Magick & Alchemy

In episode 122 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew contemplate the Witch & the Bitch. Following in the footsteps of Artemis, Hecate, and their sacred hounds, this conversation draws listeners into the Underworld. There, the wolf goddesses Leto and Lupa speak about guardianship, kinship, and reclamation. Medusa arrives next, followed by Asteria and the other moon goddesses turned monsters. Through a mythical lens, they consider the archetypal Bitch, Bitch as a dog, Bitch as a sacred hound, and Bitch as a Witch.Sources:Small Spells Deck by Tamed WildThe Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, Barbara Walker“The Indian Great Goddess,” Stella Kramrisch, History of Religions, Vol, 4Rider Coleman Smith Tarot Deckhttps://www.theoi.com/Khthonios/HekateGoddess.htmlCreature Teachers, Grandmother Twylah Nitsch, Seneca Elder “A Brief History of the Word “Bitch,” Necessitated by Benedict Cumberbitch,” Amanda MontellArtemis: Virgin Goddess of the Sun and Moon, Sorita D’EsteEpisode 104: Mothers of Monsters & Magick Argonautica, Apollonius Rhodius, circa 3rd century BC“Bitches and Skankly Hobags: The Place of Women in Contemporary Slang,” via Gender Articulated: Language and the Socially Constructed Self, edited by Kira Hall, Mary BucholtzPractical MagicShoutouts:Wild Medicine: Tamed Wild's Illustrated Guide to the Magick of Herbs, Bundy & BelewJoin the Tamed Wild Coven!Subscribe to the Tamed Wild Quarterly Box - a quarterly delivery of magic & earth medicine. Each box is crafted around a season and includes items for the earth-spirited and the lovers of all things mystical and natural. Deliveries can include crystals, herbs & teas, ritual tools, altar items, jewelry, essential oils & other lifestyle pieces. Each box includes a seasonal workbook with 3 rituals, intention-setting guidance, astrological updates, and other helpful tools to help you harness the magick of the season.And sign up for the Book Coven - a digital subscription with weekly lives, reels, and discussions about witchcraft, tarot, herbs, business witchery, upcoming workshops, & the book of the month.Created by Tamed Wild.Production by Julio Montero.Music by Follow the Wind,Taizo Audio

In episode 121 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew follow 13 wintery threads, superstitions, and symbols, crafting a tapestry of story with these Yuletide yarns. Weaving together conversations about reindeer, snow globes, caroling, and winter plants, they contemplate the origins of these seasonal rituals and effigies. They also discuss The Nutcracker, snowmen, the ringing of bells, Mari Lwyd, and Christmastime villains. Join them around the virtual hearth as the 13 Yarns of Yule come together to illuminate the shortest days and longest nights of the year.Sources:“Doe, a Deer, a Female Reindeer: The Spirit of Winter Solstice and Mother Christmas”Llewellyn’s Sabbat Series: Yule “Winter’s Effigies, the Deviant History of the Snowman,” Rebecca BurganThe Snowman (movie)The History of the Snowman, Bob EcksteinThe Book of Hours, c1380 Sechseläuten - Wikipedia“Snowman Burning,” Atlas ObscuraHow did it Begin? The Origin of Curious Customs & Superstitions, Rudolph Brasch The Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, Barbara Walker“The Moon Before Yule,” Little Witch Books"Storytime: The Tale of Mother Holle" - Tamed Wild Blog"This Family Gave the World the Snow Globe," Atlas Obscura“Storytime: Gryla and the Yula Lads” - Tamed Wild Blog“The Lore of the Wild Hunt” - Tamed Wild Blog“17 Creepy Origins Behind Christmas Traditions,” Amy Glover"The Nutcracker's" disturbing origin story: Why this was once the world's creepiest ballet, Ellen O’Connell“Wassailing,” Ellen CastelowA brief history of the gingerbread house, The GuardianShoutouts:Episode 46: Winter MagickThe Deer Mother: A Little Witch Tale"Goddess Series: Winter Goddesses" - Tamed Wild BlogEpisode 100 Masks & RitualEpisode 19: OstaraEpisode 86: An Interview with Danica Boyce

