Jinn: Who are the supernatural beings of Arabian and Islamic tradition? Middle East Eye. https://www.middleeasteye.net/discover/jinn-islamic-arabian-tradition-supernatural-beings

• Sagers, A. (2019, May 25). A history of genies in folklore and pop culture. IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/25/a-history-of-genies-in-folklore-and-pop-culture

• Suhail, A. (2022). Exploring the 10 types of jinn as described in Islamic belief. Vocal Media. https://vocal.media/journal/exploring-the-10-types-of-jinn-as-described-in-islamic-belief

• Times of India. (2023, November 20). City of jinn: Magical myths haunt ancient Omani oasis. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/city-of-jinn-magical-myths-haunt-ancient-omani-oasis/articleshow/105345293.cms

• Ummah Welfare Trust. (2019). Ruqyah booklet: A remedy for illnesses, evil eye, magic and jinn from the Qur’ān and Sunnah [PDF]. https://uwt.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ruqyah-Booklet.pdf

• Venkataraman, U. (2011, May 22). All about jinn: Creatures that dwell in dark places, caves, toilets, and now also in parliaments. Al Arabiya English. https://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2011%2F05%2F22%2F150083

• Vocabulary.com. (n.d.). Djinn. In Vocabulary.com Dictionary. https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/djinn 

• Wikipedia contributors. (2025, December 8). Jinn. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jinn&oldid=1326347993 

In Charmed’s “Apocalypse, Not,” (Season 2, Episode 21) Prue is pulled into a vortex with a Horseman of the Apocalypse, leaving Phoebe and Piper to choose between saving their sister or stopping the end of the world. We break down the real origins and symbolism of the Four Horsemen, how Charmed reimagines them, and how these apocalyptic figures have shaped everything from medieval history to modern pop culture. Along the way, we explore the show’s Eleven Planes of Existence and why humanity can’t stop retelling stories about the end of days.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of religious themes, war, famine, disease, death, cannibalism, and historical antisemitism.

Learn More:

• AmazingGraceLyrics. (2017, October 10). Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around lyric video [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/nJhgEMKLuHI?si=SMSScbCxQ9PbHpVd 

• Apocalypse, Not. (n.d.). Charmed Wiki. https://charmed.fandom.com/wiki/Apocalypse,_Not​ 

• Baugh, T. (2018). The Four Horsemen in popular culture. Digital Literature Review, 5, 108–119. https://doi.org/10.33043/DLR.5.0.108-119  ​

• TheBigOReview. (2023). The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Reddit r/Bible. https://www.reddit.com/r/Bible/comments/177c7qs/the_four_horsemen_of_the_apocalypse/ 

• De Jager, E. (2024, November 20). Who are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? The Collector. https://www.thecollector.com/four-horsemen-apocalypse-revelation/ 

• Enter_RandomNameHere. (2023). What is the origin of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Reddit, r/mythology. https://www.reddit.com/r/mythology/comments/19finbm/what_is_the_origin_of_the_four_horsemen_of_the/ 

• Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. (n.d.). Charmed Wiki. https://charmed.fandom.com/wiki/Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse ​

• Halliwell, M.L. (n.d). Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Charmed. Amino. https://aminoapps.com/c/charmed-amino/page/item/four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse-charmed/wKe3_VpkcpIB1MVVpxMNB7KmQDqrL8oZr0P

• IMDb. (n.d.). “Charmed” Apocalypse, Not (TV Episode 2000). https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0539326/ 

• IMDb. (n.d.). “Charmed” Apocalypse, Not (TV Episode 2000) – Plot summary. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0539326/plotsummary/ 

• Luecke, P. (2025). What are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? Life, Hope & Truth. https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/end-times/four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse/ ​

• Marquette University. (n.d.). Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. https://academic.mu.edu/meissnerd/4horses.htm ​

• May, S.S. (2016, March 17). Buddhist rebirth in different planes of existence. British Library Asian and African Studies Blog. https://www.bl.uk/stories/blogs/posts/buddhist-rebirth-in-different-planes-of-existence 

