Spirit Box

• S2 #87 / Emmet Louis on the Outer Court

  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

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• S2 #86 / Gary Lachman, Touched by The Presence

  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

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• S2 #85 / Solomon Pakal on Mayan Astrology

  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

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• S2 #84 / Lee Morgan on The Rag and Bone Man

  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

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• S2 #83 / Coby Michael on the Poison Path

  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

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