The Hagstone Podcast

In this month’s episode of The Hagstone, Chaise Levy sits down with Dutch-based oral storyteller Simon Hodges, known as Lindenbauer, to wander the marshlands between land and fairy, cultivation and wildness, memory and responsibility. Beginning in the drowned farmlands of the Biesbosch, a tidal landscape shaped by flood, war, and beaver teeth, the conversation opens into a deeper inquiry. What happens when we slow down enough to perceive the intelligence of place?Drawing on lived encounters, landscape history, William Blake, David Abram, and the discipline of oral tradition, they explore the subtle threshold where land encounter becomes fairy encounter. The episode moves from childhood visions and ash tree vigils to hazel charms and dragon weather, asking what it means to enter into relationship with something more than human, and what happens when we fail to uphold that relationship.Throughout, storytelling emerges not as performance but as practice, a way of returning to the same place until it begins to speak through you. The teller becomes less a personality and more a threshold, someone willing to falter, to lose control, and to allow truth to move through the room. From Shakespearean stages to marsh edges, from cultivated Dutch peatlands to California’s flood prone plains, we trace how perception shifts when language becomes an organ of attention.Ultimately, the conversation gestures toward a quiet but demanding reorientation. Enchantment is not spectacle. Fairy is not novelty. Relationship requires responsibility. Story, carried mouth to mouth across centuries, may be one of the last bridges where the more than human world still waits for us to listen.New Theme Music: Taliesin, written and performed on Tenor Guitar and Mandolin by Chaise LevyPlease consider leaving a rating and review on your favorite podcasting platform! For more episodes follow us at hagstonepodcast.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hagstonepodcast.substack.com

In this months episode of The Hagstone, Chaise Levy sits down with Chad Andro of Radical Elphame to explore what Chad calls fairy apologetics, a reexamination of fairy lore that pushes back against fear-based, extractive, and overly dualistic approaches to the Otherworld. Drawing from folklore, Romantic poetry, animist philosophy, entheogenic experience, and personal practice, the conversation challenges the modern tendency to demonize or sentimentalize fairies, arguing instead for a relational and ecological understanding rooted in openness and transformation.Together, they explore the collapse of strict boundaries between this world and the Otherworld, critique capitalist and colonial mindsets that seek to control spiritual experience, and trace how Romantic figures such as William Blake preserved a vision of fairy as a force of fullness that holds joy and terror, innocence and experience, creation and destruction in dynamic balance. The episode ultimately asks what it would mean culturally and spiritually to re-engage fairy not as danger or fantasy, but as a living mode of relationship with the animate world.Connect with Chad AndroInstagram: @radicalelphameSubstack: Chad Andro Podcast: Radical Elphame, available wherever you listenNew Theme Music: Taliesin written and performed on Tenor Guitar and Mandolin by Chaise Levy This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hagstonepodcast.substack.com

This week on the Hagstone Podcast Chaise is joined again by Nay Noordmans of the House of Gnomi. This time we dive into the magical history of Datura, and it nexus of lore across this wild green earth.In the conversation we dive deep into the well of Datura’s spirit, and find there a clarion call to find reconciliation with the stories of extraction that continue to unfold. In that spirit we invite listeners to begin to ask the question of how they might create deeper relationships and offer resources to first peoples of the lands that they might inhabit.Here are some places to consider supporting in recognition of the debt of gratitude owed to the spirit of Datura and her keepers.https://northernchumash.org/land-back/https://www.sychumashmuseum.org/get-involved/Kuruvungna Village Springs - Gabrielino-Tongva Springs FoundationCHIRLA - The Coalition for Humane Immigrant RightsSome of the resources mentioned in the episode include:Nay on Radical Elphame with Chad AndroNay’s Lecture at Viridis Genii Symposium This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hagstonepodcast.substack.com

This week on the Hagstone Podcast Chaise sits down with Rebecca Beyer of the Blood and Spicebush School of Old Craft. The conversation ranges through topics of land connectedness, connecting with ancestral traditions, and the particular power that the traditions of Appalachia have for showing a way of braiding cultures and lifeways. It is an amazing conversation, and we are so thankful to share it with you.Rebecca Beyer is the founder of the Blood and Spicebush School of Old Craft. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Plant and Soil Science from the University of Vermont and a Master’s degree in Appalachian Studies and Sustainability from the Appalachian State University. She lives in the mountains of western North Carolina where she manages a homestead and teaches traditional Witchcraft, foraging, and Appalachian folk medicine.Rebecca’s newest book The Complete Folk Herbal will be published in October of this year by Simon & Schuster. It is packed to the brim with medicinal and magical plant knowledge and we highly recommend getting a copy.You can find her on Instagram at bloodandspicebush or at her website www.bloodandspicebush.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hagstonepodcast.substack.com

