Spirit Box

In this episode, I sit down with paranormal investigator, researcher, and author Kate Ray for a conversation that wanders through fear, folklore, and the many strange beings that linger just outside our line of sight.Kate begins by telling me how she stumbled into paranormal investigation almost against her will — starting with a night at St Breville’s Castle that absolutely terrified her, but ultimately broke the lifelong fear of ghosts that had held her back. That moment pushed her into Barry Guy’s events team, and set her on the path to becoming the investigator she is now. As we talked, she traced how her understanding of the supernatural shifted over the years, shaped by experiences in both her childhood home and a deeply haunted house she lived in throughout the late 90s.We found ourselves comparing notes on haunted properties. Kate spoke about the oppressive atmosphere, strange smells, and constant noises she lived with for years, and I shared some of my own memories and we reflected on how that atmosphere can feel suffocating until, eventually, fear gives way to curiosity.Then the conversation took a fascinating turn. Kate outlined her theory that many poltergeist cases may actually be fairy activity rather than the spirits of the dead. She talked about the electrical nature of fairies, the mischievous, non-human logic that underpins coin drops and strange object movements, and how these behaviours align with centuries of folklore. She’s noticed more people reporting this kind of activity, and attributes that partly to her efforts to reintroduce fairy lore to the paranormal community.Kate recounted a chilling case she investigated — a family plagued by rippling walls, frantic footsteps, and coins dropping out of nowhere. She had gone there just to interview them, but ended up witnessing things that are astonishing. Kate shared more of her personal cases, including working as a psychic artist on Help My House Is Haunted. She described remote impressions of a grumpy spirit and dark masses, the moment something grabbed her coat on location, and the uncanny realisation that her sketch matched a photograph of a former homeowner.We finished with the story of her book on the Wollaton Gnomes, the 1979 incident where children encountered hovering gnomes in cars in a deer park. The idea arrived while she was writing for Dr. Simon Young, and the book practically wrote itself within seven days, through what she describes as automatic writing. This episode is a weave of hauntings, folklore, high strangeness, and the strange intelligences that share the world with us — and Kate’s insights remind me again and again just how thin the veil really is.Show notes:Kate's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kateharegirl/?hl=en-gbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HareGirlparanormal/Hare in the Hawthorn Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kateharegirlrayWoolly Snotts: The Curious Case of the Wollaton Gnomes: https://amzn.eu/d/3TUzJ5fSupport the show:https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode, I sit down with Aidan Wachter and Tommie Kelly for a long, searching conversation about the state of modern magic and how our practices—and our lives—are changing under cultural and personal pressures. We start with the sense that magic doesn’t always work the way it used to. Aidan shares his thoughts on why: the sheer difficulty of magical training, the problems with visualization-heavy systems, and how easily magic becomes another cog in the productivity machine. Together, we look at how these pressures strip practitioners of depth, patience, and wonder.From there, we challenge the “scout badge” approach that creeps into contemporary magic, where achievement replaces mystery. We talk about how capitalism, Catholic symbolism, and our own preferences quietly shape the language we use for spiritual experience, often without our noticing.Rest and downtime become a major thread in our discussion. After dealing with injuries myself, I’ve come to understand rest as a crucial—if neglected—aspect of spiritual work. Tommie and Aidan echo this, speaking about burnout, financial pressures, and the emotional cost of manifesting major life changes. We compare fast, results-oriented magic with slower, more traditional spiritual paths, and consider why the latter often produces more sustainable transformation.We then turn to the digital world and how constant stimulation affects our sense of wonder. Aidan reflects on practicing Chaos Magic in the 1980s with almost no external influence, and how that solitude fostered originality. In contrast, today’s nonstop feed of content makes deep practice and introspection much harder. That leads us into a conversation about authenticity, personal flaws, and how childhood—and identity—now unfold under the surveillance of social media.I share how aligning my life with seasonal rhythms has shifted my