BS-Free Witchcraft (Nerd and Tie Network Feed)

95. An Honest Review of Thumper Forge’s “The Chaos Apple”

[https://www.nerdandtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/bsfwc-card95nt-150x150.jpg] Well, it must be May, because I’m doing another book review! This time around I’m reviewing Thumper Forge’s “The Chaos Apple” (ISBN 9780738775432) which came out last fall. It is, unsurprisingly, a book on Chaos Magic – a topic it turns out I knew more about than I realized. And while overall I liked this book a lot, it does have one glaring issue for me… but only because I’m a pedantic nerd. The annual Q&A/Feedback episode is coming up! I need your questions — send them via my contact form [https://www.bsfreewitchcraft.com/contact/] by July 10th 2026 if you want me to read your question on the show! > Find “The Chaos Apple” Online: > > > * Order The Chaos Apple on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Chaos-Apple-Magic-Discordianism-Postmodern/dp/0738775436] > * Order The Chaos Apple on Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-chaos-apple-magic-discordianism-for-the-postmodern-witch-thumper-forge/35184a5917f1e822?ean=9780738775432&next=t] > Pre-order Trae’s new Novel The Perfect Host – out August 10th! > > ISBN: 9798295897726 > > Pre-order eBook: Kindle [https://a.co/d/0fMHTP3p] / Kobo [https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-perfect-host-6] > > Pre-order Paperback: Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Host-MIA-Graves/dp/B0H1NX1XGW] / Bookshop.org [https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-perfect-host-trae-dorn/159863fbc9be7913?ean=9798295897726&next=t&next=t] > > > Also check out the rest of Trae’s Books [https://www.nerdandtie.com/books/trae-dorn/] and visit Trae’s website [https://www.trhonline.com/]. (And, of course, don’t forget this show is part of the Nerd & Tie Network [http://www.nerdandtie.com/], and funded by listeners like you via Patreon [http://www.patreon.com/traegorn]. Consider joining our Discord [http://www.nerdandtie.com/discord] or our forums [https://nerdandtie.social/]!) Music: “The Man With One Eye,” “So I Said It,” “Putz and Pulse,” “Untitled Nonsense” (Trae Dorn) / Random Loops (Apple Music Library) The post 95. An Honest Review of Thumper Forge’s “The Chaos Apple” [https://www.bsfreewitchcraft.com/2026/05/30/95-an-honest-review-of-thumper-forges-the-chaos-apple/] first appeared on Nerd & Tie Network [https://www.nerdandtie.com].

94. Respect

[https://www.nerdandtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/bsfwc-card94nt-150x150.jpg] One of the biggest challenges in building a real community in the modern witchcraft movement is, honestly, the lack of respect a lot of folks show each other. From asserting that unverified personal gnosis is fact to spreading misinformation, it’s a huge issue. Well, we need to fix that. > Pre-Order Welcome to Peregrine Lake: Peregrine Lake Chapter One > > ISBN: 9798348498733 > > Pre-Order: BookShop.org [https://bookshop.org/p/books/welcome-to-peregrine-lake-peregrine-lake-chapter-one-trae-dorn/da4ae59c229f30ed?ean=9798348498733&next=t] / Amazon [https://a.co/d/03bFo2y3] > > Or read the comic for free at www.peregrine-lake.com [https://www.peregrine-lake.com/] > > > Read Trae’s new Novel Buried Memories! > > ISBN: 9798349560958 > > eBook: Kindle [https://a.co/d/hcY9pds] / Kobo [https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/buried-memories-22] / ePub [https://www.patreon.com/posts/buried-memories-145633775] > > Paperback: Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Buried-Memories-Graves-Trae-Dorn/dp/B0FRG7VTJS/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] / BookShop.org [https://bookshop.org/p/books/buried-memories-trae-dorn/336da36139050c06] / Direct Order [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=gf9JElx4vsg1Uhnb85xqQL4sAVBAIET3KrWA4Bxd9lC] > > > Also check out the rest of Trae’s Books [https://www.trhonline.com/c/books/] and visit Trae’s website [https://www.trhonline.com/]. (And, of course, don’t forget this show is part of the Nerd & Tie Network [http://www.nerdandtie.com/], and funded by listeners like you via Patreon [http://www.patreon.com/traegorn]. Consider joining our Discord [http://www.nerdandtie.com/discord] or our forums [https://nerdandtie.social/]!) Music: “The Man With One Eye,” “So I Said It,” “Putz and Pulse,” “Untitled Nonsense” (Trae Dorn) / Random Loops (Apple Music Library) The post 94. Respect [https://www.bsfreewitchcraft.com/?p=1136] first appeared on Nerd & Tie Network [https://www.nerdandtie.com].

