What Magic Is This?

Have a listen and be sure to check out my What Magic is This? Bookshop, please! Hopefully all of the show notes book recommendations will be in place and updated by October 2024, but if you have any requests for books that you'd like to purchase that I have recommended through my show notes and I haven't had a chance to change yet, please be sure to email me and I will send you an affiliate link for that title. Happy Shopping, and thank you for keeping Independant Bookshops thriving!

Southeast Asia has always been a place with many magical and animistic cultures. Perhaps no other country in the modern age has such a sycretic and extraordinary Magical environment than the land of smiles- Thailand. From spirits and ghosts to tattoos and amulets to monks and ajarns, Thailand is a place which still lives and breathes magic. Helping us get an introduction to the vast Magical world of the Thai, is author and practitioner of Thai Magic, Peter Jenx!

Aidan Wachter is an author and animist sorcerer whose practice revolves around Unverified Personal Gnosis (UPG). He discusses the importance of subjective experiences in spirituality, advocating for personal insights over traditional beliefs. Wachter highlights the fluidity of magical narratives and the impact of skepticism within the community. He shares his creative process, emphasizing the role of personal experiences in his writing. The conversation also touches on fostering community through platforms like Patreon and the significance of kindness in the magical realm.

For the last 50 years, many people around the world but particularly in the west, identify themselves as a witch and if asked what religion they ascribe to, will say Wicca. Despite what some claim, the roots of Wicca are thoroughly modern and go back no further than the 20th century. Indeed, Wicca has been dubbed the only fully formed religion that England has given the world. Many myths and misconceptions surround Wicca, so much so that even those who claim to be a Wiccan will be unaware of many of the finer details of its origins. To set the record straight is Wiccan Priestess, author and owner of the greatest occult bookshop in the world, Christina Oakley-Harrington!

Throughout the centuries, one figure has flittered through both folkloric and fortean encounters. To some, this figure has simply been called the Devil, yet others aren't so hasty to place such an epithet on him. When we look into the past, A Dark Man has made their presence known in many ways. Some within the confines of the occult and witchcraft would even go so far as to call this Dark Man the witchfather. Digging deeper into the lore of the Dark Man is our guest, the podcaster and author of the new book Song of the Dark Man- Darragh Mason!

Expert Lon Milo Duquette discusses the history and symbolism of the Thoth Tarot deck. They explore its creation by Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris, controversies during World War II, and intricate astrological and Egyptian symbols. The discussion goes deep into hidden meanings, personalized use for magical purposes, and predictions for future tarot decks.

Artist and illustrator Brian Giordano joins to discuss the weird and fringe topics of the 90s, exploring UFO sightings, government secrecy, the impact of TV shows like X-Files and Twin Peaks, and the surreal stories of Art Bell and Mel's Hole. Reflects on the legacy of Art Bell and cultural shifts post-9/11, capturing the emotional impact of 9/11 videos and the lasting influence of the 90s on modern culture.

Ramsey Dukes, a leading figure in magical thinking, discusses childhood transitions to skepticism, the allure of ancient alchemy texts, and his unconventional influence on magic. He explores threefold thinking and manifesting desires through magic, promoting his books and YouTube page for further exploration.

Most likely each and every one of us has walked into a building or a structure which had the capacity to touch something inside of you in some ineffable way. For Millenia, cultures around the world have constructed buildings which have this ability to cut through aesthetics of their appearance and bestow upon those who look upon or enter inside, a sort of spiritual reverence. How does this happen and what sort of elements make up these structures? Helping us break ground on this curious topic is the author and scholar of esotericism, Peter Mark Adams!

Explore the history and concept of demons in various religious traditions, from Mesopotamian beliefs to modern Christian perceptions. Delve into the influence of movies like The Exorcist on demon portrayals and the humorous perspective on living with demons. Reinterpret grimoire protocols and embrace uncertainty in exploring demonic influence in academia. Discover exclusive Patreon content on demons, magic, and tarot.