She Speaks Volumes is created by Daniella Sorrentino

CREDITS:

Voice-Actors + Narrators

Margaret Alice Murray, excerpts from witchcraze read by Verna Sorrentino

Scottish Witches: Marnie Thompson, JP Wright, Susan Harden

Joan of Arc: @katsuky

Interviews with:

Yvonne Owens

Dr Liz Williams

LINKS TO PURCHASE or READ BOOKS REFERENCED: detailed bibliography below.

Witch Cults in Western Europe

Witchcraze

Abject Eroticism in Northern Renaissance Art

Miracles of Our Own Making

BBC Bitesize. “Case Study: James vi and the North Berwick Witch Hunt.” Accessed May 29, 2023. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zj77xbk/articles/zmr6hcw.

Dictionaries of the Scots Language. “Dictionary of the Scots Language,” n.d. https://dsl.ac.uk/.

King, James, G B Harrison, and James Carmichael. King James the First, Daemonologie (1597) : Newes from Scotland, Declaring the Damnable Life and Death of Doctor Fian, a Notable Sorcerer Who Was Burned at Edenbrough in Ianuary Last (1591). San Diego, Ca: Book Tree, 2002.

Llewellyn Barstow, Anne . Witchcraze : A New History of the European Witch Hunts. New York, N.Y.: Harperone, 1994.

Murray, Margaret Alice. The Witch-Cult in Western Europe, 1921.

Owens, Yvonne. Abject Eroticism in Northern Renaissance Art : The Witches and Femmes Fatales of Hans Baldung Grien. London ; New York ; Oxford ; New Delhi ; Sydney: Bloomsbury Visual Arts, 2020.

saint-joan-of-arc.com. “Joan of Arc: Trial of Condemnation Searchable Transcipt,” n.d. https://saint-joan-of-arc.com/trial-condemnation.htm.

Williams, Liz. MIRACLES of OUR OWN MAKING : A History of Paganism. S.L.: Reaktion Books, 2021.

Since the 1970s witchcraft has been spreading, exponentially each year. It is currently the fastest growing ideology (where?).Yet this idea of ‘witch’ is as ephemeral as magic itself. What do we identify with when we call ourselves ‘witch’? What do we mean when we call someone else a witch? Witchcraft itself is more diverse in recent years than in the past; contemporary witches can be hedge witches, kitchen witches, chaos witches, shadow witches or follow any number of magical paths. The rising popularity of the craft is also expanding the definition of witchcraft. There is no central authority for witches, it is truly a folk-lore, a crowd-sourced ideology that is constantly being defined and redefined by its practitioners - Wiki-Witchery if you like.

over the season The cauldron will host panel discussions between different practitioners to explore the nuances and the diversity in the craft, speak with historians who are revisiting history to unpack how current ideas of witchcraft emerged, look at what makes a witch a witch, and what makes witchcraft unique as an ideology.

Episode one will be available on your favourite podcast player June 20th, or listen at intothecauldron.org.

If you want to participate in the discussion of ‘what is a witch’, consider joining The Cauldron as a member. For a mere $7 a month you will be supporting the podcast, our panel discussions, and The Cauldron platform an ad free space to share ideas about witchcraft, magic, and meaning. Visit intothecauldron.org to learn more.

MUSIC: Imaginary Friend V1 by Dresden The Flamingo - soundstripe.com

Cover art: Study of a Witch by Luis Ricardo Falero, 19th century

Episode Title: A Documented History of the Tarot with Sherryl E. Smith

Description:

In this episode of The Cauldron, we are thrilled to welcome Sherryl E. Smith, a distinguished tarot historian and the creator of Tarotheritage.com. Join us as we delve into the rich and fascinating history of tarot cards, exploring the major arcana and uncovering the stories behind these mystical symbols. Sherryl shares her extensive knowledge, insights, and passion for tarot.

Key Points:

• Introduction to Sherryl E. Smith and her background in tarot history.
• An overview of Tarotheritage.com and its vast resources, including detailed histories of major arcana cards, tarot galleries, and a timeline of tarot history.
• The origins and evolution of tarot cards through the centuries.
• In-depth discussion on the symbolism and significance of major arcana cards.
• Sherryl’s journey in creating Tarotheritage.com and her dedication to preserving and sharing tarot history.
• Insights into how and when tarot came to be used for personal growth and spiritual guidance.

Links Mentioned:

• Visit Sherryl E. Smith’s website: tarotheritage.com
• Purchase reporduction of the cards here: https://www.loscarabeo.com/en/products/tarocchi-lo-scarabeo

Support The Cauldron:

Love our podcast? Consider supporting The Cauldron by becoming a member for just $7 a month. As a member, you’ll receive:

• Members-only episodes
• Invites to special talks
• Access to The Cauldron Social Media stream – a unique platform just for witches, much like Facebook but tailored to our community.

Join us and help us continue bringing you more magical content. Visit our website to become a member today!

Follow Us:

• Website: intothecauldron.org
• Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/TheCauldronPage

Thank you for listening to the The Cauldron. A special thanks to Sherryl E. Smith for sharing her incredible insights and knowledge with us. Don't forget to check out tarotheritage.com for more on tarot history. Until next time, blessed be!