What happens when a wealthy widow tries to outbuild her ghosts? In this case, a confusing labyrinth of staircases to nowhere, doors that open into walls, and windows that overlook nothing. Back from hiatus, Clara and Sabrina wander the endless halls of the Winchester Mystery House, uncovering how Sarah Winchester turned her fortune (and maybe her fears) into one of the strangest architectural enigmas in history. Was she haunted by the spirits of those killed by her family’s rifles, or simply a passionate architect? Grab a map and stay close as we take you through the winding maze of madness, mourning, and meticulous design!

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram

Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES

Winchester Mystery House - Timeline

Winchester Mystery House - History

US Ghost Adventures - Why the Winchester House Is Haunted

SFGATE - Everything you think you know about the Winchester Mystery House probably isn't true

Paulette Kennedy - THE ONE ABOUT SARAH WINCHESTER

Beck Technology - Rebels of Construction—Sarah Winchester and Her Mysterious House

Winchester Mystery House - The Untold Story of Isabel Merriman: Sarah Winchester's Spirited Sister

Wikipedia - Sarah Winchester

Wikipedia - Winchester Mystery House

CPI Inflation Calculator

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would happen if a giant tank of molasses exploded in the middle of Boston? Unfortunately, that is not a hypothetical question, because over 100 years ago, one did. In January 1919, a massive storage tank burst, unleashing an unfathomable wave of deadly syrup that tore through the streets faster than anyone could run. But even after the molasses settled, the chaos was far from over. Grab your favourite molasses catching mug and some waders and join us to hear about the stickiest year Beantown ever had!

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram

Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES

History.com - Why the Great Molasses Flood Was So Deadly

City of Boston - 100 years ago today: Molasses crashes through Boston's North End

Scientific American - The Science of the Great Molasses Flood

USN History - A Sticky Situation: The Navy and the Great Molasses Flood

Wikipedia - Great Molasses Flood

The Guardian - The Great Boston Molasses Flood: why the strange disaster matters today

Boston Public Library - Molasses Disaster, Boston, Mass., 1919

Britannica - How Fast Is the World’s Fastest Human?

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Brief Bewitchments, we’re lighting a candle for the original lesbian icon and lyrical enchantress herself, Sappho of Lesbos! As one of the most prolific poets of Ancient Greece, her words are still widely known today, and Sabrina will dive into the sacred and spell-worthy power of her poetry. Her passionate words can be used in modern witchcraft, and have become a part of queer magic for many who practice. So whether you’re manifesting desires, setting intentions, or trying to increase your sapphic longing, Sabrina will explain how Sappho has got you covered!

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram

Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Long before Freaky Friday made body swaps an onscreen trope, a small-town teen in the 1870s started the trend. This episode, we’re covering the Watseka Wonder, a very odd case that has us asking: did this 13 year old girl actually get possessed…or was she just really committed to the bit? In 1870s Illinois, Lurancy Vennum started having seizures, slipping into trances, and claiming she was Mary Roff, a girl who had died 12 years earlier. Mary’s family were all too happy to take her in and treat her as their daughter, but was it too good to be true? Or had a spirit really slipped through the veil and traded places with Lurancy? Hop on our wagon to Watseka, and travel with us to this unique occurrence that gives Victorian Spiritualism a new perspective!

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram

Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES:

THE CASE OF LURANCY VENNUM - A PSYCHOLOGICAL STUDY, AND AUTHENTICATED INSTANCE OF SPIRIT MANIFESTATION. BY E. W. STEVENS

Ancestry.com - Mary Lurancy Vennum

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever feel like speaking your truth, setting boundaries, or showing your magic might get you metaphorically (or emotionally) burned at the stake? You might be feeling the effects of the Witch Wound, but don’t worry, Sabrina’s here to explain. In this episode, we dive into the ancestral, cultural, and collective trauma passed down from centuries of witch hunts, silencing, and spiritual repression. From the fear of being “too much” to the hesitation to take up space, this wound runs deep, but it doesn’t have to define you. Sabrina walks us through the roots of this wound, how it still shows up today, and how we can start to heal it through reclaiming our power, reconnecting with magic, and refusing to stay small. It’s time to stir the cauldron, break the spell, and put on your high-beams!

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram

Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Double, double toil and… total disaster? In this drama-packed episode, we’re diving into the legendary curse of Macbeth…I mean, The Scottish Play. We’ll explore some of the most infamous examples of the curse in action, from alleged fatalities to production disasters. And while we’re talking theatre history, we’ll pull back the curtain on other thespian superstitions. Like why whistling backstage might seriously injure you, and why an actor definitely will not thank you for wishing them “good luck”. Grab your ruffs and join us on stage for a behind-the-scenes look at the haunted, hexed, and hilariously dramatic world of theatre lore.

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram

Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

***CORRECTION: Daemonologie is a series of 3 books and a news pamphlet in one volume, and was published by King James VI of Scotland, who later became King James I of England and Ireland. Wikipedia - Daemonologie

DEEPDIVE:

CBR - How Superman Secretly Wrote Shakespeare’s Macbeth

SOURCES:

The Austin Chronicle - Macbeth's Myriad of Misfortunes

Penguin Random House - The curse of Macbeth: is it more than superstition?

Wikipedia - The Scottish Play

PA Shakespeare - The Curse of Macbeth: “The Scottish Play”

Broadway Direct - 13 Theater Superstitions

Litcharts - Macbeth Translation - Act 4, Scene 1

Ernestthesiger.org - “Macbeth”

Stratford Festival - THE MACBETH CURSE

Royal Shakespeare Company - The Curse of the Scottish Play

Independent - Did Chris Rock suffer the curse of the Scottish Play? ‘Macbeth’ theory gains traction on Twitter

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Say hello to your Big 3: your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs. In this episode, Sabrina breaks down the astrological basics and gets real about what each of the Big 3 actually means. Whether you're a loud Leo Moon with a Scorpio Rising or a triple threat, Sabrina’s here to help you decode your chart without the cosmic confusion. And now, when your tinder date asks you for your time of birth, you’ll know what they’re really trying to figure out!

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram

Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What could be spookier than a lighthouse on a remote Scottish island in 1900? How about the unexplained disappearance of 3 Lightkeepers from that very setting…Join us this episode as we shine a big ol’ beam on the baffling mystery of the men that vanished without a trace. Was it a wave? Madness? Aliens? Sea ghosts? (Hey, we’re not ruling anything out.) We’re diving into the facts, the theories, and folklore that surround Eilean Mòr. So light a candle, don your oilskins, and get ready to keep the lamp alight on this maritime mystery!

See photos discussed in this episode on our instagram

Follow us on tiktok for videos that cover a condensed version of each topic!

SOURCES:

History Hit - Flannan Isle Mystery: When Three Lighthouse Keepers Vanished Forever

National Records of Scotland - Flannan Isles Lighthouse Keepers: The disappearance

The Flannan Isle Mystery - the mysterious disappearance of the Eilean Mor Lighthouse Keepers

Wikipedia - Flannan Isles

Northern Lighthouse Board - Flannan Isles

All That's Interesting - Inside The Chilling Flannan Isle Mystery Of The Three Lighthouse Keepers Who Suddenly Vanished In 1900

All Poetry - Flannan Isle

Wikipedia - Rogue Wave

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.