Spirit Box

In this episode of Spirit Box, I catch up with Aidan Wachter for a long overdue catch up on writing, magic, and what it means to stay human while the world feels like it’s cracking open. Aidan shares where he’s at with his latest book on animism — moving away from the old idea of manifesting stuff and into something deeper. He even talks about receiving guidance from on his walks, which, if you know Aidan, makes perfect sense. We dig into the weird pressure to have a book in print as some kind of spiritual badge of honour, and an indicator of having maxed out your practice which is rarely the case! We also talk about the messy association of magic and money — how people still expect quick wealth as proof that the magic works, when the reality is far more complex. From there, we drift into the state of things — how so many systems are failing and might shift radically in the next decade, and how we try to keep our heads and hearts intact through it all. In the Plus show, we share how we’re both finding community and mental balance these days. How changes that we've made have given benefits in kind. We discuss how the systems of Empire that are damaging people, and the quiet importance of self-reliance and local knowledge. It’s all part of the same question: how do we stay human, stay connected, and keep the spirit alive against the backdrop of a changing and volatile world? Show notes: https://www.aidanwachter.com [https://www.aidanwachter.com/] https://www.patreon.com/c/aidanwachter/posts [https://www.patreon.com/c/aidanwachter/posts] Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason [https://linktr.ee/darraghmason]

In this episode, I sit down with Sheer Zed for a deep and winding exploration of a life spent navigating the liminal spaces of Eastern philosophy, occult practice, and the hidden world of Thai tattoo magic. Sheer Zed shares how a childhood sparked by Zen stories, beat poets, and old Kung Fu shows led him into a lifelong fascination with Buddhism and the occult. From psychedelic journeys in London’s squat culture to Tibetan teachings in Los Angeles, his path has been anything but ordinary. We dive into Sheer Zed’s extraordinary experiences receiving Sak Yant — sacred tattoos given by Thai Ajarns (masters) — and the intense rituals that bind ink, mantra, and spirit into living magic. In the Plus show we go deeper still and he recounts vivid encounters with powerful teachers and possession by tiger spirits during ceremonies in Thailand, moments that transformed him forever. We also explore the rich, sometimes shadowy world of Thai amulets — from skull bones and protective spirits to the ethics of sourcing sacred objects that carry hidden histories. This conversation wanders through spiritual folklore, animism, Buddhism, and the occult, connecting them all through Sheer Zed’s firsthand stories. Enjoy Show notes: https://linktr.ee/SheerZed [https://linktr.ee/SheerZed] Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason [https://linktr.ee/darraghmason]Music by Obliqka https://soundcloud.com/obliqka [https://soundcloud.com/obliqka]

Today we chat with wonderful Celeste Mott who has been chronicling her experiences with an online Anne Rice "vampire cult." to great acclaim. A talented writer, witch and storyteller Celeste takes us on a weird and wonderful ride into the strange world of stories bending our reality and 'inviting us' to participate and become characters in tales that envelope our lives. All of which is based on her real life account of being in an online vampire cult in the 2000s. We spent time dissecting the idea of narrative magic and how the stories we tell ourselves, and the ones we absorb or indeed are captured by, can lead to real-world changes and transformations. Celeste shared some really thought-provoking insights into how childhood experiences and archetypes stick with us, influencing our perceptions in profound ways. It was clear that her past, particularly those early online encounters, has given her a unique lens through which to view the world, blurring the lines between what's considered real and what might just be a powerful shared imagination. We also touched on her successful video content and how it ties into a broader cultural yearning for mysticism. It's not about proving anything, but rather understanding the human need for these kinds of narratives. In Plus section, we really go deeper into some of Celeste's thoughts on the dangers of Narrative magic and how these strange phenomena make you question the very nature of reality. Are we in some weird matrix where stories are the very building blocks of our reality and are storytellers the sometimes unwitting creators of our world. We get into the work of Anne Rice in more detail and other storytellers that bring 'currents' into the world like Grant Morrison, Clive Barker and H.P. Lovecraft and how the 'Meta' element seems to be play significant factor in the stories bleeding into our reality. Show notes: Start here for The Vampire cult videos https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIUGqpUOmpE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIUGqpUOmpE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==] Celeste's website https://www.celestemott.com [https://www.celestemott.com/] Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@celestemoth [https://www.tiktok.com/@celestemoth] Patreon https://www.patreon.com/celestemott [https://www.patreon.com/celestemott] Anne Rice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Rice [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Rice] Interview with the Vampire 1994 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCmYN6TLd8A [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCmYN6TLd8A] Interview with the Vampire 2022 AMC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Oysn9I9K8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Oysn9I9K8] Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason [https://linktr.ee/darraghmason]

