The Witch Trials Explained: Fear, Power, and the Women They Tried to Silence
Demystify Magic | Science + Spirituality + Low Effort WitchcraftShow Notes
This week we’re diving into a topic you all have been asking us about for a long time: The Witch Trials. What actually happened during this period in history, and how did thousands of people end up accused of witchcraft? In this episode, we talk about the massive witch hunts that took place across Europe between the 1400s and 1700s, the myths many of us learned about the Salem Witch Trials, and the social, political, and religious forces that fueled these accusations. We also break down some of the bizarre “tests” used to identify witches and why so many of the people targeted were women, healers, or outsiders in their communities. To finish off, we talk about why this history still matters and how the idea of a “witch hunt” continues to show up in modern culture today. Resources Mentioned: - Heal the Witch Wound: Reclaim Your Magic and Step Into Your Power by Celeste Larson - How to Kill a Witch: The Patriarchy's Guide to Silencing Women by Zoe Venditozzi, Claire Mitchell - Libro FM link - Royal Witches: Witchcraft and the Nobility in Fifteenth-Century England by Gemma Hollman - Lights, Camera, Witchcraft: A Critical History of Witches in American Film and Television by Heather Greene Support your local bookstore and this podcast by grabbing your audiobooks through Libro.fm. If you're a NEW Libro.fm member you can use the code DEMYSTIFY to get a special surprise when you sign up. Click here to sign up https://tidd.ly/44l9SdQ Order Molly’s book Mundane Magic A Lazy Witch's Guide to Hacking Your Brain, Building a Daily Practice, and Getting Stuff Done Join our Patreon for bonus episodes, magical downloads, and unhinged side quests: https://www.patreon.com/demystifymagic 🔮 Join the waitlist for Reiki 1: The Science of Self-Healing: https://www.mollydonlan.com/reikiwait 🛍️Shop our merch here: https://demystifymagic.com/collections/merch 🔮 Download the FREE Manifest with Reiki Ritual: https://www.mollydonlan.com/manifestwithreiki 🕯Shop spell candles and oils at Spellcrafter https://shopspellcrafter.com 🔮 Shop magical tools to enhance your practice, use code MAGIC to get 20% off your order: https://thehealinghedgewitch.com/ 🎬 Molly’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@m0dizzl3
Let us know your thoughts: ✨ Demystify Magic Instagram: @demystifymagic ✨ Molly’s instagram: @m0dizzl3 ✨ Madison’s instagrams: @madisonlillian.jpeg and @healinghedgewitch and @shopspellcrafter
More from Demystify Magic | Science + Spirituality + Low Effort Witchcraft
Ever wish you could put a little magical “keep out” sign around your energy, your home or the people you love? That’s where wards come in! We’re diving into the world of protection magic and sharing all the ways we use wards in our everyday lives. We chat about everything from sigils and freezer spells to enchanted jewellery, everyday objects and even digital protection. We also share some of our favorite ways to create wards, how we refresh them, and why protection magic can be especially important when we’re putting ourselves out there in the world. Whether you’re completely new to warding or you’ve been practising for years, we hope this gives you some ideas to play with and reminds you that protection magic doesn’t have to be complicated. Let’s get into it! Join us over on our Patreon for bonus content, magical downloads, bonus episodes and unhinged side quests: https://www.patreon.com/demystifymagic 📖 Order Molly’s book Mundane Magic A Lazy Witch's Guide to Hacking Your Brain, Building a Daily Practice, and Getting Stuff Done 🔮 Join the waitlist for Reiki 1: The Science of Self-Healing: https://www.mollydonlan.com/reikiwait 🛍️Shop our merch here: https://demystifymagic.com/collections/merch 🔮 Download the FREE Manifest with Reiki Ritual: https://www.mollydonlan.com/manifestwithreiki 🕯Shop spell candles and oils at Spellcrafter https://shopspellcrafter.com 🔮 Shop magical tools to enhance your practice, use code MAGIC to get 20% off your order: https://thehealinghedgewitch.com/ 🎬 Molly’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@m0dizzl3
Do you actually need to protect your home like it’s magical Fort Knox? Probably not. We’re kicking off our protection magic series by talking about all the ways we protect our homes without making it a whole scary thing. We get into plant wards, crystals, spell jars, salt, herbs, energetic boundaries, and some very simple ways to make your space feel protected. We also dive into how to know when your home protection needs a refresh, why protection magic doesn’t need to come from fear, and why sometimes the best protection magic is just… better boundaries. Plus, naturally, there are men hiding in bushes, chaotic cats, smoke cleansing at Pilates, and a surprising amount of Planned Parenthood merch. You know, normal protection magic stuff. Join us over on our Patreon for bonus content, magical downloads, bonus episodes and unhinged side quests: https://www.patreon.com/demystifymagic 📖 Order Molly’s book Mundane Magic A Lazy Witch's Guide to Hacking Your Brain, Building a Daily Practice, and Getting Stuff Done 🔮 Join the waitlist for Reiki 1: The Science of Self-Healing: https://www.mollydonlan.com/reikiwait 🛍️Shop our merch here: https://demystifymagic.com/collections/merch 🔮 Download the FREE Manifest with Reiki Ritual: https://www.mollydonlan.com/manifestwithreiki 🕯Shop spell candles and oils at Spellcrafter https://shopspellcrafter.com 🔮 Shop magical tools to enhance your practice, use code MAGIC to get 20% off your order: https://thehealinghedgewitch.com/ 🎬 Molly’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@m0dizzl3
