Religion & SpiritualitySpiritualityExplicit

Spirit Box

Darragh Mason

SPIRIT BOX
A podcast exploring folklore, esoterica and the mysteries of spirit world. From the secrets of the Jinn to the whisperings of demons and everything in between.

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20 episodes
fortnightly
Avg 53 min
English

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S2 · E101
August 14 · 43 min
S2 #101 Aidan Wachter, After the Fall: Imagining a Different Future
In this episode I sit down with Aidan for a wide-ranging conversation that starts with a personal catch-up and somehow takes us into animism, anarchism, mutual aid, sustainability and the possibility of creating a very different kind of society. Now this was recorded a few month ago (I've had a lot of life admin!) so some of the work Aidan mentions is out of date but you can find his latest offerings on his Patreon, the links to which are in the show notes.Aidan talks about his forthcoming book, Spirit and Stone: Animism in the Old Lines, his trance courses and his recent work within the pagan and occult community. From there, we get into the bigger questions about where we are as a society — and where we might go from here.We talk about Aidan’s After the Fall project and the idea of imagining a future beyond what he describes as “empire”: a society based more on care, cooperation and shared resources, rather than accumulation, scarcity and authoritarian power.We explore animism and mutual aid, community gardens, food sharing and the informal networks that already exist around us. We ask whether cooperation might actually be more fundamental to human and ecological life than the competitive model we've been taught to accept.We also get into some difficult territory. Why do people continue defending systems they know aren't working? Why have we tied so much of our identity and self-worth to money, work and material success? And how do we respond to scarcity, polarisation and the concentration of power without simply reproducing the same structures we're trying to move beyond?For me, one of the most interesting parts of this conversation is the question of whether we can actually imagine something different and whether imagining it is the first step towards making it possible.From ancestral “old lines” and trance work to permaculture, mutual aid and alternative ways of organising society, this is a conversation about awakening, resilience and the long, often difficult process of creating change, one person, one community and one generation at a time.Show notes:https://www.patreon.com/cw/aidanwachterKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E100
March 27 · 59 min
S2 #100 / Miss Vendredi on the Jinn and War
In this episode, I sit down with Miss Vendredi as she shares what it feels like to watch a war unfold in real time in the place she calls home. It’s been less than two weeks since the conflict began, and she describes the surreal, disorienting experience of seeing her own city appear on international news—under attack. Her family and friends are safe for now, but the emotional weight of constant alerts, uncertainty, and distance is immense. As we talk, it becomes clear that this didn’t begin with the first strike. Miss Vendredi tells me about the disturbing dreams and impressions she experienced in the weeks leading up to the conflict—something she connects to her ongoing work with the jinn. Normally, these spirits communicate in subtle, emotional currents, but lately, she says, that contact has become chaotic, urgent, almost frantic. It mirrors the state of the world itself. We move between the personal and the global. With tensions rising across multiple regions, Miss Vendredi is planning a group ritual for her community—an act of protection, maybe even resistance. From there, we get into the structure of jinn society: kings, elders, vast tribal networks, and their deep ties to land and culture. We talk about the fae, about taboos and bargains, and how different cultures describe strikingly similar encounters with non-human intelligences. From changelings in rural Ireland to jinn encounters across the Muslim world, the patterns are hard to ignore. Toward the end, Miss Vendredi opens up about how her own practice has shifted. She’s moved into more specialised work and tells me about strange warnings she believes she received before all of this began. This conversation moves through grief, fear, folklore, and spirit contact—but underneath it all is a single, uneasy feeling: that something is happening not just in our world, but alongside it. Show notes: remedialmagickalmentorship@gmail.com Miss Vendredi’s Pharaohs Club : https://buymeacoffee.com/mademoisellev Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E99
March 15 · 46 min
S2 #99 / The Cunning Farmer with Todd Elliott
