Today on the one year anniversary of Radical Elphame, we invite back the guest who helped us kick off this peculiar experiment: the delightful Briar of The Greene Chapel. We explore a recent essay she published on her Greene Chapel site: "The Lady with a Mead Cup," which dives into the primordial image of a virginal Cup Bearer, and how this mythopoetics relates to divinely inspired poetic inspiration and prophecy as a sacred ritual. We untangle the labyrinthian mystery of the Celtic "imbas forosnai," and its relationship to the lady of the day: Brighid. We do some UPG mind melding as well, exploring the relationship between Brighid and her theorized Mothers: The Morrigan AND Boann. It was such a blast reconnecting with Briar, and getting to celebrate Imbolc with someone who can capture and crystalize the essence of Brighid better than anyone.

SHOW NOTES:

The Greene Chapel - https://www.greenechapel.com

Briar's Patreon: Briar of the Greene Chapel

Briar's Chapbook: The Beheading Game

Briar's Course: Working With Joan of Arc as Saint of the French Fairy Faith

Briar's IG: greene_chapel

MUSIC:

"Stormy Point / Back of Beyond / The Seamstress" off the album Fable & Fire by Andrew Marlin - https://www.andrewmarlin.com

We welcome back to the show the seership super group that is Rose Auroras, B. Key and Sfinga for a scryers round table: Unsolved Mysteries edition. We chat about the philosophy behind the practice of scrying, and what it's like to teach the technique to others. We also go through a greatest hits of the weirdest shit they've ever scryed — from Unsolved Mysteries, to paranormal hotspots and infamous people — and what insights they were able to glean. We also chat horror movies, cursed films, and summon good ol' Bobby Eggnog.   

SHOW NOTES:

Sfinga and Key's website: With Cunning and Command Website

Sfinga and Key's Podcast: The Frightful Howls You May Hear

Rose's Website: Readings with Rose

Salem Witchfest: All of our guests today will be presenting in 2025

Sfinga's IG: Dragoncunning

B. Key's IG: Barnowl.key

Rose's IG: RoseAuroras

Horror Film Recommendation: In the Tall Grass (2019)

MUSIC:

"Stormy Point / Back of Beyond / The Seamstress" off the album Fable & Fire by Andrew Marlin - https://www.andrewmarlin.com

Today we welcome back my friend C.R. Sanders to the show for the first in person recording! We have a freewheelin' chat about CR's recent travels to Glastonbury, the mysterious nature of our human interactions with the numinous, and the magical sense of place we can uncover when we engage deeply with the land and culture of a given local. It was great getting to catch up and shoot the shit under the shadow of Mount Shasta.   

SHOW NOTES:

C.R.'s Website: https://lalanomicon.com/

Alien Encounters: Fact or Fiction: HBO MAX

MUSIC:

"Stormy Point / Back of Beyond / The Seamstress" off the album Fable & Fire by Andrew Marlin - https://www.andrewmarlin.com

For the last show of the year, we're joined by the legendary Morgan Daimler. Morgan is a writer, a teacher of esoteric subjects, and a practitioner very well acquainted with the Othercrowd. We explore two of her most recent non-fiction books: Fairy: The Otherworld by Many Names, and Celtic Fairies in North America — both fascinating reads that feel very much of a piece to me.  We dive into some of the more "thought experiment" approaches Morgan employs in these books that tug at the evergreen mystery: what is the nature of fairy? We also chat about a tagline of Morgan's own Feed the Fairies podcast: "Fae Propaganda," and what the implications of promoting engagement with the folklorically feared Othercrowd means. I'm so grateful to close out the year with such a great chat.   

SHOW NOTES: 

Morgan's Books: Author Page

Feed the Fairies Podcast: Spotify Link

Morgan's Patheos Blog: Patheos Pagan

Morgan's Classes: Irish Pagan School

Morgan's Instagram: @morgandaimler

MUSIC:

"Stormy Point / Back of Beyond / The Seamstress" off the album Fable & Fire by Andrew Marlin - https://www.andrewmarlin.com

Today on the show we chat with Chaise Levy of Northern Spirit House podcast. Chaise is a father, husband and storytelling sorcerer based in Northern California. We talk about the ideas and approaches behind his workshop with the School of Mythopoetics on Skaldskapr (Poetic Story Magic) — from historiola to engaging the mythic. We also explore the complex reality of engaging with a magical practice while parenting a young family — the difficulties, the inspiration, and the unexpected insights. To wrap up, Chaise shares a bit about a new workshop he's working on around our animistic relationship with Amanita Muscaria, the Fly Agaric mushroom of lore. 

SHOW NOTES: 

Chaise's Website: chaiselevy.com

Northern Spirit House Podcast: Spotify Link

Northern Spirit House Substack: Substack

Skaldskapr Course: School of Mythopoetics

Chaise's Instagram: @telluric_tounges

MUSIC:

"Stormy Point / Back of Beyond / The Seamstress" off the album Fable & Fire by Andrew Marlin - https://www.andrewmarlin.com

Today on the show we have the delightful Nay Noordmans of House of Gnomi to talk about the Saint beloved as much by Faeries and chthonic deities as by the good Catholics of Tours: Saint Martin. In honor of his feast day — and Old Halloween — Nay takes us on a deep dive of the life of Saint Martin, and we explore some of the more novel and whimsical moments in his hagiography. Nay also delves into how Saint Martin plays a role in the classic Fortean story of the Green Children of Woolpit, and might himself blur the lines between Saint and psychopomp at times. In what is sure to be the first of many conversations with Nay, we also explore the idea of the "Faerie Saint" as an intercessor for the magical practitioner, and where Fortean studies could be contextualized with magical philosophy.   

