Thank you for joining me around the virtual hearth today for a special Halloween episode. The veil is thin this week, friends, in the lead up to All Hallow's Eve, or Halloween. Perhaps you know that what we call Halloween has its roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which celebrates the end of summer on November 1 and the Celtic New Year.

In the Celtic tradition, departed loved ones were expected and welcomed with offerings of their favourite foods. The Day of the Dead, famously celebrated in Mexico on November 1 and 2, picks up on this idea. In Spain on November 2, there is a tradition for families to visit the cemetery to honour their late loved ones and attend to their grave sites.

Yet the story I am about to tell today is not a story about a gentle partnership between the living and the dead. It’s about the myriad ways a house can be haunted, and about how those who dwell in a house may themselves be a haunted house made of flesh and bones.

I’m grateful to Sarah, the dear member of the Spirit Sisters community who meticulously documented her story, and so graciously shared it with me. I’m in awe of her courage and generosity in doing so. I only received Sarah’s ok to use her name after I’d recorded the episode, which is why you won’t hear me use it in the episode.

Please note that this episode references sexual abuse. If you need support, contact 1800 Respect. You can call them on 1800 737 732 in Australia. If you’re elsewhere, please seek out support services in your area.

At the end of the story, Sarah invites me to share my thoughts, so I’ll offer a reflection at the close of the reading.

For now, I hope you have a cup of your favourite tea nestled warm between your palms as you settle in for a story which reminds us that even in the depths of the darkest, longest night, strength of spirit and bonds of love and sisterhood shine through.

Episode resources

Read more haunted-house stories in my books Spirit Sisters and Where Spirits Dwell.

Connect with me:

Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/

Email Karina at [email protected]

Learn more about Karina at karinamachado.com

Connect with Karina on Facebook.

Connect with Karina on Instagram.

Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul sister Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/

Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia.

Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo.

Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.

Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle

I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Welcome to the Spirit Sisters Podcast. In this bonus episode, we’re diving into an exploration of life’s sacred journeys, inspired by the magic of the Camino de Santiago. I have the honour of welcoming my dear friend, Simon Keenan, a passionate soul and visionary who embodies the spirit of service and healing in the enchanted forests of Galicia, Spain, where he co-created the enchanting sanctuary known as Terra de Luz (Land of Light).

Simon joins me to share some of the extraordinary experiences that happen on the Camino (and I also share a little about my experience of Camino magic). He recounts the mystical vision that led to the creation of Terra de Luz, following formative experiences with Indigenous communities in Australia and his quest to deepen his understanding of his ancestral story. I love his sharing on the vibrant community of Terra de Luz, where stories and healing intertwine, a theme he explores in interviews on his podcast, Wisdom of the Way.

Whether you’re a seasoned pilgrim or one who’s just heard the Camino’s call, this episode will invite you to reflect on your own inner journey of self-love and connection.

Join Simon on pilgrimage in India: https://www.wisdomoftheway.com/indiapilgrimage

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wisdomoftheway_

Wisdom of the Way podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@wisdomoftheway

Simon’s back story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXR8uWA8ZOo&t=592s

Connect with me:

Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/

Email Karina at [email protected]

Learn more about Karina at karinamachado.com

Connect with Karina on Facebook.

Connect with Karina on Instagram.

Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul sister Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/

Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia.

Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo.

Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.

Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle

I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Welcome to Spirit Sisters! This month, I explore personal transformation and mystical experiences with astrologer Luke Bayley, a Certified Practicing Astrologer and CEO of Astrocollege/International Academy of Astrology.

We dive into his journey from skepticism to self-discovery in astrology, enriched by his encounters with spirit guides and psychic phenomena. Luke is a wonderful storyteller. He shares profound experiences, including memories of being in utero and a past life in Nazi Germany, shedding light on how these experiences shape present-day lessons about trust and spiritual growth. (Please note, the past-life recollection contains graphic details, audience discretion advised).

We discuss the intertwining of astrology with personal guidance systems and the importance of understanding cosmic patterns as we navigate the big shifts of 2025. I especially loved Luke’s insights into the energetic connection between the planets and our spiritual selves.

There’s something for everyone in this multi-layered conversation. Enjoy!

Episode resources:

Luke’s online Astrology college:

https://astrocollege.com/

Luke’s YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@LukeBayley-astrologer

Connect with me:

Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/

Email Karina at [email protected]

Learn more about Karina at karinamachado.com

Connect with Karina on Facebook.

Connect with Karina on Instagram.

Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul sister Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/

Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia.

Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo.

Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.

Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle.

I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Welcome to Spirit Sisters! This month, my guest is Katische Haberfield. Katische is a spirit releasement therapist and spiritual regression therapist, which means she identifies ghosts who are present in a client’s past-life regression, finds out how they are linked to her client and supports them to cross over.

This is a robust and fascinating conversation touching on a range of topics, including ghosts, how regrets keep ghosts stuck between worlds and how most ghosts don’t know they’ve passed on from the physical. Katische also generously shares her life story and rich history of spiritual experiences, which leads us to explore the intersection of spiritual crisis and spiritual awakening, among many other topics.

