The Placebo Effect Pt 2

Bring me the pumpkins, the apples, the candles and ALLLLL the fall magic … because Mabon has arrived! This week on Witchy Work Wishes, we are celebrating the Autumn Equinox and the second harvest ... but we are doing things a little differently this year. Instead of simply talking about what we are harvesting, we are exploring the magic of the season through three places: The Pause, that beautiful moment when light and dark meet in balance. The Threshold, the mysterious space between where we've been and where we're going. The Turn, when we are finally ready to step forward and follow the season toward darker nights, warmer homes, glowing candles and a little more time turned inward.We will talk about liminal spaces, threshold magic, the history of Mabon, and some simple ways to notice the magic that exists in those in-between places we move through every single day.And, of course, I've got some life updates for you too ... including renovations on my 100-year-old farmhouse, changes happening at my own office, backyard cats, and a certain Bear story that seems to keep getting more interesting!So grab your coffee, your tea, your pumpkin spice latte and your notebooks … and come celebrate Mabon 2026 with me.🎧 And if you're part of our Patreon family, there's an extra Mabon episode waiting for you too, where we take everything from today's episode and actually make some Mabon magic with it! Happy Mabon, witches!CharleneHearth & Hen Witchy Work Wishes Patreon

Does the spell work because we are witches… or does the spell work because our minds believe it will?Last week, Connor and I explored the science behind the placebo effect ... what happens in our brains and bodies when we believe something is going to work. But today… we are bringing that conversation into the witchy world. What happens when we light the candle, stir the potion, speak the intention, pull the card or cast the spell? Is the magic happening around us? Is it happening within us? Or could it somehow be… both?In Part 2 of our Placebo Effect series, we are exploring ritual, intention, expectation and belief and asking what the science of the placebo effect might actually teach us about the way we practice witchcraft. Because understanding why something works doesn't necessarily make it any less magical.We've got this! CharleneWitchyWorkWishes.com Hearth & Hen Patreon

What if believing something will help you can actually change what happens inside your body? And what if believing something will hurt you ... can do the same thing?Today on Witchy Work Wishes, we are stepping just outside of our usual witchy circle for a fascinating (open mic) conversation about the placebo effect, the nocebo effect, and the very real connection between expectation, belief, the brain and the body. And I brought Connor back to help me explore it! With his background in psychology, Connor joins me as we look at what science actually knows about the placebo effect, why it happens, what researchers have discovered, how expectation can influence our experiences, and why some placebos can still work even when people know they're taking one. For this episode, we are doing something important ... we are leaving the witchcraft out of it. At least for now. Part 1 is about understanding the science first. Or some of it at least. Because next week, in Part 2, I'm putting my witch's hat firmly back on and asking a much more interesting question ... If belief, expectation and ritual can create measurable changes in the human experience … where does that leave magic?We are not trying to prove that science explains witchcraft or that witchcraft replaces science. We are getting curious. And around here, curiosity is where some of our very best conversations begin!So grab your coffee, your tea and maybe your notebook, and join Connor and me for Part 1 of The Placebo Effect.We've got this!CharleneHearth & Hen WitchyWorkWishes.com Patreon Family

There are four months left in 2026. And before you say "ONLY four months?" I want you to try something different. Say, "I still have FOUR months." Because that's actually a pretty good amount of time.This week on Witchy Work Wishes, we are pulling those January goals back out and taking a look at where we are now. Some of them may have grown beautifully. Some may have been completely forgotten. Some might not fit the person you are anymore. And somewhere along the way, life probably handed you a few things you never planned for at all. That's okay. Witches don't walk straight lines. We work in circles, seasons, cycles and spirals. We harvest. We prune. We compost. We save seeds. And when something still matters to us, we begin again.In this episode, we are looking at what you've accomplished, what needs to be released and what you still want to complete before we close the book on 2026. We'll even break those remaining months down and talk about how much can still happen between September and December!So grab your coffee, your tea and your notebook and come join me. You are not too late. The year isn't over. And neither is the magic!We've Got This!CharleneHearth & Hen Witchy Work Wishes Patreon

What if one of the simplest things you do every day could also become one of your most magical practices?In this week's episode of Witchy Work Wishes, we are stepping outside together to explore the ancient art of the Walking Witch. From sacred pilgrimages and winding labyrinths to quiet walks through your own neighborhood, we will discover how every path can become an opportunity for grounding, reflection, healing and magic.We'll talk about the history behind this practice, simple ways to weave intention into your walks, how to notice the signs and messages nature may be offering and why walking has long been a companion to both spiritual seekers and everyday witches.I'll also share a personal story that reminded me that sometimes the greatest adventures aren't found hundreds of miles away ... they are waiting right outside our own front door.So grab a comfortable pair of shoes, leave the distractions behind for a little while and come take a walk with me.We've got this,CharleneHearth & Hen Witchy Work Wishes Patreon