This week on the Hagstone Podcast Chaise and Andreas sit down to chat with Johannes Gårdbäck to discuss trolldom and some of the amazing work he has brewing at Urhall.Johannes B. Gårdbäck is the author of “Trolldom – Spells and Methods of the Norse Folkmagic Tradition”, (Y.I.P.P.I.E, 2014). He is an internationally recognized teacher with more than 30 years of experience as a professional folk healer and a folk magic practitioner. Today he runs Urhall, a physical and online school of Trolldom and Scandinavian Folk wisdom in his home village of Hedekas, Sweden where he lives with his wife, two daughters and a dog called Bob.We are so thankful for this conversation, and the weaving of connection between what we are doing here at the Northern Spirit House with Urhall. Johannes is giving two teachings as a part of RitualCravt’s Northern Folk Traditions Conference taking place online June 2nd-8th. His sessions include Trolldom Herb, Tree, & Root Magic: All Good Things Are Three and Draugadrott: Necromancy, Spiritism and Relating to the Dead and the Ancestors in the Trolldom Tradition as a student of Johannes’s I can tell you they are not to be missed.Johannes also teaches an area of weekend, and year long courses throughout the year, and is debuting a Trolldom for the dark of the year immersion this year at his home in Hedekas, Sweden. More info can be found here.We have just entered the second year of the Hagstone Podcast and we could not be more excited to share the work of more incredible guests in the coming year. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hagstonepodcast.substack.com

On this week’s episode of the Hagstone Podcast Chaise is speaking with Arrowyn Craban Lauer. Arrowyn is an artist, a witch, and a mother who is based in Portland, Oregon. Arrowyn is the co-creator of Hex Magazine which ran from 2007-2014.It is a weaving conversation about the power of dreams, following your wyrd, the power of visual magical practice, and so much more.In the episode Arrowyn shares several stunning pieces of her art, she has generously offered high resolution versions of the images here for the show notes.Oak TreeStargazer LilyLiving the Goat Life Silk MothIf you want to find more of Arrowyn’s art you can find her on Etsy here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/LittleGoldFoxDesignsand follow her on Instagram: little_gold_foxShow Notes:Arrowyn shares about the poetry of the Babylonian poet Enheduana, they can be found here:https://enheduana.org/enheduanas-poems/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hagstonepodcast.substack.com

This week on the Hagstone Podcast Chaise sat down with Nay Noordmans of House of Gnomi on Instagram to chat all things Gnomes. The conversation moves through topics of connection to place, the benefits of working from folklore to develop relationships with the ecology, and the ever present question are the Gnomes just mushrooms after all?References in the episode include:* A Book on Nymphs, Sylphs, Pygmies, and Salamanders, and on the Other Spirits by Paracelsus* Pagan Christmas: The Plants, Spirit, and Rituals at the Origins of Yuletide by Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling* Witchcraft Medicine: Healing Arts, Shamanic Practices, and Forbidden Plants by Claudia Müller-Ebeling, Christian Rätsch, Wolf-Dieter Storl* The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications by Christian RätschNay recommends that anyone interested in all things gnome, and mycology check out the work of gnome_cunning on Instagram, especially the workshop they gave on Ghost Pipe Mushrooms at Viridis Genii Symposium this year. You can find a lecture recording here.You can find Nay’s work on instagram at @houseofgnomi This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hagstonepodcast.substack.com

Marcus McCoyA student of plants since he was a child, Marcus R. McCoy holds a A student of plants since he was a child, Marcus R. McCoy holds a degree in Transpersonal Anthropology with a focus on the ethnobotany of magical plants. He is the progenitor of Bioregional Animism, and has published his works on the subject of plant teacher shamanry in Reality Sandwich. Marcus has also been published in Verdant Gnosis Volume 1, and is one of three editors of the book series. Marcus studied south american vegetalismo for many years, which is where he started his focus on perfumerismo. He is a professional perfumer and proprietor of House of Orpheus and alchemical practitioner, studying with Robert Bartlett. Marcus is also an established blacksmith and metal artist with special interest focusing on the occult art of herbal quenches working within the context of alchemical philosophy and folk magic. His smithy is called Troll Cunning Forge, and he produces custom made occult iron work for the occult community. Marcus is also a teacher of folk magic and has ongoing classes on the Botany of the Dead as well as the folklore of the magical projectile. He lives in the forests of the Olympic Mountain range in Washington with his lovely partner in the cunning crafts, Catamara Rosarium.https://viridisgenii.com/symposium-organizers/https://www.instagram.com/trollcunningforge?igsh=Z3l1eGI1eWVreGtz This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hagstonepodcast.substack.com