What happens when you take ceremonial magic out of the ritual room and into the fields? This week I sat down once again with Todd Elliott, author of the newly released The Cunning Farmer: Agrarian Magical Practices, Mythology, and Folklore, to explore the rich intersection of esoteric tradition and working the land. Todd shares his journey from urban life to farming in Kentucky, where over nearly three decades he has woven together Western ceremonial magic, astrology, animism, and shamanic practice into a living, breathing spiritual path rooted in the soil. Drawing on the cunning folk of 17th-century Britain, the folklore collected by James Frazer and Alexander Carmichael, and the philosophical traditions of Hermeticism and Neoplatonism, Todd has developed a uniquely eclectic approach to land-based magic that is both historically grounded and deeply personal. Together we dig into how astrology and magic actually work, the role of spirits and consciousness in the natural world, and why restoring a sense of the sacred to agriculture matters more than ever. Todd also shares stories of ancient Adena mounds and Paleo-Indian arrowheads found on his own land, and reflects on what it means to work with the spirits of a place with respect and reverence. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or simply curious about the magical traditions woven into our relationship with nature, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. Show notes: The Cunning Farmer is available now. https://thecunningfarmer.substack.com Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E98
March 9 · 49 min
S2 #98 / Dr. Lenni George on The Rites of Hekate
In this episode of Spirit Box, I sit down with Dr. Lenni George to talk about her new book, The Rites of Hekate: From the Dirt to the Divine. Released in December and praised by Peter Mark Adams, it’s a rare work that stands firmly in both scholarship and lived devotional practice without compromising either. We explore how the book came into being, and the very personal experiences that shaped it. Lenni shares the story of creating her moon and poison gardens — six white-flowering beds dedicated to lunar rites, a Strophalos wheel set into the soil, and a dark moon garden of baneful plants. What began as a strange inner shove became something tangible, culminating in the discovery of an old key unearthed from the earth — a potent symbol for a goddess of thresholds. Our conversation moves into a powerful regression hypnotherapy session in which Lenni encountered herself as a deaf beggar woman in medieval Europe. That experience took on deeper meaning as she was writing about Hekate’s hordes — the gathering of the lost and the forgotten. Later, while teaching in Greece, she saw how deeply that current resonated with others who recognized their own experiences of grief, death, and exile within it. We also discuss: Hekate’s evolution from pre-Olympian titaness to Chaldean cosmic mediator — and her later distortion during the witch trials into a dark caricature of feminine power. How patriarchal narratives reshaped the image of the goddess, and why her resurgence now feels culturally significant. Lenni’s four-quadrant magical framework — beginning with dirt, ancestry, and embodied practice before reaching toward the cosmic and ceremonial. The necessity of critical thinking, ethical boundaries, and non-transactional devotion in serious magical work. Lenni also shares her transpersonal work, including encounters within what she calls her “inner lab,” and a striking experience with an entity known as the Timekeeper that reframed a personal health crisis through symbolic ritual. In the Plus Show, we go deeper into liminality — not as an aesthetic, but as a lived condition. We unpack Hekate’s role as psychopomp and threshold-walker, the metaphysics of in-between states, and why so many modern practitioners feel called to borderlands — social, ancestral, ecological, and spiritual. We talk crossroads rituals, altered states, hybrid identities, and the initiatory tension of standing between worlds. This is a conversation about soil and scholarship. About lost souls and moonlit rites. About grounding devotion in ethics and lived experience while still daring to stand at the crossroads. If you feel called to the threshold, this one’s for you. Show notes: Get the Book: https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/the-rites-of-hekate/dr-lenni-george/9781916756373?srsltid=AfmBOoqJkwtxuSU8BbDyfflNp0dyjadqJd2KLlCsGGCvn-2qyw6hGgpD House of Zophiel (Events) https://www.houseofzophiel.com/ Voice of Zophiel Podcast https://houseofzophiel.libsyn.com/
S2 · E97
March 1 · 45 min
S2 #97 / Angel Millar: Transcend the Chaos
In this episode of Spirit Box, I’m joined by author, creative director, and hypnotist Angel Millar to discuss his book Transcend the Chaos—a sharp and timely guide to navigating modern life in the age of artificial intelligence and what’s been called “liquid modernity.” Angel introduces the framework of the Six C’s—Connection, Creativity, Craft, Culture, Character, and Consciousness—and makes the case that in an unstable world, these deeply human qualities are no longer optional. We explore why most companies haven’t meaningfully benefited from AI despite the hype, why younger generations may be absorbing unseen costs, and why the real survival guide for the future is less about technology and more about character. We talk architecture, ritual and the erosion of meaning, martial arts as philosophical training, and why voluntarily facing difficulty builds resilience. Angel shares insights from his background in hypnosis, including the power of self-talk and self-hypnosis as tools for relaxation, creativity, and personal transformation. The conversation ranges widely—from presence and authority to the strategic use of strangeness, from habit formation and ten-minute disciplines to sleep, diet, and the importance of deep conversations in a world dominated by distraction. We also touch on mythology, the supernatural feminine, and the forgotten philosophical roots embedded in everyday cultural practices. This is a grounded, practical, and wide-ranging discussion about cultivating structure, meaning, and strength in a chaotic age. If you’re feeling the pressure of rapid change, this one offers perspective—and a path forward. Show notes: Angel Millar https://angelmillar.com Angel's insta https://www.instagram.com/angel.millar_author/ Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E96
