Summary
In this episode, we discuss hoodoo and rootwork, particularly our experiences with it. Then we have an interview with esteemed conjurer Papa Toad Bone.
Websites Lucky Mojo Co. – A site with lots of hoodoo information Toad’s Bone Apotheca – Our guest’s marvelously funky and fantastic online curio shop Mississippi Cunning + Conjure – A forum space for those interested in Southern magic and Traditional sorcery Scarespite – A repository of Traditional Witchcraft and Sorcerous folklore
Summary
This is the first of (hopefully) many mini-episode specials in which we’ll explore particular practical topics in American Witchcraft. Today, we’re looking at the history, lore, and making of Witch Bottles. Plus we’ll share our own experiences with them.
-Sources-
*The Wikipedia entry on “witch bottles.”
*Apotropaios – An excellent site with scholarly history of many occult objects, including Witch Bottles.
*The Lucky Mojo page on “Bottle Spells” has lots of great information on the various kinds of magical bottle workings done around the world.
*The Appalachian History blog has an excellent entry on “Bottle Trees.”
*The Encyclopedia of Witches and Witchcraft, by Rosemary Ellen Guiley, has a good article on “witch bottles.”
*The Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells, by Judika Illes, is another tome with lots of magical information, including some on Witch Bottles.
P.S. This is just a quick apology for the lateness of this episode, as well as occasional shifts in sound quality. We have been having trouble with our podcast recording software, and had to re-record parts of our show via Skype. We should have this issue resolved by our next episode, so thanks for bearing with us.
In this show, we spend some time trying to pin down that elusive word, “witch,” and figure out just what makes a person fit that term. Then, in the second half of the show we have an excellent pair of guests, Dr. Brendan Myers and Juniper from the Standing Stone and Garden Gate Podshow. Plus, we have a reminder about our current weather-lore contest.
In this episode, we talk about periods of waxing and waning interest in witchcraft, and how to get out of non-practicing rut. Then we have a reading of “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne. We also announce our first ever contest (make sure to listen all the way to the end of the show).
Our first ever contest! We’re looking for weather lore, so please submit yours for a chance to win our prize, a copy of Cat Yronwode’s Hoodoo Root & Herb Magic. Please see Blog Post 11 – A Contest! for more details.
On this, the second episode of New World Witchery, Laine and Cory discuss the ins and outs of broom closets. In the second segment, we hear from the lovely Sarah Lawless, proprietress of the Forest Grove Botanica and keeper of many irons in many fires. Then, we wrap up with a call for comments and emails from our listeners.
For Episode 1 of New World Witchery, Cory and Laine try to come up with a quick and simple definition for New World Witchery, including a brief overview of the traditions we consider to be under the umbrella of American Witchcraft.
We talk a bit about ourselves, our path to witchcraft, and how it has brought us to where we are today. And later on, Cory will give you a little bit of history on witchcraft in America.
An extensive and very interesting list of witchcraft trials in America can be found at: http://www.personal.utulsa.edu/~Marc-Carlson/witchtrial/na.html. This site also does the reader a service by providing direction to original source material and making it clear when details are too vague to make definitive statements about the trial.
Two websites which reveal a great deal about Hispanic magical practices are the Curious Curandera and Brujo Negro. While they may seem diametrically opposed in some ways, they actually have quite a lot in common, and a good overview of Hispanic magical traditions can be worked out between the two.
Lilith’s Lantern, a site dedicated to the Feri & Vicia branches of Anderson’s witchcraft, is a wonderful resource for learning more about this tradition.
New World Witchery - The Search for American Traditional Witchcraft 