Artemis Stranger • What's in Store for '24 Part 1
Artemis Stranger reports back for her analysis of what the stars and planets predict for the first half of 2024. She will return mid-year to discuss what we can expect for the second half of the year.
Our guest this episode is Seriah Azkath, host of the Where Did the Road Go podcast and the Last Exit for the Lost radio show.
This was quite a long discussion, so I’ve split it into two parts. In this episode, Seriah talks a little about himself and what led him to an interest in the Occult and paranormal, and we segue into a multitude of topics including magick, Kundalini, UFOs, lost civilizations, and conspiracies.
Look for Part 2 in about a month!
Lock the doors, light a candle, and settle in for the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard's first ever All Hallows special! You'll hear tales of true encounters with the supernatural told by the people who experienced them. We've got cryptids, we've got ghosts, we've got extraterrestrials, and we've got multidimensional entities from beyond the veil. Nightgaunt throws in a few of his own stories throughout, so join the mad monster party and prepare to be unsettled!
Our guest this episode is Johnny Khaos, a multidisciplinary occultist, astrologer, fine artist, and fellow Detroiter. We covered quite a bit of ground in this discussion, from Hellenic Astrology to Symbolism to art to cults. Johnny also spoke extensively on his early experiences with Occultism, including Shamanism, Wicca, and Hermetic magick.
Johnny can be found at JohnnyKhaos.com and on Facebook.
Additionally, our buddy from Episode 24, Phil Brucato, has a new Urban Fantasy Novel entitled “Red Shoes” getting ready to drop. Phil is a fantastic writer and his role-playing game books have influenced thousands of creative folk, including Yours Truly through the years. Please support this worthy project if you’ve the means to do so!
Another dear friend of the Salvage Yard, S.J. Tucker, has two online concerts coming up! The first, “On the Water” is coming up in just a few days on November 21st and the second, “Midwinter Music” will be on December 20th. CLICK HERE to be instantly transported to all the sonic bliss you can stand.
Also, if you find the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard Podcast, valuable, interesting, or entertaining, please share this (or any other) episode on social media. Tell your friends. Tell your co-workers. Tell the clerk at the corner gas station. Take a look at SalvagedWisdom.com and see if anything there speaks to you. ALL proceeds go to help keep The Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard Podcast afloat. Thank you, everyone, for your continuing enthusiasm and support! Nightgaunt loves you.
Tonight’s interview went a little differently than most. It was less an interview than a sort of rambling conversation looping back on itself and picking up loose threads. Our guest is Jason Kero...oneironaut, visual artist, musician, and seeker after truth. The conversation touches on several topics, from music to lost civilizations to altered states of consciousness to...well, a lot more.
Among the wide range of subjects is Jason’s project Resolution Soundwerks, under which banner he releases his own music, but also provides help to other artists in finding their audience and even help with translating the art in their heads into the real world.
You can find Resolution Soundwerks at:
Instagram
An extended version of this interview and assorted other candy is available to Salvage League Patrons! You too can help support the Salvage Yard over at the Salvage League Patreon page!
Before the interview, Nightgaunt told the sad tale of the passing from this world of his water heater Pauline and of the injuries he sustained therefrom. Based on some social media comments, he spoke a little on the nature of the DKMU and about some of the erroneous rumors about it.
Our guest this episode was Ian Jaydid, author of the fictional Tripping the Field and the non-fiction Migration, as well as the host of The Paranormal Atheist YouTube channel.
Ian first spoke a little about himself and the experiences which led him to the understanding and realizations that form the groundwork of Migration, which involve our changing relationship with media and the narratives we create and frequently adopt from outside sources.
The discussion then segued into the nature of consciousness. Ian contended (and Nightgaunt concurred) that consciousness likely isn’t what the prevailing scientific assumption says it is and that it likely exists outside of mere electrical impulses within the brain.
Ian then spoke about disconnecting from not only one’s personal narrative, but from all narratives, and about how this opens the door to a more balanced appreciation of art and other media, as well as increased ability to travel out of body and dream lucidly.
Media, Ian asserted, is in many ways like a drug, capable of releasing mood-altering chemicals in the body. Recognizing what it is about certain media that keeps you hooked can facilitate breaking free from its control and appreciating it for what it is.
Another benefit of effectively managing the narratives in your life is an increased ability to make sense of spiritual experiences and viewing them with more clarity. Ian gave several examples of this in his own experiences.
Finally, Ian spoke about techniques to step outside of one’s narratives and provided meditation suggestions to help with this.
