Rune Soup

Latest Episodes:

At Work In The Ruins | Dougald Hine Apr 27, 2023

Show notes

Author and (post)activist Dougald Hine joins us this week for a powerful discussion about our moment and what -if anything- we should 'do' with and about it.

The springboard for our chat is Dougald's recently-released book, At Work in the Ruins. We unpack the title -what do we mean by 'work'- as well as what we mean by 'ruins'. Physical? Cultural? Social?

We talk about what it means to hospice modernity and we unpack why one of the founders of the Dark Mountain project is no longer talking about climate change.

Really good stuff. Good, timely stuff.

Enjoy!

Show Notes

Ethnobotany, Traditional Medicine and Modern Healing | Mark J Plotkin Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

Legendary ethnobotanist, Mark J. Plotkin, joins the show this week for a fascinating chat about traditional medicine, Indigenous knowledge, plant healing and modern medicine.

Dr Plotkin studied under the great Richard Evans Schultes himself and has been exploring the Amazon as a friend and researcher for five decades. He is the co-founder of the Amazon Conservation Team -a nonprofit that partners with Indigenous communities to conserve biodiversity, protect traditional lifeways and support sustainable Amazonian livelihoods.

During the lockdown era, Mark started an excellent and highly recommended podcast, Plants of the Gods. We discuss

The origination of the podcast project
The role of psychedelics in contemporary medicine
The safeguarding of Indigenous intellectual property in the 'modern' world
'Active molecules' versus whole plants in contemporary medicine
The changes -good and bad- in the field of ethnobotany over the course of his career

A fantastic discussion with a personal hero. Dive in. And if this is the first time you've heard about Plants of the Gods, well, I'm pleased to be able to share it with you!

Show Notes

Understanding Prophecy for Magicians and Astrologers | Solo Show Apr 07, 2023

Show notes

In this solo show, we dive deep into the origin of our understanding of prophecy, how it is different from prediction and where this understanding is useful for sorcerers, astrologers and magicians.

We explore the Old Testament prophets and how their roles changed over the centuries, how they positioned themselves toward power and what kind of 'Prophetic moment' we might find ourselves in.

Enjoy!

The Legacy of Jake Stratton-Kent | Peter Grey & Alkistis Dimech Mar 30, 2023

Show notes

Alkistis Dimech and Peter Grey of Scarlet Imprint return to the show for an exploration and celebration of Jake Stratton-Kent: In particular his thought, his research and his impact on the western magical world.

We discuss:

His generosity as a thought leader.
His attitude to academia and academics.
His role in the return of spirit-centric approaches to the grimoires.
His revitalisation of blue grimoires.
His understanding and love of the Ancient and Archaic Greek world.
"I don't do angels."
His championing of practice over theorising.
His role as a key participant in the return of the Dead to contemporary western magical practice.

I'm very grateful to Peter and Alkistis for sharing their thoughts about their friend and colleague, Jake.

Visiting the Island of the Witches | Solo Show Mar 24, 2023

Show notes

In the middle of the Philippines archipelago is the mysterious Siquijor -known variously as the Island of the Witches, the Island of Sorcerers or the Island of Healers. This remarkable place is home to several thriving magical and healing lineages.

Here is my story of visiting and encountering these traditions during the time of year where the healers travel up sacred Mount Bandilaan in order to collect the healing herbs their work requires for the whole year. These visits only happen on the seven Fridays between Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. I was fortunate enough to come along on one of these harvests.

It's a fascinating place that is illuminating in comparison with cunning traditions, curanderismo and other cosmovisions around the world: Saints, sacred timing, herb lore, energy work. And if you are looking to visit Siquijor, check out the show notes.

If you'd prefer some visuals, head over to YouTube.

- Note - Episode has been updated due to audio not playing properly.

Show Notes

I have added the following places to Google Maps on Siquijor, so go to the island and search for these:

Annie Ponce (Nearest town is San Antonio).
Batong Hakut (the name of Noel Torremocha's healing practice. Nearest town is Cantabon).
Loreto Quimno (bolo-bolo healer in the town of San Juan).

If you are visiting, I recommend the guide I used, Chelsey, whom you can contact via Facebook or Instagram. He came with me to each of the healers and accompanied me gathering herbs so he knows everyone and all the places. He's also a great guide just if you are visiting Siquijor:

Visiting the Island of the Witches | Solo Show (Re-upload) Mar 24, 2023

Show notes

If you'd prefer some visuals, head over to YouTube.

- Note - Episode has been updated due to audio not playing properly.

Show Notes

I have added the following places to Google Maps on Siquijor, so go to the island and search for these:

Annie Ponce (Nearest town is San Antonio).
Batong Hakut (the name of Noel Torremocha's healing practice. Nearest town is Cantabon).
Loreto Quimno (bolo-bolo healer in the town of San Juan).

Place Myth and Story | Martin Shaw (Bardskull) Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

Legendary storyteller and mythologist, Dr Martin Shaw joins the show this week. On the occasion of the release of his remarkable and uncharacterisable (although I try) new book, Bardskull.

We talk about the weakness of the word archetype, we talk about place and story and transformation, we talk about myth and landscape, we talk about Tolkien, Gandalf and Merlin, we talk about defending indefensible books, and… in the end and ultimately, we talk about spiritual transformation.

A fantastic chat. One of the best of the year, for sure. Enjoy!

Show Notes

Get Bardksull:

Mayan Healing, Shamanism and Plant Medicine | Rosita Arvigo Feb 23, 2023

Show notes

This week we welcome to the show the legendary Rosita Arvigo. Rosita is the author of ten books, she is a naprapathic physician, a herbalist and a specialist in traditional Mayan healing. For decades she has lived in western Belize, operating a healing practice and maintaining an organic farm. During this time she studied under Don Elijio Panti -a powerful and famous shaman then in his nineties. (He lived to 103.) This story is described in her book, Sastún.

Rosita joins us today to discuss Mayan healing and shamanism, what it entails, the state it is in today and what we can learn from it. This is a fascinating discussion that we managed to record from regional Belize all the way to Wellington New Zealand -during a cyclone.

Enjoy!

Show Notes

Platonic Survivals In Sacred Architecture | Peter Mark Adams Feb 08, 2023

Show notes

Peter Mark Adams joins us today on the occasion of the imminent release of his new book, Hagia Sophia: Sanctuary of Kronos. Like The Game of Saturn before it, this is an exploration of curious survivals of pagan cosmologies hidden in seemingly plain sight -in this case Hagia Sophia in his home of Istanbul.

Check out the show notes at runesoup.com for some companion images.

Along the way, we also discuss what happened to the Mysteries when Eleusis was closed, the School of Athens and whether any such thing as Neoplatonism even existed.

Enjoy!

Show Notes