Returning once more to the topic of protection magic, this month we’re delving a little deeper into the topic of wards and warding. Bree shares some insight on the methods and concepts that she’s developed and discovered over the years, and shares a Witchcraft 201 level primer on some slightly more advanced warding techniques. (If you haven’t heard Ep. 024 “Warding A Witchy Home,” make sure you check that out before listening to this episode!) Visit the Willow Wings Witch Shop at its new...

Bree is joined in the virtual studio by Annika Hylmö, documentarian and director of the forthcoming film THE LAST WITCH. The film tells the story of a Massachusetts middle school Civics class and their campaign to secure exoneration for the last unpardoned victim of the Salem witch trials, Elizabeth Johnson Jr. It’s a poignant story about history, connection, and why seeking justice matters, even when it comes three hundred years late. Also discussed are the historical circumstances...

(Sorry for the lateness of the episode, there were some technical difficulties to fix and a very sick Producer Penny to care for, but thankfully both are all better now. Thank you for your patience!) This month, we delve into the concept of familiars and familiar spirits, both in the context of folklore and witch trials, and what the term means to modern witches. Bree disagrees with social media witch culture (some more) and tells a few stories of the witchcats in her own life....

There’s been a slight delay with the main episode this month due to technical issues, so I hope you enjoy these two powder recipes, one for attracting romance and desire, the other for repelling it. The recipes for Come Hither Powder and Get Thee Hence Powder can be found in Pestlework, now available on Amazon and in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. Make sure you update your bookmarks for the shop as it migrates to its’ new home on Shopify, check out the new items now available, and sign up for...

Happy New Year, witches! While we’re recovering from the mad rush of the holiday season, I’m sitting down with returning friend of the show Jenn the Ouija Girl and new pal from the tumblrverse Lorelei Rivers to both drink AND the spill the tea on those ghost-hunting grifters we all love to despise, Ed and Lorraine Warren. Discussions about the careers and rhetoric of the Warrens make the rounds regularly in discussions about the paranormal among members of the witchcraft community. But who...

BAH HUMBUG! The annual onslaught of holiday music has begun, we’re all up to our necks in consumerism, and the glitter is EVERYWHERE. Thankfully, there’s refuge from the mad rush here on Hex Positive, where I cozy up with my CritWitchCon buddy Ana Mor to talk about fun and witchy folklore from the holiday season! Most of the stories come from Catholicism, with a smattering of pre-Christian figures thrown in. We’re briefly interrupted by Ezra the Cat and some minor technical difficulties, but...

Here it is - the episode you’ve all been waiting for! CritWitchCon 2023 was an absolute blast and Lozzie and I made the most of it with another LIVE episode of The Stardust Sessions. And as you may have inferred, the title of said panel was, “Bree and Lozzie Ruin Everything.” We each picked a topic which is taken for granted as Gospel Truth by certain segments of the witchcraft community and set about tearing those assumptions to shreds. For those of you who might be interested in future...

There’s a chill in the breeze, the leaves are turning, the pumpkins are grinning, it’s time for SPOOKY SEASON! Accordingly, I’ve brewed up a special surprise for all my witches and horror fans out there. This month’s episode is a crossover with Queerdo Babes From The Horror Pod-O-Rama, hosted by the absolutely fabulous Murphy Lawless. We sat down for a nice long chat about depictions of witches and witchcraft in horror cinema. And since there are far too many examples for just one episode, we...

What do you get when you throw four witches with ADHD and a tendency to infodump into one chat room and give them an assignment? Utter chaos, of course. But somewhere along the way, they also produce a pretty damn good sneak peek at the upcoming Critical Thinking Witch Convention! Join Bree, Lozzie, Amethyst, and Ana Mor for this madcap ramble / event preview. Hope to see you at the con! Critical Thinking Witch Convention 2023 Friday, September 29 - Sunday, October 1st Free Pre-Brew...

Since magic and writing first existed together, there have been books of magic. Grimoires and other mystical tomes dot the historical record, from illuminated manuscripts to beloved props of modern pop culture. For the modern witch, a grimoire is as much a personal reference guide as it is a self-written textbook of the craft. This month, we’ll discuss how to build your own grimoire, with tips for staying organized, suggested topics, and a journaling exercise to get you started! Cited...

Cleansing is one of the most frequently-employed types of magic in the modern witchcraft community. Every time you turn around, you’ll see references to cleansing because of an auspicious occasion or recent castings or a particular celestial event or just because The Vibes Are Off. What we’re only beginning to see discussed is the practical aspect of cleansing and what mundane actions you should be doing to accompany that spellwork. And where does the line exist between judicious caution and...

Margaret Murray was a celebrated author, historian, folklorist, Egyptologist, archaeologist, anthropologist, first-wave feminist, and the first woman to be appointed to the position of lecturer in archaeology in the UK. So why so we get so annoyed whenever her name is mentioned in conversations about witchcraft? Well, it all has to do with a book Margaret wrote back in 1921...which just so happened to go on to have a profound influence on the roots of the modern witchcraft movement. Nerd...