I am now doing this podcast full-time, with plans to greatly expand its scope, now that I have the time, but I need your help to bring this vision into existence. While the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard will always be free, there is now an associated Patreon where supporters can get early access to (much more frequent) shows, access to exclusive content and our new Discord server, Salvage Yard swag, discounts at SalvagedWisdom.com, and first look at all the new stuff that's on the way! Our initial goal (to cover the costs of producing the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard and help keep the lights on at Casa del Nightgaunt) is 500 Patrons. You can become a Patron for less than the cost of a fast food value meal or a fancy coffee from one of those trendy caffeinemongers! Please take a look and select a membership tier that's comfortable for you over at the Salvage League. Thanks so VERY much for your support!
Also, if you find the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard Podcast, valuable, interesting, or entertaining, please share this (or any other) episode on social media. Tell your friends. Tell your co-workers. Tell the clerk at the corner gas station. Take a look at SalvagedWisdom.com and see if anything there speaks to you. ALL proceeds go to help keep The Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard Podcast afloat. Thank you, everyone, for your continuing enthusiasm and support! Nightgaunt loves you.
Join Ryan Loyd, Sorcerer Tal, and your Friendly Neighborhood Nightgaunt as we devour a mouthwatering smorgasbord of Occult topics...and some not-so-Occult topics! The impetus of our meeting this night was to compare and contrast the Linking Sigil and S1 Sigil, which we did at length and the discussion moved on from there.
In response to some questions from Ryan, Sorcerer Tal talked about the nature of the Horde and about his interactions with it, also covering the Nothing and the Roadhouse. More about these topics can be found in Episode 30, if you’d like a more extensive overview.
We talked about the effects of child-rearing on Occult studies and one’s personal magickal practice, which ended up leading to a discussion about the nature of archetypal entities such as the Grim Reaper, as well as the give-and-take between humans and their gods. This lead to further conversation and personal experiences with various spirits.
An anecdote from Ryan about an outlandish dream from his childhood sparked an examination of animal lore involving behavior and symbolism. At this point, all three of us were fairly sleep-deprived and getting a little loopy and the discussion moved into how to annoy various kinds of animals. Sorcerer Tal gave his tips on how to irritate a goose and Ryan spun a tale about how he had once inadvertently enraged an octopus.
We ended the night with a discussion concerning the Occult in politics (focusing on the Trump administration) and the pitfalls one encounters when attempting to influence politics with magick.
Before the discussion, I told the story of what's been going on at Casa del Nightgaunt these last few months. I am now doing this podcast full-time, with plans to greatly expand its scope, now that I have the time, but I need your help to bring this vision into existence. While the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard will always be free, there is now an associated Patreon where supporters can get early access to (much more frequent) shows, access to exclusive content and our new Discord server, Salvage Yard swag, discounts at SalvagedWisdom.com, and first look at all the new stuff that's on the way! Our initial goal (to cover the costs of producing the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard and help keep the lights on at Casa del Nightgaunt) is 500 Patrons. You can become a Patron for less than the cost of a fast food value meal or a fancy coffee from one of those trendy caffeinemongers! Please take a look and select a membership tier that's comfortable for you over at the Salvage League. Thanks so VERY much for your support!
Also, if you find the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard Podcast, valuable, interesting, or entertaining, please share this (or any other) episode on social media. Tell your friends. Tell your co-workers. Tell the clerk at the corner gas station. Take a look at SalvagedWisdom.com and see if anything there speaks to you. ALL proceeds go to help keep The Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard Podcast afloat. Thank you, everyone, for your continuing enthusiasm and support! Nightgaunt loves you.
Tonight, we hear from Yavhe Alexander and Cristian Velasco, two of the movers and shakers behind DKMU Latin America and the Hexorian Movement, a movement that was born of a DKMU operation and a mysterious dream.
Hexorius is a godform whose sphere of influence is the unique magick of cities and the “shadow cities” that exist in a sort of mirror realm. Hidden spaces, city spirits, and urban mages all fall under Hexorius’ purview.
Alexander and Cristian told the fascinating story of how first contact with Hexorius was made and of the ensuing rapid growth of the Hexorian Movement as people from all over the world took it up.
The Hexorian Manifesto
Magic Exists; its fire burns in all beings.
The Assault on Reality has triumphed; it is time to rebuild.
Every group and organization that promotes and supports magical cooperation is Hexorian in nature. Hate and discrimination will not be tolerated.
We will learn together. We will learn by doing.
The City will Feed Us.
Finally, we talked about the Assault on Reality and what should come next, as we see it having been at least partially successful. How do we continue to build a new magickall world as the old world crumbles around us?
