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In this months episode of The Hagstone, Chaise Levy sits down with Chad Andro of Radical Elphame to explore what Chad calls fairy apologetics, a reexamination of fairy lore that pushes back against fear-based, extractive, and overly dualistic approaches to the Otherworld. Drawing from folklore, Romantic poetry, animist philosophy, entheogenic experience, and personal practice, the conversation challenges the modern tendency to demonize or sentimentalize fairies, arguing instead for a relational and ecological understanding rooted in openness and transformation. Together, they explore the collapse of strict boundaries between this world and the Otherworld, critique capitalist and colonial mindsets that seek to control spiritual experience, and trace how Romantic figures such as William Blake preserved a vision of fairy as a force of fullness that holds joy and terror, innocence and experience, creation and destruction in dynamic balance. The episode ultimately asks what it would mean culturally and spiritually to re-engage fairy not as danger or fantasy, but as a living mode of relationship with the animate world. Connect with Chad Andro Instagram: @radicalelphameSubstack: Chad Andro Podcast: Radical Elphame, available wherever you listen New Theme Music: Taliesin written and performed on Tenor Guitar and Mandolin by Chaise Levy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

Happy Winter Solstice Northern Spirit House community.Today we are sharing a conversation between Chaise Levy, John Wolfstone, and Rune Hjarnø Rasmussen on From the Dragon Heart, which took place just before Yule in 2023. We are so thankful for John hosting and sharing the original episode, and to Rune for his deep generosity of both knowledge and spirit. As we deepen into this dark season we are reminded that in the Old Solstice traditions it was the beings of the darkness who brought the light. At this very apex of the ritual year the processions of both the beautiful and the monstrous move through the world to remind us of these time forces on the earth. This conversation revolves around the possibility of reinvigorating Yule traditions may it nourish all those who listen as we prepare for the Yuletide festivities between now and the first full moon of the second Yule month in January.Podcast image shows a Yule Goat being led through Skansen, Bollnässtugan from the Nordic MuseumMay all be blessed, Happy Solstice! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

This week on the Hagstone Podcast Chaise is joined again by Nay Noordmans of the House of Gnomi. This time we dive into the magical history of Datura, and it nexus of lore across this wild green earth.In the conversation we dive deep into the well of Datura’s spirit, and find there a clarion call to find reconciliation with the stories of extraction that continue to unfold. In that spirit we invite listeners to begin to ask the question of how they might create deeper relationships and offer resources to first peoples of the lands that they might inhabit.Here are some places to consider supporting in recognition of the debt of gratitude owed to the spirit of Datura and her keepers.https://northernchumash.org/land-back/ https://www.sychumashmuseum.org/get-involved/ Kuruvungna Village Springs - Gabrielino-Tongva Springs FoundationCHIRLA - The Coalition for Humane Immigrant RightsSome of the resources mentioned in the episode include:Nay on Radical Elphame with Chad Andro Nay’s Lecture at Viridis Genii Symposium This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

This week on the Hagstone Podcast Chaise and Andreas are joined by Carl Nordblom. Carl is the author of the wonderful book Historiola: the Power of Narrative Charms published in 2021 by Hadean Press. If you haven’t read this book we highly suggest finding yourself a copy.This is a deep conversation weaving threads of storytelling, charming, folk-magic and mantra into a tapestry that reflects the central theme: the power of story. We range wide taking a look at stories both old and new and how they function in our lives. From the personal to the vast political level the making of and employing of stories has massive implications for life, and learning to look critically at language not as an academic but from within is a deeply powerful tool in times such as these. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

