The Skeptical Shaman Sat, 04 Jul 2026 08:00:01 -0400 https://theskepticalshaman.buzzsprout.com en-us © 2026 The Skeptical Shaman yes a43e0625-7e75-59c0-a7b1-63e557b94eb5 rachel@totemreadings.com Rachel White episodic false Rachel White is modern-day shaman and the owner of TOTEM Readings, a decades-old spiritual practice. In the Skeptical Shaman, we engage fascinating folks-- from psychics to healers to skeptics and cynics-- in a dialogue designed to help the spiritually homeless navigate the landscape of woo. Are you curious about spiritually but worry about falling into a cult? Do you want to learn more without falling into a con? The Skeptical Shaman is the place for you.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Rachel White rachel@totemreadings.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/bj1wievceakvye3aqz1upsa0ko3a?.jpg The Skeptical Shaman https://theskepticalshaman.buzzsprout.com Rachel White How to be Witch and Famous, with Cardsy B How to be Witch and Famous, with Cardsy B In this tenth episode of the 11th season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show and fellow podcaster Cardsy B, aka Rebecca Szymczak (of Hex and the City Podcast). Not only is Rebecca a resident wellness witch in residence at a posh Manhattan hotel, but she's also a tarot deck creator, the author of the Saturn Diaries, and the creator of the INCREDIBLE new fragrance "Witch and Famous", which is made with organic, ethically-harvested herbs and flowers by a fellow female-owned business owner right here in the U.S.!

This episode is equal parts bonus gift, season finale and interim season intro, so give it a listen on your July 4th weekend (and beyond) and take in the energy!

Rachel's LINKS:

  • TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • Buy The Business of Woo book HERE: https://a.co/d/0g7EFJmM
  • TOTEM + PUCK HCKY Merch Drop: https://puckhcky.com/collections/totem
  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
  • TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Cardy's LINKS:


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this tenth episode of the 11th season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show and fellow podcaster Cardsy B, aka Rebecca Szymczak (of Hex and the City Podcast). Not only is Rebecca a resident wellness witch in residence at a posh Manhattan hotel, but she's also a tarot deck creator, the author of the Saturn Diaries, and the creator of the INCREDIBLE new fragrance "Witch and Famous", which is made with organic, ethically-harvested herbs and flowers by a fellow female-owned business owner right here in the U.S.!

This episode is equal parts bonus gift, season finale and interim season intro, so give it a listen on your July 4th weekend (and beyond) and take in the energy!

Rachel's LINKS:

  • TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • Buy The Business of Woo book HERE: https://a.co/d/0g7EFJmM
  • TOTEM + PUCK HCKY Merch Drop: https://puckhcky.com/collections/totem
  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
  • TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Cardy's LINKS:


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-19225187 Sat, 04 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0500 3207 full false The Magic of Becoming Your Psychic Self, with Teresa Johnson The Magic of Becoming Your Psychic Self, with Teresa Johnson In this ninth episode of the 11th season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client, friend, and newly-anointed psychic channel Teresa Johnson all about the strange, strange journey from being a "normal person" to becoming your true psychic self.

Teresa opens up the kimono on the good, the bad, and the cringe of what it's really like to transition from being a nurse practitioner, psychic, business owner and even corporate subject matter expert to "owning" her psychic gifts out loud and proud with the people in her life. 

Teresa is a perfect example of a Woo-based practitioner in the midst of a major transformation, and her story edifies the messy middle for those seekers (and psychics) looking for a way shower on exactly when, how and why to embrace the Woo as their life path!


Rachel's LINKS:

  • TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • Buy The Business of Woo book HERE: https://a.co/d/0g7EFJmM
  • TOTEM + PUCK HCKY Merch Drop: https://puckhcky.com/collections/totem
  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
  • TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this ninth episode of the 11th season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client, friend, and newly-anointed psychic channel Teresa Johnson all about the strange, strange journey from being a "normal person" to becoming your true psychic self.

Teresa opens up the kimono on the good, the bad, and the cringe of what it's really like to transition from being a nurse practitioner, psychic, business owner and even corporate subject matter expert to "owning" her psychic gifts out loud and proud with the people in her life. 

Teresa is a perfect example of a Woo-based practitioner in the midst of a major transformation, and her story edifies the messy middle for those seekers (and psychics) looking for a way shower on exactly when, how and why to embrace the Woo as their life path!


Rachel's LINKS:

  • TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • Buy The Business of Woo book HERE: https://a.co/d/0g7EFJmM
  • TOTEM + PUCK HCKY Merch Drop: https://puckhcky.com/collections/totem
  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
  • TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-19214032 Sat, 27 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0500 3952 11 9 full false The Beginner's Guide to Planetary Magic, with Sam "The SkyGuy" The Beginner's Guide to Planetary Magic, with Sam "The SkyGuy" In this eighth episode of the 11th season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show and astrologer extraordinaire Sam "The SkyGuy" all about planetary magic: how to do it, when to do it, and how to customize it to your unique natal chart- and annual astrological transits!

Sam provides listeners a crash course in the background and fundamentals of chaos magic, ritual magic, and the specifics of how (and where) planetary magic fits into the big magic picture. Sam also digs into what big planets are making big moves this year, and how to harness their energies to amplify what's working-- and mitigate what's more challenging.


Rachel's LINKS:

TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Buy The Business of Woo book HERE: https://a.co/d/0g7EFJmM
TOTEM + PUCK HCKY Merch Drop: https://puckhcky.com/collections/totem
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Our guests' links:
Sam's Substack: https://skyguyreadings.substack.com/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this eighth episode of the 11th season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show and astrologer extraordinaire Sam "The SkyGuy" all about planetary magic: how to do it, when to do it, and how to customize it to your unique natal chart- and annual astrological transits!

Sam provides listeners a crash course in the background and fundamentals of chaos magic, ritual magic, and the specifics of how (and where) planetary magic fits into the big magic picture. Sam also digs into what big planets are making big moves this year, and how to harness their energies to amplify what's working-- and mitigate what's more challenging.


Rachel's LINKS:

TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Buy The Business of Woo book HERE: https://a.co/d/0g7EFJmM
TOTEM + PUCK HCKY Merch Drop: https://puckhcky.com/collections/totem
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Our guests' links:
Sam's Substack: https://skyguyreadings.substack.com/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-19213077 Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0500 4816 11 8 full false Navigating Spiritual Nuance in an Ideological Jungle, with Natalie Fehlner Navigating Spiritual Nuance in an Ideological Jungle, with Natalie Fehlner In this seventh episode of the 11th season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show and Skeptical Shaman podcast editor Natalie Fehlner (of Sidhe) all about Natalie's strange, strange journey into weird world of online dialogue-- and what it revealed about the spiritual reality underpinning surface-level ideology.

Natalie experienced a pronounced spiritual trauma when accidentally encountering the hyper-violent images of Charlie Kirk's death online. While not a right wing Christian nationalist herself (I mean, Natalie is a fairy-channeling astrologer, poet and theater teacher, among other things!), she was gobsmacked by the reaction of "her team": the supposedly compassionate, open-minded, and ideologically consistent, spiritually-aware group to which she and many other Woo-based practitioners generally belong.

Shocked by the cognitive dissonance of it all, Natalie did the unthinkable: she entered into the online colosseum to battle it out with anonymous faces (and voices) on the inter web. What she learned from this experience has not only served as a major spiritual and societal awakening for her, but also served as her inspiration to get educated and certified in cult awareness, ultimately setting out into the world to help deprogram her fellow humans that are ready to leave their distorted, ideological prison and enter the real world.

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Our guests' links:

  • Natalie's Substack: https://nataliesidhe.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search
  • Natalie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/nataliesidhe/
  • Natalie's Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NatalieSidhe

 
Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this seventh episode of the 11th season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show and Skeptical Shaman podcast editor Natalie Fehlner (of Sidhe) all about Natalie's strange, strange journey into weird world of online dialogue-- and what it revealed about the spiritual reality underpinning surface-level ideology.

Natalie experienced a pronounced spiritual trauma when accidentally encountering the hyper-violent images of Charlie Kirk's death online. While not a right wing Christian nationalist herself (I mean, Natalie is a fairy-channeling astrologer, poet and theater teacher, among other things!), she was gobsmacked by the reaction of "her team": the supposedly compassionate, open-minded, and ideologically consistent, spiritually-aware group to which she and many other Woo-based practitioners generally belong.

Shocked by the cognitive dissonance of it all, Natalie did the unthinkable: she entered into the online colosseum to battle it out with anonymous faces (and voices) on the inter web. What she learned from this experience has not only served as a major spiritual and societal awakening for her, but also served as her inspiration to get educated and certified in cult awareness, ultimately setting out into the world to help deprogram her fellow humans that are ready to leave their distorted, ideological prison and enter the real world.

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Our guests' links:

  • Natalie's Substack: https://nataliesidhe.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search
  • Natalie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/nataliesidhe/
  • Natalie's Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NatalieSidhe

 
Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-19199999 Sat, 13 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0500 4111 11 7 full false Synchronicity and Serendipity, with Review Raffle Winner Alyson Ogimachi Synchronicity and Serendipity, with Review Raffle Winner Alyson Ogimachi In this sixth episode of the 11th season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Review Raffle winner and *as luck would have it* experienced animal healer and communicator Alyson Ogimachi (of Phoenix Healing) all about her journey from being an animal groomer and "normal person" to talented animal psychic and healer.

Alyson has spent years in real deal, bonafide animal communication and healing training programs, and just recently launched her own Woo-based business: Phoenix Healing! 

Alyson shares her rigorous training background, and chats about the very, very crucial need for ethics, boundaries, and standard operating procedures when working in the Woo- especially for fuzzy and feathered clients that can't speak up for themselves!

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Our guests' links:

 
Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this sixth episode of the 11th season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Review Raffle winner and *as luck would have it* experienced animal healer and communicator Alyson Ogimachi (of Phoenix Healing) all about her journey from being an animal groomer and "normal person" to talented animal psychic and healer.

Alyson has spent years in real deal, bonafide animal communication and healing training programs, and just recently launched her own Woo-based business: Phoenix Healing! 

Alyson shares her rigorous training background, and chats about the very, very crucial need for ethics, boundaries, and standard operating procedures when working in the Woo- especially for fuzzy and feathered clients that can't speak up for themselves!

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Our guests' links:

 
Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-19179256 Sat, 06 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0500 3888 11 6 full false Green Acres Is The Place To Be, with Caitlin Gonzales Green Acres Is The Place To Be, with Caitlin Gonzales In this fifth episode of the 11th season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Caitlin Gonzales, newly spiritually awakened friend of the fae and rural Louisiana homesteader who knows all about the shift from urban conformity to the feral borderlands-- both of the Woo and of Mother Nature!

