Support the show

*If you like what you hear; please sponsor my show. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/oracleoflunapodcast

Subscription page for Premium content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1445572/subscribe

H. Byron Ballard, is a Folklorist, Author, Priestess and Teacher. 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. Her books include four on mountain folk magic. The first was Staubs and Ditchwater, and the most recent (2025) is A Feral Church: A Guided Journey to Find Magic, Kinship and the Goddess.

Byron grew up in the country in North Carolina; she only saw the Goddess within the soil, trees, water and wind around her in Appalachia running in the mountains and playing in her family’s small orchard playing with crawdads and salamanders. Outside in nature is where Byron felt the divine most strongly. She sometimes saw the Goddess as anthropomorphic. Byron never saw the divine in male form. She calls herself an Animist at heart and also a polytheist.

Her grandmother and several cousins had the sight or prophetic dreams and also the ability to interact with spirits- even though their religion was Methodist. These abilities were deeply ingrained in the culture that Byron grew up in. Appalachia’s energy is deeply magical and broad and often manifests in deep spirituality which permeates the culture. It also has some of the oldest mountains in North America and two of the oldest rivers flowing through it in the world. There many different kinds of religion there. The intersection of Indigenous, African Scottish/Irish, Welsh and German cultures contributes to a unique Appalachian spiritual culture.

We chat about Byron’s newest book A Feral Church. She wrote it after the death of Carol Christ and her work was a great inspiration to Byron. She decided it was time to write another Goddess spirituality book. This book takes us Solstice to Solstice on inner and outer journeys to meet spiritual beings and connect with the Mother Goddess. It’s about stepping out of domesticity and accessing your wild essence in our own hearts. We encounter spiritual beings who teach us about aspects of our wild spirits in different parts of the world.

We chat about her role as a Priestess at the Mother Goddess Temple In Asheville NC which is a 501c3 church. She does interfaith work and outreach as well as holding Sabbats celebrating the wheel of the year with her community there. Byron believes that the Goddess is the root and foundation of all of us and from that we do the work that we are called to do in these perilous times. The Goddess is much needed especially for Women. Byron ends our episode by giving us a truly beautiful Goddess meditation for love and support. More about Byron at www.myvillagewitch.com

Tune in and be enlightened!

Support the show

*If you like what you hear; please sponsor my show. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/oracleoflunapodcast

Subscription page for Premium content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1445572/subscribe

In this episode, I am very delighted to speak with Patricia "Trish" Telesco!
Trish is a passionate Author and fusion cook. She has been a part of the Neo-Pagan community for nearly 40 years. During that time, Trish has written several books including Victorian Grimoire, 365 Goddess, A Kitchen Witch’s Cookbook and her most recent book, Cooking with the Kitchen Witch. Her Wiccan, Witchcraft, & Pagan books provide real and practical information on magick, spells, rituals, Shamanism, animal familiars, Gods & Goddesses, Kitchen Witchery, and Earth-based spirituality. Trish considers herself a Kitchen Witch whose love of folklore flavor every spell and ritual. She believes that your kitchen is a sacred space where you can elevate even the most mundane meal prep into a spiritual ritual. Trish lives in Western New York.

*Trish will give us some Kitchen Witch Tips at the end of the episode! *

We begin by chatting about Trish’s childhood where she played in fields behind the house growing up and talking to trees as a young Pagan Witchling. She tells us that her grandmother would get up at 5am to bake amazing fresh picked berry muffins that woke the family up in the morning. There was something in the love of her baking that influenced Patricia. She remembered her mom’s roast beef and the sacred way her mom created it in their family’s kitchen and her dad baking his delicious cookies.

Trish really didn't discover the magic of cooking until she got married and realized she could not cook. And she got a cookbook from her sister and made every single recipe in that cookbook for a year. The more Trish cooked the more she loved cooking and playing with the recipes. It became …FUN. Thats when her Kitchen Witchery journey started brewing!

She wrote a small newsletter for friends and family offering recipes and after contracting a case of adult chicken pox; she had the idea to write her first and very popular Kitchen Witchery cookbook over 30 years ago called: A Kitchen Witch’s Cookbook. She sent the manuscript to Llewellyn books, and they loved it. Her cookbook was published and it set the pace for Kitchen Witchery on the literary market.

Trish has written and published over 50 Witchcraft and Pagan books as well. Trish tells us that writing is who she is. She then took a little time off and after that she wrote a follow up cookbook. We chat about her new book: Cooking with the Kitchen Witch - Magical Recipes from the Hearth and what a Kitchen Witch is.

