Your Average Witch Podcast

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? Starla Yilmaz joins us to discuss her journey as a witch, tarot creator, and cross-stitcher, sharing how a divine calling led her to create the Butterfly Wisdom Tarot deck through 21 months of meticulous stitching.• Practicing witchcraft since age 15-16, Starla views it as being conscious of energy and recognizing universal connections• Received a divine promise that "as long as you're writing, you'll be taken care of"• Added cross-stitch to her calling, leading to the creation of her hand-stitched tarot deck• Practices practical magic including candle witchcraft, sigil work, and kitchen magic as a busy mom• Emphasizes issues of cultural appropriation around white sage use, suggesting selenite wands as alternatives• Built community through her local Universalist Unitarian Church's CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) group• Each card in her Butterfly Wisdom Tarot features a real, identifiable butterfly species• Created a unique guidebook with micro short stories rather than traditional meanings• Recommends connecting with local metaphysical shops to find community and resourcesPre-order the Butterfly Wisdom Tarot, releasing June 28th, through your local metaphysical shop or bookstore.Visit Starla here! starlayilmaz.comSupport the showSupport the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? Matthew Venus of Spiritus Arcanum shares insights on working with spirit vessels, building magical community, and developing personal relationships with plants and other magical allies. Drawing from years of experience as a shop owner and festival organizer, he offers a refreshing perspective on connecting with magic through animism and spirit communication.• Exploring the dangers of putting magical teachers on pedestals and the importance of recognizing everyone's humanity• Building local magical community through Salem Witchcraft and Folklore Festival, a hybrid event offering advanced classes and unique ritual experiences• Performing actual witchcraft in Salem's historic Witch House as an act of reclamation• The lasting influence of Scott Cunningham's accessible books on Matthew's path as a young queer practitioner• Developing reciprocal relationships with plant allies like cinquefoil (five finger grass) that reveal unique magical applications• Crafting an ancestral dream spell using personal items connected to departed loved ones• The power of speaking intentions aloud to help manifest magic through physical vibration• Using divination as a conversation tool with spirits rather than just fortune-tellingCheck out Matthew's upcoming book "Ensouling the Effigy: The Witch's Arte of Enspirited Objects" coming in October from Crossed Crow Books, or visit salemwitchfest.com to join this year's festival either online or in person. Use code AVERAGEWITCH for 10% off at Spiritus Arcanum.SpiritusArcanum.comSupport the showSupport the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? Matthew Venus of Spiritus Arcanum joins us to explore animism, witchcraft, and the spirits that inhabit everything around us. We dive into what it means to be a witch in today's world, examining the complex relationship between magical practice and capitalism.• Defining what it means to be a witch through spirit work, spirit flight, shape-shifting, and bewitching ordinary objects• Exploring panpsychic animism as a worldview where consciousness exists in everything from plants to rocks to spell bottles• Understanding magical materials as conscious allies rather than mere ingredients in recipes• Creating magical objects as vessels for spirits and developing relationships with the spirits we work with• Using breath as a powerful magical tool for conjuring, offering, and transformation• Navigating the contradictions of practicing animist magic in a capitalist world• Challenging unhealthy authority dynamics in magical communities while valuing ethical eldership• Reclaiming an animist perspective as a way to heal our relationship with the natural worldJoin us next week for part two of our conversation with Matthew, where we'll discuss the Salem Witch Fest, making allies of plant spirits, and collaborate on a spell to connect with our ancestors.Visit Spiritus Arcanum here!spiritusarcanum.comSupport the showSupport the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? We dive deep into what it truly means to be a witch with Alyssa Barlow from Blyssfull Magick, exploring the power of authenticity in spiritual practice and the importance of finding your own path.• Alyssa defines herself as an intuitive healer, psychic medium, tarot reader, and Reiki master who helps people find their inner power• Being a witch means reconnecting with your innate wisdom and creator energy without constantly buying into spiritual consumerism• The conversation explores the difference between worship and devotion, highlighting the importance of maintaining personal sovereignty • As a mother, Alyssa embraces the "consistency of inconsistency" in her practice through small rituals like bath ceremonies and cinnamon for abundance• Spiritual bypassing in magical communities needs more discussion—not everything is "love and light," and toxic positivity can be harmful• Alyssa creates community through monthly Reiki shares and donation-based readings, with plans for Reiki work in homeless shelters• Her primary influences include Carl Jung, Mama Gaia, and her mother's natural intuitive abilities• Favorite magical tools include herbs (especially lavender), selenite sword, and patchouli oil• Recommended books: The Untethered Soul and The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer, and The Four Agreements by Don Miguel RuizLearn more about Alyssa and Blyssfull Magick here! Visit charmbycharlye.com to check out this week's sponsor's Protect Your Neck bundle, which includes tarot, fire scrying, and spiritual prescriptions for just $22.Support the showSupport the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? Brett Hollyhead, a Welsh Marches folk witch, shares insights on witchcraft as a practice of liberation, connection to landscape, and challenging oppressive systems. Brett's practice combines Welsh folklore with practical magic while celebrating the liminal identity of the Welsh Marches borderlands.