S2 #90 / Kate Ray on Hauntings, Fairies and the Wollaton Gnomes

In this episode, I sit down with paranormal investigator, researcher, and author Kate Ray for a conversation that wanders through fear, folklore, and the many strange beings that linger just outside our line of sight.Kate begins by telling me how she stumbled into paranormal investigation almost against her will — starting with a night at St Breville’s Castle that absolutely terrified her, but ultimately broke the lifelong fear of ghosts that had held her back. That moment pushed her into Barry Guy’s events team, and set her on the path to becoming the investigator she is now. As we talked, she traced how her understanding of the supernatural shifted over the years, shaped by experiences in both her childhood home and a deeply haunted house she lived in throughout the late 90s.We found ourselves comparing notes on haunted properties. Kate spoke about the oppressive atmosphere, strange smells, and constant noises she lived with for years, and I shared some of my own memories and we reflected on how that atmosphere can feel suffocating until, eventually, fear gives way to curiosity.Then the conversation took a fascinating turn. Kate outlined her theory that many poltergeist cases may actually be fairy activity rather than the spirits of the dead. She talked about the electrical nature of fairies, the mischievous, non-human logic that underpins coin drops and strange object movements, and how these behaviours align with centuries of folklore. She’s noticed more people reporting this kind of activity, and attributes that partly to her efforts to reintroduce fairy lore to the paranormal community.Kate recounted a chilling case she investigated — a family plagued by rippling walls, frantic footsteps, and coins dropping out of nowhere. She had gone there just to interview them, but ended up witnessing things that are astonishing. Kate shared more of her personal cases, including working as a psychic artist on Help My House Is Haunted. She described remote impressions of a grumpy spirit and dark masses, the moment something grabbed her coat on location, and the uncanny realisation that her sketch matched a photograph of a former homeowner.We finished with the story of her book on the Wollaton Gnomes, the 1979 incident where children encountered hovering gnomes in cars in a deer park. The idea arrived while she was writing for Dr. Simon Young, and the book practically wrote itself within seven days, through what she describes as automatic writing. This episode is a weave of hauntings, folklore, high strangeness, and the strange intelligences that share the world with us — and Kate’s insights remind me again and again just how thin the veil really is.Show notes:Kate's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kateharegirl/?hl=en-gbFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/HareGirlparanormal/Hare in the Hawthorn Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kateharegirlrayWoolly Snotts: The Curious Case of the Wollaton Gnomes: https://amzn.eu/d/3TUzJ5fSupport the show:https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode, Finnish folklorist, artist, and pagan practitioner Niina Niskanen joins us to explore the ancient waters of Finnish mythology and the animistic worldview that shaped her homeland. We dive deep into her upcoming book Soul of Vellamo Journey with the Finnish Gods of the Sea—a work that traces the evolution of Finland’s sea deities from their Neolithic, shamanic roots to the later poetic, song-based traditions that survive today.Niina guides us through the three-layered Finnish cosmos, where sea goddesses like Vellamo and the thunder god Ukko still ripple through the culture, and where every element—fire, earth, air, and water—holds its own väki, a sacred animating force. We talk offerings, sauna rites, hair magic, and the rituals woven into daily life by fishermens, hunters, and healers who lived in relationship with the spirits around them.From underwater kingdoms and cows of the sea, to the boundary-walking goddesses of healing and travel, Niina offers a rare glimpse into the living heart of Suomenusko, Finnish pre-Christian belief. She shares personal experiences with deities like Vellamo, Loviatar, and Mielikki, and reflects on how modern environmental spirituality echoes these ancient traditions.We also explore the deep cultural importance of the sauna as a liminal, ritual space—birthplace, death house, and magical threshold—and uncover surprising resonances between Finnish folklore and Irish, Baltic, Slavic, and Scandinavian traditions.Show notes:https://fairychamber.org/en-eurhttps://www.instagram.com/fairychamberart/Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode, I sit down with Aidan Wachter and Tommie Kelly for a long, searching conversation about the state of modern magic and how our practices—and our lives—are changing under cultural and personal pressures. We start with the sense that magic doesn’t always work the way it used