Staging, presentation, and decorations are also a part of creating kitchen magic and feasts - especially to celebrate the seasons and the Sabbats with your family, friends and community. Trish gives us some ideas on plating or placing food on the plate as it corresponds to the elements to draw in the energies of each direction and culinary astrology. We chat about how the visual impact of food is witchery and as Trish says: we eat with our eyes.

Trish is very committed to creating her recipes to make sure that they will last through the test of time. She has worked and experimented with food to create her unique culinary magic for several years. Her spellbinding new kitchen witchery book: Cooking with the Kitchen Witch - Magical Recipes from the Hearth invites us to nourish not only our bodies but our spirits. And Trish’s love language emana

Support the show

*If you like what you hear; please sponsor my show. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/oracleoflunapodcast

Subscription page for Premium content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1445572/subscribe

Get ready to be amazed on this episode as I have a spellbinding conversation with Patti Negri! Patti is a Psychic-Medium and "Good Witch" best known for her recurring role on the Travel Channel & Discovery's #1 show Ghost Adventures and the #1 paranormal show on YouTube: TFIL Overnight with Elton Castee. @pattinegri is the international bestselling author of “Old World Magick for the Modern World”. She has a new book that came out in June 2025 from Llewellyn Books called “Dollcraft: A Witch’s Guide to Poppet Magick & Haunted Dolls” which we will discuss here. Patti has a popular weekly podcast called The Witching Hour and has a second weekly podcast, The Witch's Movie Coven. Patti is a founding partner and VP of Paraflixx.com Streaming Service and founding partner and Headmistress at UniversityMagickus.com an online spirituality and mysticism school. *Tune in to the end when Patti gives us a short blessing on how to magickly charge a Poppet! *

We begin our conversation unveiling Patti’s early beginnings as a Witch growing up in Long Beach, CA. She said she was communicating with spirits as early as she could talk. She was not raised with any kind of religious belief system but as a teenager she became a spiritual seeker. She then went to a Long Beach WomanSpirit meeting; there she found her magickal tribe. And that was her starting point on her winding path as a Witch.

Patti was also an actor, dancer and teen model but kept her spirituality separate for many years. In her 30’s she started producing corporate entertainment shows for banks and large companies nationwide. Years later, in 2008 the recession hit, and also Reality TV started growing. Patti tells us that she came out of the broom closet and became the person to call for anything paranormal shows as a witch, psychic or medium and she has not looked back. Her acting training in Hollywood and in media/TV has experience helped her.

We delve into Patti’s newest book “Dollcraft: A Witch’s Guide to Poppet Magick & Haunted Dolls”. Patti saw a need for a guidebook about the acquiring, owning and caring for haunted dolls. She has been a doll collector all her life and some of her dolls she has acquired through her paranormal investigations. Patti talks about Peggi, the very haunted doll that is currently on display atThe Haunted Museum in Las Vegas, NV owned by Zak Bagans from the Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures TV show. Patti tells us some more experiences with evil energies/spirits residing in a doll - especially with her haunted doll: Belle.

We discover poppets and how to charge them for magickal purposes and empowerment and the difference between a Haunted Doll and a Poppet. Poppets have been used for sympathetic magic through the ages in a variety of cultures. Patti suggests making a poppet for spiritual empowerment, health, love, abundance etc.

Patti’s expertise is about balancing energies in people, places, situations, using the forces of the universe to create transformation whether it be in a séance or on TV with or her private clients. She wraps up the episode by giving us a short, charging blessing for your poppet. ️More about Patti at: www.pattinegri.com

Tune in and be enlightened!

Support the show

*If you like what you hear; please sponsor my show. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/oracleoflunapodcast

Subscription page for Premium content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1445572/subscribe

Join us in this episode for a fascinating conversation with Nikki Wardwell Sleath. Nikki is a formally trained Witch and professional Occult teacher. She is the founder of the Society of Witchcraft and Old Magick, holds a master’s degree in Integrative Health and Healing, is a Reiki Master/Teacher, and is trained through the highest level of shamanic dream teacher/facilitator training in Robert Moss’s School of Active Dreaming. She has worked with clients and students for many years. Nikki is also a longtime priestess of the Morrigan and acts as a co-facilitator for the annual Morrigan's Call Retreat. In addition to Dream Sorcery, Nikki is the author of The Goddess Seals and You Might Be a Witch and has more books forthcoming. She lives in Connecticut, USA. *Stay tuned until the end where Nikki gives us a short, guided meditation to prepare for lucid dreaming*

We start out by chatting about Nikki’s early spiritual/witchcraft beginnings. Growing up she became aware of voices and spirits in her family’s house. She noticed her psychic abilities would sharpen in her college years every Fall. Nikki started researching The Wheel of the Year and modern-day witchcraft. This was a huge spiritual awakening for her and from then on, she knew she was a witch for life.