SHOW NOTES: 

House of Gnomi: https://www.instagram.com/houseofgnomi/

Nay's Links: https://linktr.ee/houseofgnomi

MUSIC:

"Stormy Point / Back of Beyond / The Seamstress" off the album Fable & Fire by Andrew Marlin - https://www.andrewmarlin.com

Today on the show we have a special Halloween hangover episode, with the hosts of the Southern Bramble podcast: Austin Fuller and Marshall the Witch of Southern Light. I've been a big fan of their show for a while now, and really appreciate the ideas and perspectives they've been promoting in the wider witchcraft community. We talk about Traditional Witchcraft — where it's going, how it got here — and how Marshall and Austin's practices have evolved during that journey. We explore the complicated modifier of "folk" in the context of a magical practice, the rise (or resurgence) of dual faith spirituality, reclaiming eclecticism, and the fundamental role of creativity in witchcraft.  

SHOW NOTES: 

Southern Bramble Podcast: Spotify Link

The Red Mother by Marshall WST: Marshall's new book!

Marshall's Links: https://linktr.ee/WitchofSouthernLight 

Austin's Site: https://www.banexbramble.com/

Austin's Links: https://linktr.ee/Banexbramble

MUSIC:

"Stormy Point / Back of Beyond / The Seamstress" off the album Fable & Fire by Andrew Marlin - https://www.andrewmarlin.com

Today on the show we have the wonderful Jo Hickey-Hall of The Modern Fairy Sightings podcast. Jo is a Folklorist, Researcher, Social Historian, and an engaged practitioner. We talk about the novel age we're living in, where Fairy sightings appear to be the rise, and what might be behind that trajectory. Jo describes exploring the phenomenon through both academic and folkloric studies, as well as via magical pursuits. Jo also graciously shares an incredible story of an experience she had while performing an energy healing on a love one during an intense and dire moment. It was a real treat to turn the microphone around on Jo for a while, and hear more about the creator of such a personally beloved show. 

 

SHOW NOTES: 

The Modern Fairy Sightings Podcast: https://www.scarlettofthefae.com/the-modern-fairy-sightings-podcast/

Jo's Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOWBU36ADJMVxngGPFF9aSA

MUSIC:

"Stormy Point / Back of Beyond / The Seamstress" off the album Fable & Fire by Andrew Marlin - https://www.andrewmarlin.com

ART:

Painting by Katharine Cameron

Today on the show we have the delightful Rose Auroras and B. Key. Both are accomplished seers and scryers with a strong foundation in folkloric and spirit-led techniques, but also a fascination with the modern incarnation of some of these skills — most often under the umbrella term "psi." We dive into the groovy world of the US Government's Psychic Spy Programs in the 70's and 80's, Remote Viewing, the Gateway Tapes, CE5, and where these topics intersect with more folkloric seership practices. We also talk UFOs, some personal experiences, and inspired by Rose and Key's shenanigan's of scrying "Unsolved Mysteries" topics in their spare time, we all have a go at scrying the mysterious Mount Shasta.

SHOW NOTES:

Readings with Rose: https://www.roseauroras.com/

With Cunning and Command Website: https://withcunningandcommand.com/

The Frightful Howls You May Hear podcast: https://thefrightfulhowlsyoumayhear.libsyn.com/site

MUSIC:

"Stormy Point / Back of Beyond / The Seamstress" off the album Fable & Fire by Andrew Marlin - https://www.andrewmarlin.com

ART:

Painting by Ingo Swann

Sfinga joins us from The Frightful Howls You May Hear podcast, and With Cunning and Command. Sfinga is a traditional witch and diviner from the Balkans, as well as an initiate of Brazilian Quimbanda. We talk about Sfinga's incredible podcast, and the unique philosophies that inform its expert approach to a diverse array of spiritual and occult topics, all while maintaining a disarming, casual ,and communal tone. Sfinga also dives deep into the witchlore of the Balkans including the region's unique expression of dragons and The Vila. We also talk about the complex and powerful experience of incorporating spiritual currents from vastly different cultures into a single life. Sfinga is a fascinating thinker and a gracious communicator, and such a pleasure to chat with.

SHOW NOTES:

With Cunning and Command Website: https://withcunningandcommand.com/

The Frightful Howls You May Hear podcast: https://thefrightfulhowlsyoumayhear.libsyn.com/site

POEM:

Obilić Dragon's Son: https://sr.wikisource.org/sr-el/Милош_Обилић_змајски_син

MUSIC:

"Stormy Point / Back of Beyond / The Seamstress" off the album Fable & Fire by Andrew Marlin - https://www.andrewmarlin.com

ART:

"A Pavilion Neither in the Sky nor on the Earth" - Painting by William Sewell