The Witch Wave

Susan L. Aberth is the Edith C. Blum Professor of the Art History and Visual Culture Program at Bard College, and a world-renowned expert on occult art and surrealism. Her 2004 book, Leonora Carrington: Surrealism, Alchemy and Art (Lund Humphries) helped introduce Carrington’s magical work to the masses. She also recently co-authored The Tarot of Leonora Carrington (Fulgur Press, 2020) with Mexican curator Tere Arcq, which is an analysis of Carrington’s tarot paintings and original major arcana deck.Susan has also contributed to Surrealism and Magic, Guggenheim Venice (2021); Not Without My Ghosts (2020, Traveling exhibition in England); Agnes Pelton: Desert Transcendentalist (Phoenix Art Museum, 2019), Juanita Guccione: Otherwhere (Napa Valley Museum, 2019), Surrealism, Occultism and Politics: In Search of the Marvelous (Routledge Press, 2018), Leonora Carrington: Cuentos Magicos (Museo de Arte Moderno & INBA, Mexico City, 2018), Unpacking: The Marciano Collection (Delmonico Books, Prestel, 2017), and Leonora Carrington and the International Avant-Garde (Manchester University Press, 2017), as well as to Abraxas: International Journal of Esoteric Studies, Black Mirror, and Journal of Surrealism and the Americas. She received her B.A. from UCLA, M.A. from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, and her Ph.D. from the Graduate Center, City University of New York.On this episode, Susan discusses her groundbreaking scholarship on Leonora Carrington’s occult art oeuvre, the newly discovered Carrington Tarot, and how bewitching women change the world. Pam also speaks about gratitude magic, and answers a listener question about how to give thanks for a priceless gift.Our sponsors for this episode are Luna Lux Botanicals, BetterHelp, Clarissa Eck Ceramics, Mithras Candle, Zouz Incense

Twin Temple bandmates – and real-life couple – Alexandra and Zachary James describe their music as Satanic Doo-Wop. Their classic 50s and 60s rock 'n roll sound is an irresistibly catchy contrast to their deliciously diabolical lyrics about witches, magic, sex, and liberation. As occult practitioners, Twin Temple also draw from their magical beliefs to create provocative and irreverent rituals on stage and on screen, and their albums have garnered praise from such outlets as VICE, NYLON, and The Los Angeles Times.On this episode, Twin Temple discuss how they use witchery to craft their music, why radical politics and magic are sexy bedfellows, and some lessons they’ve learned from the Dark Lord.Pam also discusses the historical relationship between witches and the devil, and answers a listener question about how to tame his shadow.Our sponsors for this episode are Weiser Books, The Pretty Cult, Mithras Candle, HausWitch Home + Healing, and Lindsay Mack's Tarot for the Wild Soul.

Bonus episode! The Witch Wave is thrilled to introduce Predictions, a new daily episodic story told over 30 days, written and performed by Matthew Freeman. Listen to Predictions to discover what the signs portend, what the stars reveal, and what the cards foretell.Predictions is an audio drama produced by Theater Accident. Subscribe now to start the story from the beginning on June 1st.

Dorothea Lasky is a poet who has published five full-length collections of poetry including Milk, Thunderbird, and Rome and a new book of essays called Animal, as well as appearing in various literary journals and illustrious publications like The New Yorker, Paris Review, and American Poetry Review. She and Alex Dmitrov together are the Astro Poets, and their phenomenally popular Twitter account of poetic horoscopes and salty astrology insights has led them to writing the newly released book, Astro Poets: Your Guides to the Zodiac, as well as their own Astro Poets podcast.On this episode, Dorothea talks about slipping between the so-called “high” and “low” realms of poetry and astrology, the occult aspects of her writing, and the ways in which creativity can be a magical and revitalizing process.Pam also discusses other otherworldly poets and answers a listener question about how to utilize the magic of dreams.Our sponsors for this episode are Magic Monday and Mithras Candle.

Dianca London is a writer whose articles about witchcraft, literature, and black occulture have appeared in such places as VICE, Bitch, Glamour, The Washington Post, Shondaland, SELF, Nylon, Electric Literature, and more, and her memoir PLANNING FOR THE APOCALYPSE is forthcoming from Simon & Schuster’s 37 Ink. She is a Kimbilio Fiction fellow, the former online editor of Well-Read Black Girl, and the former prose editor of Lit Magazine. She also teaches writing at The New School and Pratt Institute. On this episode, Dianca discusses the magic of her favorite poetry witches Audre Lorde and Lucille Clifton, the importance of shedding light on historical “outsiders,” and how she integrates Christianity and witchcraft in her spiritual life. Pam also talks about the balance of light and shadow during the winter holidays, and answers a listener question about how to tend to their inner garden. Our sponsors for this episode are The Sacred Space Conference and The Between The Worlds Conference, Cat Coven, and Mithras Candle.