This month on the Northern Spirit House Podcast Chaise speaks with Roy Arthur Blodgett. Roy is a naturalist and writer currently living in Jerusalem Valley, within the ancestral homeland of the Lake Miwok. In the episode they speak about the braid of the love of language with the love of the land, what the duty of the poet might be in these times, and the possibilities of becoming “of a place.”Roy Arthur Blodgett is a naturalist and writer currently living in Jerusalem Valley, within the ancestral homeland of the Lake Miwok. His work explores the intersections of natural and cultural history, power and privilege, ancestry, memory, and human responsibility in the cosmos. Roy is a graduate of three years at Weaving Earth Center for Relational Education, where he studied nature connection, social and environmental justice, permaculture, and traditional ecological knowledge, among other devotions. In addition to being a writer of poetry and prose, he is a certified wildlife tracker, master herpetologist, novice woodcarver, herpetoculturist, and an enamored apprentice to all that animates this world. He has self-published two chapbooks - Usal Beach to Ferndale (2015), and Soil and Shadow (2018, with Heavy Letters Press) - and has completed a third, Five Years, which is soon forthcoming. You can find Roy online at https://www.royarthurblodgett.com or on Instagram @roy_arthurGreetings dear subscribers of the Northern Spirit House,Andreas and myself are so grateful for the last 18 months we have shared here on substack. Your comments, engagement, submissions, and continuing of the work fill us with joy and keep wind in the sails when the seas of life get rocky. We are writing because we are going to turn on a paid subscriptions function of the substack. All essays, and our monthly podcast will remain free for all but in the coming months we will begin sending out essays on practical matters such as ritual development, spell-work, connecting with land-spirits, utiseta, and so much more. If you would like access to these practitioner invitations you can join us around the Hearth Fire. Any contribution supports the both of us to bring more life and energy to this work, as well as supports the thriving of both of our families.With deep gratitude, and spell-songs of blessing surrounding your life. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hagstonepodcast.substack.com

For Episode 4 of the Northern Spirit House Podcast, Chaise sat down with Lien de Coster to speak about the practice of Utiseta. Lien is a Soul-centric Ceremonialist, Nature Connection Mentor, and Permaculturalist based on the West Coast of Sweden. Lien’s love of the landscape and story was born at the end of a cobblestone street in Flanders and has been a golden-thread leading her ever since. Through Leaves of Lien Lien is reviving the practice of ‘sitting out’ (Utiseta) as a vital pathway for those longing to become of place. As well as developing place-based grief rituals, pilgrimages, and soul-centered mentoring.Lien’s upcoming Utiseta on the West Coast of Sweden is linked here:The Well of Memory: July 27th- August 5thMore info on this Winter’s Tears of Amber and Gold (a place-based grief ritual) can be found here:Tears of Amber and Gold This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hagstonepodcast.substack.com

Laying the foundation for a second episode with Tyler Daneman, where we will discuss the use of AI in the casting of spells, generation of sigils, and experiments in channeling disembodied entities through chatbots we are re-sharing this conversation from last year on Techno-Animism. In a time that is marked with the increasing complexity of technologies, intelligent and otherwise, there are important questions to be asked about the animacy of these beings. Is our animism a stylish suit we can take on and off at will leaving out that which doesn’t fit with our values, or aesthetic tastes? Or indeed is it a much more troubling ontology that asks us to engage with the potential livingness, and undeniable agency of all things asking us to change not only how we think about Techne, but also how we practice and live with these beings.Welcome to the Northern Spirit House Podcast. Our first guest is ritualist, scholar, and sanctuary of the strange Tyler Daneman. The dialogue covers much ground but weaves around the central node of Techno-Animism. What kind of world is possible when we engage with the beings of the world, including our technologies, acknowledging their aliveness?Tyler points out that all beings must be fed, and in the absence of a ritual culture of feeding the Goddess Techne (Technology), we have ended up feeding of our time and attention. What kind of relationality might be possible if we offer technology a different kind of meal?Tyler asks us all to step into the crucible of these hard questions in a time when AI, and proliferation of other technologies are being cast as the Grendel at the door of our humanity. With a heart and ethic of compassion what might happen if we invite Tech into the glow of fellowship, building a relationship of allyship and heart? It is truly a rich and bizarre alchemy.https://holyoakdivination.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit northernspirithouse.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hagstonepodcast.substack.com