Conjuring Curiosities

If you want to skip the ghost in the Victorian hair brooch update at the beginning, the main episode topic starts at 21:17What if the only witness to your murder…was you? This week, we’re discussing the Greenbrier Ghost, the 1897 case where a murdered woman allegedly returned from the grave to tell everyone that her “accidental death” was far from an accident. You know when Sabrina has to warn Clara that she might start channeling from the spirit realm, it’s going to be a spooky episode! So light a candle and prepare to come face to face with a ghost on a mission! See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCES:True West Virginia Ghost Stories (By Jonathan Moore)Greenbrier West Virginia ENews - Greenbrier Ghost, Zona Heaster ShueAppalachian History - The Greenbrier GhostTales of History and Imagination - The Greenbrier GhostWikipedia - Greenbrier GhostSkeptoid - The Greenbrier GhostFind A Grave - Erasmus Stribbling “Edward” ShueUS Ghost Adventures - Did a Ghost Really Testify? the Truth Behind the Greenbrier Ghost CaseAmerican Hauntings Ink - TESTIMONY FROM BEYOND THE GRAVE

In modern day, mirrors are a means to do your makeup or check your outfit. But they have been feared, revered, covered, and cursed for centuries. So it’s no wonder that breaking one strikes momentary fear into the heart of many of us! This week, Sabrina takes Clara through the looking glass to explain the spiritual history of mirrors, from ancient divination practices and spirit portals to superstition, protection, and the dreaded seven years of bad luck. So light a candle. Clean the glass. And reflect on why breaking a mirror is in fact a good thing!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

Trigger warning for discussions of infant death: 38:10 - 38:55The monster, the myth, the legend: Frankenstein. You know him, you love him, and you love to tell people that ACTUALLY, Dr. Frankenstein was the REAL monster, and the monster's name isn’t Frankenstein. But who do we have to thank for this cultural phenomenon? The ground breaking novel was the radical, brilliant creation of a teenage girl with a sharp mind and a very complicated life. This week, we’re talking about Mary Shelley, the writer who accidentally invented modern science fiction, horror, and the mad scientist archetype all at once.From The Year Without a Summer to grief, motherhood, and intellectual rebellion, we explore how Mary’s life shaped the monster we can’t stop retelling. There is so much to her, including the constant drama she was surrounded by, and the legacy some may say she far surpassed. This isn’t just the story of a book, it’s the story of how one woman’s imagination rewired pop culture forever. So grab a quill and stay away from sailboats, because this episode, we’re learning about the Mother of science fiction!CORRECTIONS: Regarding the Greek Mythology of Prometheus, he was the god that created humans, which is the parallel alluded to in Frankenstein. He did also bring fire to humans against the wishes of Zeus! Also, Nosferatu was never a book, it was originally created as a movie. See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCESNational Review - Mary Shelley among the RadicalsLiterary Hub - Did Mary Shelley actually lose her virginity to Percy on top of her mother's grave?Snopes - Did Mary Shelley Lose Her Virginity on Her Mother's Grave?History Extra - Mary Wollstonecraft: the firebrand feminist thinker with a rule-breaking lifeWikipedia - Mary ShelleyWikipedia - Mary WollstonecraftWikipedia - William GodwinWikipedia - Memoirs of the Author of A Vindication of the Rights of WomanWikipedia - Free loveJane Lark - This week my scandalous woman is Mary Shelley the author of FrankensteinWikipedia - Percy Bysshe ShelleyWikipedia - Claire Clairmont Wikipedia - Lord ByronWikipedia - Ada LovelaceHistory Extra - Mary Shelley's Frankenstein: the birth of a gothic monsterHistory Extra - "Mary never shook off the consequences of eloping with Shelley": Fiona Sampson on the life of Mary ShelleyAmusing Planet - What is Galvanism, And How Did it Inspire Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein?Synapsis - Galvanism in 19th Century French Theater: Bringing Dead Words Back to Life The Ex-Classics Website - GEORGE FOSTERAnna Mazzola - Did Mary Shelley Keep Percy’s Heart?

Ever feel like you’re being gently nudged in a direction you didn’t consciously choose? This episode, Sabrina breaks down the world of spirit guides: Who they are, what they do, and how to recognize their presence. For anyone who has been interested but hesitant, we break down how to tell the difference between guidance that feels steady, supportive, and positive, compared to trickster energy that thrives on confusion, fear, and chaos. This episode is an open invitation to explore the unseen support system that might already be with you! See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

Angels, pointing hands, weeping willows, and urns. We’ve all seen them when walking through a cemetery, but what do they mean? This week, Clara takes Sabrina on a guided tour through the graveyard to decode the symbols carved into tombstones, and what they were meant to say about death, grief, and the afterlife. From religious iconography to Victorian symbolism and Secret Societies, Clara explains how headstones functioned as messages from the living to the dead (and to anyone who wandered by centuries later). It turns out that cemeteries are never as silent as they seem. Grab a flashlight and watch your footing, we’re wandering through the graves to see what the headstones have to tell us!See photos discussed in this episode on our instagramFollow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!SOURCESGravestone studies.org - Symbolism of GravestonesWolfe Memorial - GRAVESTONE SYMBOLS and THEIR MEANINGSCatholic-cemeteries.org - Gravestone Symbols and Their MeaningsThoughtCo. - Photo Gallery of Cemetery Symbols and IconsForest Home Cemetery Overview - Gravestone SymbolsFlickr - Unusual Headstones or Grave MarkersBurials and Beyond - The Grave of Clasped Hands: Love Conquering Death 

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!