• The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.). The Four Horsemen, from”The Apocalypse,” Albrecht Dürer German, 1498 (Object No. 336215). https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/336215 ​

• New World Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse ​

• The Public Domain Review. (n.d.). The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. https://publicdomainreview.org/collection/the-four-horsemen-of-the-apocalypse ​

• Raconteur, Mythology & History. (2022, February 12). The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse explained [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0ypBL8s5v4 ​

• Wikipedia contributors. (2025, November 4). Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse&oldid=1320469220

• Wikipedia contributors. (2025, March 14). Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (painting). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Four_Horsemen_of_the_Apocalypse_(painting)&oldid=1280485870

• Wikipedia contributors. (2025, November 15). Plane (esotericism). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from ⁠https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plane_(esotericism)&oldid=1322225772⁠

This episode covers episodes 19 and 20 of the series Charmed. In “Ex Libris,” the sisters face the uneasy line between human wrongdoing and supernatural evil when a murdered student’s spirit seeks justice. Then in “Astral Monkey,” a doctor’s experiment with the Halliwells’ blood goes wildly wrong, sparking questions about science, consent, and the cost of curiosity. Without further ado, let’s dig into grimoires, demonology, and real-world stories of medical research and the violation of human rights. 

Note: The Annabelle Doll is noted as being located in the Warren Occult Museum. While the Warren Occult Museum is still in operation, it has since changed guardianship and as of late 2025 it and Annabelle are on tour in the U.S.

Trigger Warning: Discussions of murder and beheadings; human experimentation; racial injustice and unethical medical research (e.g., Tuskegee Study, Henrietta Lacks); and violation of consent and bodily autonomy. 

Learn More:

• American Medical Association. (n.d.). Code of Medical Ethics. https://code-medical-ethics.ama-assn.org/

• Bane, T. (2012). Encyclopedia of demons in world religions and cultures. McFarland & Company, Inc. https://ia601901.us.archive.org/24/items/BaneTheresaEncyclopediaOfDemonsInWorldReligionsAndCultures/Bane%2C%20Theresa%20Encyclopedia%20of%20demons%20in%20world%20religions%20and%20cultures.pdf

• Brown, D. L. (2017, May 16). 'You've got bad blood': The horror of the Tuskegee syphilis experiment. Washington Post. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A491817116/ITOF?u=txshracd2566&sid=summon&xid=56b1f841

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). “About Bartonella bacilliformis”. https://www.cdc.gov/bartonella/about/about-bartonella-bacilliformis.html

• Davies, O. (2023, October 31). Art of the grimoire: 7 spell books through history. https://yalebooksblog.co.uk/2023/10/31/art-of-the-grimoire-7-spell-books-through-history/

• Demonology. (2025, October 26). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demonology

• Ed and Lorraine Warren. (2025, November 8). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_and_Lorraine_Warren

• Grimoire. (2025, November 9). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimoire

• Guiley, R. E. (2009). The encyclopedia of demons and demonology. Facts on File. https://www.deliverancechronicles.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/The-Encyclopedia-Of-Demons-And-Demonology.pdf-PDFDrive.com-.pdf - click at your own risk, can’t guarantee a demon won’t show up

• Henrietta Lacks. (2025, November 2). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henrietta_Lacks

• Jacques Collin de Plancy. (2025, June 19). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Collin_de_Plancy

• Jones, J. H. (1993, January 15). Bad blood: The Tuskegee syphilis experiment. Free Press.