to. Aidan shares his thoughts on why: the sheer difficulty of magical training, the problems with visualization-heavy systems, and how easily magic becomes another cog in the productivity machine. Together, we look at how these pressures strip practitioners of depth, patience, and wonder.From there, we challenge the “scout badge” approach that creeps into contemporary magic, where achievement replaces mystery. We talk about how capitalism, Catholic symbolism, and our own preferences quietly shape the language we use for spiritual experience, often without our noticing.Rest and downtime become a major thread in our discussion. After dealing with injuries myself, I’ve come to understand rest as a crucial—if neglected—aspect of spiritual work. Tommie and Aidan echo this, speaking about burnout, financial pressures, and the emotional cost of manifesting major life changes. We compare fast, results-oriented magic with slower, more traditional spiritual paths, and consider why the latter often produces more sustainable transformation.We then turn to the digital world and how constant stimulation affects our sense of wonder. Aidan reflects on practicing Chaos Magic in the 1980s with almost no external influence, and how that solitude fostered originality. In contrast, today’s nonstop feed of content makes deep practice and introspection much harder. That leads us into a conversation about authenticity, personal flaws, and how childhood—and identity—now unfold under the surveillance of social media.I share how aligning my life with seasonal rhythms has shifted my work and well-being, especially as I’ve moved toward agricultural patterns.In the Plus Show Aidan and Tommie talk about stepping back from the news cycle to protect mental health while still being ready to act when real crises arise. This naturally leads us into discussing global events, helplessness, empathy, and the balance between what concerns us and what we can actually influence.The conversation also takes on the broader societal picture: eroding trust in institutions, the fragility of rights, government overreach, and the unsettling realization that much of the order we rely on is more fragile than we’d like to believe. Aidan speaks to the need for public witness when legal and civic norms break down, and we look at the strange impotence of a world where everything is documented yet little changes.We return to animism as a lived practice. Aidan shares his approach to maintaining balance within a wider ecosystem of spirits, people, and land, rather than chasing specific outcomes. We also talk about our societies structural problems and the uncomfortable truth that sometimes things must fall apart before they can be remade.Show notes:https://www.patreon.com/cw/aidanwachterhttps://www.patreon.com/c/tommiekelly/postsKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode of Spirit Box, I sit down once again with Emmet to explore the work of William G. Gray, a complex figures in modern Western occultism. We dive into Gray’s writings and his book An Outlook on Our Inner Western Way, discussing how his ideas about spiritual attainment still hold power despite his very human flaws. Emmet speaks candidly about Gray’s complicated legacy and we talk about the challenge of engaging with material that’s both insightful and uncomfortable.Emmet shares how the idea of the “outer court” influenced his approach to teaching, and we explore the strange value of misleading or flawed material in spiritual traditions — how even the wrong turn can lead you somewhere meaningful.In the Plus Show, we go deeper. We talk about magic as a living practice — the role of vibes and intuition, and how real teaching often happens through non-verbal transmission rather than formal instruction. Emmet reflects on his own experiences with magical schools, the lessons learned from conflict, and how discernment becomes a crucial tool in finding the right teachers.We also discuss how personal and cultural symbols intertwine, how to interpret your own visionary language, and how sincerity cuts through the aesthetic traps that often surround esoteric work. The conversation winds through 19th-century occultism, folk magic, and the literary imagination of that era — all the ways the past continues to whisper through our practices today.It’s a rich and honest discussion about what it really means to walk the Western Way — with all its contradictions, revelations, and moments of magic in the mundane.Show notes:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2884410-outlook-on-our-inner-western-wayhttps://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/outlook-on-our-inner-western-way-william-g-gray/1012354701;jsessionid=A81241F159DB9A9D62A460E4E302382D.prodny_store01-atgap18Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode of Spirit Box, I’m joined by Gary Lachman — musician, writer, and author of twenty-six books on Western esotericism — for a conversation that spans from the Bowery to the astral.Gary was the bassist for Blondie