In this lost episode of THE CIRCLE IS podCAST, Rachel True and Mat Auryn welcome witchcraft author and third degree high priest Jason Mankey for a conversation that discusses the hidden history of music, where crossroads magick, hoodoo folklore, and esoteric influence shaped the pulse of blues and rock long before anyone spoke of “occult music.” From there the dialogue drifts into the nature of practice itself, touching on everyday sorcery, personal power, and subtle ways of working energy in daily life. They explore the question of initiation and whether formal lineage is required for authentic practice, opening a thoughtful exchange on tradition, self-dedication, and the many ways a witch steps fully onto their path. The episode also brings forward Jason’s newest work, a biography of Raymond Buckland that offers a rare look into the life of one of modern witchcraft’s most influential figures. The result is a rich exchange on art as spellcraft, magick as a lived reality, and the evolving legacy of the Craft.

Jason’s Links:

Raise the Horns blog: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/panmankey/author/jmankey/

Jason's Books: https://www.llewellyn.com/author.php?author_id=4751

Jason's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panmankey/?hl=en

Jason's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063557306920

Our Links:

Gathering of The Witches Online Event: https://insighteventsusa.com/gathering-of-the-witches-2025/ref/82/

Rachel True Website: https://truehearttarot.com

Mat Auryn Website: https://auryn.net

Modern Witch Podcast Network: https://modernwitch.com

Mat’s Omega Retreats: https://www.auryn.net/omega

True Heart Intuitive Tarot, Guidebook And Deck: https://a.co/d/9ZNyRu1

The Psychic Art of Tarot: Opening Your Inner Eye for More Insightful Readings: https://a.co/d/dUBT1bZ

Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation: https://a.co/d/bHelDwU

Mastering Magick: A Course in Spellcasting for the Psychic Witch: https://amzn.to/3VesGal

Pisces Witch: Unlock the Magic of Your Sun Sign: https://a.co/d/cGqcG61

In this evocative episode of THE CIRCLE IS podCAST, Rachel True and Mat Auryn welcome Penelope Trappes—Australian-born, Brighton-based vocalist, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and sonic conjurer. Known for her immersive soundscapes and cello-driven atmospheres, Trappes joins to discuss A Requiem, her fifth solo album on One Little Independent. What unfolds is a rich, layered conversation on grief, creativity, ancestral memory, and the meditative rituals that shape her haunting compositions. Together, they trace Trappes’ journey from the ethereal minimalism of her Penelope I/II/III trilogy through her visceral engagement with mortality, liminality, and sound as spellwork. Trappes opens up about working with fear, writing toward death as a form of psychic freedom, and transforming personal loss into collective healing. The episode drifts through themes of animism, vibrational resonance, magical practice, and the creative discipline of channeling emotional density into structured art. The trio explores the collapsing structures of patriarchy and capitalism, the reemergence of witchcraft as resistance, and the sacred role of the artist in times of unraveling. Whether you’re a musician, a psychic, a witch, a listener of deep frequencies, or a practitioner of quiet rebellion, this episode is a spell in itself, one that honors the living funeral, the voice as invocation, and the ever-turning spiral of creation and letting go.

Penelope’s Links:

Penelope Trappes Bandcamp: https://penelopetrappes.bandcamp.com/

Penelope Trappes on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6shE4Y1z4lzRqoDp65XfzT

Penelope's Instagram: https://instagram.com/penelopetrappes

Penelope's Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/penelopetrappes.bsky.social

Penelope's Substack: https://penelopetrappes.substack.com/

Penelope's X: https://x.com/PenelopeTrappes

Our Links:

Rachel True Website: https://truehearttarot.com

Mat Auryn Website: https://auryn.net

Modern Witch Podcast Network: https://modernwitch.com

Mat’s Omega Retreats: https://www.auryn.net/omega

True Heart Intuitive Tarot, Guidebook And Deck: https://a.co/d/9ZNyRu1

The Psychic Art of Tarot: Opening Your Inner Eye for More Insightful Readings: https://a.co/d/dUBT1bZ

Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation: https://a.co/d/bHelDwU

Mastering Magick: A Course in Spellcasting for the Psychic Witch: https://amzn.to/3VesGal

Pisces Witch: Unlock the Magic of Your Sun Sign: https://a.co/d/cGqcG61

In this stirring episode of THE CIRCLE IS podCAST, Rachel True and Mat Auryn are joined by Benjamin Stimson, award-winning writer, researcher, counselor, and author of Ancestral Whispers. Known for his work bridging folk magick, medieval history, and modern spiritual practice, Stimson brings a sharp, grounded presence to a conversation that flows between past, present, and future. Together they explore the cyclical nature of history, the psychology of mass movements, the evolution of religious extremism, and the deep work of ancestral healing. Drawing from his expertise in psychotherapy and folklore, Stimson offers a clear-eyed look at how spiritual traditions carry both harm and resilience through the generations, and how we can consciously choose to be better ancestors ourselves. The discussion moves through the tangled roots of cultural scapegoating, the subtle power of collective memory, and the urgent need to reclaim hope as a radical, magickal act. They speak to the dangers of learned helplessness, the seduction of authoritarian savior figures, and the spiritual fatigue many feel today. Moving into practical guidance, Stimson shares simple yet powerful ways to connect with ancestors, protect one’s energy, and reawaken the deeper stories of strength and survival that live within us. Whether you’re working magick, studying history, tending ancestral altars, or simply trying to stay awake in difficult times, this episode offers wisdom, perspective, and a call back to the long, living chain we are part of and still shaping.

Benjamin’s Links:

Benjamin’s Website: www.benstimpson.com
Benjamin’s Facebook: www.facebook.com/BenStimpsonAuthor
Benjamin’s Instagram: www.instagram.com/@BenStimpsonAuthor
Benjamin’s youtube: www.youtube.com/@BenStimpsonAuthor

Our Links:

Rachel True Website: https://truehearttarot.com

Mat Auryn Website: https://auryn.net

Modern Witch Podcast Network: https://modernwitch.com

Mat’s Omega Retreats: https://www.auryn.net/omega

True Heart Intuitive Tarot, Guidebook And Deck: https://a.co/d/9ZNyRu1

The Psychic Art of Tarot: Opening Your Inner Eye for More Insightful Readings: https://a.co/d/dUBT1bZ

Psychic Witch: A Metaphysical Guide to Meditation, Magick & Manifestation: https://a.co/d/bHelDwU

Mastering Magick: A Course in Spellcasting for the Psychic Witch: https://amzn.to/3VesGal

Pisces Witch: Unlock the Magic of Your Sun Sign: https://a.co/d/cGqcG61