Roaming Raven Podcast

Roaming Raven
  • 5.0 (6)
  • Society & Culture
  • Weekly

Step beyond the village path and into the shadows of folklore. This podcast explores the hidden histories of witches, midwives, grave-walkers, and dream guides — women who worked at the thresholds of life, death, and the unseen. Through immersive storytelling, historical cases, and modern reflection, we uncover how ritual, herbs, and quiet magic shaped communities and still echo today. A place for myth, meaning, and the power of those who lived at the edges.

  1. 1d ago

    The Wild Hunt – Ghostly Riders of the Winter Sky | Into the Gathering Dark – Part 1

    Have you ever heard the sound of galloping hooves in the dead of night, when no horses can be seen? Or imagined a ghostly procession racing across the storm-filled winter sky? Welcome to Into the Gathering Dark, a new five-part November collection from Roaming Raven – A Witchlore & Mystical Tales Podcast. Join Paula Rolls as we journey into one of Europe's most haunting and enduring legends: The Wild Hunt. From spectral horsemen and phantom hounds to the mysterious figures of Odin, Woden and Herne the Hunter, we explore the terrifying folklore of supernatural hunts that were said to sweep across the night sky, bringing omens of death, disaster and the approaching winter. Discover how tales of ghostly riders travelled through European folklore, why people feared encountering the mysterious procession, and how these legends became entwined with the darker months of the year. Blending historical accounts, mythology and atmospheric storytelling, we'll uncover the origins of the Wild Hunt, the different traditions surrounding its legendary leaders, and the chilling warnings passed down through generations. So light a candle, settle in and listen closely… Because if you hear the distant sound of hunting horns carried on the winter wind, perhaps it's best not to look outside. Roaming Raven – A Witchlore & Mystical Tales Podcast. Where history meets folklore, and the old stories never truly die. www.roamingraven.co.uk

    The Wild Hunt – Ghostly Riders of the Winter Sky | Into the Gathering Dark – Part 1

  2. Oct 30

    The Wandering Lantern | Stingy Jack & the Origins of Halloween

    Have you ever wondered why we carve faces into pumpkins at Halloween? Or heard the eerie legend of the man who tricked the Devil and was condemned to wander the earth for eternity? Join Paula Rolls of Roaming Raven for the fifth and final instalment of our Samhain Special as we step into the shadows to uncover the chilling Irish folklore of Stingy Jack, the mysterious wanderer whose story became associated with the Jack-o'-Lantern. From his cunning encounters with the Devil to his terrible fate, wandering endlessly between Heaven and Hell with nothing but a glowing ember inside a hollowed-out turnip, we explore one of Halloween's most enduring legends. But our journey doesn't end there. We'll discover the mysterious will-o'-the-wisps, the origins of carved turnip lanterns, and how centuries of Irish folklore, seasonal celebrations and changing traditions helped shape the Halloween we recognise today. As we bring our five-part Samhain journey to a close, we'll reflect on the history, supernatural stories, witchcraft and ancient customs we've explored throughout the series, and why this magical time of year continues to capture our imaginations. So light a candle, settle in and join me for one final journey beyond the firelight. Roaming Raven – A Witchlore & Mystical Tales Podcast. Where history meets folklore, and the old stories never truly die. www.roamingraven.co.uk

    The Wandering Lantern | Stingy Jack & the Origins of Halloween

  3. Oct 23

    Samhain Special Part 4 – The Witch's Samhain | Rituals, Ancestors & Modern Witchcraft

    How do modern witches celebrate Samhain, and what makes this time of year so meaningful in the world of witchcraft? Join Paula Rolls of Roaming Raven for Part Four of our five-part Samhain Special as we step away from the ancient legends and historical traditions to explore the magic of Samhain as it is celebrated today. From creating meaningful ancestor altars and honouring loved ones who have passed to candle rituals, herbal correspondences, divination and shadow work, we discover the many ways witches and Pagans embrace this powerful turning point in the Wheel of the Year. We'll explore the symbolism behind familiar Samhain practices, the importance of remembrance and reflection, and how to create your own personal traditions that feel authentic and meaningful to you. Along the way, we'll separate historical folklore from modern magical practices, exploring how centuries of beliefs, customs and spiritual traditions have helped shape the Witch's Samhain we recognise today. Whether you're an experienced witch, just beginning your magical journey or simply fascinated by the folklore and traditions of the season, this episode offers inspiration for celebrating the darker half of the year. So light a candle, settle in and join me as we explore the magic, mystery and meaning of Samhain. Roaming Raven – A Witchlore & Mystical Tales Podcast. www.roamingraven.co.uk

    Samhain Special Part 4 – The Witch's Samhain | Rituals, Ancestors & Modern Witchcraft

  4. Oct 16

    Samhain Special Part 3 – Fire, Feasting & Fortune Telling | Ancient Halloween Traditions

