#100 - Starhawk, Spiral Goddess

Starhawk is the legendary author, activist, permaculture designer and teacher, and a prominent voice in modern earth-based spirituality and ecofeminism. She is the author or co-author of thirteen books, including The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess and the eco-topian novel The Fifth Sacred Thing, and its sequel City of Refuge. Her most recent non-fiction book is The Empowerment Manual: A Guide for Collaborative Groups, on group dynamics, power, conflict and communications. 

Starhawk is a cofounder of Reclaiming, an activist branch of modern Pagan religion, and continues to work closely with the Reclaiming Community. She also founded Earth Activist Training, teaching permaculture design grounded in spirituality and with a focus on activism. She travels internationally, lecturing and teaching on earth-based spirituality, the tools of ritual, and the skills of activism.

On this episode, Starhawk discusses the history of the Goddess Movement and The Spiral Dance; the relationship between magic and activism; and why witchcraft is a practice of poetry, science, and hope.

Pam also reflects on 100 episodes of The Witch Wave, and answers a listener question about deities of divine masculinity.

Our sponsors for this episode are Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, Trued Apparel, Snowy Owl Tea, Weiser Books, The Many Moons Planner, BetterHelp, Blessed Be Magick, and the Psyche Magic Podcast

We also have brand new print-on-demand merch like Witch Wave shirts, sweatshirts, totes, stickers, and mugs available now here.

And 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

#99 - Jamie Della, Kitchen Witch

Jamie Della is the co-author of The Wicca Cookbook which is now available in its second edition. She is also the author of eight other books, including The Book of Spells: The Magick of Witchcraft, and she writes the “Herbal Journeys” column for Witches & Pagans magazine, Writing the Magick and Homesteading the Hollows blogs, and launched Every Last Drop: Exposés on the LA Eastern Sierra water wars. She offers a Spellcrafting course online, bi-monthly newsletters, and leads creativity and SoulCollage® workshops. Jamie is an ordained Shamanic Priestess, playwright, and potter, and she has studied Magick and spirituality from around the world for more than twenty-five years. Her next book, A Box of Magick: A Guided Journey to Crafting a Magickal Life through Witchcraft, Ritual Herbalism, and Spellcrafting will be published by Sounds True in Fall 2023.

On this episode, Jamie discusses ways to bewitch your kitchen, the importance of helping to heal the land, and favorite foods for autumn enchantment.

Pam also talks about how to have a more spiritually nourishing Thanksgiving and radical domestic witchcraft, and answers a listener question about doing magic on the down-low.

Our sponsors for this episode are Witch Baby Soap, Trued Apparel, Mithras Candle, BetterHelp, Rosarium Blends, and The Path 365.

We also have brand new print-on-demand merch like Witch Wave shirts, sweatshirts, totes, stickers, and mugs available now here.

And 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

#98 - Steven Intermill, Director of the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick

Steven Intermill is the director of the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magick in Cleveland, Ohio. The Buckland collection includes artifacts from Raymond Buckland, Gerald Gardner, Lady Rowan, Aleister Crowley, Sybil Leek, Anton LaVey, Israel Regardie, Scott Cunningham, and many other leaders of the Pagan community. Featuring artifacts from the original collection, the museum’s mission is to display the tools and imagery of Witchcraft and Magick, while celebrating the First Amendment and the power of outsider art.

Steven got his passion for sharing interesting artifacts from his previous position as the curator of A Christmas Story House & Museum, and his interest in the arcane truly grew while performing with the outré synthesizer act, Telecult Powers. He spends his evenings with spouse Jillian and his three cats Berti, Robat, and Lil Richard.

On this episode, Steven discusses the history of the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, the story of its visionary witch founder Raymond Buckland, and the importance of preserving Ray’s magical legacy.

Pam also talks about drawing strength from pioneering Pagans during tumultuous times, and answers a listener question about finding the magic of New York City.

Our sponsors for this episode are Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, Snowy Owl Tea, The Many Moons Lunar Planner, Weiser Books, BetterHelp, Good Sigil, and the Psyche Magic podcast

And 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

#97 - Najah Lightfoot, Author of "Powerful Juju"

Najah Lightfoot is a multi-award-winning writer. She is the author of the bestselling Good Juju: Mojos, Rites & Practices for the Magical Soul, and her new book Powerful Juju: Goddesses, Music & Magic for Comfort, Guidance & Protection. She is a regular contributor to the Llewellyn annuals and a contributor to The Library of Esoterica -Volume III - Witchcraft. Her magickal staff is on display and part of the permanent collection of the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft, located in Cleveland, Ohio. Najah is also a fellow of the Sojourner Truth Leadership Circle, sponsored by Auburn Seminary. She lives in Denver, Colorado, where the blue skies and the power of the Rocky Mountains uplift and fill her soul.

