Back on the Broomstick: Old Witchcraft, New Path

1d ago

The witches gather at the darkest point of the year to celebrate Yule and the return of the light. In this festive episode, Laylla and Chelle share some of their favorite Yule spells and crafts. Traditions from years past, practices for the present moment, and intentions for winters yet to come. From simple candle magic to honor the longest night to crafting seasonal altar pieces that welcome the sun's rebirth, they explore the many ways witches can work with the energy of the winter solstice. The conversation weaves together the practical and the magical, offering ideas for practitioners at every level. The witches also share tarot spreads designed specifically for this liminal time; one for the winter solstice itself and another for the full Yule season. These spreads help us reflect on what we're releasing with the old year, what seeds we're planting in the dark, and what we're calling forth as the light begins its slow return. Whether you're a seasoned Yule celebrant or new to marking the sabbat, this episode is full of inspiration, warmth, and the quiet magic of midwinter. Pour yourself something warm, light a candle, and join the witches by the fire. Got a question? Send the witches a message here! Support the show Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review? We have a mailing address! Back on the Broomstick PO Box 106 Salem MA 01970 Email: backonthebroomstick@gmail.com Youtube Facebook Instagram Back on the Broomstick Website

Dec 13

As the longest night of the year approaches, the witches settle fully into Yule mode with candles lit, trees decorated, and a little seasonal weirdness happily creeping back in. This cozy Solarium episode finds Laylla and Chelle talking Yule preparations, winter self care, and stories of classic Yule cryptids like the Yule Cat, Mari Lwyd, and the ever-watchful Nisse, because of course they do. In the spirit of Yule time giving, Chelle managed to set aside her natural magpie nature to channel Jolly Saint Nick and surprise Laylla with a bag overflowing with gifts sent in by their generous listeners. The witches open mail, read heartfelt letters, and revel in the books, teas, body butters, and beautifully thoughtful surprises that have arrived lately. It’s a warm, laughter-filled episode full of gratitude, gentle spookiness, and winter magic. Pour yourself something comforting, get cozy, and join the witches as they honor the turning of the wheel, the generosity of their community, and the strange and wonderful magic that lives in the darkest nights of the year. voyagerlocale - artist Nature Recycled art The Knarly Knot - Handcrafted Wooden Mugs and More Mystical Blossoms Gift Shop & Tea Bar Dharma Kelleher Witches of Wiccanburg Series Got a question? Send the witches a message here! Support the show Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review? We have a mailing address! Back on the Broomstick PO Box 106 Salem MA 01970 Email: backonthebroomstick@gmail.com Youtube Facebook Instagram Back on the Broomstick Website

Dec 5

In the fifth installment of their seven-part Deity Series, the witches turn toward the Goddess in her season of fullness: the Mother, the Maker, the Manifestor, the one who turns raw possibility into living, breathing reality. She is the bright fullness of the moon, the heat of summer, the hum of productivity, and the heartbeat that keeps community alive. Laylla and Chelle explore the Mother not only as the ancient figure of fertility but as a far more expansive and dynamic archetype for today's witches. This episode looks at the Mother as a creator and nurturer. A maker of art, careers, kinship, knowledge, and paths; as the one who carries the Maiden’s vision forward with commitment and devotion; and as the archetype who teaches us how to choose, shape, and sustain the lives we are building. They also examine the deeper historical roots of the Mother Goddess, from the earliest Venus figurines and Paleolithic mother symbols to the great goddesses of world mythology. The witches unpack how these ancient themes influence modern witchcraft and how the Mother archetype has evolved far beyond biological motherhood into a symbol of agency, of creation, and of strength. Whether you are raising children, raising a garden, raising a business, or raising yourself through another chapter of becoming, this episode offers tools, myth, and magical perspective for awakening the Mother within. So brew something comforting, settle in, and join us as we explore the sacred, complex, profoundly human power of the Mother as Maker. Modern Heathen Celebration of Sunwait Got a question? Send the witches a message here! Support the show Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review? We have a mailing address! Back on the Broomstick PO Box 106 Salem MA 01970 Email: backonthebroomstick@gmail.com Youtube Facebook Instagram Back on the Broomstick Website

Nov 28

The Triple Goddess Called; She Wants to Update Her Resume The witches continue their series on Divinity in modern witchcraft with the first episode on the triple aspect of Goddess. They begin by discussing one of the most well-known frameworks in modern paganism: Maiden, Mother, Crone. They trace where this concept may have come from, how it became rooted in contemporary witchcraft, and why it still holds power for so many people. But they also look honestly at its limitations. In this episode focusing especially on the Maiden aspect, Laylla and Chelle talk about how titles once meant to empower now feel too narrow, too tied to childbearing, and too limited in their vision of womanhood, personhood, and divinity. They explore what it means to honor a Goddess who contains multitudes, and how we might reimagine these archetypes in ways that reflect lived experience, adult autonomy, creativity, sexuality, and identity beyond gender, fertility, or age. It’s a conversation about myth, culture, and the shifting language of the sacred; and an invitation to rethink the Goddess not as a three-part story, but as a vast and evolving presence that grows with us. 2025's Yule Winter Solstice Card Exchange is live! Send us a Holiday card and we'll send you one back! Back on the Broomstick PO Box 106 Salem MA 01970 Got a question? Send the witches a message here! Support the show Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review? We have a mailing address! Back on the Broomstick PO Box 106 Salem MA 01970 Email: backonthebroomstick@gmail.com Youtube Facebook Instagram Back on the Broomstick Website

