The Witch Wave

• #148 - Ronald Hutton, Professor of Paganism and Witchcraft

  Ronald Hutton is a professor of history at Bristol University. He is a leading authority on ancient and medieval paganism and magic, the British Isles in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and on global context of witchcraft beliefs. He is the author of seventeen books, including The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft, The Witch: A History of Fear, from Ancient Times to the Present, and his recent book, Queens of the Wild: Pagan Goddesses in Christian Europe: An Investigation.Ronald frequently appears as an expert on Paganism and witchcraft on British television and radio programs too numerous to name (though one of Pam’s personal favorites is when he pops up in the hilarious docu-parody series, Cunk on Britain). His work has been trailblazing in the realms of academia and religion, as well as in shaping a more humane geo-political response to the very real witch hunting that still happens across the globe. Ronald was recently awarded the title Commander of the British Empire, an honor bestowed to those who have made a highly distinguished contribution in their field – as he certainly has.On this episode, Ronald discusses his pioneering work that helped establish the field of Pagan Studies, the boons and banes of his academic view of magical history, and the ever-evolving figure of the witch.Pam also talks about spiritual lineages, and answers a listener question about what the cards are saying regarding these tumultuous times.Check out the video of this episode over on YouTube (and please like and subscribe to the channel while you’re at it!)Our sponsors for this episode are The Stormcloud Oracle, BetterHelp, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, and TU·ET·AL soapWe also have print-on-demand merch like Witch Wave shirts, sweatshirts, totes, stickers, and mugs available now here, and all sorts of other bewitching goodies available in the Witch Wave shop.And if you want more Witch Wave, please consider supporting us on Patreon to get access to detailed show notes, bonus Witch Wave Plus episodes, Pam’s monthly online rituals, and more! That’s patreon.com/witchwave

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• #147 - Paulina Stevens & Jezmina Von Thiele, Secrets of Romani Fortune-Telling Authors

  Paulina Stevens and Jezmina Von Thiele are the co-hosts of Romanistan, a podcast that celebrates Romani identity, culture, and tradition. They are also the co-authors of the book, Secrets of Romani Fortune-Telling: Divining with Tarot, Palmistry, Tea Leaves, and More.Paulina Stevens is a California-based author, activist, and spiritual entrepreneur. She was the subject of the LA Times podcast Foretold, which chronicles her powerful personal journey of breaking away from her insular community and reclaiming her voice. She is also the founder of Romani Holistic, a spiritual wellness business offering intuitive readings, herbal remedies, and handcrafted holistic goods rooted in ancestral knowledge.Jezmina Von Thiele (they/she) is a writer, educator, performer, and fortune-teller whose work is rooted in their mixed Sinti Romani traditions. Their poetry, fiction, and nonfiction have been featured in Prairie Schooner, The Kenyon Review Online, Narrative Magazine, and other publications. Based in the New Hampshire Seacoast area, Jezmina leads transformative rituals and workshops on divination, spiritual wellness, and the creative arts; provides private tarot, palm, and tea leaf readings; and offers spiritual and creative coaching, online and in person.On this episode, Paulina and Jezmina discuss Romani divination and folk magic, the history of the “G-word,” and the complex power of intuition.Pam also talks about the importance of evolving one’s language, and answers a listener question about an Election Day flame-out.Check out the video of this episode over on YouTube (and please like and subscribe to the channel while you’re at it!)Our sponsors for this episode are Woodland Magic, Ritual + Shelter, The Stormcloud Oracle, BetterHelp, Dear Antigone, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, and TU·ET·AL soapWe also have print-on-demand merch like Witch Wave shirts, sweatshirts, totes, stickers, and mugs available now here, and all sorts of other bewitching goodies available in the Witch Wave shop.And if you want more Witch Wave, please consider supporting us on Patreon to get access to detailed show notes, bonus Witch Wave Plus episodes, Pam’s monthly online rituals, and more! That’s patreon.com/witchwave

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• #146 - Mitch Horowitz, Occult Historian and Practical Magic(k)ian

  Mitch Horowitz is one of today’s most literate voices of occultism, mysticism, and the unexplained. He has bylines in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Politico, Time, and The Wall Street Journal, and appearances in Sundance-premiering movies, popular TV docuseries, and award-winning documentaries, as well as on CBS Sunday Morning, Dateline NBC, NPR’s All Things Considered, and other major media. Mitch also worked for many years in publishing, including as a vice president at Penguin Random House where he was editor-in-chief of Tarcher/Penguin, an imprint dedicated to metaphysics.He now hosts the Discovery/HBO Max TV series, Alien Encounters: Fact or Fiction, and he appears regularly on seasons one and two of History’s The UnBelievable with Dan Ackroyd and in numerous docuseries including MGM+’s BEYOND: UFOs and the Unknown. He is also the host of the podcast series Extraordinary Evidence: ESP Is Real out from SpectreVision. Mitch also hosted, cowrote, and produced a feature documentary about the occult classic The Kybalion directed by Emmy-nominee Ronni Thomas and shot on location in Egypt.Mitch is a former writer-in-residence at the New York Public Library and the PEN Award-winning and wildly prolific author of many books including Occult America, One Simple Idea, The Miracle Club, Modern Occultism, and his newest offering, Practical Magick: Ancient Tradition and Modern Practice which is out on March 25th and available for preorder now.On this episode, Mitch discusses his dual roles as an occult historian and practitioner, why self-expression and true desire are the keys to effective spellcasting, and how his belief in “anarchic magick” has led him to a happier and more fulfilling life.Pam also talks about the magic of wishes, and answers a listener question about staying protected as a public witch.Check out the video of this episode over on YouTube (and please like and subscribe to the channel while you’re at it!)Donate to Pam’s fundraiser for The ACLU hereGet 20% off DeleteMe here (not an official sponsor, just a personal recommendation from Pam. Disclosure: Pam does get a small referral fee for each registration.) Our sponsors for this episode are The Witch Summit, Ritual + Shelter, Mithras Candle, BetterHelp, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, and The Alchemist and the Academic podcastWe also have print-on-demand merch like Witch Wave shirts, sweatshirts, totes, stickers, and mugs available now here, and all sorts of other bewitching goodies available in the Witch Wave shop.And if you want more Witch Wave, please consider supporting us on Patreon to get access to detailed show notes, bonus Witch Wave Plus episodes, Pam’s monthly online rituals, and more! That’s patreon.com/witchwave