On this episode, Najah discusses the joy of good juju, recommends some spirited Samhain rituals, and shares her favorite goddesses who inspire and empower.

Pam also talks about the life affirming effects of sacred death rites, and answers a listener question about connecting with the divine feminine across the gender spectrum.

Our sponsors for this episode are Art Witch of Kita, Witch Baby Soap, Lilith Amberly Village Witch, BetterHelp, Mithras Candle, and Blessed Be Magick Jewelry

And 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

#96 - Ezra Rose, Jewitch Monster Maker

Ezra Rose is an illustrator, zinester & multi-disciplinary creator living on a small farm with queer chosen family. Their work explores monsters, magic, queer/trans identity, and Jewish culture, and has been published in tabletop games, comics, literary anthologies & more. In addition to the beautiful and radical drawings that Ezra creates, they are also a brilliant writer and researcher, and their mystical poetry and zines about Jewish folklore figures are marvelous as well.

Ezra’s most recent zine is called F*CK YOUR MAGIC ANTISEMITISM: A Lesser Key to the Appropriation of Jewish Magic & Mysticism, and it’s a truly illuminating and educational treatise on the ways in which Jewish culture has been stolen from and exoticized by the Western Esotericism movement over centuries, and it is a must-read for Jews and non-Jews alike.

On this episode, Ezra discusses their path to radical Jewitch artistry, favorite Jewish monsters, and why knowing the history of the cultural appropriation of Jewish mysticism is crucial to making more compassionate magic. 

Pam also talks about her deepening exploration of Jewitchery, and answers a listener question about how to connect to ancestors if you are an adoptee.

Our sponsors for this episode are Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, Grow Wellness, Snowy Owl Tea, Lilith Amberley Village Witch, BetterHelp, Good Sigil, and the Psyche Magic Podcast

And 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

#95 - Jinkx Monsoon Returns! Witch Queen of All Witch Queens

It’s the Witch Wave Season 6 Premiere! Drag Superstar Jinkx Monsoon (she/her/they/them) returns to celebrate her recent RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 7 win.

Jinkx Monsoon is the “internationally tolerated” cabaret icon who’s taken over the entertainment industry as an award-winning actress, acclaimed vocalist, and theatre sensation. She is the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 5, AND the recent winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 7 amongst a cast of all-winning contestants, making her the first ever Queen of All Queens.

Since gaining a massive international fan base, Jinkx has toured the world performing her original cabaret shows with music partner Major Scales, including highly-acclaimed shows like The Ginger Snapped (MAC Award winner), The Vaudevillians, and their most recent production, Together Again, Again. In 2018, she partnered with best friend and sister RuPaul’s Drag Race star, BenDeLaCreme for their first major holiday tour To Jesus, Thanks for Everything! - Jinkx and DeLa. Jinkx and DeLa’s co-written holiday productions have grown into a worldwide phenomenon, spawning the 2019 tour, All I Want for Christmas is Attention, a Hulu holiday hit, The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Special (2020), and The Return of the Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show, LIVE! (2021) which performed for sold-out audiences across the U.S., U.K. and Canada. 

You may have also seen her on stage, having won the Gregory Award for her portrayal of Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch or on film and TV such as the CBS cop drama Blue Bloods and the Netflix original AJ and the Queen. Or you may have heard her voice in such animated shows as Steven Universe and many more! Additionally, Jinkx has been the subject of two documentaries: Drag Becomes Him, and The Queens.

Jinkx also has several albums out, and a new EP called The Virgo Odyssey: Prologue.

On this episode, Jinkx discusses her historic RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars win, the ways drag has helped her embody the witch archetype, and how practicing witchcraft has led her to victory both on and off screen.

Pam also talks about the sacredness of the number 6, and answers a listener question about ways to integrate the magic of several branches of their family tree.

Our sponsors for this episode are The Living Altar, the Many Moons Lunar Planner, Mithras Candle, BetterHelp, Weiser Books and Lilith Amberly Village Witch.

And 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

BONUS EP: Sarah Lyons, Activist Witch (Witch Wave Plus Re-release)

BONUS EPISODE: This was originally released as a Witch Wave Plus episode for our Patreon backers on May 11, 2022. In light of recent current events re: Roe v. Wade being overturned, we are taking it out from behind the paywall and releasing it to everyone in hopes that it will offer some inspiration and activation.

