Summary
The witch has held a place firmly in our imagination for centuries – from whispered warnings in folklore to pop-culture driven heights. But what does it mean to be a witch now?
Presenter India Rakusen, creator of the podcast 28ish Days Later, is on a journey to find out.
The act of witches gathering together to practise their craft seems to have its own special power. India spends time with a group of witches in Scotland and a coven in Cornwall, and explores the power of group rituals.
Scored with original music by The Big Moon
Presenter: India Rakusen Executive Producer: Alex Hollands Producer: Lucy Dearlove Producer: Elle Scott AP: Tatum Swithenbank Production Manager: Kerry Luter Sound Design: Olga Reed
A Storyglass production for BBC Radio 4
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Before you listen to this BBC podcast, I'd like to quickly tell you about some others. |
| 0:05.2 | My name's Andy Martin and I'm the editor of a team of podcast producers at the BBC in Northern Ireland. |
| 0:11.3 | It's a job I really love because we get to tell the stories that really matter to people here, |
| 0:16.3 | but which also resonate and apply to listeners around the world. |
| 0:19.6 | And because the team is such a diverse |
| 0:21.2 | range of skills and strengths, we have trained journalists, people who love digging through |
| 0:26.0 | archives, we've got drama and even comedy experts. We really can do those stories justice. So if |
| 0:31.8 | you like this podcast, head to BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more fascinating stories |
| 0:37.1 | from all around the UK. BBC Sounds where you'll find plenty more fascinating stories from all around the UK. |
| 0:39.9 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:48.3 | Draw a circle in the air with your finger. |
| 0:58.0 | Isn't there something very satisfying about a circle? It's unending nature. It's constant symmetry. |
| 1:02.0 | And think of all the times we've stood together in circles, |
| 1:07.0 | in playgrounds and schools, in sports and teams, in meetings or in prayer. |
| 1:12.8 | When people come together, it's often in a circle. |
| 1:18.1 | Everyone in an equal position. |
| 1:23.6 | Sometimes on this journey, I've been invited to join witches in their groups to take part in rituals. |
| 1:29.3 | You could call them circles. |
| 1:31.3 | Their covens or meetings. |
| 1:34.3 | Because something witches do a lot is ritualized. |
| 1:37.3 | I mean, between eight Sabbaths, 13 full moons, initiations, there's a lot to mark and many, many ways to mark it all. |
| 1:46.6 | And obviously the group ritual isn't unique to the witch. Just take a look at any religion. |
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