Magick & Alchemy
Magick & Alchemy by Tamed Wild is an enchanting podcast for modern-day witches and the earth-spirited. Join hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew each week as they discuss witchcraft, divination, mythology, and all things magick and alchemy.
Episodes
Episode 186: Good For Her: Monsters, Daemons, & Lana Del Rey
In episode 186 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby reflect on magickal representation in pop culture. Beginning with the mythical daemon, a spirit who serves as a messenger and muse, they consider 'demonic' displays of divine embodiment in the music of Lana Del Rey and Stevie Nicks. Next, they introduce listeners to the concept of the monstrous femin
Episoed 185: Oracles
In episode 185, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby gather oracular insight from the ancient world. Rooted in Latin’s orare, meaning “to speak,” an oracle in Greco-Roman mythology was a divine seer and sibyl with direct access to higher truths and prophecy. In this conversation, Kristin and Kate discuss the Delphic Oracle, a cave-dwelling prophetess whose sanctuary was considered the ‘navel’ of t
Episode 184: Sacred Words
In episode 184 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew kick off season seven! Magic practitioners know that words are spells. That's why we set intentions and recite prayers, study old myths and fairy tales, and petition the spirit word for guidance. In this conversation, they begin with the origins of open sesame and hocus pocus, speaking about the sacrednes
Episode 183: Harvest Magick
In episode 183 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew head to the harvest time fields to summon the haunts and cryptids of our reaping season. They begin with the Headless Horseman, a fictional rider with possible ties to Crom Cruach, the Dullahan, and other ancient spirits from Irish folklore. Next they meet the Puca, a trickster, shapeshifter, and faerie spirit
Episode 182: Mothers of Magic & Matriarchy with Perdita Finn
In episode 182 of Magick & Alchemy, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby welcome back Perdita Finn to the podcast. Perdita is an author, educator, and co-founder of the feral fellowship, The Way of the Rose. In this conversation, Perdita talks about channeling the old ones and working with our beloved dead in the spirit world. She contemplates romantic animism and asks, if your mother was an a
Episode 181: Animal Oracles: The Bat & the Crocodile
In episode 181 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew celebrate the end of their 6th season alongside Animal Oracles, the bat and the crocodile. Beginning with the bat, a creature that roosts in caves, on cliffsides, and within the hollows of trees, Kristin discusses the bat’s relationship to thresholds, mythical junctures, and initiatory landmarks. She highlight
Episode 180: Animal Oracles: The Octopus & the Dolphin
In episode 180 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby continue their series on animal oracles with the octopus and the dolphin. They begin with the eight-limbed octopus, a creature known as the sea alien. As a symbol of the strange, not only can the octopus alter the color and texture of its body on command, but it also uses tools, solves puzzles, and can escape
Episode 179: Animal Oracles: The Fox and the Deer
In episode 179 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby track the footprints of animal oracles, beginning with the fox and the deer. Assigning meaning to animal sightings and chance interactions is called apantomancy, a form of divination with the wild. Through the lens of apantomancy, the fox might show up as a friend or foe, a fairy or a goddess. The fox is also
Episode 178: Women in Art & the Occult: Mary Wigman & Louise Bourgeois
In episode 178 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew conclude their series on Women in Art & the Occult by sharing the stories of Mary Wigman and Louise Bourgeois. As a dancer, Mary Wigman was an artist whose medium was not paint nor pen, but movement. She was the creator of the "Witch Dance," a performance that transformed her into a fluid, intuit
Episode 177: Women in Art & the Occult: Stevie Nicks & Florence Welch
In episode 177 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew consider the bewitching work of Stevie Nicks and Florence Welch. Standing at the crossroads of music, magic, and mystery, Kate and Kristin explore Rock & Roll’s occult muses before diving into Nick’s journey as a singer and performer. They discuss the inspiration for her first hit song with Fleetwood Mac,
Episode 176: Women in Art & the Occult: Ithell Colquhoun & Lucille Clifton
In episode 176 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew explore the creative lives of Ithell Colquhoun and Lucille Clifton. Colquhoun was an artist and author who combined surrealism with her interest in bodily landscapes, gender fluidity, ecology, mythology, transient states, and erotic alchemy. Both Colquhoun and Clifton believed their artistic practices were for
