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It's almost Halloween! And for our second annual Halloween special, we've got a costume reveal that leaves one of us delighted and the other genuinely disturbed. Then we're diving into Disney's 1993 cult classic, Hocus Pocus, to find out how much real witchcraft history and folklore is hiding beneath all that glorious camp. But first, in How's Tricks, there's a potentially haunted house, some much-needed good news for podcast familiar, Otto, and a financial plot twist. Want to see our Halloween costumes? Watch the full video episode on YouTube Sources for Who? What? Witch? Where? Classen, C. (2005). The witch’s senses: Sensory ideologies and transgressive femininities from the Renaissance to modernity. In D. Howes (Ed.), Empire of the senses: The sensual culture reader (pp. 70–84). Berg. -- Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] Any problem you want a magical solution for, please write in for a bit of advice and a magical prescription. It's important we practice as much as possible to get our witchy credentials! We also want to hear how your spells are going, so please write in if you have practiced any magic mentioned in the show. We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa's tricks are running dangerously low, but fortunately Sarah has a plethora to share! From mysterious spider encounters that might just be messages from the universe, to magnificent Scottish mushrooms, and some very exciting news about a new familiar, Sarah's cup runneth over. We also revisit our conversations about witchy fashion and narcissism, with a beautiful tartan honouring Scotland's accused witches, and some uncomfortable questions about spiritual superiority. Can even refusing to hex someone give you an inflated spiritual ego? Plus, a little tarot guidance, financial anxieties and dreams of lottery wins as we count down to our Halloween special! The Witches of Scotland Tartan - thanks to Georgie for sharing! -- Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] Any problem you want a magical solution for, please write in for a bit of advice and a magical prescription. It's important we practice as much as possible to get our witchy credentials! We also want to hear how your spells are going, so please write in if you have practiced any magic mentioned in the show. We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, Lisa and Sarah ask when self-empowerment becomes self-importance. They get into spiritual superiority, manifestation, main character syndrome, glamour magic, and what happens when the algorithm starts masquerading as an oracle. Plus, lunar periods, suspiciously accurate horoscopes, Margaret Murray (again), and a cleansing ritual for when someone has really pissed you off. Can we believe in signs, synchronicities and magic without assuming the universe revolves around us? Sources for Who, What, Witch, Where? Dixon, L. J., Hornsey, M. J., & Hartley, N. (2023). The secret to success? The psychology of belief in manifestation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672231181162 Lange, J., Crusius, J., & Hagemeyer, B. (2016). The Evil Queen’s dilemma: Linking narcissistic admiration and rivalry to benign and malicious envy. European Journal of Personality, 30(2), 168–188. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.2047 St. Lawrence, E. (2024). The algorithm holy: TikTok, technomancy, and the rise of algorithmic divination. Religions, 15(4), 435. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15040435 Vonk, R., & Visser, A. (2021). An exploration of spiritual superiority: The paradox of self-enhancement. European Journal of Social Psychology, 51(1), 152–165. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejsp.2721 — Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] - we love hearing from you! We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For our sixth instalment of Tarot Vin, we’re pairing The Hierophant with Grenache and asking the cards about the collective. It turns out the Hierophant has quite a bit to say about it. And, as things get a bit tipsy after a couple of glasses, Lisa and Sarah have a lot to say, too. Grab a glass, pull up a chair, and join the circle. Many thanks to Julie Albin for her Tarot Vin workbook which we continue to drink our way through, and to Labyrinthos for their tarot card interpretations. — Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] - we love hearing from you! We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa has a confession: she came dangerously close to breaking the Are We Witches? strict no-hexing policy. It all started with a mean joke that left her furious, embarrassed and stewing for days. Even Sarah’s first reaction suggested that perhaps, just this once, a tiny bit of magical retribution might be justified. So, how close did Lisa actually come to casting a hex? Listen to find out. — Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] - we love hearing from you! We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