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• #145 - Vera Sola AKA Danielle Aykroyd, Spirited Songstress

  Danielle Aykroyd is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who performs under the name Vera Sola. Sometimes called the "lost love child of Leonard Cohen and Nancy Sinatra," Vera Sola’s smoky vocalization and searing, soaring songs have a cinematic aspect to them, and would feel equally at home in a David Lynch film or a prairie full of phantoms. A trained poet, her lyrics are twisting and imagistic, marked alternatively by restrained mystery and a resplendent, wild-eyed rage.Her 2018 debut LP, Shades, which she plays every instrument on, is a study in shadowy Americana and mesmeric incantation. Her sophomore album of 2024, Peacemaker, is a more expansive extravaganza with lush orchestration, dark dreamscapes, and tales of vengeance, heartache, and haunting. Vera Sola’s new EP, Ghostmaker is a pared-down resurrection of Peacemaker tracks, and features a brand new song, “The Ghostmaster’s Daughter.”On this episode, Danielle discusses howspirits guide her music, her relationship to ghosts, and the liberating power of finding her voice.Pam also talks about the feminist history of Spiritualism, and answers a listener question about a precarious prediction. Vera Sola’s songs featured in the audio version of this podcast episode are as follows:“Circles” from Shades“Bad Idea” from Peacemaker“The Ghostmaster’s Daughter” from Ghostmaker“Blood Bond” from Peacemaker“Instrument of War” from PeacemakerCheck out the video of this episode over on YouTube (and please like and subscribe to the channel while you’re at it!)Our sponsors for this episode are Mithras Candle, BetterHelp, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, and Dear Antigone.We also have print-on-demand merch like Witch Wave shirts, sweatshirts, totes, stickers, and mugs available now here, and all sorts of other bewitching goodies available in the Witch Wave shop.And if you want more Witch Wave, please consider supporting us on Patreon to get access to detailed show notes, bonus Witch Wave Plus episodes, Pam’s monthly online rituals, and more! That’s patreon.com/witchwave

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• #144 - Matt Marble of the American Museum of Paramusicology

  Matt Marble is an artist, author, audio producer and director of the American Museum of Paramusicology ("brilliant and humbling," The Paris Review). Both creatively and through historical research, his work explores the inspired intersections of art and metaphysics and the intuitive disciplines they mutually employ. Matt is the author of Buddhist Bubblegum: Esotericism in the Creative Process of Arthur Russell("groundbreaking work," New York Times), and the producer/host of Secret Sound, a podcast exploring the metaphysical biopics of American musicians, and The Hidden Present, an audio interview series exploring intuitive discipline and spiritual imagination. Additional works have been featured by the California Festival, Warp Records, and the Philosophical Research Society. His writing, research, media production, and personal archive constitute the American Museum of Paramusicology (AMP), through which he also publishes the monthly AMP Journal.Matt's visual art and music are often rooted in his own dreamwork divination practice--the Astramira or "Wondering Stars." This work has been featured as a solo art exhibition at Greensboro Project Space, as well as through releases of instrumental guitar music and dream songs. His album of solo acoustic guitar music, The Living Mirror, was released by UK label The Crystal Cabinet in 2021. Matt holds a BA in speech & hearing science from Portland State University, a PhD in music composition from Princeton University, and a black rattlesnake from his dreams. On this episode, Matt discusses the relationship between music and mysticism, favorite musician-magicians, and how dreams influence his own sonic and visual art.Pam also talks about casting her love spell at Jinkx Monsoon’s Carnegie Hall show, and answers a listener question about witchcraft and entrepreneurship.Check out the video of this episode over on YouTube (and please like and subscribe to the channel while you’re at it!)Our sponsors for this episode are The Witch Summit, The Crystal Ballers podcast, BetterHelp, Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, and The Alchemist and the Academic podcast.We also have print-on-demand merch like Witch Wave shirts, sweatshirts, totes, stickers, and mugs available now here, and all sorts of other bewitching goodies available in the Witch Wave shop.And if you want more Witch Wave, please consider supporting us on Patreon to get access to detailed show notes, bonus Witch Wave Plus episodes, Pam’s monthly online rituals, and more! That’s patreon.com/witchwave

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