Like many of us in the time since Covid disrupted, well, everything, Caitlin has dramatically changed literally every aspect of her life, leaving a "normal" job to learn to homestead and embracing all things spiritual in the process, challenging her own, previous norms and assumptions while exploring agorism, witchcraft, the fairy realms, and more.

Caitlin allowed for her spiritual awakening to expand out in orders of magnitude, and her story gives hope to all of us wishing, seeking and hoping for a better day-- and a better, more Woo world!

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Our guests' links:

 
Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this fifth episode of the 11th season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Caitlin Gonzales, newly spiritually awakened friend of the fae and rural Louisiana homesteader who knows all about the shift from urban conformity to the feral borderlands-- both of the Woo and of Mother Nature!

Like many of us in the time since Covid disrupted, well, everything, Caitlin has dramatically changed literally every aspect of her life, leaving a "normal" job to learn to homestead and embracing all things spiritual in the process, challenging her own, previous norms and assumptions while exploring agorism, witchcraft, the fairy realms, and more.

Caitlin allowed for her spiritual awakening to expand out in orders of magnitude, and her story gives hope to all of us wishing, seeking and hoping for a better day-- and a better, more Woo world!

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Our guests' links:

 
Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-19168297 Sat, 30 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500 5344 11 5 full false The Rocky Road to Spiritual Awakening, with Emily P. The Rocky Road to Spiritual Awakening, with Emily P. In this fourth episode of Season 11 of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with long-time client (and fellow Chicagoan) Emily P. (of House of Lir), a lifelong psychic finally making the leap into the wild unknown of client-facing readings with her new, Woo-based business House of Lir.

Emily has always been psychic, but it took a real deal (and very destabilizing) spiritual awakening to put everything into focus, making her natural physical mediumship, divination, and channeling capabilities an undeniable (and very weird) reality.

This episode has it all: nonconsensual demon sex attacks, speaking on behalf of ghosts in crystal shops, and what it's really like to step into the weird world of doing psychic readings for others!

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Our guests' links:

  • Website: HouseOfLir.net 
  • Email: emily@houseoflir.net
  • Tik Tok: @daughteroflir 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this fourth episode of Season 11 of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with long-time client (and fellow Chicagoan) Emily P. (of House of Lir), a lifelong psychic finally making the leap into the wild unknown of client-facing readings with her new, Woo-based business House of Lir.

Emily has always been psychic, but it took a real deal (and very destabilizing) spiritual awakening to put everything into focus, making her natural physical mediumship, divination, and channeling capabilities an undeniable (and very weird) reality.

This episode has it all: nonconsensual demon sex attacks, speaking on behalf of ghosts in crystal shops, and what it's really like to step into the weird world of doing psychic readings for others!

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Our guests' links:

  • Website: HouseOfLir.net 
  • Email: emily@houseoflir.net
  • Tik Tok: @daughteroflir 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-19148432 Sat, 23 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500 4166 11 4 full false Is AI the Devil?, with Jesse James and Jennifer Hotes Is AI the Devil?, with Jesse James and Jennifer Hotes In this third episode of Season 11 of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Jesse James Freeman and Jennifer Hotes of the Is AI The Devil? and the Curious Cat Podcasts all about the spiritual implications of our brave new techno-feudalist world. 

Was Rudolf Steiner right about Ahriman? Are there really ghosts (and demons) in the machine? How can we reclaim our sovereignty, human dignity, AND spiritual independence in a time such as this?

Jesse and Jen offer their insights, gleaned from both the Woo and secular research, all while giving us some much needed (and realistic) hope for the future!

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Our guests' links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this third episode of Season 11 of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Jesse James Freeman and Jennifer Hotes of the Is AI The Devil? and the Curious Cat Podcasts all about the spiritual implications of our brave new techno-feudalist world. 

Was Rudolf Steiner right about Ahriman? Are there really ghosts (and demons) in the machine? How can we reclaim our sovereignty, human dignity, AND spiritual independence in a time such as this?

Jesse and Jen offer their insights, gleaned from both the Woo and secular research, all while giving us some much needed (and realistic) hope for the future!

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Our guests' links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-19132817 Sat, 16 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500 4978 11 3 full false Time to Tell Your Story, with Renee Puvvada Time to Tell Your Story, with Renee Puvvada In this second episode of Season 11 of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Renee Puvvada (of Smoking Hot Books) about the writerly window of opportunity being presented by the unique and dynamic Fire Horse Year: a year that welcomes, supports and celebrates unique voices, authentic storytelling and independent publishing.

Renee Puvvada failed at four books, lost $20k, and then sold 10,283 copies in a single year with 183 Instagram followers. Now, as founder of Smokin' Hot Books, she helps soul-led entrepreneurs turn their self-published books into authority-building, business-growing assets, all while you keep full rights and royalties. Jack Canfield noticed. Your future clients will too.

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Renee's Links:

  • Book a call with Renee here: https://smokin-hotbooks.com/get-in-touch
  • Connect on Substack: https://smokinhotbooks.substack.com/
  • On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reneepuvvada/?hl=en
  • On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-puvvada/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this second episode of Season 11 of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Renee Puvvada (of Smoking Hot Books) about the writerly window of opportunity being presented by the unique and dynamic Fire Horse Year: a year that welcomes, supports and celebrates unique voices, authentic storytelling and independent publishing.

Renee Puvvada failed at four books, lost $20k, and then sold 10,283 copies in a single year with 183 Instagram followers. Now, as founder of Smokin' Hot Books, she helps soul-led entrepreneurs turn their self-published books into authority-building, business-growing assets, all while you keep full rights and royalties. Jack Canfield noticed. Your future clients will too.

Rachel's LINKS:

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Renee's Links:

  • Book a call with Renee here: https://smokin-hotbooks.com/get-in-touch
  • Connect on Substack: https://smokinhotbooks.substack.com/
  • On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reneepuvvada/?hl=en
  • On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renee-puvvada/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-19114303 Sat, 09 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500 4136 11 2 full false It's all in the Stars, with Gabrielle Celeste It's all in the Stars, with Gabrielle Celeste In this inaugural episode of Season 11 of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Gabrielle Celeste (of Agua Astrology), combining their superpowers to form some kind of Chinese and Western Astrology Megazord, offering listeners insights into what to expect in the dynamic Fire Horse Year (2026)...and beyond!

Rachel and Gabrielle discuss the incredible spiritual awakening that cascaded over the land as a result of the global pandemic, digging into how this trend is evolving in real time in a post-pandemic landscape-- and how listeners can best navigate these novel energies and the Business of Woo (with their own discernment).

Gabrielle Celeste is an Intuitive Astrologist who has conducted over 750 channeled astrology readings. She is the co-host of internationally recognized podcast, The Spiritual Sisters Podcast, and owner of Agua Astrology.

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Gabrielle's Links:

  • Website: www.aguaastrology.com
  • Courses: https://aguaastrology.teachable.com/p/home-aguaastrology-teachable-com
  • Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/aguaastrology/
  • 2026 Year Ahead Workshop: https://aguaastrology.myflodesk.com/wth7dkypi6
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aguaastrology/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this inaugural episode of Season 11 of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Gabrielle Celeste (of Agua Astrology), combining their superpowers to form some kind of Chinese and Western Astrology Megazord, offering listeners insights into what to expect in the dynamic Fire Horse Year (2026)...and beyond!

Rachel and Gabrielle discuss the incredible spiritual awakening that cascaded over the land as a result of the global pandemic, digging into how this trend is evolving in real time in a post-pandemic landscape-- and how listeners can best navigate these novel energies and the Business of Woo (with their own discernment).

Gabrielle Celeste is an Intuitive Astrologist who has conducted over 750 channeled astrology readings. She is the co-host of internationally recognized podcast, The Spiritual Sisters Podcast, and owner of Agua Astrology.

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Gabrielle's Links:

  • Website: www.aguaastrology.com
  • Courses: https://aguaastrology.teachable.com/p/home-aguaastrology-teachable-com
  • Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/aguaastrology/
  • 2026 Year Ahead Workshop: https://aguaastrology.myflodesk.com/wth7dkypi6
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aguaastrology/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-19101089 Sat, 02 May 2026 07:00:00 -0500 4122 11 1 full false Let Them Eat Snake, with Craig Moyer Let Them Eat Snake, with Craig Moyer In this eighth episode in our dude-only season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Craig Moyer, freelance copywriter, advertising expert, novelist, and all around "creative" about our post-AI (and post-human) billionaire-led world-- and how best to navigate it!

Craig's recommendation? Tackle the bad guys (and evil forces) with a sharp sense of humor, like he did in his mock ad campaign for the recent World Economic Forum conference in Davos, titled: "Let them eat snake!", a hilarious riff on Marie Antoinette's famous line: "Let them eat cake!".

Craig, a consummate writer of text both short and long, takes listeners through how he's using his creative gifts to speak truth to real power-- and how to resist the dread of our modern world by engaging in the ultimate act of rebellion: creating art. 

Rachel and Craig also discuss Rachel's favorite city, New Orleans, which also happens to be Craig's home-- and even dig into where to eat, drink, and how best to enjoy this particular spiritual center.

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Craig's Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this eighth episode in our dude-only season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Craig Moyer, freelance copywriter, advertising expert, novelist, and all around "creative" about our post-AI (and post-human) billionaire-led world-- and how best to navigate it!

Craig's recommendation? Tackle the bad guys (and evil forces) with a sharp sense of humor, like he did in his mock ad campaign for the recent World Economic Forum conference in Davos, titled: "Let them eat snake!", a hilarious riff on Marie Antoinette's famous line: "Let them eat cake!".

Craig, a consummate writer of text both short and long, takes listeners through how he's using his creative gifts to speak truth to real power-- and how to resist the dread of our modern world by engaging in the ultimate act of rebellion: creating art. 

Rachel and Craig also discuss Rachel's favorite city, New Orleans, which also happens to be Craig's home-- and even dig into where to eat, drink, and how best to enjoy this particular spiritual center.

Rachel's LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Craig's Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-18851579 Sat, 28 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500 3847 10 8 full false Being the Black Dog, with Bobby Fierro Being the Black Dog, with Bobby Fierro In this seventh episode in our dude-only season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Bobby Fierro of Wild Raven Tarot: a "TarotTuber" of the highest order who livestreams and posts truly incredible, engaging and very, very real tarot content for the masses to enjoy!

Not only does Bobby bring the fun and joy of tarot to the masses with his 420 Tarot, Behind the Cards, and Fool's Journey YouTube series, but he also lives his personal spiritual practice in a real deal coven-- serving the coven as their resident "Black Dog": the resident "bouncer" and protector of the witches' coven, working to ensure peace and tranquility in the community.

