# Magic and Medicines #23: Exorcism

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-three-ravens-podcast-6092563/magic-and-medicines-23-exorcism
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-three-ravens-podcast-6092563/magic-and-medicines-23-exorcism.md
Podcast: [The Three Ravens Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-three-ravens-podcast-6092563)
Published: 2026-04-13T05:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.threeravenspodcast.com/
Audio file: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/open/s/6404e1f4c5ea8c0011811194/e/69db9c88f736e119c36f33f5/media.mp3
Processing state: processed
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-three-ravens-podcast-6092563/episodes/magic-and-medicines-23-exorcism
Duration seconds: 5058

## Resource

We're back in the saddle after Eleanor's operation and talking all about the history of Exorcism! One of those complex kinds of topic we so enjoy discussing on Magic and Medicines , belief in Exorcism is rather predicated on personal faith, including in Demons or other supernatural entities. It's also a tradition impossible to separate from the seminal movie The Exorcist of 1973 due to that film's staggering cultural impact. Thing is, Exorcism is a practice which seems to predate the written word. Almost every world religion has a version of it, with several forms of modern Paganism also embracing concepts of spirit manipulation and cleansing. So, how should we think of Exorcism as distinct from what's contained in The Exorcist? Why is it quite so popular with Catholics, and was it always? Can anybody become an Exorcist, and what protects vulnerable people from being taken advantage of by hucksters and worse? Also, should we not be thinking about Jesus and his Twelve Disciples as Exorcists, considering Exorcism is one of the things they are most celebrated for in the Gospels? Does this, in turn, mean many heroes of mystic Jewish tradition were actually the first Ghostbusters? As ever, we really hope you enjoy the episode and we will speak to you again on Thursday with our new Lang Fairy Tales episode before Saturday's release of Three Ravens Live @ Farnham Literary Festival! Three Ravens is an English Myth and Folklore podcast hosted by award-winning writers Martin Vaux and Eleanor Conlon. Released on Mondays, each weekly episode focuses on one of England's 39 historic counties, exploring the history, folklore and traditions of the area, from ghosts and mermaids to mythical monsters, half-forgotten heroes, bloody legends, and much, much more. Then, and most importantly…

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## Transcript

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