Rune Soup

This week, we welcome to the show artists, musicians, authors and fellow podcasters Risa Dickens and Amy Torok. Amy and Risa from the Missing Witches project join us for a deep dive into the archetype of the witch. What is it? What changes does it portend? What does it mean when it is so close to the surface? What are our obligations to it? We also talk ancestors, reclaiming history, art-as-magic and a whole lot more. Super great chat! Enjoy!     Show Notes   Missing Witches: Podcast and Website. Missing Witches: The Book Missing Witches Fundraiser for the Montreal Native Women's Shelter.        

Continuing our multi-part exploration of AI and its implication for These Capitalised Times we are living through and with, we look at the metaphysics of technology this week. What are the implications of Artificial Intelligence for The performing of magic? Living in a magical universe? What is an animist understanding not just of 'intelligence' but 'artifice'? What -if any- is the difference between a tool and a magical tool? This week we explore: The work of Ivan Illich. A metaphysics of tools. What it means to operate in the ruins. Steiner's description of Ahriman and what it means for our moment. Show Notes Donate to the Missing Witches fundraiser for the Native Women's Shelter. Towards a Definition of Magic. At Work in The Ruins. Unlocking the Secrets of Prophecy - For Sorcerers, Astrologers and Magicians. Are Humans The AI Of The Mineral Realm? w/ Matías De Stefano.

Author and (post)activist Dougald Hine joins us this week for a powerful discussion about our moment and what -if anything- we should 'do' with and about it. The springboard for our chat is Dougald's recently-released book, At Work in the Ruins. We unpack the title -what do we mean by 'work'- as well as what we mean by 'ruins'. Physical? Cultural? Social? We talk about what it means to hospice modernity and we unpack why one of the founders of the Dark Mountain project is no longer talking about climate change. Really good stuff. Good, timely stuff. Enjoy!             Show Notes   At Work in the Ruins. Dougald's Website. A School Called Home.

Legendary ethnobotanist, Mark J. Plotkin, joins the show this week for a fascinating chat about traditional medicine, Indigenous knowledge, plant healing and modern medicine.   Dr Plotkin studied under the great Richard Evans Schultes himself and has been exploring the Amazon as a friend and researcher for five decades. He is the co-founder of the Amazon Conservation Team -a nonprofit that partners with Indigenous communities to conserve biodiversity, protect traditional lifeways and support sustainable Amazonian livelihoods.   During the lockdown era, Mark started an excellent and highly recommended podcast, Plants of the Gods. We discuss   The origination of the podcast project The role of psychedelics in contemporary medicine The safeguarding of Indigenous intellectual property in the 'modern' world 'Active molecules' versus whole plants in contemporary medicine The changes -good and bad- in the field of ethnobotany over the course of his career   A fantastic discussion with a personal hero. Dive in. And if this is the first time you've heard about Plants of the Gods, well, I'm pleased to be able to share it with you!   Show Notes   Mark's website Plants of the Gods podcast Amazon Conservation Team

In this solo show, we dive deep into the origin of our understanding of prophecy, how it is different from prediction and where this understanding is useful for sorcerers, astrologers and magicians. We explore the Old Testament prophets and how their roles changed over the centuries, how they positioned themselves toward power and what kind of 'Prophetic moment' we might find ourselves in. Enjoy!

Alkistis Dimech and Peter Grey of Scarlet Imprint return to the show for an exploration and celebration of Jake Stratton-Kent: In particular his thought, his research and his impact on the western magical world. We discuss: His generosity as a thought leader.  His attitude to academia and academics. His role in the return of spirit-centric approaches to the grimoires.  His revitalisation of blue grimoires.  His understanding and love of the Ancient and Archaic Greek world.  "I don't do angels." His championing of practice over theorising. His role as a key participant in the return of the Dead to contemporary western magical practice.  I'm very grateful to Peter and Alkistis for sharing their thoughts about their friend and colleague, Jake.