This week on the Hagstone Podcast Chaise sits down with Rebecca Beyer of the Blood and Spicebush School of Old Craft. The conversation ranges through topics of land connectedness, connecting with ancestral traditions, and the particular power that the traditions of Appalachia have for showing a way of braiding cultures and lifeways. It is an amazing conversation, and we are so thankful to share it with you. Rebecca Beyer is the founder of the Blood and Spicebush School of Old Craft. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Vermont and a Master’s degree in Appalachian Studies and Sustainability from the Appalachian State University. She lives in the mountains of western North Carolina where she manages a homestead and teaches traditional Witchcraft, foraging, and Appalachian folk medicine. Rebecca’s newest book The Complete Folk Herbal will be published in October of this year by Simon & Schuster. It is packed to the brim with medicinal and magical plant knowledge and we highly recommend getting a copy. You can find her on Instagram at bloodandspicebush or at her website www.bloodandspicebush.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

This week on the Hagstone Podcast Chaise sits down to chat with Rose Aurora for a lively conversation on Fairy and Elf lore, magical storytelling, and the fundamental power of Truth. Rose is a sorceress, seer, and trollkvinna. Born into a lineage of Celtic fairy seership & witchcraft, Rose has been interacting with spirits and practicing magic since a very young age. She has also apprenticed under Johannes Gårdbäck to learn the art of Trolldom, a traditional system of Scandinavian folk magic & sorcery - of which she has been approved to do professional spiritual work for others as well as teach. She has also received training in other spiritual traditions, including hoodoo/conjure, as well as initiation into other lineages of traditional witchcraft. As a professional sorceress, Rose specializes in helping others with fairy, elf, and troll-related troubles. She also conducts readings and spellwork, in addition to teaching the magical arts to students of many magical backgrounds & various levels of experience. In the episode Rose mentions her class Starlight, Forge-fire, and Hearth Embers: The Elves, Trolls, & Dwarves in Scandinavian Folklore and Practice for the Northern Folk Traditions Conference at Ritualcravt. As of the publishing of this episode the conference is over but you may be able to get a recording.Rose will be giving a class at the Salem Witchfest titled Goodly, Shining, & Terrible: An Introduction to the Celtic Fairies with Rose Aurora you can find the link here. You can find Rose on the web at roseauroras.com or on instagram @roseauroras This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

This week on the Hagstone Podcast Chaise and Andreas sit down to chat with Johannes Gårdbäck to discuss trolldom and some of the amazing work he has brewing at Urhall. Johannes B. Gårdbäck is the author of “Trolldom – Spells and Methods of the Norse Folkmagic Tradition”, (Y.I.P.P.I.E, 2014). He is an internationally recognized teacher with more than 30 years of experience as a professional folk healer and a folk magic practitioner. Today he runs Urhall, a physical and online school of Trolldom and Scandinavian Folk wisdom in his home village of Hedekas, Sweden where he lives with his wife, two daughters and a dog called Bob. We are so thankful for this conversation, and the weaving of connection between what we are doing here at the Northern Spirit House with Urhall. Johannes is giving two teachings as a part of RitualCravt’s Northern Folk Traditions Conference taking place online June 2nd-8th. His sessions include Trolldom Herb, Tree, & Root Magic: All Good Things Are Three and Draugadrott: Necromancy, Spiritism and Relating to the Dead and the Ancestors in the Trolldom Tradition as a student of Johannes’s I can tell you they are not to be missed.Johannes also teaches an area of weekend, and year long courses throughout the year, and is debuting a Trolldom for the dark of the year immersion this year at his home in Hedekas, Sweden. More info can be found here. We have just entered the second year of the Hagstone Podcast and we could not be more excited to share the work of more incredible guests in the coming year. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

This is part 2 into the deep dive of egregores and thoughtforms. Ben also explores the lesser known paths in Tibetan Buddhism and also his own personal experiences working with spirits. Well worth your while for a listen as Ben has dedicated much time to his practices and stands between many worlds. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

This week on the Hagstone Podcast we are speaking with Sydney Kale. Sydney is a Ph.D. student of Wisdom Studies at Ubiquity University, focusing on plant intelligence and phenomenology. Her plant-relationship practice culminates in an exploration of co-authorship with plants in both academic and creative works. While her primary focus is plant studies, these inquiries provide a lens to explore plantness, humanness, and aliveness through deep listening, attunement, and embodied knowing. She is the author of The Love Language of Plants, a collection of essays written with plants at her home in Asheville, North Carolina. Sydney can be found at her website sydneykale.com or on substack This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

