The White Witch Podcast

Please note this is part 2 of Carla's interview. Today I am joined by Carla from our coven to talk about death, grief, poisonous plants, her craft and a whole lot more in this episode! This is part one as the interview was so long my software couldn't cope with the duration so I have released as a two parter. Carla Valentine is a qualified Senior Mortuary Technician, and is currently the human remains conservator at Barts Pathology Museum in London. Her career caring for the dead has spanned over 20 years. She is a writer and broadcaster, featuring on TV shows such as The Bone Detectives, Fatberg Autopsy and Ancient Unexplained Files, and has a podcast called Mortem on BBC Sounds. Her first book, Past Mortems, documents her career carrying out autopsies for a decade, and the follow up, The Language of Bones - out October 1st 2026 - is a deeper exploration of death practices and the human condition. She also penned Murder Isn't Easy: The Forensics of Agatha Christie, and her next book, Planted Evidence - all about gardens, graves and poisonous plants - will be published in 2028. Carla's career informs her craft and she incorporates death meditation (mortality salience) into her practice as well as the use of body fluids and bones. She runs a small goth gardening business called Morticulture and is obsessed with the dark side of horticulture and its history. You can find Carla here - Website: www.carlavalentine.co.uk Insta (human remains/work): @past_mortems Insta (personal): @carlavalentineuk Insta (Morticulture): @morticult Tik Tok: @carlavalentineuk Our book review is Collected Curiosities - More Stories and Recipes from the Historical Apothecary Cabinet by Amanda Edmiston.

This episode has been one of my favourites to research and was something I discovered last month whilst working on the Angels theme within my Patreon, The Hedge & Hollow. In this episode I explore The Book of Raziel where language, timing, planets, angels and intention were understood as part of a single living system. We look at the idea of words as vibration, sacred names and why the Hebrew letters were treated as energetic forces rather than symbols. I talk about how this tradition connects to the 72 Names of God, spell timing, planetary days and the correspondences modern witches still work with, often without realising how old these systems truly are (I know I had no idea!). We also touch on the lineage that flows from Raziel through Adam, Enoch, Noah and Solomon and how this current eventually shaped medieval grimoires, Renaissance magic and later systems like the Golden Dawn. There are so many future episodes to come off the back of this topic following the thread of King Solomon, The Rosicrucians, The Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley and Boleskine Lodge.

On today’s episode I am joined by Brianna — known online as The Grey Witch — a Romany witch whose craft is rooted deeply in old-world folk magic, land-based practice, and ancestral tradition. Brianna is one of the most authentic witches I have ever had the honour of speaking with. Her connection to the land is fierce and lifelong, and she approaches every aspect of her craft with honesty, integrity and devotion. She does not shy away from difficult conversations, and her willingness to share even a glimpse into her lineage feels incredibly sacred. We begin by exploring how Brianna was taught witchcraft through her family line, including traditional fortune-telling methods passed down through generations. She speaks about crystal ball reading, divination with playing cards, and the ways her ancestors taught her to see, sense and interpret signs. Brianna also shares stories of how she has supported her community — helping farmers with their crops, performing spellwork for those seeking guidance, and calling upon her spiritual court, including a powerful spirit known as The Rider, who she describes in depth. One of my favourite parts of this conversation was hearing how she works with the sickle as a magical tool, both symbolically and practically. We also explore Brianna’s use of animal remains within her craft — a topic she approaches with complete reverence. She works only with animals already sacrificed for food, honouring every part of their body in accordance with ancestral custom. Nothing is taken lightly. Nothing is wasted. Her approach reflects a form of witchcraft that is deeply rooted in reciprocity and respect, far removed from modern farming systems and very aligned with how our ancestors lived in relationship with the land. Another fascinating thread in this episode is how Brianna weaves her Catholic faith through her folk magic. She speaks about saints, spirits and symbols with the same natural ease that many witches speak about herbs or lunar phases. Her practice mirrors the syncretic paths of many folk practitioners throughout history — blending spiritual frameworks with land magic, lineage and personal devotion. Romany witchcraft is a deeply closed and protected practice, and I am profoundly grateful that Brianna chose to share what she could with us. Her openness, wisdom and trust make this a rare and incredibly special conversation. If you would like to explore her work further, please do check out her website and social platforms. She also has a folk magic course coming in 2026 for those who feel called to learn from her. Find Brianna here - https://www.thegreywitch.co.uk/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thee_grey_witch/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thegreywitch_official

Ivy, Winter Witchcraft & The Discipline Spell In this month’s November Witchcraft episode, we wander into the winding, enchanted world of ivy — a plant steeped in folklore, protection magic, and ancient symbolism. We explore its historical associations, its role as a guardian of thresholds and the many ways witches can weave ivy into their craft with intention and safety. From there, we move into the heart of herbal magic, looking at how to use herb blends in spellwork, ritual, energy cleansing, and winter-focused practices. Next we descend into the witch’s winter arc, exploring why the darker months naturally call us into commitment, devotion and inner alchemy. We discuss the role of discipline as a spell, and how neuroplasticity supports your magical practice. We take a closer look at the anterior mid-cingulate cortex — a brain region connected to motivation, persistence, emotional regulation and the ability to choose discomfort for long-term transformation — revealing how science supports what witches have always known - Winter is for recalibration, rewiring, and rising. We finish the episode with a Ritual for Sacred Discipline, crafted to help you anchor devotion, strengthen your energetic sovereignty, and align your daily life with the witch you are becoming.

Gather by the fire, witches — in this hauntingly cosy episode me and Misty of Spiritual Routes podcast share chilling encounters and listener tales from beyond the veil. Are you ready? Then we shall begin......