Delusional Witch Juice

Heather Nations

Witchcraft, folklore, occult history, and metaphysics — served with a heavy pour of delusion. Each week, Heather digs into the strange hidden history, fact behind folklore, and mysteries of the metaphysics, separating the history from the hype (and occasionally embracing the hype anyway). It's part history lecture, part séance, part group chat. Unfiltered, well-researched, and made especially for delusional witches.

  1. 3d ago ·  Bonus

    August 12 Is Cosmic Chaos: Eclipse, Planets & Perseids

    This week on Delusional Witch Juice, I discuss why August 12 is being called cosmic chaos—and whether somebody actually left the Lion’s Gate Portal open. From a six-planet parade and New Moon in Leo to a total solar eclipse and perfectly timed Perseid meteor shower, the celestial guest list is much messier than the internet claims. Plus ancient Mesopotamian substitute kings, the gardener who inherited a throne after the real king died from hot soup, the fiery Tears of Saint Lawrence, and what people in the Midwest can actually see in the sky. CHAPTERS 00:00 August 12th Has Entered the Group Chat02:07 The Official Cosmic Guest List04:37 The Planet Parade: Before Sunrise07:30 The Main Event: Total Solar Eclipse09:58 Someone Is Going to Die13:15 Enter the Perseids16:29 Why the 2026 Perseids Are Special18:23 So What Is Actually Happening?20:23 Thank Yous SOURCES & FURTHER READING The August 12 Cosmic Events NASA — August 2026 Skywatching GuideInternational Meteor Organization — 2026 Meteor Shower CalendarNASA — Notable Astronomical Events of 2026The Planet Parade August 12 Planetary Alignment GuideVisible Planets in August 2026The New Moon & Solar Eclipse NASA — August 12, 2026 Eclipse DataNASA — Interactive Eclipse MapNew Moon and Solar Eclipse at 20° LeoEclipses Visible from St. LouisEclipse Omens & Substitute Kings The Metropolitan Museum of Art — The Solar Eclipse and the Substitute KingThe Perseids & Comet Swift–Tuttle NASA — The Perseid Meteor ShowerNASA — Comet 109P/Swift–TuttleNational Geographic — The Grisly Origin Story Behind the Perseids FOLLOW THE SHOW INSTA YOUTUBE

  2. Aug 5

    The Sinister Past of Garden Gnomes: Elves, Fairies & the Folklore Behind Them

    In this episode of Delusional Witch Juice, Heather untangles the weird, messy folklore behind house spirits and the creatures we now casually lump together as “the fae.” From Scandinavian nisse who will apparently commit livestock murder over missing butter, to Scottish brownies who clean your house but absolutely do not want to be treated like employees, these supernatural roommates came with very specific boundaries. Along the way, Heather digs into where gnomes actually came from, why Snow White’s dwarfs aren’t gnomes, the surprising folklore parallels behind Dobby and Harry Potter’s house-elves, why fairy rings were considered dangerous, what Sleeping Beauty teaches us about fairy etiquette, and, finally, where the Smurfs fit into this entire supernatural mess. Turns out the cute little guy standing next to your hostas has a much stranger history than garden décor would have you believe. And if you decide to leave out some porridge tonight, just remember one thing: put the butter on top. Sources: ​Merriam-Webster — “Fairy” / “Faerie”Etymology and historical meanings of fairy and faerie, including the older meaning of enchantment or fairyland. Merriam-Webster: FairyMerriam-Webster: Faerie​Paracelsus — Book on Nymphs, Sylphs, Pygmies, and SalamandersSource for Paracelsus’s elemental beings and the earth-dwelling creatures later associated with gnomes. Read via Internet Archive​Brothers Grimm — “Little Snow-White”The older Snow White story explicitly describes the seven dwarfs digging for ore and gold in the mountains, which is why the mining connection matters. Read Little Snow-White​Official Harry Potter Encyclopedia — House-ElvesConfirms that house-elves are bound to households and can be freed when their master gives them clothing. House-Elf Fact File​Thomas Keightley — The Fairy MythologyHistorical folklore collection covering brownies and other household spirits, including leaving cream for brownies and the recurring stories where giving them clothing causes them to leave. Read The Fairy Mythology at Project Gutenberg​Visit Norway — The Norwegian FjøsnisseCovers the traditional barn-dwelling nisse, its connection with farm animals, Christmas porridge, butter and the belief that neglecting the spirit could result in mischief. Meet the Norwegian Fjøsnisse​Swedish Legends and Folktales — “The Missing Butter”Source for the beautifully unhinged story of the tomte discovering his butter was hidden beneath the porridge, killing the farm’s cow and stealing an identical replacement cow. The Missing Butter folklore text​Woodland Trust — Fairy RingsExplains both the fungal science behind fairy rings and European folklore connecting them with dancing fairies, elves, witches and supernatural danger. What Is a Fairy Ring?​Charles Perrault — “The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood”Perrault’s version has seven fairies invited as the princess’s godmothers and an older uninvited fairy who believes she has been insulted and curses the child. The supernatural etiquette drama was there long before Disney. Read Perrault's Sleeping Beauty​The Smurfs — Official HistoryPeyo created the Smurfs as characters in Johan and Peewit in 1958. So, tragically, no ancient Smurf mythology. Just Belgium. Official Smurfs History​Garden Gnome History / LampySir Charles Isham brought small German figures to Lamport Hall in the nineteenth century, helping establish the garden-gnome tradition in Britain. History of Lampy and the Garden Gnome