• Ralph Sarchie. (2025, October 30). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Sarchie

• SDSU Library. (n.d.). Grimoires and occult revival. Witchcraft Studies. https://libguides.sdsu.edu/c.php?g=905875&p=6686265

• Simon, E. (2022, February 23). “A history of demonology is a history of the world: Ed Simons offers a demonic poetics”. Literary Hub. https://lithub.com/a-history-of-demonology-is-a-history-of-the-world/

• Skloot, R. (n.d.). “About the book”. Rebecca Skloot. https://rebeccaskloot.com/the-immortal-life/about-the-book/

• Spector-Bagdady, K. (2017, January 25). “The privacy debate over research with your blood and tissue”. University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation. https://ihpi.umich.edu/news/privacy-debate-over-research-your-blood-tissue 

• Willow. (2014, September 1). “What’s the difference: Grimoire vs. book of shadows”. Flying the hedge: A modern approach to hedgecraft. https://www.flyingthehedge.com/2014/09/grimoire-vs-book-of-shadows.html

A demon who steals skin, a deal for eternal beauty, and a sisterly crisis of vanity — it’s all in a day’s work for the Charmed Ones. Join us as we peel back (pun intended) the demon of vanity, the sin behind it, and what it really means to grow older magically.

Trigger Warning: This episode contains content like violence, murder, human skin/flaying, sensitive commentary on prostitution and vulnerable individuals, references to mental health disorders and addiction, and religious symbolism and gendered punishment.

Learn More: 

• Astaroth (2025). Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astaroth 

• Britannica. (n.d.). Xipe Totec. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Xipe-Totec 

• Britannica. (n.d.). Whore of Babylon. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/whore-of-Babylon 

• Carter, P. (2018, June 14). Who is the whore of Babylon (and why does it matter?). The Gospel Coalition Canada. https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/columns/ad-fontes/who-is-the-whore-of-babylon-and-why-does-it-matter/ 

• Church of the Great God. (n.d.). Bible verses about Satan's vanity. https://www.cgg.org/index.cfm/library/verses/id/8440/satans-vanity-verses.htm 

• Haynes, C.L., (2023, August 7). What does the Bible say about the dangers of vanity? Bible Study Tools. https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/what-does-the-bible-say-about-the-dangers-of-vanity.html 

• Johnson, B. (2017, January 9). The story of Burke and Hare. Historic UK. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/Burke-Hare-infamous-murderers-graverobbers/ 

• Magis Center (2020, 31 August). 8 Deadly Sins in Literature: Vanity. Retrieved from https://www.magiscenter.com/blog/8-deadly-sins-in-literature-vanity 

• Psychology Today. (n.d.). Narcissism. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/narcissism#:~:text=Narcissism%20is%20characterized%20by%20a 

• Rhodes, R. (2024, September 25). How did Lucifer fall and become Satan? Christianity.com. https://www.christianity.com/wiki/angels-and-demons/how-did-lucifer-fall-and-become-satan-11557519.html 

• Vanity (2025). Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanity​ 

• Xipe Totec (2025). Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xipe_Totec 

Get ready for an episode filled with dark omens, cosmic warnings, and a little bit of Charmed chaos. This week, we’ll talk about season 2, episodes 15 and 16. In these episodes we see Prue being kidnapped by Bane Jessup, the Halliwells’ first mention of “The Source,” and the many signs Phoebe misreads along the way — before diving into a whirlwind of history and folklore on omens, from ancient Mesopotamia to Scottish death harbingers. Plus, in honor of Murphy’s Luck and St. Patrick’s Day, we’ll explore the tricky nature of luck itself and why sometimes it feels like everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

Trigger Warning: The episode covered includes the topic of unaliving oneself. If you or someone you know is struggling, please consider seeking help via national and international hotlines:

988 Lifeline:  The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States and its territories. The 988 Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining local care and resources with national standards and best practices. https://988lifeline.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=onebox

LifeLine International: LifeLine International is a member-based organisation. Our Members deliver crisis support helplines and community-based suicide prevention services across the world.

