In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with her second client EVER when she opened TOTEM Readings 15 years ago in Chicago: Laura Hunnewell.

Not only is Laura a friend of TOTEM and The Skeptical Shaman-- as well as a super-talented Licensed Esthetician-- she is a serious survivor, spending the last several years navigating serious health issues and a relentless chronic pain disorder.

Laura has been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, otherwise known as "the suicide disease" because of the life-altering levels of pain it brings. And, while she continues to get traditional medical treatment (including TWO craniotomies), she has also embraced some more Woo-based tools to help her get through the day with a sense of peace, optimism and joy. In this episode (and show notes, below) Laura shares multiple books, resources, daily practices, and more with Rachel and The Skeptical Shaman listeners.

Laura is living reminder that you can be "in it" and still show up for others. Despite dealing with an acutely painful and debilitating heath condition, Laura is kind and present for others-- proof positive that NONE of us have an excuse to be a sh*t just because we're having a bad day;)

What's more: this episode also reminds us to show up every day with intentionality and compassion. Many of our fellow humans are struggling with unseen challenges we know nothing about, and outward appearances can be deceiving. 

So, when in doubt, be kind.

Rachel's LINKS:

Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Books mentioned in this episode:

• The Places that Scare You by Pema Chodron
• Don't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Ngyuen
• Can't Stop Thinking by Nancy Colier
• When The Body Says No by Gabor Mate
• The Myth of Normal by Gabor Mate
• Maybe This Will Help by Michelle Rial 
• The Healing Power of Sound by Michell Gaynor 

Laura's Links:

• Laura's website: laurahunnewell.com
• Laura teaches here: www.yogaloftstudios.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) welcomes back fan favorite Allen Greenfield: famous ritual magician, Kabbalist, and former Thelemite, recently featured as a subject matter expert in Amazon's Hellier TV series.

In a world of superficial spiritual LARPers, Allen Greenfield is a bonafide real deal-- a national treasure with all manner of arcane knowledge across his more than 60 years of hands-on esoteric experience. With legit certificates and bonafides from the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and the World Association of Egyptian Obediences, Allen is a throwback to a time when sorcerers, magicians and practitioners dug deep into ancient, esoteric knowledge-- instead of just pulling an oracle card and issuing false profundities on Instagram.

In this episode, Allen shares previously unheard insights into the unfolding Hellier magic and his book The Secrets of the Black Lodge Revealed: an unflinching look at the reality behind those bad boys fictionally featured in David Lynch's famous Twin Peaks TV series.

Rachel's LINKS:

• Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
• TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
• Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

• The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
• The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
• The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
• TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
• TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Allen's Links:

• Secrets of the Black Lodge Book: https://a.co/d/ecxH5qE
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReallyAllenGreenfield/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with writer and modern magician Marco Visconti all about the life of Thelema founder Aleister Crowley-- as well as the spiritual system (and its many, many tributaries) he left behind.

What is Thelema? What is the Book of the Law? From where do these cornerstones of occult studies spring? What is sex magic? Who is Lady Babylon? How does one use the Lesser Key of Solomon? 

(Word to the wise: DON'T use the Lesser Key of Solomon!)

Marco helps Rachel and listeners of The Skeptical Shaman podcast bust some of the myths around this iconoclastic, larger-than-life figure-- ultimately (hopefully) separating fact from fiction with regard to his strangely long-lived religion.

Rachel's LINKS:

Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Marco's Links:

• Website: https://www.marcovisconti.org
• Substack: https://marcovisconti.substack.com/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Jade Kaskel of Reform Routine, a full-spectrum, supportive Woo-based business that helps focus navigate the trauma and clutter of life-- including physical clutter in their homes!

Jade's unique perspective comes from a long and often challenging early life, starting with being raised as a Jehovah's Witness and undergoing the spiritual trauma (and dark night of the soul) that come with leaving this kind of "religious institution".

*Ahem*

Now, Jade is bringing her many gifts, insights and lessons learned to the world, offering incredible, supportive services via her BRAND NEW Woo-based business. 

Rachel's LINKS:

• Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
• TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
• Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

• The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
• The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
• The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
• TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
• TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Jade's Links:

• Jade's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadeelanor/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with AJ Goodwin-- a TOTEM client and professional realtor and business mentor that has spent the last several months embracing her spiritual and personal growth, living in the "messy middle" of transformation!

As a highly-driven, high-performing entrepreneur, AJ spent this Year of the Wood Snake doing the impossible: taking time away from work to completely and totally invest in herself. She's growing hydroponic lettuce, embracing the weird and woo "assignments" in the TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Program, and letting herself luxuriate in the "in between"-- instead of pushing, rushing and grinding to get to the finish line OR, worse yet, deluding herself into thinking she can multitask this sh*t.

Spoiler alert: you can't shortcut shamanic transcendence. So, knock that cheat code bullsh*t off;)

AJ shares where she felt resistance to her intuition, to the world of Woo, and to even just taking some time away from the grind. She also shares what her ROI has been for this short break in the messy middle-- and it's pretty awesome.