WATCH THE FULL EPISODE ON YOUTUBE! In this very special episode, we’re joined by folklorist, author, and podcaster Icy Sedgwick for a wonderfully wide-ranging conversation. We chat about folklore, divination, ghosts, fairies, witch archetypes, cunning folk and wise women, love magic, ghost hunting, folklore in the digital age, why stories become attached to particular places, and whether folklore is something from the past or something we’re still creating today. Icy shares the joys of “folklore tripping” and why seeking out the places behind old stories can bring a little enchantment back into everyday life. And in Magic for the Masses, Icy shares a beautifully simple way to acknowledge the spirits of home and place. Icy's latest book is Fate or Fortune: The Art and Folklore of Divination, a captivating exploration of divination throughout history, blending folklore, cultural context, and practical application. Be sure to listen to Icy's wonderful podcast, Fabulous Folklore with Icy, wherever you get your podcasts, watch her video podcasts on YouTube @FabulousFolklore, and find her blog, books, and more at her website, icysedgwick.com. Watch the video at https://youtu.be/rQCD_aKSnyg — Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] - we love hearing from you! We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Sarah and Lisa ask: who dressed the witch? From the pointy hat and black cloak to broomsticks, ceremonial robes and goth fashion, they trace how centuries of art, persecution, occultism, storytelling and pop culture created the witch aesthetic we instantly recognise today, even though the people historically accused of witchcraft looked nothing like it. Then, they ask why witchcraft is so fashionable right now, and whether it ever really went out of fashion. From cunning folk and Victorian spiritualism to WitchTok and Etsy spells, they explore why uncertainty, social upheaval and the desire for a little control keep drawing us back to magic. Plus, in How’s Tricks?, Lisa makes a humbling admission... Sources for Who? What? Witch? Where? BBC Article - Bronze Age to Elphaba: The centuries-old origins of the witch's hat Library of Congress: Martin Le Franc, *Le Champion des Dames — Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] - we love hearing from you! We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In our fifth reading from the Tarot Vin workbook, Sarah and Lisa sit down with The Emperor and a glass of Cabernet Franc to ask what this powerful archetype has to say about creation; not just inspiration, but the kind that requires structure, discipline, and follow-through. As Lisa and Sarah juggle their ever-growing creative ambitions, they turn to The Emperor to see what guidance this card might offer for turning big ideas into something real.  Many thanks to Julie Albin for her Tarot Vin workbook which we continue to drink our way through, and to Labyrinthos for their tarot card interpretations. — Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] - we love hearing from you! We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah and Lisa tie up some loose ends from recent episodes, and check in on how they feel about calling themselves witches at this point on their journey. -- Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] Any problem you want a magical solution for, please write in for a bit of advice and a magical prescription. It's important we practice as much as possible to get our witchy credentials! We also want to hear how your spells are going, so please write in if you have practiced any magic mentioned in the show. We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Intrepid, enchanted explorers Lisa and Sarah go searching for the places where magic might be found. From Celtic "thin places" to traditional sacred landmarks, they explore how people have mapped sacred landscapes, energetic hotspots, and the invisible pathways said to connect them. Along the way, they discuss a witch's curse on the town of Paisley, the mystery of ley lines, and the thorny issue of spiritual and cultural appropriation. Plus, in Show & Spell, they read their astrocartography charts and ask whether the stars really can point the way to a better place to live. Join them as they go looking for magic on the map. Sources for Who? What? Witch? Where?: https://forest-healing.co.uk/articles/thin-places-and-liminal-spaces-in-celtic-culture https://www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk/enlighten/mapping-ley-lines-the-earth-s-energy-grid/ https://science.howstuffworks.com/science-vs-myth/unexplained-phenomena/ley-lines.htm Wikipedia Entry for Ley Lines Wikipedia Entry for Jim Lewis Astrocartography.uk Astrocartography maps from: Astro.com Magic for the Masses: What 3 Words _____________________________________________________________________ Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] Any problem you want a magical solution for, please write in for a bit of advice and a magical prescription. It's important we practice as much as possible to get our witchy credentials! We also want to hear how your spells are going, so please write in if you have practiced any magic mentioned in the show. We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is available as a video on YouTube! Watch it here. In this