Powered By Magic Tatjana Riedel, Sylvia Short

We have a bittersweet announcement today. Tatjana has gotten a new job which is wonderful, however that means, at the very least, we will be on hiatus, at the worst this may be our last episode. I want to thank you all for listening and sticking with us through this curiosity provoking and magical journey. Hopefully we’ve provided some entertainment and useful information. Thanks!

Mabon is one of the eight celebrated Wiccan holidays and is pagan in its nature. It is the equal time between the dark and light portions of the year and is therefore considered an equinox; it is the autumnal equinox. This year, 2023, it will fall on the 23rd of September according to my sources. Here Wiccans celebrate not only the balance of the year but also the dying of the sun and thus the God. Many believe Mabon is the end of the harvest season or the second harvest after Lughnasadh, when the chasing of the sun god and harvest season begins. On a side note the third harvest is Samhain which I would consider to be the harvesting of souls passed. Mabon is also  what we consider to be our Thanksgiving. We celebrate our harvest that will tide us over until the return of spring and new crops. Some believe this is a Celtic holiday but there may be evidence that the name Mabon originated in the 1970’s. Either way the name Mabon seems to be from the Welsh God or hero known as Modron and is the son of the Earth Mother Goddess.
To celebrate this holiday apples are a common staple on the altar along with grapes, gourds, and other seasonal harvests. Colors are autumnal in nature and feasting, like with other rituals, is common. Herbs are rosemary, sage, rosehips, yarrow and mugwort. Stones would be amber, citrine, jasper, aventurine. Dried flowers are common but some are sunflowers, thistle and marigolds. Animals to think of might be the owl, stag, bear, and possibly the boar. A common symbol is the “horn of plenty” aka the cornucopia.
 
I thought I'd share a poem that evokes this season it’s called:
 
An excerpt from The Old Apple Tree by Paul Laurence Dunbar
 
There's a memory keeps a-runnin'
    Through my weary head to-night,
    An' I see a picture dancin'
    In the fire-flames' ruddy light;
    'Tis the picture of an orchard
    Wrapped in autumn's purple haze,
    With the tender light about it
    That I loved in other days.
    An' a-standin' in a corner
    Once again I seem to see
    The verdant leaves an' branches
    Of an old apple-tree.
 
    You perhaps would call it ugly,
    An' I don't know but it's so,
    When you look the tree all over
    Unadorned by memory's glow;
    For its boughs are gnarled an' crooked,
    An' its leaves are gettin' thin,
    An' the apples of its bearin'
    Would n't fill so large a bin
    As they used to. But I tell you,
    When it comes to pleasin' me,
    It's the dearest in the orchard,--
    Is that old apple-tree.
 
    I would hide within its shelter,
    Settlin' in some cosy nook,
    Where no calls nor threats could stir me
    From the pages o' my book.
    Oh, that quiet, sweet seclusion
    In its fulness passeth words!
    It was deeper than the deepest
    That my sanctum now affords.
    Why, the jaybirds an' the robins,
    They was hand in glove with me,
    As they winked at me an' warbled
    In that old apple-tree.
 
Although I don’t have a specific memory of them, the Friendsgiving celebrations that my friend would have for me and other friends of hers are always thought of fondly. They were always small affairs and everyone pitched in. Never grand or ostentatious, just simply enjoying one another’s company and being thankful for each other.
Mabon was always the darkest time of the year for me. It's when my matron Goddess was/is always at her strongest. Freya was at her fullest power in my life. If I had a boyfriend at th

What is an egg cleanse?
It’s when you use an egg to scan over a person's body, kinda like using a handheld metal detector. And then crack the egg open and pour the yolk and white into a glass of water. Depending on what the egg looks like in the water you’re supposed to be able to tell if there’s the evil eye, a curse, or some other malefic thing happening.
 
Is table salt ok to use for cleansing/charging crystals?
Yes. Common table salt is just as good as any specialty salt in my opinion. As for using it on crystals specifically I think that it is the most commonly used form of crystal cleansing that I can think of. That said, however, I would check on whether the stone is one that can sit in salt without damaging it. Much like submerging a crystal or stone you want to be sure it doesn’t change the makeup of the stone. Now the benefit of using something like salt is that you don’t have to sit it directly in the salt. You can place a circle around it and still have it be effective.
 
Yes of course! ‘Table’ or regular salt was at one time the only option for salt people had. There was no pink Himalayan salt, this black salt, etc. Unless you lived in that particular place. Witches have had to be resourceful over the centuries, we can still be resourceful now.
 