Rachel's LINKS:

• Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
• TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
• Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

• The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
• The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
• The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
• TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
• TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

AJ's Links:

• AJ's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ajgoodwinrva/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Madia Smith of CYGNUS Human Design and Hoof + Feather Co all about her love for all things bird.

Since ancient times, birds have been crucial spiritual vectors, offering divinatory insights in Ancient Greece and Rome (under the formal name "ornithomancy"), shamanic "medicine" as a totem animal, and inspiration for some of our most magical and transcendent works of art, like Swan Lake.

Madia describes her hands-on work saving and caring for rescue waterfowl of all shapes and sizes, and shares some key tips and tricks to ensure that these magical birds aren't abandoned, abused or otherwise mistreated by sometimes well-meaning folks (spoiler alert: bread is NOT a food for ducks after all!).

She also shares her love for Human Design, astrology, tapping and more, outlining her journey to off-the-grid wild woman AND diviner and coach of the highest order!

This is one of those magical episodes that gives us a line of sight into a typically totally "alien" way of living: out in nature, surrounded by magical birds, and contemplating the long count cycles of human epochs!

Rachel's LINKS:

• Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
• TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
• Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

• The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
• The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
• The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
• TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
• TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Madia's Links:

• Hoof + Feather CO
• CYGNUS Human Design
• Substack

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Jennifer Eldon (of Jennirose Breathwork) about how breathing is so much more than an automatic body function. When done properly, breathing can actually unlock deep energetic and physical healing, necessary emotional releases, and even expansive spiritual and psychedelic experiences! 

We live in tough, stressful times. Even the most experienced practitioner-- armed with tried and true, Woo-based self-care tools, tips and tricks-- is overmatched in the turbulent, overstimulating waters of a world populated by constant push notifications and demands on our time and energy. So, if we're going to reclaim our peace, health and sanity, we're going to need to reframe our routines, embracing next gen tools like breathwork to take the edge off. 

Jennifer also shares her experience in transitioning to her Woo-based business on a full-time basis, finally stepping out of the shadows and into the light (and fresh air) of fully being herself. 

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: [email protected]. 

Rachel's LINKS:

• Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
• TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
• Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

• The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
• The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
• The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
• TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
• TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Jennifer's Links:

• Instagram: @jennirosebreathwork 
• Jennifer's Website:  www.jennirosebreathwork.com.

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats Jen Pahwa (of Hummingbird Hearings) all about Jen's strange (and strangely expansive) recent spiritual journey-- one that's taken her and her family (including several young children) all over the country!

This episode is all about what happens when we start listening to spirit-- and just how difficult and challenging it can be in practice. After all: the map is not the territory, and Jen's meandering odyssey across the U.S. (multiple times, for the record) is proof positive that our Spirit Guides can be very demanding. 

The upshot? While we don't always immediately understand the "why" behind our Spirit Guides' messages, we always end up precisely where we are meant to be-- if we actually listen! In this episode, Rachel and Jen discuss the lived reality of actually listening to spirit-- and how incredibly novel and twisting the road can be!

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: [email protected]. 

Rachel's LINKS:

• Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
• TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
• Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

• The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
• The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
• The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
• TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
• TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Jen's Links:

• https://www.hummingbirdhearings.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the totally awesome Kaity Craven of the Moonflower Moments YouTube Channel. 

Kaity is the rare practitioner that actually makes quality tarot deck, oracle deck, and "how to" divinatory content on YouTube-- without making it all about herself, brand deals, or the overdone same old, same old permeating an already overly saturated social media landscape littered with useless noise.

Rachel and Kaity discuss life as professional card readers and psychics, as well as their respective gardening and herbalism work in the strangely magical American South (Rachel lives in Texas, Kaity in Louisiana). To this end, Kaity shares a very cool and super easy to execute herbal "spell jar" recipe that we can all use in this Summer Season!

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: [email protected]. 

Rachel's LINKS:

• Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
• TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
• Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

• The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
• The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
• The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
• TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
• TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Kaity's Links: 

• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@moonflowermoments?si=X6F1BydhdqlpyLaS
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themoonflowermoments

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Lisa Amato, energy healer, reiki practitioner, and wounded healer of the highest order. 

Why the wounded healer part? Well, Rachel and Lisa both have a history of early childhood trauma, and this episode they dig into the hairy details-- but also focus on the redemptive power of transmuting said wound into its corresponding "medicine", both for the self and for others.

Lisa is a hilarious, no nonsense ball-buster of a reiki practitioner, bringing the grounded presence so often lacking in the "airy fairy", "love and light", "crystal hippy lady" set. Said another way? She can actually hold the requisite space required to undertake the real deal energy healing work for those that have suffered trauma in their lives. 

Not all wounds can be seen. Many of them lie in our energy bodies. And, for those of us lucky enough to have found our own healers and teachers that enabled us to step into this work for others, Lisa's story will resonate like hell.

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: [email protected]. 

Rachel's LINKS:

• Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
• TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
• Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

• The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
• The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
• The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
• TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
• TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Lisa's Links: 

• Lisa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calm_ya_mind_and_soul/
• Lisa's Calendly (for booking): https://calendly.com/calmyamind

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.