Essence Podcast with Ben Stimpson

My guest today is Vini Higginbotham, the author of 'How Witchcraft Saved My Life' and coauthor of 'Thrifty Witchery.' Mostly self-taught, Vini is not initiated in any traditional form or witchcraft practice. He follows his gut in all things magic but spends plenty of time researching to be sure his intuition is informed by wisdom before setting his intentions. It is Vini's goal to empower others the way he wishes he had been empowered in his early years. He has a dedicated practice with the goddess Hekate and lives in the Southeastern US. Find out more at: https://www.vincenthigginbotham.com/ To view the episode, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JS2eivFOVY

My guest today is fellow therapist, Ash McKernan, author of "Wyrdcraft: Healing Through the Mysteries of the Fates." Matthew Ash McKernan, LMFT, is a licensed psychotherapist, ecotherapist, bard, naturalist, and wyrdworker. He has degrees in anthropology and counseling psychology and loves to spend time at the crossroads where psyche, nature, magic, and healing intersect. You can visit his website at www.WyrdWildWeb.com To see the video version, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKa9TwdCIYw

My guest this week is Storm Faerywolf, prolific member of the queer magical community. Storm Faerywolf is a published author, experienced teacher, visionary poet, and professional warlock. He is a regular contributor to Modern Witch and is a founding teacher of Black Rose, an online school of modern folkloric witchcraft. He has written several books, including Betwixt and Between, Forbidden Mysteries of Faery Witchcraft, and The Stars Within the Earth (Mystic Dream Press, 2003). For more, visit his website at faerywolf.com. He joins me for an epic double episode... I hope you'll join our chat for a listen! To view the video click here: https://youtu.be/THEdAXtPHjQ To listen to the audio, click here:

Albert Björn Shiell grew up in the shade of the South Downs of Sussex, England. He spent his days there walking ancient chalk hills, full of burial mounds and folklore. Trading it all in 2017 for cold and seemingly desolate Iceland, Albert picked up his life and moved North. He now lives in downtown Reykjavík, writing and researching, translating old Icelandic books. He spends his days walking the land around him, learning and conversing with the many plant and land spirits of Iceland. Focusing now on an animistic framework of Nordic magic combined with the Sussex cunning of his homeland, Albert aims to deliver practical folkloric magic inspired by both his homes. He is a podcaster, and author of "Icelandic Plant Magic" out through Crossed Crow Books. Find him on social media @Sussex_Pellar

Madame Pamita is a teacher, candle maker, spellcaster, tarot reader, and a Ukrainian diaspora witch. She is the owner of an online spiritual apothecary called Madame Pamita's Parlour of Wonders. She is the host of a YouTube video series, Candle Magic Class and the weekly Magic Q&A Tea Party. She is the proprietor of Madame Pamita's Parlour of Wonders. To find out more, please visit: https://www.parlourofwonders.com

My guest today is Nathan Hall (@moonlithedge), author of "The Path of the Moonlit Hedge: Discovering the Magick of Animistic Witchcraft" out through @llewellynbooksNathan joins me to discuss the book, his animistic worldview, his community activities, and what it was like to relocate from the Midwest to Florida.To find out more about Nathan, go visit: www.moonlithedge.comTo view the video episode visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeCyjHKCHqM&t=31sAudio can be found: https://open.spotify.com/show/0PVyTZcEsf8ILmcl6zdAuT

Welcome to the first episode of my Fall series "Essence Podcast" Into the Woods" in which I speak with Folkloric and Tradititional practitioners and witches. My first guest is the lovely Byron Ballard. Byron is a western NC native, teacher, folklorist, and writer. She has served as a featured speaker and teacher at several festivals and conferences, including the Sacred Space Conference, Pagan Spirit Gathering, Starwood, Hexfest and many others. She serves as senior priestess and co-founder of Mother Grove Goddess Temple and the Coalition of Earth Religions/CERES, both in Asheville, NC. She podcasts about Appalachian folkways on "Wyrd Mountain Gals." Her essays are featured in several anthologies and she writes a regular column for SageWoman Magazine. Find her online at www.myvillagewitch.com. ---------------- LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to keep up with the Essence Summer Series Podcast. Join us on our other socials: IG: www.instagram.com/benstimpsonauthor YT: www.youtube.com/@BenStimpsonAuthor FB: www.facebook.com/BenStimpsonAuthor WS: www.benstimpson.com

My guest this week is my friend Gareth Blacthorne, queer Virginian occult artist, political activist, and traditional witch. I first came across Gareth online through mutuals and he shared his artwork with me... I knew I had to have him on! -------------------------- LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to keep up with the Essence Summer Series Podcast. Join us on our other socials: IG: www.instagram.com/benstimpsonauthor YT: www.youtube.com/@BenStimpsonAuthor FB: www.facebook.com/BenStimpsonAuthor WS: www.benstimpson.com