LifeLine International promotes, supports and affiliates our Member organisations in their delivery of lifesaving services to people in crisis. https://lifeline-international.com/our-network/ 

Learn More:

Annus, A. (2009). Science and superstition: Interpretation of signs in the ancient world [Seminar]. The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/symposia/science-and-superstition-interpretation-signs-ancient-world

Croal, L. (2023, August 28). Seeing death: Exploring dark omens from Scottish folklore. Psychopomp. https://psychopomp.com/deadlands/issue-28/scottish-folklore/

Dhwty. (2014, March 11). Ten famous and infamous omens from the ancient world. Ancient Origins. https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/ten-famous-and-infamous-omens-ancient-world-001437

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2024, August 15). omen. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/omen 

Faerywolf, S. (2024, March 16). The gold at rainbow’s end: St. Patrick, paganism, and celebrating Irish heritage. The Wild Hunt. https://wildhunt.org/2024/03/the-gold-at-rainbows-end-st-patrick-paganism-and-celebrating-irish-heritage.html#:~:text=With%20this%20understanding%2C%20some%20modern,this%20idea%20often%20see%20St

The Irish Pagan School. (2024, March 13). The myth and truth of Saint Patrick. The Irish Pagan School. https://irishpagan.school/saint-patrick-myths-and-truths/

Mendiola, R. (2018, March 15). St. Patrick’s Day: The history behind the luck. The Pearl Post. https://www.thepearlpost.com/18779/showcase/st-patricks-day-the-history-behind-the-luck/

TalkDeath. (2017, September 18). Omens of death around the world. TalkDeath. https://talkdeath.com/omens-death-around-world/

In Charmed S2E14 “Pardon My Past,” Phoebe’s 1920s reincarnation opens the door to a deeper conversation on past lives, déjà vu, and spiritual karma. We explore reincarnation through Buddhist and Hindu lenses, past-life regression therapy, and real-world cases of children recalling previous lives—all against the backdrop of Prohibition-era San Francisco’s magic and mysticism. So pull up a chair, pour yourself some giggle water, and enjoy the listen, doll.

Please pardon the dog barking in the background - T had a very grumbly chi-weenie who demanded attention.

Trigger Warning: Some use of dated/offensive language, body shaming, and a reference to violent death.

Learn More:

• Division of Perceptual Studies. (n.d.). Children who report memories of previous lives. University of Virginia School of Medicine. https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/our-research/children-who-report-memories-of-previous-lives/

• Division of Perceptual Studies. (n.d.). Concerns about hypnotic regression. University of Virginia School of Medicine. https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/resources/concerns-about-hypnotic-regression/

• Fox, J. S. (2014, December 8). The Roaring Twenties and spiritualism. Janet S. Fox. https://janetsfox.com/2014/12/roaring-twenties-may-not-know-post-8-spiritualism/

• Greschler, G. (2022, August 25). A rare 1920s photo shows S.F. police raiding a Barbary Coast speakeasy. The San Francisco Standard. https://sfstandard.com/2022/08/25/san-francisco-history-photograph-police-barbary-coast-prohibition/

• Hartlaub, P. (2017, January 20). Where San Francisco hid its speakeasies during Prohibition. SFGate. https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Where-San-Francisco-hid-speakeasies-Prohibition-10877818.php

• Historiola. (2023, September 13). When the paddy wagon came for the speakeasy. Historiola (Substack). https://historiola.substack.com/p/when-the-paddy-wagon-came-for-the

• Hollis, M. (2022, July 18). When children remember past lives. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-seekers-forum/202207/when-children-remember-past-lives

• Institute of Clinical Hypnosis. (n.d.). What is past life regression therapy? https://instituteofclinicalhypnosis.com/hypnosis/what-is-past-life-regression-therapy/

• Jan Whitaker. (n.d.). Gypsy tea rooms. Restaurant-ing Through History. https://restaurant-ingthroughhistory.com/tag/gypsy-tea-rooms/

• Jerusalem Post Staff. (2023, September 14). Can children remember past lives? The Jerusalem Post. https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/mind-and-spirit/article-759050

• Phillips, B. (2024, December 5). Children who remember past lives: Astonishing stories and what they teach us. Medium. https://medium.com/spiritual-not-religious/children-who-remember-past-lives-astonishing-stories-and-what-they-teach-us-efbe16822b26

