The Curse of Unleashing The concept of a curse unleashing is one that has been explored in various forms of literature, movies, and folklore. It refers to the consequences or negative effects that are unleashed or set free when a curse is activated or triggered. This curse can take many forms and can vary in severity, from personal misfortune to widespread devastation. In many myths and legends, curses are often placed upon individuals or objects by powerful beings or deities as a form of punishment or revenge. These curses are usually dormant or idle until a specific condition or action is fulfilled that triggers their release. Once unleashed, the curse can wreak havoc and cause great harm to the person or people involved.
Audiophiles: Songs that make me feel like the witch I want to be when I grow up
Do you like wearing black, chanting in dark languages, hanging out with cats and frightening men? Then I have good news for you! Being a witch is always a valid post-grad plan and an even more valid Halloween costume. These songs will help you feel like the witch you’ve wanted to be all along.
Josh Zucker | Student Life“Big God” by Florence and the Machine
If anyone is the Supreme here, it’s Florence Welch. To see some real witch vibes, watch the music video for this song and fall under Welch’s spell. Clocking in at around five minutes, it’s a masterpiece that leaves the listener with more questions than answers, with its deceptively simple lyrics and lingering outbursts of emotion. This song, haunting and guttural, is perfect for letting loose and making all of this fall into the sea. In other words, great for a girls’ night!
“Bottom of the River” by Delta Rae
If you’re looking for a more vengeful witch vibe, this song is perfect for the aforementioned frightening of men. Delta Rae sings as a super scary, super Southern witch who’s been caught in her ritual. It’s loud, brassy and unapologetically chilling. It’s also popular with the a cappella community as a song to cover, so for some of that, check out Vocal Rush’s cover from “The Sing-Off” or a version from one of the many Wash. U. groups that have covered it over the years!
“NFWMB” by Hozier
Honestly any of Hozier’s songs could be sung by someone in love with a witch, but this song has an especially witchy vibe. It was released as a single in tandem with his recent album, “Wasteland Baby!” (which I still haven’t gotten over and probably never will). It’s a song about a tragic love—an infatuation with a dangerous woman that might just eat the singer alive. If that isn’t some seriously sinister witch energy, I don’t know what is!
“Nighttime Hunger” by Overcoats
This more upbeat and modern song is for those chic city witches going out with their ghoul-friends on a Friday night. “When the darkness comes,” the members of this cool coven take the town and find their next victim. Electronic and hypnotic, this is the kind of song that might play at a nightclub exclusively for Halloween monsters.
“Raise Hell” by Brandi Carlile
Not every witch is a city-slicker, though. Some prefer a simpler way of doing things, in the country where they can’t be bothered. That’s the issue for Carlile in this song—when love comes in and seems to threaten the power and independence she holds dear, she has to make a choice. To be honest, I feel her. Cuffing season can be like that sometimes.
“Didn’t Leave Nobody but the Baby” from the “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack
I have to give the final spot on the playlist to some good old-fashioned witchery. A classic piece of cinema that hits my Southern heart heavily, “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?” includes some wonderful Southern Gothic-esque mystical elements, not the least of which are the river witches that play a narrative role as sirens. Honestly, they’re inspiration for all of us aspirants to witchhood.
Witches’ Night Playlist
It’s the first Music Monday of Year Two and if you’re already feeling witchy this Halloween season, we’ve got the perfect playlist for you!
Fun fact: I actually started building this playlist while I was working on last year’s collection! It was slated to be the bonus playlist, but wasn’t quite coming together – and then I was hit with inspiration for Voodoo Queens ‘n Cajun Things, and Witches’ Night got put on hold.
So it’s only fitting we kick off Year Two’s Music Monday series with this long overdue release!
Witches’ Night starts with a few of my favorite witchy songs that always leave me feeling a lil extra mysterious. From there, we go into a few tracks that have a mystical, old magick feel to them followed by a brief homage to water-based magic (by which, yes, I am absolutely referring to mermaids). The playlist then take a decidedly darker turn, with some heavy beats and industrial techno before lightening up a bit as we move into a celebration of modern witches with a mixed cauldron of songs spanning the decades. Finally, Witches’ Night winds down from a long night of witchtastic hijinks with a goodnight to the moon, a bedtime story, and some ambient beats that are sure to keep the witchy vibes going as you drift off to sleep.