We still have a lot to discuss, so I’ve invited Katische to return for part 2. If you’d like to suggest questions and topics, please share your ideas in the comments.

Thanks for spending time with us today on Spirit Sisters. If you enjoy the episode, I’d love if you could like, share, subscribe and leave comments. That’s the best way for these stories to reach and support more people.

Watch this episode on YouTube:

Connect with my guest, Katische Haberfield:

katische.com

https://www.youtube.com/KatischeHaberfield

Connect with me:

Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/

Email Karina at [email protected]

Learn more about Karina at karinamachado.com

Connect with Karina on Facebook.

Connect with Karina on Instagram.

Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul sister Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/

Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia.

Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo.

Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.

Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle

I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Welcome to Spirit Sisters! This month, my guest is Elli Milan, an artist based in Florida. Elli shares her harrowing near-death experience at age 15, which ignited her calling as an artist, and eventually her mission to inspire other artists.

Today, Elli paints sublime artworks often set underwater and imbued with an otherworldly light. As the founder of the Milan Art Institute, Elli empowers artists to illuminate and impact the world through art.

In our conversation, Elli shares how her NDE shifted her perspective on life, faith, and creativity, and we take a deep dive into the connection between artistic expression and healing. Elli passionately believes that each of us is here with a purpose and a destiny, which we can access if we harness the courage to explore possibilities beyond the comfort zone of our “one track” life.

Elli's journey from the brink of death to becoming a visionary artist and mentor highlights the power of surrender, divine intervention, and the gift of art to not only move and inspire others emotionally and spiritually, but also as a vehicle to express our divine purpose.

I LOVED this conversation, hope you do, too.

Resources mentioned in the episode:

Learn more about Elli Milan at her website (and find links to all her social media): https://www.ellimilan.com/

Elli’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ElliMilan

Elli’s video on YouTube describing her NDE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02eLHsn3uYk

Elli’s blog where she writes about her NDE:

https://www.ellimilan.com/blogs/artist-odyssey/the-dream-that-changed-my-life-eternity

The Milan Art Institute: https://www.milanartinstitute.com/

The book Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain, by Betty Edwards:

https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/310367/drawing-on-the-right-side-of-the-brain-by-betty-edwards/

Spirit Sisters is on YouTube! Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/@karinamachado1312

Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/

Email Karina at [email protected]

Learn more about Karina at karinamachado.com

Connect with Karina on Facebook.

Connect with Karina on Instagram.

Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul sister Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/

Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia.

Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo.

Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.

Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle

I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

I’m so happy to be back with the Spirit Sisters podcast! In this episode, I share a personal story about my own journey of grief over the last few years, and how I’m taking solace in creative projects. These include relaunching this podcast, writing my novel, and sharing (for the first time), spiritual writings on my Substack page, Words Along the Way (find out more at this link).

This week, Annie Wilson joins us around the virtual hearth, from her home on the ruggedly beautiful far south coast of NSW.

Annie is a certified meditation teacher specialising in Yoga Nidra and a Reiki Practitioner who combines her diverse qualifications to offer personalised one-on-one sessions. Drawing from her lived experience of losing her son to suicide, she serves as an intuitive guide and mentor, providing compassionate support for those navigating their own journeys of grief and healing. In her book, Goddess Walking, she invites readers to recognise their intrinsic value, sharing practical steps, exercises, and tools to empower the person within. Through her work, Annie inspires hope and resilience, fostering a community of healing and personal growth.

In 2022, Annie’s 24-year-old son Matthew, passed away, launching Annie into a profound journey of grief woven with hope, as moments of connection with Matthew’s spirit illuminated and affirmed a knowing she’d carried since childhood: that there is life after death.

Before we move into our conversation, I want to share something curious I picked up as I was editing the episode. Are you familiar with EVP, or Electronic Voice Phenomena? Listening back to the interview, I noticed a male voice interjects. The voice was unfamiliar to me and Annie and neither of us could work out what he says. Can you? Let me know if you too pick this up.

For now, enjoy my conversation with Annie Wilson.

(Please note, this episode references suicide. If you need support and you’re in Australia, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14).

Learn more about Annie Wilson at her website Anniewilson.net.

Email Annie at [email protected]

Learn more about Standby, an Australian organisation which supports people impacted by suicide, at their website: https://standbysupport.com.au/

Join Karina on Substack: https://kmachado.substack.com/

Email Karina at [email protected]

Connect with Karina at karinamachado.com

Connect with Karina on Facebook.

Connect with Karina on Instagram.

Find Karina on YouTube.

Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul friend Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/

Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia.

Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo.

Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.

Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle

I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

I’m so happy you can join me around the virtual hearth today for an insight into the astonishing gifts of one of the 20th century’s greatest psychic mediums.

I'm reading from Sunrise: A Book of Knowledge and Comfort for the Bereaved by White Eagle, first published in 1958. It’s the introduction by psychic-medium Grace Cooke, who from the 1930s onward channelled the spiritual teacher known as White Eagle. Online, you can find a long list of the many books they published together. (My gratitude to the copyright holder White Eagle Lodge for their kind permission to read this excerpt).

