S2 #81 / Dr Andrew Manns on Aradia & Roma Lister

In this episode of Spirit Box , I am joined by Dr Andrew Manns to discuss his forthcoming book, Aradia’s Hidden Hand: The Untold Life of Roma Lister (Hexen Press, September release). The conversation explores Roma Lister’s overlooked role in Victorian spiritualism and the occult, from her collaborations with Charles Godfrey Leland—including her involvement in the famous Aradia manuscript—to her contributions as a folklorist, occult writer, and mentor. Dr Manns traces her connections with Italian folk witchcraft and prominent figures such as Baroness Julia Rosencrantz, and her experimental blend of séances, folk magic, and Theosophy. Andrew also shares fresh insights into Leland’s influence on modern witchcraft, particularly how Aradia shaped Doreen Valiente’s Wiccan rituals, as well as his own discovery of newly uncovered correspondences between Leland and Lister. This is a show rich with the hidden histories of folklore, witchcraft, and Victorian spiritualism, shining new light on a woman whose legacy has long been obscured. Show notes: About the book The Thinkers Garden Roma Lister Charles G. Leland Aradia or the_Gospel_of_the_Witches Doreen Valiente Keep in touch?

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S2 #81 / Dr Andrew Manns on Aradia & Roma Lister is an episode from Spirit Box by Darragh Mason.

This episode is 00:51:00 long.

This episode was published on Sep 7, 2025.

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