February 13 · 45 min
S2 #96 / Jonas Kristensen on Awakening to Ascension: A Reiki Master’s Journey
In this episode of Spirit Box, I’m joined by Jonas Kristensen, a Reiki master from Denmark whose journey into energy healing and spiritual practice began with a profound awakening in his early twenties. Jonas comes from a background in podcasting and video creation, and now runs popular YouTube channels dedicated to Reiki healing, hypnosis, and mantra work. We talk about the books, experiences, and inner shifts that first opened him to expanded states of consciousness — from reading I Am the Word to experiencing powerful energy activations that changed the course of his life. Jonas shares how he focused on service to humanity, and how this led him to explore pranic healing and the transformative Twin Hearts Meditation. Jonas also opens up about his kundalini awakening and how it propelled him toward becoming a Reiki master. He explains Reiki as a universal life force that supports not only physical healing, but spiritual development, manifestation, and personal evolution. We explore what it really takes to walk this path — the lifestyle changes, character refinement, and heightened awareness that come with long-term energy work. We discuss the Twin Hearts Meditation in depth, its emphasis on selflessness and planetary healing, and why Jonas continues to recommend it even as his own practice evolves. He shares how he creates accessible Reiki sessions online, and why he encourages people to commit to at least 30 days of practice to develop genuine sensitivity and trust in the process. Our conversation also covers Reiki as a tool for manifestation, the balance between serving others and pursuing personal goals, and the idea of working in alignment with one’s highest good — even when that involves difficult lessons. Jonas reflects on how, over years of practice, his energy system has transformed, shifting from localised sensations to a full-body channel for healing and awareness. In the Plus Show, we explore themes of ascension, soul purpose, and spiritual discipline in modern life. Jonas offers practical advice for overcoming blockages and procrastination, speaks about protection through higher vibration, and touches on angelic realms, subtle entities, and the importance of embodied practice over abstract theory. Show notes: Reiki Master - Jonas Kristensen: Focused on Reiki energy healing sessions and spiritual guidance. www.youtube.com/@ReikiMasterJonasDivine Manifestor - Mantra Music and Reiki Healing: Offering mantra music combined with Reiki healing to facilitate meditation and manifestation practices. hwww.youtube.com/@divinemanifestorHypno Guru - Subliminal, Reiki, and Hypnosis: Focused on a combination of subliminals messages, reiki and hypnosis techniques for personal development. www.youtube.com/@HypnoGuru1111Maestro De Reiki - Jonas Kristensen: Free Reiki healing and empowerment aimed at helping the spanish speaking population. www.youtube.com/@ReikiMasterJonasSpanish Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E95
February 4 · 52 min
S2 #95 / Icy Sedgwick on Love Magic, Charms, and Folklore of the Heart
Just in time for Valentine’s Day, I’m joined by folklorist and writer Icy Sedgwick to celebrate the release of her new book Bring Me Love — a deep dive into the strange, beautiful, and sometimes unsettling traditions of love magic.We begin by talking about why it might make the perfect gift for lovers of folklore and the esoteric. From there, our conversation wanders through centuries of romantic divination, courtship rituals, and charm magic, including dumb cakes, St Mark’s Eve rituals, wishing wells, and the curious payments once made to fairies.Icy explains how love charms were passed down orally, how mistakes became tradition, and why simple, material-free magic was often the most powerful. She explains everyday divination with cheese, eggs, and household objects, and looks into deep connections between plants, flowers, and courtship — from yarrow and hemp seed spells to the Victorian language of flowers and the dangerous allure of the mandrake.We also venture into darker territory, with stories of poppets, sympathetic magic, and unsettling historical love spells, alongside more playful customs like shoe-throwing for marriage, Valentine’s bird omens, and cowslip divination games.In the Plus show we continue with Poppets, cartomancy and magic to stop one's lover straying. We also get into Icy's other work on ghostlore from around the world. And Icy tells me about her upcoming projects exploring Northumberland’s rich mythic landscape.It’s a wide-ranging, thoughtful, and often humorous conversation about love, magic, and the human need to seek connection — whether through flowers, charms, spirits, or superstition.Show notes:Get the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bring-Me-Love-Finding-Divination/dp/1786789744/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0 Icy's Books: https://www.icysedgwick.com/books/ Fabulous Folklore Podcast: https://pod.co/fabulous-folklore-with-icy Icy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/icysedgwick Icy's Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/ladyicypopKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E94