Do crystals still work if they’re not touching your skin?
I’m not as familiar with using crystals or stones in this manner but I do believe I’ve heard of people using them without them touching the body. It would depend on the type of magic you are doing. If you are doing physical energy work then maybe it is better when it is physically placed on the body. But if you are doing a spell then it absolutely does not have to be on the physical being.
 
Depending on what you’re going for, yeah it can work without touching the body. Like Tatjana said if it’s a spell it doesn’t have to touch the skin. If you’re looking to use the energy of the stone or stones power grid is one option for not keeping them close. Otherwise it’s generally a good idea to keep them close. The stone doesn’t have to be touching skin though.
 
Do you share your work?
Yes. I have shared my work for years especially under the circumstance of teaching. When I studied we shared our work so we could learn from each other. It was the same when I taught my students. How else would we all learn?
 
Depends on what you’re asking. Is it sharing the religion in general or sharing a spell specifically? If it's sharing about the religion, sure, no problem with that. Though you may get push back from people of other faiths. If it’s sharing about a spell, unless you’re doing the spell with someone, it’s generally a good idea to keep it quiet. Talking about the spell redirects some of the energy away from the spell.
 
How many spells can you cast at one time?
I’ve never considered this question before. I guess I’ve never had the need to do more than one at a time. That said I’d think it would be best to keep it at one spell at a time, that way your energy is more focused while doing it. Splitting your energy in too many directions would take away from the potency of it/them, in my humble opinion.
 
I think it is a good idea to focus on one spell at a time, because if you work on more at one time the energy will be split many different ways which will reduce the effectiveness of the spells.
 
Is it normal to feel drained or tired after doing spell or ritual work?
This is very common and I even warn my students about it, ESPECIALLY when doing a calling down of the God or Goddess. I believe the level of exhaustion is directly equal to the amount of energy you put into the magic that you are doing. Can this be avoided? In some instances such as spell work I think it can be just by doing a protection circle but it’s different when you are calling in an entity because you can only protect yourself to a certain degree due to the very fact that you are inviting in anot

Review of Part I Pendle Witches
Last episode Tatjana talked about the feud between the Demdikes and Chattoxs and the beginning of the resulting trial in 1612. The matriarchs were Elizabeth Southerns( Demdikes) and Anne Whittle(Chattoxes). It started with Elizabeth Southern’s granddaughter, Alizon, and John Law( a Chattox), with Alizon trying to purchase something from him. Things are not clear as to whether Alizon begged or John refused, but there was a quarrel. And as he was walking away he possibly had a stroke which Alizon saw. At this point there was not any claim of witchcraft. Later Law’s son went to  Alizon. He thought she may have caused whatever happened to his father and she confessed to witchcraft. There was a meeting between families and it did not go well. The quarrel was deeper than just the one incident.
This is when the matriarchs were brought in before the law, Nowell, and they told on each other, claiming the other had done witchcraft.

Part II
The Malkin Tower Meeting
The Malkin Tower Meeting, at the home of Demdikes, was orchestrated by Elizabeth Device on April 10, 1612 Good Friday. Friends and sympathizers of the family attended. Upon hearing of this meeting Roger Nowell decided to find out what the meeting’s purpose was with the help of a fellow magistrate, Nicholas Bannister. This led to the arrest of eight more people: Elizabeth Device, James Device, Katherine Hewitt, John Bulcock, Jane Bulcock, Jennet Preston (from Yorkshire), Alice Nutter and Alice Grey. Jennet Preston was sent to trial at the York Inquests, everyone else was sent to Lancaster Goal thus joining the others already imprisoned there. Interestingly some of the imprisoned actually believed in their guilt while others vehemently protested their guilt. 
 
The York Inquest July 27,1612 is where, as mentioned before, Jennet Preston was tried for and found guilty of the death of Thomas Lister of Westby Hall, a local landowner. She professed her innocence to the end. She had a history of the accusation of murder previously to this event though. In 1611 she appeared before Bromley for the death of a child through the use of witchcraft but had been found not guilty. She is connected to the Malkin Tower meeting for seeking to enlist the help of the others to murder Thomas Lister. She was hanged July 29,1612.
 
The Lancaster Inquests…
Now a key player in the deaths of these people was a nine year old girl by the name of Jennet Device. She identified those that were at the Malkin Tower meeting including her mother, brother and sister. It was unusual to allow someone so young to be part of the trial in the 17th century but due to King James’ book, Daemonologie it was permitted for this purpose. Nine of the accused were found guilty and hanged on August 20, 1612 at Gallows Hill Lancaster. One, Elizabeth Southerns, died awaiting trial and Alice Grey was the only one found not guilty.
 
