In Irish storytelling traditions, the supernatural is entwined with the natural world (including the various traumas inflicted on the land, from invasion to famine). Here are three of my favourite stories.

The Ashkenazim have a long and dark history combined with living in Central and Eastern Europe. This has led to a rich folklore full of forests, doppelgangers, and questions over the complexity of a human soul.

Is witchcraft inherently feminist? Is the relationship even a good thing? And what does it mean nowadays to be a witch? Let’s look at the past, the present, and the personal, with reference to one of my favourite books.

From Charles Dickens to Daphne du Maurier, I love a quick spinechiller. Yes, I know, it’s nearly summer, but here are my six spooky short story suggestions, ideal for a skin-shivering quick read under a parasol…

What does the current law in the UK actually say, if anything, about witchcraft? In a country where now only a tenth of people believe in the Devil, is witchcraft still illegal? Is it even recognised in today’s legislation?

In the Nineties, it felt like witches were everywhere and witches were being seen; even more importantly, they were being seen as good and cool and normal, considering their exceptional powers.

Among the most intriguing things I learnt, as it was repeated many times over, was that there were more ghosts per square mile in England than in any other country in the world. But why should this be the case? – Roger Clarke, A Natural History of Ghosts