A Dimpled Chin and a Devil Within: Folk Magic and Body Lore with Cory Thomas Hutcheson

This class introduces magical body lore to the folk magician looking to  explore new areas of enchantment. We’ll look at the history and folklore  of the human body, including the uses of moles for divination, hair in  magical charms or funerary jewelry, or even the folk traditions  surrounding corpses. We’ll hear stories of witch marks and bleeding  toes, and of the magical destinies connected with birthmarks, cauls, and  more.

This is a 60-90 minute, intermediate level lecture.

About the Presenter:

Cory Thomas Hutcheson is the co-host of New World Witchery, a podcast  and website dedicated to uncovering and recovering traditional North  American folk magic practices. He is also the author of New World  Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic (Llewellyn Publications,  2021) and co-author of the forthcoming book Conjuring the Commonplace:  An Everyday Guide to Junk Drawer Magic (1000Volt Press, 2022). Cory has  his doctorate in American Studies with specializations in Folklore &  Ethnography and Religion & Ethnicity from Penn State. He has also  published academic work in Midwestern Folklore and Contemporary Legend  among other journals. He is a contributor to the Oxford Handbook of  American Folklore and Folklife Studies and American Myths, Legends,  & Tall Tales: An Encyclopedia of American Folklore. He has written  for popular occult publications including The Cauldron (UK), The Crooked  Path Journal, and Witches & Pagans.