fortune-telling – New World Witchery – The Search for American Traditional Witchcraft

Episode 264 – Magical Occupations Part 3

Magic Working Overtime

Summary:

Laine and Cory chat about one of our favorite topics, Magical Occupations! We briefly revisit our previous episodes on the subject, then go through a new list of occupations and the folklore and magic associated with them, including firefighters, dancers, sex workers, and bookshop keepers!

Please check out our Patreon page! You can help support the show for as little as a dollar a month, and get some awesome rewards at the same time. Even if you can’t give, spread the word and let others know, and maybe we can make New World Witchery even better than it is now.

Producer for this show:

New World Witchery is a Patreon supported podcast. This episode is sponsored in part by listener MissV. We’re grateful for your support and we’ll be sending some enchanted dolls your way to offer you our thanks in person!

Play: Episode 264 – Magical Occupations Part 3
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2qIneJaU7j3lD9iHfmkBmH?si=S_lFQaZgRHaqSKPSpfwToQ

Sources

We mention our previous episodes on magical occupations:

Episode 30 – Magical Occupations
Episode 81 – Magical Occupations Revisited
We also mention our 2024 episode on Occupational Witchcraft and our article about “Folk Magic on the Job,” too.
We talk about Judika Illes’s book, The Element Encyclopedia of Witchcraft.
Cory mentions some firefighter lore from the Dartmouth Occupational Folklore Archive.

Books and Things:

Please consider ordering our collaborative book Conjuring the Commonplace: A Guide to Everyday Enchantment and Junk Drawer Magic from 1000Volt Press! It’s available for purchase on Bookshop, Amazon, or from your local bookstore!

You can now buy Cory’s book, New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic! (also available from Amazon) and the recent release Llewellyn’s Complete Book of North American Folk Magic as well (also available on 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)

If you have feedback you’d like to share, email us at compassandkey@gmail.com or newworldwitcherypodcast@gmail.com or leave a comment at the website: www.newworldwitchery.com . We’d love to hear from you! Don’t forget to follow us at Twitter! And check out our Facebook page! For those who are interested, we are also on TikTok now. You can follow us on Instagram (main account, or you can follow Laine as well) or check out our new YouTube channel with back episodes of the podcast and new “Everyday Magic” videos, too (as well as most of our contest announcements)!

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

Please consider supporting us by purchasing our promotional items in the New World Witchery Threadless shop or by joining our Patreon supporters. If you like us AND you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you will love our new show: Myth Taken: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcast, now available through all the podcatchers! Please think about checking out our Audible Trial program. Visit Audibletrial.com/newworldwitchery to get your free trial of Audible, where you can download over 180,000 titles (including some narrated by Cory). Your purchases help support this show, and there’s no obligation to continue after the free trial

Episode 263 – Kitchen Witchery with Dawn Aurora Hunt

Wooden Spoons are Wands

Summary:

Cory sits down at the kitchen table to speak with Dawn of Cucina Aurora about all kinds of things: magical ingredients, who would come to our witchy dinner parties, and the sunny nature of a good dish of orange chicken.

Producer for this show:

New World Witchery is a Patreon supported podcast. This episode is sponsored in part by listener Ralph. We greatly appreciate your support and want you to know we’re sending a letter of recommendation on your behalf to our friend Frau Perchta in thanks for all you do!

Play: Episode 263 – Kitchen Witchery with Dawn Aurora Hunt
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/episode/166bCXYxFK6EzSqzIydsmZ?si=oPALvG47Que8cq0Bkkd6_Q

Sources

Be sure to check out Dawn’s website, Cucina Aurora! You can find magical ingredients, prepared meals, and more!

Also take a peek at the Kitchen Witch’s Culinary Oracle Deck, which we use for our game in this episode.

Books and Things:

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)

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

Episode 262 – All in the Cards

Shuffle and Spread ‘Em

Summary:

Laine and Cory sit down to talk about their experiences and methods for reading cards, including playing card divination, oracle decks, and tarot.