• Defining a witch as a custodian of wisdom who straddles between spiritual and physical worlds• Exploring the Welsh Marches as a hybrid cultural landscape shaped by centuries of cross-pollination• Using crochet as a primary magical tool connected to ancient feminine deities across cultures• Challenging binary gender systems in paganism by embracing nature's inherent queerness• Building community through pole dance teaching that emphasizes body positivity and empowerment• Finding power in Welsh cultural identity and connecting to the goddess Havren/Sabrina• Combining activism with craft through "craftivism" to support environmental causes• Sharing the folklore of the Reekin Giant, demonstrating how landscape shapes cultural stories• Promoting inclusivity and accessibility within magical communitiesFollow Brett on instagram!Brett's book "Sabrina: Discovering the Goddess of the River Severn" will be released on April 29th in the UK and early May elsewhere. Support the showSupport the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? Mike Ditter of The Rusted Rabbit jewelry shares their journey as a witch who views their practice through transmutation, turning metals and minerals into talismans of protection, power, and healing while challenging conventional belief systems and societal expectations.• Embracing witch identity as a form of protest against religious and societal expectations• Practicing magic through jewelry-making as a form of transmutation• Using communication as a powerful magical tool to connect with others• Acknowledging and leveraging white privilege while creating inclusive spaces• Building community through playful activities that foster trust and authentic connection• Recognizing the dangers of organized belief systems that lead to gatekeeping and exclusion• Finding individual paths rather than following dogmatic practices• Offering advice to new practitioners: Listen, Dream, and Trust• Sharing experiences of balancing personal identity with being part of a creative partnershipCheck out The Rusted Rabbit at therustedrabbitgr.com!Support the showSupport the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? Lindsay of the Rusted Rabbit shares her journey from selling rocks as a kid to creating wire-wrapped crystal jewelry and embracing her identity as a witch despite initial imposter syndrome.• Started with chainmail jewelry in 2013 before discovering wire-wrapping and crystals• Embraces being a "lazy chaos witch" who finds magic in the mundane• Learned her great-grandmother was a spiritualist and tea leaf reader• Values consistency but struggles with maintaining structure in her practice• Recently celebrated 1.5+ years of sobriety and wishes more people would ask about it• Uses therapy, movement, and crystal work as her primary magical tools• Reconnected with dance as an adult after dancing throughout childhood• Builds community by teaching workshops and creating space for people at events• Advises new witches to create their own path and buy the tarot deck that speaks to themUse code GRANDPA for 15% off at The Rusted Rabbit. Visit www.therustedrabbitgr.com to browse wire-wrapped jewelry, subscription boxes, and see upcoming events.Support the showSupport the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? Jake Richards, conjureman from Appalachia, joins us to explore the rich traditions of folk magic, faith healing, and Decoration Day practices from the mountain communities of Upper East Tennessee. • Distinguishing between witches, faith healers, and conjure men in Appalachian tradition• Using the Bible as a magical tool, especially the Book of Psalms for various spiritual purposes• Exploring Decoration Day rituals for honoring and remembering the dead• Traditional Appalachian graveyards as swept dirt yards with mounded graves• The importance of community service in folk magic rather than self-centered practice• Family influences on Jake's practice, including his Nana and great-grandmother• Advice for new practitioners: learn your local land, plants, animals and ancestral stories• Jake is currently working on his fourth book to add to his "Backwoods Library"Visit greenspacereadings.com for tarot readings, spell assistance, or custom journals with Alana, a psychic tarot reader and Reiki practitioner with six-plus years of experience.Follow Jake for more!Website: Holy Stones and Iron BonesInstagram: instagram.com/appalachianwaywardson/Support the showSupport the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? Raven Digitalis shares his journey as a witch, author, and practitioner exploring the intersection of Eastern and Western mystical traditions while embracing shadow work and devotional practices with deities.• Author of multiple books including the shadow triptych and empath series with various publishers• Defines witchcraft as self-determination, pursuit of knowledge, connection to nature, and curiosity• Works primarily with Bastet of ancient Egypt and the Hindu trinity of Shiva, Shakti/Durga, and Ganapati/Ganesha• Emphasizes incorporation of music as a magical tool for motivation and ritual work• Advocates for service as a central but often overlooked aspect of magical practice• Discusses entheogenic substances as valuable tools for ceremonial magic and personal revelation• Recommends maintaining spiritual protection against unwanted spirit attachments• Suggests staying curious as essential advice for new witches exploring their pathFor signed books, tarot readings, spell kits and more, visit ravendigitalis.com or find Raven on social media platforms @ravendigitalis.Support the showSupport the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? This episode focuses on the intricate relationship between witchcraft and building community. Halo Quin elaborates on her path as a witch, her engagement with spirits, and the pivotal role of shared stories and practices in nurturing connections.• Halo introduces her background and role as an author and podcaster • Discussion on the importance of spirits and community in witchcraft • Insights on practical methods for starting local witchy meetups • Daily practices that foster relationships with the spirits and nature • The transformation through storytelling and shared experiences in community • Advice for new practitioners on embracing individuality in magical practices • Exploring the connection between creativity and witchcraft • Encouragement to seek and share personal stories and experiences • Halo's reflections on the enchantment of the world around us Follow and join Halo now- visit her website at haloquin.net!Support the showSupport the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483