Wormwood & Witches

Grimoire vs Book of Shadows, same same but different? Erika taps into the history behind the book of spells and magick, while Talle tries to keep her Texas accent at bay. Join us for the last episode before we go on a summer break, but be sure to check in for tiny sprinkles of fun episodes we'll be posting during our hiatus!

Send us your stories! Witchy, ghost, or a simple hello to: [email protected]

Show Notes:

https://www.claudiamerrill.com/blog/the-history-of-the-grimoire

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grimoire

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Grimoire

Today Talle discusses Witch Ladders (not bladders - much to Erika's deafness). Come learn about the crackpot who based his entire research off one witch ladder, curses, feathers, knot magick and more! Only one more episode until summer break! But don't fret - there will be short episodes for the summer.

Show Notes:

I’m a witch in a bottle, you gotta conjure me the right way!!! Today we are chatting about witch bottles! What are they?  What do they do?  Why is there urine in them!?  So many scary things to cover in this crazy episode.  So if you find a bottle under your hearth or threshold - leave it there and especially don’t taste the contents! It is not a genie bottle.  And yes - finger and toe nails do contain DNA.

Merrifield, Ralph. “Witch Bottles and Magical Jugs.” Folklore, vol. 66, no. 1, 1955, pp. 195–207. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/1257932. 

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/witch-bottles-project-in-britain

https://daily.jstor.org/is-there-a-witch-bottle-in-your-house/

https://www.cornwalllive.com/news/cornwall-news/antiques-roadshow-expert-told-150-3689553)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_bottle#cite_note-9

https://jefpat.maryland.gov/Pages/mac-lab/curators-choice/2009-curators-choice/2009-08-witch-bottle.aspx

https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/25/us/witch-bottle-virginia-civil-war-trnd/index.html

https://archive.archaeology.org/online/features/halloween/witch_bottle.html

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/witch-bottle-full-teeth-pins-and-possibly-urine-discovered-chimney-180973448/

https://daily.jstor.org/is-there-a-witch-bottle-in-your-house/

https://archive.archaeology.org/online/features/halloween/witch_bottle.html

https://cardinalscholar.bsu.edu/handle/123456789/197006

https://shows.acast.com/themageswell/episodes/witch-bottles

This week Talle and Erika dive into Sanitariums (not Sanitoriums), the health retreat that no one asked for. From Arizona all the way to Scotland, we gaze into the darkness and try to find what looks back. It appears that all the pain and trauma left behind is what resides at the places, some of which are still in use today! So come learn about fever huts and lobotomies!

Show Notes:

https://www.azdhs.gov/az-state-hospital/timeline.php

https://www.facebook.com/arizonahistoricalsociety/photos/haunted-history-monththe-insane-asylum-of-arizonaarizona-state-hospitalphoenix-a/10151206567616842/

https://www.azmirror.com/2021/11/16/patient-deaths-at-arizona-state-hospital-raise-questions-about-staffing-levels-lack-of-oversight/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnie_Ruth_Judd

https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3128&context=all_theses

We're back, baybeeeee! Talle and Erika were in need of new laptops, and we're happy to be up and running again. This week we discuss those wacky Victorians and how arsenic and other outrageous items played a huge roll in their daily lives.

Email us your weird or witchy stories to [email protected]

Show notes:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3179678/

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Poison-Panic/

https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si_public_record_report.cfm?dirEntryId=341168&Lab=NHEERL&subject=Health%20Research&showCriteria=0&searchAll=Asthma%20or%20Asthmatic&sortBy=revisionDate

https://sites.dartmouth.edu/toxmetal/arsenic/arsenic-a-murderous-history/

https://laafa.edu/poisonous-pigments-scheeles-green/

https://mollybrown.org/beauty

https://www.amnh.org/explore/news

https://andreacefalo.com/2016

https://hair-and-makeup-artist.com/womens-victorian

Mugworts!  We continue with our poison theme and gain the Cliffsnotes version on poison rings and arsenic!  Ever wonder how poison rings work?  What poisons did they hold?  Who had to taste test Hitler's food?  Some of the answers you seek can be found here!  Enjoy!

