About this episode
In episode 145 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby & Kate Belew finish their series inspired by the wyrd and wonderful. In Wyrd Women Pt. 3, they meet an old woman named Baubo. Baubo is a goddess of belly laughs, and in the myth of Persephone and Demeter, she is the unassuming problem solver. While Demeter mourns, Baubo dances in the face of grief, showing us that laughter is a spell that heals the heart. Next, they meet wyrd woman Simona Kossak, an activist and lover of more than human creatures who fought to protect Poland’s oldest forests and was sometimes called Witch. Sources & Shoutouts: Wild Medicine: An Illustrated Guide to the Magic of Herbs, Bundy & Belew Episode 6: Persephone & Pluto Episode 80: Psychedelic Witchcraft Episode 130: Patron Saints of Spring Storytime: Hades & Persephone Goddess Series: Persephone Encyclopedia of Spirits, Judika Illes Hagitude: Reimagining the Second Half of Life, Sharon Blackie Baubo votives “ Baubo: Laughter in the Face of Grief,” Deanna Riddick The Health Benefits of Humor Iambe and Baubo: A Study in Ritual Laughter, Olga Arans, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1988. Women Who Run With the Wolves, Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes “The Extraordinary Life of Simona Kossak,” Janusz R. Kowalczyk Białowieża Forest, UNESCO World Heritage Convention “Galloping Ghosts,” Diane Ackerman Join Tenth House Rising! Tenth House Rising offers seasonal learning for those who seek meaning through myth, magick, and memory. Rooted in the rhythm of the seasons and inspired by the Wheel of the Year, each month brings a new theme that echoes the energies of the natural world. Learn more at TenthHouseRising.com . For those who desire magick in the mail, you can also subscribe to the Tamed Wild Box, a monthly delivery of magic & earth medicine. Each box is crafted around a season and includes items for the earth-spirited and the lovers of all things mystical and natural. Deliveries can include crystals, herbs & teas, ritual tools, altar items, jewelry, essential oils & other lifestyle pieces. The Tamed Wild Box is a monthly offering of 5-7 items, chosen for the month and season we are in. Each delivery includes a box card that explains your items and a little ritual you can do with your new tools. You will also receive access to a monthly moon gathering, exclusive to box subscribers! Created by Tamed Wild. Production by Julio Montero. Music by Follow the Wind, Taizo Audio