In this episode, Finnish folklorist, artist, and pagan practitioner Niina Niskanen joins us to explore the ancient waters of Finnish mythology and the animistic worldview that shaped her homeland. We dive deep into her upcoming book Soul of Vellamo Journey with the Finnish Gods of the Sea—a work that traces the evolution of Finland’s sea deities from their Neolithic, shamanic roots to the later poetic, song-based traditions that survive today.Niina guides us through the three-layered Finnish cosmos, where sea goddesses like Vellamo and the thunder god Ukko still ripple through the culture, and where every element—fire, earth, air, and water—holds its own väki, a sacred animating force. We talk offerings, sauna rites, hair magic, and the rituals woven into daily life by fishermens, hunters, and healers who lived in relationship with the spirits around them.From underwater kingdoms and cows of the sea, to the boundary-walking goddesses of healing and travel, Niina offers a rare glimpse into the living heart of Suomenusko, Finnish pre-Christian belief. She shares personal experiences with deities like Vellamo, Loviatar, and Mielikki, and reflects on how modern environmental spirituality echoes these ancient traditions.We also explore the deep cultural importance of the sauna as a liminal, ritual space—birthplace, death house, and magical threshold—and uncover surprising resonances between Finnish folklore and Irish, Baltic, Slavic, and Scandinavian traditions.Show notes:https://fairychamber.org/en-eurhttps://www.instagram.com/fairychamberart/

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In this episode, I sit down with Aidan Wachter and Tommie Kelly for a long, searching conversation about the state of modern magic and how our practices—and our lives—are changing under cultural and personal pressures. We start with the sense that magic doesn’t always work the way it used to. Aidan shares his thoughts on why: the sheer difficulty of magical training, the problems with visualization-heavy systems, and how easily magic becomes another cog in the productivity machine. Together, we look at how these pressures strip practitioners of depth, patience, and wonder.From there, we challenge the “scout badge” approach that creeps into contemporary magic, where achievement replaces mystery. We talk about how capitalism, Catholic symbolism, and our own preferences quietly shape the language we use for spiritual experience, often without our noticing.Rest and downtime become a major thread in our discussion. After dealing with injuries myself, I’ve come to understand rest as a crucial—if neglected—aspect of spiritual work. Tommie and Aidan echo this, speaking about burnout, financial pressures, and the emotional cost of manifesting major life changes. We compare fast, results-oriented magic with slower, more traditional spiritual paths, and consider why the latter often produces more sustainable transformation.We then turn to the digital world and how constant stimulation affects our sense of wonder. Aidan reflects on practicing Chaos Magic in the 1980s with almost no external influence, and how that solitude fostered originality. In contrast, today’s nonstop feed of content makes deep practice and introspection much harder. That leads us into a conversation about authenticity, personal flaws, and how childhood—and identity—now unfold under the surveillance of social media.I share how aligning my life with seasonal rhythms has shifted my work and well-being, especially as I’ve moved toward agricultural patterns.In the Plus Show Aidan and Tommie talk about stepping back from the news cycle to protect mental health while still being ready to act when real crises arise. This naturally leads us into discussing global events, helplessness, empathy, and the balance between what concerns us and what we can actually influence.The conversation also takes on the broader societal picture: eroding trust in institutions, the fragility of rights, government overreach, and the unsettling realization that much of the order we rely on is more fragile than we’d like to believe. Aidan speaks to the need for public witness when legal and civic norms break down, and we look at the strange impotence of a world where everything is documented yet little changes.We return to animism as a lived practice. Aidan shares his approach to maintaining balance within a wider ecosystem of spirits, people, and land, rather than chasing specific outcomes. We also talk about our societies structural problems and the uncomfortable truth that sometimes things must fall apart before they can be remade.Show notes:https://www.patreon.com/cw/aidanwachterhttps://www.patreon.com/c/tommiekelly/postsKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode of Spirit Box, I sit down once again with Emmet to explore the work of William G. Gray, a complex figures in modern Western occultism. We dive into Gray’s writings and his book An Outlook on Our Inner Western Way, discussing how his ideas about spiritual attainment still hold power despite his very human flaws. Emmet speaks candidly about Gray’s complicated legacy and we talk about the challenge of engaging with material that’s both insightful and uncomfortable.

Emmet shares how the idea of the “outer court” influenced his approach to teaching, and we explore the strange value of misleading or flawed material in spiritual traditions — how even the wrong turn can lead you somewhere meaningful.

In the Plus Show, we go deeper. We talk about magic as a living practice — the role of vibes and intuition, and how real teaching often happens through non-verbal transmission rather than formal instruction. Emmet reflects on his own experiences with magical schools, the lessons learned from conflict, and how discernment becomes a crucial tool in finding the right teachers.

We also discuss how personal and cultural symbols intertwine, how to interpret your own visionary language, and how sincerity cuts through the aesthetic traps that often surround esoteric work. The conversation winds through 19th-century occultism, folk magic, and the literary imagination of that era — all the ways the past continues to whisper through our practices today.

It’s a rich and honest discussion about what it really means to walk the Western Way — with all its contradictions, revelations, and moments of magic in the mundane.
Show notes:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2884410-outlook-on-our-inner-western-way
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/outlook-on-our-inner-western-way-william-g-gray/1012354701;jsessionid=A81241F159DB9A9D62A460E4E302382D.prodny_store01-atgap18

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