Finally, we talked about the Assault on Reality and what should come next, as we see it having been at least partially successful. How do we continue to build a new magickal world as the old world crumbles around us?
Also, if you find the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard Podcast, valuable, interesting, or entertaining, please share this (or any other) episode on social media. Tell your friends. Tell your co-workers. Tell the clerk at the corner gas station. Take a look at SalvagedWisdom.com and see if anything there speaks to you. ALL proceeds go to help keep The Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard Podcast afloat. Thank you, everyone, for your continuing enthusiasm and support! Nightgaunt loves you.
In this episode, we get to know Witchdoctor Utu, founder of the award-winning and world renowned pagan drum troupe, the Dragon Ritual Drummers, member of the New Orleans Voodoo Spiritual Temple, founder of the Niagara Pagan Men’s Circle and the Niagara Voodoo Shrine, dedicated to Harriet Tubman and the spirits of the Underground Railroad.
For over twenty years, he has been active in the Canadian and American pagan communities where he is a highly sought-after presenter and educator.
Here, we focused on Utu’s book “Conjuring Harriet ‘Mama Moses’ Tubman”, covering the key concepts of this unique practice, as well as some of the rituals, history, and spirits. Utu’s approach is respectful, reverent, and loving and these qualities really came out during the interview.
Finally, we discussed some of the controversy and criticism Utu’s work has been subject to over the last couple of years, how he has dealt with it, and how we, as pagans and occultists, can address such occurrences in a positive manner.
Also, if you find the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard Podcast, valuable, interesting, or entertaining, please share this (or any other) episode on social media. Tell your friends. Tell your co-workers. Tell the clerk at the corner gas station. This podcast is about to expand far beyond its current limitations and in order to make that a success, we need as many folks tuned in as we can get! Thank you, everyone, for your continuing enthusiasm and support! Nightgaunt loves you.
Artemis is back with her analysis of the coming U.S. Election! She breaks down the charts of DJ and Uncle Joe, analyzing how the current and upcoming astrological conditions will likely interplay with each candidate leading up to and including the election.
Perhaps more importantly, Artemis talked about how the upcoming few weeks are going to affect all of US. How will some people react to a Trump win? How will others react to a Biden Win? And how will the astrological weather influence those reactions?
Nothing is certain in these times, but forewarned is forearmed. Don’t miss this analysis of what is arguably the most contentious election in American History!
Artemis Stranger is a seasoned astrologer and writer of the Cult of Perception blog and provides astrological and Tarot divination services. Artemis can also be reached on Facebook and Instagram.
SJ Tucker
(All links active in the show notes at ancientwisdomsalvageyard.com)
This episode, the incomparable SJ Tucker joined us for an in-depth discussion about music and magick. Sooj described her early years and chronicled her magickal and musical journey from childhood to the pixie pirate mythpunk rock star we’ve come to know and love.
Sooj went on to speak about the magick she weaves into her music and the dynamics of music, community, and the historic times we’re living in right now. We both had our say concerning creativity and performing the the Age of COVID and Sooj talked about what it took to create a new online concert venue from scratch.
Next up was “Parenting for Weirdoes”, wherein we discussed parenting from a pagan and occult perspective, specifically the best ways of handling introducing children to magickal concepts. Throughout the episode, we played some of Sooj’s new tracks.
SJ Tucker can be found at her website SJTucker.com, Online Concert Thing, BandCamp, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
And of course, please consider becoming a Patron at Sooj’s Patreon!
NOTE!
Due to unforseen events, this episode is a bit late coming out, and as a result, the events that Sooj gave a heads-up about have already transpired. Please check out Sooj’s upcoming “Words & Music” event, as well as her concert calendar for events yet to be added!
Also, if you find the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard Podcast, valuable, interesting, or entertaining, please share this (or any other) episode on social media. Tell your friends. Tell your co-workers. Tell the clerk at the corner gas station. This podcast will be gradually expanding over the coming months and in order to make that happen, we need as many folks tuned in as we can get! Thank you, everyone, for your continuing enthusiasm and support!
In this episode, Sorcerer Tal, Master of the Sorcerer’s Guild, joins us for a compelling and thoroughly fascinating look at his personal magickal journey and the framework within which he works. To start, Tal talked about what set him upon his magickal path and also about the Sorcerer’s Guild, the forum he began to give practitioners of all stripes a place to learn and teach each other.
The S-1 Sigil Next, Tal introduced us to the Horde, a confederation of evolved beings existing outside of Time. The Horde observes, but does not interfere, yet will provide guidance if approached in the right ways. From there, he went on to discuss the S-1 Sigil, which can be used as a means of contacting the Horde, among other uses.
