Show Notes
As October fades and the air turns sharp with smoke and spice, we arrive at Samhain — the Celtic new year and the sacred night when the veil between worlds grows thin. In this episode, we journey into the origins of Samhain: the final harvest, the fire festivals atop Tlachtga and Tara, and the ancient customs that inspired our modern Halloween. You’ll hear tales of the fae and the restless dead, learn the meanings behind apple divination and dumb suppers, and explore the powerful magic that stirs when the world stands between endings and beginnings. I also include a brief section on Dia de los Muertos. We’ll close with a Living the Spell segment featuring a protective hag stone charm and the traditional soul cake recipe — a sweet offering for the ancestors who still walk beside us. May this episode guide you through the shadows with reverence, remembrance, and renewal. Support Witch Beneath the Willow by following the show or leaving a tip through my Ko-fi link — every candle lit and cup of tea shared helps the magic continue.
For the article referenced on Dia de los Muertos, go here
Shadow work prompts: 1. What part of myself am I still clinging to that is ready to diewith the old year? Samhain marks the turning of the wheel — the death before rebirth. Reflect on what habits, fears, or stories no longer serve you. What would it mean to lay them to rest beneath autumn’s fallen leaves? 2. Whose voice echoes within me when I am afraid of my own power? Consider the influences — past relationships, family beliefs, cultural conditioning — that have shaped your perception of your strength and intuition. Which voices are truly yours, and which can be released to the dark? 3. What wisdom have my own shadows tried to teach me? The things we hide often hold the keys to our greatest growth. Look gently into the places you avoid. What lessons are waiting there, quietly asking to be seen and integrated?
More from Witch Beneath the Willow
On this episode, we're continuing our journey through the Celtic Tree Calendar with Ivy, the evergreen plant associated with September 30th through October 27th. We'll explore ivy's fascinating mythology and folklore, from its connection to Dionysus and ancient Greek celebrations to its role in household protection, fairy lore, and traditional divination. We'll also dive into the Ivy zodiac personality, its herbal history, and its magical correspondences. Then, we'll bring a little ivy magic into our everyday lives with journal prompts, a ritual for connecting with the divine feminine, and a practical exercise in resilience and learning to accept support. Because sometimes strength isn't about holding on tighter. It's about knowing when to adapt, when to let go, and when to let someone else help you grow. Instagram & TikTok: @witchbeneaththewillow Kofi
This week, we're heading into the kitchen to explore kitchen witchery, the art of weaving intention, energy, and everyday magic into the food we prepare. We'll explore the history of hearth magic, the folklore of kitchen witch dolls, and how ordinary ingredients can become tools for protection, healing, love, and prosperity. From magical herb correspondences and stirring intentions into your morning coffee to enchanting your kitchen tools, creating your own kitchen witch's grimoire, and preparing a healing stew, this episode is full of practical ways to bring witchcraft into your daily routine. Whether you're an experienced witch or just beginning your practice, kitchen witchery is a reminder that magic doesn't have to be elaborate or time-consuming. Sometimes it's as simple as making dinner with a little extra intention. Come sit beneath the willow, and let's make a little magic in the kitchen.
In this episode of Signs and Stars, we're exploring the seventh sign of the zodiac, Libra. From its ancient connections to justice and the goddesses Themis and Astraea to its Venus-ruled love of beauty, harmony, and relationships, we're diving into the astrology, mythology, and magic behind the scales. We'll explore Libra personality traits, the strengths and struggles of the zodiac's peacekeeper, and how Libra season encourages us to rethink the balance between caring for ourselves and showing up for the people we love. Plus, we're bringing that energy into our witchcraft with beauty magic, relationship blessings, journaling prompts, and a Ritual of the Scales to help restore balance in our everyday lives. So grab your tea, get comfortable, and come sit beneath the willow. Let's find a little harmony in the beautiful mess of everyday life. Libra Season Journal Prompts Which relationships in my life leave me feeling supported and appreciated, and which ones consistently require more energy than they return? What area of my life currently feels out of balance, and what is one realistic adjustment I can make to restore equilibrium? What patterns have been showing up in my relationships lately, and what might those patterns be telling me about my needs, boundaries, and communication?
What if the strange noises in your house aren’t just the pipes? In this first episode of Fae and Folklore, we’re exploring the centuries-old folklore of house fae and household spirits: the supernatural beings believed to live alongside humans, protect our homes, finish forgotten chores, care for animals and children, and occasionally cause absolute chaos when offended. We’ll meet Scottish brownies and boggarts, the Irish Bean-Tighe and Clurichaun, Welsh Bwbachs, German Kobolds, Scandinavian Nisse, and the Slavic Domovoi. Along the way, we’ll look at where beliefs in domestic spirits may have come from, how a house supposedly acquires one, traditional offerings and taboos, and the strange similarities between household faerie folklore across different cultures. And beneath all of it is one question: were house spirits simply stories created to personify the heart of the home—or was something actually finishing those chores in the middle of the night?
Hecate has always made me a little nervous. As the goddess of witchcraft, crossroads, ghosts, magic, and the spaces between worlds, she’s one of the most powerful and complex figures in Greek mythology — and easily the most requested deity we’ve ever covered in Grimoire of the Gods. This week, we’re exploring Hecate’s ancient origins, her role in the myths of Persephone and Medea, her sacred symbols and correspondences, and how she became so deeply connected with witchcraft, protection, boundaries, divination, death magic, and shadow work. We’ll also talk about what working with Hecate can look like today, from devotional service and lunar magic to protection and banishing, before bringing it all into practice with Hecate-inspired shadow work and a spell for protecting the threshold of your home. And somewhere along the way, I may have gone from being slightly intimidated by Hecate to wondering if maybe I should be working with her after all. Come sit beneath the willow as we meet Hecate — goddess of witchcraft, crossroads, and the dark.