Conjuring Curiosities

Doorways, crossroads, and hotel hallways at midnight. The places where nothing really happens…but somehow, everything feels like it could. This week, Sabrina gives us a spiritual perspective on liminal spaces, and encourages us to embrace the in-between. After all, transformations can’t happen without transitions. Leap into the unknown with us this week as we explore the power of liminal spaces!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

What happens when a wealthy widow tries to outbuild her ghosts? In this case, a confusing labyrinth of staircases to nowhere, doors that open into walls, and windows that overlook nothing. Back from hiatus, Clara and Sabrina wander the endless halls of the Winchester Mystery House, uncovering how Sarah Winchester turned her fortune (and maybe her fears) into one of the strangest architectural enigmas in history. Was she haunted by the spirits of those killed by her family’s rifles, or simply a passionate architect? Grab a map and stay close as we take you through the winding maze of madness, mourning, and meticulous design!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCESWinchester Mystery House - TimelineWinchester Mystery House - HistoryUS Ghost Adventures - Why the Winchester House Is HauntedSFGATE - Everything you think you know about the Winchester Mystery House probably isn't truePaulette Kennedy - THE ONE ABOUT SARAH WINCHESTERBeck Technology - Rebels of Construction—Sarah Winchester and Her Mysterious HouseWinchester Mystery House - The Untold Story of Isabel Merriman: Sarah Winchester's Spirited SisterWikipedia - Sarah WinchesterWikipedia - Winchester Mystery HouseCPI Inflation Calculator

What would happen if a giant tank of molasses exploded in the middle of Boston? Unfortunately, that is not a hypothetical question, because over 100 years ago, one did. In January 1919, a massive storage tank burst, unleashing an unfathomable wave of deadly syrup that tore through the streets faster than anyone could run. But even after the molasses settled, the chaos was far from over. Grab your favourite molasses catching mug and some waders and join us to hear about the stickiest year Beantown ever had!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCESHistory.com - Why the Great Molasses Flood Was So DeadlyCity of Boston - 100 years ago today: Molasses crashes through Boston's North EndScientific American - The Science of the Great Molasses FloodUSN History - A Sticky Situation: The Navy and the Great Molasses FloodWikipedia - Great Molasses FloodThe Guardian - The Great Boston Molasses Flood: why the strange disaster matters todayBoston Public Library - Molasses Disaster, Boston, Mass., 1919Britannica - How Fast Is the World’s Fastest Human?

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!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

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!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCES: THE CASE OF LURANCY VENNUM - A PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY, AND AUTHENTICATED INSTANCE OF SPIRIT MANIFESTATION. BY E. W. STEVENSAncestry.com - Mary Lurancy Vennum

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!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!