    What did people really do to celebrate Samhain before pumpkins, trick-or-treating and modern Halloween? Join Paula Rolls of Roaming Raven for Part Three of our five-part Samhain Special as we step back into the homes and villages of old Ireland to discover the fascinating traditions, strange superstitions and magical customs of the season. From roaring bonfires and traditional Halloween feasts to barmbrack fortune telling, apple divination, midnight mirror rituals and the rather dangerous game of Snap Apple, we uncover a world where food, laughter, romance and a little supernatural mystery went hand in hand. Discover why turnips were carved into terrifying lanterns, how young people attempted to predict their future marriages, and why Halloween was once a night of mischief, disguises and community celebration. Blending historical accounts, Irish folklore and atmospheric storytelling, we explore how these traditions developed through the centuries and why so many still influence our celebrations today. So pour yourself something warming, light a candle and join us for another journey into the history, folklore and magic of Samhain. Roaming Raven – A Witchlore & Mystical Tales Podcast. www.roamingraven.co.uk

    Samhain Special Part 3 – Fire, Feasting & Fortune Telling | Ancient Halloween Traditions

  5. Oct 9

    Samhain Part Two When the Otherworld Opens: Spirits, Ancestors & the Púca

    As the nights grow darker and the veil between worlds is said to grow thin, join Paula Rolls of Roaming Raven for the second instalment of our four-part Samhain Special. This week, we step into the mysterious and supernatural side of Samhain, exploring ancient Irish folklore, the powerful Aos Sí, the mischievous Púca, the Otherworld and the belief that spirits of the dead may return to visit the living. Discover eerie tales, forgotten superstitions, protective traditions and the origins of ancestor remembrance at this magical time of year. So light a candle, settle in and join us for another journey beyond the firelight, where history, folklore and witchcraft intertwine. Roaming Raven – A Witchlore & Mystical Tales Podcast.

    Samhain Part Two When the Otherworld Opens: Spirits, Ancestors & the Púca

  6. Oct 2

    SAMHAIN - PART ONE When Summer Ends: The Ancient Story of Samhain

    Imagine for a moment that there are no electric lights. No street lamps. No headlights coming along the road. No central heating waiting when you get home. The sun has gone down, and when darkness arrives, it really is dark. Behind you lies summer. The crops have been gathered, the days of growth are ending, livestock are being brought closer to home and the land itself appears to be retreating. Ahead lies winter - cold, hunger, storms and months in which survival will depend upon what has been stored and prepared. And somewhere in that transition, we find Samhain. Tonight, we're going back to the beginning. Not to modern Halloween, not yet to pumpkins and trick-or-treating, and not even to the Samhain rituals that many witches and Pagans practise today. We're going much further back, into Ireland and the world preserved for us in early Irish stories. And we're going to begin with the name itself. Samhain. www.roamingraven.co.uk

    SAMHAIN - PART ONE When Summer Ends: The Ancient Story of Samhain

  7. Sep 25

    The Modern Witch Hunt: Are We Still Doing This?

    Over the course of this series, we’ve travelled through several centuries of witch trials. We’ve seen people accused, interrogated, imprisoned and executed because their neighbours, their communities — and sometimes the law itself — believed that they were witches. And eventually, in the places we’ve mostly been talking about, the trials stopped. The laws changed. Witchcraft ceased to be a crime. So that should really be the end of the story. Except it isn’t. Because people are still being accused of witchcraft today. And I don't mean someone being criticised online and calling it a witch hunt. We’ve already talked about the way that phrase gets thrown around in the modern world. This time, we mean it literally. People living in modern Western countries have been accused of being witches, of casting spells, of causing illness or misfortune through supernatural means, or of being possessed by evil spirits. And some of those accusations have led to horrific abuse — and even murder. So for our final episode of this series, we’re bringing the witch hunt right up to the present day. And perhaps the most unsettling thing about these stories is that they didn't happen in some distant century, in a world completely unlike our own. Some of them happened here. In Britain. Within our lifetimes.

    The Modern Witch Hunt: Are We Still Doing This?

  8. Sep 18

    The Repeal of the Witchcraft Act (1951)

    In our last episode, we left Helen Duncan in a British courtroom in 1944, prosecuted under a Witchcraft Act that was already more than two hundred years old. Even Winston Churchill thought its use was absurd. But the law remained. For Britain's growing Spiritualist movement, that wasn't simply an embarrassing historical relic. Mediums could still be prosecuted under legislation that effectively began with the assumption that their spiritual practices were fraudulent. Then, in 1951, something finally changed. The Witchcraft Act of 1735 was repealed and replaced by a new law: the Fraudulent Mediums Act. On the surface, the distinction seems simple. Being a medium wasn't the problem. Deliberately deceiving people was. But after more than two centuries of British law attempting to decide what was—and wasn't—possible in the supernatural world, was Parliament finally stepping away from people's spiritual beliefs? And who had persuaded them to do it? Today, we're looking at the end of Britain's Witchcraft Act—and the curious story of the law that took its place. www.roamingraven.co.uk

    The Repeal of the Witchcraft Act (1951)
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Step beyond the village path and into the shadows of folklore. This podcast explores the hidden histories of witches, midwives, grave-walkers, and dream guides — women who worked at the thresholds of life, death, and the unseen. Through immersive storytelling, historical cases, and modern reflection, we uncover how ritual, herbs, and quiet magic shaped communities and still echo today. A place for myth, meaning, and the power of those who lived at the edges.

Information

  • Creator
    Roaming Raven
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    36
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Roaming Raven
  • Show Website
    Roaming Raven Podcast

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