BTW 48: Circe, Goddess of Witches? with guest Nick Dickinson

Circe is the first witch mentioned in the literature of the classical world. Daughter of the Sun, and the ocean nymph Perse, Circe is the Lady of the Beasts, wielder of wands, knower of plants, both poisonous and medicinal, and is queer AF.  She's a goddess of secrets and necromancy (she can communicate with the dead). Her familiar is the hawk, so if you see one, recognize that Circe might be present. 

In this episode we discuss the beautiful demi-goddess Circe in all her glory with one of her priests, Nick Dickinson. He tells us how to invoke her, and why Circe is a goddess all witches need to know. He also shares his methods for lifting the evil eye, and breaking curses from his family lineage of Greek Folk Magic. Do you know how the evil eye gets transmitted? You might have done it yourself by accident. Find out what it is and how to lift it by tuning in!

We are absolutely in love with Circe, her wisdom, her wileyness, her complexity, her mastery. We seriously could have talked with Nick for YEARS! We're so excited to share this episode with you, dear listeners. You're going to love it! 

A bit more about our guest... Nick Dickinson is Headmistress of Circe Academy through The Cauldron Black in Salem MA, and a professional witch and witchcraft educator with over 35 years of experience working with clients and students in both public and private settings. Ordained and initiated in a variety of tantric yoga traditions (Mahayana Buddhism), and a teacher of yoga teachers and psychics, his classes and workshops are influenced by the intersection of classical yoga theory and modern witchcraft practice. Operating through a multidimensional animist lens with a focus on Greek folklore, Nick’s content welcomes all traditions at all levels and can be approached in a purely secular way.  

NOTE: Don't forget to pre-order the new Taschen book, Witchcraft...

...we mention in the episode edited by Pam Grossman and Jess Hundley. A spellbinding journey through the global history of witchcraft, the third volume in The Library of Esoterica follows this magickal tradition from its ancient roots to its modern incarnations. Through more than 400 artworks, and revelatory essays and interviews with modern practitioners. Amanda's got an essay in it about witches of mythology, and it features many other beloved friends of Between the Worlds, such as Gaby Herstik and Edgar Fabian Frias. You won't want to miss it! Click here to find out more.

References in this episode include:

• The Odyssey, by Homer
• Circe, by Madeline Miller
• The Book of Oberon, by Harms, Clark and Peterson
• Transformations of Circe, by Judith Yarnall
• Drawing Down the Moon: Magic in the Ancient Greco Roman World, by Radcliffe G Edmonds III
   

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Learn More About Our  Guest Nick Dickinson

Nick Dickinson is Headmistress of Circe Academy through The Cauldron Black in Salem MA, and a professional witch and witchcraft educator with over 35 years of experience working with clients and students in both public and private settings. Ordained and initiated in a variety of tantric yoga traditions (Mahayana Buddhism), and a teacher of yoga teachers and psychics, his classes and workshops are influenced by the intersection of classical yoga theory and modern witchcraft practice. Operating through a multidimensional animist lens with a focus on Greek folklore, Nick’s content welcomes all traditions at all levels and can be approached in a purely secular way. 

Join his class, at the Cauldron Black: Circe Academy

Lift your curses for a dollar a month by joining his Patreon: Hedgecraft Ritual Arts

Nick is also presenting at Salem Witchcraft and Folklore festival again this year: find out more about the festival here.

Follow him on Instagram: @UrbanWizard

Follow him on Facebook: Nick Dickinson

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CURRENT WORKSHOPS 

TEMPERANCE: Potions, Offerings, & Rituals of Transformation :  In this workshop you will learn to use ordinary substances to make big magic in your everyday life. Cooking magic, cleaning magic, love magic, and more. You'll learn how to whip up a spell using the things you have in your kitchen, create offerings for your ancestors, and a clearing bath that will restore your soul. Click here to find out more. 

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Learn More About Your Host Amanda Yates Garcia

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Original MUSIC by Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs

Check out Mind Your Practice - Carolyn's new podcast with arts consultant and author of Make Your Art No Matter What, Beth Pickens.

Mind Your Practice is geared towards artists and writers looking for strategies and support to build their projects and practices (plus loving pep talks). There’s even a club - “Homework Club” - which offers creative people a framework for keeping their projects and practices a priority with *actual homework* and optional accountability groups made up of other artists and writers!

You can visit MindYourPractice.com for more details or listen wherever you stream Between the Worlds.

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Get in touch with sponsorship inquiries for Between the Worlds at [email protected].

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CONTRIBUTORS:

Amanda Yates Garcia (host) & Carolyn Pennypacker Riggs (producer, composer). The BTW logo collage was created by Maria Minnis (tinyparsnip.com / instagram.com/tinyparsnip ) with text designed by Leah Hayes.