In this special Samhain episode of the Pagan Portal Podcast, we embrace the turning of the wheel as the nights draw in and Halloween approaches. It’s the perfect time to honour the ancestors, share stories, and perhaps indulge in a comforting cottage pie.Join host Rachel Patterson alongside guests Jessica Howard, Lucya Starza, and Katie Ness, as they share their wisdom, insights, and seasonal magic.So pull on your favourite hoodie, put the kettle on, grab some autumnal treats, and settle in for this enchanting Samhain celebration with The Pagan Portal Podcast.

Words hold power. In this episode of The Pagan Portal Podcast, host Rachel Patterson is joined by author and priestess Katie Ness for a deep exploration of word magic—from ancient hymns and love charms to modern poetry and spellwork.

Together, they discuss:

✨ The role of chanting inward and outward in ritual and energy work

✨ Whether intention or wording matters more in spellcraft

✨ Ancient practices of weaver priestesses, who sang and blessed cloth with sacred words

✨ The goddesses of writing and knowledge: Nisibar, Seshat, Saraswati, and Minerva

✨ How poetry, journaling, and even tarot cards can become tools of word witchery

✨ Personal stories of grief, creativity, and transformation through writing

From Mesopotamian curse tablets to Egyptian funerary hymns, from yogic chanting to poetry inspired by tarot, this episode weaves together myth, history, and modern Pagan practice.

Perfect for anyone interested in Paganism, Witchcraft, goddesses, creativity, ritual, yoga, and the sacred power of words.

In this episode of The Pagan Portal Podcast, host Rachel Patterson speaks with Barbara Meiklejohn-Free and Flavia Kate Peters about their life’s work, magical practices, and deep spiritual callings.

Barbara shares the powerful origin of Spirit Visions, born from a four-day vision quest in the Badlands, and the story of Arnemetia — the ancient water and grove goddess of Buxton whose sacred well still flows today. Together, Barbara and Flavia explore the importance of healing past-life wounds, guiding souls through death rites, and weaving magic into the entire cycle of life.

From drumming in the King’s Chamber of the Great Pyramid to their everyday rituals with candles, altars, and incense, they reveal how magic infuses their daily lives. They discuss the role of magical tools, the importance of keeping one’s deities private, and their shamanic connection to animals — from cats who guard their rituals to elephants and leopards offering profound moments of healing.

✨ In this episode:

- The origin of Spirit Visions & Arnemetia’s Grove

- Healing Witches’ Wounds & past-life cycles

- Death rites, celebrancy & rites of passage

- Magical tools, drumming & sacred sound

- Keeping deity work private for spiritual protection

- Daily rituals to honour the sacred

- Shamanic connections with animals & familiars