Plant Cunning Podcast

Dana returns to talk about her new book "Land Healing: Physical, Metaphysical and Ritual Practices for Healing the Earth", and we get into some very practical tips on helping to heal the earth: refugia gardens, rituals, communication and much more. We also get into a fun discussion on personalizing rituals like the "Sphere of Protection", how it differs from the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, and nerd out on ritual magic. #animism #ceremonialmagic #ritualmagic #ecospirituality #ritual #naturerituals #healingtheearth #earthenergy #landhealing

Zamboni is back to break down the spring quarter astro-weather for us. We check out the Aries Ingress chart, look into the lunar eclipse on the 25th of March, the Great American Solar Eclipse of April 8th, the Jupiter Uranus conjunction, Jupiter moving into Gemini, and much more. There is a lot going on this quarter, and even just teasing out the implications of the Great Eclipse could be an episode, so I hope you enjoy it! #astrology #eclipse #ariesseason #ariesingress #springforecast #astrologicalforecast #astrologypodcast

In this episode we sit down with rootworker, healer, author and teacher Denise Alvarado about her new book "Marie Laveau's Voodoo Grimoire", talk about rootwork, New Orleans Voodoo, hoodoo, and dispel myths about who Marie Laveau was. "Having grown up steeped in the rich cultural milieu of New Orleans, Louisiana, I've dedicated over four decades of my life to exploring indigenous healing traditions both personally and academically. My passion continues to be the preservation of the folkways of my culture of origin, and to the documentation of African, Black, and indigenous resistance fighters, and the study of quality of life in Native American populations. ​My journey as a tradition keeper and healer began when I was five years old on a Mississippi bayou where my aunt introduced me to the mysteries of Spiritualism. In addition, my Catholic Creole culture of origin informs my work. To be Creole in New Orle­ans means our blood derives from Spanish, French, Indigenous, and African ancestry, or some admixture within, and with that comes the traditions of our ancestors. From their rich mélange of food, music, culture, and religions, we can find healing modalities and magickal works designed for empowered, resilient, and resourceful living. My goal has been to bring these forms of healing and empowerment to others for the benefit of our planetary family. ​ I am a proud member of the American Anthropological Association, the Association of Indigenous Anthropologists, and the Association of Latina/o & Latinx Anthropologists. After serving on the editorial board for the Journal for Social and Behavioral Sciences, I brought those academic skills and experience to Hoodoo & Conjure Quarterly, The Journal of American Rootwork, Gumbo Ya Ya, and the Hoodoo Almanacs. My journey has led me to pen over twenty books, including "Witch Queens, Voodoo Spirits and Hoodoo Saints," "The Magic of Marie Laveau," and my latest work, "The Marie Laveau Voodoo Grimoire." ​ Having been nurtured by my parents as an artist since birth, my ritual art has graced television screens in shows like National Geographic's Taboo, the Originals, and Blue Bloods. My work, whether in art or writing, echoes my roles as a rootworker, tradition-keeper, spiritual artisan, and guardian of the sacred wisdom of Southern folk magick and folkways." #hoodoo #voodoo #conjure #rootwork #magicalherbalism

In this episode we take a deep dive into financial astrology and eclipse paths with esteemed astrologer Bill Meridian. We talk about his groundbreaking work "The Predictive Power of Eclipse Paths" where he builds on the research of astrologers Lorne Edward Johndro and Charles Jayne. You can find his work at https://billmeridian.com/ Bill Meridian is a respected astrologer known for his expertise in financial astrology. Born in 1953, in the United States, Meridian has dedicated over four decades to the study and practice of astrology. Meridian gained prominence for his groundbreaking work in applying astrological principles to financial markets, a discipline known as "astro-economics." He has authored influential books such as "Planetary Stock Trading" and "The Predictive Power of Eclipse Paths," offering investors and traders unique insights into market trends and investment strategies. In addition to his contributions to financial astrology, Meridian is skilled in traditional astrological techniques, including horary and mundane astrology. He has conducted consultations worldwide, assisting individuals in gaining clarity on various aspects of their lives. Through his writing, consulting, and teaching engagements, Bill Meridian continues to be a respected figure in the astrological community, admired for his expertise, accuracy, and dedication to advancing the field. #eclipse #podcast #solareclipse #eclipseseason #eclipses #astrology #astrologer #uranian #predictiveastrology

In this episode we speak with Dr. Faith Mitchell about her groundbreaking study of Gullah/Geechee plant medicine "Hoodoo Medicine", and about the plants, people, and magic of the Sea Islands. You can find her at: https://www.drfaithmitchell.com/ "I am blessed to have grown up close to the land and to be descended from people who over the generations never lost that connection. When I was a child, Black people were not writing about nature, so I turned to the rich wisdom of my American Indian ancestors. They were my first source of knowledge about healing plants. Then, when I was in college, I visited a Gullah/Geechee community for the first time and had the life changing experience of living with Black people whose lives were grounded in the rhythms and beauty of the Low Country. The natural world was an integral part of their history, stories, cuisine, and healing ways. It’s my honor to preserve some of their deep knowledge in Hoodoo Medicine. When I first visited the Sea Islands very few people on Wadmalaw Island, where I lived, had telephones, cars, or even running water. I was stunned to come upon backwoods settlements that had changed very little in decades. But above all I was affected by the rich, fertile beauty of the Islands and by the strength and integrity of the families I met. I soon discovered that the Sea Islands were as abundant in folk culture—ghost stories, animal tales, the Gullah/Geechee language itself—as they were in animal and plant life. However, the islands were already in transition, and it was clear that the Gullah/Geechee culture was under threat. These first experiences among the Gullah/Geechee people led me to a lifelong interest in African American history and culture, and a commitment to health and progressive social issues. I have a Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley and am currently a Fellow at the Urban Institute in Washington DC. I blog on health-related topics. My supernatural thriller based on Geechee/Gullah history and customs is The Book of Secrets, Part 1. " #hoodoo #plantmedicine #herbalism #herbalists #herbalmagic #magick #folkmagic #conjure #rootwork #rootworker

