What Magic Is This?

The Time has come. It was bound to happen. Now, you will have the chance to support me (your host- Douglas!) and my work with the Podcast. In this Episode of WMiT? I go through some of my thoughts on starting a Patreon account, the reasons for doing so, why one should join, what might be on the Patreon and More! Speaking from the heart, this is not an episode to skip; Hear me out...   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

Gordon White, an author and podcaster from Rune Soup, dives deep into the fascinating world of animism. He discusses how every ecosystem, including urban environments, teems with life and spirit. The conversation critiques modern philosophies, advocating for Indigenous perspectives that honor non-human entities. They explore the significance of narratives in shaping our understanding of existence and highlight the complex interplay between gods and spirits. Gordon also shares insights on his writing projects and the importance of community in these explorations.

Author and Dirt-Sorcerer Aidan Wachter joins the show to discuss spirits and magic. They explore personal beliefs, encounters with spirits, and the challenge of proving their existence. The episode also delves into Mongolian shamanism, obtaining information from the spirit world, and the connection between performance and spirits. They talk about adapting magic practices, adopting a magical viewpoint, and the importance of engaging with the spirit world.

The Greeks have a legacy in many areas of Modern Western culture- from Politics, to theatre, to philosophy and medicine. And of course- Magic, as it is from the Greeks that we get the word 'Magic.' Their stories are absolutely suffused with Magic, Gods and sorcerous characters, adding much to their mythical culture; The Greeks lived in a Magical world of Gods, Myths and the restless Dead. In this Episode of WMiT? Doug and his guest Eva go through some of the ways that the Greeks used Magic and how it is very familiar in many ways.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

On our second voyage into the azure waters, we dive into conversations and currents of Chaos. Firstly we talk about the Philosopher King of Magic, one Ramsey Dukes. From here we sail about on the winds of a few Chaos Magic orders and groups, ever pondering if there ever really was a Chaos Magic movement. My guest for this episode Saul sheds some light on an online Magical current that for a time burned bright but now only seems to flicker. Of course, WMiT? cannot merely have only a two-parter on Chaos magic, but for a time we will drop anchor.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

Late 1970's England. An iconoclastic group of misfit Magicians got tired of the same old story that in order for Magic to work, one had to be a part of a Tradition and go through necessary steps. To this they said 'Nonsense! All one needs is belief and how one utilizes that belief for it to work!' They thus birthed the first form of Postmodern Magic that was based entirely off of Results- Chaos Magic. Baked into this movement and the Chaos toolkit was a pragmatism that if the Ritual or Spell worked, it was kept and modified, if it didn't work it was discarded and something else was attempted. In this first Episode of perhaps a series of episodes, Doug and his Sorcerous guest Gaius provide a short yet succinct introduction to the world of Chaos Magic.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

For a time, Emanuel Swedenborg was a name that many in Europe and America were familiar with. These days, very few have even heard the name and those who have, the words 'Madness' or 'Liar' are not behind. Called by Ralph Waldo Emerson 'A Mastodon of Literature' the work and life of Swedenborg are indeed extraordinary. From his odd inventions, Life philosophy and his mystical experiences, there is much to learn from 'The Scandinavian Da Vinci.' So we head back to the Fools Gallery, to explore and introduce a figure that Doug feels should get a bit more recognition within the Occult than what he currently has.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

We live in an observable, measurable world; one built of the smallest bits of matter. And so we live our lives thinking for the most part, that this is the reality of everything- that the only thing that matters, is matter. Yet for a dominant social paradigm, Materialism & Physicalism has a hard time with a few things, especially those things which is says doesn't exist because it cannot explain it. In this episode of What Magic is This? we take a page out of the Materialism rulebook and start to take it apart, bit by bit.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

Depression, high anxiety, addiction and other mental health issues effect a huge number of us. Many are looking for answers or ways that we can get better or deal with these afflictions ourselves. How does Magic and the Occult intersect with such things? Are there similarities, and if so- what can we learn from them? The amount of internal pain that many of us carry with us each day is difficult to deal with, but there are ways in which we can get help as well as create help. On this extremely personal episode of WMiT?, Douglas has his first ever guest Andre, back on the show to discuss. Fair warning- This episode may have somewhat triggering segments in it.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was finished. However, much of their mystique was only just beginning. With the publication of their Rites and Rituals by Israel Regardie, the secrets of this Magical Order were finally revealed to the world. As for the world of the Golden Dawn, it was one of Kabbalah, of Divine Will and one that believed that all things that were manifest on earth was somehow connected to one another through correspondences. Yet what effect did the Golden Dawn have on Magic after their dissolution? In the conclusion to this two-parter, Douglas goes through all of the consequences and positive virtues of this short-lived but infamous Magical Order.   Support my Flourishing on Patreon or if you Enjoyed the Episode, Toss Me a Coin or Two.