You know how some kids grow up wanting to be fashion designers or athletes or I don't know

astronauts or podcasters. Well this might be one of the most millennial things I've ever said, but there was a time in middle school where I wanted to be a witch.

Now, my ultra-Christian parents absolutely hated this, but all of my allowance would go towards those little spooky

spellbooks that they sold in stores. You know, the ones that told you how to do love charms

on your crush. Those were the things that made a good sleepover. But it wasn't until I got older and started seriously researching this stuff

that I realized witchcraft isn't just about getting your crush to fall in love with you.

It can be a lot darker and a lot scarier. And to some people and certain

cultures it is a real serious business. That's how the people of Salem

Massachusetts felt back in 1692. And for the next year, more than 200 people

were accused of practicing witchcraft, and 19 of them were hanged for it.

And more than 300 years later, the Salem witch trials remained somewhat of a mystery,

but more importantly, they left a legacy,

and a never-ending fascination with witchcraft culture, one that I'm obsessed with.

I'm Ashley Flowers, and this is so supernatural.

Since Halloween is coming up, we wanted to do something extra special this week and

extra spooky. And what screams Halloween more than witches taking over a tiny Massachusetts town.

Am I right?

You are so right.

The Salem witch trial started in January of 1692 after a bunch of young girls in Salem came down with an illness that no one could explain.

They were having seizures and visions which the local doctor diagnosed as witchcraft. The search for the real culprits led to the infamous

Salem witch trials. The results were inconceivable with roughly 150 arrests and 19 people put to death. But even today

no one can really explain how something like this could have ever happened.

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