Andreas Kornevall sat down with Dr. Ceallaigh S. MacCath-Moran and had a conversation around didactic fiction, making art with our fears and hopes and how to start the wheels turning in a way that lobbyists and governments aren't. Conscious art making is an act of resistance. We speak of how there was a time when Skalds and Bards were highly valued and how we can revive this today through poetry, song, painting and textiles. Ceallaigh has worked with ancient ballads in a dozens of variations that were written down. Also, quantum physics tells us that we may well live in a multiverse and we hear about the great horse Sleipner and what it means to travel between worlds. Join us in this latest episode of the Hagstone Podcast. Bio: Dr. Ceallaigh S. MacCath-Moran holds hold B.A. in Celtic Studies from the University of Toronto, an M.A. in English and Creative Writing from the University of Maine, and a PhD in Folklore from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador. She is also an author, poet, and musician under the name C.S. MacCath. Her long-running Folklore & Fiction Project integrates these passions with a focus on folklore scholarship aimed at storytellers, and she brings a deep appreciation of animism, ecology, and folkloristics to her own storytelling. You can find her online at csmaccath.com, folkloreandfiction.com, and linktr.ee/csmaccath This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

On this week’s episode of the Hagstone Podcast Chaise is speaking with Arrowyn Craban Lauer. Arrowyn is an artist, a witch, and a mother who is based in Portland, Oregon. Arrowyn is the co-creator of Hex Magazine which ran from 2007-2014. It is a weaving conversation about the power of dreams, following your wyrd, the power of visual magical practice, and so much more.In the episode Arrowyn shares several stunning pieces of her art, she has generously offered high resolution versions of the images here for the show notes. Oak Tree Stargazer Lily Living the Goat Life Silk MothIf you want to find more of Arrowyn’s art you can find her on Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleGoldFoxDesigns and follow her on Instagram: little_gold_fox Show Notes:Arrowyn shares about the poetry of the Babylonian poet Enheduana, they can be found here:https://enheduana.org/enheduanas-poems/ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

The concept of egregores is nothing new, the ancient Greeks knew them as the "Watchers," and in Tibet they are called "Tulpas." They can be best described as immaterial entities born out of human thoughts, created from the power of a group mind - a nation is a perfect example of a large historical egregore - a nation is an idea that seems like an entity as it acts like a god and its spoken about as if it were a god. Today, we are living in the grip of egregore symbolism and it’s getting stronger. When there is excessive egregore possession, our collective group entity becomes destructive and we run into fundamentalism, especially religious fervour mixed with nationalism. The Egregore of Uncle Sam is making a move to become a god. Many generations previously had to learn the hard way of stopping the feeding of these symbols, we have many examples when nations were thrown into a mass hypnosis in the past. Often education is required to acquire freedom from polarity and dualistic possessions, but its not an easy route, division is always easier, like walking down hill. Here is a great interview with one of my favourite thinkers at the moment Dr. Ben Joffe, a Tibetologist and Buddhist practitioner who speaks of the Tulpas (egregores) and this phenomenon of the mind and how it affects the world. This is part 1. Part 2 we will go into other topics such as the consecration of statues in Tibetan and Hindu tantra practices, which relates to Old Customs practices here at Northern Spirit House - and much more! Latest offering with Andreas Kornevall, co-founder of Northern Spirit House:LETTERS AS SPIRITS (Rune-Mageia) - A spring time offering - 8th March, 6pm - 7:30pm - £18 The most powerful symbols we possess are our letters. For a name to exist, including yours, it must have a sound, or a graphic depiction. Our alphabet contains 26 phonetic-letter-glyphs, these glyphs have built our world: everything that you know and all knowledge leans on them. The great magician Alan Moore says: "Two dozen phonetic glyphs, they are the titans on whose shoulders the entire Earth is resting. Alive as abstract animals, they animate us, galvanise our inert culture with sublime significance.” Letters offer us a field of endless exposition and we are all hypnotised; we have all been spelt. There is an old Icelandic magical idea: it is that the shape of the letters (runes, staves, lines) carry the "primary agency." Therefore, combining rune-stave-lines-shapes, a magician can perceive new views, new feelings and new worlds. Drawing from practices, runes, alphabets, signs, and symbols. I am offering an intensive course on how to become post-literate. To use our hands to conduct new lines and shapes, expressing our emotions in lettered shapes found in streets, trees, feathers, rocks, furs, snail trails, or ripples of water. To become founders of new alphabets, and play with whim, explorations, spell-metres, new hidden passes and obscurities. To free a magical language from the landscape and from within us - to retrieve new hieroglyphs. This effect the world around us and it can liberate us from the peripheries of meaning which are limited to only the lettered perception. When we read the lines of the leaves, the Earth's language becomes mysterious. We are so familiar with the words on the page that we have long lost the ability to look at the sigils of nature in their poetic fullness. And yes, what can a post-literate expression look like? And what consequences can it have on our thinking? We will also explore the counter measures of resisting the power of text less sigils such as logos - countering their effects, a technique called "the Demblem." We will journey into the language of something greater: we will enter into the provocation of new thought. Eventbrite here This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