Producer for this show:

New World Witchery is a Patreon supported podcast. This episode is sponsored in part by listener Donna. We’ve done a reading and it looks like you’ll be getting a fantastic raise this year! So congratulations and thank you!

Play: Episode 262 – All in the Cards
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2GOLDhLHbRNWXdqktMPtc9?si=xv44SzjzTzadrNgjP6dd5w

Sources

We talk about a lot of decks and resources we recommend, incluidng:

Decks mentioned:

The Mutable Oracle by Glitter and Toadstools is a favorite for both Laine and Cory
Cory loves the darkly witty Mildred Payne Oracle from Deviant Moon
The Winterseer Animal Oracle by Siolo Thompson gets some praise from Cory
Laine loves her Buffy Tarot!
We highly recommend following the Instagram account 3am tarot for some amazing spreads (and she also has a book out now!)
Jessica Roux’s Woodland Wardens oracle gets a mention
Portable Fortitude by Corina Dross (a neat magical/art fusion deck Laine got for Cory)
Wylie Beckert – Wicked Kingdom (one of Cory’s favorite decks)
Laine and Cory describe decks of cards found in Central and Eastern Europe that use hearts, bells, leaves, and acorns for the suits, better-known as “German Suited Decks“
78 Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack (our favorite Tarot book)
Cory’s releasing his solo RPG – The Lost Cartomancer very soon, stay tuned! (Patreon supporters get it for free!)
The Taste of Country Cooking by Edna Lewis was suggested to us by listener Abi! Thanks Abi!

Books and Things:

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)

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

54 Devils Cartomancy Class – Summer 2025

Have you ever wanted to learn practical cartomancy (fortune-telling with playing cards)? Well here’s your chance!
We’re running a 3-class course on card reading (and more) and you can sign up at our website! Link in bio or visit http://www.newworldwitchery.com

Image of red card outlines on black background with text describing a cartomancy class

Greetings all!

As some of you may know, Cory wrote a book some ten-plus years ago called Fifty-four Devils: The Art and Folklore of Fortune-telling with Playing Cards. Last year, he released the Tenth Anniversary revised edition, which expanded the original text to include more depth on readings, revised options for non-binary readers and clients, ways to read playing cards in conjunction with other divination methods, and even some guidance on spellwork with cards!

Early in 2025, Cory also test-ran a three-session cartomancy course for New World Witchery Patreon supporters, which got some great reviews!

Cory Hutcheson’s The Fifty-Four Devils cartomancy course was a delight from start to finish. Cory is a very knowledgeable and experienced playing card reader who has devised a method that is simple, effective and practical. He also teaches the system in a clear and engaging manner with lots of humor and charm. Besides learning the card reading system, you get history, folklore, mythology, and magic! It is a great way to expand your cartomantic reading skills -Karen C.

So now we’re opening that course to the public! Here’s the details:

Dates: July 7, July 14, July 21 (Monday evenings 7pm-9pm Central Time) – All classes are held by Zoom and recorded so if you miss one you’ll be able to watch it later

Cost: $64 per student*. That includes:

Three live and video-recorded sessions covering the history, folklore, and practice of playing card cartomancy
Access to our online classroom which will include discussion forums, practice prompts, no-pressure quizzes to self-check your learning progress, and more!
A copy of the e-book version of the Tenth Anniversary Edition of Fifty-four Devils
Additional bonus materials like video sample readings and printable PDFs

How Do I Register?

Good question! All you need to do is go to our Patreon page and purchase the post “54 Devils Cartomancy Class.” (You don’t have to be a monthly Patreon supporter to purchase this class, as you can do just a one-time purchase). When you purchase that post you’ll be able to open the entire thing and get the link to our online classroom to join us!

Registration will stay open until the first day of class, July 7th, 2025.

I already knew that Cory is an exceptional teacher and storyteller, but I was still pleasantly surprised by how skilled he was at engaging with the class and making cartomancy feel accessible and fun. The after-class lessons and quizzes he provided made me think carefully about readings and how to practically apply these new skills. -T. King

The course will be limited to a cap of fifty students for the sake of manageability. If you want to take the course but know you can’t afford it at this time, never fear! We’ll have a scholarship option available soon and open up five no-pay slots for students who will be selected at random from our pool of scholarship applicants.