Bobby is also a devotee of Hecate and Hermes, and shares insights into their impact as Spirit Guides in his life as a person AND a practitioner-- including a funny story about what happens when you try to multitask during your daily devotions on their altars;)

Bobby also shares some of the unique challenges and points of frustration with being in the Business of Woo, serving as powerful instruction for anyone considering taking the leap to become a full-time, client-facing tarot practitioner. Spoiler alert: people don't want to pay you-- and boundaries become a full-time work stream!

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Bobby's Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this seventh episode in our dude-only season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Bobby Fierro of Wild Raven Tarot: a "TarotTuber" of the highest order who livestreams and posts truly incredible, engaging and very, very real tarot content for the masses to enjoy!

Not only does Bobby bring the fun and joy of tarot to the masses with his 420 Tarot, Behind the Cards, and Fool's Journey YouTube series, but he also lives his personal spiritual practice in a real deal coven-- serving the coven as their resident "Black Dog": the resident "bouncer" and protector of the witches' coven, working to ensure peace and tranquility in the community.

Bobby is also a devotee of Hecate and Hermes, and shares insights into their impact as Spirit Guides in his life as a person AND a practitioner-- including a funny story about what happens when you try to multitask during your daily devotions on their altars;)

Bobby also shares some of the unique challenges and points of frustration with being in the Business of Woo, serving as powerful instruction for anyone considering taking the leap to become a full-time, client-facing tarot practitioner. Spoiler alert: people don't want to pay you-- and boundaries become a full-time work stream!

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Bobby's Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-18690545 Sat, 21 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500 4210 10 7 full false The Archeology of Consciousness, with Ryan Hurd The Archeology of Consciousness, with Ryan Hurd In this sixth episode in our dude-only season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Ryan Hurd: a dream educator, creator of the Dream Studies website (and work), and author of the incredible Archeology of Consciousness Substack!

Hilarious plot twist: Rachel and Ryan actually recorded a previous episode that seems to have entered a permanent, liminal state, with multiple "tracks" still "uploading"-- for the last two months-- to the online recording studio! And, while that may just sound like a standard tech glitch, odds are: it's something more!

Why? Well, because like the second conversation that all of you get to listen to and enjoy, the topic of discussion is all things liminal, transient, dreamlike, and ephemeral! The best part? Ryan doesn't even remember the first conversation, proof positive that our memory of our reality is, well, a bit fuzzy-- even to the most adept dream weaver!

This discussion dives into Ryan's research into sleep, lucid dreaming, dream talismans, and how we can use the other half of our life-- spent with eyes closed, laying in bed, traveling to other realms-- to enhance and improve our waking reality.

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Ryan's Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this sixth episode in our dude-only season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Ryan Hurd: a dream educator, creator of the Dream Studies website (and work), and author of the incredible Archeology of Consciousness Substack!

Hilarious plot twist: Rachel and Ryan actually recorded a previous episode that seems to have entered a permanent, liminal state, with multiple "tracks" still "uploading"-- for the last two months-- to the online recording studio! And, while that may just sound like a standard tech glitch, odds are: it's something more!

Why? Well, because like the second conversation that all of you get to listen to and enjoy, the topic of discussion is all things liminal, transient, dreamlike, and ephemeral! The best part? Ryan doesn't even remember the first conversation, proof positive that our memory of our reality is, well, a bit fuzzy-- even to the most adept dream weaver!

This discussion dives into Ryan's research into sleep, lucid dreaming, dream talismans, and how we can use the other half of our life-- spent with eyes closed, laying in bed, traveling to other realms-- to enhance and improve our waking reality.

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Ryan's Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-18688472 Sat, 14 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0500 3407 10 6 full false Conjuring a Career in Tarot, with James Jude Conjuring a Career in Tarot, with James Jude In this fifth episode of The Skeptical Shaman's tenth, all-dude season, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with James Jude of James Jude Tarot and the LA Festival of Tarot : a client-facing tarot reader, teacher of all things tarot, and PR expert who worked on the Conjuring and Annabelle movie franchises (of all things)!

Like Rachel, James started out as a non-believer in all things Woo, but slowly came around to the reality of the unseen world of spirit while working in PR for a series of major horror movies inspired by the real life events surrounding Ed and Lorraine Warren: the famous paranormal researchers at the center of the Annabelle, Amityville and the Enfield Poltergeist cases. James shares his on-set experiences, as well as conversations with skeptical observers, and how this evolved his perspective on all things Woo-- and supernatural.

But it's not all demons, dolls or poltergeists! Rather, James found that these experiences drew him to the very supportive and not-at-all-scary world of tarot-- and he's since become a bonafide subject matter expert in all of the historical and technical aspects of this divinatory tool. James is EVERYTHING that the world of tarot needs: a perpetual student, inspired by limitless curiosity, who takes his craft-- and your tarot reading-- very, very seriously. 

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

James' Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this fifth episode of The Skeptical Shaman's tenth, all-dude season, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with James Jude of James Jude Tarot and the LA Festival of Tarot : a client-facing tarot reader, teacher of all things tarot, and PR expert who worked on the Conjuring and Annabelle movie franchises (of all things)!

Like Rachel, James started out as a non-believer in all things Woo, but slowly came around to the reality of the unseen world of spirit while working in PR for a series of major horror movies inspired by the real life events surrounding Ed and Lorraine Warren: the famous paranormal researchers at the center of the Annabelle, Amityville and the Enfield Poltergeist cases. James shares his on-set experiences, as well as conversations with skeptical observers, and how this evolved his perspective on all things Woo-- and supernatural.

But it's not all demons, dolls or poltergeists! Rather, James found that these experiences drew him to the very supportive and not-at-all-scary world of tarot-- and he's since become a bonafide subject matter expert in all of the historical and technical aspects of this divinatory tool. James is EVERYTHING that the world of tarot needs: a perpetual student, inspired by limitless curiosity, who takes his craft-- and your tarot reading-- very, very seriously. 

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

James' Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-18687612 Sat, 07 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0600 5955 10 5 full false The Gift of the Fisher King, with Brian Maierhofer The Gift of the Fisher King, with Brian Maierhofer In this fourth episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Brian Maierhofer: a working therapist that explores myth, madness, meaning, and how our greatest wounds can become our greatest gifts with his incredible Liminal Means Substack. 

Rachel and Brian chat all about the myth of the Fisher King and his wound-- and how we, as a people, need to heal our collective wounds, too. But how can we heal? How can society start to right itself? Stop screaming at each other? Stop policing each others' words and thoughts or personal political or religious beliefs?

Well, as Brian shares, we can start by understanding the mechanism at the root of this wound: a very particular shift in brain activity that comes along with long-term adrenal fatigue and the anxiety-inducing psychological thought reform made possible by social media and corporate news. But Brian doesn't just identify the issue-- he also walks us all through how we can do a simple, sustainable AND TOTALLY FREE exercise to put our nervous systems-- and our brain-- back into the driver's seat. 

We can all actually transmute our wounds into our medicine-- and our superpowers. But, first, we have to take a look at them-- and actually f*cking do something to heal them ourselves.

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Brian's Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this fourth episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Brian Maierhofer: a working therapist that explores myth, madness, meaning, and how our greatest wounds can become our greatest gifts with his incredible Liminal Means Substack. 

Rachel and Brian chat all about the myth of the Fisher King and his wound-- and how we, as a people, need to heal our collective wounds, too. But how can we heal? How can society start to right itself? Stop screaming at each other? Stop policing each others' words and thoughts or personal political or religious beliefs?

Well, as Brian shares, we can start by understanding the mechanism at the root of this wound: a very particular shift in brain activity that comes along with long-term adrenal fatigue and the anxiety-inducing psychological thought reform made possible by social media and corporate news. But Brian doesn't just identify the issue-- he also walks us all through how we can do a simple, sustainable AND TOTALLY FREE exercise to put our nervous systems-- and our brain-- back into the driver's seat. 

We can all actually transmute our wounds into our medicine-- and our superpowers. But, first, we have to take a look at them-- and actually f*cking do something to heal them ourselves.

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Brian's Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-18282973 Sat, 28 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0600 3940 10 4 full false Floating in the Wu Wei, with Alexis Vale Floating in the Wu Wei, with Alexis Vale In this third episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with "Alexis Vale", aka Alan Furth-- the mind behind the incredible Hidden Frameworks Substack, sharing his own meandering explorations in the realm of synchronicity, serendipity, and the ancient concept of Wu Wei: the "invisible river" flow state that we can fall into such that it carries us along-- without us needing to force it!

In this episode, Rachel and Alexis discuss the long and strange journey that comes along with following the breadcrumbs out of a life in corporate captivity-- and just how magical and disorienting it can be to listen to your intuition instead of just your logical mind. Am I going through a spiritual awakening and following my soul's purpose, or am I going through a nervous breakdown and need to check myself in somewhere?

The difference between these two possibilities when you're "in the messy middle" is a lot more subtle, nuanced and fungible than you would think, so it takes a lot of courage and self-belief to keep on meandering out of the prescribed loop society set out for you and, instead, make your way to the feral borderlands of the Woo.

Alexis' story is so engaging because it's still unfolding-- and publicly, on his incredible Substack and via his alter ego, named Alexis!

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Alexis' Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this third episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with "Alexis Vale", aka Alan Furth-- the mind behind the incredible Hidden Frameworks Substack, sharing his own meandering explorations in the realm of synchronicity, serendipity, and the ancient concept of Wu Wei: the "invisible river" flow state that we can fall into such that it carries us along-- without us needing to force it!

In this episode, Rachel and Alexis discuss the long and strange journey that comes along with following the breadcrumbs out of a life in corporate captivity-- and just how magical and disorienting it can be to listen to your intuition instead of just your logical mind. Am I going through a spiritual awakening and following my soul's purpose, or am I going through a nervous breakdown and need to check myself in somewhere?

The difference between these two possibilities when you're "in the messy middle" is a lot more subtle, nuanced and fungible than you would think, so it takes a lot of courage and self-belief to keep on meandering out of the prescribed loop society set out for you and, instead, make your way to the feral borderlands of the Woo.

Alexis' story is so engaging because it's still unfolding-- and publicly, on his incredible Substack and via his alter ego, named Alexis!

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Alexis' Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-18422814 Sat, 21 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0600 4918 wu wei, synchronicity, Alan furth, Alexis vale, magic, intuition, scavenger hunt, corporate captivity, shamanism, spirituality, psychic, business of woo, skeptical, shaman, meditation, magic, supernatural 10 3 full false Heartsick For Real Art, with Alfonso Civile Heartsick For Real Art, with Alfonso Civile In this second episode of our dude-only Season 10 of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Alfonso Civile of Heartsick Band: an incredible heavy metal ensemble combining hardcore and metalcore-tinged ferocity with haunting melodies and stunning atmospherics.

Alfonso is not only a talented singer, musician, photographer, videographer and multimedia artist, but he generously donated his Zoolander-level Blue Steel modeling skills to our TOTEM + PUCK HCKY merch collaboration photoshoot, currently featured on PUCK's website. 

