italian folklore – New World Witchery – The Search for American Traditional Witchcraft

The Folk Magician’s Notebook – April 2026

Making Fools of us All

Summary: This time around we are looking at the Lyrid meteors, a “pocket” of lunar magic, the Jokers and the Fools of cartomancy, telling a tale about a very windy house, and chasing down devils and fearsome critters, among other things!

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.

Producers for this show:

Blake at Crossed Crow Books, Kayla, Anna, Elle, Victoria & Keifel of 1000 Volt Press, Lauren, Sierra, Lisa, Mark, Kels, Benjamin, MissV/Vee, Donna, Pretty Poisons Witch, Heather, Jonathan, Christopher, Ralph of the Holle’s Haven Podcast, Jamie, Catherine, Achija Branvin Sionach, AthenaBeth, and Conjured Cardea! Our sincere thanks to everyone supporting us!

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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 Astrological Pocket Planner

Writual Planner

Or your local Farmer’s Almanac!

You can find a transcript of this episode at our Transcripts page.

Sections

Lunar Forecast – Our monthly rundown of lunar astrological information
In the Cards – Divination through cartomancy, tarot, and folk methods. This month: Jokers, the Fool, and Graphomancy
A Witch’s Words – Proverbs, folklore, and book reviews. This month: “The House of the Wind” and a review of The Witches’ Devil by Roger J. Horne
Materia Magica – Magical artifacts and crafts. This month: Hag Stones
Creature Corner – Folkloric creatures, beings, and entities. This month: The Hodag
Listener Feedback – We read and respond to your questions and comments! If you have one you’d like to submit, mail us at ⁠compassandkey@gmail.com⁠ or ⁠newworldwitcherypodcast@gmail.com⁠

Check out Cory’s book, ⁠New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic⁠! (also available from ⁠Amazon⁠). Also check out our collaborative book, ⁠Conjuring the Commonplace: A Guide to Everyday Enchantment and Junk Drawer Magic⁠ (⁠1000Volt Press⁠) (also available from ⁠Amazon⁠). If you are interested in playing card divination, you can check out our ⁠Cartomancy post⁠ or pick up Cory’s book, ⁠54 Devils⁠.

Image via Cory Thomas Hutcheson (CC 2.0)

Keep in touch and follow us through our ⁠Find Us⁠ page!

Promos and Music:

Title and closing music are “Runaround (AM Radio),” by Aaron Solomon, and is licensed from ⁠Audio Socket⁠. (License #1273). Additional incidental music Kevin Macleod and Daniel Birch, from Free Music Archive and used under a CC 2.0 license.

Sound effects from ⁠Freesound.org ⁠and in the Public Domain. Additional “rooster” sound effect from Darina Evstafeva from ⁠Pixabay⁠.

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!

Episode 256 – Rooted Folk Magic with Frankie Anne Castanea

Of Veils and Poles

Summary: We talk to Frankie Anne Castanea, the Chaotic Witch Aunt, about their journey into their roots with Italian folk magic, the role of magic in bodily autonomy, and balancing tradition and modernity.

Producer for this show: This episode is sponsored in part by listener Conjured Cardea. Thank you for supporting us and we’ll be sending La Befana to drop off your magical gifts of thanks as soon as we can find her (she seems to be very busy this time of year).

Play: Episode 256 – Rooted Folk Magic with Frankie Anne Castanea
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You can find out more about Frankie and their work through their website, Chaotic Witch Aunt.

You can also find their book, Spells for Change at Bookshop (and Amazon). You can also find their book, Ancestral Magic at Bookshop for preorder!

Find Frankie’s brevi bags and other charms here.

Some additional books mentioned in this episode:

Magic: A Theory from the South by Ernesto de Martino
Italian American Folklore by Melpezzi and Clements
Dark Mother by Lucia Chiarvola Birnbaum
Della Medicina by Lisa Fazio

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

Some upcoming publications from us:

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 231 – Italian American Magic with Dee Norman

Burning black candles and reading cards at the kitchen table

Summary: In this episode we interview author and magical practitioner Dee Norman about her Italian American roots, her practices, and her writing process.