Juliet Diaz is a healer, seer, and herbalist, and she holds a Masters of Science in Herbal Medicine. She is a descendent of a long line of witch healers from Cuba and has Indigenous roots as a member of the Taíno tribe. Juliet owns and runs her shop, November Sage Apothecary, and her online witchcraft learning community, Tierra Sagrada (formerly known as November Sage Herbarium – A Witch Healer School). She is also the author of the book Witchery: Embrace the Witch Within which comes out on March 5th. On this episode, Juliet discusses her various healing practices, the ways in which she expresses her Indigenous heritage while navigating issues of craft and commodity, and how to heed the hero’s call.Pam also talks about appreciation vs. appropriation of other spiritual cultures, and she answers a listener question from a witch dealing with Catholic guilt.Our sponsors for this episode are Mithras Candle, Blood Milk Jewels, and Tarot for the Wild Soul.

Chelsea Wolfe is a musician with six critically acclaimed full-length albums under her belt. Though her sound spans various genres from goth rock to electronica to folk melancholia, what remains consistent is her romantically dark witchy vibe and lyrics that seem sprouted from a surreal and mysterious mindscape.On this episode, Chelsea talks about her technique of channeling songs, the ways she uses place as muse, and the part witchcraft plays in her creative practice both onstage and off.Pam also discusses the importance of costume and alter egos whether on Samhain or year-round, and answers a listener question about being a skeptical witch.Our sponsors for this episode are Weiser Books, Modern Women, Dr. Oristano, Sacred Wheel, and Sacred Space Foundation.

Welcome to Season 2 of The Witch Wave!Joshua Conkel is a writer for the new Netflix show Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (out on October 26). He’s also a tarot reader, playwright, and practicing witch. He was a writer for Netflix’s hit adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events and he’s written the award winning film, Curmudgeons starring Danny DeVito. On this episode, Joshua discusses teen witches, TV writing, and how he uses tarot as a creative tool. Pam also talks about Samhain rituals, and how to stay politically engaged without burning out.Our sponsors for this episode are Deer Women, Tarot-n-Tea, Chase and Scout, Vanessa Tarot, and Angela Mary Magick.

Mya Spalter is the author of Enchantments: A Modern Witch's Guide to Self Possession, a wonderful witchcraft how-to book. Mya is longtime employee of New York City's oldest occult shop also called Enchantments, where she’s worked on and off since the year 2000. In addition to that, she writes poems and stories about science and mystery, and she infuses everything she does with wit, heart, and smarts.On this episode, Mya discusses what it’s like to be a professional witch in a retail environment, the importance of pop occulture, and ways to make magic with whatever you have at hand.Pam also talks about the magic of frivolity and answers a listener question about how to get back into a ritual routine when time is tight.Our sponsors for this episode are Phoenix & Lotus, Health Witch, Hag Swag, and The VeraMeat Podcast.

Clown is the percussionist, creative director, and co-founding member of Slipknot, one of the world’s biggest, most beloved bands, metal or otherwise.Slipknot has released 6 studio albums including their most recent, critically acclaimed, WE ARE NOT YOUR KIND, as well as 2 live albums, 1 compilation album, and 5 live DVDs. The band formed in 1995 and have since gone on to sell upwards of 30 million albums, receive 10 Grammy nominations, and win a Grammy in 2006 for Best Metal Performance with their song “Before I Forget.”Today Clown is the band’s only original founding member, and as such he’s worn many hats - and clown masks - over the years. He is also an accomplished photographer and filmmaker, collaborator on numerous side projects, and host of his own podcast, The Electric Theater.On this episode, Clown discusses the magical exchange that happens between performer and audience, the transformative power of masks, and the illusory nature of fame.Pam also speaks about Samhain and ritualized disguise, and answers a listener question about how to grieve and honor the passing of a beloved.Our sponsors for this episode are Mithras Candle, BetterHelp, and Zouz Incense

Sarah Potter is a teacher and practitioner of Color Magic, which is a means of using specific hues to conjure different energies and manifest personal transformation. She is also an independent curator & art advisor at SP Projects, and a professional tarot reader. Sarah and her various endeavors have been featured in such places as BUST Magazine, VICE, and NYLON. On this Valentine’s Day episode, she discusses the powerful effects of colorful witchcraft, love and sex magic, and ways that tarot can help us tap into our own inner fire.Pam also talks about the magical significance of the color red, and answers a listener question about love rituals for single witches.Our sponsors for this episode are Blessed Be Magick, Tarot for the Wild Soul, and Mithras Candle.

