Frequently Asked Questions

I’d love to be a guest on The Witch Wave! How do I get on the show?

We book guests for the podcast many weeks in advance. Please do send an email to witchwavepodcast at gmail . com, and we’ll be happy to consider you. We will be in touch if we are able to accommodate you.

How do I advertise on The Witch Wave?

We’re so happy you are considering supporting our show! Kindly send an email to witchwavepodcast at gmail . com, and we’ll gladly send you our rates and availability.

How often does the show come out?

The show currently comes out every other Wednesday, and runs October - June of each year. Pam takes summers off for writing, other commitments, and recharge time. There are also now Witch Wave Plus bonus episodes on alternating Wednesdays as well, available through the Witch Wave Patreon.

Will you ever be weekly?

We very much hope to soon! Pam began the show entirely herself - doing all of the recording, editing, producing, advertising, and marketing - which is a lot to maintain. She’s thrilled the show is growing fast, and has recently very happily added an editor and assistant to the Witch Wave coven. They are currently working on how to scale up in a sustainable way, without sacrificing any of the quality listeners have come to expect from the podcast.

In the meantime, the best way to get weekly content from us is to become a Witch Wave Patreon backer. Here you’ll get access to ad-free versions of our episodes, plus biweekly bonus episodes.

I’m hoping to meet other witches. How do I find them?

Pam recommends checking out your local occult shop, New Age shop, or alternative healing space. They often host circles, classes, and other workshops, and attending a few of those is a great way to meet kindred spirits. You can also simply ask the people who work there if they know of any classes, circles, or events that are open to new people. They will usually be happy to help you!

Google is also your friend. Try searching for such terms as “Pagan” or “witch” or “moon circle” and the town you live in, and see what comes up.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to start your own circle! Gather a friend or two and start meeting together. Call it a coven or a simply a witch book club or witchly study group. There’s no one way to be a witch, so you can learn as you go.

What are some books Pam recommends?

We are putting together a more formal reading list which we’ll share soon. But til then, here are a few of Pam’s favorites:

For practicing witchcraft:

The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

Healing Magic by Robin Rose Bennett

Any books by Judika Illes (Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells is a great place to start)

Witchcraft for Tomorrow by Doreen Valiente

Book of Shadows by Phyllis Curott

Enchantments by Mya Spalter

Inner Witch by Gabriela Herstik

Initiated: Memoir of a Witch by Amanda Yates Garcia

For witch history:

Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power by Pam Grossman (but of course!)

Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler

The Witch and The Triumph of the Moon, both by Ronald Hutton

Witches, Sluts, Feminists and Witch Hunt: A Traveler’s Guide to the Power & Persecution of the Witch by Kristen J. Sollée

For witches in fiction:

Pam wrote about her favorite feminist witches in modern fiction here.

How do I start practicing magic?

If you’ve listened to the show, you know that there is no one path or “right way” to do witchcraft.

Still, as one suggestion, Pam recommends setting up a small altar (even a part of a window sill or shelf will do!) and place objects on it that feel sacred or special to you: candles, stones, figures of meaningful deities, jewelry. The important thing is that you make a spot in your home or yard that is designated only for the divine. This is not a place to put your cellphone or house keys (unless you are doing some magic with them, naturally). Light a candle on the altar when you are in need of guidance, assistance, or giving thanks — or just want to check in with Spirit (whatever that word means to you).

She also recommends paying attention to the phases of the moon. The new moon is a great time for setting intentions, starting new projects, or making new changes. The full moon is excellent for getting extra charged up, or letting go of things you no longer need.

But in general, doing magic is a symbolic action infused with intention and attention. You can invent your own rituals and spells - and often those that are the most personal are the most effective. Trust yourself.

I feel drawn to witchcraft, but I’m feeling nervous and/or my family/partner/friend/religious community/etc doesn’t approve. What do I do?

There are many misconceptions about witches, and one of them is that they are usually evil or harmful beings. There’s a good reason people believe that: there have been centuries of propaganda telling them this very thing! But these beliefs are rooted in very intentional, targeted campaigns of misogyny and xenophobia. The vast majority of modern witches are people who are devoted to honoring nature and the body, and to generating positive change in themselves and in the world.

Furthermore, you get to define your own spirituality - no one else does. And while some people turn to witchcraft because they found their own religious upbringing (or lack thereof) insufficient, many people incorporate their first religion into their witchcraft. (Yes, you can be a Catholic witch, a Jewitch, an atheist witch, and so on.)

Ultimately it’s up to you to keep yourself safe and out of harm’s way. But remember that living and loving authentically is your birthright, and you get to choose how to engage with Spirit in whatever way feels right to you.

I am going through something intense, traumatic, or mentally/emotionally destabilizing. Can magic help me?

Magic is a very useful tool for making people feel more focused, grounded, and proactive, as well as more connected with themselves, their community, and Spirit in general. However, it is absolutely NOT a substitute for medical care, mental health care, or other therapeutic assistance. Always seek a licensed doctor or therapist if you are struggling. NAMI.org (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is an excellent resource for mental health concerns.

There are so many people who know more about witchcraft than I do. How do I know when I’m allowed to call myself a witch?

The word “witch” has so many meanings, and as Pam has written, it varies depending on context. And though there are some initiatory traditions you may choose to follow, generally speaking there is no gatekeeper to witchcraft or official "witch certificate” that you get.

Of course, you do want to be respectful to those who know more than you. And positioning yourself as an “expert” or charging money for any sort of magical service before you have studied for a good while and gained experience is never a wise idea (which is true of any vocation). But “witch” is a word that people claim for themselves when they feel called to, simple as that.

Pam has also written: “Some people use that word to denote that they are feminists or that they have a desire to subvert an oppressive, sexist status quo. Some people use it ironically, in the same way ‘nasty woman’ went from an insult to a self-proclaimed badge of pride. There are those who use it to signify that they honor and protect the most vulnerable among us --  and that includes all organisms, not just people. And there are certainly those who use it to mean that they practice some sort of witchcraft or alternative mode of spirituality, healing, or divination. But one thing is for sure: that since the 19th century and certainly since the first wave of feminism, this word has gone from a negative epithet to one that's associated with brilliant, unapologetic, feminine power. And that's something we could all use more of these days.”