Essence Podcast with Ben Stimpson

My guest this week is my friend Houngan James (Dyekidon Bon Houngan Daginen Menfo). James is a Nova Scotia based Houngan asogwe of the religion of Haitian Vodou. He undertook kanzo in 2017 in the lineage of La Fraicheur Belle Fleur Guinen just north of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Apart from his day job, James runs the website Lwa and Order, and engages in teaching and attending events across North America. In this episode we talk about hiw journey from punk kid building a shrine to Legba in the days of ICQ, to houngan having just married the lwas Freda, Dantor and La Sirene. To see more of James' work, please visit his website: https://lwaandorder.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

I am joined tonight by Matthew Venus, (He/Them) who is the proprietor of the Salem area shop Spiritus Atcanum, and alongside Jacqui Allouise (The Couldron Black) is the co-founder of the Salem Witchcraft and Folklore Festival. Venus describes themself as an Artist, Folk Magician, Rogue Occultist, Folkloric Witch, Social Deviant, and Beard Curator. We discuss Matthews' evolution in spirituality, their thoughts on personal practice, queer peoples connection to witchcraft, and the story of how the folklore festival came to be. To find out more about Matthew and Spiritus Arcanum, and the folklore festival visit the following: www.salemwitchfest.com & spiritusarcanum.com ------------------------------------------- Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

Lee Harrington is an internationally known sexuality, relationships, and personal authenticity educator. Having taught in all 50 states and across 7 countries, he brings a combination of playful engagement and thoughtful academic dialogue to a broad audience. An award-winning author and editor on human gender, sexual, and sacred experience, his books include “Traversing Gender: Understanding Transgender Journeys,” “Sacred Kink: The Eightfold Paths of BDSM and Beyond,” and “Shibari You Can Use: Japanese Rope Bondage and Erotic Macramé,” among many other titles. He has been blogging online since 1998, and been teaching worldwide since 2001. You can check out Lee’s adventures, as well as his regular podcast, tour schedule, free essays, videos, and more, over at http://www.PassionAndSoul.com. Their newest book “Become Your Own Beloved: A Guide to Delighting in Self-Connection” is now currently available. To connect with Lee, please visit his socials: www.passionandsoul.com IG: @passionandsoul FB: https://www.facebook.com/lee.harringon Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

My Guest today is Eron Mazza. Eron (they/them) is a witch, activist, and podcaster. They are a dedicant of the Anderson Feri tradition, and hosts “The Witching Hour with Eron Mazza” a mindgarden media podcast in association with ‘Screw You Todd’ productions. In this episode, we talk about Eron's activism, spiritual progression, the Anderson Feri tradition, and their journey as a podcaster. To listen to Eron's interview of me, please visit: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/sh... To connect with Eron, please visit his socials: www.eronmazza.com IG: @the_witching_hour_eron_mazza FB: https://www.facebook.com/witchinghourwitheron Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

Moss Matthey is an author, Pagan and cult survivor from North Wales, UK. Having mixed German/Welsh heritage, Moss is currently working on their debut work out through Llewellyn. He is currently completing a BA Psychology at Chester University, and comes on to the show to discuss his spiritual journey out of a fundamentalist cult, his connection to Paganism and folkloric craft, and the insights he has formed along the way. Moss will be a speaker alongside myself and others at the 2023 Salem Witchcraft and Folklore Festival happening ONLINE at: https://www.salemwitchfest.com/ To connect with Moss, please visit his socials: www.mossmatthey.com IG: @magic_of_the_moss FB: Moss Matthey - Author TT: www.tiktok.com/@mossmatthey -------------------- Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

My guest today is Enfys J. Book. Enfys J. Book is a nonbinary, bisexual clergy member within the Assembly of the Sacred Wheel, and the High Priest of the Fellowship of the Ancient White Stag coven near Washington, DC. Enfys has been studying Qabala since 2012 and teaching classes on magickal practice since 2015, including presenting at the Sacred Space Conference. Their debut work: “Queer Qabala: Nonbinary, Genderfluid, Omnisexual Mysticism & Magick” is currently available wherever books are sold. You can check out Enfys’ work at www.majoraqueerna.com they run a podcast called "4 Queck Q's Book Talk with Enfys" Enfys' Socials are: www.majoraqueerna.com FB: https://www.facebook.com/majorarqueerna IG: www.instagram.com/enfysbook

My guest today is ayurvedic consultant and spiritual practitioner, Avi Lago, of Glasgow, Scotland. ------------------------------------------------ Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

I sit down with prolific author Morgan Daimler to discuss their publishing journey, what it's like to write both fiction and non-fiction, and a little theoretical ponderings at the end. Morgan Daimler is a witch who has been a polytheist since the early ’90′s. Following a path inspired by the Irish Fairy Faith blended with neopagan witchcraft, they teach classes on Irish myth and magical practices, fairies, and related subjects in the United States and internationally. Morgan has written dozens of books on subjects relating to Irish traditions, Norse traditions, and fantasy novel series. ------------------------------------------------------- LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to keep up with the Essence Summer Series Podcast. Join us on our other socials: IG: www.instagram.com/benstimpsonauthor YT: www.youtube.com/benstimpsonauthor FB: Ben Stimpson - Author WS: www.benstimpson.com ---- Morgan's socials: www.facebook.com/Morgandaimler www.instagram.com/morgandaimler www.twitter.com/MorganDaimler To check out Morgan's non-fiction books, check out: www.johnhuntpublishing.com/moon-books/authors/morgan-daimler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License

Ariana Serpentine is a multi-traditional witch, polytheist, and animist. She describes herself as a theology & history nerd, they are trans & queer, and is a Mercurial Girl. Ariana has worked in political trans activism, raising awareness for the needs of her community within Pagan and other circles. They are the author of “Sacred Gender: Create Trans and NonBinary Spiritual Connections” published by Llewellyn Worldwide. Copyright information: Title Music: "Wintersong" by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/b...

My guest today is pagan author Morgan Daimler, whose work focusses on Irish fairy lore and urban fantasy.