Today we are joined by Christopher Freeland for a captivating journey into the hidden world of Ireland's mysterious round towers and the ancient art of dowsing. A seasoned practitioner of radiesthesia, Christopher reveals his unique approach to dowsing as a technique to access, what he terms 'the collective consciousness', drawing on his experiences as a monk in India and his extensive research. This episode challenges conventional historical narratives, as Christopher proposes that the enigmatic round towers of Ireland weren't simply defensive structures against rampaging Vikings but sophisticated ancient technologies designed to harness natural energies. I was fascinated to learn about Christopher's groundbreaking research into the magnetic properties of these ancient stone structures and their surprising connection to agricultural abundance. Could these towers have been influencing plant and animal growth for millennia? It certainly gave me a lot to think about. In the Plus show we get into the practicalities of pendulum dowsing and his work in Spirit release. Christopher shared invaluable insights from his decades of experience, emphasizing the dedication required to master this powerful tool. He took through the "universal pendulum," a fascinating device connected to multiple frequencies. It was incredible to hear how dowsing can aid in spirit communication and energy healing. Show notes: Get the book https://www.innertraditions.com/mysteries-of-the-round-towers [https://www.innertraditions.com/mysteries-of-the-round-towers] https://radiesthesia.online/ [https://radiesthesia.online/] Irish Round Towers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_round_tower [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_round_tower] Aughagower https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aughagower [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aughagower] Universal Pendulum https://emeraldinnovations.co.uk/pendulums/universal-pendulum [https://emeraldinnovations.co.uk/pendulums/universal-pendulum] Chiang Mai https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai] Dún Aonghasa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dún_Aonghasa [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%BAn_Aonghasa] Brú na Bóinne https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BrnaBóinn [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BrnaB%C3%B3inn] Petrie Crown http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/irish-crafts/petrie-crown.htm [http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/irish-crafts/petrie-crown.htm] Other Dimensional Entities https://www.waterstones.com/book/other-dimensional-entities/christopher-freeland/9781916159709 [https://www.waterstones.com/book/other-dimensional-entities/christopher-freeland/9781916159709]

In this episode of 'Spirit Box,' I sit down with the incredible Arden Leigh. A true polymath, they dive deep into how their chaos magic underpins their coaching and repatterning work, and how it all weaves into their music. They’re on a mission to help people transform their lives, and in this conversation, they’ll share how they use these powerful modalities to do just that. Arden opens up about their fascinating journey, starting with how they combined New Age principles with practical magic to transform their life after moving to Los Angeles. They dive deep into their repatterning project, a powerful method for shifting thought patterns and beliefs to manifest desired outcomes. We discuss their personal experiences with trauma, including hypnotic programming, and how they used both magical and mundane approaches to overcome these challenges, emphasizing the importance of taking control of your own mental programming. Arden also shares their unique career trajectory, from being a professional dominatrix in New York City to becoming a successful business coach. They reveal how past traumatic experiences, including being doxxed, led them to develop clearer boundaries and processes for client interactions. We explore their teaching philosophy, the value of community, and the crucial need for internal alignment before seeking external changes. We get into their profound realizations from experiences with cannabis and ayahuasca, and how these led to a deeper understanding of intentional living. We also share our thoughts on the distractions of modern society and the power of consistency in personal development. In the Plus section show, where we go deeper into these topics and discussing the direct results of sorcery targeted on the self. Show notes: https://therepatterningproject.com/ [https://therepatterningproject.com/] https://www.facebook.com/arden.leigh [https://www.facebook.com/arden.leigh] https://www.facebook.com/therepatterningproject/ [https://www.facebook.com/therepatterningproject/] https://www.instagram.com/itsmeardenleigh/ [https://www.instagram.com/itsmeardenleigh/] https://www.youtube.com/user/ardensirens [https://www.youtube.com/user/ardensirens] https://open.spotify.com/artist/5UW2XTUKJm8srNxBZHyV5f?si=Vbf76f26SLy3CxdYzk0HDw&nd=1&dlsi=777862d922804ed8 [https://open.spotify.com/artist/5UW2XTUKJm8srNxBZHyV5f?si=Vbf76f26SLy3CxdYzk0HDw&nd=1&dlsi=777862d922804ed8] Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason [https://linktr.ee/darraghmason]Music by Obliqka https://soundcloud.com/obliqka [ https://soundcloud.com/obliqka]