The Southern Witching Hour Podcast

After having had such a deep conversation with Dr. Darnise Martin about Hoodoo and the importance of ancestor veneration, I decided to ask one of my favorite ancestors for a sign.

He did not disappoint!

If you want to see the reel that I referenced in this episode, go to my instagram @the_southern_witching_hour

The reel was posted either the 2nd or 3rd of March and it clearly shows images of tomatoes and cucumbers. I even mentioned in the caption that this reel was meant to act as a marker for confirmation purposes.

I didn't say what I was looking for in the reel, but the images make it abundantly clear.

I made a comment on the reel as soon as I got the confirmation from Grandaddy!

Coincidence? Of course!

My Grandaddy 'conicidented' it! LOL!

Links:

Today's episode (Part 1 of 2) finds me, LadyG, out on the porch getting schooled on Hoodoo and Spirituality by Dr. Darnise Martin.

"Dr. Darnise," as she is affectionately known, is a Professor, Hoodoo Practitioner, and Spiritual Life Coach. She is extremely passionate about spirituality and certainly well-suited to speak on the topic; after all, it's her passion as well as her academic focus.

So, If you're ready to learn more about the roots of Hoodoo, how it emerged from the spiritual beliefs of enslaved African-Americans in the Southern U.S., and how it's currently practiced, tune in!

If you're interested in connecting with Dr. Darnise, check out the links below:

In today’s episode, LadyG talks about various Southern customs and superstitions related to death and burial, including the custom of stopping the clock at the exact time of a person's death.

Content Advisory: If you are sensitive to topics related to death and dying, please feel free to sit this one out and check out one of my other episodes.

*For Entertainment Purposes Only!

Links:

In this episode, Madame Hailley takes you on a tour of a "slave cemetery." She also talks about burial practices for enslaved Africans from 1700-1865.

In addition, LadyG discusses the ongoing practice of burying over "slave cemeteries," as well as, relatively contemporary African American cemeteries.

NOTE: This is a conversation that includes frank references to the brutality that slaves endured, so if you are sensitive to the subject, please forego this episode and listen to one of my other episodes.

Sources:

Anthropologist: Building Over African American Cemeteries Not Just A Southern Problem. Wayne Garcia, WUSF Public Media - December 4, 2019

This is the inaugural episode of a series entitled:

The Southern Cemetery Chronicles with LadyG.

Today, I share about my first encounters with the concept of death; specifically what happens after a person dies.

I also talk about my first time seeing a cemetery and I tease a bit of what we'll be talking about in coming episodes.

*Some Adult Language

Links:

*Some adult language

In today's episode, we're taking a trip into that liminal space called sleep.

We’ll talk about experiences we have while sleeping including:

-Dreams and their meanings

-Physical experiences that we have in our sleep

Once, we're on the porch, I’m going to tell you about a troubling recurring dream that I had as a teen; let’s just say, it includes a cautionary tale about traveling with dead folks.

If you like what you hear, please subscribe and share. Also, consider leaving a positive rating wherever you listen to this podcast. If you do leave a positive comment, shoot me an email and I will give you a shout out on the air.

***Some Adult Language

In this episode I talk about my lifelong fascination with Hurricanes and how my supernatural-loving nature pushed me to learn more about this idea of hurricanes functioning as a means of punishment for moral "violations" or revenge for "evil-doing." I'll be talking about:

• The Charleston Hurricane (1893)
• The Galveston Hurricane (1900)
• The Labor Day Hurricane (1935)
• Hurricane Camille (1969)
• Hurricane Katrina ( 2005)

Also, feel free to take a sip of your favorite beverage every time you hear me say "devastating" or "devastation."

As a writer, I should know better, but sometimes, when I am speaking extemporaneously, I lose my words.

Again, have a good time at my expense :-)

**Oh, and whenever I say "podcasts" I really mean "episodes." LOL!!!

LINKS

In today's episode, you get to imagine summer break from the perspective of a Southern girl growing up in the 1970's and 80's.

#storytelling

In today's episode, we're talking about magick; including a very brief overview of the following:

• Definitions of 'magic' and the distinction between the traditional spelling of 'magic' vs the alternate spelling with the added 'k.'
• Types of magick practiced in certain Southern states (LA, MS, AL, GA)
• Magick practitioners
• People who seek the assistance of magick practitioners and some reasons why
• Where to find magick practitioners

I also share my own personal experience with folks who have either been on the giving or receiving end of magick!

NOTE: Unless otherwise noted in the episode, everything discussed in this podcast is my own opinion and I am certainly no expert so your mileage may vary!