• Tsomo, S., Tso, P., Namgyal, D., Gyal, R., Tsering, L., Gyal, D., Kyab, O., Tso, N., & Gyaltsen, K. (2024). Development and testing of a new Tibetan medicine constitutional self-assessment tool. Explore (NY), 20(4), 580–587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2024.03.004 

We’re talking Charmed season 2, episode 13, “Animal Pragmatism.” It’s Valentine’s Day for the Halliwell sisters: Piper’s torn between Dan and mortal Leo, Prue is jobless and restless, and Phoebe’s classmates turn animals into disastrous dates. We dig into the episode’s wild mix of spells gone wrong, humans-as-animals (and vice versa), Circe’s mythology, and a dash of evolutionary psychology. Note: For some reason, this session’s audio did not like us talking at the same time and would cut in and out (on Lex in particular). Additionally, there were weird moments of interference. Please pardon weird interjections or blip/burp noises.

Trigger Warning: Discussion of evolutionary psychology includes a theory of male attraction to females who would be considered underage. Reference to using poison to commit mariticide (murdering one’s husband). Harm against animals is mentioned, especially against rabbits.

Learn More:

• Antigone Journal. (2023, November). Circe, Odysseus, and Hermes. https://antigonejournal.com/2023/11/circe-odysseus-hermes/

• Bear, L. & Zhuckkahosee, T. (n.d.). Brother Bear: A true Menominee story retold by Louise Bear and Terri Zhuckkahosee. University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Retrieved from https://www.uwosh.edu/coehs/cmagproject/ethnomath/legend/legend8.htm

• Conway, D.J. (1994). Mother, maiden, crone: The myth and reality of the triple goddess. Llewellyn Publications

• Encyclopedia Britannica. (n.d.). Evolutionary psychology. https://www.britannica.com/science/evolutionary-psychology

• Everypaw. (n.d.). Mating in rabbits. https://www.everypaw.com/all-things-pet/mating-in-rabbits#:~:text=The%20male%20rabbit%20will%20chase,act%20is%20a%20quick%20process.

• Korea.net. (2014, July 10). Korean folk tales: The tale of the grateful crane. https://www.korea.net/NewsFocus/Culture/view?articleId=121092

• Kurzban, R. (2014, June 12). Flirting. Evolutionary Psychology Blog, University of Pennsylvania. https://web.sas.upenn.edu/kurzbanepblog/2014/06/12/flirting/

• Llewellyn Worldwide. (n.d.). How to write your own spells. https://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/1864?srsltid=AfmBOor4Fx8YHKcJ0NPOmWoCvYYHAglX9cEcAGYLacRk4oGgNIAMpX0z

• People. (n.d.). Joaquin Phoenix, PETA fight for release of Disney ‘Brother Bear’ bears. https://people.com/pets/joaquin-phoenix-peta-fight-for-release-disney-brother-bear-bears/

• Qitsualik, R. A. (2007, July 5). Shapeshifter: An Inuit tale. ICT News. https://ictnews.org/archive/qitsualik-shapeshifter-an-inuit-tale/

• Schroeder, Tali M. (2013) "Inuit Myth in the Film “Brother Bear”," Oglethorpe Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 1 : Iss. 1 , Article 3. https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/ojur/vol1/iss1/34

• University of Notre Dame, Medieval Institute. (2021, May 28). From the Medieval Research Blog: Medieval rabbits: Ancient symbolism, English migration, and manuscript marginalia. https://medieval.nd.edu/news-events/news/from-the-medieval-research-blog-medieval-rabbits-ancient-symbolism-english-migration-and-manuscript-marginalia/

• wikiHow. (n.d.). How to write a spell. https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Spell

• Wikipedia. (n.d.). Legend of the White Snake. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legend_of_the_White_Snake

• Wikipedia. (n.d.). Tsuru no Ongaeshi. In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuru_no_Ongaeshi