January 31 · 44 min
S2 #94 / Judith Dillon on the Rune Mysteries
In this episode of Spirit Box, I’m joined by researcher and author Judith Dillon for a deep conversation about runes, alphabets, and the hidden patterns behind magical and divinatory traditions.We talk about Judith’s latest book 'Futhark Rune Mysteries, Origins of Magic and Divination in the Primal Alphabet' on the mysteries of the Germanic runes and trace their roots back to ancient Semitic alphabets and Egyptian hieroglyphs. Along the way, we explore how early writing systems, oracle traditions, and symbolic templates share remarkable similarities across cultures — from Celtic tree lore and tarot to nursery rhymes and sacred texts.Focusing on the first four runes, Judith unpacks their mythological, magical, and life-cycle symbolism, showing how they map stages of human development, healing, and spiritual transformation. She also shares fascinating insights into how ancient systems preserved meaning through precise positioning and pattern, even as languages evolved — including the remarkable history of the Hebrew Torah script.We move through mystery traditions, underworld myths, celestial cycles, and the enduring power of symbolic order in human culture, reflecting on why these ancient systems still matter today.This is a thoughtful and illuminating conversation for anyone interested in runes, esotericism, ancient knowledge systems, and the deep architecture of meaning behind our oldest symbols.Show notes:https://www.innertraditions.com/futhark-rune-mysteriesKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E93
January 14 · 50 min
S2 #93 / Chad Andro on Animal Spirits & Wild Thresholds
In this episode of Spirit Box, I sit down with Chad Andro, host of the podcast Radical Elphame, to talk about his journey into witchcraft, animism, and the search for right relation while living inside an imperial system. Chad reflects on an early entheogenic awakening and his eventual move away from chaos magic toward traditional witchcraft, fairy lore, and a more primal, land-rooted practice shaped by initiation rather than belief. We explore animal encounters as genuine moments of spiritual threshold—bears appearing during ritual, deer as initiators, and the presence of wolves, foxes, and owls in magical work. Our conversation moves through symbolism, shamanic experience, and the difficulty of maintaining spiritual seriousness in a modern, distracted world. We also reflect on what it means to practise witchcraft beyond self-improvement, and how magic can force a reckoning with fear, responsibility, and moral consequence. In the Plus episode, our conversation turns to Chad’s work as a winemaker and his experience of creating talismanic wine as offerings. Chad explains how wine, intention, labour, and land become inseparable in devotional magic, and shares the thinking behind a recent occult-focused wine release designed to be worked with rather than collected. From there, we move into podcasting and writing as acts of discipline and devotion, Chad’s Substack work, and the writers currently shaping his thinking, including Lee Morgan’s A Deep Without Name. We end by talking frankly about empire, exhaustion, and the uneasy possibility that real transformation—personal and collective—may only come through collapse, and what it means to try to remain in right relation as that process unfolds. Show notes: Chad on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radicalelphame/ Chad's substack: https://thefoliatehead.substack.com A deed without a name: https://www.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/products/deed-without-a-name-a-unearthing-the-legacy-of-traditional-witchcraft-book-lee-morgan-9781780995496?sku=GOR006392626 Radical Elphame podcast Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E92
January 4 · 47 min
S2 #92 / Robert Peter on Working with Angels
In this episode of Spirit Box, I’m joined by Robert Peter to talk about what it actually means to work with angels—beyond dogma, aesthetics, or blind faith. Robert shares his journey into angelic practice and how consistent guidance, personal resistance, and hard-earned sincerity shaped the way he works today. What emerges is a grounded, practical approach to angelic contact rooted in discernment, self-knowledge, and emotional stability. We talk about angelic encounters, synchronicities, prayer, and communication without assuming a fixed religious framework, alongside the importance of personalisation, skepticism, and virtue as an active magical principle rather than a moral performance. Robert reflects on how angels often redirect our desires toward what we actually need, not what we think we want, and why sincerity consistently outweighs technique. In the Plus Show, we go deeper into the risks of angelic work: spiritual inflation, obsession, misinterpretation, and the very real danger of losing grounding. We speak frankly about spiritual psychosis, misplaced certainty, and the ways online magical culture can amplify delusion rather than understanding. We also get into therapy as a magical tool, the importance of keeping some practices private, and how to stay human while working with forces that don’t always encourage that. This episode is less about summoning angels and more about becoming someone capable of listening to them without losing yourself in the process. Show notes: https://robertpetermagi.substack.com https://www.instagram.com/robertpeterservices/ Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