After college, she became a physical therapist and tells us she would not be where she is as an occult teacher had it not been for her studies of healing on a holistic level. Nikki then began studying reiki, yoga, meditation and eventually got her master’s degree in Integrative Health & Healing which then led to her Shamanic certifications and skills that inform her magick and lucid dream practice. She also interned with Robert Moss a well renown shamanic dream teacher.

Lucid dreaming is being fully aware of yourself while you are dreaming and so essentially, you’re conscious within a dream state. Adding magick and cultivating spell work to lucid dreaming is what her newest Dream Sorcery book explores. She gives the reader tools to engage in dream sorcery even if you are not a seasoned magickal practitioner. This book is important for the magical or enchanted community because it’s not written from the viewpoint of western psychiatry.

Nikki firmly believes that dream sorcery can evolve our spiritual practice, and she hopes that the magickal reader will read her book and explore their own dream world where the rules of physics don’t limit the effect of the endless possibilities and realities. Nikki believes we can go from spectator to active magician in our dreams. Tune in and be enlightened! Nikki’s website: www.nikkiwardwellsleath.com

Support the show

*If you like what you hear; please sponsor my show. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/oracleoflunapodcast

Subscription page for Premium content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1445572/subscribe

Join us, for a spellbinding conversation with Deborah Blake! Deborah Blake is the author of eighteen books on modern Witchcraft, including The Eclectic Witch’s Book of Shadows, A Year and a Day of Everyday Magic, and The Everyday Witch’s Coven, as well as the acclaimed Everyday Witch Tarot and Oracle and Everyday Witch’s Familiars Oracle decks. She has also written three paranormal romance and urban fantasy series, and as well as a cozy mystery series about a run-down pet rescue. Deborah lives in a 130-year-old farmhouse in upstate New York with numerous cats who supervise all her activities, both magical and mundane. *Stay tuned until the end where Deborah gives us a short, guided meditation to for quiet and peace*

We start out by chatting about Deborah’s Witchcraft beginnings and how she developed her coven the: Blue Moon Circle which has been operating since 2004. Deborah says she thinks she was always a Witch but just didn’t know there was a name for it. She loved herbs, gardening and she had psychic abilities at a young age. As High Priestess of her Blue Moon Circle; Deborah integrated her Witchcraft/Wiccan teaching into her books that she started writing. Inspired by the Gods, Deborah sent in the manuscript for Circle, Coven & Grove: A Year of Magickal Practice to Llewelyn in 2005 and in 2007 it was published.

Next, we dive into her popular Oracle and Tarot decks: Everyday Witch Tarot and the Everyday Witch’s Familiars Oracle and how she collaborates with the amazing and talented illustrator, Elisabeth Alba. Their successful, collaborative partnership flourishes as they continue to publish more incredible oracle and tarot decks together with Llewelyn Worldwide publishing. Deborah writes and Elisabeth works her magic to complete the visionary and artistic execution of these very popular tarot and oracle decks. Deborah has been a professional tarot reader for over 20 years which contributes to her understanding of tarot card meanings.

The theme of many of Deborah’s books is ‘everyday magic’ and so we talk about how we can connect with our own everyday magic and integrate it into our own daily lives no matter where we live or what our spiritual backgrounds are. Deborah suggests some simple ways such as when you are taking a walk you can notice and connect with nature. Listen to the birds, feel the air on your skin, watch for omens, etc. If you cook, then kitchen witchery is the simplest way to integrate magic into what you are already cooking. Sprinkle in some fresh herbs and add your own intentions to the food you’re cooking. Experiment and have fun and as Deborah says: “There is no wrong way to do it. Whatever works for you is your kind of everyday witchcraft!”

Deborah ends with a short meditation from her book: A Year and a Day of Everyday Magic for quiet and peace. More about Deborah Blake at https://deborahblakeauthor.com

Support the show

*If you like what you hear; please sponsor my show. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/oracleoflunapodcast

Subscription page for Premium content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1445572/subscribe

Join us, for a fascinating and meaningful conversation with Tiffany Hopkins! Tiffany Hopkins has has been a year-round resident of Lily Dale, NY since moving into her great-great grandmother’s cottage in 2018. Tiffany gives mediumship readings and works to share the unique experience of living surrounded by people who practice mediumship in Lily Dale through: Normalize Talking to The Dead, a Website, Podcast, and Residency. Her first book, “Beyond: A Living Person’s Guide to the Dead” (June 10, 2025) shares her story of moving to Lily Dale; a community that shares a rich history of mediumship, healing, social reform, freethinking, and walks readers through how to find their own approach to Mediumship. Tiffany has degrees in Cognitive Science, Interdisciplinary Computing in the Arts & Music, and Business. *Stay tuned until the end where Tiffany gives us a short, guided meditation to open and close connection to contacting beyond the veil. *

We start out by chatting about the captivating history of Lily Dale, an intentional Spiritualist community in New York state which has had a rich history of hosting freethinkers, social and political reformists, and mediums since the 1850’s. Originally Lily Dale was a summer camp for Spiritualists. There have been connections with the suffragette movement, labor movement, abolition and alternative religious beliefs with many famous mediums and notable people such as Susan B. Anthony who spoke about women's rights, as regular visitors, and speakers there. Gradually Lily Dale became a year-round live in community for professional mediums.