Christina Oakley Harrington is the founder and presiding spirit of Treadwell’s, an esoteric bookshop in London with a feverishly devoted following. As both a former academic with a doctorate in Medieval History and a decades-long pagan, she also happens to be a rare example of a scholar practitioner, which is a combination we happen to find utterly irresistible. Christina is a respected author, consultant and authority on paganism and witchcraft, and her media appearances have included Channel Four TV, BBCTV, BBC Radio and BBC World Service.On this episode, Christina discusses the magic of language, her favorite trailblazing women in occult history, and the ways that witchcraft can set us free during trying times.Pam also speaks about the wisdom of The Fool for April Fool’s Day, and answers a listener question about kitchen witchery.Our sponsors for this episode are Altar New Orleans, BetterHelp, and Mithras Candle

Rachel True is a tarot expert, wellness writer, and actor. As one of the stars of the 1996 cult film, The Craft, she has helped bring an interest in witchcraft and witch iconography to several generations. In addition to acting, Rachel currently runs the intuitive tarot business, True Heart Tarot, and the wellness site, Some True Things. On this episode, she discusses the transformative power of tarot, acting as Craft, the importance of intersectional magic, and her experience starring in one of cinema’s witchiest classics.Our sponsors for this episode are Zouz Incense, Blood Milk Jewels, Hauswitch Home + Healing, and Mithras Candle.

Rebecca Artemisa is an artist and zine maker who calls herself “a bruja who paints spells.” Her works are extravagantly detailed and darling tableaux that incorporate myths and magic from her own Chicanx and Indigenous heritage, and each piece is customized with special symbols and ingredients meant to bless the recipient. Rebecca discusses the spellcraft that goes into her paintings and the ways in which her multiplicity of identities informs her work.Pam also shares thoughts on appreciation vs. appropriation of different spiritual traditions.Our sponsors for this episode are Sabat Magazine, Witch Baby Soap, Blood Milk Jewels, and Vanessa Tarot.

Judika Illes is an author, a teacher, and a longtime practicing witch. She has written over a dozen witchcraft classics such as the Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells, the Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, and Magic When You Need It. As an editor at Weiser Books, she’s also put together anthologies of speculative fiction including The Weiser Book of the Fantastic and Forgotten and The Weiser Book of Occult Detectives. She discusses the art of spell casting, group magic vs. solo practice, and how she came to live the unconventional life of the witch.Pam also discusses finding light in the shadows, and dark goddesses Dhumavati and Lilith.Our sponsors for this episode are Weiser Books, Witch Baby Soap, Blood Milk Jewels, and VERAMEAT.

Gabriela Herstik is a writer, fashion critic, and witch whose book Craft: How To Be A Modern Witch is out this month in the UK. Gabriela has written extensively about ritual, style, and spiritual culture for such places as i-D, Broadly, and HelloGiggles, and she runs the monthly “Ask A Witch” column at Nylon. On this episode, she discusses her own mixed brew of identities, the transformative magic of fashion, and the inspiring rise of millennial witchcraft.Our sponsors for this episode are Zouz Incense and Mithras Candle.

Frances F. Denny is a photographer whose work investigates feminine expression and gender. Her latest project, Major Arcana: Witches in America, is a survey of over 70 female, femme, and gender non-binary people who identify as witches, and a selection of those photographs are currently on display at ClampArt Gallery in New York City. She is also a commercial photographer who shoots for The New Yorker, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and many other places, and she’s one half of the visual branding boutique, Dafne. On this episode, Frances, discusses photography, witchery, and identity. Pam also talks about new moon rituals and spiritual art.Our sponsors for this episode are Tarot-n-Tea, Mithras Candle, Chase and Scout, and Angela Mary Magick.

Jessyka Winston is the mystical mind behind Haus of Hoodoo, a one-stop online source for fixed conjure candles, sacred smudges, and spiritual consultations, based in New Orleans. She is also a rootworker and Hoodoo Practitioner, and a Vodoun Priestess. On this episode, Jessyka talks about the differences between Hoodoo, Voodoo, and Vodoun; the potent power of fire magic; and the ways in which her Caribbean roots inform her eclectic American spiritual practice.Our sponsors for this episode are Sabat Magazine, Modern Women, Blood Milk Jewels, and Manifest Box.

Peter Bebergal is the author of several books about occulture and the paranormal including Season of the Witch: How the Occult Saved Rock and Roll, Too Much to Dream: A Psychedelic American Boyhood, and his newest book, Strange Frequencies: The Extraordinary Story of the Technological Quest for the Supernatural. He also writes about speculative music and literature for such places as The New Yorker online, Slate, The Times Literary Supplement, The Quietus, BoingBoing, and The Believer. On this episode, Peter discusses the importance of imagination, the “reality” of belief, the relationship between magicians and hackers, and the use of technology to access otherworldly realms.Pam also talks about art and the uncanny, and answers a question from a listener who wonders if she’s being called by a goddess.Our sponsors for this episode are The Conjured Saint, Blood Milk, and Mithras Candle.

Tamara Santibañez is a tattoo artist who believes that the language of symbols can help people heal and reveal. She draws from the iconography of fetish, punk, and Chicanx art, and brings outcasts and otherworlds into the spotlight. In this episode, she discusses tattooing as spell craft, invoking Santa Muerte, and making magic in the margins.Our sponsors for this episode are Chase and Scout and Mithras Candle.