work and well-being, especially as I’ve moved toward agricultural patterns.In the Plus Show Aidan and Tommie talk about stepping back from the news cycle to protect mental health while still being ready to act when real crises arise. This naturally leads us into discussing global events, helplessness, empathy, and the balance between what concerns us and what we can actually influence.The conversation also takes on the broader societal picture: eroding trust in institutions, the fragility of rights, government overreach, and the unsettling realization that much of the order we rely on is more fragile than we’d like to believe. Aidan speaks to the need for public witness when legal and civic norms break down, and we look at the strange impotence of a world where everything is documented yet little changes.We return to animism as a lived practice. Aidan shares his approach to maintaining balance within a wider ecosystem of spirits, people, and land, rather than chasing specific outcomes. We also talk about our societies structural problems and the uncomfortable truth that sometimes things must fall apart before they can be remade.Show notes:https://www.patreon.com/cw/aidanwachterhttps://www.patreon.com/c/tommiekelly/postsKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode of Spirit Box, I’m joined by Gary Lachman — musician, writer, and author of twenty-six books on Western esotericism — for a conversation that spans from the Bowery to the astral.Gary was the bassist for Blondie during their early New York years, and shares his journey from a childhood fascination with comics to his time living in a loft with Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, where a flamboyant biker artist introduced him to Aleister Crowley. That encounter, and a fateful read of Colin Wilson’s The Occult, set him on a lifelong path through the hidden corridors of consciousness, mysticism, and philosophy.We talk about precognitive dreams and telepathy, the strange electrical accident that may have opened psychic doors, and how a shared dream with his girlfriend became the Blondie song “Touched by Your Presence.” Gary reflects on his shift from rock and roll to writing, his time as a science journalist, and his enduring fascination with thinkers like Gurdjieff, Robert Anton Wilson, and Arthur Koestler.The conversation also explores Gary’s “naturalist” approach to magic — a focus on direct experience rather than dogma — and his philosophy of daily writing as an esoteric practice in itself. Along the way, we touch on David Bowie, near-death encounters, and the lasting influence of Colin Wilson on his work.Show notes:https://www.gary-lachman.comhttps://www.instagram.com/gvlachman/https://www.innertraditions.com/touched-by-the-presenceKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode of Spirit Box I’m joined by author and witch, Lee Morgan, to discuss his new title 'The Rag and Bone Man'. which is due out in November and is currently available for pre-order. Lee's work has been a big inspiration to me so it was a real pleasure to talk to him and we had a rich conversation that moved between witchcraft, storytelling, and the strange gothic landscapes of Tasmania.We talked about the genesis of The Rag and Bone Man, a project that began as a novel and grew into a fusion of fiction, research, and grimoire. Lee spoke about writing in trance-like states, about stories that come from spirits themselves, and about the way fiction can become the proper vessel for truths that can’t be held by fact.From there we wandered into the realm of Tasmanian Gothic—its haunted histories, its spirits, and its place in Lee’s search for a writer’s voice between England, Australia, and Tasmania.In the Plus show we explored spiritualism, witchcraft, and the strange physical manifestations of mediumship, alongside the recurring motifs that weave through Lee’s body of work.Our discussion also turned to the craft of writing: the patience it requires, the toll it can take, and the gift of treating creativity as a form of spiritual inheritance. Lee described how characters arrive as if alive, how stories can heal and transform, and how witchcraft itself deepens one’s experience of the world.Along the way we touched on Irish myth, storytelling traditions, the relationship between spirit and text, and the global reach of Lee’s magical writing.Show notes:The Rag and Bone Man https://www.crossedcrowbooks.com/shop...Lee's Patreon / u19417687 Lee's website https://www.leemorganbooks.com/Lee on Instagram / ensorsmasks Sounds of Infinity https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sounds-Infin...Rag and Bone man historical reference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rag-and...Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In todays episode, I sit down with medium Tracy St. Croi from Austin, Texas. Tracy shares her journey into mediumship, from her first encounters with spirits to her intensive training at the Arthur Findlay College in England. We talk about the challenges of embracing psychic gifts, the ethics of mediumship, and why boundaries are essential when dealing with the spirit world.Tracy also tells me about her hit TV series Haunted Road Trips Show—currently number one on Binge TV—which takes a fresh, educational approach to paranormal investigation. She recounts standout cases, including the Black Swan Inn in San Antonio, the Kyle Pioneer Cemetery, and even a haunted doll with a story of its own.In the Plus Show, Tracy and I go deeper into the soul’s journey, past lives, reincarnation, and the ethical responsibilities of psychic mediums. We also discuss how to find a trustworthy mentor, set boundaries with spirit, and what’s coming up in season two of Haunted Road Trips Show.Show notes:The Haunted Road trips show https://www.youtube.com/@HauntedRoadTripsShowTracy's website https://www.tracystcroimedium.comThe Arthur Findlay College https://www.arthurfindlaycollege.orgTracy's Patreon https://www.patreon.com/hauntedroadtripsshowInstagram https://www.instagram.com/tracyst.croimediumBinge TV https://trybinge.tv/programs/haunted-road-trips-showKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode, I sit down with my friend and fellow podcaster Douglas Batchelor of What Magic Is This? for a conversation about the mysterious spark at the heart of art and creativity.Douglas has recently become a father and we kick off our chat on how family life reshapes our relationship with creativity—how the presence of children can sharpen your awareness of time, deepen your sense of wonder, and remind you of the importance of passing on what truly matters.From there, we explore how poetry, photography, music, and even comics can reach beyond explanation to move us in ways that hint at the ineffable. I share my thoughts on the instinctive side of photography—especially street photography that captures fleeting moments with emotional force—while Douglas and I discuss the power of music, the strange nostalgia of childhood comics, and the shifting landscape of cinema, from Nosferatu on the big screen to today’s spectacle-driven blockbusters. We continue the conversation for another 45 minutes in the plus show and get into some rich territory.What emerges is a meditation on creativity as something universal and timeless: the drive to make meaning, to capture the ineffable, and to pass along works that connect us across generations.Show notes:What Magic is This? https://whatmagicisthis.comMaster and Commander (film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHTHCNYiiHkNosferatu (film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nulvWqYUM8kOscar Peterson (jazz pianist) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTJhHn-TuDY&list=RDNTJhHn-TuDY&start_radio=1“Video nasties” — UK horror film ban in the 1980s https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_nastyW.B. Yeats (poet) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WB.YeatsYeats - Easter 1916 https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43289/easter-1916Yeats - Sailing to Byzantium https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43291/sailing-to-byzantiumYeats - The Circus animals desertion https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43299/the-circus-animals-desertionEmily Dickinson (poet) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_DickinsonEmily Dickinson - I felt a funeral, in my brain, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45706/i-felt-a-funeral-in-my-brain-340Protestant Ascendancy (historical context in Dublin architecture) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_AscendancyLascaux's Prehistoric Cave Paintings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnSq0c7jM-A&t=1sFelix Thiollier (photographer) https://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/whats-on/exhibitions/presentation/felix-thiollier-1842-1914-photographsThe Horse Trainer by Felix Thiollier 1899 https://pixels.com/featured/the-horse-trainer-by-felix-thiollier-orca-art-gallery.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqsPCE1575mUAZYSB-udx0zjLW1ok5vaB6pPHdgPFSglmb9CiD2Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

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.comhttps://www.patreon.com/c/aidanwachter/postsKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

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==Celeste's website https://www.celestemott.comTik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@celestemothPatreon https://www.patreon.com/celestemottAnne Rice https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_RiceInterview with the Vampire 1994 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCmYN6TLd8AInterview with the Vampire 2022 AMC https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Oysn9I9K8Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason