06: Gemini Season: Hermes, Magic and Mischief, with Laura Tempest Zakroff

06: Gemini Season: Hermes, Magic and Mischief, with Laura Tempest Zakroff

Hello friends, and welcome to Episode 6 of Darkness and Light. In this episode, we explore the mercurial world of Hermes: trickster, messenger, and magician. We celebrate Gemini energy, the Magic of language and storytelling, and the playful wisdom of the trickster archetype. This episode also features my first guest interview on the podcast, with the wonderful Laura Tempest Zakroff [https://lauratempestzakroff.com] -  author, artist, witch, educator, creator of numerous oracle decks, and a Gemini! Laura joins me to discuss sigils, Tarot, humor, and Magic as well as her latest book, Tarot by Tempest. [https://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738779461&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17336220372&gbraid=0AAAAAD_dTgiVdyeT9vQWaFk4q6oFLAXed&gclid=CjwKCAjw5ZXQBhBdEiwAI5XVWeKy_wMNo0Rnlx2PNTveokh2_mdeTvWXEt7GX30rfoJmI9vfZ8hOUxoC0JAQAvD_BwE] I hope you enjoy the show. Blessings, Wendy IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE: * Gemini as Mutable Air and the power of change * Mercury: the fastest planet and ruler of Gemini * Hermes as messenger, traveler, trickster, and psychopomp * Ancient Hermstones, crossroads,  and offerings to travelers * Travel, storytelling, and transformation * The mercurial art of commerce * The trickster archetype in myth and modern culture And  a reminder to check out my PATREON P [https://www.patreon.com/c/wendyrule]AGE! SPECIAL GUEST: LAURA TEMPEST ZAKROFF Here's where you can find out more about Laura, her visual art, her classes, and her books and decks:  LAURA'S WEBSITE: https://lauratempestzakroff.com/ [https://lauratempestzakroff.com/] LAURA'S LINKTREE (Links to Everything!):  [https://linktr.ee/owlkeyme?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGnVoCdE-6LWeWpv2bjIzsUkNRal33FaOmzz57Ih7Y3YdDTxvxR-aXVfUMdy3s_aem_MW_RhWSQFjEOh2XCT-MfjA] FIND LAURA ON INSTA [https://www.instagram.com/owlkeyme.arts/] JOIN LAURA'S PATREON [https://www.patreon.com/c/owlkeyme] MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE The music in this episode is a selection from my ambient album Darkness and Light. You can find it here: LISTEN AND PURCHASE ON BANDCAMP [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/album/darkness-and-light] EXPLORE MORE: * WENDY'S WEBSITE [https://wendyrule.com] * JOIN WENDY'S PATREON COMMUNITY [https://www.patreon.com/c/wendyrule] * WENDY'S MUSIC ON BANDCAMP [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com] AUDIO PRODUCTION by Timothy Van Diest at Meadowlark Studios

05: The Wild Within – Artemis and the New Moon

Hello friends, and welcome to Episode 5 of Darkness and Light. In this episode, we turn toward the energy of the Waxing Crescent Moon, emerging from the darkness of the Dark Moon and calling us into action, direction, and new beginnings. Guided by the Greek goddess Artemis, we explore the Wild Within — that instinctive, autonomous part of ourselves that knows how to move through the world with clarity, courage, and precision. I hope you enjoy the show. Blessings, Wendy IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE: • the Waxing Crescent Moon as a time of activation, direction, and new beginnings • Artemis as Goddess of the Wilderness, autonomy, and the untamed self • the deeper meaning of “wild” as alignment with nature, not chaos • the Maiden archetype as an energetic phase beyond gender and age • the balance of life and death — Artemis as both hunter and protector • boundaries, consequence, and personal sovereignty • liminal spaces — twilight, thresholds, and the edges between worlds • Artemis as protector of childbirth and guide through transition • the connection between animals, instinct, and the wild within • finding Artemis in the modern world — from wilderness to everyday life • a guided visualization to set intention and send your arrows forward • a tarot reflection on The Chariot PATREON As always, this podcast is supported by my wonderful Patreon community, which allows me to keep the show free from ads. For about the cost of a cup of coffee each month, you can access weekly Magic Monday videos (tarot, music, Magic), monthly Full Moon Meditations, and deeper dives into the tarot card from each episode. Check out my Patreon page here: 👉PATREON  www.patreon.com/wendyrule [http://www.patreon.com/wendyrule] MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE The music in this episode is a selection from my ambient album Darkness and Light. You can find it here: LISTEN AND PURCHASE ON BANDCAMP [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/album/darkness-and-light] OTHER SONGS FOR THIS EPISODE Here's a link to my song about Artemis that I mention in this episode • Artemis of the Eucalypts [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/artemis] EXPLORE MORE: * WENDY'S WEBSITE [https://wendyrule.com] * JOIN WENDY'S PATREON COMMUNITY [https://www.patreon.com/c/wendyrule] * WENDY'S MUSIC ON BANDCAMP [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com] AUDIO PRODUCTION by Timothy Van Diest at Meadowlark Studios

