Episode 224 – (Smug) Bird Lore – New World Witchery – The Search for American Traditional Witchcraft

Ca-CAW!!! Feather your nest with some egg-cellent lore!

Summary: They may be smug, but there’s a LOT of folklore about them! We’re talking bird-based folk beliefs, magic, superstitions, and more this time.

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Producer for this show: This episode is supported by listener Cathy, to whom we offer an egg in these trying times.

Play: Episode 224 – (Smug) Bird Lore
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We draw upon a variety of sources for information this episode, including:

De Divinatonae/On Divination by Cicero (augury in the ancient world)
What the Robin Knows by Jon Young (the science of bird-watching)
Folkloric American Witchcraft & the Multicultural Experience by Via Hedera (blue jays and the devil)
Earth, Air, Fire, Water by Scott Cunningham (the passage that inspired this episode)
“The Goose Girl” and “Frau Holle” which appear in the Complete Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm
The Crow by James O’Barr (massive childhood inspiration) and The Sandman by Neil Gaiman (adult inspiration)
“Odds and Ends of North American Folklore on Birds,” by W.L. McAtee (Western Folklore 1955 article)

The transcript for this episode is available on our Transcripts page.

Some upcoming publications from us:

Cory recently contributed to The Gorgon’s Guide to Magical Resistance, edited by Jenn Zahrt and Laura Tempest Zakroff (which includes his “penis trees” article along with a lot of other great pieces) and the upcoming release of the Llewellyn’s Complete Book of North American Folk Magic, out in Spring 2023. Also be on the lookout for our upcoming collaborative book Conjuring the Commonplace: A Guide to Everyday Enchantment and Junk Drawer Magic also coming in 2023 from 1000Volt Press.

You can now buy Cory’s book, New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic! (also available from Amazon)

Please note that clicking on links may provide some monetary compensation to New World Witchery.

Image via Pixabay (Used under CC 2.0 License, modified by New World Witchery)

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Promos and Music: Title music is “Woman Blues,” by Paul Avgerinos. All music is licensed from Audio Socket (#35954).

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