We talk about Tiffany’s new book “Beyond: A Living Person’s Guide to the Dead” and how it developed from her research project in mediumship studies. Tiffany wrote a paper on the process of channeling which she expanded on into step-by-step approach explaining the channeling process for people to figure out how it can work for them. Tiffany believes people can learn mediumship just by doing and practicing it and paying attention to the subtleties.

Tiffany believes that it is a natural human ability to connect with the spirits beyond the veil and that psychic work has been misunderstood. She thinks that anyone can do mediumship and connect with their departed loved ones on the other side, but it does take time and consistent practice. We can start with two powerful tools we all have to develop our psychic abilities and to reignite our connection with a departed loved one: our memories and our imaginations. She talks about how living in a supportive community of mediums at Lily Dale has helped her accept that it's normal to talk to spirits. Her goal with her book, classes and podcast is to help others develop their mediumship skills and abilities so that they can feel comfortable doing this on their own.

Tiffany ends with a short, guided meditation to open and close connection to contacting beyond the veil. Tune in and be enlightened!
Tiffany’s website:www.normalizetalkingtothedead.com

Support the show

*If you like what you hear; please sponsor my show. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/oracleoflunapodcast

Subscription page for Premium content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1445572/subscribe

Join us, for an intriguing conversation with Irisanya Moon! Irisanya is a Witch, Priestess, Author of several books, Poet and devotee of Aphrodite. She teaches classes and camps in the Reclaiming Witchcraft tradition around the world. Her latest book is: “HESTIA: Goddess of Hearth, Home and Community” She lives in Sonoma county California. *Stay tuned until the end where Irisanya gives us a short Hestia blessing for the home*

Originally from the Midwest; Irisanya moved to California and has been invested in the Reclaiming Witchcraft tradition since 2008. This is an Eco-Feminist tradition that seeks to unify spirit and politics and encompasses many viewpoints on deity. Irisanya began her spiritual journey by first attending a Witch Camp - a 7 day retreat and loved it. She found a mentor named Copper Persephone who mentored her on her Reclaiming Witchcraft path and was a good friend. Irisanya continued with priestess training and student teaching with Copper for several years before teaching on her own.

We chat about Hestia the Goddess of the hearth and community in all her Greek mythological complexity. Basically, Hestia is/was the flame that connects everyone- the flame that is essential for humankind. She was worshipped in the home but also in the civic/political communities of ancient Greece. Hestia elected to never marry and to remain an eternal Virgin Goddess, one owned by no man and forever tended to the hearth of Olympus. Hestia offered sanctuary from persecution to those who honored and respected Her and punished those who offended Her. She was worshipped and celebrated around the hearth that is central to family(births,deaths, marriages) etc.as well as community rites of passages and events. The Olympic torch was/is a symbol of the eternal flame of Hestia lit at Mt. Olympus in Her honor.

Irisanya talks to us about how Hestia has influenced her writing this book as a result of teaching at various in-person events, classes and Witchcamps after the Covid lockdown in 2023 and how she worked to bring community together and rebuild community after people have gone through so much. In a way Hestia collaborated with Irisanya while writing this book about her! Irisanya believes that community is essential now more than ever and Irisanya works hard to figure out group cohesion and how people can support each other as well as feel comfortable with giving and receiving around each other. It's about belonging and meeting people where they are at, which is not easy whether it is in a magical Pagan or Wiccan ritual or at work or any other type of community.

Irisanya’s book is full of invocations, meditations, prayers and other useful information so that anyone can connect with Goddess Hestia. And Hestia is there for us to honor and celebrate at home even if we don't have a community around us. We can always call on Her and ask for her wisdom, support, nourishment and blessings regardless of our spiritual background or where we live in the world.

We end the episode with Irisanya leading us in a lovely Hestia blessing for the home. Tune in and be enlightened! More about Irisanya: www.irisanyamoon.com

Support the show

*If you like what you hear; please sponsor my show. https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/oracleoflunapodcast

Subscription page for Premium content: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1445572/subscribe