Episode 175: Women in Art & the Occult: Georgie Yeats & Sylvia Plath
In episode 175 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby continue their series on Women in Art & the Occult, dedicating this chapter to Georgie Yeats and Sylvia Plath. Georgie was an author and medium whose journey with automatic writing began during her honeymoon with the poet and author W.B. Yeats. Over the next decade, she channeled messages from spirits who
Episode 174: Women in Art & the Occult: Hilma af Klint & Vali Myers
In episode 174 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew delve into the creative lives of magical women for their new series, Women in Art & the Occult. They open with the story of Hilma af Klint, a Swedish artist who explored Spiritualism, mediumship, automatic drawing, and the teachings of Rudolf Steiner and Madame Blavatsky in her work and creative process. K
Episode 173: Eclipses
In episode 173 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew investigate the folklore, superstitions, and astrological significance of eclipses. Beginning with the myriad of eclipse mythologies from around the world, they consider the stories of monstrous Apep and heavenly Selene. They contemplate eclipses as omens, bolstering agents for medieval magicians, and course c
Episode 172: Creative Magick with Shelby Bundy & Amanda Paulson
In episode 172 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew welcome back Shelby Bundy and Amanda Paulson! Shelby Bundy is the visionary and creatrix behind Tamed Wild, where modern magick meets ancient wisdom, and Amanda Paulson is a paranormal investigator and psychic medium based in the Pacific Northwest. In this conversation, the coven discusses the crossroads of ma
Episode 171: Creative Magic with Charlie Claire Burgess
In episode 171 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby interview Charlie Claire Burgess. Charlie is a queer and trans-nonbinary author and artist working at the intersection of spirituality and queerness. In this conversation, they discuss queer deities, word witchery as devotion, tugging on the threads of stories, and working with fantasy as a portal. Charlie giv
Episode 170: Creative Magic with Sanyu Estelle
In episode 170 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew interview Sanyu Estelle. Sanyu is an author, artist, and Word Witch whose work challenges supremacist narratives while exploring the intersection of cultures, histories, and ontologies. In this conversation, Sanyu speaks about the magical lanterns of poetry and magic. Together, three witches discuss creativity
Episode 169: Creative Magic with the Missing Witches
In episode 169 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby welcome back Amy Torok and Risa Dickens! Also known as the Missing Witches. Amy and Risa are old friends, creative collaborators, curious crafters, big cacklers, howlers at the moon, grumpy old crones, and a couple of perpetual baby Witches living, writing, recording, and making magic out in the woods on unced
Episode 168: Polish Folk Magic with Joanna Tarnawska
In episode 168 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby interview Joanna Tarnawska. Joanna is an animist, folk practitioner, writer, and psychologist residing in the mountains of Lower Silesia, Poland. In this conversation, they dive deep into Polish folk magic. Guided by Joanna, listeners explore her homeland, her ancestors' teachings, how she came to folk
Episode 167: The Number of the Beast
In episode 167 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew return to the realm of sacred numbers in search of 666, the Number of the Beast. In this conversation, Kate and Kristin share lore and superstitions surrounding this number, highlighting its connection to mystery and solar magick. They consider pre-Christian mythologies, in which 666 was not a symbol of sin bu
Episode 166: Magic Maker with Pam Grossman
In episode 166 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby interview Pam Grossman. Pam is a writer, curator, and teacher of magical practice and history. She is also the host of the internationally beloved podcast, The Witch Wave. In this conversation, Pam considers creativity as magic and magic as creativity. She talks about the archetype of the magician and working
Episode 165: Naturally, The Herbalist's Guide to Health and Transformation with Rachelle Robinett
In episode 165 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby interview Rachelle Robinett. Rachelle Robinett, RH (AHG), is a writer, herbalist, educator, and life-long naturalist. She’s the founder of multidisciplinary companies dedicated to the art and science of natural wellness. Combining traditional medicine and current health insights with an understanding of indivi