Rachel and Alfonso chat all things creativity and art in a time of commoditized slop. How can sincere artists, musicians and other creatives be seen and heard in a marketplace of enshittification? How can they get their fans to understand all of the invisible, unpaid work that being a creator requires? What can we all do to ensure that we still have quality culture, supporting artists in all the ways that matter the most?

​Alfonso embodies the incredible diversity in the dude-verse, showing up as an artist, creative and sensitive being in an unexpected world: heavy metal music.

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Alfonso's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this second episode of our dude-only Season 10 of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Alfonso Civile of Heartsick Band: an incredible heavy metal ensemble combining hardcore and metalcore-tinged ferocity with haunting melodies and stunning atmospherics.

Alfonso is not only a talented singer, musician, photographer, videographer and multimedia artist, but he generously donated his Zoolander-level Blue Steel modeling skills to our TOTEM + PUCK HCKY merch collaboration photoshoot, currently featured on PUCK's website. 

Rachel and Alfonso chat all things creativity and art in a time of commoditized slop. How can sincere artists, musicians and other creatives be seen and heard in a marketplace of enshittification? How can they get their fans to understand all of the invisible, unpaid work that being a creator requires? What can we all do to ensure that we still have quality culture, supporting artists in all the ways that matter the most?

​Alfonso embodies the incredible diversity in the dude-verse, showing up as an artist, creative and sensitive being in an unexpected world: heavy metal music.

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Alfonso's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-18573968 Sat, 14 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0600 2212 heartsick band, Alfonso Civile, heartsick, heavy metal, metal band, AI in music, AI in art, humankind, humanity, art, creativity, innovation, inspiration 10 2 full false The Barbarian Spirit, with Clay Martin The Barbarian Spirit, with Clay Martin In this long-awaited episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Clay Martin, Priest of the Path of the Barbarian Spirit and author of three incredible books including: Barbarian Spirit, Prairie Fire, and Wrath of the Wendigo. 

Clay has taken an unusual-- but very shamanic-- road to becoming a full-time Woo Woo practitioner. He had a long and illustrious military career in active duty, having served as an infantryman, Scout Sniper, and Reconnaissance Marine and, after transitioning to the Army, he joined the 19th Special Forces Group before returning to active duty with the 3rd Special Forces Group. 
​
In 2013, Clay was medically retired, and what followed was a difficult spiral into chaos. But, in 2022, Clay underwent transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for traumatic brain injury. Six months later, he had his first psilocybin experience. 

Clay now calls psilocybin "the Sacrament", and believe that true healing begins at the spiritual level. Since his use of the Sacrament, he has encountered Norse gods, channeled visions of the future, and dedicated himself to a life of healing service to other wounded warriors. He is also now an active, working priest in his pagan church, reconnecting military veterans to the old gods and the old ways. 

Clay upends everything The Business of Woo tells you a New Age practitioner looks, sounds, and acts like. This episode kicks off our dude-only season of the podcast for precisely this reason: men are often underrepresented and underserved by the Business of Woo, often feeling alienated and "uninvited" to this space. The result? We all suffer from the monopoly of enshittified sameness.

Clay, and others like him, are challenging this paradigm. And we here at TOTEM and The Skeptical Shaman podcast sure are happy about it.

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Clay's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this long-awaited episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Clay Martin, Priest of the Path of the Barbarian Spirit and author of three incredible books including: Barbarian Spirit, Prairie Fire, and Wrath of the Wendigo. 

Clay has taken an unusual-- but very shamanic-- road to becoming a full-time Woo Woo practitioner. He had a long and illustrious military career in active duty, having served as an infantryman, Scout Sniper, and Reconnaissance Marine and, after transitioning to the Army, he joined the 19th Special Forces Group before returning to active duty with the 3rd Special Forces Group. 
​
In 2013, Clay was medically retired, and what followed was a difficult spiral into chaos. But, in 2022, Clay underwent transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for traumatic brain injury. Six months later, he had his first psilocybin experience. 

Clay now calls psilocybin "the Sacrament", and believe that true healing begins at the spiritual level. Since his use of the Sacrament, he has encountered Norse gods, channeled visions of the future, and dedicated himself to a life of healing service to other wounded warriors. He is also now an active, working priest in his pagan church, reconnecting military veterans to the old gods and the old ways. 

Clay upends everything The Business of Woo tells you a New Age practitioner looks, sounds, and acts like. This episode kicks off our dude-only season of the podcast for precisely this reason: men are often underrepresented and underserved by the Business of Woo, often feeling alienated and "uninvited" to this space. The result? We all suffer from the monopoly of enshittified sameness.

Clay, and others like him, are challenging this paradigm. And we here at TOTEM and The Skeptical Shaman podcast sure are happy about it.

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Clay's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-18168841 Sat, 07 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0600 5587 clay Martin, barbarian spirit, wrath of the wendigo, prairie fire, special forces, plant medicine, paganism, norse mythology, odin, shamanic journeying, channeling, end times 10 1 full true The "Joys" of E-Commerce, with Amy Steffek The "Joys" of E-Commerce, with Amy Steffek In this special holiday shopping Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend and fellow e-commerce small business owner Amy Steffek (of Puck Hcky) all about the trials and tribulations of selling stuff online. 

In the Business of Woo, the pressure to produce and sell products online is fierce, coming along with phrases like "passive income" and "scale". And, while it's good to diversify and sell real, high-quality products online for any Woo-based or other small business owner, it's not the panacea that online influencers and spiritual grifters tell you it is. Just ask Amy! Sure, she may not be in the Business of Woo, but her small, online, cult following apparel business has taught her a lot about the difference between how things look from the outside-- and what the reality is on the inside.

Take, for instance, Amy's 7-figure year. Yes, her online business literally pierced a MILLION DOLLARS (said in Dr. Evil voice) one year, but that's just revenue, guys. What was her profit, you might be asking? $0. Yep, that's right. In one year, she made more money than ever before-- and wasn't able to pay herself a dime for it. And this is NOT unusual in the business world and, in particular, the Business of Woo. The key? Constant tweaks and adjustments in the face of shifting economic and industrial factors is crucial-- and never mistake revenue for margin.

What's more: turns out, our fellow humans aren't really doing great, and the mental health crisis affecting our nation is bubbling up for anyone interacting with the general public-- especially if those interactions are online. Anyone that runs an online business gets near-daily abuse and, in spite of all of our love and light tools, trust me when I tell you: it has an aggregate negative impact on anyone on the receiving end.

This episode is hitting just as we're all heading out into the interwebs to start holiday shopping for friends, family and loved ones, arming us with a heightened awareness of how best to interact with our fellow human beings. Business owners are people, too. And no, they're not always rich. Often, they're tired and just trying to make their cool thing work so others can enjoy it.

Proceed accordingly!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
  • TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Amy's Links:

  • https://puckhcky.com/
  • https://www.instagram.com/puckhcky/


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special holiday shopping Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend and fellow e-commerce small business owner Amy Steffek (of Puck Hcky) all about the trials and tribulations of selling stuff online. 

In the Business of Woo, the pressure to produce and sell products online is fierce, coming along with phrases like "passive income" and "scale". And, while it's good to diversify and sell real, high-quality products online for any Woo-based or other small business owner, it's not the panacea that online influencers and spiritual grifters tell you it is. Just ask Amy! Sure, she may not be in the Business of Woo, but her small, online, cult following apparel business has taught her a lot about the difference between how things look from the outside-- and what the reality is on the inside.

Take, for instance, Amy's 7-figure year. Yes, her online business literally pierced a MILLION DOLLARS (said in Dr. Evil voice) one year, but that's just revenue, guys. What was her profit, you might be asking? $0. Yep, that's right. In one year, she made more money than ever before-- and wasn't able to pay herself a dime for it. And this is NOT unusual in the business world and, in particular, the Business of Woo. The key? Constant tweaks and adjustments in the face of shifting economic and industrial factors is crucial-- and never mistake revenue for margin.

What's more: turns out, our fellow humans aren't really doing great, and the mental health crisis affecting our nation is bubbling up for anyone interacting with the general public-- especially if those interactions are online. Anyone that runs an online business gets near-daily abuse and, in spite of all of our love and light tools, trust me when I tell you: it has an aggregate negative impact on anyone on the receiving end.

This episode is hitting just as we're all heading out into the interwebs to start holiday shopping for friends, family and loved ones, arming us with a heightened awareness of how best to interact with our fellow human beings. Business owners are people, too. And no, they're not always rich. Often, they're tired and just trying to make their cool thing work so others can enjoy it.

Proceed accordingly!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
  • TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Amy's Links:

  • https://puckhcky.com/
  • https://www.instagram.com/puckhcky/


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17777265 Sat, 15 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0600 4419 full false The Myth of Community?, with Kristen Pavle The Myth of Community?, with Kristen Pavle In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend Kristen Pavle (of Relational and Ember) all about her work in creating and managing community, both online and in-person, for various businesses, nonprofits and community organizations.

The crux of this episode? 

How can we-- either in the Business of Woo, at our "normal" day jobs, or just in society in general-- identify, build and maintain community? Kristen breaks down the definition of community, why it matters for small businesses (and for us as human beings!), and how it's changed in the strange last five years. She also gets into the nitty gritty of what makes a community work or NOT work, and Rachel and Kristen dig into the nuances within the realm of "spiritual community" and its classic pitfalls: spiritual narcissists, grifters, unstable Cluster-B types, and those suffering from "Main Character Syndrome". 

In a post-Covid, work-from-home, gig economy world, creating community has never been harder-- but it's also never been more important! Thankfully, Kristen shares incredible insights, practical solutions, and the all-important dose of hope to get us going.

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Kristen's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend Kristen Pavle (of Relational and Ember) all about her work in creating and managing community, both online and in-person, for various businesses, nonprofits and community organizations.

The crux of this episode? 

How can we-- either in the Business of Woo, at our "normal" day jobs, or just in society in general-- identify, build and maintain community? Kristen breaks down the definition of community, why it matters for small businesses (and for us as human beings!), and how it's changed in the strange last five years. She also gets into the nitty gritty of what makes a community work or NOT work, and Rachel and Kristen dig into the nuances within the realm of "spiritual community" and its classic pitfalls: spiritual narcissists, grifters, unstable Cluster-B types, and those suffering from "Main Character Syndrome". 

In a post-Covid, work-from-home, gig economy world, creating community has never been harder-- but it's also never been more important! Thankfully, Kristen shares incredible insights, practical solutions, and the all-important dose of hope to get us going.

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Kristen's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17666735 Sat, 08 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0600 4523 9 10 full false Para-social Dynamics in the Business of Woo, with Theresa Reed Para-social Dynamics in the Business of Woo, with Theresa Reed In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show and world-famous Tarot Lady: Theresa Reed. Theresa is an award-winning author of MANY Woo-based books-- not to mention an illustrious content creator providing live weekly readings on Instagram. 