during their early New York years, and shares his journey from a childhood fascination with comics to his time living in a loft with Debbie Harry and Chris Stein, where a flamboyant biker artist introduced him to Aleister Crowley. That encounter, and a fateful read of Colin Wilson’s The Occult, set him on a lifelong path through the hidden corridors of consciousness, mysticism, and philosophy.We talk about precognitive dreams and telepathy, the strange electrical accident that may have opened psychic doors, and how a shared dream with his girlfriend became the Blondie song “Touched by Your Presence.” Gary reflects on his shift from rock and roll to writing, his time as a science journalist, and his enduring fascination with thinkers like Gurdjieff, Robert Anton Wilson, and Arthur Koestler.The conversation also explores Gary’s “naturalist” approach to magic — a focus on direct experience rather than dogma — and his philosophy of daily writing as an esoteric practice in itself. Along the way, we touch on David Bowie, near-death encounters, and the lasting influence of Colin Wilson on his work.Show notes:https://www.gary-lachman.comhttps://www.instagram.com/gvlachman/https://www.innertraditions.com/touched-by-the-presenceKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode I’m joined by Meso-American occultist and historian Solomon Pakal for a wide-ranging exploration of Indigenous magic and its place in modern discourse. Drawing on his background in Indigenous American traditions, Solomon takes us deep into Mayan ceremonial magic, ancestral veneration, and the role of intermediary spirits, while challenging how Indigenous practices are too often romanticised, distorted, or appropriated in Western esotericism.We discuss the ten types of Maya spirituality beyond the academic five, the significance of corn in cosmology, and the role of daykeepers who maintain the sacred calendar and its thaumaturgic functions. Solomon explains the practice of Nagualism, the power of hieroglyphic language, and the Koyopa system of energy work distinct from the Vedic chakras.We also explore the vast and sophisticated ceremonial structures of Meso-america, their cosmological systems, and how narrative and “living stories” function as a kind of hypersigilmagic.In the Plus show, Solomon expands on these themes, delving deeper into narrative worship, geospatial magic, and the hidden sophistication of Mesoamerican energetic practices.The conversation takes unexpected turns, from the obsidian mirror of John Dee—possibly Aztec in origin—and its link to Enochian spirits, to the enigmatic “Ritual of the Angels” from the Books of Chilam Balam, with its unique vision of celestial ascent. Solomon connects Indigenous American practices to Western occult traditions, making the case for why these systems remain vital and relevant today.And in a surprising parallel, we turn to combat sports as a living theatre of magic—from Conor McGregor’s meteoric rise and fall to the uncanny similarities with Ilia Topuria’s ascent. We explore how both fighters embody narrative enchantment, peak performance, and the dangerous glamour of meteoric success. Solomon also shares his own training experiences and the role of ritual in the fight game, showing how magic finds expression in the octagon as much as in the temple.EnjoyShow notes:https://www.solomonpakal.com/https://substack.com/@solomonpakal?utm_source=about-pagehttps://www.facebook.com/SolomonPakal13/https://www.instagram.com/solomon.pakal/https://www.youtube.com/@SolomonPakalKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode of Spirit Box I’m joined by author and witch, Lee Morgan, to discuss his new title 'The Rag and Bone Man'. which is due out in November and is currently available for pre-order. Lee's work has been a big inspiration to me so it was a real pleasure to talk to him and we had a rich conversation that moved between witchcraft, storytelling, and the strange gothic landscapes of Tasmania.We talked about the genesis of The Rag and Bone Man, a project that began as a novel and grew into a fusion of fiction, research, and grimoire. Lee spoke about writing in trance-like states, about stories that come from spirits themselves, and about the way fiction can become the proper vessel for truths that can’t be held by fact.From there we wandered into the realm of Tasmanian Gothic—its haunted histories, its spirits, and its place in Lee’s search for a writer’s voice between England, Australia, and Tasmania.In the Plus show we explored spiritualism, witchcraft, and the strange physical manifestations of mediumship, alongside the recurring motifs that weave through Lee’s body of work.Our discussion also turned to the craft of writing: the patience it requires, the toll it can take, and the gift of treating creativity as a form of spiritual inheritance. Lee described how characters arrive as if alive, how stories can heal and transform, and how witchcraft itself deepens one’s experience of the world.Along the way we touched on Irish