Episode 164: To Die For, Gravestone Recipes with Rosie Grant
In episode 164 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby interview Rosie Grant. Rosie Grant is the creator behind @GhostlyArchive on TikTok and Instagram, where she researches and re-creates recipes found on gravestones. In this conversation, Rosie guides listeners through archival work in the sacred setting of the cemetery. She speaks about the potency of working w
Episode 163: Something in the Woods Loves You with Jarod Anderson
In episode 163 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby interview Jarod Anderson. Jarod is a nature writer, podcaster, poet, and erstwhile academic. In this conversation, Jarod invites listeners into the church of the forest, where the priests and clergy are heron, stick bugs, and squirrels. He offers us perspectives on poetry, on brain weather, and what magic mean
Episode 162: Word Witch with Kate Belew
In episode 162 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, Kristin Lisenby and Shelby Bundy interview Kate Belew. Kate Belew is an author, poet, and Witch whose work exists at the crossroads of creativity and magic. Inspired by a shared love of word witchery and books, Kristin, Shelby, and Kate discuss the intersections of ritual and creativity, and the importance of giving ourselves permission to follow
Episode 161: Hecate with Melissa Madara
In episode 161 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby interview Melissa Madara. Melissa is an occultist, author, and educator who teaches magic and witchcraft from a historical perspective. In this conversation, three witches discuss the goddess Hecate, her invocations, and how to work with her symbols through altars and offerings. Melissa shares their thoughts o
Episode 160: Cartomancy & the Camena with Laetitia Barbier
In episode 160 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby interview Laetitia Barbier. Laetitia is an independent scholar, professional tarot reader, teacher, and author. In this conversation, Laetitia reminisces on her introduction to tarot during childhood and discusses her relationship with the cards today. She shares some of her favorite magical places in New York
Episode 159: Auras with Eileen Lee
In episode 159 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby discuss auras with Eileen Lee. Eileen is a Detroit-based aura photographer and energetics researcher. In this conversation, Eileen shares her auric philosophy and considers the aura as a tool to manifest. She considers her experiments with aura photography and walks listeners through the colors of the aura. Sh
Episode 158: High Magick with Damien Echols & Lorri Davis
In episode 158 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew discuss ritual and magick with Damien Echols and Lorri Davis. Damien is a bestselling author, martial artist, and spiritual teacher whose life and work embody the path of transformation. His wife, Lorri, is a former landscape architect turned author, magickal practitioner, and public speaker. In this conversat
Episode 157: Prophetic Girl Summer
In episode 157 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew bid farewell to season five and welcome in Prophetic Girl Summer. In this conversation, they revisit the stories of priestesses, nymphs, and clairvoyant baddies who have historically said, “I told you so.” They meet Helice and Cassandra, contemplate yearning as a spell, and consider the influence of internet a
Episode 156: Earth Magick
In episode 156 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew discuss Earth Magick and Midsummer guardians. Led by their inner creatures, they begin by contemplating the folklore of the earth-dwelling goblin, a mischievous being who serves as the witch’s familiar. Then, spiraling deeper into the soil, they visit the roots of sacred trees. They consider roots as allies an
Episode 155: Sacred Numbers
In episode 155 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby delve into the realm of sacred numbers. In this conversation, two word witches consider numerical languages, the branches of numerology, and the origin of Angel Numbers. They contemplate the mystery cult of Pythagoras, math as a form of poetry, and numbers as ‘entities, archetypes, and symbols.’Sources & S
Episode 154: A Peculiar Parish of Magical Publishing with Clint Marsh
In episode 154 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew interview Clint Marsh. Clint is a writer and publisher of practical esoterica, utilizing elements of myth, magic, folklore, and humor to help readers navigate everyday life. He is also the editor of Fiddler’s Green Peculiar Parish Magazine. In this conversation, Clint discusses his journey as an artist and mak
Episode 153: Be Not Afraid with Jennifer Sodini