In this episode, Rachel and Theresa dive into the tricky para-social dynamics created by social media, podcasting, YouTubing and content creation as a whole, and how Woo-based business owners can (and should) maintain appropriate boundaries with clients, subscribers and listeners. Theresa does a great job explaining how enforcing these boundaries CAN come across as bitchy, rude or even a downstream effect of believing your own myth. But she also explains that we in the Business of Woo can't always manage the perceptions or reactions of others, so it's best to just stay focused and in our lanes-- and within our healthy, appropriate "container".

The summary? Modernity is bringing an increasing rate of change, particularly with regard to technology and its downstream effects-- particularly as it relates to near-constant, 24/7 access and stimulation. As psychics, energy workers and Woo-centric content creators, we need our downtime-- and our space and silence! 

So, don't feel bad about holding the line in the war of constant communication. You don't always have to respond right away-- and, sometimes, you don't have to respond at all! 

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Theresa's Links:


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show and world-famous Tarot Lady: Theresa Reed. Theresa is an award-winning author of MANY Woo-based books-- not to mention an illustrious content creator providing live weekly readings on Instagram. 

In this episode, Rachel and Theresa dive into the tricky para-social dynamics created by social media, podcasting, YouTubing and content creation as a whole, and how Woo-based business owners can (and should) maintain appropriate boundaries with clients, subscribers and listeners. Theresa does a great job explaining how enforcing these boundaries CAN come across as bitchy, rude or even a downstream effect of believing your own myth. But she also explains that we in the Business of Woo can't always manage the perceptions or reactions of others, so it's best to just stay focused and in our lanes-- and within our healthy, appropriate "container".

The summary? Modernity is bringing an increasing rate of change, particularly with regard to technology and its downstream effects-- particularly as it relates to near-constant, 24/7 access and stimulation. As psychics, energy workers and Woo-centric content creators, we need our downtime-- and our space and silence! 

So, don't feel bad about holding the line in the war of constant communication. You don't always have to respond right away-- and, sometimes, you don't have to respond at all! 

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Theresa's Links:


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17626356 Sat, 01 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4557 tarot lady, Theresa reed, Rachel White, totem readings, skeptical shaman, shamanism, divination, tarot, psychic, spirituality, witchcraft, herbalism, business of woo 9 9 full false Exploring the World of TarotTube, with Kasia Kulbowska Exploring the World of TarotTube, with Kasia Kulbowska In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the world-famous star of YouTube's Tarot Map channel: Kasia Kulbaska. Kasia, an astrologer and tarot card reader, has been on what she calls "TarotTube" for many years, sharing incredible deck reviews and facilitating fascinating discussions about the world-- and Business-- of Woo. 

Kasia and Rachel chat about the misconceptions and myths surrounding Woo-based YouTube, particularly with regard to monetizing video content. Spoiler alert: it's hard, and just because someone has tens of thousands of subscribers (or followers), it doesn't necessarily mean that's translating into a direct payment business model.

Kasia explains how she uses YouTube's platform to get the word out about her private practice, acting as a kind of evergreen (and authentic) marketing tool. Kasia and Rachel also chat about how great podcasting and YouTubing are for Woo-based practitioners, helping to introduce yourself to your potential client base while also offering up legitimate Woo-based insights-- not to mention your unique point of view!

And, unlike print or video advertising or social media marketing, YouTube videos and podcast episodes are forever-- and when someone finds out about you, they can go search and "binge" your content to really dig into your vibe (and unique slice of the Business of Woo). 

The key to it all? Well, there's a few.

First, you have to be completely obsessed and inspired with the "thing" you're exploring in this emergent media platforms. Why? Well, because the second requirement is consistency over a long period of time, which can only be achieved by someone that genuinely, actually loves the nerdy Woo of it all.

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Kasia's Links: 


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the world-famous star of YouTube's Tarot Map channel: Kasia Kulbaska. Kasia, an astrologer and tarot card reader, has been on what she calls "TarotTube" for many years, sharing incredible deck reviews and facilitating fascinating discussions about the world-- and Business-- of Woo. 

Kasia and Rachel chat about the misconceptions and myths surrounding Woo-based YouTube, particularly with regard to monetizing video content. Spoiler alert: it's hard, and just because someone has tens of thousands of subscribers (or followers), it doesn't necessarily mean that's translating into a direct payment business model.

Kasia explains how she uses YouTube's platform to get the word out about her private practice, acting as a kind of evergreen (and authentic) marketing tool. Kasia and Rachel also chat about how great podcasting and YouTubing are for Woo-based practitioners, helping to introduce yourself to your potential client base while also offering up legitimate Woo-based insights-- not to mention your unique point of view!

And, unlike print or video advertising or social media marketing, YouTube videos and podcast episodes are forever-- and when someone finds out about you, they can go search and "binge" your content to really dig into your vibe (and unique slice of the Business of Woo). 

The key to it all? Well, there's a few.

First, you have to be completely obsessed and inspired with the "thing" you're exploring in this emergent media platforms. Why? Well, because the second requirement is consistency over a long period of time, which can only be achieved by someone that genuinely, actually loves the nerdy Woo of it all.

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Kasia's Links: 


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17583235 Sat, 25 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4585 9 8 full false Red Flags and Green Flags in the Business of Woo, with Nicole Foos Red Flags and Green Flags in the Business of Woo, with Nicole Foos In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client, friend and consumer of the Woo Nicole Foos (of NVision by Nicole Foos). 

Not only is Nicole a talented crystal jewelry maker, artist and sculptor, but she's also an accomplished student and practitioner of the Woo herself, making her a VERY discerning customer. And that's exactly why she was pinged to join this Business of Woo-themed podcast series to offer up a unique line of sight into the client's perspective. 

What are Nicole's "green flags" vs. "red flags" when it comes to engaging with a psychic or practitioner? What trends has she noticed in the last few years, and which of these trends give her a solid case of the "ick"? What are some key metrics-- like reviews or age of business-- that skeptical but curious spiritual explorers keep an eye out for as they discern the best (and must trustworthy) practitioners with whom to work?

This episode has it all: what is up with those weird psychic "membership programs"? What is the real math behind those online directories? How old SHOULD you be before you declare yourself a "life coach"? 

Listeners will come away from this episode with a clear set of criteria to consider before committing to someone in the Business of Woo!

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Nicole's LINKS:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client, friend and consumer of the Woo Nicole Foos (of NVision by Nicole Foos). 

Not only is Nicole a talented crystal jewelry maker, artist and sculptor, but she's also an accomplished student and practitioner of the Woo herself, making her a VERY discerning customer. And that's exactly why she was pinged to join this Business of Woo-themed podcast series to offer up a unique line of sight into the client's perspective. 

What are Nicole's "green flags" vs. "red flags" when it comes to engaging with a psychic or practitioner? What trends has she noticed in the last few years, and which of these trends give her a solid case of the "ick"? What are some key metrics-- like reviews or age of business-- that skeptical but curious spiritual explorers keep an eye out for as they discern the best (and must trustworthy) practitioners with whom to work?

This episode has it all: what is up with those weird psychic "membership programs"? What is the real math behind those online directories? How old SHOULD you be before you declare yourself a "life coach"? 

Listeners will come away from this episode with a clear set of criteria to consider before committing to someone in the Business of Woo!

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Nicole's LINKS:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17548819 Sat, 18 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4134 spirituality, psychic, shaman, shamanism, tarot, oracle decks, tarot readings, totem readings, the skeptical shaman, psychic practitioner, the business of woo, totem tarot deck, the skeptical shaman, totem readings Rachel White, Rachel White 9 7 full false When Your Woo Side Hustle Becomes The Full Time Gig, with Britt Sandkulla-Sinclair When Your Woo Side Hustle Becomes The Full Time Gig, with Britt Sandkulla-Sinclair In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show Britt Sundkulla-Sinclair of Golden Thread Alchemy all about her transition from part-time working witch, astrologer and death doula to a full-time Woo-based business owner!

And, not only does Britt describe what this transition has been like-- and what it demands in terms of working hours, promotional/ unpaid efforts, and very early mornings-- but she also explores the strange devolution in human interaction (and mutual respect) that has been accelerating since the Covid-19 pandemic. Clients and customers of the Woo just aren't behaving the same anymore, requiring Woo-based business owners to make some necessary but unpleasant changes like: charging for previously free events, making rules at group workshops re: topics to not discuss, and requiring deposits or up-front payment for one-on-one sessions.

But it's not all Debbie Downer sh*t! Within all of this minutea and restructuring are tremendous silver linings, perhaps the most important of which is that this cycle is separating the tourists and casuals from the serious, life-long, real deal experts. If you're a Woo-based business owner navigating these trying times, just remember: every day that you don't give up, you're passively taking market share from those that do!

And that means that you'll get to continue to be of service, fulfill your life's purpose, and continue to "touch the Woo" every damn day!

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Britt's LINKS:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show Britt Sundkulla-Sinclair of Golden Thread Alchemy all about her transition from part-time working witch, astrologer and death doula to a full-time Woo-based business owner!

And, not only does Britt describe what this transition has been like-- and what it demands in terms of working hours, promotional/ unpaid efforts, and very early mornings-- but she also explores the strange devolution in human interaction (and mutual respect) that has been accelerating since the Covid-19 pandemic. Clients and customers of the Woo just aren't behaving the same anymore, requiring Woo-based business owners to make some necessary but unpleasant changes like: charging for previously free events, making rules at group workshops re: topics to not discuss, and requiring deposits or up-front payment for one-on-one sessions.

But it's not all Debbie Downer sh*t! Within all of this minutea and restructuring are tremendous silver linings, perhaps the most important of which is that this cycle is separating the tourists and casuals from the serious, life-long, real deal experts. If you're a Woo-based business owner navigating these trying times, just remember: every day that you don't give up, you're passively taking market share from those that do!

And that means that you'll get to continue to be of service, fulfill your life's purpose, and continue to "touch the Woo" every damn day!

LINKS:

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

Britt's LINKS:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17540683 Sat, 11 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4337 skeptical shaman, Rachel White, totem readings, astrology, death doula, business of woo, totem tarot, totem flower essence deck, business of woo mentoring, psychic, spiritual, spirituality, witch, witchcraft, Wicca, shamanism, divination, tarot, reiki, yo 9 6 full false A Working Witch In Residence, with Cardsy B A Working Witch In Residence, with Cardsy B In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Cardsy B (of the Hex and the City podcast) all about what life is really like as a full-time working witch in residence at one of Manhattan's premier boutique hotels.

And, while there's some literal magic in Cardsy's workdays, there is also the reality of the Business of Woo: the increasing exertion required to maintain healthy client boundaries, navigate parasocial dynamics, and process untethered-- and often nasty-- criticism that cuts to the core of your character.

The bottom line? You can't make everybody happy all of the time, so Woo-based business owners and full-time psychic practitioners need to establish codified "shop policies" that enable them to stay consistent while conserving their precious energy while working with the general public. 

In this episode, Rachel and Cardsy chat about what a psychic session is supposed to deliver. Spoiler alert: getting a tarot reading or psychic sessions isn't actually a good way to manage anxiety, nor can a reading or session actually shift the material reality of your life. It's just a diagnostic, and one that the client should come away from feeling empowered and ready to tackle the world of free will-- just with better data;)

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck:https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Cardsy B's LINKS:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Cardsy B (of the Hex and the City podcast) all about what life is really like as a full-time working witch in residence at one of Manhattan's premier boutique hotels.

And, while there's some literal magic in Cardsy's workdays, there is also the reality of the Business of Woo: the increasing exertion required to maintain healthy client boundaries, navigate parasocial dynamics, and process untethered-- and often nasty-- criticism that cuts to the core of your character.

The bottom line? You can't make everybody happy all of the time, so Woo-based business owners and full-time psychic practitioners need to establish codified "shop policies" that enable them to stay consistent while conserving their precious energy while working with the general public. 

In this episode, Rachel and Cardsy chat about what a psychic session is supposed to deliver. Spoiler alert: getting a tarot reading or psychic sessions isn't actually a good way to manage anxiety, nor can a reading or session actually shift the material reality of your life. It's just a diagnostic, and one that the client should come away from feeling empowered and ready to tackle the world of free will-- just with better data;)

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck:https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Cardsy B's LINKS:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17565329 Sat, 04 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4343 tarot, hex and the city, Cardsy b., business of woo, totem readings, Rachel White, the skeptical shaman, spirituality, supernatural, tarot card reader, witchcraft, witch, Wicca, psychic, reiki, astrology 9 5 full false Change Fatigue in the Business of Woo, with Nichole Bigley Change Fatigue in the Business of Woo, with Nichole Bigley In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of show Nichole Bigley (of A Psychic's Story) about the constantly shifting, evolving and demanding business and technology landscape in the Business of Woo.

Nichole hosts the #1 Spiritual podcast in the world, which might give folks the impression she has a big team of tech-savvy backroom geniuses at the ready on a minute-by-minute basis. But, as Nichole explains in this episode, that's just not how the Business of Woo really works!

What's more: with the exponential increasing rate of change in every vector of modern life-- and especially within the realm of technology and related tools-- managing the ever-expanding world of social media platforms, online course systems, and much, much more is a full-time job all on its own! Never mind the fact that very few of us working psychics, shamans and energy workers aren't exactly tech experts to begin with-- unless, of course, you see a deck of tarot cards as a spiritual technology!

But it's not all bad news-- there's a serious silver lining in the Business of Woo, which Nichole and Rachel dig into, offering solutions and several white pills on the future of our "industry"!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck:https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Nichole's Website: https://www.apsychicsstory.com/about-a-psychics-story
Looking for Angels Book: https://a.co/d/hIZK2f9
Nichole's IG: https://www.instagram.com/apsychicsstory/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of show Nichole Bigley (of A Psychic's Story) about the constantly shifting, evolving and demanding business and technology landscape in the Business of Woo.

Nichole hosts the #1 Spiritual podcast in the world, which might give folks the impression she has a big team of tech-savvy backroom geniuses at the ready on a minute-by-minute basis. But, as Nichole explains in this episode, that's just not how the Business of Woo really works!

What's more: with the exponential increasing rate of change in every vector of modern life-- and especially within the realm of technology and related tools-- managing the ever-expanding world of social media platforms, online course systems, and much, much more is a full-time job all on its own! Never mind the fact that very few of us working psychics, shamans and energy workers aren't exactly tech experts to begin with-- unless, of course, you see a deck of tarot cards as a spiritual technology!

But it's not all bad news-- there's a serious silver lining in the Business of Woo, which Nichole and Rachel dig into, offering solutions and several white pills on the future of our "industry"!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck:https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Nichole's Website: https://www.apsychicsstory.com/about-a-psychics-story
Looking for Angels Book: https://a.co/d/hIZK2f9
Nichole's IG: https://www.instagram.com/apsychicsstory/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17531448 Sat, 27 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0500 3687 Nichole Bigley, a psychics story, psychic, spiritual, spiritual podcasts, shamanism, business of woo, tarot, oracle, medium, angels, spirit guides, supernatural, reiki, astrology, yoga, divination 9 4 full false I'm Not Rich, B*tch!, with Colleen Soisson I'm Not Rich, B*tch!, with Colleen Soisson In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show Colleen Soisson (of Feather Mountain Ayurveda) about the common misconception that business owners-- even those in the Business of Woo-- are rich. 

The reality of the Business of Woo is oceans away from how it's perceived by clients and consumers, and most practitioners make substantial, very unglamorous sacrifices to make their dream a daily reality. And not all of these sacrifices are financial-- there's all of the sweat equity, invisible and unexpected labor (like sweeping and cleaning your yoga studio every damn day), and the burden of taking the financial (and existential risk) of not having a steady paycheck from an employer.

Colleen breaks down the cognitive dissonance between perception and reality, as well as outlines the real breakdown of daily work: how much is actually the Woo-based core competency vs. how much is the marketing, accounting, tech and other infrastructure enhancement efforts. 

The long and the short of it? The Business of Woo is like an iceberg: what you see is just the tip of it! 

So what can we all do about this strange perception paradigm? Well, to start, we can engage in honest conversations (like this one) AND make efforts to engage our Woo-based business owners with compassion and respect as they bust their hump to bring us the very best in spiritual services and technologies!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck:https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Colleen Soisson Links:

  • Website: https://www.feathermtn.com
  • IG: https://linktr.ee/ColleenAyurveda

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show Colleen Soisson (of Feather Mountain Ayurveda) about the common misconception that business owners-- even those in the Business of Woo-- are rich. 

The reality of the Business of Woo is oceans away from how it's perceived by clients and consumers, and most practitioners make substantial, very unglamorous sacrifices to make their dream a daily reality. And not all of these sacrifices are financial-- there's all of the sweat equity, invisible and unexpected labor (like sweeping and cleaning your yoga studio every damn day), and the burden of taking the financial (and existential risk) of not having a steady paycheck from an employer.

Colleen breaks down the cognitive dissonance between perception and reality, as well as outlines the real breakdown of daily work: how much is actually the Woo-based core competency vs. how much is the marketing, accounting, tech and other infrastructure enhancement efforts. 

The long and the short of it? The Business of Woo is like an iceberg: what you see is just the tip of it! 

So what can we all do about this strange perception paradigm? Well, to start, we can engage in honest conversations (like this one) AND make efforts to engage our Woo-based business owners with compassion and respect as they bust their hump to bring us the very best in spiritual services and technologies!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck:https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Colleen Soisson Links:

  • Website: https://www.feathermtn.com
  • IG: https://linktr.ee/ColleenAyurveda

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17502570 Sat, 20 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4063 ayurveda, psychic, supernatural, spirituality, shamanism, business of woo, skeptical shaman, totem readings, Rachel white, colleen Soisson, yoga, reiki, tarot, divination, astrology, reiki 9 3 full false Content Creation IS Work, with Marco Visconti Content Creation IS Work, with Marco Visconti In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with writer and modern magician Marco Visconti (of the Magick Without Tears Substack) about the daily grind of being a Woo-baed business owner-- and, more specifically, content creator. 

For Woo-based business owners, these are not the "before times"-- and, as Marco has noted, it's a real challenge to make a living while sharing expertise and insights. As commoditized, race-to-the-bottom (not to mention often free) Woo-based content proliferates the marketplace, knowledgeable, experienced practitioners and authors are getting lost in the shuffle.

After all: why pay for something you can get for free, right? 

Well, the answer is: because it's NOT THE SAME as the free stuff. Not even a little bit. Said another way? You get what you pay for, and this matters exponentially when it comes to the high stakes world of Woo-- and our spiritual development and wellbeing!

Marco gets vulnerable, honest and brave as he shares the daily struggle of a writer that has dedicated their life to sharing their intensive years of research, practice, education, and energy. Hopefully, this episode will dispel outdated myths about the reality of being a writer, practitioner, or Woo-based business owner, engendering some much-deserved empathy and support for those that dedicate their lives to this service. 

The long and the short of it? Support your favorite writer, Substacker, and content creator with your dollars, referrals and recommendations. It makes a WORLD of difference for those trying to eek out a living while making a difference!


Rachel's LINKS:

Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Marco's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with writer and modern magician Marco Visconti (of the Magick Without Tears Substack) about the daily grind of being a Woo-baed business owner-- and, more specifically, content creator. 

For Woo-based business owners, these are not the "before times"-- and, as Marco has noted, it's a real challenge to make a living while sharing expertise and insights. As commoditized, race-to-the-bottom (not to mention often free) Woo-based content proliferates the marketplace, knowledgeable, experienced practitioners and authors are getting lost in the shuffle.

After all: why pay for something you can get for free, right? 

Well, the answer is: because it's NOT THE SAME as the free stuff. Not even a little bit. Said another way? You get what you pay for, and this matters exponentially when it comes to the high stakes world of Woo-- and our spiritual development and wellbeing!

Marco gets vulnerable, honest and brave as he shares the daily struggle of a writer that has dedicated their life to sharing their intensive years of research, practice, education, and energy. Hopefully, this episode will dispel outdated myths about the reality of being a writer, practitioner, or Woo-based business owner, engendering some much-deserved empathy and support for those that dedicate their lives to this service. 

The long and the short of it? Support your favorite writer, Substacker, and content creator with your dollars, referrals and recommendations. It makes a WORLD of difference for those trying to eek out a living while making a difference!


Rachel's LINKS:

Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Marco's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17492558 Sat, 13 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4337 thelema, ritual magic, Marco Visconti, Rachel white, totem readings, the skeptical shaman, spirituality, supernatural, psychic, tarot, totem tarot, totem flower essence deck, divination, spells, business of woo 9 2 full false An Even Exchange Of Energy, with Yolanda Williams An Even Exchange Of Energy, with Yolanda Williams In this special, Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) reconnects with the absolutely luminescent Yolanda Williams (of the Reiki Radio Podcast) to chat all things "Wusiness of Boo". 

That's actually not a typo. Unfortunately, it's how Rachel pronounced "Business of Woo" before she could gather herself at the beginning of this episode!

Up first? Yolanda opens up the proverbial kimono to get really real about expectations around pricing and payment as a reiki practitioner, dispelling outdated myths permeating the Business of Woo and explaining why there needs to be an even exchange of energy for this work.