Notes:

https://www.amazon.com/Rings-Miniature-Monuments-Devotion-Scarisbrick/dp/B00NBH5TKA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affair_of_the_Poisons

https://sites.dartmouth.edu/toxmetal/arsenic/arsenic-a-murderous-history/

https://recollections.biz/blog/the-mysterious-world-of-poison-rings/

https://bessheitner.com/blog/pick-your-poison-a-brief-history-of-deadly-jewelry/

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-wild-history-of-poison-rings

https://4cs.gia.edu/en-us/blog/murky-history-poison-rings/

Hey, Mugworts! This week we did something a lil' different. Talle surprises Erika on this episode talking about poisonous plants and muuuuurders along with some historical fun facts. Those Victorians are an interesting bunch when it comes to beauty and aliments. Tune in with your favorite non-poisonous beverage and say a cheers to Aqua Tofanaaaaaaaah! 

Send us your stories at [email protected]

Show notes:

Poison: The History of Potions, Powders, and Murderous Practitioners by Ben Hubbard

The Poison Path Herbal by Colby Michael

https://allthatsinteresting.com/aqua-tofana 

It's 2023! Erika and Talle are back and diving into the Shadow Work we ignored all last year. Aiding us are two Dark Goddesses that, we discover, have been with us all along! Erika talks about the origins of The Morrigan and how to work with her. Talle discusses Lilith and her rituals. We come to the realization of their similarities as our topics unfold. 

Send us your stories at: [email protected]

Show Notes:

The Morrigan Celtic Goddess of Magick and Might by Courtney Weber

Dark Goddess Magick Rituals and Spells for Reclaiming Your Feminine Fire by C. Ara Campbell

https://teaandrosemary.com/?s=dark+goddess  

https://www.orderwhitemoon.org/goddess/lilith4/Lilith.htm

https://eclecticwitchcraft.com/crystals-for-lilith-and-harnessing-lilith-energy/

https://tarotpugs.com/2020/02/29/lilith-witchcraft/

https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/lilith-ancient-demon-dark-deity-or-sex-goddess-005908

https://spells8.com/lessons/lilith-symbols-dark-goddess/

Goddess, Witch, Womb Podcast, The Morrigan, Episode 24

Once Upon a Goddess Podcast, Lilith - The First Woman

Merry Scaremass Mugworts!

This Yule we are keeping with traditions but obviously going the scary route, because why wouldn't Talle and Erika?  Today we cover from Germany with Frau Perchta all the way to Iceland with the Yule cat! Find us on IG @wormwoodandwitches and let us know your family or cultural traditions!  And blessed be Yule!

Show Notes:

https://germangirlinamerica.com/what-is-frau-perchta-goddess-or-belly-slitter/

https://boroughsofthedead.com/frau-perchta/

https://thestoriedimaginarium.com/2018/12/24/the-myth-of-frau-perchta/

https://www.invest-in-bavaria.com/en/blog/post/a-ghoulishly-beautiful-tradition-rauhnachtin-bavaria

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frau_Holle

Mythical Monsters Episode!

The Yulelads Book

Help! I've been cursed! Nah, you've been protected with Apotropaic Marks! A fancy word for Ritual Marks, also known as Apotropaic Marks (say that fast three times!), and sometimes referred to as Witch Marks, have certainly left an eerie "mark" throughout Europe, particularly England, for hundreds of years. Talle is a leeeetle overzealous about this topic so grab some tea and get comfy for a deep dive into these very interesting symbols of protection found in the most peculiar of places.  

Have an idea, share a spooky story, or want to just say hi, email us at [email protected]

Show Notes:

https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/bradford-on-avon-tithe-barn/history/

https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/news/help-hunt-for-witches-marks/

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/discover/history/warding-off-evil-with-witch-marks

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/knole/witchmarks-at-knole-and-the-gunpowder-plot

https://museumcrush.org/witchs-chimney-witches-marks-to-be-revealed-at-wookey-hole-caves/

https://ulasnews.com/2014/10/20/treasures-in-the-kitchen-archaeological-investigation-of-reynards-kitchen-dovedale-derbyshire/

SYMBOLS_SCORES_ON_THE_DOORS.pdf

https://www.ashmolean.org/spellbound

https://www.patriotledger.com/story/entertainment/local/2019/10/19/home-boasts-friendly-ghost-winslow/2493755007/

http://newenglandfolklore.blogspot.com/2020/03/daisy-wheels-and-witch-marks-in-new.html

http://secretsuffolk.com/troston-st-marys/

https://www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/ritual-protection-marks-and-witchcraft-knole-kent

https://podcasts.apple.com/jo/podcast/episode-83-halloween-special-witchcraft-and-witch-marks/id1156861002?i=1000496443723

 https://www.smithsonianchannel.com/shows/mystic-britain

https://modernmythology.net/realpentagramhistory-64fdc64866a5