In this episode, I explore the misunderstood and often deliberately misconstrued figure of "the Devil" in traditional witchcraft and folk magic practices. Moving beyond simplistic Christian narratives, I delve into how the Horned God of pre-Christian traditions was transformed into Satan. At the same time, folk practitioners continued working with this entity in rich, nuanced ways.

I tell folk stories of how witches encounter and form relationships with the Devil, learn about plants like devil's bit and devil's shoestring that are connected to this figure, and unpack the coded language and practices that allowed these traditions to survive centuries of persecution.

Whether you've struggled with religious programming about "the Devil" or are simply curious about authentic folk magic traditions, this episode offers a deeper understanding of a complex figure who represents wilderness, liminality, and magical knowledge, not evil. This serves as the perfect introduction to my upcoming series on deconstructing the Christian Satan.