Dec 24, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min
S2 #91 / Peter Grey on Lucifer Praxis; the Spirit of Liberty
In this episode I’m joined by author and Scarlet Imprint founder Peter Grey for a wide-ranging conversation around his book Lucifer Praxis—a work that approaches Lucifer not as a static figure or moral symbol, but as a living current of rebellion, imagination, and spiritual authority. We explore the deep mythic roots of Lucifer and the fallen angels, tracing them from ancient sources and early biblical material—where these beings were associated with the transmission of magic and forbidden knowledge—through their later demonisation under Christianity. Peter explains how John Milton’s Paradise Lost radically reshaped the image of Lucifer, transforming him into a defiant figure whose influence carried forward into Romanticism through writers like Blake, Shelley, and Byron, helping to form the foundations of modern Luciferian thought. Our conversation moves through early Christian exorcism and its relation to grimoire magic conjuration and Pauline theology. We also spend time on Peter’s argument that the French Revolution of 1789 marked a decisive cultural rupture—a symbolic regicide and deicide that signalled the death of God and the emergence of a modern Luciferian worldview. Paris itself becomes part of this story, reshaped through monuments, symbolism, and revolutionary ritual. Peter also outlines his approach to magical practice and teaching: drawing on ancient traditions while deliberately avoiding rigid systems or prescriptive methods. We discuss the importance of personal gnosis, the risks of over-identifying with deities, and the need for open structures that allow practitioners to find their own way into the spirit world. Show notes: Get the book: https://scarletimprint.com/publications/p/lucifer-praxis John Milton - Paradise Lost: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradise_Lost William Blake: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Blake Percy Bysshe Shelly: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Percy_Bysshe_Shelley Lord Byron: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord_Byron Romantic poetry: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romantic_poetry The Book of Enoch: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Enoch The French Revolution: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Revolution Louis XVI: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_XVI The Spirit of Liberty: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_Column Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E88
Dec 15, 2025 · 56 min
S2 #90 / Kate Ray on Hauntings, Fairies and the Wollaton Gnomes
In this episode, I sit down with paranormal investigator, researcher, and author Kate Ray for a conversation that wanders through fear, folklore, and the many strange beings that linger just outside our line of sight. Kate begins by telling me how she stumbled into paranormal investigation almost against her will — starting with a night at St Breville’s Castle that absolutely terrified her, but ultimately broke the lifelong fear of ghosts that had held her back. That moment pushed her into Barry Guy’s events team, and set her on the path to becoming the investigator she is now. As we talked, she traced how her understanding of the supernatural shifted over the years, shaped by experiences in both her childhood home and a deeply haunted house she lived in throughout the late 90s. We found ourselves comparing notes on haunted properties. Kate spoke about the oppressive atmosphere, strange smells, and constant noises she lived with for years, and I shared some of my own memories and we reflected on how that atmosphere can feel suffocating until, eventually, fear gives way to curiosity. Then the conversation took a fascinating turn. Kate outlined her theory that many poltergeist cases may actually be fairy activity rather than the spirits of the dead. She talked about the electrical nature of fairies, the mischievous, non-human logic that underpins coin drops and strange object movements, and how these behaviours align with centuries of folklore. She’s noticed more people reporting this kind of activity, and attributes that partly to her efforts to reintroduce fairy lore to the paranormal community. Kate recounted a chilling case she investigated — a family plagued by rippling walls, frantic footsteps, and coins dropping out of nowhere. She had gone there just to interview them, but ended up witnessing things that are astonishing. Kate shared more of her personal cases, including working as a psychic artist on Help My House Is Haunted. She described remote impressions of a grumpy spirit and dark masses, the moment something grabbed her coat on location, and the uncanny realisation that her sketch matched a photograph of a former homeowner. We finished with the story of her book on the Wollaton Gnomes, the 1979 incident where children encountered hovering gnomes in cars in a deer park. The idea arrived while she was writing for Dr. Simon Young, and the book practically wrote itself within seven days, through what she describes as automatic writing. This episode is a weave of hauntings, folklore, high strangeness, and the strange intelligences that share the world with us — and Kate’s insights remind me again and again just how thin the veil really is. Show notes: Kate's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kateharegirl/?hl=en-gb Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HareGirlparanormal/ Hare in the Hawthorn Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kateharegirlray Woolly Snotts: The Curious Case of the Wollaton Gnomes: https://amzn.eu/d/3TUzJ5f Support the show: https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E89