In episode 120 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby & Kate Belew journey to the symbolic Underworld. In this conversation, they discuss the practice of wintering and ‘hanging on for the bees.’ They forage for seasonal reflections and wintertime initiations. They contemplate the River Styx, the Heroes and Goddesses who have traveled there, and Styx herself. They also talk about the ferryman Charon, the Goddess Psyche, and asteroids in astrology. Sources:Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions, River and Joyce HigginbothamWintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, Katherine May “Wintering,” Sylvia PlathThe Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World, David AbramThe Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets, Barbara WalkerThe Faerie Queens: A Collection of Essays Exploring the Myths, Magic and Mythology of the Faerie Queens, Sorita d’Este and David RankineAt Day's Close: Night in Times Past, A. Roger Ekirch  Circe, Madeleine MillerThe Iliad & The Odyssey, HomerFrom Llewelyn’s Journal, “What does Psyche Mean in Your Astrological Chart,” Isabelle Ghaneh Demetra GeorgeShoutouts:Episode 7: Winter SolsticeEpisode 8: YuleEpisode 46: Winter MagickEpisode 104: The Mothers of Monsters and MagickJoin the Tamed Wild Coven! Subscribe to the Tamed Wild Quarterly Box - a quarterly delivery of magic & earth medicine. Each box is crafted around a season and includes items for the earth-spirited and the lovers of all things mystical and natural. Deliveries can include crystals, herbs & teas, ritual tools, altar items, jewelry, essential oils & other lifestyle pieces. Each box includes a seasonal workbook with 3 rituals, intention-setting guidance, astrological updates, and other helpful tools to help you harness the magick of the season. And sign up for the Book Coven - a digital subscription with weekly lives, reels, and discussions about witchcraft, tarot, herbs, business witchery, upcoming workshops, & the book of the month.Created by Tamed Wild.Production by Julio Montero.Music by Follow the Wind,Taizo Audio

Author and co-founder of The Way of the Rose, Perdita Finn, discusses connecting with the unseen, trusting intuition, and writing a book with the dead. She explores the earth as an ancestor altar, the draw of the Catskill Mountains, and her new book, Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World.

"A Green Witch’s Pocket Book of Wisdom" author, Robin Rose Bennett, joins Magick & Alchemy podcast hosts to discuss bibliomancy, word witchery, and the intersection of writing and magick. They explore messages from plants, the archetypal Elder, and introduce Robin's latest book. Discover the practice of bibliomancy, reconnecting with nature, and the importance of embracing authenticity. Learn about Robin's new book and the Book Coven, a digital subscription offering exclusive content. Dive into topics like dreams, prioritizing, and becoming wiser with age. Find out where to learn more about Robin's work and an exciting contest for a free tarot reading.

In episode 117 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby share spooky tales from their hometowns. They begin in the hills of California, exploring mountain magick and contemplating stories of The Dark Watchers and Lemurians. Kristin introduces us to the legends of Mt. Shasta, and then Kate takes us on a journey through the haunted streets of Michigan. There, we meet the witches, spirits of those departed, and ghost ships in the night.Sources:“There’s Something About Mount Shasta,” Laura Kiniry - Atlas Obscura"Ghost Stories: The Dark Watchers," Kristin Lisenby - Tamed Wild blogLegends of Mt. Shasta - WikipediaMount Shasta’s Forgotten History & Legends, D.W. Naef A Dictionary of Symbols, J.E. CirlotLegends of Mount Shasta: “The Abode of the Devil” Part I – The Legend of J.C. Brown - Ancient OriginsA Dweller on Two Planets, Frederick Spencer Oliver Lemuria: The Lost Continent of the Pacific, Wishar Spenle Cerve“Michigan urban myths and legends: 7 stories to share around the campfire,” Kylie Martin - Detroit Free PressGateway to oblivion: The Great Lakes' Bermuda triangle, Hugh F Cochrane“Ghostly Legends of Michigan: The Ada Witch of Findlay Cemetary,” Michigans Otherside“The story of 'The Drowning Pool' at Mackinac Island,” Ken Haddad“The Remains of Shelldrake Michigan,” John Robinson “Do Ghosts Walk at Whitefish Point? Paranormal Experts Investigate,” Frederick Stonehouse “14 Michigan monster myths to fire you up for Halloween,” John SerbaShoutouts:Episode 17: The Fae FolkTamed Wild RetreatsPretty Fn SpookyAll My AncestorsMaria the ArcaneThe Moon in Carolina Join the Tamed Wild Coven!Subscribe to the Tamed Wild Quarterly Box - a quarterly delivery of magic & earth medicine. Each box is crafted around a season and includes items for the earth spirited and the lovers of all things mystical and natural. Deliveries can include crystals, herbs & teas, ritual tools, altar items, jewelry, essential oils & other lifestyle pieces. Each box includes a seasonal workbook with 3 rituals, intention-setting guidance, astrological updates, and other helpful tools to help you harness the magick of the season.Created by Tamed Wild.Production by Julio Montero.Music by Follow the Wind,Taizo Audio

