Southern Fried Witch

Hey, y’all! I’m back on the porch after a long week of micro-farming and ready to share the secret to growing the best damn veggies you’ve ever tasted. Along the way, we have a story or two—as usual. As great mysteries go, the one I fell headlong into a few years back should not have taken me by surprise. It turns out, there’s something to working with the land, rather than working the land. Somew...

I've had the worst damn month, y’all.  And so, I did something happy.  We, as Witches and Pagans, often separate Halloween from Samhain--and, I get that.  But, Halloween made me who I am.  It prepared me for Samhain as an adult, deepened that resonance and steadied me for my grown life as a witch.  And sometimes, when I'm super sad, all it takes the whiff of a bonfire and...

Hey, y’all: I was fairly sick when I recorded this one. It’s story time and this one is from 1991, so bear with me as I traverse the past a bit to locate riches of the past. More than anything, the poverty of my younger years taught me to see past material wealth. There was one woman who mattered in that lesson, who showed me the magic of making something good out of not much at all. Love y’all! T...

Many weeks ago now, I saw an article on Patheos called "Remembering the Witch in Witchcraft" that really took off on social media. John Beckett, a Druid Priest and author in our community, jumped into the conversation and wrote a response blog to that original article (linked in the episode notes) and, well, I was still in a quandary about it all. And so, I asked him onto the podcast. I respect Jo...

Hey Y’all! Shannon (coven student and friend) and I did a deep dive on the origin of all things goddess, what we believe, and slipped (of course) into a conversation about gender fluidity.  So snuggle onto the porch and let’s chat goddess worship! Episode Notes HagCraft Farm: https://hagcraftfarm.com/ Carol P. Christ: https://www.ciis.edu/news/memoriam-carol-patrice-christ ”When God Was a Wom...

I've had done, as my ancestors would say, with the contention that effectual witches should have access to money.  That's not the way the universe works--that's not the way witchcraft works.  Here's my take on that.  Write in and let me know your stance on this? seba@southernfriedwitch.com. To support this podcast and enjoy extra content, go to: https://www.patreon.com/southernfried...

Hey, y’all: a listener and patron of the podcast wrote in to further ponder the nature of secrets within the Craft, and so I’m doing a deeper dive today. While the line between what secrets we keep and what can be shared can, at times, be murky: there are some situations that are steadfastly dependent upon staying hushed up. Settle in on the porch and let me tell you a story about one that no long...

Y’all, today I’m reading a listener letter about forging connection to Nature from limited spaces, such as apartments in the city and the like. But, also, I wanted to delve further into the idea of Crafting within the in-between spaces of dark and light. It has always been evident to me that these binary concepts (good/evil, black/white) do more harm than good. And so, I’m telling a story about ho...

Y’all, today I’m reflecting on the inherent inconvenience that occurs when walking a dedicated, deeply Pagan path. From the loss of quick and easy chemicals to sharing the harvest on our little farm with the critters of the woods, I have learned that there is a cost to living this way. It’s horribly inconvenient, from time to time. And it’s worth moment. (A ghostly event occurs between minute 15-1...

We had a blast, y'all!  Kanani is one of the three gals from That Witch Life podcast and a Witchy friend of mine, so it will shock no one that we might be related. Snuggle in as my PNW cousin and I chat about what we inherently carry in our Witch bodies, including Magick memory and how to reconnect to our sacred source. We also talked about faith, ancestors, connections to the land and trees-...

Hey, y’all! Join me on the porch for a chat about faith in the Craft. Even us older Witches have our shakier moments, and when I need a little extra “umph,” I remember the time my grandma taught me that I was just a lightening bug. Or is it firefly? Love y’all like chicken! Episode Notes: Do You Say Firefly or Lightening Bug? Photo by Renaud Confavreux on Unsplash

Hey, y’all! Join me on the porch today for a chat about wards, what they have to do with boundaries, and other practical lessons from our little farm. This land has assuredly given me some valuable lessons, but one of these I wasn’t prepared for: diligent weeding lessens the need for strident warding! As with any other witchcraft lesson, it’s all in the balance—and anything warded up too tight can...