In this episode we interview John Michael Greer about his new book "The Secret of the Five Rites", where he delves into the hidden teachings of the popular form of exercise. We delve into the book it comes from, "The Eye of Revelation", the dangers of Kundalini awakening, the subtle energy body, how esoteric knowledge diffuses, changes and transforms over time and through cultures, the roots of the Tree of Life, the Golden Age of American occultism, and the strains of esotericism that fed it. Some of the figures we talk about include: Manly P. Hall, George Winslow Plummer, Aleister Crowley, Gerald Gardner, The Fox Sisters, Max Heindel, Paul Foster Case, Yogananda, John Dee, William Lilly, and many more. #esoteric #esotericknowledge #magick #podcast #occult #occultism #ocultpodcast #rosicrucian #spiritualism #americanhistory #kundalini #kundaliniyoga #kundaliniawakening #energybody #subtleenergy

Learn about the medieval angelic magic of Ars Notoria and its connection to wisdom and knowledge. Discover the secrets of angel water, ritualistic tea ceremonies, and the historical figures like King Solomon and Apollonius of Tyana. Explore the magical text's influence on modern sciences and its place in the notorial art tradition.

In this episode we go deep with herbalist, author and green witch Robin Rose Bennett on grief, meaning, the power of the story, Rose, Artemesia, White Pine, Cedar, and much more! Robin Rose Bennett is a story-teller, writer, herbalist and green witch. She shares Earth wisdom with gratitude for the magic and mystery of the web of life. She is the author of A Green Witch’s Pocket Book of Wisdom - Big Little Life Tips, Healing Magic- A Green Witch Guidebook to Conscious Living and The Gift of Healing Herbs - Plant Medicines and Home Remedies for a Vibrantly Healthy Life, and the forthcoming A Young Green Witch’s Guide to Plant Magic - Rituals and Recipes from Nature. #herbalism #podcast #herbal #herbalife #herbalmedicine #greenwitch #wtich #magick #plantcunningpodcast #spiritualpodcast

In this episode we talk about getting the most out of your woodstove - cooking, baking, hot water, and more. Ben compares rocket mass heaters and masonry stoves to high-efficiency wood stoves, and shares why he uses a wood stove, how he cuts all the wood he needs for a year, manages his woodlot, and shares some wisdom gleaned from over two decades of permaculture homesteading. Check out Ben's workshop on wood stoves here: 2023 Wood Heating Intensive — Whole Systems Design And the new edition of his book The Resilient Farm and Homestead, Revised and Expanded Edition: 20 Years of Permaculture and Whole Systems Design can be found where ever books are sold! Ben developed Whole Systems Design, LLC as a land-based response to biological and cultural extinction and the increasing separation between people and elemental things. Life as a designer, builder, ecologist, tree-tender, and backcountry traveler continually informs Ben’s integrative approach to developing landscapes and buildings. His home landscape and the WSD studio site in Vermont's Mad River Valley serve as a proving ground for the regenerative land developments featured in the projects of Whole Systems Design. Ben studied architecture and landscape architecture at the graduate level and holds a master’s degree in land-use planning and design. He has conducted more than 650 site development and land inspection consultations across the US and abroad, and has facilitated dozens of courses on property selection, permaculture design, and resilient systems. He has given keynote addresses and presented dozens of workshops at venues ranging from Bioneers to the Omega Institute. Ben is the author of the award-winning book The Resilient Farm and Homestead (Chelsea Green, 2013) and serves as an Advisory Council for the international regeneration group Ecosystem Restoration Camps.

Today we interview Sara Mastros ( @SaraMastros  ) on her new book "The Sorcery of Solomon: A Guide to the 44 pentacles of the Magician King" from Red Wheel Weiser ( @redwheelweiserbooks366  ) Sara Mastros, author of Orphic Hymns Grimoire, The Big Book of Magical Incense, and The Sorcery of Solomon: A Guide to the 44 Pentacles of the Magician King, is Pittsburgh's leading Witch for Hire. She teaches tarot, witchcraft, Greek and Near Eastern mythology, Pan-Levantine folk magic, and practical sorcery online and at festivals all over the east coast. She’s also a co-owner of the Fool’s Dog family of tarot, lenormand, and oracle apps! You can check in on her courses and lessons at WitchLessons.com, sign up for her newsletter at MastrosZealot.com, or follow all her witchy shenanigans on facebook at Facebook.com/Sara.Mastros The Key of Solomon is a family of closely related historic grimoires legendarily attributed to Solomon, the biblical Magician King. Most famously, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers’s 1889 English edition presented forty-four Hebrew seals, commonly called the “planetary pentacles.” However, it offered very little guidance for how to work with them. Sara L. Mastros, a leading teacher and practitioner of magic, translates and interprets each of these pentacles and presents practical methods for working with their magical powers, creating a clear, accessible user’s guide. #pentacles #sorcery #magic #magicpodcast #spiritualpodcast #podcast #solomon #solomonic #pentaclesofsolomon #magick #dream #dreaminterpretation #dreaming #keyofsolomon