More in depth… 
August 18th
Anne Whittle (a.k.a. Chattox) pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder of Robert Nutter. James Robinson, a tenant of the Chattox family 20 years previous, recalled that Nutter had said Chattox had been turning his beer sour and that it was commonly believed she was a witch. I believe in order to attempt to save her daughter Anne Redferne, she succumbed to the charges against her. She asked for mercy for her daughter in the end.
 
James Robinson and John Robinsons’ deaths were placed at the feet of Elizabeth Device. She along with Alice Nutter were accused of the murder of Henry Mitton. Now it is unfortunate that Elizabeth had a facial deformity which worked against her in the eyes of the court and when her daughter was brought out to accuse her she was forcibly removed from the courtroom due to her cursing and screaming at her daughter, Jennet, who was the nine year old I spoke of earlier. Jennet explained how her mother had a familiar, a dog named Ball with whom she contrived to carry out various murders and how she

Is it bad luck to bury your pets in your backyard? (Death, dying)
I do not believe that it is bad luck. I did it all of my young life when I had yards to do it in. I felt it was a way to keep the spirit close but mostly it’s just how I was raised. I do think doing a sacred burial ceremony and grave preparation is something that would ensure a positive experience both for you and the dearly departed spirit.
When I was younger, still at home with my parents, this is what we did. I do not think it’s bad luck, any more than living life is bad luck. Death is simply a part of life, a way for things to make room for new life. Like Tatjana said though, preparing the grave and having a ceremony is a good way to say goodbye.
 
What are some situations that your ethics might shift to make one decision or another?
My ethics don’t shift, but the situation does. I believe everyone has free will and should keep that free will. Some people harm others and I think there are both natural repercussions and man made repercussions. And the person who has done harm should have to suffer that backlash. So you have free will, but you can also suffer for your choices.
My ethics are also steadfast and unwavering; they are the morals that I try to live by. I think ethics are a foundation and if the foundation is strong then you want to stick to them. If however, you find that they aren’t working for you or are expanding in a good way then you might shift your perspective and re-evaluate what they should look like. But don’t shift them to meet someone else’s ideas, keep to what feels right for you.
 
Do you find you do things the same way all the time or do you do things and try to change it up?
I do a mix. Some things I like to keep as traditional as possible like HOW you put together a ritual or some spells but I like changing how the magic is done. I keep the moon cycles and holidays in a traditional light as well, others rituals may be more creative. Spells are open for full on creativity in my book with a few BASIC structures as their foundation.
I do not do things the same way because things always change. A need for money may be different each time. Needing a new job, wanting a raise, and etc. So the main components might be the same but other things change. Like a candle spell vs. a water spell, but both using cloves for money
 
What are your feelings about experimenting now that you are more settled in your practice?
I tend to stick with what works for me, but when I am out of my depth I am more than willing to go out and research. I do not know all, so experimenting is part of my practice.
Experimentation is how we grow but it must be done carefully. We have basic ideas of what tools and ingredients can mean and if we go by that we can get very creative with how we put things together. But once you get something that works well make sure to have a record of it so you can easily go back to it. I’ll admit I learned by experimentation in the beginning. I used some basic research knowledge and then added in my own personal twists. This comes back to doing what feels right to you. Your own personal magic is the most powerful after all. 
 
What do you think about freewill (are there times where you will perform magic on someone without consent?)
We have covered this one A LOT!!!!! I stand by not doing magic on or for someone without their express consent. We should always respect free will in each other.
I believe that you should not impinge on a person's free will above all. I would be ok with a clause in the magic for someone that doesn’t know that if they would refuse then the magic is null and void.
 
Are there times you won’t cast/readings for someone or cast something other than what they ask for?
If I get a bad feeling about a person I can choose to not cast for them. As for what their question might be and casting something different I wouldn’t do. That doesn’t mean that the cards/oracles will answer the questio

2023 Lughnasadh/Lammas
This is an Irish Gaelic festival and is by Wiccans considered the start of the harvest season. It is generally held on July 31st - August 1st OR approximately halfway between Summer Solstice and the Autumn Equinox. This seasonal festival was named after the Celtic God Lugh. (It was renamed to Lammas by the early Christians). In Wiccan tradition it is the time when the God is waning. There are many different beliefs of what this festival actually celebrates. Some say it is Lugh’s wedding celebrated with the first grain, others say it was begun by Lugh as a funeral feast. Historically athletic competitions were held, handfasting occurred, trading was done and early fruits were offered for the feasting. Like Imbolc and Beltain, it was also customary at Lughnasadh to visit holy wells. They would pray for health while walking clockwise around the well as a part of the honorings of the season. It is briefly mentioned that the introduction of loafs of bread were brought in by the early Christians. However, in the Scottish Highlands special cakes were made and given to the men and women and were possibly offerings to the gods. 
 
