Circle Talk 4 Witches

3.06 Self-Actualization and Nature Theology

Episode 6 of season 3 discusses self-actualization in witchcraft. We explore the importance of self-actualization in religious movements and how the “Work” of the craft can be related to this idea. The episode ends with some practices listeners can consider in their own paths to self-actualization.

 

Mentioned:

Her Hidden Children: The Rise of Wicca and Paganism in America (Pagan Studies Series) by Chas S. Clifton

Your Dark Side: How to turn your inner negativity into positive energy: Transform Your Inner Negativity into Positive Energy by Vivianne Crowley and Christopher Crowley

3.05 Getting Back to Basics and Personal Practice

Welcome to episode 5 of season 3! In this episode, we talk about getting back to basics and how to build a personal practice. Is a personal practice necessary if we’re a member of a coven? What if we’re not in a coven - how important is it then? What do we do when we hit a slump, and how can we mitigate getting to that point in the first place? 

In this episode, we give advice on what kind of practices a personal practice could include, explore the idea of stagnation within a coven, and mention the word “practice” so many times, that we lost count in the end 😛 So, grab a cuppa, glass, or pitcher, sit back and relax, and enjoy!

3.04 Wiccan Etiquette

In this episode we discuss some Do’s and Don’ts for Seekers and Initiates who are visiting covensteads they are unfamiliar with or open rituals. We also discuss etiquette around expectations and the (now oft repeated) 5Cs of effective communication.

References:

Traditional Wicca: A Seeker’s Guide - Thorn Mooney

3.03 Wicca and Mental Health

(CW: mental illness)

This episode we tackled a much-requested topic: mental health and the craft. How does one manage mental illness and Wicca? How much should a seeker divulge about mental health when approaching a coven? What about priesthood and coven leaders?

3.02 Healing & Hexing

We dug deeper into the topics of healing and hexing - pins, poppets, pleasure and pain - this month: the roles they play (or not) in traditional Wicca, a smattering of history and lore, and some tried and true methods, too!

Do you have a topic that you’d like us to discuss, or even a question to be answered during the discussion? We’d love to hear from you! Let us know by e-mailing us at CircleTalk4Witches@gmail.com. Alternatively, you can find us on Instagram and Facebook at CircleTalk4Witches or on X at @Circle4Witches. Remember to like and follow us, including letting others know if you’re enjoying the podcast.

3.01 Leading a Coven

Hail, and Welcome, everyone, to Season 3 of Circle Talk 4 Witches - it feels good to be back!

We kick off Season 3 by revisiting a core component of Traditional Wicca - Covens. We’ve touched upon the topic of covens before (Season 1 Episodes 6, 7, and 11), though in this episode, we want to talk more about leading a coven and coven mechanics. We address a bit of “how” to start a coven, a lot of “why” one might start a coven, some of the “yikes!” that comes along with running a coven and how to mitigate them, and touch briefly upon why a sturdy table is staple to the practice of the Wica 😛! Grab a cuppa, sit back, relax, and enjoy! Welcome to Season 3.

 

References:

• Kate West’s The Real Witches’ Coven
• Thea Sabin’s A Teaching Handbook for Wiccans and Pagans: Practical Guidance for Sharing Your Path
• Starhawk’s Spiral Dance
• Thorn Mooney’s Traditional Wicca: A Seeker's Guide. Llewellyn Publications, 2018. 
• Alexandrian Wicca Seekers and Initiates (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/278933458939644/  
• Gardnerian Wicca Seekers and Initiates (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/groups/gardnerianseekers/ 
• British Traditional Wicca (Discord): https://discord.gg/rrXEJHA 
• Mandragora Magika (not vouched): https://mandragoramagika.com/ 
• Reddit CovenFinder (not vouched): https://www.reddit.com/r/CovenFinder/ 

 

Notes:

The 5Cs of effective communication:

1. Be clear
2. Be concise
3. Be compelling
4. Be curious
5. Be compassionate

2.12 Fast and Loose

We went fast and loose for our season 2 finale, taking turns answering some questions and ponderings sent in by listeners. We had a nice time: starting cults, initiating our beds, discussing the sexiness of elders, and learning the definition of “hot take”.

 

References:

The Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile

2.11 Initiation

Happy equinox! This bumper episode is a discussion of initiation: why do we make such a big deal about it, anyway? We also look at the different types of initiation, what you might find or expect, after effects and more.

References:
Alex Sanders, King of the Witches - June Johns (warning: shenanigans ahead)

The Witches’ Bible - Janet and Stewart Farrar

Traditional Wicca: A Seeker’s Guide - Thorn Mooney

High Magic’s Aid - Gerald Gardner

2.10 Spellwork to Make Magic Happen

For our belated August cross-quarter episode we are continuing to explore different ways of doing “magic”. In this episode we discussed various means of creating and implementing your own spells. 

There are several external resources referenced, especially an article by Jenya T. Beachy, originally published in the author’s patheos blog “Dirt Hearth Witch” in 2015: Making It So: Seven Steps to Effective Spells.

Other references include:

The Witch’s Path: Advancing your Craft at Every Level by Thorn Mooney

Website: Astrology.com/tr

Six Ways: Approaches & Entries for Practical Magic by Aidan Wachter

2.09 Ethics

We're back! For our return we discuss the ethics of Alexandrian Witchcraft and witchcraft in general. Not only do we take on the question of “The Rule of Three” and “Harm None” but we also discuss subjective and objective ethical questions and whether there are any universal ethical considerations in Alexandrian Witchcraft. The discussion is more interesting than the description, so check it out!