Prosperity spells are some of the most commonly-found types of magical workings to be found in modern witchcraft and in the historical record. So why aren’t witches absolutely rolling in dough? And how do you make sure your magical windfall doesn’t come with unwanted consequences? As it turns out, mostly by keeping things simple. Pride Witch Market Sunday, June 11, 2023, 12n-5pm Diversity Richmond, 1407 Sherwood Ave, Richmond VA Midsummer Witch Market Sunday, June 25 2023 ,...

A well-read witch is a happy witch. But how does one go about building a personal library to support their craft? Let’s talk about it! (And if you'd like to add any of my books to your library, you can visit the Willow Wings Witch Shop!) Hex Positive is now on YouTube! Check my Wordpress for full show notes, as well as show notes for past episodes and information on upcoming events. You can find me as @BreeNicGarran on TikTok, Instagram, and Wordpress, or as @breelandwalker on tumblr. For...

Sometimes, a witch just needs a break. Let’s all take a moment to go touch some grass...and talk about what that means. (Thank you for sticking with me through the hiatus!) Oddities Witch Market Sunday, April 2 2023, 12n-6pm Diversity Richmond, 1407 Sherwood Ave Facebook Event Page Check my Wordpress for full show notes, as well as show notes for past episodes and information on upcoming events. You can find me as @BreeNicGarran on TikTok, Instagram, and Wordpress, or as...

Just one more hiatus episode to go! This month, we’re wrapping up our dive into the life and deeds of King James VI/I with a discussion of his literary exploits, from commissioning an approved English translation of the Bible to pamphlets on how to hunt witches and rule a country effectively. Learn how one man’s personal demons and some really poor text formatting decisions changed the course of literary and religious history, and why it’s never a good idea to base your entire understanding...

This month on our hiatus presentation of "Stardust Sessions," we’re continuing with our dive into the life and deeds of King James VI/I with a discussion of the North Berwick Witch Trials. We did our best to keep it light and not get too far into the more gruesome elements, but it was a very grim series of events that still echo in the history of Scotland to this day. Learn how claiming that a ship was pre-loaded with demons can be an excuse for being shit at your job, how chatting with...

In this special hiatus presentation of my Patreon series "Stardust Sessions with Lozzie Stardust and Bree NicGarran," we’re fulfilling a promise made in our inaugural episode and having a go at King James the Sixth of Scotland and the First of England. Same guy, weird title, and as the scholars called him - the Wisest Fool in Christendom. Or as Lozzie calls him The Godliest Boy Who Ever Godly-Boyed. In this series, we’ll be covering the life of King Jimmy from his early years as a boy king...

While you're all patiently riding out the podcast hiatus, here's a little treat to tide you over! Earlier this year, Lozzie and I were panelists at the Critical Thinking Witch Collective online convention and we did a LIVE run of Stardust Sessions during our joint session on modern witchcraft, with special guest moderator Lee Curtis-Rogers of Do The Magical Thing. We wore our fanciest hats and had a lovely chat about how pop culture and modern witchcraft reflect and represent each other,...

Every so often, a witch's work needs to be done in secret, and we must be cunning and full of tricks in order to make sure our magics are not discovered until they've had a chance to work. Borrow a bit of that guile with The Fox's Gift, from the pages of The Sisters Grimmoire. (For more fairytale spells, you can purchase a copy on Amazon or from my shop!) Visit the Willow Wings Witch Shop to purchase my books and homemade accoutrements for your craft (including copies of The Sisters...

Volunteer educators are the backbone of the witchcraft community. That can be a huge boon to newer witches, but it can also cause problems when needless gatekeeping or misinformation start to become too prevalent. In this episode, I’ve set out to clarify a few things about what it means to be a volunteer educator, what it takes to be a guide and a resource, and how we can avoid passing bad information or making newer practitioners feel unwelcome. And since I didn’t want to raise this topic...

Break out your potion kits - it's time to make some Home Blessing Powder! From the pages of Pestlework, this powder is suitable for any spells you wish to cast around your dwelling which deal with the wellbeing, safety, and happiness of the homestead and those who live there. Visit the Willow Wings Witch Shop to purchase my books and homemade accoutrements for your craft (including vials of Home Blessing Powder)! Check my Wordpress for full show notes and a list of sources, as well as show...

This month, I wanted to talk about a subject near and dear to my own heart - what it’s like to be a witch with ADHD. I invited my good buddy and everyone’s favorite horrible goose, Lozzie Stardust, to join me for the discussion. Buuuut since we’re both in the club, things went off the rails pretty quickly. (We regret nothing. 😅) So we wound up having a rollicking discussion on how to be a witch with ADHD and also providing a window into what it’s like to actually have this condition. (If the...