My memories are of writing a Poem of Invocation and reading it at Faery Worlds. It was pretty amazing! I can’t say that I have any other memories that really stand out when it comes to this particular holiday. This year we went to a small gathering of vendors and we will also be celebrating by going to a park to take in the drying grasses and hot sun while we honor the chasing of the sun god. We will be doing a little divination as well. It’s not all firmed up yet. Just to offer an idea of an easy way to celebrate the Turning of the Wheel.
 
Tarot
Princess of Cups/Page of Cups (reversed)
We are beginning to enter the harvest season and there may be some doubts in your mind that have crept in concerning the intention you’ve set for the year. This is natural especially at this stage. Now is when we see some success and most likely some failure stemming from creative blocks. We might begin to wonder if we’ve gotten it all wrong and if we’ve picked the wrong road. I’m here to say that you haven’t but this is the season to weed out what isn’t working. Maybe reshape your outlook and don’t let your negative emotions overtake the progress you have made. Just remember this is a normal stage of the process and it allows us to reflect and release. Focus on what has been working and how you can better support it. 

On a side note, we noticed that in season one of PBM we somehow overlooked doing an episode for Lughnasadh. We will be rectifying that sometime soon. Even if it isn’t timely to the season. Our apologies.

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https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Lughnasadh#Historic_customs

Greek Magic
Ancient Greece is considered to have been from around 1200 B.C. to about 600 A.D. Theories and thoughts developed in Ancient Greece have been a cornerstone of Western culture and thought. It was also a cornerstone for a lot of Western magic. Magic was definitely an important part of society then even though the practice of it was a more private affair. It wasn’t exactly an encouraged practice, but neither was it illegal, at least the lighter parts of magic. Being caught casting a malefic spell or making a curse was illegal. 
Some of the earliest magic, at least that we have physical evidence for, was in the 6th century B.C. and were curse tablets. These were most often small lead sheets inscribed with the curse and buried in a grave, body of water, or well. As those were seen to be passages to the Underworld. Most often the God/esses were involved (though that goes for any magic of this period). Specifically Hecate, Hermes, and Persephone as these were all associated with the Underworld. The point of the spells was to speed the cursed person to the other side hence the associations with death.
The other popular kinds of spells were talismans, for good luck, and phylacteries, for protection. Phylacteries and talismans are also known as amulets today.
One such amulet, in specific, is very special. On it is a beseeching of Apollo to help protect from something. We don’t know what that something is unfortunately, only so much of the text could be translated due to dialect and, I imagine, a penchant for getting creative with words. What is special about it in the archaeological world is that it was made out of gold and it was also stamped with a stamp, not carved into the metal with a stylus. This might suggest that there were many of them made at the time.
Talismans were also popular, I mean since when is good luck not popular? One of the good luck charms made its way from Egypt to Ancient Greece. The scarab or as we know it, the dung beetle, was a symbol of good luck for the Egyptians, but also of life, death, rebirth and the gods. For the Greeks it was a much simpler good luck talisman. The fashioned images or small carvings could be worn as pendants, rings, and bracelets.
Necromancy was also performed in ancient Greece. This was considered an illegal practice though it was performed in the Necromanteion, a temple to the God and Goddess of the underworld Hades and Persephone. Necromancy was the art of talking to the dead, the reason for doing so is that it was thought that after death the spirit was able to see the future.
Love spells were also a sought after item. What we know now as poppets were used. They would make the doll out of wax, mud, or lead and then be pierced with needles in the eyes, mouth, and sex organs. This was thought to arouse the person targeted. There were also potions made from things such as a lizard’s dick or a lizard's tail, this was thought to confer virility. 
Last but not least I should mention the Delphic Oracles. These were women over 50 that lived away from their husbands, and dressed in maidens clothing. They were given the name Pythia. The priestess would go to the cave and sit on a stool that sat near vents from which gasses would escape. There were other priests and priestesses that would attend to and interpret the incomprehensible words that the priestess would say. Making the oracular statement understandable to the one who asked the question that the Oracle was answering.
I’m sure there was more magic that intertwined the lives of the Ancient Greeks, but I’ve covered what I could. The Greeks were no more or less magical than present or other cultures of other times. They did what many of us do, reached for the power of that which was within and without to affect change in their world.
 
Pendle Witches of 1612 Part I
In this story 12 Witches were accused and were from Pendle Hill in Lancashire. They were accused of murdering a total of ten people by using means o