In episode 153 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby interview Jennifer Sodini. Jennifer is an artist, writer, speaker, and producer whose creative endeavors span various realms of art and spirituality. In this conversation, Jennifer guides listeners into and through the angelic realms. She discusses the overlaps between angels and creativity, play, and our drea
Episode 152: Sleep Spells & Dream Divination
In episode 152 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby explore the landscapes of their dreams. Beginning in the temples of Aslepius and Asteria, where dream incubation is a ritual to speak with the gods, Kristin and Kate wander through the mysterious realms of lucid dreaming, astral projection, and out-of-body experiences. They consider the possibility of places b
Episode 151: Alien Creatures
In episode 151 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby set their sites on the great beyond with a conversation about extraterrestrials, star people, and mythic accounts of maybe aliens. They consider the stories of Billy Meier, a man from rural Switzerland who documented over 100 visits from a group of telepathic, human-passing beings from the Pleiades star cluste
Episode 150: Welcoming Spring with Danielle Dulsky
In episode 150 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby interview Danielle Dulsky, a poet, painter, teacher, word-witch, and author. In this conversation, they discuss embodiment, movement as prayer, and holding the personal paradoxes of the springtime season. They consider altar-building for storytelling and the intersections of witchcraft and ‘wonder stories.’ Da
Episode 149: The Element of Spirit
In episode 149 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew discuss the element of Spirit. Also known as quintessence, aether, or the fifth element, Spirit completes the elemental pentagram alongside Air, Earth, Fire, and Water. In this conversation, Kristin and Kate discuss the Greek God Aether and the Cult of the Holy Spirit. They consider spirit snakes, altars, mira
Episode 148: Guardian Angels
In episode 148 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew journey to the mythical Above to swap stories with their otherworldly hosts. In this conversation, they contemplate the overlap between angels, guardians, and daemons. They consider fairies as fallen angels, angelic hierarchy, and the startling features of these winged spirits. Kate and Kristin remind one anot
Episode 147: Witchcraft 101, Pt. 3
In episode 147 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kristin Lisenby answer listener questions with Shelby Bundy. Shelby is a lover of tarot, astrology, history, myth and the visionary behind Tamed Wild. In this conversation, three witches share their spiritual traditions and routines, as well as their thoughts on candle magic, meditation, and creating authentic spells. To
Episode 146: Intuitive Manifesting with Brigit Esselmont of Biddy Tarot
In episode 146 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby interview Brigit Esselmont. Brigit is an intuitive entrepreneur, best-selling author of Everyday Tarot, and Founder of Biddy Tarot. In this conversation, Brigit reflects on her introduction to tarot, and how the cards helped bring her deepest desires to life. She discusses co-creating alongside the universe, g
Episode 145: Wyrd Women Pt. 3
In episode 145 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby & Kate Belew finish their series inspired by the wyrd and wonderful. In Wyrd Women Pt. 3, they meet an old woman named Baubo. Baubo is a goddess of belly laughs, and in the myth of Persephone and Demeter, she is the unassuming problem solver. While Demeter mourns, Baubo dances in the face of grief, showing us that laught
Episode 144: Wyrd Women Pt. 2
In episode 144 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby & Kate Belew continue their series inspired by the wyrd and wonderful. In Wyrd Women Pt. 2, they begin in the cosmos and explore the folklore of the Pleiades star cluster. Also known as the Seven Sisters, the Pleiades possess mythical ties to Aphrodite, Artemis, bees, doves, and the Winter Solstice. In the second part of
Episode 143: Wyrd Women
In episode 143 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby & Kate Belew go in search of wyrd and wonderful women for their new mini-series, Wyrd Women. During this first conversation, Kate and Kristin introduce listeners to the Fox Sisters and Nettie Colbourn, young mediums who gained notoriety during the rise of Spiritualism in the 19th century. They contemplate divining with t
Episode 142: Uncommon Prayer with Heidi Smith
In episode 142 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby interview Heidi Smith. Heidi is an author, psychosomatic therapist, registered herbalist, and flower essence practitioner. In this conversation, Heidi explores the realms of prayer, vibrational medicine, and what it means to work with the unknown. She considers the relationship between prayer and the physical