_____________________________________________________________________

Sarah Lyons is a writer, activist, filmmaker, and witch based in New York City. Her writing and herself have appeared in Teen Vogue, Vice, and The CW show Mysteries Decoded. Her first book, Revolutionary Witchcraft: A Guide to Magical Activism was published in 2019, and her second book How to Study Magic will be out in October of 2022 from Running Press.

On this episode she shares her initial thoughts about the impending overturn of Roe v. Wade, how to incorporate witchcraft into our political actions, and lessons of the witch that can help us build a freer, brighter future.

Content warning: this episode is a heavy one full of topics such as abortion, rape, surveillance, fascism, and more, so listen if / when you have the capacity for it.

Further Reading

Planned Parenthood Action Fund

National Network of Abortion Funds

Weight limit for emergency contraception - Planned Parenthood

Pew Research Center: The majority of Americans support abortion

Catholic women and contraception statistics (not abortion as Pam misstated)

"The Religious Right and the Abortion myth" in Politico

Tor browser

Brave browser

ProtonMail

Signal app

ACT UP (The AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power)

Zapatistas

Standing Rock

Haitian Revolution

"The Feminist History of Spiritualism" by Pam in Ms. Magazine (Waking the Witch excerpt)

National Bail Fund Network

#94 - SARK, Succulent Wild Woman

It’s the Witch Wave Season Finale! SARK is the best-selling author and artist of nineteen inspirational, prismatically illustrated books, selling over three million copies. This month, her wildly successful book, Succulent Wild Woman, is being rereleased in an expanded, 25th anniversary edition.

She began by creating her iconic “How To Be An Artist” poster in her Magic Cottage in San Francisco, and has now operated her highly successful creative business for over 30 years. 

SARK’s art, programs, products and services have sold around the world. She is an acclaimed teacher and mentor, and her wisdom has touched and transformed the lives of millions. 

SARK has worked with and been praised by authors and speakers including Dr. Maya Angelou and Julia Cameron.

SARK’s purpose is to be a transformer, uplifter and laser beam of love, and she offers that with love through her art, words and spirit. She mentors others to share their unique gifts with the world, and she is mightily inspired by people making their creative dreams REAL.

On this episode, SARK discusses her expanded notion (and book!) of succulence, the magic of alchemizing the shadow and rainbow, and why she considers herself a (not-so-)secret witch.

Pam also talks about revisiting teen inspirations, and answers a listener question about manifesting a creative mentor.

CONTENT WARNING: In addition to all of the joyful conversation, SARK talks about incest and abuse, so heads up.

Our sponsors for this episode are The Viridis Genii Symposium, Blessed Be Magick, Lilith Amberly Village Witch, The Path 365, BetterHelp, Lunar Landing Tarot, Jessica Globe Coaching, and Snowy Owl Tea

And 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

#93 - Sarah Anne Lawless, Priestess of Poison

Sarah Anne Lawless is a published author, artist, herbalist, and educator living in rural Ontario, Canada. She has been an herbalist for 15 years; creating herbal medicines, publishing articles, teaching at herbal conferences across North America, as well as teaching native plant and mushroom identification to private groups, local schools, scouting programs, outdoor education programs, and via horticultural societies.

Over the past 10 years she has focused on researching and working with the medicinal properties of poisonous plants & fungi with a particular focus on medicinal nightshades. Through her business Bane Folk, she emphasizes the medicinal nature of poisonous substances and promotes the education and understanding of their proper and safe uses to help abolish the fear and misuse of these plants and other substances.

On this episode, Sarah discusses the magic and medicine of poisonous plants, real-life flying ointment, and why witches are associated with dangerous vegetation.

Pam also talks about the witchy aspects of wild growth, and answers a listener question about some healing magic for her mother.

Our sponsors for this episode are Cat Coven, Blessed Be Magick, The Path 365, BetterHelp, and Snowy Owl Tea

And 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

#92 - Chaweon Koo, Author of SPELL BOUND

Chaweon Koo is a writer of the intersection of pop culture, the occult, and futurism. Her TikTok @chaweonkoo is one of the most popular occult accounts on the platform, and she also interviews some of the most distinguished occultists and witches in the English-speaking world on her YouTube channel, Witches & Wine. Her new book Spell Bound: A New Witch’s Guide to Crafting the Future is out now, and details her journey from an atheist witch into one of the most visible East Asian practitioners of both Eastern and Western occult traditions.

On this episode, Chaweon talks about her connection to Korean ancestral spell craft, K-pop as glamour magic, and the exciting blend of traditional witchcraft and new technologies. 

Pam also talks about the importance of citing our spiritual influences, and answers a listener question about whether or not to work with abusive ancestors.