If you’ve ever wanted to learn to do practical cartomancy with someone who’s been reading cards for decades while also engaging with a cartomancy learning community and getting some additional bonuses and perks, this class will be the one for you!

I hope to see you there!

Be well,

-Cory

*Please note that while the flat fee for the class is $64, some apps and platforms (such as iOS apps) may charge additional processing fees. The best way to ensure you get the $64 price is to visit the Patreon purchase site from a web browser.

Episode 257 – Folk Magic of Romanistan

Travelers Welcome

Summary:

We chat with Jezmina Von Thiele and Paulina Stevens about their work with preserving Roma traditions, the role of magic in Romani culture, and their work on their show Romanistan.

Producer for this show:

Our producing supporter this month is AthenaBeth. You have our gratitude, and the cards we’ve pulled for you this month are the Three of Swords, the Tower, and…the Happy Squirrel?

Play: Episode 257 – Folk Magic of Romanistan
Stream: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0LSm7IbNQSrfmwda1vvJ32

Sources

Links for our guests:

The ⁠Romanistan Podcast⁠
⁠Secrets of Romani Fortune-Telling⁠ by Jezmina Von Thiele and Paulina Stevens

Additional links:

Amaro Voice podcast
Guivlipen: Feminist Romani Theatre Company
The Romani Tea Room Podcast
O Verda Derano (Romani folklore podcast)

Books and Things:

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)

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

Special Episode – Folk Magician’s Notebook – February 2022

Summary:

This time we look at all those peas and beans in our moon calendar, talk about the Aces of Cups and Hearts, and spend some time watching critters to tell us about the weather. We also hear a set of folk legends about St. Brigid of Ireland, and talk about making protective cross amulets for the home!

Producers for this show:

Abby, Achija Branvin Sionach, AromaG’s Botanica, AthenaBeth, Andrea, Bagga Marsh, Benjamin, Breanna, Carol, Carole, Catherine, Cheryl, Christopher, Colby, ConjuredCardea, Daniel, Dave, Don, Donna, Elizabeth, Eveline, Erin, Fergus, Griffin, Heather, Jamie, Jen Rue of Rue & Hyssop, Jess, Jenna, Jennifer, Jodi, John, Jonathan at the ModernSouthernPolytheist, Kat, Kee, Kristopher, Liz, Mark, Marisa, Matthew Venus of Spiritus Arcanum, Milo, Minimiel, Montine of Book of My Shadows, , Nikki, Payton, Sara, Scarlet Pirate, Sherry, Staci, Stephanie, Ralph from the Holle’s Haven Podcast, Vee, Victoria & Keifel of 1000 Volt Press, Violet, and WisdomQueen (if we missed you this episode, we’ll make sure you’re in the next one!). Big thanks to everyone supporting us!

Play:

Play: Special Episode – Folk Magicians Notebook – February 2022

Stream:

/audio]

-Sources-

We highly recommend that you find an almanac or lunar-oriented datebook to help you with planning out your own magical year. Some we can recommend:

The Witches Almanac

Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook

Benebell Wen’s Metaphysician’s Planner

Montine’s Book of My Shadows

Or your local Farmer’s Almanac!

Our tales for the month are three legends about St. Brigid, from collections by Lady Gregory (and found in Henry Glassie’s Irish Folktales)

You can read more about groundhogs and folklore on our website, too!

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

Image via Pixabay (CC 2.0)

Don’t forget to follow us at Twitter! And check out our Facebook page! For those who are interested, we are also on TikTok now. You can follow us on Instagram (main account, or you can follow Laine as well) or check out our new YouTube channel with back episodes of the podcast and new “Everyday Magic” videos, too (as well as most of our contest announcements)! Have something you want to say? Leave us a voice mail on our official NWW hotline: (442) 999-4824 (that’s 442-99-WITCH, if it helps).

Promos and Music:

Title and closing music are “Runaround (AM Radio),” by Aaron Solomon, and is licensed from Audio Socket. Additional music includes “Prayer from Lemuria” by Paul Summerlin and “Diem” by Jonathan Headly. All music licensed from Audio Socket.

