The Witch Wave

Master Herbalist Karen M. Rose has dedicated her life’s work to empowering individuals to reconnect to their own ancestral traditions. Over the past 20 years, she has created several outlets to offer her teachings and healing modalities to women, people of color, Black, and LGBTQX communities including the opening of her three Brooklyn shops, Sacred Vibes Apothecary, Sacred Botanica, and Sacred Spice. Karen also has a new book coming out in February called The Art & Practice of Spiritual Herbalism: Transform, Heal, and Remember with the Power of Plants and Ancestral Medicine.Karen has trained over 400 herbalists through her Spiritual Herbalism Apprenticeship program and she is also the founder of the Sacred Vibes’ Annual NYC Spiritual Herbalism Conference, the Global Virtual Apprenticeship Program, and much more. In addition to offering herbal consultations, she also incorporates astrology and divination into spiritual guidance sessions. Karen has been featured in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Black Enterprise, Refinery29 and Allure Magazine, and has partnered with brands like BET and Squarespace.On this episode, Karen discusses the power of holistic herbal healing, the importance of ancestral wisdom, and plants that are particularly supportive in times of turmoil. Pam also talks about why witches are so often depicted as green, and answers a listener question about witchcraft and grief.Our sponsors for this episode are VERAMEAT, That Witch Life Podcast, Sanctuary, BetterHelp, Plum Deluxe Tea, and The Path 365And if you want more Witch Wave, please consider supporting us on Patreon to get access to bonus Witch Wave Plus episodes, Pam’s monthly online rituals, and more! That’s patreon.com/witchwave

Veronica Varlow is the last of a line of Bohemian Witches, a fourth-generation intuitive, best-selling author, and international burlesque showgirl. She is the author of the absolutely gorgeous book, BOHEMIAN MAGICK: WITCHCRAFT AND SECRET SPELLS TO ELECTRIFY YOUR LIFE. She is also a confidence and sensuality coach who has been featured on the Tonight Show, Playboy, CNN, and MTV in 150 countries worldwide. Veronica and her husband, David Varlow, established the branch of Witchcraft known as Spectaculus, an intersection of the Bohemian magick legacy of Veronica’s grandmother Helen, and Varlow’s rock-and-roll pagan practices, which stem from natural mysticism and instinctive creativity. Veronica is also one of the cofounders of the infamous Chelsea Hotel Coven in New York City and the founder of Witch Camp held at the Magick House in Woodstock, New York. She has performed and done love rituals of many flavors all over the underground art scene including at House of Yes, Shanghai Mermaid, and Dances of Vice, and her client list includes Chanel, Tiffany & Co., Vogue, Marc Jacobs, Creative Time with David Byrne, and the Whitney Museum of American Art. On this episode, Veronica discusses the magic of both Bohemias, the power of communing with creative ancestors, and how to unleash your inner wild.Pam also talks about community connection as a winter tonic, and answers a listener question about being an atheist witch.Our sponsors for this episode are VERAMEAT, Blaspheme Boutique, Sanctuary, Mithras Candle, BetterHelp, Plum Deluxe Tea, and The Path 365

Christi Johnson creates mystical garments that blend elements of botanical dyes with handcrafted stitches. She is the creator Mixed Color, a collection of textile goods made with natural materials and plant dyes, as well as an educational resource for textile artists. She is also the creator of Stitch Wish, a collection of hand embroidered talismans designed as a form of metaphysical enhancement for use in ritual. Christi is also the author of Mystical Stitches: Embroidery for Personal Empowerment and Magical Embellishment. All of her work with textiles and talismans honor the body, its boundaries, its extensions, and its relations to the world and cosmos around us. As a teacher, she also offers workshops in natural dyeing and embroidery and has created kits and booklets for students and DIYers. Her garments, booklets, kits, and embroidered artwork have sold at maker studios and boutiques across the US.Raised in tropical Florida, Christi studied Fashion Design at Otis College of Art and Design. She worked in the fashion industry in Los Angeles for nearly a decade, before starting her own line of mystical garments and stitched artwork. On this episode, Christi discusses talismanic fashion, why we should push past creative perfectionism, and the meditative magic of making.Pam also talks about string spells, and answers a listener question about building a witch-friendly art therapy practice.Our sponsors for this episode are VERAMEAT, Witch Baby Soap, Kate’s Magik, Snowy Owl Tea, BetterHelp, Lindsay Mack’s THRESHOLD course, and Fat and the Moon 