  3. Jul 29

    Lammas: The Three Histories Behind the Pagan Bread Holiday

    Back with another seasonal sabbat episode! Is Lammas really an ancient pagan bread holiday? In this episode, Heather follows the history from Old English “loaf-mass” and church-blessed bread to Lammas grazing rights, the Irish festival of Lughnasadh, and the story of Lugh’s foster mother Tailtiu. The modern holiday turns out to be a blend of three different traditions: an English Christian harvest observance, an Irish mythological and political gathering, and a modern Wiccan sabbat on the Wheel of the Year. Along the way, Heather gets into funeral games, land disputes, protective bread charms, and the ancient festival historians still cannot fully reconstruct. Listen to find out how all three histories ended up inside one modern pagan holiday. Sources Church of England — “The Agricultural Year”https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/common-worship/churchs-year/times-and-seasons-4 A Clerk of Oxford — “A Little History of Lammas”https://aclerkofoxford.blogspot.com/2017/08/a-little-history-of-lammas.html J. G. L. Richardson — Lammas grazing rights and English commonshttps://journals.univie.ac.at/index.php/rhy/article/download/5762/5699/12153 Ronald Hutton — The Stations of the Sunhttps://academic.oup.com/book/1390/chapter/140717330 CELT — The Metrical Dindshenchas: Tailtiuhttps://celt.ucc.ie/published/T106500D/text033.html CELT — The Annals of Ulster, entry for 916https://celt.ucc.ie/published/T100001A/text486.html Cambridge — “Harvest Shortfalls, Grain Prices, and Famines in Preindustrial England”https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-economic-history/article/abs/harvest-shortfalls-grain-prices-and-famines-in-preindustrial-england/A6BD779A911DD17910EA44DF8ADF7613 Ethan Doyle White — Wicca: History, Belief & Community in Modern Pagan Witchcrafthttps://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv3029rcf Irish pronunciation recordings — Teanglannhttps://www.teanglann.ie/en/fuaim/L%C3%BAnasa 00:00 Pagan Bread Has Lore04:47 Welcome and Ground Rules08:08 The Internet Version10:35 Loaf-Mass and Bread Magic18:44 Lammas Land23:30 Lugh, Tailtiu and the Fair31:02 The Festival We Cannot Rebuild35:59 Why the First Loaf Mattered40:35 How It Joined the Wheel

  4. Jul 8

    New Moon July 2026: Manifestation, Lunar Planning & My Smoke Detector

    This week on Delusional Witch Juice, It's the New Moon in Cancer, July 14, 2026, 2:43 AM PT, so we're setting an intention live on air. But first: where does "manifestation" actually come from (hint: a guy with tuberculosis and a horse), what are the 8 real phases of the moon, and how did centuries-old farming folklore turn into today's "plan your launch by the moon" coaching trend? Plus: the real, non-mystical psychology reason a monthly lunar reset might actually help you. Folklore, real history, actual research, and one host's genuine new moon intention. Sources in the show notes. Follow Delusional Witch Juice on TikTok and Instagram: @delusionalwitchjuice MASTER SOURCE LIST Astro-Seek: New Moon July 2026CHANI: 2026 Astrological Key DatesWe'Moon: New & Full Moon RitualsClaire Daley: New Moon RitualsWikipedia: Law of Attraction (New Thought)The Law of Attraction: History & 19th-Century AuthorsPMC: "The Secret" to Success? The Psychology of Belief in ManifestationSAGE: Personality and Social Psychology BulletinNASA Science: Moon PhasesFarmers' Almanac: Understanding the 8 Phases of the MoonWikipedia: Lunar PhaseHerbal Academy: Gardening By the MoonLiving With The Moon: The Secret of Biodynamic GardeningMedium: The Moon, the Cow Horn, and the Cosmic Dance of AgricultureMDPI: Lunar Influence on Plants in AgricultureNache' Snow: What To Do During Moon PhasesSimone Samuels: How to Make Plans for Your Business Based on the MoonHealthline: Full Moon EffectsThe Conversation: Does the Full Moon Make Us Sleepless?Katy Milkman: The Fresh Start EffectPMC: Put Your Imperfections Behind You (Temporal Landmarks)Current Psychology (2026): Manifestation Research StatusPsychology Today: Toxic Positivity

