For this special long episode, Paulina and Jess talk with the hosts of Altars Up, Witches, Kiki Robinson and Ylva Mara Radziszewski, about what it means for them to identity as witches with Romani heritage, how the term witch has been used against Roma and other groups by colonizers/oppressors, and why they reclaim it. We share every day Romani practices we grew up with, like cleaning and bathing, and their folk magic significance. We also discuss balancing spirituality and "superstition" with science and medicine, as well as witchcraft, queerness, and gender, and so much more. We hope you enjoy this extra-long episode, and be sure to listen and subscribe to Altar's Up, Witches anywhere where podcasts are found!
Check out The Living Altar on Instagram at @thelivingaltar to learn more about Altars Up, Witches podcast, their art exhibits, rituals, projects, and their incredible oracle deck for sale, The Living Altar Oracle Deck.
You can follow Ylva Mara Radziszewski (she/her/they/them)on Instagram @bimboyaga and http://www.traditionalmagic.com/
You can follow Kiki Robinson (they/them) on Instagram @opulentwitch and at https://www.opulentwitch.com/, and join their Patreon.
Please rate, review, and subscribe. It helps us so much.
You can find us on Instagram @romanistanpodcast, and on Facebook under the same name, and on Twitter @romanistanpod
We started a Ko-fi fundraiser to help us expand. Our goal is to release 2 episodes a month, create video content, like an advice column and other treats, and we would also like to register as a nonprofit so we can produce content by other Romani & Sinti creators. We are hoping to cover production costs, like paying for our hosting site, website, editing and producing, and all the rest. We would love it if you could contribute and spread the word. The link, Ko-fi.com/romanistan, is in our bio on Instagram, and will be in the show notes
If you would like to advertise with us, email us at romanistanpodcast@gmail.com. We offer sliding-scale for Romani, Sinti & related businesses, so reach out!
You can find me, Jess, on Instagram @jezmina.vonthiele, and you can find my vintage and curiosities shop @evileyeedit on Instagram & Etsy.
You can find Paulina Verminski on Instagram @_paulina_v_ and at http://www.romaniholistic.com
Romanistan is hosted by Jessica Reidy and Paulina Verminski
Conceived of by Paulina Verminski
Edited by Carlo Patrão
With Music by Viktor Pachas
And Artwork by Elijah Vardo