In this episode of The Hermit's Land podcast, I sit down with Althaea Sebastiani to dig into the heart of witchcraft—animism and spirit work. We explore what it means to walk this path with patience and authenticity. Learning to listen and truly hear will help you build deep relationships with spirits over time.

We get into the how-to of working with spirits and deities, discussing ways to practice outside formal or initiatory structures. This episode offers guidance on how to find the spirits where you live. We also dig into the responsibility of navigating cultural appropriation and engaging respectfully with Indigenous and other living traditions.

The conversation also covers spirit workers and teachers—the role they might play in your journey and how to decide if someone is truly trustworthy. With more sketchy folks gaining reach in the spiritual marketplace, discernment is more important than ever.

Finally, we remind listeners that spirituality doesn’t exist in a vacuum—the physical world still matters. Your health, well-being, and everyday life all shape your practice. Common sense is just as vital as intuition when walking a spiritual path.

If you're looking to start practicing witchcraft, this episode will give you the pointers you need to begin. With patience and practice, you’ll be building solid relationships with the spiritual world in no time.

You can find us on the socials. Or Althaea is here and Andrew is here.

Episodes with drop biweekly going forward. Help me let the world know I'm back by sharing on socials and leaving review on the platform on which you listen to us.

Much love

Andrew

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Witchcraft and Animism

04:54 Starting Your Journey in Witchcraft

11:04 Engaging with Spirits and Deities

21:12 Navigating Appropriation and Authenticity in Practice

26:56 Personal Rituals and Nature Connection

28:57 Engaging with Indigenous Traditions

30:53 Understanding Living Traditions

32:21 The Role of Spirit Workers

34:29 Finding Authentic Spirit Workers

36:42 Navigating the Spiritual Marketplace

40:34 Cautions in Spiritual Practices

43:04 Balancing Spiritual and Physical Worlds

Full transcript on my site here. 

Are you ready to go deep? Andrew McGregor and Enrique Enriquez take a deep dive into the mysteries of presence, dreams, divination, and the ever-unfolding journey of the soul. They explore the impact of our physical presence on the world around us, the wisdom hidden within our dreams, and how divination can serve as a guiding light through life's uncertainties.

Enrique shares his thoughts on the soul as a dynamic process of engagement with the world. The discussion expands into the distinction between understanding and knowing, the metaphor of gardens as a way to think about presence and connection, and the intriguing concept of the invisible as the space between things. Through personal stories, humour, and wisdom, Andrew and Enrique highlight the importance of self-discovery, embracing fluidity, and finding meaning in the unknown.

Whether you're looking to deepen your awareness, explore the symbolic world, or reflect on your own place in the grand tapestry of existence, this episode is a must-listen. 

You can find us on the socials. Or Enrique is emailable here and Andrew is here.

Episodes with drop biweekly going forward. Help me let the world know I'm back by sharing on socials and leaving review on the platform on which you listen to us.

Much love

Andrew

PS Enrique's favourite late cretaceous animal is the Stegosaurus.

Full transcript is available here. 

In this episode of The Hermit Lamp Podcast, tarot legends Andrew McGregor and Mary K. Greer unravel the art, ethics, and evolution of tarot reading. Whether you're a beginner shuffling your first deck or a seasoned reader refining your craft, this conversation is packed with wisdom and guidance to elevate your practice.

Choose a deck that resonates with you. Dive in. Start using your deck immediately. Let the images speak to you. Have a conversation with the cards. Bring in your personal associations and experience.

Andrew and Mary share how to structure a reading. A well-crafted question guides the reading, shaping the narrative that unfolds in the cards. Start with a Three-card spreads. It is a simple way to start building story, and comfort with the cards. Tarot isn’t just about predictions; it’s about weaving meaning, insight, and personal truth.

The discussion also ventures into deeper territory. Covering ethics, legal responsibilities, and setting boundaries. Readers should always try to empower. Engaging clients in the process strengthens understanding, especially when working with court cards, which often mirror real people in a querent’s life.

They explore the evolving nature of tarot, reminding us that meanings shift and grow over time. Book definitions and keywords are helpful, but intuition and experience can play a vital role too.

Mary and Andrew also tackle the emotional side reading of tarot. Anxiety and obsession can creep into practice, and managing them is essential for a healthy relationship with the cards. Boundaries matter—not just with querents, but also with ourselves.

Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to explore, experiment, and trust your own connection with the cards. Tarot isn’t about getting it "right"—it’s about discovery, transformation, and the magic that happens when you truly listen.

You can find us on the socials. Or Mary is here and Andrew is here.

Episodes with drop biweekly going forward. Help me let the world know I'm back by sharing on socials and leaving review on the platform on which you listen to us.