Craig Spencer is a Lancashire-born Anglo-Italian witch who practices Traditional Lancashire Witchcraft. His academic background earned him a Bachelor of Science degree with honours from the University of Salford and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Central Lancashire. He is an integrated therapist and Reiki teacher. In his downtime he enjoys reading, learning new languages (currently Mandarin “ni hao!”), and has a love for all things comedy and horror. He is the author of "Witchcraft Unchained: Exploring the Histiry and Traditions of British Craft" out now through Crossed Crow Books. Other works by Craig Spencer include Aradia: A Modern Guide to Charles Godfrey Leland’s Gospel of the Witches published by Llewellyn Worldwide. To connect with Craig, please see the following socials: Instagram @WitchcraftUnchained Twitter @CraigSpencer90. ----------------------- Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

I sit down with prolific author Morgan Daimler to discuss their publishing journey, what it's like to write both fiction and non-fiction, and a little theoretical ponderings at the end. Morgan Daimler is a witch who has been a polytheist since the early ’90′s. Following a path inspired by the Irish Fairy Faith blended with neopagan witchcraft, they teach classes on Irish myth and magical practices, fairies, and related subjects in the United States and internationally. Morgan has written dozens of books on subjects relating to Irish traditions, Norse traditions, and fantasy novel series. ------------------------------------------------------- LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to keep up with the Essence Summer Series Podcast. Join us on our other socials: IG: www.instagram.com/benstimpsonauthor YT: www.youtube.com/benstimpsonauthor FB: Ben Stimpson - Author WS: www.benstimpson.com ---- Morgan's socials: www.facebook.com/Morgandaimler www.instagram.com/morgandaimler www.twitter.com/MorganDaimler To check out Morgan's non-fiction books, check out: www.johnhuntpublishing.com/moon-books/authors/morgan-daimler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

Ariana Serpentine is a multi-traditional witch, polytheist, and animist. She describes herself as a theology & history nerd, they are trans & queer, and is a Mercurial Girl. Ariana has worked in political trans activism, raising awareness for the needs of her community within Pagan and other circles. They are the author of “Sacred Gender: Create Trans and NonBinary Spiritual Connections” published by Llewellyn Worldwide. Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

My guest today is author, television personality, Witch, and fellow Welshperson... Mhara Starling! Mhara is the author of the forthcoming "Welsh Witchcraft: A Guide to the Spirits, Lore, and Magic of Wales" by Llewellyn. At the taping of this interview, Mhara was unable to announce or speak about the book, but as of a week ago the book is now available for pre-order and comes out in February. Mhara speaks about what it was like growing up in North Wales, her reclaiming of her Welsh identity through witchcraft, her connection to the landscape, and what it was like to step into the place of writer. To find out more about Mhara and her work, visit her facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/MharaStarling/ --------- To learn more about Paduka Wellness and Ben Stimpson, please visit: www.padukawellness.com www.facebook.com/padukawellness Please hit subscribe to get updates on future episodes of Essence. ------------ About Essence: Essence is a podcast all about story, journey and self. Released twice a month, Ben interviews individuals about their work, their life journeys and the insights gained. ------------- Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

Originally posted: 3 Jun 2021 On today's episode I am very pleased to have a very special person in my life come onto the show. I spoke with my mentor, clinical supervisor, and friend Tiffany Lazic earlier about her journey into spiritual psychotherapy, the importance of seeing through story to essence, on building a heart centred space for others, and what lessons she learned along the way. Tiffany is a spiritual psychotherapist, writer, teacher, and joy enthusiast. Founder of the Hive And Grove Centre for Holistic Wellness located in Kitchener, Ontario. To find out more about Tiffany and her work, please visit: www.hiveandgrove.com --------- To learn more about Paduka Wellness and Ben Stimpson, please visit: www.padukawellness.com www.facebook.com/padukawellness Please hit subscribe to get updates on future episodes of Essence. ------------ About Essence: Essence is a podcast all about story, journey and self. Released twice a month, Ben interviews individuals about their work, their life journeys and the insights gained. ------------- Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

In episode 01 of Essence Podcast, I interview Andrew Anderson, writer of 'The Ritual of Writing' about his work, process, and what he learned about himself.  Andrew is a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids; and works with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, in Stratford-Upon-Avon, UK. To learn more about Andrew and his works, please visit: www.instagram.com/ajanderson72 To learn more about Paduka Wellness and Ben Stimpson, please visit: www.padukawellness.com About Essence: Essence is a podcast all about story, journey and self.  Released twice a month, Ben interviews individuals about their work, about their life journeys and the insights gained. Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

My guest for this final episode of season 03 is the wonderful Devin Hunter. Devin Hunter is the bestselling author of The Witch's Book of Power, The Witch's Book of Spirits, The Witch's Book of Mysteries, the critically acclaimed Modern Witch, and Crystal Magic for the Modern Witch. Initiated into multiple occult orders, Devin is the founder of the Sacred Fires Tradition of Witchcraft and co-founder of the Black Rose Tradition of Witchcraft. He hosts the Modern Witch podcast, recommended by both the AV Club and Glamour, and he's co-owner of Datura Trading Co. Devin is also a novelist under the nom de plume, Darren Sparks., To find out more about his offerings, events and writing visit him at ModernWitch.com/Devin and www.darrensparks.com