Dec 4, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
S2 #89 / Niina Niskanen on Soul of Vellamo Finnish Goddess of the Sea
In this episode, Finnish folklorist, artist, and pagan practitioner Niina Niskanen joins us to explore the ancient waters of Finnish mythology and the animistic worldview that shaped her homeland. We dive deep into her upcoming book Soul of Vellamo Journey with the Finnish Gods of the Sea—a work that traces the evolution of Finland’s sea deities from their Neolithic, shamanic roots to the later poetic, song-based traditions that survive today.Niina guides us through the three-layered Finnish cosmos, where sea goddesses like Vellamo and the thunder god Ukko still ripple through the culture, and where every element—fire, earth, air, and water—holds its own väki, a sacred animating force. We talk offerings, sauna rites, hair magic, and the rituals woven into daily life by fishermens, hunters, and healers who lived in relationship with the spirits around them.From underwater kingdoms and cows of the sea, to the boundary-walking goddesses of healing and travel, Niina offers a rare glimpse into the living heart of Suomenusko, Finnish pre-Christian belief. She shares personal experiences with deities like Vellamo, Loviatar, and Mielikki, and reflects on how modern environmental spirituality echoes these ancient traditions.We also explore the deep cultural importance of the sauna as a liminal, ritual space—birthplace, death house, and magical threshold—and uncover surprising resonances between Finnish folklore and Irish, Baltic, Slavic, and Scandinavian traditions.Show notes:https://fairychamber.org/en-eurhttps://www.instagram.com/fairychamberart/ Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E88
Nov 27, 2025 · 1 hr
S2 #88 / Magic’s Decline, Magic’s Return with Aidan Wachter and Tommie Kelly
In this episode, I sit down with Aidan Wachter and Tommie Kelly for a long, searching conversation about the state of modern magic and how our practices—and our lives—are changing under cultural and personal pressures. We start with the sense that magic doesn’t always work the way it used to. Aidan shares his thoughts on why: the sheer difficulty of magical training, the problems with visualization-heavy systems, and how easily magic becomes another cog in the productivity machine. Together, we look at how these pressures strip practitioners of depth, patience, and wonder.From there, we challenge the “scout badge” approach that creeps into contemporary magic, where achievement replaces mystery. We talk about how capitalism, Catholic symbolism, and our own preferences quietly shape the language we use for spiritual experience, often without our noticing.Rest and downtime become a major thread in our discussion. After dealing with injuries myself, I’ve come to understand rest as a crucial—if neglected—aspect of spiritual work. Tommie and Aidan echo this, speaking about burnout, financial pressures, and the emotional cost of manifesting major life changes. We compare fast, results-oriented magic with slower, more traditional spiritual paths, and consider why the latter often produces more sustainable transformation.We then turn to the digital world and how constant stimulation affects our sense of wonder. Aidan reflects on practicing Chaos Magic in the 1980s with almost no external influence, and how that solitude fostered originality. In contrast, today’s nonstop feed of content makes deep practice and introspection much harder. That leads us into a conversation about authenticity, personal flaws, and how childhood—and identity—now unfold under the surveillance of social media.I share how aligning my life with seasonal rhythms has shifted my work and well-being, especially as I’ve moved toward agricultural patterns.In the Plus Show Aidan and Tommie talk about stepping back from the news cycle to protect mental health while still being ready to act when real crises arise. This naturally leads us into discussing global events, helplessness, empathy, and the balance between what concerns us and what we can actually influence.The conversation also takes on the broader societal picture: eroding trust in institutions, the fragility of rights, government overreach, and the unsettling realization that much of the order we rely on is more fragile than we’d like to believe. Aidan speaks to the need for public witness when legal and civic norms break down, and we look at the strange impotence of a world where everything is documented yet little changes.We return to animism as a lived practice. Aidan shares his approach to maintaining balance within a wider ecosystem of spirits, people, and land, rather than chasing specific outcomes. We also talk about our societies structural problems and the uncomfortable truth that sometimes things must fall apart before they can be remade.Show notes:https://www.patreon.com/cw/aidanwachterhttps://www.patreon.com/c/tommiekelly/postsKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E87
Nov 7, 2025 · 59 min
S2 #87 / Emmet Louis on the Outer Court