In episode 116 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby pierce the thinning veil. In this conversation, they contemplate this mystical shroud and the veil’s relationship to textile magick, tarot, and veiled goddesses and spirits. They weave in lace and folktale traditions, the origin of bridal veils, and the tools of the weaving craft. They also answer a listener question about the seasonal veil and the meaning behind the phrase, ‘The veil is thin.”Sources:Asia Suler, One Willow ApothecaryJennifer GreenDictionary of Symbols, J.E. CirlotPlanetary Magick: The Heart of Western Magick (Llewellyn’s High Magick Series), Osborne Phillips & Melita DenningVisions of the Cailleach: Exploring the Myths, Folklore and Legends of the pre-eminent Celtic Hag Goddess, Sorita d'Este and David RankineHagitude, Sharon BlackieA Journey Through the Forest of Souls, Rachel PollackWomen Who Run with the Wolves, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola EstesStorytime: The Coming of Bride - Tamed Wild blogAgathi's Lace Shop"Legends of Lace: Commerce and Ideology in Narratives of Women’s Domestic Craft Production," David Hopkin  "The Origins of the Bridal Veil and Its Protection From Evil Spirits," Ancient OriginsYakar, Jak. (2011). Presumed Social Identity of the Occupants of Late Third Millennium BC Alacahöyük and Horoztepe "Royal Tombs". Journal of Archaeomythology. 7. 1-8. Join the Tamed Wild Coven!Subscribe to the Tamed Wild Quarterly Box - a quarterly delivery of magic & earth medicine. Each box is crafted around a season and includes items for the earth-spirited and the lovers of all things mystical and natural. Deliveries can include crystals, herbs & teas, ritual tools, altar items, jewelry, essential oils & other lifestyle pieces. Each box includes a seasonal workbook with 3 rituals, intention-setting guidance, astrological updates, and other helpful tools to help you harness the magick of the season.And sign up for the Book Coven - a digital subscription with weekly lives, reels, and discussions about witchcraft, tarot, herbs, business witchery, upcoming workshops, & the book of the month.Created by Tamed Wild.Production by Julio Montero.Music by Follow the Wind,Taizo Audio

In episode 115 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby talk Wild Medicine with Shelby Bundy. Authored by Tamed Wild Creatrix Shelby Bundy and Kate Belew, the Wild Medicine book is an illustrated guide to the magick of plants. In this conversation, Shelby and Kate discuss being initiated into the world of plant witchery and following the threads of herbal lineages and lore. They talk about rose alchemy, listening to our plant families, and the Wild Medicine Deck that started it all.Learn more about Shelby and Kate’s new book, Wild Medicine: Tamed Wild’s Illustrated Guide to the Magick of Herbs, via TamedWild.com. Shoutouts:Wild Medicine DeckRobin Rose Bennett The Missing Witches Rebecca Gordon AstrologyThe Moon in Carolina PodcastJoin the Tamed Wild Coven!Subscribe to the Tamed Wild Quarterly Box - a quarterly delivery of magic & earth medicine. Each box is crafted around a season and includes items for the earth-spirited and the lovers of all things mystical and natural. Deliveries can include crystals, herbs & teas, ritual tools, altar items, jewelry, essential oils & other lifestyle pieces. Each box includes a seasonal workbook with 3 rituals, intention-setting guidance, astrological updates, and other helpful tools to help you harness the magick of the season.And sign up for the Book Coven - a digital subscription with weekly lives, reels, and discussions about witchcraft, tarot, herbs, business witchery, upcoming workshops, & the book of the month.Created by Tamed Wild.Production by Julio Montero.Music by Follow the Wind,Taizo Audio