It may have taken more than a year to (finally!) share, but Witches’ Night is one of my favorite playlists we’ve put together on Your Best Halloween Ever, and I hope you enjoy it, too!
Looking to enjoy more witchy music? Check out these playlists from our Samhain Society groupmates, Spooky Little Halloween and The Spooky Vegan, also streaming on Spotify!
The Influence of Witchcraft on the Music of the Late 1960s and Early 1970s
Have you ever noticed that there seems to be quite an abundance of songs from the late 1960s to early 1970s mentioning witches? As I was putting together a little playlist to help get me in a spooky/fall mood, I realized that many of the songs I added to the playlist regarding witches happened to be from that era. As I started to look into it more, it turns out that there is certainly a reason for it.
When most people think of the late 1960s, they usually think of the Civil Rights Movement, the Summer of Love, Woodstock Music Festival, or the Vietnam War. However, along with those notable events was the rise in individuals practicing or being interested in witchcraft. During this time in the world, the generation behind the Summer of Love and the various countercultures were hell bent on questioning any and everything regarding the current status quo. These individuals, while upset with the idea of the Vietnam War and looking for more out of life, looked for ways to live differently or seek out a different lifestyle than their parents. Everything about life as they knew it was up for questioning and new ideas were worth exploring. Psychedelic drugs were heavily experimented with in efforts to give individuals a chance to try and expand their minds, while also opening up room for sexual exploration and expression. This generation also rejected the traditional belief systems held by their parents and explored different lifestyles and spiritual ideas such as Buddhism, cults, and of course, witchcraft.
The idea of witchcraft was able to thrive within that generation for many reasons. The most obvious is the idea of pushing back on traditional spiritual practices such as Christianity and people starting to be open to other ideas of religion. However, witchcraft’s incorporation of astrology and nature also sparked the interest of these counterculture individuals wanting to feel more connected with the earth. Of course, another big attraction to witchcraft was the aesthetic. Similar to the hippies, witches usually had long hair, wore various flowing fabrics, and seemed to almost overlap the hippie style of that time. This time in history also experienced the second-wave of feminism and a rise in female liberation, causing women to feel more confident in exploring different lifestyles outside of the typical housewife, producing more attraction to witchcraft as a sort of extreme opposite of what was expected of them. The idea of being a witch acted as a symbol for resistance and the anti-establishment movement for women.
And while this time period was certainly not the first rise in witchcraft, it did however, happen to occur during a time where music was playing a significant part in the countercultures of that time. Because of this rise in witchcraft, artists of this era became increasingly inspired by the ideas, imagery, and taboo aspects of the practice. Also during this time, a well known psychic and writer, Louise Huebner, was appointed the “Official Witch of Los Angeles County” in 1968 due to her extensive knowledge and practice of various occult arts. Because of the rise in recorded music during that time, Louise Huebner put out an album of spoken spells titled “Seduction Through Witchcraft,” with her new “Official Witch” title giving credibility to the album. Before that time, there wasn’t much evidence of spoken spells or obvious witchcraft in the media, and as noted in the title of her album, the idea of witches and witchcraft took on a sort of sex appeal. Louise wasn’t the only person to put out bodies of work centering on witchcraft, but she definitely increased the appeal. Because of the added sex appeal given to witchcraft, artists were even more drawn to the idea of creating imagery and entertainment from the inspiration of witchcraft. This connection also created a sort of cycle where artists were inspired by witchcraft in their work, to their work creating more appeal towards witchcraft, therefore creating an even bigger rise in the craft and the aesthetic that came with these sexy witchy women that were being glorified in music.
So that brings us to the actual musical influence of witchcraft. The type of mystic feeling and imagery that goes along with witchcraft blends seamlessly with the sounds of psychedelic rock and bluesy guitar riffs. Probably one of the most notable songs that features this sort of occult theme is Donovan’s “Season of the Witch.” Some other earlier examples of this theme in music are “Strange Brew” by Cream, “My Girlfriend is a Witch” by October Country, and “Voodoo Chile” by Jimi Hendrix. These types of songs were heavily enjoyed by the crowds of people gathering at music festivals, living these various alternative lifestyles, and of course, dabbling in different types of psychoactive substances, including marijuana, which is used among with other herbs in the practice of witchcraft. It quickly started to become apparent that hippies and witches often ran within the same circles, which also happened to be the target audience behind mainstream music at the time.