Sarah Shin is a publisher, curator, and writer, and with her partner Ben Vickers is co-founder of Ignota Books, which they describe as "an experiment in the techniques of awakening." Ignota publishes a variety of tomes on magic, language, and consciousness, including their poetry anthology Spells: 21st Century Occult Poetry and their new anthology Altered States. Ignota also publishes their annual Ignota Diary, a daily planner for seekers of the sacred. Sarah is also co-founder of the independent feminist publisher Silver Press, and she the founder of New Suns, a curation and storytelling project from feminist perspectives and practices.On this episode, Sarah discusses language as a consciousness-expanding tool, the importance of publishing speculative writers, and guiding linguistic spirits including María Sabina, Hildegard of Bingen, and Ursula K. Le Guin.Pam also discusses the magic of books, and answers a listener question about Jewitchery and the Bible.Our sponsors for this episode are Lindsay Mack’s The Threshold course, VERAMEAT, Mithras Candle, Sarah Faith Gottesdiener’s Many Moons Lunar Planner, Snowy Owl Tea, BetterHelp, and Green Moon Apothecary

Tere Arcq is arguably the world’s leading expert on the life and work of artist Remedios Varo, as well as a specialist in women surrealist artists overall. She was Chief Curator of the Museum of Modern Art in Mexico and director of an International Art Investment Fund. As an independent curator, she has creates and produces exhibitions in Mexico and abroad including including The Adventures of Women Surrealists in Mexico and the United States, an international project presented at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), The National Museum of Fine Arts in Quebec, and The Modern Art Museum in Mexico. She has also contributed to countless exhibitions, most recently as a contributing curator of the astounding Surrealism Beyond Borders show that is up now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art through January 20th, 2022. Tere edited and wrote for the monograph The Five Keys to the Secret World of Remedios Varo, and has contributed to many publications on Remedios Varo, Leonora Carrington, and other surrealist artists. With Susan L. Aberth, she wrote the book, The Tarot of Leonora Carrington. Tere has also collaborated in the production of documentaries and short films on artists, and she has also designed and organized specialized art tours for collectors. She is a frequent lecturer at museums, institutions, and universities worldwide. Tere has Masters Degree in Museum Studies and Art Management.On this episode, Tere discusses Remedios Varo's bewitching art, her magical friendship with Leonora Carrington, and her lifelong pursuit of occult knowledge.Pam also discusses why she claims Varo as a spiritual ancestor, and answers a listener question about finding a witchcraft routine.Our sponsors for this episode are Kate’s Magik, VERAMEAT, Mithras Candle, BetterHelp, and The Path 365

Lilith Dorsey hails from many magickal traditions, including Celtic, Afro-Caribbean, and Native American spirituality. They are the author of many books including Voodoo and Afro-Caribbean Paganism, The African-American Ritual Cookbook, Love Magic, Water Magic, and their newest book, Orishas, Goddesses, and Voodoo Queens: The Divine Feminine in the African Religious Traditions. Lilith has been a professional psychic for over three decades and since 1991, they have been doing successful magick and readings for patrons of their business. In addition to all that, they are also editor/publisher of Oshun-African Magickal Quarterly, and the filmmaker of the experimental documentary Bodies of Water: Voodoo Identity and Tranceformation. They were also the choreographer for jazz legend Dr. John’s Night Tripper Voodoo Show.Lilith’s formal education focused on plant science, anthropology, and film at the University of Rhode Island, New York University, and the University of London, and their magickal training includes numerous initiations in Santeria - also known as Lucumi - Haitian Vodoun, and New Orleans Voodoo.On this episode, Lilith discusses the feminine magic of African diaspora traditions, the true power of love spells, and how they blend the different spiritual strands of their multicultural lineage with care and respect.Pam also talks about Witches’ New Year and the new moon, and answers a listener question about heeding Hecate’s call.Our sponsors for this episode are Witch Baby Soap, The Pretty Cult, Kate’s Magik, VERAMEAT, The Many Moons 2022 Daily Planner, BetterHelp, and The Path 365