In today’s episode, I'll talk about supernatural lore related to bodies of water. I’ll also discuss several possible reasons why bodies of water, specifically rivers, are a logical setting for stories about witches, ghosts, sea serpents, and superstitions.

Also, in this episode, I’ll read snippets about:

• The Yazoo City, Mississippi Witch, who is said to have made good on her promise to get revenge
• A mysterious sea creature in the Chattahoochee River
• An evil entity who haunts the marshes, creeks and bogs along coastal North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida

I’ll also briefly mention an event that occurred near St. Simons Island, Georgia, where a group of enslaved Africans from Nigeria are said to have committed mass suicide---or did they?

Hmmm…Let's talk about it.

Now you know we won't stay shut up inside the house on a beautiful evening, so we’ll saunter out onto the porch, drink some sweet tea, and have a conversation.

While we're out under the stars, I’ll share some crazy childhood memories of fishing with my parents and my grandfather in Augusta, GA and Eufaula, AL. 

By the way, here's a GeorgiaBama fishing quiz:

1. What are "whitecaps?"
2. What are "crappies?"
3. What's a fish fry?

By the end of this episode, the listener will be able to define all of the above! LOL! Sorry for the tangent, that's just the educator in me messing with you. If you know, you know!

Finally, I'll spill some tea on what investigators keep finding in the Chattahoochee River around the I-20 stretch near Atlanta.

Right now, it remains a mystery but there is talk of ritual sacrifice.

As always, my loves, take what resonates and chunk the rest!

***NOTE: The article on Tie Snakes uses the word "Indian," to describe "Indigenous" people native to Columbus, Georgia and surrounding areas. So please don't @ me, I'm just reading their words verbatim.

Links:

Greetings! I am your host, LadyG.

In today’s episode of The Southern Witching Hour Podcast, I expand on the topic of storytelling by talking about the significance of the porch (back or front) where Southern families traditionally gather to talk about daily events and share long drawn-out stories.

I’ll also read a very short passage from Tananarive Due's Last Stop on Route 9.

Last Stop on Route 9 is one of my favorite supernatural short stories.  This story has an extra appeal to me because it is set in Florida, home to my maternal grandfather's family.  According to my mom, they lived in Quincy, Florida.

Unfortunately, I never got to know him or his people, but my mother remembered visiting the family in Florida when she was a kid.

At any rate, Tananarive Due is one of my favorite short story writers and I'm telling you, if you love contemporary supernatural stories set in the South, she's the TRUTH!

In this episode, I'll focus on what happens immediately after Charlotte, the main character, and her cousin Kai, accidentally hit something on a creepy Florida backroad during a drive to her grandmother's post-funeral luncheon...Southerners call it a repast. 😌

Anyway, having no idea what she hit, Charlotte comes to a stop near a home with a very unsettling atmosphere.

I'll read a bit of what happens after Charlotte gets out of her car, against Kai’s advice, to check her tire. Although she contemplates approaching the house to ask for assistance, Charlotte notes her menacing surroundings and decides against it.

Moments later, she is accused of an 'unforgivable' act.

Last Stop on Route 9 was originally published in Hex Life: Wicked New Tales of Witchery, edited by Christopher Golden. (2019)

Links to Tananarive Due:

In today's episode, I share a true story that my Dad told me about a supernatural encounter that he, his grandmother, and aunts had at an Alabama cemetery in 1955.

It took 64 years to 'solve' this mystery.

In 2020, I recorded the events, as Dad told them to me, in a post on Medium and also on my blog, Seek The Best Blog.

Here's the link:

In this episode, we’ll talk about various aspects of Southern folklore related to the Moon, including beliefs and practices for love and money.

But first, I’ll share a couple of stories and legends associated with the Moon.

Then we’ll get into the thick of it!

I'll share whether or not I've ever tried any of the love and money rituals from this episode and if they worked or not.

Links:

Follow me on instagram: the_southern_witching_hour

email me: gwin@thesouthernwitchinghour.com

In today's episode, we discuss how many people in the South planned their lives according to signs and omens they saw in nature. They observed the natural world to determine the best time for planting crops, hunting, and fishing. They also looked for signs and omens in nature to predict the weather and other events that could impact their lives.

Many of these nature-based practices were passed down through generations.  Unfortunately, these days, most of us, myself included, don’t rely on natural signs for much, but there are some ways we can return to that way of life.

By doing this, we can experience a deeper connection to the natural world and learn more about the cycles of birth, death and rebirth.

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