Nov 21

In this episode the witches sit down with author, teacher, and astrologer Ivo Dominguez Jr. to talk about the re-release of his book Spirit Speak: A Comprehensive Guide to Connect Beyond the Veil . They explore how the book helps witches build clearer relationships with their guides and allies, and what’s changed since he first wrote it. The conversation with Ivo covers a variety of witchy topics. How do daffodil bulbs help explain reincarnation and the oversoul? What do plants have to do with portals and realm walking? And just how many nerdy references can Ivo and Laylla fit into one episode? Naturally, with Ivo in the room, at some point they're going to talk astrology. Together, they unpack the current Mercury retrograde, what this one is stirring up collectively and magically, and some very big astrological events lining up for early 2026. From shifts in collective communication to the energetic themes that may shape the coming year, the discussion makes major astrological shifts understandable. It’s thoughtful, grounded, and full of that signature blend of witchcraft, wisdom, and curiosity; a perfect episode for anyone looking to refine their spirit communication and understand the cosmic weather ahead. Ivo Dominguez jr Website Got a question? Send the witches a message here! Support the show Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review? We have a mailing address! Back on the Broomstick PO Box 106 Salem MA 01970 Email: backonthebroomstick@gmail.com Youtube Facebook Instagram Back on the Broomstick Website

Nov 14

In the third installment of our seven-part series on the Aspects of Deity, Laylla and Chelle meet the God as the Sage, the Elder, the Lord of Shadows. This is the God after the battle, after the passion, when the fields have been harvested and the world begins to rest. He is the Holly King, the wise face of the Horned God, the keeper of memory and mystery. In him lives the balance between power and surrender, action and reflection, life and death. The witches discuss His folklore and myth, how to know when the God is reaching out to you, and how to start working with a God. So light your candle against the long night, pour a cup of something your grandpa would appreciate, and join Laylla and Chelle as they follow the God into the deep woods of winter, where silence becomes a teacher and the old gods whisper in the dark. We have an Etsy Shop! Got a question? Send the witches a message here! Support the show Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review? We have a mailing address! Back on the Broomstick PO Box 106 Salem MA 01970 Email: backonthebroomstick@gmail.com Youtube Facebook Instagram Back on the Broomstick Website

Nov 7

In the second installment of our seven-part series on the Aspects of Deity, the witches turn their attention to the God in his middle face: the Oak King, the Father, the Warrior, and the beating heart of the Sun at its height. This is the God in his full maturity; strong-backed, green-crowned, and alive with the fierce joy of summer. Laylla and Chelle unpack where this Father/Warrior archetype comes from in modern witchcraft, tracing the Oak King’s tangled roots through folklore, Wicca, the Horned God mythos, and the ever-evolving Wheel of the Year. From the midsummer battle with the Holly King, to his role as the wild consort of the Goddess, to his deep connection with the turning of the seasons, the witches explore how this bright, solar force shows up in myth and in lived witchcraft today. They also dig into the bigger question: what does sacred masculinity look like for witches who grew up with Christian Father-God baggage or pop culture’s devil-horn stereotypes? The Oak King reminds us that strength can be tender, that passion can be holy, and that the body, sweating, laughing, loving, and alive is a temple all its own. He’s the god of green forests and hot sun, the Witch-Father who guards the boundaries of the land and teaches us to walk them with courage. Join us for stories, lore, laughter, and a whole lot of leafy green energy as we meet the God in his middle face,; the Oak King in all his vibrant, responsible, moss-scented glory. Got a question? Send the witches a message here! Support the show Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review? We have a mailing address! Back on the Broomstick PO Box 106 Salem MA 01970 Email: backonthebroomstick@gmail.com Youtube Facebook Instagram Back on the Broomstick Website

Oct 31

In this first episode of a brand-new seven-part series, Laylla and Chelle begin their exploration of the Aspects of Deity. Their discussion explores the living faces of the God and Goddess as seen through the Witch’s Wheel of the Year. This week, they turn their gaze toward the radiant Young God, the vibrant spark of life, desire, and potential who dances at the dawn of creation. Where did the idea of the Triple God come from? The Youth, the Father-Warrior, and the Sage? And how did this modern mythos take shape alongside the more familiar Triple Goddess? Join the witches as they trace the roots of this divine evolution, from the early works of Margaret Murray and Robert Graves to the writings of Janet and Stewart Farrar, and into the living, breathing practices of witches today. The Young God is the sunrise in human form. He is playful Pan, inspired Lugh, shining Baldr, the divine son whose growth mirrors our own cycles of becoming. Laylla and Chelle share their thoughts on what it means to work with this energy in the modern Craft: how witches can honor renewal, passion, and the power of beginning again; whether that means lighting your first candle of spring or stepping back into your own becoming after a long winter of the soul. So pour a cup of something bright, light your favorite incense, and settle in as we begin this journey through the sacred faces of the divine. The Young God walks among us. Will you answer his call? Got a question? Send the witches a message here! Support the show Want to send us a letter? Witchy things to review? We have a mailing address! Back on the Broomstick PO Box 106 Salem MA 01970 Email: backonthebroomstick@gmail.com Youtube Facebook Instagram Back on the Broomstick Website