episode, Sarah and Lisa are beside themselves with excitement to talk with Maritza Schafer, founder of Bruja School and someone who's been practicing magic her whole life. Maritza was raised in Chile in a family of witches and learned brujería from her grandmother before going on to develop her own method, that she calls Liberation Magic, a blend of ancestral wisdom, spiritual practice, and personal transformation. Through her Bruja School, Maritza helps people build meaningful spiritual practices and reconnect with their own power. We're thrilled to chat with her about brujeria, liberation magic, and what it is to be a witch in the modern world. Welcome to the podcast, Maritza. — Find more about Maritza and Bruja School at: Maritza Schafer Bruja School Maritza on Instagram Maritza on YouTube — Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] Any problem you want a magical solution for, please write in for a bit of advice and a magical prescription. It's important we practice as much as possible to get our witchy credentials! We also want to hear how your spells are going, so please write in if you have practiced any magic mentioned in the show. We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Are We Witches?, Lisa and Sarah buy soulmate readings and drawings from two Etsy psychics: Psychic Alda and ArtZenArtist. The results include tarot cards, astrology, numerology, (suspiciously) mysterious technology, and some disclaimers that gave these hosts the "ick". Join us as we compare the readings, inspect the drawings, and ask whether we've glimpsed our romantic destinies, or whether we've been had by a couple of charlatans. Visit our Instagram page to see the results for yourself. -- Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] Any problem you want a magical solution for, please write in for a bit of advice and a magical prescription. It's important we practice as much as possible to get our witchy credentials! We also want to hear how your spells are going, so please write in if you have practiced any magic mentioned in the show. We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lisa is back in the land of the living, and Are We Witches? is finally back in the swing of things. This week, we dive into hexes, curses, and humanity’s long fascination with the idea that ritual alone can cause real harm. From the evil eye and bone-pointing traditions to “voodoo death” and the nocebo effect, we explore the strange intersection of fear, belief, psychology, and magic. We also unpack modern witchcraft beliefs around hexing, including the idea that hatred and destructive intent may ultimately harm the person sending it. We have a strict no-hexing policy at Are We Witches? …but we’re endlessly curious about it. Sources for Who, What, Witch, Where?: CANNON, W.B. (1942), “VOODOO” DEATH. American Anthropologist, 44: 169-181. https://doi.org/10.1525/aa.1942.44.2.02a00010 Article from The Argus Newspaper, 13 July 1937 - Death By Black Magic: Pointing the Poison Bone About the nocebo effect The threefold law -- Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] Any problem you want a magical solution for, please write in for a bit of advice and a magical prescription. It's important we practice as much as possible to get our witchy credentials! We also want to hear how your spells are going, so please write in if you have practiced any magic mentioned in the show. We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Look, it's been a rough patch for these witches, but they're back to talk about the (witch)craft of healing, from herbalism that turned into pharmacology, our friend the placebo effect, and the concepts of energy and remote healing. Lisa's tricks involve the return of a piano with a message of hope, Sarah's cycling adventures go awry, and the witches put a new twist on an old "mancy." -- Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] Any problem you want a magical solution for, please write in for a bit of advice and a magical prescription. It's important we practice as much as possible to get our witchy credentials! We also want to hear how your spells are going, so please write in if you have practiced any magic mentioned in the show. We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sarah and Lisa revisit some loose ends from previous episodes, including the controversial question of whether the full moon really affects human behaviour. Sarah's tricks involve possibly haunted toothbrushes, and Lisa recounts a recent pain in the neck. -- Follow us on instagram at arewewitches and write to us at [email protected] Any problem you want a magical solution for, please write in for a bit of advice and a magical prescription. It's important we practice as much as possible to get our witchy credentials! We also want to hear how your spells are going, so please write in if you have practiced any magic mentioned in the show. We are new to this community and these practices. All advice, tips and feedback will be gratefully received. After all, it takes a village to raise a witch. Blessings to all those that rate & review (5 stars only, please!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.