Episode 141: Magick for Transformation with Brandi Amarra Sky
In episode 141 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew interview Brandi Amara Skyy. Brandi is a Catalyst, Author, and Wild Dream coach who believes there is a fire and Universe inside waiting to Big Bang its way out of us. In this conversation, they discuss the archetype of the wild woman, dreams as portals, and the altar within. Brandi also considers the intersec
Episode 140: Samhain is an Altar
In episode 140 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby honor the Samhain season with a conversation about altar-building, marigolds, and inviting in the beloved dead. They consider Samhain’s ties to creativity and inspiration and go looking for the spirits who celebrate their solar returns at Samhain.Sources & Shoutouts:From the Cauldron Born, Hughes, Kristo
Episode 139: The Magick of Perception: Rituals of Adornment & Glamour
In episode 139 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby reflect on the magick of perception, ritual adornments, and glamour. They consider blue eyeshadow as a spell, clothes as armor, and self-expression as a form of witchcraft. They talk about the glamours cast by fiction, fashion, and the fairies.Sources & Shoutouts:Small Spells DeckWild Medicine Deck V. 2“
Episode 138: Alchemy
In episode 138 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby discuss the art of alchemy. They contemplate alchemical history and the purpose of this ritual, as well as the women alchemists who paved the way for this tradition. They consider symbolic alchemy, astrological alchemy, and introduce listeners to the first female astrologer.Sources & Shoutouts:Episode 13
Episode 137: Autumn Magick
In episode 137 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby fill their harvest baskets with seasonal harbingers and autumnal spells. They begin in the trees, gathering orange foliage and messages from Mercury before moving on to the stories of saffron and descent. They visit the apple orchards and the Garden of the Hesperides, harvesting the fruit of the dead and con
Episode 136: Asteroids with Empress Atlantis
In episode 136 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby interview Empress Atlantis. Empress is an astrologer, planet worshipper, psychology graduate, showcased artist, commissioned poet, content creator, and online comedian. In this conversation, Empress peels back the layers of our natal charts and discusses chart rulers, retrograde planets, and asteroid returns
Episode 135: An Interview with Sorita d'Este
In episode 135 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby interview Sorita d’Este. Sorita is an author whose books explore mythology, magic, and ancient spiritual traditions. She is also a practitioner of magic and an occult teacher who has lectured and presented workshops internationally. In this conversation, Sorita contemplates her relationship to the words Witc
Episode 134: Summer Magick
In episode 134 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby discuss Summer Magick. They begin by looking up, searching the celestial forest for shooting stars and seasonal harbingers, before moving on to the mythologies of the fixed stars, including Sirius, Algol, and the Pleiades. They also talk about the Muses, nine goddesses of inspiration that we can call on for
Episode 133: Women in Tarot with Cat Willett
In episode 133 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby interview Cat Willett. Cat is a Brooklyn-based artist, author, and tarot enthusiast. In this conversation, Cat walks us through the halls of tarot history and introduces us to the women behind tarot’s evolution. They meet Pamela Coleman Smith, Rachel Pollack, Moina Mathers, Marie-Anne Lenormand, and other ov
Episode 132: Mythical Steeds & Horses
In episode 132 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby discuss mythical steeds and magical horses. They begin with the story of Pegasus, the horse of the gods and deliverer of inspiration. Following this winged stallion to his sacred spring on Mt. Helicon, they meet Arion and Aganippe and consider their connections to Demeter and the Muses. They also discuss Cel
Episode 131: Lights, Camera, Witchcraft with Heather Greene
In episode 131 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby interview Heather Greene. Heather is a freelance writer, journalist, editor, and author. In this conversation, Heather considers witches in film, the witch as a rebel, and what it means to live in the places society has abandoned. She shares what she loves about being an acquisitions agent at Llewellyn, and
Episode 130: Patron Saints of Spring
In episode 130 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby honor the Beltane season and the Patron Saints of Spring. In this conversation, they seek out old stories and the ghosts who guard the wildwood. They meet Faunus, an ancient forest spirit who speaks through the trees, and his companion, Fauna, a keeper of mysteries. They discuss ornithomancy (bird divination
