Ep. 49 Aethereal Moods on Magical Realism

Ep. 49 Aethereal Moods on Magical Realism

When I discovered this episode’s erudite guest Sophie Cournoyer’s writing about creativity and the occult — I was immediately drawn in. Sophie is the artist behind Aethereal Moods [https://substack.com/@aetherealmoods], where she explores the occult dimensions of creativity. In her studio practice she paints surreal yet deeply symbolic portraits. In our conversation we get into the yoga of articulation — the work of finding language for what visual art already knows but can’t always say for itself. We talk about the language of land, and the women artists who have been particular conduits for it — especially the British mystic and surrealist Ithell Colquhoun [https://www.ithellcolquhoun.co.uk/], who retreated to Cornwall and let the landscape become her collaborator. And we talk about honoring our artistic ancestors — not by blood but by resonance — because sometimes those who came before us are our most faithful guides. You can see more of Sophie’s paintings here. [https://www.aetherealmoods.com/] Check out her essays on Ithell Colquhoun [https://aetherealmoods.substack.com/p/on-ithell-colquhoun-studio-notes] and A Magical Theory of Art. [https://aetherealmoods.substack.com/s/a-magical-theory-of-art] For more of my artwork, please visit www.allisonadams.net [https://www.allisonadams.net/] I keep this platform free for my readers and listeners, but I do appreciate when people are able to support my work as they can. If you want to leave a one-time tip or become a paid subscriber, just click on the options below. Many thanks! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe [https://artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Ep. 48 Kirstin Wilson: Self-Awareness through Human Design

Welcome back the the laboratory! My guest this episode is Kirstin Wilson, calling in all the way from Australia. Kirstin is a business empowerment coach who works with women entrepreneurs through intuitive guidance and personal growth strategies, helping them align with who they actually are rather than who they think they should be. In this conversation she shares how tools like Human Design and the Gene Keys can deepen self-awareness, and we explore the role of archetypes and storytelling in personal evolution — and what it really means to shed an old identity. We also talk about something close to my heart — the way art, symbols, and sacred geometry can serve as mirrors for the self. This is a rich and practical conversation about trusting your own inner wisdom and finding the courage to lead from there. Here is the video version if that’s your preference: To connect with Kirstin and discover more of her generous gifts of consultation and self-empowerment through human design, start here [https://empoweredbusinessharmony.info/]! Join Allison’s new Art and Alchemy Page on Instagram [http://Instagram page.]. I’m trying to build more of a following there bc my kickstarter for the deck is coming up soon! I would love to have you on board as that unfolds and blossoms into material form (although I know you are on already on board here…and I appreciate that!). As of this week, I’ve got nearly everything scanned and cleaned up, and once I’ve finished the image the back of the cards, it will be ready to format for first prototype printing! Watch this space to be on deck for that (see what I did there?) :) I also made a page for my voice over/DeeDee presence, if you want to join me there for that newly-adventurous part of my life, it’s right here! [https://www.instagram.com/allisonmoorevoice/] I get to use my SAG/AFTRA name there…now a true alter-ego. Here are some other ways to get involved: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe [https://artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Ep. 47 Eva Yaa Asantewaa: How to Dwell in Possibility

The Architecture of Poetry This episode is a really fun one for me. I only knew my guest Eva Yaa Asantewaa [https://substack.com/@evayaaasantewaa] from a handful of interactions on Substack. I always enjoyed the things she wrote or restacked, and I noticed her generous enthusiasm for amplifying other voices. Since Eva does so many things — writer, editor, dance critic, novelist, Tarot guide, animist spirit worker — I wasn’t sure how to approach the theme of this conversation. Then I noticed a very familiar line at the end of her bio — one that coincided with a gift I made my best friend, whose birthday happens to be shared with the poet of that line, Emily Dickinson. I DWELL IN POSSIBILITY artwork. [https://allisonmoorephoto.squarespace.com/config/pages/63914c2e76d9d7010c497bc5] So instead of analizing alchemical idioms, in this conversation, we spent our time like two friends visiting rooms in a museum, wading in the words of this poem and in the visual branches of a treehouse painted by Francesco Clemente, and opening up to the realm of possibility. MY TREEHOUSE by Francisco Clemente [https://www.instagram.com/p/DT08cCbEVfe/] Eva recommended The NY TIMES 10-Minute Challenge [https://www.nytimes.com/spotlight/10-minute-challenge] if you’d like to increase your visual insightfulness like we experienced in this episode. For you visual peeps, we also have video. Please subscribe on youtube if you are there! If you enjoy this audio podcast, please like, follow, subscribe, rate, or write a quick review on whatever platform you listen. (Substack, Apple, Spotify, etc. It just takes a second and helps me out a lot. Emily Dickinson (by Me) [https://www.groundbreakinggirls.com/] Allison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe [https://artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Ep. 46 Artist Scott Erikson on Visual Vocabulary