My guest today is Troy Kokoszka, author of "Bogowie: Bogowie: A Study of Eastern Europe's Ancient Gods" from Moon Books. T.D. Kokoszka grew up in Texas with a Jewish mother and a Polish-American father. While he was aware of roots going back to Eastern Europe from both families, he found it hard to learn very much about them. He knew that Polish people would whack one another with palm leaves around Easter, and he knew that his great-grandmother purportedly believed in forest spirits known as borowy. However, it wasn't until he was in his teens that he became vaguely aware of an ancient people known as the Slavs who gave rise to the Polish, Ukrainian, Russian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Slovakian, Slovene, and Czech languages. It quickly became clear to him that this was a family of cultures currently under-represented in popular culture, and even in western scholarship. Not simply a regurgitation of scholarship from the Soviet period - and presenting new analyses by using previously neglected resources - Bogowie: A Study of Eastern Europe's Ancient Gods offers one of the most painstaking scholarly reconstructions of Slavic paganism. These new resources include not only an overview of folklore from many different Slavic countries but also comparisons with 'ssetian culture and Mordvin culture, as well as a series of Slavic folktales that Kokoszka analyzes in depth, often making the case that the narratives involved are mythological and shockingly ancient. Readers will recognize many European folktale types and possibly learn to look at these folktales differently after reading this book.

Jhenah Telyndru holds an MA in Celtic Studies from the University of Wales, Trinity St. David, and has a bachelor's degree in archaeology. She is the founder of the Sisterhood of Avalon, an international Celtic women's mysteries organization. Jhenah teaches four-day residential training retreats around North America and the UK, and facilitates pilgrimages to sacred sites in the British Isles and Ireland through Mythic Seeker Tours. She is a frequent presenter and guest speaker at academic conferences, religious symposia, Women's Spirituality gatherings, and Pagan festivals. A priestess in the Avalonian Tradition for over 25 years, Jhenah has been following a Pagan path since 1986. Visit her at www.ynysafallon.com and www.sisterhoodofavalon.org.

Chris Allaun has been studying witchcraft, magick, and paganism since 1992. He is one of the founders and an ordained minister with The Fellowship of the Phoenix. He has been an initiate of Traditional Witchcraft since 2002. He is also a Native American Pipe Carrier and studies that path of the Red Road. He teaches classes and workshops on magick, healing, shamanism, and necromancy. He has been teaching and writing for many years. He is the author of Underworld: Shamanism, Myth, and Magick, Deeper Into The Underworld: Death, Ancestors, and Magical Rites, and Upperworld: Shamanism and Magick of the Celestial Realms. He continues to study and teach the magickal arts to those who seek to balance the three worlds in their own lives. find out more at www.chrisallaun.com

My guest this week is Dorian Manticore. He/they is a creative hailing from Narrm/Kulin Nation lands (Melbourne, Australia). They're an author, poet, LARP creator, artist, disability, and trans rights advocate, and crafter/maker. Dorian has been a practicing pagan and witch for roughly the past 23 years, firstly by solitary practice, then joining the Reclaiming community, becoming involved in numerous events such as the Australian Wiccan Conference, and serving as a committee member for the Pagan Collective of Victoria, a local community not-for-profit organization. They've hosted numerous workshops, talks, and public rituals. They are the founder of the Sovereigns of the Golden Path, affectionately known as the Sun Cult, a Queer-centering emerging magical tradition with roots in animism, ecstatic witchcraft, Reclaiming, chaos magic, and leftist politics. They’re a queer, trans, neurospicy nerd, disabled, elder-millennial tragic and cat dad. In his spare time he enjoys dressing like an extra from a post-apocalyptic film, playing video games, and bobbing around in the sea like a cork.

Led deep into the wilds of Wales by dreams and wandering words, Halo has been a practising witch since childhood, and a Dr. of Philosophy since 2022. Their magic has always focused on listening to the spirits of the land, an animistic path which introduced them to the Welsh deities, with an embodied, sensual approach to their craft. Trained in several traditions of Witchcraft, they have taught at many events over the years, developing their own magical path through observing the interconnection between Fae and Human enchantments. Halo has studied and worked with Welsh stories, gods and magic since moving there in 2005. Halo is a devotee of the Faery Queen, a storyteller, a philosopher, artist and the founder of the online school of magic and paganism; The Enchanted Academy (or TEA for short) and The Crimson Coven - a magical, creative collective exploring the divine erotic and sacred nature of pleasure and beauty. They also write on these topics as the kinky witch, Ms Quin. Halo lives in Aberystwyth, UK. find out more at www.haloquin.net