Yes, it's shocking but true: people actually expect Woo-based business owners to undertake their services-- including energy work, psychic sessions, and much, much more-- for FREE. Not sure how they think practitioners are going to pay rent or buy groceries...maybe they think psychics and reiki practitioners can just "manifest money" with invisible magic?

Yah, I know. When you put it in writing, it sounds nuts, doesn't it? That's because it IS NUTS. Those of us in the Business of Woo spend years of our life and tens of thousands of dollars on continued education and certifications to bring these services to the marketplace-- not to mention the fact that this is how we make our living..and pay our bills!

Yolanda also details how (and why) her Woo-based business has evolved over the years to support her as a whole human being-- and not just a human "doing". The Business of Woo is a super client-session and client-facing labor-intensive model, and while practitioners love their work and feel a deep sense of purpose, the potential for burnout is REAL. This means that practitioners need to not only charge a fair fee for their time and talent, but they also need to get creative about ways to disseminate their knowledge via online courses, digital downloads, and books and manuals. 

Yolanda is the perfect guest to kick off this latest Business of Woo series of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, bringing a vulnerable and authentic-- but ultimately uplifting-- perspective to this dialogue. 

Rachel's LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach


Our Sponsors' LINKS:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
  • TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Yolanda's LINKS:

  • http://instagram.com/reikiradio
  • http://theenergeticalchemist.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special, Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) reconnects with the absolutely luminescent Yolanda Williams (of the Reiki Radio Podcast) to chat all things "Wusiness of Boo". 

That's actually not a typo. Unfortunately, it's how Rachel pronounced "Business of Woo" before she could gather herself at the beginning of this episode!

Up first? Yolanda opens up the proverbial kimono to get really real about expectations around pricing and payment as a reiki practitioner, dispelling outdated myths permeating the Business of Woo and explaining why there needs to be an even exchange of energy for this work.

Yes, it's shocking but true: people actually expect Woo-based business owners to undertake their services-- including energy work, psychic sessions, and much, much more-- for FREE. Not sure how they think practitioners are going to pay rent or buy groceries...maybe they think psychics and reiki practitioners can just "manifest money" with invisible magic?

Yah, I know. When you put it in writing, it sounds nuts, doesn't it? That's because it IS NUTS. Those of us in the Business of Woo spend years of our life and tens of thousands of dollars on continued education and certifications to bring these services to the marketplace-- not to mention the fact that this is how we make our living..and pay our bills!

Yolanda also details how (and why) her Woo-based business has evolved over the years to support her as a whole human being-- and not just a human "doing". The Business of Woo is a super client-session and client-facing labor-intensive model, and while practitioners love their work and feel a deep sense of purpose, the potential for burnout is REAL. This means that practitioners need to not only charge a fair fee for their time and talent, but they also need to get creative about ways to disseminate their knowledge via online courses, digital downloads, and books and manuals. 

Yolanda is the perfect guest to kick off this latest Business of Woo series of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, bringing a vulnerable and authentic-- but ultimately uplifting-- perspective to this dialogue. 

Rachel's LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach


Our Sponsors' LINKS:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
  • TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Yolanda's LINKS:

  • http://instagram.com/reikiradio
  • http://theenergeticalchemist.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17485380 Sat, 06 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4215 reiki, yolanda williams, reiki radio, energetic alchemist, the skeptical shaman, totem readings, totem tarot deck, totem flower essence deck, Rachel white, spirituality, psychic, tarot 9 1 full false Manufacturing Consent vs. Cultivating Consciousness, with Scott Horton Manufacturing Consent vs. Cultivating Consciousness, with Scott Horton Well, well, well...look what we have here! A sweet treat wrapped up in a bonus episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast featuring none other than the final boss of neurodivergence himself: Scott Horton!

Scott is the Director of the Libertarian Institute, Editorial Director of Antiwar.com, and the host of the Scott Horton Show.  He’s the author of the 2024 book Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War With Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine; the 2021 book Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism; the 2017 book, Fool’s Errand:Time to End the War in Afghanistan;  and was the editor of the 2019 book The Great Ron Paul: The Scott Horton Show Interviews 2004–2019 and the 2022 book Hotter Than the Sun: Time to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

And I know what you're thinking: "Rachel...I thought you said you didn't want to make your work at TOTEM or on The Skeptical Shaman podcast political? So, like, what is this bullshi*t?"

The answer is that it's not political, at least not for host Rachel White (Owner of TOTEM Readings). Rather, we wanted to engage Scott, who has recently been featured on Pierce Morgan, Breaking Points and the Tucker Carlson Show, to help us break out of our collective propaganda spell by sharing the tips, tricks and tools (as well as tidbits of researched, footnoted facts) he's picked up from doing more than 6,000 interviews and debates, all while not having a f*cking team.

Yep, that's right. Scott Horton is the "Libertarian's Libertarian", rejecting the binary "uniparty" of United States' politics to, instead, be critical-- and skeptical-- of both. This, in turn, has given Scott a unique-- and very shamanic-- perspective, removing the burden of thought-terminating cliches and thought reform regimes to free him to think and speak for himself. 

The results might be a bit abrasive, or even trigger you depending on where you fall in the political spectrum. But, having spent time with and corresponded with Scott over the last two years, Rachel can assert one thing for certain: Scott is kind, human, open-minded, funny, and a very good hang. And here's the best part: he's not trying to persuade you over to his side, because he doesn't have a side.

In this episode, we chat about Scott's anti-war advocacy over the years, how Austin, TX has changed since Dazed and Confused, and how he's trying to contribute to the collective dialogue by just being honest (and insanely researched) about what he really, actually thinks. 

Now, you don't have to be a Libertarian or right of center or even anti-war to take something away from this extra-long dialogue that explores the archetype of Prometheus appearing in our New Age-- and what that means for tyranny (spoiler alert: tyranny's f*cked!). You're a human with agency, and this "story" isn't over yet. 

Nihilism is just another way to let the real bad guys win, so choose the opposite: stand up tall, speak your mind, and extend a hand to someone that thinks or feels differently from you. The more we converse and team up, the harder it will be to defeat us as a species!

Besides: you might find a very pleasant surprise just on the other side. 

(And make sure you read our little disclaimer below before listening to this episode. If you don't think it's for you, don't listen.)

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Well, well, well...look what we have here! A sweet treat wrapped up in a bonus episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast featuring none other than the final boss of neurodivergence himself: Scott Horton!

Scott is the Director of the Libertarian Institute, Editorial Director of Antiwar.com, and the host of the Scott Horton Show.  He’s the author of the 2024 book Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War With Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine; the 2021 book Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism; the 2017 book, Fool’s Errand:Time to End the War in Afghanistan;  and was the editor of the 2019 book The Great Ron Paul: The Scott Horton Show Interviews 2004–2019 and the 2022 book Hotter Than the Sun: Time to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.

And I know what you're thinking: "Rachel...I thought you said you didn't want to make your work at TOTEM or on The Skeptical Shaman podcast political? So, like, what is this bullshi*t?"

The answer is that it's not political, at least not for host Rachel White (Owner of TOTEM Readings). Rather, we wanted to engage Scott, who has recently been featured on Pierce Morgan, Breaking Points and the Tucker Carlson Show, to help us break out of our collective propaganda spell by sharing the tips, tricks and tools (as well as tidbits of researched, footnoted facts) he's picked up from doing more than 6,000 interviews and debates, all while not having a f*cking team.

Yep, that's right. Scott Horton is the "Libertarian's Libertarian", rejecting the binary "uniparty" of United States' politics to, instead, be critical-- and skeptical-- of both. This, in turn, has given Scott a unique-- and very shamanic-- perspective, removing the burden of thought-terminating cliches and thought reform regimes to free him to think and speak for himself. 

The results might be a bit abrasive, or even trigger you depending on where you fall in the political spectrum. But, having spent time with and corresponded with Scott over the last two years, Rachel can assert one thing for certain: Scott is kind, human, open-minded, funny, and a very good hang. And here's the best part: he's not trying to persuade you over to his side, because he doesn't have a side.

In this episode, we chat about Scott's anti-war advocacy over the years, how Austin, TX has changed since Dazed and Confused, and how he's trying to contribute to the collective dialogue by just being honest (and insanely researched) about what he really, actually thinks. 

Now, you don't have to be a Libertarian or right of center or even anti-war to take something away from this extra-long dialogue that explores the archetype of Prometheus appearing in our New Age-- and what that means for tyranny (spoiler alert: tyranny's f*cked!). You're a human with agency, and this "story" isn't over yet. 

Nihilism is just another way to let the real bad guys win, so choose the opposite: stand up tall, speak your mind, and extend a hand to someone that thinks or feels differently from you. The more we converse and team up, the harder it will be to defeat us as a species!

Besides: you might find a very pleasant surprise just on the other side. 

(And make sure you read our little disclaimer below before listening to this episode. If you don't think it's for you, don't listen.)

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17478394 Sat, 23 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0500 5759 Scott horton, Tucker Carlson, libertarian, dave smith, totem readings, the skeptical shaman, anti-war.com 8 13 full true Navigating Chronic Pain with the Woo, with Laura Hunnewell Navigating Chronic Pain with the Woo, with Laura Hunnewell In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with her second client EVER when she opened TOTEM Readings 15 years ago in Chicago: Laura Hunnewell.

Not only is Laura a friend of TOTEM and The Skeptical Shaman-- as well as a super-talented Licensed Esthetician-- she is a serious survivor, spending the last several years navigating serious health issues and a relentless chronic pain disorder.

Laura has been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, otherwise known as "the suicide disease" because of the life-altering levels of pain it brings. And, while she continues to get traditional medical treatment (including TWO craniotomies), she has also embraced some more Woo-based tools to help her get through the day with a sense of peace, optimism and joy. In this episode (and show notes, below) Laura shares multiple books, resources, daily practices, and more with Rachel and The Skeptical Shaman listeners.

Laura is living reminder that you can be "in it" and still show up for others. Despite dealing with an acutely painful and debilitating heath condition, Laura is kind and present for others-- proof positive that NONE of us have an excuse to be a sh*t just because we're having a bad day;)

What's more: this episode also reminds us to show up every day with intentionality and compassion. Many of our fellow humans are struggling with unseen challenges we know nothing about, and outward appearances can be deceiving. 

So, when in doubt, be kind.

Rachel's LINKS:

Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Books mentioned in this episode:

  • The Places that Scare You by Pema Chodron
  • Don't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Ngyuen
  • Can't Stop Thinking by Nancy Colier
  • When The Body Says No by Gabor Mate
  • The Myth of Normal by Gabor Mate
  • Maybe This Will Help by Michelle Rial 
  • The Healing Power of Sound by Michell Gaynor 

Laura's Links:


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with her second client EVER when she opened TOTEM Readings 15 years ago in Chicago: Laura Hunnewell.