Hey, y’all! Join me on the porch for a chat about the untenable practices most folks are using in their garden (and maybe, even in their Craft). To skip the plant talk, go to around 21:37—although, there’s yummy stuff to learn that you might miss! Personally, I don’t mind if there are spots on my roses if it means that I can eat them. Real work often comes at the cost of aesthetics within an authe...

Hey, y’all. Sorry that this one is a bit late . . . it was a hard one. I’ve thought for a very long time about why the “Pagan” designation is critical to my Craft, and today I answer that as best I can. It is, in the end, the roots that grow me—wherever that might might be. Join me on the porch to talk about propagation, the nature of Paganism, and a story about the loss that changed the trajector...

Well, y’all, this past week as been a mess—but things are on their way up. As usual, I’m just sitting with a microphone and sharing the bumps and narrows of daily witch life. We’ve had “surprise” chickens, a very sick member of my family, a runaway rabbit, and torrential rains. It got to me a little. Join me on the porch to chat about navigating life’s clusterclucks—and why I can’t share the exact...

Y’all, for a long time now, I’ve listened to Rising Appalachia while working my garden, walking the land, and finding my peace out here in the woods. One day, I saw something new coming out of their work: a collaboration of women called Starling Arrow. This wondrous group (featuring Leah Song and Chloe Smith of Rising Appalachia, Tina Malia, Ayla Nereo, and Marya Stark) came together during the da...

I know I've told y'all before that to have a good death automatically means to have a good life.  This is what I meant by that. The longer I live, the more that I believe this. Settle in on the porch and let’s chat! Love y'all like chicken, Seba

Y’all, this week is just a green love letter back to everyone. As I wanted to give my platform for the Camp Hill Disaster for the week, I wanted to offer a little extra time for plants, plants, plants! So, settle in, Batchildren, and let’s chat about peppers, yucca, and all things growing. Love y’all like chicken! Note: Yucca is not the same as yuca (Cassava). The latter looks completely different...

This one breaks my heart, y'all.  I'm taking a break from talking about witchcraft for the week, mostly because I want to give my platform over to those who need it right now.  Camp Hill is right down the road from me: a town that is 90% African American and 100% in trouble right now.  My friend, Warren Tidwell, has quit his paid job to be on the ground and in person for these wonde...

Hey, y’all! I’m gearing up to do some fairly risky/exciting things this year, and so it seemed natural to talk about the other three-point shots I’ve made in my life. Snuggle in for a chat—a tree comes up, like it always does. Love y’all! To support the podcast, join the SFW Batchildren Fam by clicking HERE. Or, go to: https://www.patreon.com/southernfriedwitch

Welcome back the porch, y’all! In response to questions over the years about everything from my accent to why I won’t teach the Craft for money, today’s podcast does a deep dive behind the scenes. I was a blogger before I was a podcaster (starting officially in early 2011) and I suppose that forum lent itself to more foundational stuff. Those “OG” readers perhaps already know all of this (thanks f...

Hey, y’all! The other day, someone asked me why I celebrate my own birthday—as if it was a shameful thing to do. After decades of feeling that very way, I turned things around about seven years ago. Every year, I take a walk with the moon and to ponder growing older, a brave decision that I make every day and one that I take very seriously. In my fifty-seven years, I’ve not always been “given” a w...

Hey, y’all! If drumming is your thing, this is your episode. I chatted with old friends Eric and Mary Olson from Rhythm Healer Drums and we did a deep dive into all things drumming. Eric is a drum maker, and Remo Endorsed Drum Circle Facilitator, and a member of the Drum Circle Facilitators Guild. Mary is part of the American Tribal Belly Dance Community and (recently) also certified as a Drum Cir...

Hey, Y’all! A Patreon supporter suggested this topic, a pretty good one if you ask me. Let’s talk about the things I wish I’d known all those years ago about the Craft. As usual, there are stories—but what witch worth her salt would even consider not weaving a tale here or there? Snuggle in for a longer one. Remember to write to me at seba@southernfriedwitch.com with your own “things you wish you...

Hey, y’all. I’m not quite done with this topic: I’m like winter over here, stomping in with “and one more thing!” Today, I go deeper into the issue of connecting back to the witch body, sharing everything from my menopause experience to how I take myself to water (a blessing). The conversation about the human body is wrought with landmines: but I’m navigating it the best I can, y’all. Snuggle in o...