In the middle of the Philippines archipelago is the mysterious Siquijor -known variously as the Island of the Witches, the Island of Sorcerers or the Island of Healers. This remarkable place is home to several thriving magical and healing lineages. Here is my story of visiting and encountering these traditions during the time of year where the healers travel up sacred Mount Bandilaan in order to collect the healing herbs their work requires for the whole year. These visits only happen on the seven Fridays between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. I was fortunate enough to come along on one of these harvests. It's a fascinating place that is illuminating in comparison with cunning traditions, curanderismo and other cosmovisions around the world: Saints, sacred timing, herb lore, energy work. And if you are looking to visit Siquijor, check out the show notes. If you'd prefer some visuals, head over to YouTube. - Note - Episode has been updated due to audio not playing properly. Show Notes I have added the following places to Google Maps on Siquijor, so go to the island and search for these: Annie Ponce (Nearest town is San Antonio). Batong Hakut (the name of Noel Torremocha's healing practice. Nearest town is Cantabon). Loreto Quimno (bolo-bolo healer in the town of San Juan). If you are visiting, I recommend the guide I used, Chelsey, whom you can contact via Facebook or Instagram. He came with me to each of the healers and accompanied me gathering herbs so he knows everyone and all the places. He's also a great guide just if you are visiting Siquijor: Chelsey on Facebook. Chelsey on Instagram.

In the middle of the Philippines archipelago is the mysterious Siquijor -known variously as the Island of the Witches, the Island of Sorcerers or the Island of Healers. This remarkable place is home to several thriving magical and healing lineages. Here is my story of visiting and encountering these traditions during the time of year where the healers travel up sacred Mount Bandilaan in order to collect the healing herbs their work requires for the whole year. These visits only happen on the seven Fridays between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. I was fortunate enough to come along on one of these harvests. It's a fascinating place that is illuminating in comparison with cunning traditions, curanderismo and other cosmovisions around the world: Saints, sacred timing, herb lore, energy work. And if you are looking to visit Siquijor, check out the show notes. If you'd prefer some visuals, head over to YouTube. - Note - Episode has been updated due to audio not playing properly. Show Notes I have added the following places to Google Maps on Siquijor, so go to the island and search for these: Annie Ponce (Nearest town is San Antonio). Batong Hakut (the name of Noel Torremocha's healing practice. Nearest town is Cantabon). Loreto Quimno (bolo-bolo healer in the town of San Juan). If you are visiting, I recommend the guide I used, Chelsey, whom you can contact via Facebook or Instagram. He came with me to each of the healers and accompanied me gathering herbs so he knows everyone and all the places. He's also a great guide just if you are visiting Siquijor: Chelsey on Facebook. Chelsey on Instagram.

Legendary storyteller and mythologist, Dr Martin Shaw joins the show this week. On the occasion of the release of his remarkable and uncharacterisable (although I try) new book, Bardskull. We talk about the weakness of the word archetype, we talk about place and story and transformation, we talk about myth and landscape, we talk about Tolkien, Gandalf and Merlin, we talk about defending indefensible books, and… in the end and ultimately, we talk about spiritual transformation.  A fantastic chat. One of the best of the year, for sure. Enjoy! Show Notes Get Bardksull: https://unbound.com/books/bardskull/ School of Myth https://schoolofmyth.com/

This week we welcome to the show the legendary Rosita Arvigo. Rosita is the author of ten books, she is a naprapathic physician, a herbalist and a specialist in traditional Mayan healing. For decades she has lived in western Belize, operating a healing practice and maintaining an organic farm. During this time she studied under Don Elijio Panti -a powerful and famous shaman then in his nineties. (He lived to 103.) This story is described in her book, Sastún. Rosita joins us today to discuss Mayan healing and shamanism, what it entails, the state it is in today and what we can learn from it. This is a fascinating discussion that we managed to record from regional Belize all the way to Wellington New Zealand -during a cyclone. Enjoy! Show Notes Rosita's website and books. Rosita on Facebook. The Abdominal Therapy Collective. Rosita presenting at the New York Botanical Garden.