Our sponsors for this episode are Cat Coven, Blessed Be Magick, The Path 365, BetterHelp, Jessica Globe Coaching, and Snowy Owl Tea.

And 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

#91 - Lindsay Heather Pearce, Star of Broadway's WICKED

Lindsay Heather Pearce is an actress and singer who is currently starring as Elphaba in the hit Broadway musical, Wicked. Lindsay was also one of the runners-up on The Glee Project, which gave her a guest starring role on the TV show Glee. She has since been in productions of everything from Spring Awakening to American Idiot, and in February 2020 she made her Broadway debut in Wicked, which she’ll be in through the end of this month May 2022. It was also just announced that she’ll be moving on to star in the touring production of Mean Girls. Lindsay was born in Modesto, California, and she currently resides in NYC.

On this episode, Lindsay discusses the yellow brick road that led to her Broadway debut, ways she slays the demons of self-doubt, and how she manifested the bewitching role of her dreams.

Pam also talks about the power of dressing wickedly, and answers a listener question from a green witch in an ethical quandary.

Our sponsors for this episode are Blessed Be Magick, Viridis Genii Symposium, Sarah Faith Gottesdiener’s Better Boundaries online course, Mithras Candle, BetterHelp, Jessica Globe Coaching, and The Path 365

And 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

#90 - Charm Taylor, Enchanting Emcee

Charm Taylor is a musician who sings and raps about her ancestors, her devotion to Yoruban deities known as orisha, and the pain, joy, and eternal hope that comes with being a Black American woman. Her Bandcamp page describes her thusly, “One part heaven one part earth. One part ancient one part future. Presently, the supernova, vocalist, song writer, and universe whisperer gifts us fresh melodic emcee energy and soul stirring content hovering somewhere between the collective essence of Ms. Lauryn Hill, Sun Ra, Fela Kuti, and the unknown.” Charm was the frontwoman for the punk rock-n-soul band, The Honorable South, for many years. As a solo artist, she has released albums including a gorgeous EP called The Road Within, which celebrates her connection to her ancestry and African spirituality, and her newest LP called She Is The Future, which is an Afrofuturist ode to divine feminine power. Charm makes music and magic in New Orleans.

On this episode, Charm discusses her sonic spiritual awakening, the power of Black visionary magic, and the creative and economic promise of NFTs.

Pam also talks about the spiralic energy of spring, and answers a listener question about using spellcraft to stop a copycat.

Our sponsors for this episode are Blessed Be Magick, Viridis Genii Symposium, Jessica Globe Coaching, Luna Lux Botanicals, BetterHelp, Zouz Incense, and The Path 365

And 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

#89 - Madame Pamita, Slavic Sorceress

Madame Pamita is a Ukrainian diaspora witch, teacher, author, candle maker, spellcaster, and tarot reader. Her new book, Baba Yaga’s Book of Witchcraft is filled with Slavic spells, rituals, and stories, with a specific focus on Ukraine. She has also written The Book of Candle Magic and Madame Pamita’s Magical Tarot. Madame Pamita has a popular YouTube Channel for teaching witchcraft, two podcasts, and she is the proprietress of the online spiritual apothecary, the Parlour of Wonders. She lives in Santa Monica, California.

On this episode, Madame Pamita discusses the witchcraft and folklore of Baba Yaga, the beauty of Slavic spell craft, and how we can use our magic to support Ukraine.

Pam also talks about the trickster energy of April, and answers a listener question about impending disaster and protection spells.

Our sponsors for this episode are Blaspheme Boutique, Blessed Be Magick, Zouz Incense, BetterHelp, and The Path 365

And 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

#88 - Rithika Merchant, Visual Mythmaker

Rithika Merchant is a visual artist from Bombay (Mumbai), India. Her work explores myths, stories and ideas shared by different cultures, featuring creatures and symbolism that are part of her personal visual vocabulary. Nature plays a pivotal role in her work and is emphasized by the use of organic shapes and non-saturated colors. Her paintings and collages are made using a combination of watercolor and cut paper elements, drawing on 17th century botanical prints and folk art, to create a body of work that is visually linked to our collective pasts.

Rithika received a BFA in Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design, New York. She has exhibited extensively since her graduation including a number of solo exhibitions in India, France, Spain, Germany and the United States. She has also collaborated with Chloé, a French fashion house on multiple collections for which she was awarded the Vogue India Young Achiever of the Year Award at its Women of the Year Awards 2018, as well as named one of Vogue Magazine’s VogueWorld 100 Creative Voices. Rithika is also the winner of the Sovereign Asian Art Prize -  Vogue Hong Kong Women’s Art Prize for her painting “Saudade” as well as Le Prix DDessin Paris '21. Born in Bombay, she now divides her time between Bombay and Barcelona.