Sound effects from Freesound.org and in the Public Domain.

Please consider supporting us by purchasing our promotional items in the New World Witchery Threadless shop or by joining our Patreon supporters.

If you like us AND you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you will love our new show: Myth Taken: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcast, now available through all the podcatchers! You can also check out Cory’s folklore show, Chasing Foxfire, where he explores the intersection of folklore and topics like history, medicine, science, nature, literature, pop culture, and more!

Please think about checking out our Audible Trial program. Visit Audibletrial.com/newworldwitchery to get your free trial of Audible, where you can download over 180,000 titles (including some narrated by Cory). Your purchases help support this show, and there’s no obligation to continue after the free trial

Special Episode – Folk Magician’s Notebook – January 2022

Summary:

We launch the first in a monthly series of posts that will take a peek at folk magical influences for the coming lunation. We look at moon phases and signs, divination, a proverb and folktale of the month, and a practical craft or charm to try out! In January 2022 we talk about pest control and roots (both literal and metaphorical) in our lunar cycle, look at the Ace of Diamonds and the Ace of Swords (as well as the “Twelve Days” folk fortune-telling practice for weather in the coming year), hear a Slavic tale called “The Twelve Months,” and discuss eating your luck!

Producers for this show:

Play:

Play: Special Episode – Folk Magicians Notebook – January 2022

Stream:

-Sources-

We highly recommend that you find an almanac or lunar-oriented datebook to help you with planning out your own magical year. Some we can recommend:

The Witches Almanac

Llewellyn’s Witches’ Datebook

Benebell Wen’s Metaphysician’s Planner

Montine’s Book of My Shadows

Or your local Farmer’s Almanac!

Our tale for the month is “The Twelve Months,” from Czech folklore.

You can read more about eating your luck at our website, too!

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

Image via Pixabay (CC 2.0)

Promos and Music:

Sound effects from Freesound.org and in the Public Domain.

Please consider supporting us by purchasing our promotional items in the New World Witchery Threadless shop or by joining our Patreon supporters.

Episode 202 – Yuletide Cheer! 2021

Summary:

We take a slightly different approach to our annual Yuletide festivities, and share a few songs, a lot of lore about favorite holiday traditions we DON’T practice, and a listener email about a holiday divination gift!

Producer for this show:

Our Patreon supporter for this episode is Montine from Book of My Shadows, a magically and astrologically oriented guided journal and planner you can use to help get your magical year in order. We’ve loved sharing Montine’s work over the years with our Patrons, and we hope you’ll check out the Book of My Shadows site for your own sorceries planning purposes! Our gratitude goes out to Montine, and to all of our listeners and supporters!

Play:

Play: Episode 202 – Yuletide Cheer! 2021

Stream:

-Sources-

Some of the sources for lore and information in this episode include:

The Krampus and the Old Dark Christmas, by Al Ridenour

The Old Magic of Christmas, by Linda Raedisch

Holidays, Festivals, & Celebrations of the World Dictionary

The Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints, & Sages, by Judika Illes

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)

Promos and Music:

All music is licensed from Audio Socket. With the exception of “Da Day Dawn,” by Samantha Gillogly used with permission of artist. Songs include:

“I Saw Three Ships/Kerry Jig Medley,” by The Morisson Players
“Greensleeves,” by Trillium
“God Rest Ye,” by Phil Symonds
“Good King Wenceslas,” by Matthew Reid
“Noche de Paz/Silent Night,” by Emma Wallace
“Un Flambeau Jeanette Isabella,” by Emma Wallace
“Miss Fogarty’s Christmas Cake,” by Trillium
“We Three Kings,” by Jarad Austin
“Carol of Pianos,” by Emmett Cook
“Angels We Have Heard on High,” by Joe Matzzie

Please consider supporting us by purchasing our promotional items in the New World Witchery Threadless shop or by joining our Patreon supporters.

If you like us AND you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you will love our new show: Myth Taken: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcast, now available through all the podcatchers!

