The Blackthorn Grove

Lessons from the Empress: A Tarot Workbook for Self-Care and Creative Growth A hands-on workbook for using tarot to discover and express your authentic self―the foundation of true self-care. Cassandra Snow has been a tarot reader in some capacity since they were eighteen years old and have gone pro for the last decade. Their work includes teaching and writing about tarot and witchcraft as well as doing readings. Cassandra is also calling on their BA in Theatre Arts and Humanities from Waldorf College for this project, and the decade-and-a-half experience they have leading creative teams as a theatre director, producer, and show curator with Gadfly Theatre Productions. Siri Vincent Plouff is the brain behind the radical Heathenry podcast, Heathen’s Journey. Siri runs several flagship teaching programs, such as the annual Witchcraft Immersion, which is a witchcraft apprenticeship program, and Radical Runes. They have been a practicing witch for nearly twenty years and have been reading tarot and runes professionally for six. Sponsored by Blackthorn's Botanicals dot com.

Heather K Veitch has been practicing Witchcraft for over thirty-five years, and holds degrees in English Literature and Creative Writing. She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2014, and has been exploring how to best modify her magical practice to support the ups and downs of her condition. Visit her online at http://www.heathwitch.com and @heathwitch on Instagram and TikTok.

Natalie Meraki is the creator of Tarot Mood deck, the Mood Oracle, Young Witch Tarot deck and a raucous fun time was had by all. (There are some brief mature themes in this episode, so listen wisely.) Check out Natalie's Create your own Tarot deck workshop! https://nataliemeraki.com/ @TarotMood on Insta @MerakiMetaphysical on TikTok Other resources: 78 Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack The Ultimate Guide to Tarot by Liz Dean Tarot Teas: BlackthornsBotanicals.com

Today I'm answering questions about what it is like to own a Pagan business, what we experience that non-Pagan businesses don't have to navigate, and how to make your Pagan business happy, healthy, prosperous and protected.   Blackthorn's Protection Magic out March 1st from Weiser Books. Download the first two chapters free at AmyBlackthorn.com

Readers have submitted stories and comments about persecution faced by witches in the workplace and in their community. Content warning: threats of harm.

Sponsored by BlackthornsBotanicals.com Diana Rajchel stops by the podcast to chat about reversing curses in a variety of communities, how magic feels differently in city settings and the nuance of being an invited guest.   http://dianarajchel.com Https://facebook.com/dianarajchelauthor instagram: @drajchel TikTok: spooncherry01 Hex Twisting: Countermagick Spells for the Irritated WitchPaperback – Out December 8, 2021 Amy is now on TikTok! @BlackthornsBotanicals Blackthorn's Protection Magic: A Witch’s Guide to Mental and Physical Self-Defense by Amy Blackthorn  | Out Mar 1, 2022

Relax with me while we listen to the sounds of late summer in the Eastern Great Deciduous Forest. Breathe deeply and allow yourself to journey to the forest.

Join me in listening to the stories of art, tarot, and the connections witchcraft brings us with Shanna Stoker, descendant of Bram Stoker and creator of the Terror Tarot.

I'm joined by an expert panel to talk all things Hexy. Ivo Domínguez, Jr. www.newalexandrianlibrary.com  Byron Ballard, www.myvillagewitch.com Diotima Mantineia, www.uraniaswell.com Mortellus, Mortellus.com Show Notes: Content Warning: Minute 50-108 for survivors of violence Books Mentioned: Carmina Gadelica: Hymns and Incantations by Alexander Carmichael Practical Techniques of Psychic Self-defence by Murry Hope Hex Twisting: Counter-Magick Spells for the Irritated Witch by Diana Rajchel Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life by Gary John Bishop The Wicked + The Divine by Kieron Gillen Blackthorn's Protection Magic: A Green Witch's Guide to Self Defense by Amy Blackthorn Four Elements of the Wise: Working with the Magickal Powers of Earth, Air, Water, Fire by Ivo Dominguez Touch the Earth, Kiss the Sky: Allowing the Rational Mind to Welcome Magic & Spirituality by Diotima Mantineia Roots, Branches & Spirits: The Folkways & Witchery of Appalachia by H. Byron Ballard Seasons of a Magical Life: A Pagan Path of Living by H. Byron Ballard

Learn what’s expected of us as we start interacting with people outside again! From what to bring, or not bring to ritual, to who to talk to and when.

Nicholas Pearson stops by to chat with us about his books, crystals and plant spirits.   Nicholas Pearson is a flower essence practitioner and researcher whose love for plants grew alongside his love for the mineral kingdom. Best known for his work with crystal healing and Reiki, Nicholas is also a practicing witch and occultist. An internationally acclaimed presenter, Nicholas is the author of several books, including Crystals for Karmic Healing, Crystal Basics, and the forthcoming Flower Essences from the Witch’s Garden. He lives in Orlando, Florida. Find him at https://www.theluminouspearl.com

Cyndi Brannen of Keeping Her Keys and I got together for Beltane and chatted about:  our favorite herbal allies plant symbolism in magic Aesthetics in Witchcraft  maintaining healthy boundaries communicating with plant spirits and our top 3 plants to include in a witch's apothecary.