On this week’s episode of the Hagstone Podcast Chaise is speaking with Z. Hudelot. Z is an educator, historian, researcher, and a forager working at the intersection of folklore, folk practice and scientific study. It is a fascinating and wide ranging conversation covering Z’s work with the Mycoheterotrophs (including the Ghost Pipe), gnomes, Paracelsus, mummer’s plays and so much more. If you want to know more about the HMS Terror Z. has offered up this article.You can find Z on Instagram at : gnomecunningYou can also find Z’s lecture at the 2024 Viridis Genii Symposium on Mycoheterotrophs here. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

This week on the Hagstone Podcast Chaise sat down with Nay Noordmans of House of Gnomi on Instagram to chat all things Gnomes. The conversation moves through topics of connection to place, the benefits of working from folklore to develop relationships with the ecology, and the ever present question are the Gnomes just mushrooms after all?References in the episode include: * A Book on Nymphs, Sylphs, Pygmies, and Salamanders, and on the Other Spirits by Paracelsus * Pagan Christmas: The Plants, Spirit, and Rituals at the Origins of Yuletide by Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling * Witchcraft Medicine: Healing Arts, Shamanic Practices, and Forbidden Plants by Claudia Müller-Ebeling, Christian Rätsch, Wolf-Dieter Storl * The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications by Christian Rätsch Nay recommends that anyone interested in all things gnome, and mycology check out the work of gnome_cunning on Instagram, especially the workshop they gave on Ghost Pipe Mushrooms at Viridis Genii Symposium this year. You can find a lecture recording here.You can find Nay’s work on instagram at @houseofgnomi This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe

Josh Hroðgeir Rood is a researcher, musician, and Goði (Old Norse ritual performer) in Norway. His research, through the University of Iceland, specializes in Old Norse religion, its contemporary revival, as well as traditional and indigenous traditions as a whole. His research is a part of his spiritual conviction that Old Norse religion is still a relevant knowledge system in modern world, and he has dedicated his life to sharing that knowledge system through ritual, performance, lectures and workshops. He has performed ceremonies and given lectures across Europe, North America, and even Thailand. Rood is also a musician, and his main project is the Icelandic black metal band Nexion, which in many ways is also an expression of his convictions and beliefs. Rood has also been in bands such as the Nordic, World Music band Nebala, and has helped with lyric and translation work for musicians such as Kati Rán, and Kjell Braaten Here we dive into a fascinating and an in-depth conversation - we speak of making and crafting rituals, the exciting beginnings of the old Norse religion and its many new expressions; plus singing galder and joik (and black metal). A great session! You can find Jósúa on Instagram: @eagleandtheash This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com/subscribe