Much love

Andrew

PS Mary's favourite late cretaceous animal is the stegosaurus 

Andrew and Nancy have spent a long time working with ancestors and the tarot. In this conversation they share their journeys and perspectives on working with those on the other side. Discussing how ancestral stories shape our identities, the importance of connecting with ancestors for guidance, and the possible role of DNA in understanding our heritage. We also talk about how to handle the hard ancestors and trauma that can often be in our lineages.

There are a lot of practical tips on things like making an altar, working with taropt and pendulums and reflection through journaling. This is a chance to listen to two new friends get to share their stories and practices in a very personal and engaged way.

You can find us on the socials. Or Nancy is here and Andrew is here.

Episodes with drop biweekly going forward. Help me let the world know I'm back by sharing on socials and leaving review on the platform on which you listen to us.

Much love

Andrew

PS Nancy's favourite late cretaceous animal is the Quetzalcoatlus.

PPS Full transcript on my website here. 

Welcome to the new getting started in spirituality series where we'll cover how to get going in different areas of study. Giving you an easy and accessible place to step into new areas of practice. Learning from established and trusted sourced to get you off on the right foot.

Astrology can be a daunting topic. There are million books and opinions you could read. It really doesn't need to be complicated though. Join Theres and I and we help you get started in a good way. We cover the importance of understanding zodiac signs, and the foundational elements of astrology, including the big three (sun, moon, and ascendant) and the significance of houses in a natal chart. Theresa shares her insights on how to approach learning astrology based on her vast teaching experience. This conversation is full of stories and easy to digest ideas to help you get started. After listening you'll have a framework to help you bring this ancient practice into you modern life.

You can find us on the socials. Or Theresa is here and Andrew is here.

Episodes will drop biweekly going forward. Help me let the world know I'm back by sharing on socials and leaving review on the platform on which you listen to us.

Much love

Andrew

PS Theresa's favourite late cretaceous animal is the Triceratops.

00:00 Introduction to Astrology and Tarot

Full transcript on my website here. 

Welcome to the 2025 return of the podcast. What better way to start than by getting the bad back together. I know it is a wild time right now. I don't want to not acknowledge it. Also, I think some time out and having something else to focus on can be so helpful during hard times.

Stacking Skulls started as a fake occult rock band in 2017 when a group pf my magical friends got together to record an episode. Since then we've had shifting lineups and guest artists but the core of Aidan Wachter, Fabeku Fatunmisi, and me - Andrew McGregor have remained. You can catch all the episodes here.

In this episode we catch up on what has changed since 2021 when we last talked.

You can find us on the socials. Or Aidan is here, Fabeku is here, and Andrew is here.

Episodes with drop biweekly going forward. Help me let know I'm back by sharing on socials and leaving review on the platform on which you listen to us.

Much love

Andrew

Full transcript can be found here. 

For this - the final episode of the podcast Andrew and Lon get back together after 10 years to catch up. They talk about the times in which we live and how to find your way in them. They also talk about the western idea of finding your true will or destiny. As always with Lon it is a joyful conversation full of hope and realism. 

If you have enjoyed this series please share it with folks. If you'd like to support my work please jump on my newsletter, check out my services or shop at my store online or in person in Toronto.

You can read the transcript over here on my website. 

Eric and Andrew talk about their shared journey with the Orisha. The ways in magic and astrology have been seen differently over time. How the resurgence of old materials have changed modern assumptions. And Eric new translation of Agrippa's Three Books of Occult Philosophy. 

Think about how much you've enjoyed the podcast and how many episodes you have listened to and consider if it is time to support it. Money goes first to covering accessibility through transcripts and then to other costs associated with the podcast. You can support it through BuyMeACoffeeor directly via Paypal or in Canada through etransfer to [email protected]

Andrew and Cristy talk about the power of punk and community as well as its complications. The need to find a balance between struggling and selling out. The role community played in the creation of the Next World Tarot. Cristy’s return to her Cuban spiritual traditions. And much more!

Think about how much you’ve enjoyed the podcast and how many episodes you have listened to and consider if it is time to support it. Money goes first to covering accessibility through transcripts and then to other costs associated with the podcast. You can support it through BuyMeACoffee or directly via Paypal or in Canada through etransfer to [email protected]

You can snag the transcription on Andrew's site here. 

Krista and Andrew talk about how who you are has a huge impact your life and your way of being in the world. The conversation centres around her Land Back tarot deck but quickly crosses over into important things for spiritual people to consider. Communication, listening, rage, genuine relationships and what it takes to connect and understand people from other experiences and lived realities. 

Think about how much you've enjoyed the podcast and how many episodes you have listened to and consider if it is time to support it. Money goes first to covering accessibility through transcripts and then to other costs associated with the podcast. You can support it through BuyMeACoffeeor directly via Paypal or in Canada through etransfer to [email protected]

the transcription can be found on the my website here.