What if the oldest form of witchcraft wasn't found in a spellbook... What if it began around a campfire?Long before we had podcasts, books, or even written traditions, people gathered around the warmth of a fire to tell stories, pass down wisdom, share laughter, comfort one another and remember who they were.In this special 200th episode of Witchy Work Wishes, we are stepping away from our usual lesson and gathering together around a campfire.We'll reflect on the path we've traveled, the unexpected turns along the way, the lessons that have shaped us, and the magic that has woven itself through the last 200 conversations.Whether you've been listening since the very beginning or you have only recently found our little corner of the woods, this episode is for you! So pour yourself a drink, find a quiet place to listen and pull up a chair beside the fire. There's always room for one more around the campfire!Cheers to #200,CharleneHearth & Hen Patreon Witchy Work Wishes

What does it really mean to be a Witch of the Woods?It isn't about living deep in the forest or owning a little cabin tucked among the trees. It's about building a relationship with the land... slowing down long enough to notice its rhythms, its seasons, and the amazing lessons it has been offering all along.In this week's episode of Witchy Work Wishes, we are wandering beneath the trees together as we explore woodland magic, forest spirits, practical witchcraft and simple ways to create a deeper connection with nature no matter where you live.We'll also talk about bringing the calm, patience, and quiet wisdom of the forest back into our everyday lives (including the workplace).So grab your favorite drink, lace up your walking shoes and come spend a little time beneath the trees with me.We've got this!CharleneHearth & Hen Witchy Work Wishes Patreon

When you hear the word harvest, what comes to mind?For many of us, it's baskets overflowing with grain, fresh baked bread, gardens ready to gather and the golden warmth of mid summer. But what if Lughnasadh is asking us to harvest something else? What have you grown over the past year? Not just in your garden, but in your confidence, your healing, your relationships, your work and your spirit. In this week's episode, we are celebrating Lughnasadh ... the first harvest of the Wheel of the Year! But instead of focusing only on its history and traditions, we are exploring what it truly means to receive the fruits of our own journey (even when that journey didn't unfold exactly as we planned).We'll talk about the magic of the first harvest, simple ways to celebrate this beautiful sabbat, and how to recognize the abundance that may already be waiting around you.So grab your favorite cup of tea, settle into a comfortable spot, and let's celebrate the first harvest together.Happy Lughnasadh, my friends.Charlene Witchy Work Wishes is available now on Spotify and wherever you enjoy listening to podcasts. Head to the website for all of the goodies too or right over to Patreon to join the family. Links are below.Hearth & Hen Witchy Work Wishes Patreon

Have you ever felt like everyone else comes alive in the summer... but you secretly long for misty mornings, quiet forests, cozy sweaters, and cooler days? Then this week's episode, The Winter Witch in Summer, is just for you!We are exploring what it means to honor your own natural rhythm, even when it doesn't match the season around you. Together we'll talk about finding peace in the shade, embracing slower moments, and remembering that there is no "right" way to move through the Wheel of the Year. We have options!Whether you're soaking up the sunshine or dreaming of autumn, I hope you'll join me for this cozy conversation.We've got this! CharleneHearth & Hen Patreon Witchy Work Wishes

There is something ancient about gathering in a circle! Long before elaborate rituals and beautifully decorated altars, people gathered around fires, beneath the stars, and inside stone circles to mark the seasons, honor the land, celebrate life's milestones and simply remember that they belonged to something larger than themselves.In this week's episode at Witchy Work Wishes, we are exploring the magic of casting a witch's circle ... and not just how to do it, but why witches have been creating sacred circles for centuries.Together we'll talk about the history and purpose of the magic circle, the four directions and the elements, different ways to cast a circle (there is no "one right way"), when you might want to create sacred space (and when you don't need to) as well as how circles can become powerful containers for healing, spellwork, meditation, shadow work, and celebration. Of course I have a "Business Witch" perspective on creating healthy energetic boundaries in everyday life too. I also share one of my favorite personal rituals... my annual Birthday Circle and why it has become one of the most meaningful practices in my own witchcraft.Whether you've never cast a circle before or you've been practicing for years, I hope this episode reminds you that sacred space isn't about perfection. It begins the moment you step into your intention. So light a candle, pour yourself something warm, get cozy, and come sit beside me for a little while.I'm so grateful you're walking this path with me!We've got this!CharleneHearth & Hen Witchy Work Wishes Patreon