Before I launch into today’s story, I want to share an exciting announcement with you.

I’ve launched a new offering on Substack. Inspired by Ram Dass’ quote that, “We’re all just walking each other home,” Words Along the Way is my love song to words that heal as we journey down the path together, a space to share reflections on my life as a pilgrim of the soul. For the first time, I’m opening up my journals to share private writings and poetry, in the hope that these words may meet and support you wherever you are, especially if you’re navigating the transformative crossing into midlife.

In newsletters delivered to your inbox, I’ll explore all of that, and share how I learnt to heal with my pen, my passion for celebrating Gentle Voices in a screeching world and I’ll delve into how astrology and tarot became friends to lean on when my crossing hit rough seas.

Paid subscribers will receive my gift of a bespoke poem handwritten for you about a loved one who’s crossed over (or a subject of your choice). There’ll also be online gatherings with a special guest around ‘the virtual hearth,’ to exchange sacred stories to hold our hearts in these turbulent times.

It would be my honour if you’d join me on Substack, the link is below in the show notes.

Excerpt from Sunrise, published by the White Eagle Lodge: https://whiteeaglelodge.org.au/

Join Karina on Substack: https://substack.com/@karinamachado1

Email Karina at [email protected]

Connect with Karina at karinamachado.com

Connect with Karina on Facebook.

Connect with Karina on Instagram.

Find Karina on YouTube.

Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul friend Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/

Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia.

Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo.

Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.

Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle

I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

I have the great pleasure of sharing a sweet and moving festive-season story with you today, a true story penned by my friend and past guest, Danielle, who calls it “a Christmas story with a twist”.

This is a story about heavenly intervention and synchronicity... Before I read it out, I’d like to wish you and your loved ones a joyful and restful Christmas and a peaceful new year. May peace dawn on earth, may every child be safe. May love prevail.

Thank you for listening to Spirit Sisters this year, and for your support and patience as I navigate life and attend to other expressions of my creativity. Spirit Sisters remains important to me. You’re all important to me – our stories matter more than ever – and so I’ll keep going in 2025. On that note, I already have a fabulous guest lined up to interview in the new year, and so from time to time, you can look forward to interviews resuming. With so many fascinating people with captivating stories out there, it had to be.

For now, grab a hot drink, sit back, and let me tell you a story about angels, about Christmas, about love and loss and enchantment and hope. Enjoy Danielle’s story, Waiting in the Wings.

Do you have a story to share? Email Karina at [email protected]

Connect with Karina at karinamachado.com

Connect with Karina on Facebook.

Connect with Karina on Instagram.

Find Karina on YouTube.

Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul friend Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/

Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia.

Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo.

Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.

Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle

I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Happy Halloween, friends! Welcome to the first episode of the new storytelling format of the Spirit Sisters podcast that I recently announced.

In honour of Halloween, or Samhain, as it’s known in the Celtic tradition, we’re gathering around the virtual hearth today to listen to four true-life spooky-season stories listeners have sent in.

Do you have a story about the unexplained, or a spiritual experience that’s transformed your life that you’d like to share? If you’d like me to read it out on your show email me at [email protected].

Settle in, grab a mug of something warm and let me tell you a story…

Happy Halloween, friends, Samhain blessings to you all.

Email Karina at [email protected]

Connect with Karina at karinamachado.com

Connect with Karina on Facebook.

Connect with Karina on Instagram.

Find Karina on YouTube.

Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul friend Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/

Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia.

Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo.

Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.

Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle

I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.

Karina Machado shares news about a fresh direction for the Spirit Sisters podcast, and extends an invitation to you.

All of us are going through personal challenges and experiencing the reverberating grief of the horror and violence being inflicted on innocent people in world conflicts. Let’s carve out a little corner of the internet where we can all take shelter around the glow of the story hearth …  

Also, Sydney listeners, I’m offering an in-person writing workshop in a glorious private garden in the Southern Highlands to raise money for Welby Garden Centre’s employment program for people with disability. You can bid for the workshop at a silent auction until October 18. Visit Welbyauction.com.

Click here to bid on a personal writing workshop writing with me.

Ways to share your stories with Karina:

Visit my website karinamachado.com

Connect on Facebook.

Connect on Instagram.

Click here to listen on Apple podcasts to the Ghost Files episode referenced in this episode.

Find Karina on YouTube.

Listen to Soul2Soul Conversations – my podcast collaboration with my soul friend Sara Jayne: https://soul2soulconversations.podbean.com/

Buy the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters as a paperback at Booktopia.

Buy the e-book of the 10th anniversary edition of Spirit Sisters on Amazon or Kobo.

Find the audio versions of my three books — Spirit Sisters, Where Spirits Dwell and Love Never Dies – (all narrated by me) at Audible.

Show theme music: Mysterious by MusicPond, from Audio Jungle

I acknowledge the Dharawal people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land of Sutherland Shire, in NSW, Australia, where I live and record Spirit Sisters, and I recognise their continuing connection to lands, waters and community. I pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past, present and emerging.