Episode 129: Springtime Hauntings with Amanda Paulson
In episode 129 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby talk springtime hauntings with Amanda Paulson. Amanda is a paranormal investigator, researcher and medium based in the Inland Pacific Northwest. In this conversation, Amanda shares some of her haunted collection and contemplates what it means for an object to be haunted vs. cursed. She considers spirits as c
Episode 128: Spring Magick
In episode 128 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby contemplate seasonal archetypes and the magick of spring. They discuss eclipse season, dandelions, and the goddess Kybele, the celestial Mother who rules our roses, caves, and mountains. They welcome back the light half of the year by building a fire from the wands in their tarot decks and inviting the self-de
Episode 127: Trickster Tales
In episode 127 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew celebrate the Spring Equinox with their favorite trickster tales. In this conversation, they discuss the divine psychopomp from Greco-Roman lore, Mercury or Hermes. They discuss his planet, his metal, and the god’s role as a mythical messenger and Scribe of Saturn. They contemplate Mercury as a playful travele
Episode 126: Coven & Community
In episode 126 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby discuss building community and finding your coven. Joined by Tamed Wild creatrix Shelby Bundy, three witches gather around the virtual fire to talk about shedding winter’s skin, entrepreneurial shapeshifters, and eclipse season. Shelby introduces Tamed Wild’s latest offering, the Coven, and reflects on build
Episode 125: Elixirs of Life & Transformative Potions
In episode 125 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby discuss elixirs of life and transformative potions. They talk about the goddess Maat and mythical brews laced with justice. They consider Gorgon blood and pomegranate juice, and how we ingest ancient wisdom. They contemplate kitchen witchery, milk and honey, and consuming the nectar of the gods.Sources:Seaso
Episode 124: The Power of Three
In episode 124 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby contemplate the power of three. They discuss triform deities, triads, and holy trinities, both modern and ancient. They gather triplicities from folklore and myth, including stories about the Graces, the Gorgons, the Fates, and the Erinyes. In this conversation, they address three-faced Hecate and Baba Yaga,
Episode 123: Telling your Story with Danielle Dulsky
In episode 123 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew & Kristin Lisenby interview Danielle Dulsky. Danielle is a heathen visionary, painter, and word-witch. In this conversation, three witches discuss stories as spells, medicinal archetypes like the trickster and warrioress, and our academic wounds around writing. They contemplate fairy tales as prayers, and Danielle shares what
Episode 122: The Witch & the B*tch
In episode 122 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew contemplate the Witch & the Bitch. Following in the footsteps of Artemis, Hecate, and their sacred hounds, this conversation draws listeners into the Underworld. There, the wolf goddesses Leto and Lupa speak about guardianship, kinship, and reclamation. Medusa arrives next, followed by Asteria and the othe
Episode 121: The 13 Yarns of Yule
In episode 121 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby and Kate Belew follow 13 wintery threads, superstitions, and symbols, crafting a tapestry of story with these Yuletide yarns. Weaving together conversations about reindeer, snow globes, caroling, and winter plants, they contemplate the origins of these seasonal rituals and effigies. They also discuss The Nutcracker, snowmen,
Episode 120: The Underworld in Winter
In episode 120 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby & Kate Belew journey to the symbolic Underworld. In this conversation, they discuss the practice of wintering and ‘hanging on for the bees.’ They forage for seasonal reflections and wintertime initiations. They contemplate the River Styx, the Heroes and Goddesses who have traveled there, and Styx herself. They also talk
Episode 119: Take Back the Magic with Perdita Finn
In episode 119 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kristin Lisenby & Kate Belew interview Perdita Finn. Perdita is an author and the co-founder of the feral fellowship, The Way of the Rose. In this conversation, Perdita discusses connecting and honoring the unseen, trusting our intuition, imposter syndrome, and writing a book in collaboration with the dead. She speaks about the earth as
Episode 118: Green Witch Wisdom with Robin Rose Bennett