Producer for this show: This episode is supported by listener Meg. Thank you, Meg, for all your support, and we’re sending you on an all-expenses paid astral trip to Tuscany for your efforts! Just close your eyes and imagine those waving fields of sunflowers.

Play: Episode 231 – Italian American Magic with Dee Norman
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Notes:

You can find much more about Dee and her work through her website, Black Candle Cottage.

You can also check out her book, Burn a Black Candle: An Italian American Grimoire, or see her chapter in Llewellyn’s Complete Book of North American Folk Magic, out now!

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

Some upcoming publications from us:

Cory just recently celebrated the release of Llewellyn’s Complete Book of North American Folk Magic, out now! 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.

Come see us at the Mystic South Conference in July!

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 229 – The Evil Eye with Antonio Pagliarulo

The Folklore and History of the Evil Eye

Summary: We discuss the history and folk beliefs surrounding one of the oldest known iterations of magic, the Evil Eye, with author Antonio Pagliarulo

Producer for this show: This episode is supported by listener Fernwah Patronus, upon whom we are bestowing the title of Witchy Scrabble Champion! We hope you get all the points, and all the magic!

Play: Episode 229 – The Evil Eye with Antonio Pagliarulo
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You can find Antonio Pagliarulo’s book, The Evil Eye: The History, Mystery, and Magic of the Quiet Curse wherever books are sold! We also mention the classic folklore text on the topic, The Evil Eye: A Casebook, edited by Alan Dundes.

Cory will be at the upcoming Mystic South conference in Atlanta during July, so feel free to come and say hello and take a class or two!

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 also 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)

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 “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 music is “Woman Blues,” by Paul Avgerinos. All music is licensed from Audio Socket (#35954). Additional Music from Kevin Macleod, used under a CC 2.0 license.

Episode 152 – Honoring Ancestors with Mallorie Vaudoise

Summary:

We discuss the power of connecting with ancestors (and just what we mean with that term), as well as finding spirituality while locked in a bathroom, with author, folk magician, and dancer Mallorie Vaudoise.

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.

Producers for this show: Heather, WisdomQueen, Regina, Jen Rue of Rue & Hyssop, Little Wren, Khristopher, Tanner, Fergus from Queer as Folk Magic, Achija of Spellbound Bookbinding, Johnathan at the ModernSouthernPolytheist, Catherine, Patrick, Carole, Payton, Staci, Debra, Montine, Cynara at The Auburn Skye, WickedScense, Moma Sarah at ConjuredCardea, Jody, Josette, Clarissa, Leslie, Hazel, Amy, Victoria, Sherry, Tarsha, Jennifer, Clever Kim’s Curios, Donald, Bo, Drew, Jenni Love of Broom Book & Candle, & AthenaBeth. (if we missed you this episode, we’ll make sure you’re in the next one!). Big thanks to everyone supporting us!

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Download: Episode 152 – Honoring Ancestors with Mallorie Vaudoise

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-Sources-

Truly one of the best books I’ve read recently is Honoring Your Ancestors, by Mallorie Vaudoise. You can also find out more about her and her work at her website https://www.italianfolkmagic.com/. You can also find her at roadsideomens.com or on her Instagram page.

We also mention the books Land of Remorse by Ernesto de Martino and The Madonna of 115th Street, by Robert Orsi.

Promotional image modified from image via Pixabay, public domain.

If you have feedback you’d like to share, email us or leave a comment. 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 also now have a page on Pinterest you might like, called “The Olde Broom.” You can follow us on Instagram 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 & Music

Title and closing music is “Homebound,” by Bluesboy Jag, and is used under license from Magnatune. Incidental Music is “A River Begins” and “Into Sea” by Kourosh Dini (Magnatune).

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

Podcast Special – Magical Saints

-SHOWNOTES FOR PODCAST SPECIAL-

Summary
In our only June 2012 episode (sorry! I’ll be back from school soon!) Cory tells a few tales of magical saints. The saints range from canonical choices to folk tales to at least one very American folk saint.

Play:

Download: Special Episode – Magical Saints