Get ready for an episode filled with dark omens, cosmic warnings, and a little bit of Charmed chaos. This week, we’ll talk about season 2, episodes 15 and 16. In these episodes we see Prue being kidnapped by Bane Jessup, the Halliwells’ first mention of “The Source,” and the many signs Phoebe misreads along the way — before diving into a whirlwind of history and folklore on omens, from ancient Mesopotamia to Scottish death harbingers. Plus, in honor of Murphy’s Luck and St. Patrick’s Day, we’ll explore the tricky nature of luck itself and why sometimes it feels like everything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Trigger Warning: The episode covered includes the topic of unaliving oneself. If you or someone you know is struggling, please consider seeking help via national and international hotlines:
988 Lifeline: The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, across the United States and its territories. The 988 Lifeline is comprised of a national network of over 200 local crisis centers, combining local care and resources with national standards and best practices. https://988lifeline.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=onebox
LifeLine International: LifeLine International is a member-based organisation. Our Members deliver crisis support helplines and community-based suicide prevention services across the world.
LifeLine International promotes, supports and affiliates our Member organisations in their delivery of lifesaving services to people in crisis. https://lifeline-international.com/our-network/
Learn More:
Annus, A. (2009). Science and superstition: Interpretation of signs in the ancient world [Seminar]. The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago. https://isac.uchicago.edu/research/symposia/science-and-superstition-interpretation-signs-ancient-world
Croal, L. (2023, August 28). Seeing death: Exploring dark omens from Scottish folklore. Psychopomp. https://psychopomp.com/deadlands/issue-28/scottish-folklore/
Dhwty. (2014, March 11). Ten famous and infamous omens from the ancient world. Ancient Origins. https://www.ancient-origins.net/myths-legends/ten-famous-and-infamous-omens-ancient-world-001437
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2024, August 15). omen. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/omen
Faerywolf, S. (2024, March 16). The gold at rainbow’s end: St. Patrick, paganism, and celebrating Irish heritage. The Wild Hunt. https://wildhunt.org/2024/03/the-gold-at-rainbows-end-st-patrick-paganism-and-celebrating-irish-heritage.html#:~:text=With%20this%20understanding%2C%20some%20modern,this%20idea%20often%20see%20St
The Irish Pagan School. (2024, March 13). The myth and truth of Saint Patrick. The Irish Pagan School. https://irishpagan.school/saint-patrick-myths-and-truths/
Mendiola, R. (2018, March 15). St. Patrick’s Day: The history behind the luck. The Pearl Post. https://www.thepearlpost.com/18779/showcase/st-patricks-day-the-history-behind-the-luck/
TalkDeath. (2017, September 18). Omens of death around the world. TalkDeath. https://talkdeath.com/omens-death-around-world/