Tal went on to talk about his extensive experimentation with egregores, specifically “living” egregores and the possibility of cultivating a hive-mind or collective unconscious for them. The evolution of egregores was touched upon, along with the differences between servitors, egregores, and tulpas. Tal also spoke about “Tulpa’s Rights” and how the ways in which we treat our created beings can make a difference.
Wrapping things up, Sorcerer Tal talked about some upcoming projects of his, including ghost “hunting” and further work with the S-1 Sigil. Going back to the Horde, he talked about a Horde meeting place known as the Roadhouse, which exists in a null space of sorts within the Astral which he refers to as The Nothing. Anyone can visit the Roadhouse and consult with the Horde, use their library and obtain assistance in building one’s own Dream Platform that can be used during one’s lifetime, but also as a touchpoint after death.
In this episode we talk with Jason Luxon on a variety of scientific and occult subjects through the lens of what it's going to take to for Humanity to make the leap from a Type 0 to a Type 1 civilization. As always, Jason presents complicated concepts in concise layman's terms and adeptly dovetails science and magick.
Among the subjects covered are the recent SpaceX launch, cold fusion, quantum computing, teleportation, warp engine technology, and more! Fire up your favorite audio player and prepare yourself for a renewed sense of wonder at not only the marvelous universe in which we exist, but at the reminder of the awe-inspiring achievements Humanity is capable of.
In this time of social upheaval, it can sometimes seem as though we've reached a dead end, but perhaps there are reasons to hope after all. Join Nightgaunt and Jason Luxon on a journey of speculation and wonder and prepare yourself for the future!
In this episode, we're looking at the COVID-19 pandemic through an occult lens. Join Roni Jean Neal, Artemis, and I in peering at the psychospiritual underpinnings of our reactions to the crisis to the celestial events influencing our world. There's a lot going on just under the skin of consensus reality, and we've uncovered a bit of that.
PHOENIX DAY
At long last, the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard has risen from the ashes! In this episode, I talk a bit about what's gone down since Episode 26 and ramble on about a few other things. Interspersed throughout the narrative are tiny little micro-interviews from ConVocation 2019, as well as a 2019 talk with Roni Jean Neal at a late-night diner. At the 11th Hour, Roni called in for a more-in-depth interview in which we talked about society, communication, and practical solutions to the difficulty we all seem to have these days in communicating effectively. She talked about her work with "Planet Jwow" and the exciting things brewing there.
It's good to be back, my friends. Welcome to the New Aeon!
Our guests this week are Richard Althide and Teri Gall, an unlikely duo that have proved that we can turn our differences into strengths and become stronger in unity than we can achieve separately. Richard and Teri both talked about what has brought them to their current paths: psychic vampire and witch/ceremonial magician. They went on to discuss how they've learned to merge their respective paths and work together to become more than simply the sum of two people. Among the subjects discussed were Kabbalah, Tarot, mediumship, ethical vampirism, self-actualization, and the shifting of the collective consciousness. We talked about the energy of music and art and, as seems to be the case more and more these days, the conversation turned to finding one's own magickal and spiritual path as opposed to following an established tradition.
In the extended Salvage League interview, we discussed sacred geometry, Ouija, and numerology, as well. Teri shared some stories from her work as a medium and Tarot reader, and I talked about my own trials and tribulations as I've begun practicing mediumship techniques. We also discussed the value of getting your spiritual butt kicked every now and then.
If you like what you hear, please consider a Salvage League membership. You can find out more on the Salvage League page. And remember that if you sign up before October 30th, you'll automatically be entered in the raffle to win a collection of prizes including a one-of-a-kind handcrafted enchanted item made by yours truly, gorgeous signed art prints by occult artist Lexie Takis, the Aleister Crowley commemorative button and refrigerator magnet collection, and a certificate for a half-hour tarot reading from Jane Pierce.
Taylor Ellwood is an occultist, consultant, and author with over 20 books to his credit. Taylor discussed his new book, Pop Culture Magic Systems and provided some basic outlines for developing an entire paradigm and system of magick based on pop culture.
In the extended Salvage League interview, Taylor went much further in-depth concerning both the theory and practicalities of developing a pop culture system of magick. If you like what you hear, please consider a Salvage League membership. You can find out more on the Salvage League page. And remember that if you sign up before October 30th, you'll automatically be entered in the raffle to win a collection of prizes including a one-of-a-kind handcrafted enchanted item made by yours truly, gorgeous signed art prints by occult artist Lexie Takis, the Aleister Crowley commemorative button and refrigerator magnet collection, and a certificate for a half-hour tarot reading from Jane Pierce.