What happens when you hand us your witchiest questions and give us a microphone? Apparently, we start talking about hexes, dating as a witch, and which gods we think we could take in a fight. In this Q&A episode, we’re chatting about our favorite spooky season magical practices, ancestor altars, and the types of magic we simply are not interested in. We get into hexes vs. curses, baneful magic, and how to introduce your witchy side to a new partner without making it A Whole Thing. We’re also answering the truly important questions, like which deities we’d fight, whether Molly or Madison would win against each other, and the dumbest things we’ve ever asked our tarot cards. Grab your coffee, tea, or emotional support tarot deck and settle in… things get weird. Come and see Molly in Walk Among the Shadows in Portland, Maine: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/walk-among-the-shadows-2026-burial-ground-blues-tickets-2000901701853?aff=oddtdtcreator Join us over on our Patreon for bonus content, magical downloads, bonus episodes and unhinged side quests: https://www.patreon.com/demystifymagic 📖 Order Molly’s book Mundane Magic A Lazy Witch's Guide to Hacking Your Brain, Building a Daily Practice, and Getting Stuff Done 🔮 Join the waitlist for Reiki 1: The Science of Self-Healing: https://www.mollydonlan.com/reikiwait 🛍️Shop our merch here: https://demystifymagic.com/collections/merch 🔮 Download the FREE Manifest with Reiki Ritual: https://www.mollydonlan.com/manifestwithreiki 🕯Shop spell candles and oils at Spellcrafter https://shopspellcrafter.com 🔮 Shop magical tools to enhance your practice, use code MAGIC to get 20% off your order: https://thehealinghedgewitch.com/ 🎬 Molly’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@m0dizzl3
You asked for it, and we’re finally going there… Moldavite! In the first instalment of Demysties Share, we’re sharing our personal experiences with one of the internet’s most talked-about stones and reacting to your wild Moldavite stories. We chat about what Moldavite actually is, its spiritual meaning, and why it became such a huge (and often fearmongered) topic on WitchTok. Molly also opens up about her Moldavite video that went viral with over 25 million views, how it changed the trajectory of her life, and the complicated reality of experiencing that level of visibility overnight. From relationships ending and careers changing to the downright unhinged stories the internet has blamed on Moldavite, we’re separating the stone from the fear and asking ‘Does Moldavite really destroy your life, or does it simply make it harder to ignore what needs to change?’ Check out the infamous Moldavite TikTok from Molly here: https://www.tiktok.com/@m0dizzl3/video/6933371736842833158 P.S. please don’t DM us about Moldavite and its uses or intentions as it will not be answered! Please and thank you, love y’all. Join us over on our Patreon for bonus content based around this series, magical downloads, bonus episodes and unhinged side quests: https://www.patreon.com/demystifymagic 📖 Order Molly’s book Mundane Magic A Lazy Witch's Guide to Hacking Your Brain, Building a Daily Practice, and Getting Stuff Done 🔮 Join the waitlist for Reiki 1: The Science of Self-Healing: https://www.mollydonlan.com/reikiwait 🛍️Shop our merch here: https://demystifymagic.com/collections/merch 🔮 Download the FREE Manifest with Reiki Ritual: https://www.mollydonlan.com/manifestwithreiki 🕯Shop spell candles and oils at Spellcrafter https://shopspellcrafter.com 🔮 Shop magical tools to enhance your practice, use code MAGIC to get 20% off your order: https://thehealinghedgewitch.com/ 🎬 Molly’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@m0dizzl3
You’ve heard us talk about butt sugar. You may have wondered what on earth we were talking about. Well, the time has finally come. After our original episode mysteriously disappeared, we’re bringing one of our most talked-about and beloved Patreon bonus episodes to the main feed. Madison shares the truly chaotic story of Percy’s neutering, an unexpected emergency vet visit, a lot of lube, and the moment a vet pulled out a bag labelled “butt sugar.” And somehow, that isn’t even the most unhinged part of the story. From an unfortunate photo being sent to the completely wrong person to trying to write a book while managing Percy’s recovery, this episode is pure chaos from start to finish. This is definitely not our usual Demystify Magic episode, but there’s a reason our Patreon members still talk about it. Enjoy the journey into butt sugar. Join us over on our Patreon for bonus content based around this series, magical downloads, bonus episodes and unhinged side quests: https://www.patreon.com/demystifymagic 📖 Order Molly’s book Mundane Magic A Lazy Witch's Guide to Hacking Your Brain, Building a Daily Practice, and Getting Stuff Done 🔮 Join the waitlist for Reiki 1: The Science of Self-Healing: https://www.mollydonlan.com/reikiwait 🛍️Shop our merch here: https://demystifymagic.com/collections/merch 🔮 Download the FREE Manifest with Reiki Ritual: https://www.mollydonlan.com/manifestwithreiki 🕯Shop spell candles and oils at Spellcrafter https://shopspellcrafter.com 🔮 Shop magical tools to enhance your practice, use code MAGIC to get 20% off your order: https://thehealinghedgewitch.com/ 🎬 Molly’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@m0dizzl3