In episode 114 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby celebrate Mabon and the start of Season 4! In this conversation, two witches harvest tales from corn. They discuss corn mazes, scarecrows, and the history and making of corn dollies. They talk about harvest spirits, crop circles, and deities of corn and grain. They also consider the fields of Midharvest as an archetype - the autumnal version of the fairy tale forest. Sources:Episode 72: Mabon MagickMircea EliadeEpisode 69: Portals of the Summer SolsticeA Dictionary of Literary Symbols, Michael FerberA Dictionary of Symbols, J.E. CirlotThe History and Making of Corn Dollies, Janet Goddard  Dozynki Harvest Bassetlaw MuseumCorn Dolly Kit - Tamed Wild England’s Crop Circle Controversy - BBC articleAras.orgShoutouts:The Autumn CrossroadsChildren of the Corn Join the Tamed Wild Coven!Subscribe to the Tamed Wild Quarterly Box - a quarterly delivery of magic & earth medicine. Each box is crafted around a season and includes items for the earth-spirited and the lovers of all things mystical and natural. Deliveries can include crystals, herbs & teas, ritual tools, altar items, jewelry, essential oils & other lifestyle pieces. Each box includes a seasonal workbook with 3 rituals, intention-setting guidance, astrological updates, and other helpful tools to help you harness the magick of the season. And sign up for the Book Coven - a digital subscription with weekly lives, reels, and discussions about witchcraft, tarot, herbs, business witchery, upcoming workshops, & the book of the month.Created by Tamed Wild.Production by Julio Montero.Music by Follow the Wind,Taizo Audio 

In episode 113 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby talk resistance and re-enchantment with Amy Torok and Risa Dickens. Amy and Risa are the witches, activists, and storytellers behind The Missing Witches project. In their second visit to the podcast, Amy and Risa remind us that telling the truth is a spell. They discuss the magnificence of difference, rock ‘n’ roll as a spell, and self-care as ancestor worship. They reflect on what they’ve learned by living as modern witches in the woods, and introduce us to their newest book, New Moon Magic: 13 Anti-Captialist Tools for Resistance & Re-enchantment.Learn more about Amy and Risa and order the Missing Witches’ new book, New Moon Magic: 13 Anticapitalist Tools for Resistance & Re-enchantment, on their website missingwitches.com. You can also listen to the Missing Witches podcast, join their online community, contribute to the Missing Witches Zine, and follow their story on Instagram @missingwitches. Sources:New Moon Magic: 13 Anti-Capitalist Tools for Resistance & Re-enchantment, Amy Torok and Risa DickensStaying With the Trouble, Making Kin in the Chthulucene,  Donna J HarawayEpisode 56: An Interview with the Missing WitchesShoutouts:Tamed Wild Blog - Animal Symbology Series Zoo Books Join the Tamed Wild Coven!Subscribe to the Tamed Wild Quarterly Box - a quarterly delivery of magic & earth medicine. Each box is crafted around a season and includes items for the earth-spirited and the lovers of all things mystical and natural. Deliveries can include crystals, herbs & teas, ritual tools, altar items, jewelry, essential oils & other lifestyle pieces. Each box includes a seasonal workbook with 3 rituals, intention-setting guidance, astrological updates, and other helpful tools to help you harness the magick of the season.And sign up for the Book Coven - a digital subscription with weekly lives, reels, and discussions about witchcraft, tarot, herbs, business witchery, upcoming workshops, & the book of the month.Created by Tamed Wild.Production by Julio Montero.Music by Follow the Wind,Taizo Audio