  5. Jul 1

    Past Lives: Everyone Was Cleopatra, Nobody Was a Peasant

    Why does everyone think they were Cleopatra in a past life — and never a turnip farmer? This week: what reincarnation actually means across Hinduism and Buddhism, the University of Virginia psychiatrist who documented 2,500 kids who remembered dying, the very boring brain-science reasons we "remember" past lives (hello, cryptomnesia), the Korean concept In-Yun from the movie Past Lives, and what your South Node supposedly says about who you used to be. Skeptical, funny, and refusing to flatten anybody's religion. Sources in the show notes. Follow Delusional Witch Juice on TikTok and Instagram: @delusionalwitchjuice MASTER SOURCE LIST Pew Research Center, "Beliefs about the afterlife," May 2025 — https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/05/06/beliefs-about-the-afterlife/Wikipedia, "Reincarnation" — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ReincarnationWikipedia, "Ian Stevenson" — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_StevensonUVA Division of Perceptual Studies / Jim Tucker, "Ian Stevenson and Cases of the Reincarnation Type" (PDF) — https://med.virginia.edu/perceptual-studies/wp-content/uploads/sites/360/2016/12/REI36Tucker-1.pdfWHRO, "Since 1967, this small division at UVA has investigated the possibility of reincarnation," Dec 2024 — https://www.whro.org/education-news/2024-12-30/since-1967-this-small-division-at-the-university-of-virginia-has-investigated-the-possibility-of-reincarnationThe Skeptic's Dictionary, "past life regression" — https://skepdic.com/pastlife.htmlWikipedia, "Past life regression" — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Past_life_regressionScience-Based Medicine, "Past Life Regression Therapy: Encouraging Fantasy" — https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/past-life-regression-therapy-encouraging-fantasy/Wikipedia, "Bridey Murphy" — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridey_MurphyPsi Encyclopedia, "Criticisms of Reincarnation Case Studies" — https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/criticisms-reincarnation-case-studies/Psi Encyclopedia, "Reincarnation: An Introduction" — https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/reincarnation-overview/Pacific Ties, "Past Lives: Understanding In-Yun" — https://pacificties.org/past-lives-understanding-in-yun/The Conversation, "Past Lives: a luxurious and lingering portrayal..." — https://theconversation.com/past-lives-a-luxurious-and-lingering-portrayal-of-lost-love-and-identity-in-the-korean-diaspora-213162Nylon, "Past Lives & Astrology, Explained" — https://www.nylon.com/life/past-life-astrology-explainedJessica Adams, "Your Past Life in Astrology — North Node" — https://www.jessicaadams.com/2026/03/21/blog/your-past-life-in-astrology-north-node/Feedspot, "20 Best Past Lives Podcasts 2026" — https://podcast.feedspot.com/past_lives_podcasts/

  6. Jun 9

    Litha: The Summer Solstice Name That's Younger Than Your Parents

    This week on Delusional Witch Juice, I discuss how the name Litha is younger than you think and the real history of the Summer Solstice is wilder than you think. From ancient Egypt to the Inca Empire to a Swedish midnight skinny dip past a murderous river demon, every culture celebrated the same sun completely differently. Plus the Oak King myth debunked, Litha 2026 astrology, and how to actually celebrate the Summer Solstice. Watch on YouTube with facial expressions included. SOURCES & FURTHER READING The Name Litha & The Wheel of the Year Aidan Kelly — "About Naming Ostara, Litha, and Mabon"Venerable Bede — De Temporum Ratione (The Reckoning of Time), 725 ADRonald Hutton — The Triumph of the Moon (1999)Ronald Hutton — The Stations of the Sun (1996)Green Egg Magazine historyAncient EgypT Sphinx & pyramid solstice alignmentSirius, Sopdet & Isis mythologyThe Nile flood calendarAswan High Dam ending the annual floodNabta Playa — world's oldest solar observatory Inca / Inti Raymi Inti Raymi historyManco Capac origin storyIntihuatana stoneInti Raymi revival 1944Swedish Midsommar Midsommar history — Nordic Museum via The Culture TripMidsommarstång originsSeven flowers traditionSwedish birth rate statOfficial Swedish Midsommar guideThe Maypole Maypole historyRonald Hutton — The Real Meaning of the MaypoleThe Oak King & Holly King No ancient evidence for the myth Robert Graves biography Ronald Hutton on invented tradition Scholar critique of The White GoddessFeast of St. John the Baptist St. John's Day historyChurch absorption of pagan holidaysAstrology of Litha 2026 Venus conjunct Jupiter & June 2026 transitsCancer season astrologyMercury retrograde in CancerHow to Celebrate / Rituals Litha herb traditionsLitha rituals overviewGermanic Midsummer traditionsFurther Reading Ronald Hutton — The Triumph of the Moon (1999)Ronald Hutton — The Stations of the Sun (1996)Robert Graves — The White Goddess (1948)Venerable Bede — De Temporum Ratione (725 AD) FOLLOW THE SHOW INSTA TIKTOK YOUTUBE SUBSTACK

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Witchcraft, folklore, occult history, and metaphysics — served with a heavy pour of delusion. Each week, Heather digs into the strange hidden history, fact behind folklore, and mysteries of the metaphysics, separating the history from the hype (and occasionally embracing the hype anyway). It's part history lecture, part séance, part group chat. Unfiltered, well-researched, and made especially for delusional witches.

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