In episode 118 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby welcome back Green Witch Robin Rose Bennett. Robin Rose is a storyteller, author, herbalist, and teacher. In this conversation, three witches discuss bibliomancy, word witchery, and the moments when writing and magick intersect. They also consider messages from the plants, the archetypal Elder, and Robin intro
Episode 117: Hometown Hauntings
In episode 117 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby share spooky tales from their hometowns. They begin in the hills of California, exploring mountain magick and contemplating stories of The Dark Watchers and Lemurians. Kristin introduces us to the legends of Mt. Shasta, and then Kate takes us on a journey through the haunted streets of Michigan. There, we meet
Episode 116: The Veil is Thin
In episode 116 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby pierce the thinning veil. In this conversation, they contemplate this mystical shroud and the veil’s relationship to textile magick, tarot, and veiled goddesses and spirits. They weave in lace and folktale traditions, the origin of bridal veils, and the tools of the weaving craft. They also answer a listener q
Episode 115: Wild Medicine
In episode 115 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby talk Wild Medicine with Shelby Bundy. Authored by Tamed Wild Creatrix Shelby Bundy and Kate Belew, the Wild Medicine book is an illustrated guide to the magick of plants. In this conversation, Shelby and Kate discuss being initiated into the world of plant witchery and following the threads of herbal lineages
Episode 114: Tales from the Corn
In episode 114 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby celebrate Mabon and the start of Season 4! In this conversation, two witches harvest tales from corn. They discuss corn mazes, scarecrows, and the history and making of corn dollies. They talk about harvest spirits, crop circles, and deities of corn and grain. They also consider the fields of Midharvest as an
Episode 113: Resistance & Re-enchantment with The Missing Witches
In episode 113 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby talk resistance and re-enchantment with Amy Torok and Risa Dickens. Amy and Risa are the witches, activists, and storytellers behind The Missing Witches project. In their second visit to the podcast, Amy and Risa remind us that telling the truth is a spell. They discuss the magnificence of difference, rock ‘n’
Episode 112: Aphrodite
In episode 112 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby discuss the Golden One and Queen of the Dawn - the goddess Aphrodite. Inspired by their recent travels, in this conversation, Kristin and Kate highlight Aphrodite’s connection to roses, Sappho, Barbie, and the color pink. They consider Aphrodite’s many names (She Who Rises from the Waves, Gravedigger, She of t
Episode 111: Planetary Magick with Shelby Bundy
In episode 111 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby talk planetary magick with Shelby Bundy. Shelby is an astrologer, business coach, tarot reader, and the visionary behind Tamed Wild and Magick & Alchemy. In this conversation, three witches discuss working with the cosmos and their relationship to planetary correspondences like plants, mythologies, archety
Episode 110: Feral Girl Summer
In episode 110 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby bid farewell to season three with a conversation about Feral Girl Summer. In this discussion, they contemplate the word ‘feral’ as a reclamation, an act of resistance, and a prayer. They reflect on wildness as an archetype and a doorway to the divine. They also discuss The Amazons, Artemis, Hippolyta, and Wond
Episode 109: The Basilisk and Anzu Bird
In episode 109 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby conclude part 2 of their Mythical Creatures Series. In the final installment of this three-part conversation, they discuss the Anzu bird and the Basilisk. Beginning with the Anzu, they contemplate the stories of this giant bird and its role as a deliverer of storms and chaos. While the Anzu is associated with
Episode 108: The Furies & Harpies
In episode 108 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby continue part 2 of their Mythical Creatures Series. In the second installment of this three-part conversation, they consider the Furies and Harpies as personifications of sacred rage. They discuss the Furies as maidens (or monsters) of divine punishment and their relationship with Demeter, Medusa, hounds, and
Episode 107: Centaurs & Satyrs
In episode 107 of the Magick & Alchemy podcast, hosts Kate Belew and Kristin Lisenby begin part 2 of their Mythical Creature Series. In the first installment of this 3-part conversation, they contemplate the magick of satyrs and centaurs. They discuss the satyr Pan’s wild woods, his panic-inducing yell, and his overlap with trickster spirits like Hermes and Dionysus. They also visit the famed
