The Pagan Portal Podcast

Beltane is often described as a fire festival, a fertility festival, or a date on the calendar, but it is much more than that. In this special Beltane episode of The Pagan Portal Podcast, host Rachel Patterson speaks with Jessica Howard, Lucya Starza, and Katie Ness to discuss what Beltane really feels like in practice. They cover everything from Jack in the Green processions and Victorian folk customs to the awakening of creativity, working with the land as it is, and allowing the Wheel of the Year to turn naturally instead of following fixed dates. This conversation focuses on experiencing Beltane rather than just following a set of rules.The discussion highlights anticipation over arrival, why Beltane can feel like a personal new year, how modern Paganism carries ancient energies into new forms, and why celebrating life, creativity, and connection is essential to the season. It’s thoughtful, grounded, and based on real practices rather than a quest for perfection.Whether you celebrate Beltane through ritual, art, offerings, community events, or simply by noticing the changes in the land around you, this episode invites you to slow down and connect with the season in your own way.Topics covered include:- What Beltane means on a personal level- Jack in the Green and the value of modern traditions- Beltane as anticipation, momentum, and celebration- Creativity, art, and the return of colour and energy- Allowing the Wheel of the Year to turn naturally- Working with local land, plants, and offerings- Modern Paganism as a living traditionIf you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share it with someone who is also walking the Wheel with you.

In this episode of The Pagan Portal Podcast, Rachel Patterson is joined by Swailes from The Bell Witch Podcast for a candid conversation about discovering effective magic and releasing what doesn’t work.They discuss their first experiences with sigil magic, including the meaningful act of baking and eating a sigil as a ritual for self-worth and growth. The talk then shifts to the impact of words, the importance of speaking kindly to yourself as an act of magic, and how we often slip into patterns of self-criticism without noticing.Swailes describes their personal method for creating sigils, which is a slow, meditative practice that takes hours, followed by daily work and charging. They also talk about simplifying your craft, moving away from spiritual consumerism, and trusting your instincts rather than sticking to rigid guidelines.There’s a reflection on using inherited tools, the practice of using a single crystal for Reiki, and the magic found in objects that carry history. The episode wraps up with a discussion about witchcraft as a journey home, one that reshapes boundaries, self-worth, and how you navigate the world.Topics covered include:- Sigil magic and embodied ritual- The power of words and intention- Simplifying witchcraft practice- Reiki, crystals, and ancestral tools- Witchcraft as a path of personal change

In this episode, Rachel Patterson is joined by author and practitioner Maevius Lynn to open the gateway into the world of Thelema; its roots, rituals, and relevance today.From personal experiences with the concept of True Will, to the diverse ways Thelemites relate to Aleister Crowley himself, this conversation peels back the layers of a philosophy that’s often misunderstood and rarely explored in depth.They talk about sacred celebrations like the spring equinox (Thelema’s New Year), and reflect on the feasts, mysteries, and canon that shape Thelemic life. Maevius shares not only the historical threads but also the living spirit of the tradition, one that welcomes exploration, honours individual divinity, and invites seekers to define the path for themselves.Whether you're seasoned in magick or just occult-curious, this episode holds something potent for anyone chasing their inner flame.

What does it mean when a voice becomes a spell and silence becomes a rebuke?In this rich, resonant episode of The Pagan Portal Podcast, host Rachel Patterson sits down with Irish poet, folklorist, and witch Geraldine Moorkens Byrne to explore the deep, often overlooked magic of sound, silence, and language.From the everyday enchantments of our ancestors to the lyrical rhythm of Hiberno-English, Geraldine shares how Irish culture weaves song, spoken word, and even nonsense syllables into powerful tools of survival, healing, and spellwork. We talk about Draíocht Ceoil, not as a polished performance, but as a raw, emotional act of voice and intent. We talk about how Irish folk magic wasn’t a side-practice, it was a lived reality. And we challenge the idea that language should be gatekept from those whose histories were robbed of it.This is an episode for anyone who’s ever been moved by a chant, comforted by a croon, or struck by the sacred power of silence.Topics include:- Folk magic as resistance and resilience- The musicality of the Irish language- The politics of language loss and reclamation- The power of voice, vibration, and intention- Chants from the butter churn to the sacred circleWhether you’re a witch, a folklorist, a linguist, or simply someone who feels the magick in words, this conversation will resonate.

In this deeply honest episode of The Pagan Portal Podcast, host Rachel Patterson speaks with Morgan Moss (Inked Goddess Creations, Busy, Gritty, Inked, & Witchy Podcast) about modern witchcraft, tattoos, Avalon, and personal transformation.

From the freedom and power of being a witch to the soul-healing stories behind tattoos, they explore the lived experiences that have shaped their practices. Morgan shares with us her powerful dream encounter with Rhiannon, dives into the divine feminine and opens up about her difficulties growing up Christian. They also discuss the importance of imperfection and why it's okay for spiritual teachers to get it wrong sometimes and to embrace the vulnerability of that.

Topics covered:
- What witchcraft really means
- Listening to signs from the universe in everyday moments
- Tattoos as healing, ritual and magical healing
- Morgan's dream calling from Rhiannon and her Avalon pathway
- Embracing the Goddess and leaving patriarchal religion behind
- The truth about burnout and mistakes

Whether you're deep in your pagan path or just a bit witch-curious, this episode is perfect for you! You can find Morgan's website here: https://www.inkedgoddesscreations.com/