On this episode, Rithika discusses her cross-cultural and cosmic inspirations, crafting feminine art spells, and the power of painting new myths.

Pam also talks about spring flight, and answers a listener question about incorporating elements of a complicated religious past into her witchcraft.

Our sponsors for this episode are Blessed Be Magick, The Disco Dolls Studio, Witchy Washy Bath, Baby Bushka, ZOUZ Incense, BetterHelp, Bonearrow, and The Path 365

And 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

#87 - The Money Witch, Jessie Susannah Karnatz

Jessie Susannah Karnatz, aka the Money Witch, brings capitalism-critical, shame-free education to healers, hustlers, and creatives in order to catalyze change in their financial lives. She believes healing our finances will bring blessing to our lives, our lineages, and our communities. She offers education, Money Magic products, and Intuitive Financial Coaching online and in the Bay Area (unceded Ohlone land). Her new book Money Magic: Practical Wisdom and Empowering Rituals to Heal Your Finances is out now.

On this episode, Jessie Susannah discusses the magical aspects of financial wellbeing, ways to slay money demons such as shame and guilt, and how to reconcile the tension between spirituality and capitalism.

Pam also talks about being a business witch, and answers a listener question about confronting an oppressive ancestral past.

Our sponsors for this episode are Blessed Be Magick, The Disco Dolls Studio, Aesthetic Magic, ZOUZ Incense, Tarot for the Wild Soul, BetterHelp, Mithras Candle, and The Path 365

And 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

#86 - Darla Teagarden, Phantasmagorical Photographer

Darla Teagarden is a self-taught artist and mixed media photographer with a phantasmagoric, otherworldly bent. She creates portraits (most often self-portraits, either faceless or in-character) in theatrical vignettes handcrafted out of wood, paper, chalk, and plaster, and which are rife with sacred symbols and occult imagery. Her widely celebrated work has been exhibited in galleries including Roq La Rue (Seattle), Last Rites (NYC), and The Convent (Philadelphia) and it has been published in magazines and books including Black Forest (Candela Books, 2014) and Series of Dreams (Skeleton Key Press, 2018). Altars, her glorious first monograph, is out now.

On this episode, Darla discusses the therapeutic effect of fantastical imagery, her many magical mentors, and why photography is the weirdest medium of all.

Pam also talks about having a mature belief in magic, and answers a listener question about witchcraft and the wellness community.

Our sponsors for this episode are The Disco Dolls Studio, Blessed Be Magick, The Haunts Curiosity Shoppe, Sarah Faith Gottesdiener’s Resourcing the Creative Self online workshop, Luna Lux Botanicals, BetterHelp, Lindsay Mack’s Rewilding Our Intuition online course, and The Path 365

And 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

#85 - Nina MacLaughlin - Author of "Wake, Siren: Ovid Resung"

Nina MacLaughlin is the author of Wake, Siren: Ovid Resung, a re-telling of Ovid's Metamorphoses told from the perspective of the female figures transformed. She is also a frequent writer for The Paris Review, where she writes lyric essays on such transformational entities as the dawn, the solstices, and the moon. Her book Summer Solstice: An Essay, is a collection of her summer solstice essays, and it is a wonder. Her first book is the acclaimed memoir Hammer Head: The Making of a Carpenter.

Formerly an editor at the Boston Phoenix, Nina worked for nine years as a carpenter, and is now a books columnist for the Boston Globe. In addition to the The Paris Review Daily, she has written for The Virginia Quarterly Review, The BelieverThe New York Times Book ReviewAgniAmerican Short Fiction, the Los Angeles Review of Books, the Wall Street Journal, Meatpaper, and elsewhere. Nina lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

On this episode, Nina discusses the power of giving voice to mythic she-creatures, the allure of transformational writing, and the changes that can occur when one writes about the moon.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode focuses on Greek and Roman myths, and there is a bunch of sexual abuse, rape, and incest in them. Pam and Nina don’t go into graphic details in their conversation, but they do discuss those topics at some length so just a heads up.

Pam also talks about the (super)natural magic of metamorphosis, and answers a listener question about a book manuscript that has yet to find its home.

Our sponsors for this episode are Aesthetic Magic, That Witch Life Podcast, Blessed Be Magick, Mithras Candle, BetterHelp, Crystal Garden Creations, and  The Path 365

And 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

#84 - Karen Rose, Spiritual Herbalist

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 365

And 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

#83 - Veronica Varlow, Bohemian Witch

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

#82 - Christi Johnson, Stitch Witch

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