This episode’s guest is “Curator or Awesomeness,” Scott Erikson (aka Scott the Painter [https://www.instagram.com/scottthepainter/followers/mutualOnly] https://www.instagram.com/scottthepainter/followers/mutualOnlyon his popular instagram account.) Scott is an artist, author, and performance speaker, who is passionate about creating a visual vocabulary for spiritual contemplation. He’s the writer and performer of two one-man shows, the author of 5 books, and the illustrator of countless “visual prayers.” We talk about the alchemical symbol of the peacock, the process of transmuting painful seasons into glimmering insights, and how that transformation lights the path forward for each of us. Check out more of Scott’s work and life on his website. [https://www.scottericksonart.com/] If you would like to watch this interview on Youtube, you can do that here: https://youtu.be/mPFWE_gtlX8 [https://youtu.be/mPFWE_gtlX8] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe [https://artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Ep. 45 British Painter Claudia Bonney on Seeing the Unseen

Today’s guest is Claudia Bonnie [https://www.instagram.com/claudia.bonney/] — a painter based in southwest England, whose artwork conjures mythical heroines, saints, goddesses, and epic animal icons. Her paintings live in that delicious space between mysticism and myth, where superstition is sacred, relics can heal, and a painting can work like medicine. With a background in education and therapy, Claudia is endlessly drawn to what’s happening just under the surface — the real, raw stuff of human experience. When she’s not in the studio, she’s also the official hedgehog rescuer in her area, which honestly feels very on brand for someone whose entire life seems like a waking fairytale. In today’s conversation, we get into the fascinating differences between American and British mythology, and ask the very important question: is spotting Bigfoot in the woods really any different from a fairy sighting in the English countryside? You can follow her wild and wonderful world on Instagram at Claudia.Bonnie. If you are in the area, you can see her paintings in person at the Kittoe Contemporary Gallery [https://www.kittoecontemporary.com/artists/claudia-bonney] in London. In this episode, we touch on the alchemical theme of SUBLIMATION (more on that here) [https://open.substack.com/pub/artandalchemylab/p/alchemical-word-of-the-week-8c8?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web], and we discuss some of these images as well. Our Days Were a Joy and Our Paths Through Flowers (1971-72) by David Inshaw [https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/our-days-were-a-joy-and-our-paths-through-flowers-188650] King, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archeypes of the Mature Masculine [https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/king-warrior-magician-lover-rediscovering-the-archetypes-of-the-mature-masculine_douglas-gillette_robert-l-moore/246658/item/10203519/?mkwid=%7cdc&pcrid=76691100269129&pkw=&pmt=be&slid=&product=10203519&plc=&pgrid=1227055229833426&ptaid=pla-4580290575586169&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping+%7c+NEW+condition+books&utm_term=&utm_content=%7cdc%7cpcrid%7c76691100269129%7cpkw%7c%7cpmt%7cbe%7cproduct%7c10203519%7cslid%7c%7cpgrid%7c1227055229833426%7cptaid%7cpla-4580290575586169%7c&msclkid=13a2af007410101ea028c6d97d8f4a89#idiq=10203519&edition=2338887] by Douglas Gillette and Robert Johnson Sasquatch Chronicles [https://sasquatchchronicles.com/] Podcast [https://sasquatchchronicles.com/] Claudia’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/claudia.bonney/] Allison’s website. [https://www.allisonadams.net/alchemy-lab] Hope you enjoyed! Come back soon! Allison Allison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe [https://artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]