Conjuring Curiosities

Witchcraft can feel intimidating, and depending on the people around you, it may feel like it carries a stigma. Which is why this episode is for the closeted spell casters who want to start practising, but aren’t ready to do so out in the open. We’re here to tell you that however you do magic, you are valid! And while all the tools and ingredients you might find in a metaphysical store can be fun,...

This is our third and final chapter of Jack the Ripper, where we discuss the infamous letters and suspects that are commonly associated with this unsolved case. Did the murderer actually write one of the thousands of letters that were sent to the police during his reign of terror, or were all of them hoaxes? Was Jack a surgeon, a hairdresser, a butcher, or even part of the royal family? We’ll disc...

Ever feel drained for no clear reason? Like your energy is quietly slipping away somewhere you can’t quite see? This week, Sabrina walks Clara through the concept of energy leaks, the subtle ways we lose emotional, mental, and spiritual energy in our everyday lives. We cover some tips and tricks for identifying the source and how to close the metaphorical valve, so your reserve stays as full as po...

We’re back with part 2 of the most notorious Victorian serial killer, Jack the Ripper! In this episode, we discuss the final 2 canonical victims, focusing on who they were before their murders. Clara explains the media frenzy that this case stirred up, as well as the general paranoia in London at the time. To deal with their lack of control over the situation, citizens were writing letters to the...

Water is an incredibly powerful and versatile element, capable of the gentlest bath, yet also the roughest typhoons. This episode, Sabrina is bringing tips to help you harness that energy for your spellwork! Whether you need to amp up the chaos, release emotions, or cleanse, we have suggestions you can dive into! See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram Follow us on tiktok for videos...

It’s our 50th episode! To celebrate, we're finally covering one of the most notorious macabre aspects of the Victorian Era, Jack the Ripper. Clara is trying her best not to slip too deep into the rabbit-hole that is possibly the most famous serial killer of all time, but she may have finally bit off more than she can chew. With an identity so mysterious that even Sherlock Holmes would be stumped,...

This episode, Sabrina talks about something she's wanted to address for a long time…the parts of spiritual glow ups that nobody puts on their vision board. It turns out, feeling lost is a period of spiritual crisis that many practicing witches cross on their path. Feeling wrong may just mean that things are going very right. Relationships shift, your priorities change, and the world you once felt...

Why is a self-love spell different from a love spell aimed at someone else? When does manifestation cross into control? This week, we’re breaking down the difference between consensual and non-consensual magic, and what to consider when you are trying to find your personal balance of ethical spellwork. Sabrina explains what consent looks like in a magical context and why certain spells (especially...

If you want to skip the ghost in the Victorian hair brooch update at the beginning, the main episode topic starts at 21:17 What 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 Cl...

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 superst...

Trigger warning for discussions of infant death: 38:10 - 38:55 The 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 teen...

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...

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...

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! S...

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 enig...

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...

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...

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 Ro...

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. F...

Double, double toil and… total disaster? In this drama-packed episode, we’re diving into the legendary curse of Macbeth…I mean, The Scottish Play. We’ll explore some of the most infamous examples of the curse in action, from alleged fatalities to production disasters. And while we’re talking theatre history, we’ll pull back the curtain on other thespian superstitions. Like why whistling backstage...

Say hello to your Big 3: your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs. In this episode, Sabrina breaks down the astrological basics and gets real about what each of the Big 3 actually means. Whether you're a loud Leo Moon with a Scorpio Rising or a triple threat, Sabrina’s here to help you decode your chart without the cosmic confusion. And now, when your tinder date asks you for your time of birth, you’ll kn...

What could be spookier than a lighthouse on a remote Scottish island in 1900? How about the unexplained disappearance of 3 Lightkeepers from that very setting…Join us this episode as we shine a big ol’ beam on the baffling mystery of the men that vanished without a trace. Was it a wave? Madness? Aliens? Sea ghosts? (Hey, we’re not ruling anything out.) We’re diving into the facts, the theories, an...

Is your phone glitching, your ex texting, and every conversation turning into a full-blown miscommunication meltdown? Don’t panic! It might just be Mercury Retrograde, and Sabrina is here to break it all down (without the doom and gloom). We’re talking tech troubles, travel mishaps, and text messages you probably shouldn’t have sent…but also how to use this chaotic cosmic energy for reflection, re...

Before “spinster” meant “unmarried woman with too many cats,” it actually referred to women who made their own money (gasp!) and didn’t need a husband to survive. In this episode, we unravel the origins of the word spinster, the shifting attitudes toward single women, and the absolute gold that was Tit-Bits Magazine, which asked Victorian women why they weren’t married, and got some brutally hones...

Ready to tie up loose ends, literally and magically? In this episode, Sabrina breaks down the basics of knot magic, one of the oldest and simplest forms of spell-work. Whether you’re binding negativity, setting intentions, or storing energies for later; knot magic is all about using string, thread, or even your own shoelaces to work a little witchy wonder. So grab some rope and get ready to weave...