Episode 186 – Folked Up Witchcraft with Via Hedera

We welcome back friend and folklorist witch Via Hedera. We talk about finding folklore resources, favorite places to connect with magic, and then get a little wild deciding who would win in a plant-based magical Pokemon-style battle between us (hint: it’s her)

Summary:

Producers for this show:

Abby, Achija Branvin Sionach, AromaG’s Botanica, AthenaBeth, Braga, Benjamin, Breanna, Carol, Carole, Catherine, Christopher, ConjuredCardea, Daniel, Dave, Don, Donna, Erin, Griffin, Heather, Jen Rue of Rue & Hyssop, Jess, Jodi, John, Jonathan at the ModernSouthernPolytheist, Kristopher, Matthew Venus, Minimiel, Montine of Book of My Shadows, , Nikki, Payton, Scarlet Pirate, Staci, Stephanie, Ralph from the Holle’s Haven Podcast, Violet, and WisdomQueen (if we missed you this episode, we’ll make sure you’re in the next one!). Big thanks to everyone supporting us!

Play:

Play: Episode 186 – Folked Up Witchcraft with Via Hedera

Stream:

-Sources-

You should absolutely pick up Via’s new book, Folkloric American Witchcraft and the Multicultural Experience: A Crucible at the Crossroads from Moon Books when you can!

Visit her website as well to find out more about her (and read all about interesting folklore like rat letters and apple love spells)

We’ll be doing Ann Moura’s Green Witchcraft II for this year’s book club. You can get an exclusive discount at Llewellyn’s site on that or any of her Green Witchcraft books by using the code “GREENWITCH20” at checkout.

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

Promos and Music:

Title and closing music are “Woman Blues,” by Paul Avgerinos, and is licensed from Audio Socket. Incidental music includes “Who’s Gonna Shoe,” by Paul Avgerinos (also on Audio Socket); and “Brushed Bells Leaving Home,” by Daniel Birch, used under a CC License from the Free Music Archive.

Please consider supporting us by purchasing our promotional items in the New World Witchery Threadless shop or by joining our Patreon supporters.

If you like us AND you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you will love our new show: Myth Taken: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcast, now available through all the podcatchers!

Episode 185 – Ozark Folk Magic with Brandon Weston

This time we have an interview with author, researcher, and practitioner Brandon Weston. We discuss woodpecker witches, seventh sons of seventh sons, passing power to avoid becoming a haint, and just what a “yarb” is anyway.

Summary:

Producers for this show:

Abby, Achija Branvin Sionach, AromaG’s Botanica, AthenaBeth, Braga, Benjamin, Breanna, Carol, Carole, Catherine, Christopher, ConjuredCardea, Daniel, Dave, Don, Donna, Heather, Jen Rue of Rue & Hyssop, Jodi, John, Jonathan at the ModernSouthernPolytheist, Kristopher, Minimiel, Montine of Book of My Shadows, Payton, Scarlet Pirate, Staci, Stephanie, Vic of the Distelfink Sipschaft of Urglaawe, Violet, and WisdomQueen (if we missed you this episode, we’ll make sure you’re in the next one!). Big thanks to everyone supporting us!

Play:

Play: Episode 185 – Ozark Folk Magic with Brandon Weston

Stream:

-Sources-

To find out more about Brandon, including seeing a TED talk he does on Ozark healing traditions, visit his website Ozark Healing.

We also recommend picking up his book, Ozark Folk Magic.

We reference the work of Vance Randolph a few times as well, including his book Ozark Magic & Folklore.

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

Promos and Music:

Title and closing music are “Woman Blues,” by Paul Avgerinos, and is licensed from Audio Socket. Incidental music includes “Barn Dance,” by Alan Fagan; “Porch Time,” by Human Factor; and “Country Go Slow,” by Studio Nine Productions. All are licensed from Audio Socket.

Please consider supporting us by purchasing our promotional items in the New World Witchery Threadless shop or by joining our Patreon supporters.

If you like us AND you like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you will love our new show: Myth Taken: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Podcast, now available through all the podcatchers!