In this episode of Spirit Box, I sit down once again with Emmet to explore the work of William G. Gray, a complex figures in modern Western occultism. We dive into Gray’s writings and his book An Outlook on Our Inner Western Way, discussing how his ideas about spiritual attainment still hold power despite his very human flaws. Emmet speaks candidly about Gray’s complicated legacy and we talk about the challenge of engaging with material that’s both insightful and uncomfortable. Emmet shares how the idea of the “outer court” influenced his approach to teaching, and we explore the strange value of misleading or flawed material in spiritual traditions — how even the wrong turn can lead you somewhere meaningful. In the Plus Show, we go deeper. We talk about magic as a living practice — the role of vibes and intuition, and how real teaching often happens through non-verbal transmission rather than formal instruction. Emmet reflects on his own experiences with magical schools, the lessons learned from conflict, and how discernment becomes a crucial tool in finding the right teachers. We also discuss how personal and cultural symbols intertwine, how to interpret your own visionary language, and how sincerity cuts through the aesthetic traps that often surround esoteric work. The conversation winds through 19th-century occultism, folk magic, and the literary imagination of that era — all the ways the past continues to whisper through our practices today. It’s a rich and honest discussion about what it really means to walk the Western Way — with all its contradictions, revelations, and moments of magic in the mundane. Show notes: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2884410-outlook-on-our-inner-western-way https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/outlook-on-our-inner-western-way-william-g-gray/1012354701;jsessionid=A81241F159DB9A9D62A460E4E302382D.prodny_store01-atgap18 Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E86
Oct 28, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min
S2 #86 / Gary Lachman, Touched by The Presence
In this episode of Spirit Box, I’m joined by Gary Lachman — musician, writer, and author of twenty-six books on Western esotericism — for a conversation that spans from the Bowery to the astral.Gary was the bassist for Blondie during their early New York years, and shares his journey from a childhood fascination with comics to his time living in a loft with Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, where a flamboyant biker artist introduced him to Aleister Crowley. That encounter, and a fateful read of Colin Wilson’s The Occult, set him on a lifelong path through the hidden corridors of consciousness, mysticism, and philosophy.We talk about precognitive dreams and telepathy, the strange electrical accident that may have opened psychic doors, and how a shared dream with his girlfriend became the Blondie song “Touched by Your Presence.” Gary reflects on his shift from rock and roll to writing, his time as a science journalist, and his enduring fascination with thinkers like Gurdjieff, Robert Anton Wilson, and Arthur Koestler.The conversation also explores Gary’s “naturalist” approach to magic — a focus on direct experience rather than dogma — and his philosophy of daily writing as an esoteric practice in itself. Along the way, we touch on David Bowie, near-death encounters, and the lasting influence of Colin Wilson on his work. Show notes: https://www.gary-lachman.com https://www.instagram.com/gvlachman/ https://www.innertraditions.com/touched-by-the-presence Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
Oct 18, 2025 · 54 min
S2 #85 / Solomon Pakal on Mayan Astrology
In this episode I’m joined by Meso-American occultist and historian Solomon Pakal for a wide-ranging exploration of Indigenous magic and its place in modern discourse. Drawing on his background in Indigenous American traditions, Solomon takes us deep into Mayan ceremonial magic, ancestral veneration, and the role of intermediary spirits, while challenging how Indigenous practices are too often romanticised, distorted, or appropriated in Western esotericism. We discuss the ten types of Maya spirituality beyond the academic five, the significance of corn in cosmology, and the role of daykeepers who maintain the sacred calendar and its thaumaturgic functions. Solomon explains the practice of Nagualism, the power of hieroglyphic language, and the Koyopa system of energy work distinct from the Vedic chakras. We also explore the vast and sophisticated ceremonial structures of Meso-america, their cosmological systems, and how narrative and “living stories” function as a kind of hypersigilmagic. In the Plus show, Solomon expands on these themes, delving deeper into narrative worship, geospatial magic, and the hidden sophistication of Mesoamerican energetic practices. The conversation takes unexpected turns, from the obsidian mirror of John Dee—possibly Aztec in origin—and its link to Enochian spirits, to the enigmatic “Ritual of the Angels” from the Books of Chilam Balam, with its unique vision of celestial ascent. Solomon connects Indigenous American practices to Western occult traditions, making the case for why these systems remain vital and relevant today. And in a surprising parallel, we turn to combat sports as a living theatre of magic—from Conor McGregor’s meteoric rise and fall to the uncanny similarities with Ilia Topuria’s ascent. We explore how both fighters embody narrative enchantment, peak performance, and the dangerous glamour of meteoric success. Solomon also shares his own training experiences and the role of ritual in the fight game, showing how magic finds expression in the octagon as much as in the temple. Enjoy Show notes: https://www.solomonpakal.com/https://substack.com/@solomonpakal?utm_source=about-pagehttps://www.facebook.com/SolomonPakal13/https://www.instagram.com/solomon.pakal/https://www.youtube.com/@SolomonPakal Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E84