Courtney Weber is a Witch, author, Tarot adviser, and activist. She is the author of 'Brigid: History, Mystery, and Magick of the Celtic Goddess,' 'Tarot for One: The Art of Reading for Yourself,' 'The Morrigan: Celtic Goddess of Magick and Might and the forthcoming 'Hekate: Goddess of Witches.' She is a co-host of 'That Witch Life' podcast. She has been featured in Maxim, Playboy, Huffington Post, Vice, and the Thom Hartmann Show.  Visit her online at www.courtneyaweber.com.

This is a great interview with a friend of the podcast who had some questions for me about how to get started in incorporating herbs into our magic.   Check out AmyBlackthorn.com to book a reading with Amy!  Brought to you by BlackthornsBotanicals.com 

It's our one year birthday!   In this episode we have the fabulous Mortellus back with us to talk about the useful materials we can find to incorporate in our magical practice and how they demystify necromancy.  Hint: most of us are practicing necromancy, without even knowing it!  Find Mortellus' book, "Do I Have To Wear Black? Rituals, Customs and Funerary Etiquette for Modern Pagans" and other handmade curios at Mortellus.com 

The southern Appalachians are rich in folk magic and witchery. This book explores the region's customs and traditions for magical healing, luck, prosperity, and more. Author Byron Ballard―known as the village witch of Asheville, North Carolina―teaches you about the old ways and why they work, from dowsing to communicating with spirits. H. Byron Ballard, BA, MFA (Asheville, NC) is a western NC native, teacher, folklorist, and writer. She has served as a featured speaker and teacher at several festivals and conferences, including the Sacred Space Conference, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Starwood, Hexfest and many others. She serves as senior priestess and co-founder of Mother Grove Goddess Temple and the Coalition of Earth Religions/CERES, both in Asheville, NC. She podcasts about Appalachian folkways on "Wyrd Mountain Gals." Her essays are featured in several anthologies and she writes a regular column for SageWoman Magazine. Find her online at www.myvillagewitch.com.

Widely requested topic, WFB features a DOUBLE LENGTH EPISODE with words from: Mortellus https://www.mortellus.com Seeking Witchcraft Podcast anchor.fm/seekingwitchcraft Irisanya Moon www.irisanya.com Patti Wigington www.pattiwigington.com Heather, https://thephoenixnest-healing.com/ Misha Magdalene www.mishamagdalene.com That Kentucky Witch, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGUcGNGB-ZQ&t=10s Blackthorn's Botanicals https://BlackthornsBotanicals.com Blackthorn's Botanical Brews, Available wherever fine books are sold.

This is an hour-long salon discussion about botanical witchcraft with 'Keeping Her Keys' author Cyndi Brannen.  https://keepingherkeys.com Featuring tidbits from both authors Amy Blackthorn and Cyndi Brannen discussing protection of the home, how to begin a botanical magic practice, how to start a relationship with your Spirits of Place, and more! Cyndi discusses her new book, 'Entering Hekate's Garden' and what our 'weeds' are trying to tell us.  

It's 9 days to Halloween and I'm seeing more (Non-Pagan) people mentioning their fear of Witches.  I try to tease out those strands with past  experience and truth.  There's an announcement about my brand new candle line as well! Find those at BlackthornsBotanicals.com  As always you can email me your thoughts at blackthorngrovepodcast at Gmail dot com.

Is the competitive spirit destroying your practice? 'Comparison is the thief of joy' -Theodore Roosevelt If you do the thing that makes your heart sing, you'll bring magic into the world.   30-page preview of Blackthorn's Botanical Brews, out Oct 5th tinyurl.com/blackthornsbotanicalbrews.com Brought to you by BlackthornsBotanicals.com 

You can read the excerpt at TinyUrl.com/BlackthornsBotanicalBrews There are ones for Sacred Smoke, and Blackthorn's Botanical Magic as well. Tinyurl.com/SacredSmokeBook Tinyurl.com/BlackthornsbotanicalMagic 

Interview with Thelemite, producer of Hexwork Burlesque and all around awesome human, Eyrie Twilight.

Author of ‘Living Spirits: A Guide to Magic in a World of Spirits’ and ‘Luminarium: A Grimoire of Cunning Conjuration,’ BJ chats with us about his history blending several magical traditions and a history with the OTO with the divine practice of honoring his ancestors and Hekate.

We explore six methods for calming and centering yourself, to connect with your inner self in times of stress.

Mortellus is the High Priestess of the Coven of Leaves in Rutherfordton NC, a Gardnerian Coven operating an Outer Court training group who like to say that they are a bubbling cauldron of bitter esoterica slithering their way through Western North Carolina. Additionally, she is a Mortician, Author, Medium, and Necromancer. Her book of pagan death rites and rituals for Llewellyn is set to come out Winter of 2020 with a second un-announced project in the works. Currently, she resides on 3 acres that are hastily becoming overgrown again with her husband, daughter, two year old boy girl twins, two chickens, and one really, really ridiculous dog. Follow Mortellus on social media at: Insta: acrowandthedead Twitter: acrowandthedead Facebook.com/mortellus tinyurl.com/y5zzbnn3

A casual chat about some of my favorite magical small businesses. Perfume, jewelry, candles and soaps, all for your enjoyment.

De-stigmatizing mental health, money and magic, and striving for personal happiness in our practices.

We’re talking about kicking gatekeeping, embracing the practices and how our practices effect our lives. You’ll get a little background on Amy Blackthorn in an interview and a segment on touch, consent and hugging.