Happy Halloween and Blessed Samhain! We've got a special Witch Wave bonus episode to celebrate the release of the bewitching new book that Pam co-edited and co-authored: WITCHCRAFT from Taschen's Library of Esoterica series.On this episode, Pam speaks with Library of Esoterica series editor Jessica Hundley and series designer Nic Taylor about all of the art, writing, design, and magic that went into WITCHCRAFT.Jessica Hundley is a journalist, editor, and author of numerous books on music, film, counterculture and psychedelia. As series editor of Taschen's Library of Esoterica series, she has overseen and written for all volumes including TAROT, ASTROLOGY, and WITCHCRAFT. Her other books include The New New Age: Crystals, an acclaimed biography on country rock icon Gram Parsons, and an extensive overview of the photography of Dennis Hopper from Taschen to name but a few. Her interviews and articles have appeared in such publications as Vogue, Rolling Stone, NY Times, Mojo, and many others. She is also a creative director and filmmaker, who has collaborated with such artists and brands as John Legend, Pepsi, and Bonobos.Nic Taylor is the head of Thunderwing Studios, an award-winning Los Angeles-based creative studio founded in 2007 by Nic and his partner Jennifer Brandt-Taylor. They specialize visionary work with visionary people via a diverse portfolio of projects in publishing, music, film, fashion, food, interior design and cultural institutions. Some of their projects include design for the recent film adaptation of Emma directed by Autumn de Wilde and for gorgeous brands like Bellocq Tea and Rule of Three.Our sponsor for this special episode is VERAMEAT.

Lorraine Monteagut is a Cuban-Colombian writer born in Miami, Florida. She is the author of Brujas: The Magic and Power of Witches of Color. Lorraine holds a PhD in communication from the University of South Florida, where she began her research on bruja feminism and the reclamation of ancestral healing traditions. Inspired to the spiritual life by her great grandmother, who was an espiritista in Cuba, she facilitates astrology workshops and moon circles in her local community in Tampa, Florida.On this episode, Lorraine discusses the healing that comes with connecting to the magic of ancestors, the diversity of the Latinx witchcraft community, and how to decolonize spiritual research and practices.Pam also talks about the importance of honoring one’s own ancestral magic, and answers a listener question about spell-casting for a new home.Our sponsors for this episode are VVITCH Digital, Temperance Home and Bar, The Path 365 by Suzie Newell, Wishcraft Goods, Mithras Candle, BetterHelp, Swandy’s The Throne Room album, and The Spiral Bookcase

Heather Greene is the author of Lights, Camera, Witchcraft: A Critical History of Witches in American Film and Television. She is a freelance editor, writer, and journalist who has specialized in Witchcraft, Paganism, alternative religions, and other occult topics for over thirty years. She is the former managing editor of the Pagan news journal, The Wild Hunt, and her work has been published at such places as The Washington Post, Religion News Service, Patheos.com and Turner Classic Movies. She is also an acquisitions consultant with Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. Heather has B.A. in Film Studies and French from the Wesleyan University in Connecticut and a masters degree in Film Studies from Emory University.On this episode, Heather discusses the evolution of the witch in American cinema, bewitching television shows, and the everlasting influence of The Wizard of Oz.Pam also talks about the witch in pop occulture and answers a listener question about how to honor a deceased, serpentine familiar.Our sponsors for this episode are That Witch Life Podcast, VVITCH Digital, Temperance Home and Bar, Mithras Candle, BetterHelp, Lindsay Mack’s “Heart of Service” course, and Green Moon Apothecary

It's the Witch Wave Season 5 premiere! We are honored to have Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Neko Case join us.Neko’s seven solo albums include her 2006 breakthrough album Fox Confessor Brings the Flood, and her two Grammy-nominated albums, Middle Cyclone of 2009 and 2013’s The Worse Things Get, the Harder I Fight, the Harder I Fight, the More I Love You. Her most recent album, Hell-On, is a gorgeous sonic tapestry of such tumultuous topics as climate change, twisted fate, and heartache. In 2016 she also released a collaborative album with musicians k.d. lang and Laura Veirs called CASE/LANG/VEIRS. She is also a member of the critically-acclaimed band, The New Pornographers.Neko's music has been described as everything from country noir to art rock, but it transcends genre and soundscape. What is consistent are her signature brilliant lyrics which are full of sharp metaphors and enchanting mythological fragments, as well as her spectacular voice which cuts the air like a diamond. It's no wonder her career has spanned over twenty years - her songs are the stuff of legend.Neko also has a newly-launched Substack newsletter called Entering the Lung. In it she writes lyrical essays about her relationship to the natural world.On this episode, Neko discusses the influence of wildness on her music, her relationship to magical monstresses, and why she identifies as "she/sir."Pam also talks about Witches' Thanksgiving and answers a listener question about how to make physical exercise a spiritual act.Our sponsors for this episode are That Witch Life Podcast, Temperance Home and Bar, Lindsay Mack’s “Heart of Service” course, BetterHelp, Seagrape Apothecary, The Spiral Bookcase, and Jessica Globe Coaching.