04: Taurus Season - Aphrodite and the Beauty of the Earth

Hello friends, and welcome to Episode 4 of Darkness and Light. In this episode, we continue our journey through Taurus season, as the waning Moon leads us toward the Taurus Dark Moon. Guided by Aphrodite, we explore the beauty and sensuality of the physical world, and the deep wisdom of spirit expressed through form. We also turn to the shadow side of this energy — attachment, accumulation, and the fear of “not enough” — and how the waning Moon invites us to release, rebalance, and return to flow. I hope you enjoy the show. Blessings, Wendy IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE: • the waning Moon as a time of release and inward reflection • Taurus as Fixed Earth and the immanence of Spirit in matter • Venus as Morning and Evening Star, and the Rose of Venus cycle • Aphrodite’s origins and her connection to Inanna, Ishtar, and Astarte • love and war as intertwined forces within the Goddess • Cyprus, copper, and the sacred link between beauty and metallurgy • the shadow side of Taurus — attachment, accumulation, and excess • the myth of King Midas and the illusion of “more” • practical ways to work with the Taurus Dark Moon • honouring Venus through beauty, sensuality, and the body • a tarot reflection on the Six of Pentacles PATREON As always, this podcast is supported by my wonderful Patreon community, which allows me to keep the show free from ads. For about the cost of a cup of coffee each month, you can access weekly Magic Monday videos (tarot, music, Magic), monthly Full Moon Meditations, and deeper dives into the tarot card from each episode. Check out my Patreon page here: 👉PATREON  www.patreon.com/wendyrule [http://www.patreon.com/wendyrule] MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE The music in this episode (including intro and outro) is a selection from my ambient album Darkness and Light. This is a double album, with the first half featuring trance meditations over ambient soundscapes, and the second half offering those same soundscapes without vocals (this instrumental version is what you hear in the podcast). You can find it here: LISTEN AND PURCHASE ON BANDCAMP [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/album/darkness-and-light] OTHER SONGS FOR THIS SEASON Here are a few songs of mine that resonate with the themes of Taurus, Venus, and the beauty of the physical world: • Bliss [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/bliss] • Guided by Venus [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/guided-by-venus] • Lilith [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/lilith] • Eve [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/eve] • Butterfly's Wing [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/butterflys-wing] EXPLORE MORE: * WENDY'S WEBSITE [https://wendyrule.com] * JOIN WENDY'S PATREON COMMUNITY [https://www.patreon.com/c/wendyrule] * WENDY'S MUSIC ON BANDCAMP [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com] AUDIO PRODUCTION by Timothy Van Diest at Meadowlark Studios