Some other examples of occult or witchy music that followed this phenomenon include “Black Magic Woman” by Fleetwood Mac (with Peter Green) but later made popular by Santana, “Witchy Woman” by The Eagles, and of course, “Rhiannon” by Fleetwood Mac. And while many people know Stevie Nicks as “The White Witch” along with her extensive catalog of witchy songs, she actually is the perfect example of becoming a product of that heavy witchcraft influence that started in the late 1960s. She, of course, took it and ran with it, but certainly wasn’t the start of that aesthetic.
So all of that to be said, it is no secret that the 1960s countercultures had significant influence on the mainstream music at that time, but the not-so-obvious influence of witchcraft played a huge part in one of the most noteworthy eras of music history as well.
I hope you all have a safe Halloween and don’t be afraid to embrace your witchy side!
10 Best Witch Songs For Fans of Witchcraft and Magic
Witchcraft and magic have been a source of fascination and intrigue throughout history, inspiring artists and musicians across generations and genres. This article explores ten iconic songs that delve into the realms of witchcraft, magic, and the mystical, providing a spellbinding playlist for fans and enthusiasts alike.
Once unleashed, the curse can wreak havoc and cause great harm to the person or people involved. The curse of unleashing often serves as a cautionary tale, warning individuals of the potential dangers and consequences that can arise from tampering with forces beyond their control. It is a reminder that actions have consequences and that one should be mindful of the potential repercussions of their choices.
1. "Season of the Witch" by Donovan
Released in 1966, Donovan's "Season of the Witch" captures the spirit of the 1960s counterculture, blending folk and psychedelic rock. The lyrics evoke a sense of change and transformation, as Donovan sings about the strange and mystical occurrences that seem to arise when the season changes. With its haunting melody and cryptic lyrics, "Season of the Witch" has become a classic anthem for those enchanted by the mysterious and the supernatural.
In popular culture, the curse of unleashing is a common theme in horror and fantasy genres. It is often depicted as a forbidden knowledge or artifact that, when tampered with, leads to disastrous results. For example, in the classic story of Pandora's Box, the opening of the box unleashed all the evils of the world onto humanity. In modern storytelling, the curse of unleashing is often used as a plot device to create tension and drive the narrative forward. Characters may unwittingly activate a curse or intentionally seek to harness its power, only to face dire consequences. This can serve as a source of conflict and push the story towards its climax. Overall, the curse of unleashing is a powerful and enduring concept that taps into our fascination with the unknown and the potential dangers it holds. It serves as a cautionary reminder to be mindful of the consequences of our actions and to approach powerful forces and ancient curses with respect and caution..
Reviews for "Unleashing the Curse: The Toll of Playing with Dark Forces"
1. Emily - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Curse of Unleashing." The plot was extremely predictable and lacked any originality. The characters felt one-dimensional and their actions didn't make much sense. The pacing was also off, with slow and boring scenes dragging on for too long, while important plot points were rushed through. Overall, I found it to be a forgettable and unengaging read.
2. John - 2/5 - "Curse of Unleashing" had an interesting premise, but it failed to live up to its potential. The writing felt amateurish and filled with clichés, making it difficult to immerse myself in the story. The dialogue was lackluster and often felt forced, making it hard to connect with the characters. Additionally, the world-building was weak, leaving many unanswered questions and leaving me feeling confused throughout the reading experience. I wouldn't recommend this book for anyone looking for a captivating and well-crafted fantasy novel.
3. Sarah - 1/5 - I regret wasting my time on "Curse of Unleashing." The story was poorly developed and lacked any depth. The main character was unlikable and the supporting cast was forgettable. The dialogue was cringe-worthy and the attempts at humor fell flat. The pacing was all over the place, with boring stretches followed by rushed action scenes. I found myself skimming through pages just to get to the end. This book definitely did not live up to the hype for me.