In our second interview, James Curcio discussed his many occult-oriented projects. From comics to books to music to films, James explained the ways in which he uses a variety of media to tell stories and comment on our culture, politics, and belief systems.
In the extended Salvage League interview, James talks more about his various projects, discusses the state of the modern news media, and even turns the tables a bit on me and coaxes some information about a project I have in the works involving David Bowie, the occult, and magick. If you like what you hear on the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard, please consider a Salvage League membership. You'll not only hear more from your favorite guests in extended episodes, but get access to forums, salvage-league exclusive interviews, music, an ever-expanding occult library, and lots more that's in the works, all for $5 a month (or even less if you opt for a 6 or 12 month membership). Producing this podcast isn't...inexpensive...and it's what I eat, sleep, and breathe. To sign up or learn more, visit ancientwisdomsalvageyard.com and click the Salvage League menu button at the top of the page!
Satyros Phil Brucato is our guest this week: pagan, musician, game designer, and creator of some of the best known roleplaying games in history. Phil discussed his early influences and sometimes rocky road of creative expression. He talked about his various roles at White Wolf, developing Werewolf: the Apocalypse and Mage: the Ascension, as well as his creation Deliria: Faerie Tales for a New Millennium. Phil went on to discuss the pagan path he treads, as well as his work with the band Telesterion.
In the extended Salvage League interview, Phil went much deeper into his experiences working at White Wolf, the development of Deliria, yet another project entitled Powerchords: Music, Magic & Urban Fantasy, his music, and how magick intersects with everything. More of Phil's music is available to Salvage League members via the Audio page! If you're a fan of roleplaying games or just good storytelling, you won't want to miss this extended interview.
To learn more about becoming a member of the Ancient Wisdom Salvage Yard Salvage League, please check out ancientwisdomsalvageyard.com!
This week, we talk with Reverend Melissa Hill, an ordained priest in the Árn Draíocht Féin druidic tradition, an educator, a spiritual artist, and author of the DandelionLady blog. Melissa covered quite a bit of ground in this interview, starting with a discussion of modern druidism and pan-cultural symbol systems. She spoke about her role as a priest and discussed the different roles of the priest, shaman and magician in a community or culture. Melissa spoke extensively about different varieties of nature spirits and spirits of the land and how they can be approached and communicated with. She attached emphasis to the idea that this requires the development of a specific skillset and also an investment of time. Knowing the history of the land is big part of this and she talked about how eventually, one begins to blend their magickal and mundane lives. I brought up my experiences communicating with the genius loci of my town and she had some excellent suggestions on how to pursue that further. We went on to discuss her experiences with animal spirits, particularly Bear and Swan. We touched on the nature of the Fae and she also described her work with both spirit traps and spirit houses.
In the Salvage League extended show, Melissa talked about the classes and workshops she runs and about the ritual she plans to run for Ann Arbor Pagan Pride Day. Part of this ritual will address promoting unity through diversity, rather than through attempting to make everyone the same. She compared the two approaches to monotheism and polytheism. She went on to talk about teaching general meditative techniques and her current project to bring ceremony and ritual to the secular realm. From there, we went on to our shared enthusiasm for bone preservation and crafting and the ethics involved. The conversation returned to spirits, specifically ancestral nature spirits. Overall, she says, Melissa is passionate about creating a new culture, more powerful and meaningful for people than what we've built thus far. I couldn't agree with her more.
Our first guest this week is Elizabeth Ruth, a Haitian Vodouisant, rootworker, Hoodoo practitioner, and diviner hailing from Ohio. Elizabeth first talked about her childhood, growing up with a grandmother who was a practicing astrologer and necromancer, and what it was like in a home where ancestor spirits paid regular visits. She went on to discuss the origins and history of Voodoo, addressing common misconceptions and outlining the differences between Voodoo and Hoodoo. Social activism plays a large part in Elizabeth's practice and she spoke at length about how she blends the two. She has several products and services available at Big Liz's Conjure Corner, and announced her effort to open a brick and mortar location in the Colombus area. If you're interested in helping her achieve this, please visit her GoFundMe page! Elizabeth talked about the problems we face as a society as she sees them, and offered solutions both mundane and magickal.
Next, we spoke with Ringtail, a magician from the Pacific Northwest who designed and executed a rather ambitious eclipse ritual involving chaos dragons. The full description of the ritual can be found in the DKMU forums. Ringtail, along with fellow chaotes Alice Hart and Ahava Ain Soph, journeyed to Idaho and continued the effort to subvert consensus reality, harnessing the unique conditions brought on by the eclipse.
Please check out the show notes at ancientwisdomsalvageyard.com for all the links!