93. Gatekeeping.

[https://www.nerdandtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/bsfwc-card93nt-150x150.jpg] One of the topics I’ve wanted to cover on this show for the longest time is gatekeeping in witchcraft spaces. It was on my original list of topics when I started the show, and it just kept getting knocked down the list. My opinion has evolved a lot over the years though, and the take I have now is in many ways completely different than what it would have been if I’d made this episode when the show first started. And hopefully it’s a journey you’re willing to take with me. > Pre-Order Welcome to Peregrine Lake: Peregrine Lake Chapter One > > ISBN: 9798348498733 > > Pre-Order: BookShop.org [https://bookshop.org/p/books/welcome-to-peregrine-lake-peregrine-lake-chapter-one-trae-dorn/da4ae59c229f30ed?ean=9798348498733&next=t] / Amazon [https://a.co/d/03bFo2y3] > > Or read the comic for free at www.peregrine-lake.com [https://www.peregrine-lake.com/] > > > Read Trae’s new Novel Buried Memories! > > ISBN: 9798349560958 > > eBook: Kindle [https://a.co/d/hcY9pds] / Kobo [https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/buried-memories-22] / ePub [https://www.patreon.com/posts/buried-memories-145633775] > > Paperback: Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Buried-Memories-Graves-Trae-Dorn/dp/B0FRG7VTJS/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] / BookShop.org [https://bookshop.org/p/books/buried-memories-trae-dorn/336da36139050c06] / Direct Order [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=gf9JElx4vsg1Uhnb85xqQL4sAVBAIET3KrWA4Bxd9lC] > > > Also check out the rest of Trae’s Books [https://www.trhonline.com/c/books/] and visit Trae’s website [https://www.trhonline.com/]. (And, of course, don’t forget this show is part of the Nerd & Tie Network [http://www.nerdandtie.com/], and funded by listeners like you via Patreon [http://www.patreon.com/traegorn]. Consider joining our Discord [http://www.nerdandtie.com/discord] or our forums [https://nerdandtie.social/]!) Music: “The Man With One Eye,” “So I Said It,” “Putz and Pulse,” “Untitled Nonsense” (Trae Dorn) / Random Loops (Apple Music Library) The post 93. Gatekeeping. [https://www.bsfreewitchcraft.com/?p=1125] first appeared on Nerd & Tie Network [https://www.nerdandtie.com].

