In this episode of Brief Bewitchments, we’re lighting a candle for the original lesbian icon and lyrical enchantress herself, Sappho of Lesbos! As one of the most prolific poets of Ancient Greece, her words are still widely known today, and Sabrina will dive into the sacred and spell-worthy power of her poetry. Her passionate words can be used in modern witchcraft, and have become a part of queer magic for many who practice. So whether you’re manifesting desires, setting intentions, or trying to increase your sapphic longing, Sabrina will explain how Sappho has got you covered!

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Long before Freaky Friday made body swaps an onscreen trope, a small-town teen in the 1870s started the trend. This episode, we’re covering the Watseka Wonder, a very odd case that has us asking: did this 13 year old girl actually get possessed…or was she just really committed to the bit? In 1870s Illinois, Lurancy Vennum started having seizures, slipping into trances, and claiming she was Mary Roff, a girl who had died 12 years earlier. Mary’s family were all too happy to take her in and treat her as their daughter, but was it too good to be true? Or had a spirit really slipped through the veil and traded places with Lurancy? Hop on our wagon to Watseka, and travel with us to this unique occurrence that gives Victorian Spiritualism a new perspective!

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SOURCES:

THE CASE OF LURANCY VENNUM - A PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY, AND AUTHENTICATED INSTANCE OF SPIRIT MANIFESTATION. BY E. W. STEVENS

Ancestry.com - Mary Lurancy Vennum

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Ever feel like speaking your truth, setting boundaries, or showing your magic might get you metaphorically (or emotionally) burned at the stake? You might be feeling the effects of the Witch Wound, but don’t worry, Sabrina’s here to explain. In this episode, we dive into the ancestral, cultural, and collective trauma passed down from centuries of witch hunts, silencing, and spiritual repression. From the fear of being “too much” to the hesitation to take up space, this wound runs deep, but it doesn’t have to define you. Sabrina walks us through the roots of this wound, how it still shows up today, and how we can start to heal it through reclaiming our power, reconnecting with magic, and refusing to stay small. It’s time to stir the cauldron, break the spell, and put on your high-beams!

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Double, double toil and… total disaster? In this drama-packed episode, we’re diving into the legendary curse of Macbeth…I mean, The Scottish Play. We’ll explore some of the most infamous examples of the curse in action, from alleged fatalities to production disasters. And while we’re talking theatre history, we’ll pull back the curtain on other thespian superstitions. Like why whistling backstage might seriously injure you, and why an actor definitely will not thank you for wishing them “good luck”. Grab your ruffs and join us on stage for a behind-the-scenes look at the haunted, hexed, and hilariously dramatic world of theatre lore.

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***CORRECTION: Daemonologie is a series of 3 books and a news pamphlet in one volume, and was published by King James VI of Scotland, who later became King James I of England and Ireland. Wikipedia - Daemonologie

DEEPDIVE:

CBR - How Superman Secretly Wrote Shakespeare’s Macbeth

SOURCES:

The Austin Chronicle - Macbeth's Myriad of Misfortunes

Penguin Random House - The curse of Macbeth: is it more than superstition?

Wikipedia - The Scottish Play

PA Shakespeare - The Curse of Macbeth: “The Scottish Play”

Broadway Direct - 13 Theater Superstitions

Litcharts - Macbeth Translation - Act 4, Scene 1

Ernestthesiger.org - “Macbeth”

Stratford Festival - THE MACBETH CURSE

Royal Shakespeare Company - The Curse of the Scottish Play

Independent - Did Chris Rock suffer the curse of the Scottish Play? ‘Macbeth’ theory gains traction on Twitter

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Say hello to your Big 3: your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs. In this episode, Sabrina breaks down the astrological basics and gets real about what each of the Big 3 actually means. Whether you're a loud Leo Moon with a Scorpio Rising or a triple threat, Sabrina’s here to help you decode your chart without the cosmic confusion. And now, when your tinder date asks you for your time of birth, you’ll know what they’re really trying to figure out!

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What could be spookier than a lighthouse on a remote Scottish island in 1900? How about the unexplained disappearance of 3 Lightkeepers from that very setting…Join us this episode as we shine a big ol’ beam on the baffling mystery of the men that vanished without a trace. Was it a wave? Madness? Aliens? Sea ghosts? (Hey, we’re not ruling anything out.) We’re diving into the facts, the theories, and folklore that surround Eilean Mòr. So light a candle, don your oilskins, and get ready to keep the lamp alight on this maritime mystery!

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SOURCES:

History Hit - Flannan Isle Mystery: When Three Lighthouse Keepers Vanished Forever

National Records of Scotland - Flannan Isles Lighthouse Keepers: The disappearance

The Flannan Isle Mystery - the mysterious disappearance of the Eilean Mor Lighthouse Keepers

Wikipedia - Flannan Isles

Northern Lighthouse Board - Flannan Isles

All That's Interesting - Inside The Chilling Flannan Isle Mystery Of The Three Lighthouse Keepers Who Suddenly Vanished In 1900

All Poetry - Flannan Isle

Wikipedia - Rogue Wave

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Is your phone glitching, your ex texting, and every conversation turning into a full-blown miscommunication meltdown? Don’t panic! It might just be Mercury Retrograde, and Sabrina is here to break it all down (without the doom and gloom). We’re talking tech troubles, travel mishaps, and text messages you probably shouldn’t have sent…but also how to use this chaotic cosmic energy for reflection, rest, and a little bit of magical mischief. So light a candle and back up your files, mercury will be out of the microwave in no time!

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Before “spinster” meant “unmarried woman with too many cats,” it actually referred to women who made their own money (gasp!) and didn’t need a husband to survive. In this episode, we unravel the origins of the word spinster, the shifting attitudes toward single women, and the absolute gold that was Tit-Bits Magazine, which asked Victorian women why they weren’t married, and got some brutally honest, highly relatable answers. Spoiler: not much has changed. So grab your spindle and your many cats, and join us as we celebrate the spinsters who spun their own fate, no husband required!

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SOURCES

Wikipedia - Spinster

Smithsonian - ‘Spinster’ and ‘Bachelor’ Were, Until 2005, Official Terms for Single People

Cosmopolitan - A brief history of the word "spinster" and how it's still used today

Awesome Inventions - An 1889 Magazine Asked Women Why They Think They’re Single. The Replies Were Hilarious

r/historicalromance on Reddit - Tit Bits Magazine 1889- asked Victorian Single ladies the reason for their spinsterhood - and they DID NOT COME TO PLAY ! Which reply is your most favourite ? (all 20 replies transcribed in the post)

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