myth, storytelling traditions, the relationship between spirit and text, and the global reach of Lee’s magical writing.Show notes:The Rag and Bone Man https://www.crossedcrowbooks.com/shop...Lee's Patreon   / u19417687  Lee's website https://www.leemorganbooks.com/Lee on Instagram   / ensorsmasks  Sounds of Infinity https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sounds-Infin...Rag and Bone man historical reference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rag-and...Keep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode of Spirit Box I’m joined by plant magic practitioner Coby Michael, author of The Poison Path Grimoire. We explore the strange, intoxicating world of poisonous and psychoactive plants—their history, their spirits, and their place in witchcraft and dark herbalism.Coby shares how his work with these plants led him to classify them into Saturnian, Mercurial, and Venusian types, each carrying its own current of power: the baneful and chthonic, the entheogenic and mercurial, the seductive and Venusian. We talk about how these correspondences emerged through practice and research, and how he incorporates glyphs, runes, and ritual into his work.Our conversation also turns to the wild, generative forces of nature—trickster currents linked to Pan and Dionysius—that challenge order and offer paths of transformation. We look at the way these energies surface in borderlands, wilderness, and even in the chaos of cities.Coby speaks openly about his own healing journey and recovery from opioid addiction, and how plant spirits such as belladonna became unlikely allies in that process, echoing their forgotten role in medicine and ritual.It’s a rich and far-reaching discussion—one that moves between folklore, plant spirit communication, vampiric herbs, and the strange balance between poison and healing.Show notes:instagram.com/poisonersapothecaryfacebook.com/poisonersapothecarypatreon.com/poisonersapothecarythepoisonersapothecary.com Keep in touchhttps://www.patreon.com/cw/spiritbox

In todays episode, I sit down with medium Tracy St. Croi from Austin, Texas. Tracy shares her journey into mediumship, from her first encounters with spirits to her intensive training at the Arthur Findlay College in England. We talk about the challenges of embracing psychic gifts, the ethics of mediumship, and why boundaries are essential when dealing with the spirit world.Tracy also tells me about her hit TV series Haunted Road Trips Show—currently number one on Binge TV—which takes a fresh, educational approach to paranormal investigation. She recounts standout cases, including the Black Swan Inn in San Antonio, the Kyle Pioneer Cemetery, and even a haunted doll with a story of its own.In the Plus Show, Tracy and I go deeper into the soul’s journey, past lives, reincarnation, and the ethical responsibilities of psychic mediums. We also discuss how to find a trustworthy mentor, set boundaries with spirit, and what’s coming up in season two of Haunted Road Trips Show.Show notes:The Haunted Road trips show https://www.youtube.com/@HauntedRoadTripsShowTracy's website https://www.tracystcroimedium.comThe Arthur Findlay College https://www.arthurfindlaycollege.orgTracy's Patreon https://www.patreon.com/hauntedroadtripsshowInstagram https://www.instagram.com/tracyst.croimediumBinge TV https://trybinge.tv/programs/haunted-road-trips-showKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason

In this episode of Spirit Box, I am joined by Dr Andrew Manns to discuss his forthcoming book, Aradia’s Hidden Hand: The Untold Life of Roma Lister (Hexen Press, September release).The conversation explores Roma Lister’s overlooked role in Victorian spiritualism and the occult, from her collaborations with Charles Godfrey Leland—including her involvement in the famous Aradiamanuscript—to her contributions as a folklorist, occult writer, and mentor. Dr Manns traces her connections with Italian folk witchcraft and prominent figures such as Baroness Julia Rosencrantz, and her experimental blend of séances, folk magic, and Theosophy.Andrew also shares fresh insights into Leland’s influence on modern witchcraft, particularly how Aradia shaped Doreen Valiente’s Wiccan rituals, as well as his own discovery of newly uncovered correspondences between Leland and Lister.This is a show rich with the hidden histories of folklore, witchcraft, and Victorian spiritualism, shining new light on a woman whose legacy has long been obscured.Show notes:About the book https://www.hexen.fr/blog-hexen/livres/aradias-hidden-hand-the-untold-life-of-roma-listerThe Thinkers Garden https://thethinkersgarden.comRoma Lister https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roma_ListerCharles G. Leland https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Godfrey_LelandAradia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aradiaorthe_Gospel_of_the_WitchesDoreen Valiente https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doreen_ValienteKeep in touch?https://linktr.ee/darraghmason