92. Curse Your Enemies

[https://www.nerdandtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/bsfwc-card92nt-150x150.jpg] A long time ago I made a joke post on Tumblr called “Beginner Witch Tips [https://www.tumblr.com/traegorn/652360315029291008/beginner-witch-tips?source=share]” where I included the advice to curse your enemies. I later recreated that list on TikTok too [https://www.tiktok.com/@traegorn/video/7018952707616623878]. But just like how the item “Fight a God [https://www.bsfreewitchcraft.com/2021/06/26/36-fight-a-god/]” went from tongue in cheek to genuine advice, this one was always partially serious too. So this month, I’m going to explain why I think you should just start dishing out the curses to everyone who deserves it. Remember, cursing is self care. > Pre-Order Welcome to Peregrine Lake: Peregrine Lake Chapter One > > ISBN: 9798348498733 > > Pre-Order: BookShop.org [https://bookshop.org/p/books/welcome-to-peregrine-lake-peregrine-lake-chapter-one-trae-dorn/da4ae59c229f30ed?ean=9798348498733&next=t] / Amazon [https://a.co/d/03bFo2y3] > > Or read the comic for free at www.peregrine-lake.com [https://www.peregrine-lake.com/] > > > Read Trae’s new Novel Buried Memories! > > ISBN: 9798349560958 > > eBook: Kindle [https://a.co/d/hcY9pds] / Kobo [https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/buried-memories-22] / ePub [https://www.patreon.com/posts/buried-memories-145633775] > > Paperback: Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Buried-Memories-Graves-Trae-Dorn/dp/B0FRG7VTJS/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] / BookShop.org [https://bookshop.org/p/books/buried-memories-trae-dorn/336da36139050c06] / Direct Order [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=gf9JElx4vsg1Uhnb85xqQL4sAVBAIET3KrWA4Bxd9lC] > > > Also check out the rest of Trae’s Books [https://www.trhonline.com/c/books/] and visit Trae’s website [https://www.trhonline.com/]. (And, of course, don’t forget this show is part of the Nerd & Tie Network [http://www.nerdandtie.com/], and funded by listeners like you via Patreon [http://www.patreon.com/traegorn]. Consider joining our Discord [http://www.nerdandtie.com/discord] or our forums [https://nerdandtie.social/]!) Music: “The Man With One Eye,” “Putz and Pulse,” “Untitled Nonsense” (Trae Dorn) / Random Loops (Apple Music Library) The post 92. Curse Your Enemies [https://www.bsfreewitchcraft.com/?p=1116] first appeared on Nerd & Tie Network [https://www.nerdandtie.com].

91. “Ancient” Practices

[https://www.nerdandtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/bsfwc-card91nt-150x150.jpg] There’s an annoying thing in the witchcraft community where every new idea or trend gets cast as an “ancient” practice even if it’s just a few years old. Time and time again, we see people constructing false narratives about the supposed historicity of ideas, spells, and rituals in witchcraft spaces, and all of it is bad for us. Why do people feel the need to lie? Why does something being a new idea make it less credible in people’s eyes? Why have we been doing this as a community from the start? So I thought about calling this “Older Doesn’t Mean Better Part 2” or “Older Doesn’t Mean Better Redux” since this is some of the same territory we covered back in episode 17 [https://www.bsfreewitchcraft.com/2019/11/30/17-older-doesnt-mean-better/], but I think I’ve gotten more surly on the topic over the last six years, and wanted to talk about it again. Also, I kind of forgot I’d recorded an episode on this when I was prepping the episode, but I like this version better. > Read Trae’s new Novel Buried Memories! > > ISBN: 9798349560958 > > eBook: Kindle [https://a.co/d/hcY9pds] / Kobo [https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/buried-memories-22] / ePub [https://www.patreon.com/posts/buried-memories-145633775] > > Paperback: Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Buried-Memories-Graves-Trae-Dorn/dp/B0FRG7VTJS/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] / Bookshop [https://bookshop.org/p/books/buried-memories-trae-dorn/336da36139050c06] / Direct Order [https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=gf9JElx4vsg1Uhnb85xqQL4sAVBAIET3KrWA4Bxd9lC] > > > Also check out the rest of Trae’s Books [https://www.trhonline.com/c/books/] and visit Trae’s website [https://www.trhonline.com/]. (And, of course, don’t forget this show is part of the Nerd & Tie Network [http://www.nerdandtie.com/], and funded by listeners like you via Patreon [http://www.patreon.com/traegorn]. Consider joining our Discord [http://www.nerdandtie.com/discord] or our forums [https://nerdandtie.social/]!) Music: “The Man With One Eye,” “So I Said It, “Putz and Pulse,” “Untitled Nonsense” (Trae Dorn) / Random Loops (Apple Music Library) The post 91. “Ancient” Practices [https://www.bsfreewitchcraft.com/?p=1106] first appeared on Nerd & Tie Network [https://www.nerdandtie.com].