03: Beltaine and Samhain - Life, Death and the Wheel of the Year

Hello friends, and welcome to Episode 3 of Darkness and Light.  In this episode, we turn to the solar cycle of the Wheel of the Year, exploring the festivals of Beltaine and Samhain. These two festivals sit opposite each other on the wheel, yet are deeply connected. Through them, we explore the relationship between life and death, creation and release, and how these energies are always present together in the living world. I share some of the structure of the Wheel of the Year, reflect on my personal experiences of these seasons across different lands, and explore the myth of Persephone as a guide to this cycle of transformation. I hope you enjoy the show. Blessings, Wendy IN THIS EPISODE WE EXPLORE: • the Wheel of the Year and the solar cycle • Beltaine and Samhain as opposite, connected festivals • life and death as one continuous cycle • the Taurus–Scorpio polarity • the myth of Persephone and the Underworld • aligning with the seasons in your local landscape • personal experiences across Northern and Southern hemispheres • Beltaine traditions: fire, fertility, creativity • Samhain traditions: ancestors and the Beloved Dead • a short meditation • a tarot reflection on the Two of Wands PATREON As always, this podcast is supported by my wonderful Patreon community, which allows me to keep the show free from ads. For about the cost of a cup of coffee each month, you can access weekly Magic Monday videos (tarot, music, Magic) and monthly Full Moon Meditations. Check out my Patreon page here: 👉PATREON [https://www.patreon.com/c/wendyrule]  www.patreon.com/wendyrule [https://www.patreon.com/c/wendyrule] MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE The music in this episode (including intro and outro) is a selection from my ambient album Darkness and Light. This is a double album, with the first half having trance meditations over ambient soundscapes, and the second half having those same soundscapes, without any words. (This  instrumental version is the one you hear in the podcast)  You can find it here: LISTEN AND PURCHASE ON BANDCAMP [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/album/darkness-and-light] OTHER SONGS FOR THIS SEASON Here are a few songs of mine that resonate with the themes of Beltaine, Samhain, and the life–death–life cycle: • Continental Isolation [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/continental-isolation] • Beltane [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/beltane] • Dissolve [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/dissolve] • All Life Flows Into The Great Mother [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/all-life-flows-into-the-great-mother] • Pomegranate [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/pomegranate] • Full Moon in Scorpio [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/full-moon-in-scorpio] EXPLORE MORE: * WENDY'S WEBSITE [https://wendyrule.com] * JOIN WENDY'S PATREON COMMUNITY [https://www.patreon.com/c/wendyrule] * WENDY'S MUSIC ON BANDCAMP [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com] AUDIO PRODUCTION by Timothy Van Diest at Meadowlark Studios

02: Our Lady Moon - Constancy and Change

DARKNESS AND LIGHT – EPISODE 2 OUR LADY MOON: CONSTANCY AND CHANGE Hello friends, and welcome to Episode 2 of Darkness and Light. In this episode, we tune in to the cycles of the Moon. We explore the way she moves through her phases, the different energies of the Moon and the Sun, and why learning to work consciously with the Moon can bring so much balance, clarity, and depth into our lives. The Moon’s cycles have long been a powerful anchor in my spiritual practice. I’ve learnt that by tuning in to her rhythms, we can bring balance, clarity, and flow into our lives. I share a little of the science behind her phases, how she influences life on Earth, and the many ways humans across history have honoured and mythologised her. I also reflect on my personal relationship with the Moon as 'Lady Moon', and how her constant cycle reminds me that change can be trusted.  I hope you enjoy the show.  Blessings, Wendy In this episode we explore: • the third quarter Moon and waning energy • observation as ritual and noticing Magic in nature • the Sun and Moon as equal luminaries with different light • why they appear the same size and how eclipses happen • the Moon’s pull on tides and life on Earth • the Moon as witness to human history and myth • my relationship with the Moon as Goddess • the Moon as a shared rhythm connecting us globally • a short meditation • a tarot reflection on the Three of Swords • a waning Moon fire spell for releasing what no longer serves PATREON [https://www.patreon.com/c/wendyrule] As always, this podcast is supported by my wonderful Patreon community, which allows me to keep the show free from ads. For about the cost of a cup of coffee each month, you can access weekly Magic Monday videos (tarot, music, Magic) and monthly Full Moon Magic concerts. Check out my Patreon page here [https://www.patreon.com/c/wendyrule]: HELPFUL LINKS LUNAR PHASES VIDEO As mentioned in this episode, here is a video I made years ago explaining the mechanisms of the Moon’s phases: Watch on YouTube [https://youtu.be/HaMoxKmAUSE] MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE The music in this episode (including intro and outro) is a selection from my ambient album Darkness and Light [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/album/darkness-and-light]. You can find it here [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/album/darkness-and-light]: LISTEN ON BANDCAMP [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/album/darkness-and-light] . OTHER ‘MOON SONGS’ I’VE WRITTEN I’ve written and recorded many songs about our Lady Moon. Here are links to a few: • Hail to the Moon [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/hail-to-the-moon] • Deity [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/deity] • My Sister the Moon [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/my-sister-the-moon] • Pale Moon [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com/track/pale-moon] EXPLORE MORE: * WENDY'S WEBSITE [https://wendyrule.com] * JOIN WENDY'S PATREON COMMUNITY [https://www.patreon.com/c/wendyrule] * WENDY'S MUSIC ON BANDCAMP [https://wendyrule.bandcamp.com] AUDIO PRODUCTION by Timothy Van Diest at Meadowlark Studios