Oct 10, 2025 · 46 min
S2 #84 / Lee Morgan on The Rag and Bone Man
In this episode of Spirit Box I’m joined by author and witch, Lee Morgan, to discuss his new title 'The Rag and Bone Man'. which is due out in November and is currently available for pre-order. Lee's work has been a big inspiration to me so it was a real pleasure to talk to him and we had a rich conversation that moved between witchcraft, storytelling, and the strange gothic landscapes of Tasmania.We talked about the genesis of The Rag and Bone Man, a project that began as a novel and grew into a fusion of fiction, research, and grimoire. Lee spoke about writing in trance-like states, about stories that come from spirits themselves, and about the way fiction can become the proper vessel for truths that can’t be held by fact.From there we wandered into the realm of Tasmanian Gothic—its haunted histories, its spirits, and its place in Lee’s search for a writer’s voice between England, Australia, and Tasmania.In the Plus show we explored spiritualism, witchcraft, and the strange physical manifestations of mediumship, alongside the recurring motifs that weave through Lee’s body of work.Our discussion also turned to the craft of writing: the patience it requires, the toll it can take, and the gift of treating creativity as a form of spiritual inheritance. Lee described how characters arrive as if alive, how stories can heal and transform, and how witchcraft itself deepens one’s experience of the world.Along the way we touched on Irish myth, storytelling traditions, the relationship between spirit and text, and the global reach of Lee’s magical writing.Show notes:The Rag and Bone Man https://www.crossedcrowbooks.com/shop...Lee's Patreon / u19417687 Lee's website https://www.leemorganbooks.com/Lee on Instagram / ensorsmasks Sounds of Infinity https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sounds-Infin...Rag and Bone man historical reference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rag-and...Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason
S2 · E83
Oct 3, 2025 · 58 min
S2 #83 / Coby Michael on the Poison Path
In this episode of Spirit Box I’m joined by plant magic practitioner Coby Michael, author of The Poison Path Grimoire. We explore the strange, intoxicating world of poisonous and psychoactive plants—their history, their spirits, and their place in witchcraft and dark herbalism. Coby shares how his work with these plants led him to classify them into Saturnian, Mercurial, and Venusian types, each carrying its own current of power: the baneful and chthonic, the entheogenic and mercurial, the seductive and Venusian. We talk about how these correspondences emerged through practice and research, and how he incorporates glyphs, runes, and ritual into his work. Our conversation also turns to the wild, generative forces of nature—trickster currents linked to Pan and Dionysius—that challenge order and offer paths of transformation. We look at the way these energies surface in borderlands, wilderness, and even in the chaos of cities. Coby speaks openly about his own healing journey and recovery from opioid addiction, and how plant spirits such as belladonna became unlikely allies in that process, echoing their forgotten role in medicine and ritual. It’s a rich and far-reaching discussion—one that moves between folklore, plant spirit communication, vampiric herbs, and the strange balance between poison and healing. Show notes: instagram.com/poisonersapothecary facebook.com/poisonersapothecary patreon.com/poisonersapothecary thepoisonersapothecary.com Keep in touch https://www.patreon.com/cw/spiritbox
S2 · E82
Sep 15, 2025 · 47 min
S2 #82 / Tracy St. Croi on Mediumship, boundaries and Haunted Road Trips2
In todays episode, I sit down with medium Tracy St. Croi from Austin, Texas. Tracy shares her journey into mediumship, from her first encounters with spirits to her intensive training at the Arthur Findlay College in England. We talk about the challenges of embracing psychic gifts, the ethics of mediumship, and why boundaries are essential when dealing with the spirit world. Tracy also tells me about her hit TV series Haunted Road Trips Show—currently number one on Binge TV—which takes a fresh, educational approach to paranormal investigation. She recounts standout cases, including the Black Swan Inn in San Antonio, the Kyle Pioneer Cemetery, and even a haunted doll with a story of its own. In the Plus Show, Tracy and I go deeper into the soul’s journey, past lives, reincarnation, and the ethical responsibilities of psychic mediums. We also discuss how to find a trustworthy mentor, set boundaries with spirit, and what’s coming up in season two of Haunted Road Trips Show. Show notes: The Haunted Road trips show https://www.youtube.com/@HauntedRoadTripsShow Tracy's website https://www.tracystcroimedium.com The Arthur Findlay College https://www.arthurfindlaycollege.org Tracy's Patreon https://www.patreon.com/hauntedroadtripsshow Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tracyst.croimedium Binge TV https://trybinge.tv/programs/haunted-road-trips-show Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

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