Not only is Laura a friend of TOTEM and The Skeptical Shaman-- as well as a super-talented Licensed Esthetician-- she is a serious survivor, spending the last several years navigating serious health issues and a relentless chronic pain disorder.

Laura has been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, otherwise known as "the suicide disease" because of the life-altering levels of pain it brings. And, while she continues to get traditional medical treatment (including TWO craniotomies), she has also embraced some more Woo-based tools to help her get through the day with a sense of peace, optimism and joy. In this episode (and show notes, below) Laura shares multiple books, resources, daily practices, and more with Rachel and The Skeptical Shaman listeners.

Laura is living reminder that you can be "in it" and still show up for others. Despite dealing with an acutely painful and debilitating heath condition, Laura is kind and present for others-- proof positive that NONE of us have an excuse to be a sh*t just because we're having a bad day;)

What's more: this episode also reminds us to show up every day with intentionality and compassion. Many of our fellow humans are struggling with unseen challenges we know nothing about, and outward appearances can be deceiving. 

So, when in doubt, be kind.

Rachel's LINKS:

Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Books mentioned in this episode:

  • The Places that Scare You by Pema Chodron
  • Don't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Ngyuen
  • Can't Stop Thinking by Nancy Colier
  • When The Body Says No by Gabor Mate
  • The Myth of Normal by Gabor Mate
  • Maybe This Will Help by Michelle Rial 
  • The Healing Power of Sound by Michell Gaynor 

Laura's Links:


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17097782 Sat, 16 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4835 the skeptical shaman, Rachel white, totem readings, totem tarot deck, totem flower essence deck, totem flower essences, spirituality, psychic, spiritual, shamanism, meditation, energy healing, reiki, yoga, astrology, trauma, trauma recovery, chronic pain, 8 12 full false Secrets of the Real Black Lodge Revealed, with Allen Greenfield Secrets of the Real Black Lodge Revealed, with Allen Greenfield In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) welcomes back fan favorite Allen Greenfield: famous ritual magician, Kabbalist, and former Thelemite, recently featured as a subject matter expert in Amazon's Hellier TV series.

In a world of superficial spiritual LARPers, Allen Greenfield is a bonafide real deal-- a national treasure with all manner of arcane knowledge across his more than 60 years of hands-on esoteric experience. With legit certificates and bonafides from the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and the World Association of Egyptian Obediences, Allen is a throwback to a time when sorcerers, magicians and practitioners dug deep into ancient, esoteric knowledge-- instead of just pulling an oracle card and issuing false profundities on Instagram.

In this episode, Allen shares previously unheard insights into the unfolding Hellier magic and his book The Secrets of the Black Lodge Revealed: an unflinching look at the reality behind those bad boys fictionally featured in David Lynch's famous Twin Peaks TV series.

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Allen's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) welcomes back fan favorite Allen Greenfield: famous ritual magician, Kabbalist, and former Thelemite, recently featured as a subject matter expert in Amazon's Hellier TV series.

In a world of superficial spiritual LARPers, Allen Greenfield is a bonafide real deal-- a national treasure with all manner of arcane knowledge across his more than 60 years of hands-on esoteric experience. With legit certificates and bonafides from the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and the World Association of Egyptian Obediences, Allen is a throwback to a time when sorcerers, magicians and practitioners dug deep into ancient, esoteric knowledge-- instead of just pulling an oracle card and issuing false profundities on Instagram.

In this episode, Allen shares previously unheard insights into the unfolding Hellier magic and his book The Secrets of the Black Lodge Revealed: an unflinching look at the reality behind those bad boys fictionally featured in David Lynch's famous Twin Peaks TV series.

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Allen's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17181054 Sat, 09 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0500 6276 allen Greenfield, hellier, black lodge, David Lynch, Thelma, Crowley, spirituality, supernatural, divination, astrology, tarot, ritual magic, totem tarot deck, totem flower essence deck, totem flower essences, spirituality, supernatural, totem readings, R 8 10 full false Aleister Crowley, Thelema, & The Book of the Law, with Marco Visconti Aleister Crowley, Thelema, & The Book of the Law, with Marco Visconti In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with writer and modern magician Marco Visconti all about the life of Thelema founder Aleister Crowley-- as well as the spiritual system (and its many, many tributaries) he left behind.

What is Thelema? What is the Book of the Law? From where do these cornerstones of occult studies spring? What is sex magic? Who is Lady Babylon? How does one use the Lesser Key of Solomon? 

(Word to the wise: DON'T use the Lesser Key of Solomon!)

Marco helps Rachel and listeners of The Skeptical Shaman podcast bust some of the myths around this iconoclastic, larger-than-life figure-- ultimately (hopefully) separating fact from fiction with regard to his strangely long-lived religion.

Rachel's LINKS:

Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Marco's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with writer and modern magician Marco Visconti all about the life of Thelema founder Aleister Crowley-- as well as the spiritual system (and its many, many tributaries) he left behind.

What is Thelema? What is the Book of the Law? From where do these cornerstones of occult studies spring? What is sex magic? Who is Lady Babylon? How does one use the Lesser Key of Solomon? 

(Word to the wise: DON'T use the Lesser Key of Solomon!)

Marco helps Rachel and listeners of The Skeptical Shaman podcast bust some of the myths around this iconoclastic, larger-than-life figure-- ultimately (hopefully) separating fact from fiction with regard to his strangely long-lived religion.

Rachel's LINKS:

Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Marco's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16996723 Sat, 02 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4090 aleister crowley, crowley, thelema, the book of the law, Thoth tarot, Marco Visconti, Rachel white, the skeptical shaman, ritual magic, shamanism, meditation, tarot, divination, astrology, supernatural, psychic, totem tarot deck, totem tarot, totem flower 8 11 full false Reclaiming Our Spiritual Selves, with Jade Kaskel Reclaiming Our Spiritual Selves, with Jade Kaskel In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Jade Kaskel of Reform Routine, a full-spectrum, supportive Woo-based business that helps focus navigate the trauma and clutter of life-- including physical clutter in their homes!

Jade's unique perspective comes from a long and often challenging early life, starting with being raised as a Jehovah's Witness and undergoing the spiritual trauma (and dark night of the soul) that come with leaving this kind of "religious institution".

*Ahem*

Now, Jade is bringing her many gifts, insights and lessons learned to the world, offering incredible, supportive services via her BRAND NEW Woo-based business. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Jade's Links:

  • Jade's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadeelanor/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Jade Kaskel of Reform Routine, a full-spectrum, supportive Woo-based business that helps focus navigate the trauma and clutter of life-- including physical clutter in their homes!

Jade's unique perspective comes from a long and often challenging early life, starting with being raised as a Jehovah's Witness and undergoing the spiritual trauma (and dark night of the soul) that come with leaving this kind of "religious institution".

*Ahem*

Now, Jade is bringing her many gifts, insights and lessons learned to the world, offering incredible, supportive services via her BRAND NEW Woo-based business. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Jade's Links:

  • Jade's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadeelanor/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16996745 Sat, 26 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0500 3502 spiritual narcissism, trauma recovery, spiritual trauma, Jehovah's witnesses, cult recovery, healing, spiritual healing, spirituality, totem readings, the skeptical shaman, rachel white, totem tarot, totem flower essence deck, totem flower essences, medit 8 9 full false The Messy Middle, with AJ Goodwin The Messy Middle, with AJ Goodwin In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with AJ Goodwin-- a TOTEM client and professional realtor and business mentor that has spent the last several months embracing her spiritual and personal growth, living in the "messy middle" of transformation!

As a highly-driven, high-performing entrepreneur, AJ spent this Year of the Wood Snake doing the impossible: taking time away from work to completely and totally invest in herself. She's growing hydroponic lettuce, embracing the weird and woo "assignments" in the TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Program, and letting herself luxuriate in the "in between"-- instead of pushing, rushing and grinding to get to the finish line OR, worse yet, deluding herself into thinking she can multitask this sh*t.

Spoiler alert: you can't shortcut shamanic transcendence. So, knock that cheat code bullsh*t off;)

AJ shares where she felt resistance to her intuition, to the world of Woo, and to even just taking some time away from the grind. She also shares what her ROI has been for this short break in the messy middle-- and it's pretty awesome.

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

AJ's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with AJ Goodwin-- a TOTEM client and professional realtor and business mentor that has spent the last several months embracing her spiritual and personal growth, living in the "messy middle" of transformation!

As a highly-driven, high-performing entrepreneur, AJ spent this Year of the Wood Snake doing the impossible: taking time away from work to completely and totally invest in herself. She's growing hydroponic lettuce, embracing the weird and woo "assignments" in the TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Program, and letting herself luxuriate in the "in between"-- instead of pushing, rushing and grinding to get to the finish line OR, worse yet, deluding herself into thinking she can multitask this sh*t.

Spoiler alert: you can't shortcut shamanic transcendence. So, knock that cheat code bullsh*t off;)

AJ shares where she felt resistance to her intuition, to the world of Woo, and to even just taking some time away from the grind. She also shares what her ROI has been for this short break in the messy middle-- and it's pretty awesome.

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

AJ's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16996713 Sat, 19 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0500 3390 the skeptical shaman, totem readings, Rachel white, totem tarot deck, totem flower essence deck, totem flower essences, supernatural, spirituality, shamanism, new age, metaphysical, occult, totem animals, spirit guides, meditation, shamanic journeying med 8 8 full false Ornithomancy and the Beauty of Birds, with Madia Smith Ornithomancy and the Beauty of Birds, with Madia Smith In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Madia Smith of CYGNUS Human Design and Hoof + Feather Co all about her love for all things bird.

Since ancient times, birds have been crucial spiritual vectors, offering divinatory insights in Ancient Greece and Rome (under the formal name "ornithomancy"), shamanic "medicine" as a totem animal, and inspiration for some of our most magical and transcendent works of art, like Swan Lake.

Madia describes her hands-on work saving and caring for rescue waterfowl of all shapes and sizes, and shares some key tips and tricks to ensure that these magical birds aren't abandoned, abused or otherwise mistreated by sometimes well-meaning folks (spoiler alert: bread is NOT a food for ducks after all!).

She also shares her love for Human Design, astrology, tapping and more, outlining her journey to off-the-grid wild woman AND diviner and coach of the highest order!

This is one of those magical episodes that gives us a line of sight into a typically totally "alien" way of living: out in nature, surrounded by magical birds, and contemplating the long count cycles of human epochs!

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Madia's Links:


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Madia Smith of CYGNUS Human Design and Hoof + Feather Co all about her love for all things bird.

Since ancient times, birds have been crucial spiritual vectors, offering divinatory insights in Ancient Greece and Rome (under the formal name "ornithomancy"), shamanic "medicine" as a totem animal, and inspiration for some of our most magical and transcendent works of art, like Swan Lake.

Madia describes her hands-on work saving and caring for rescue waterfowl of all shapes and sizes, and shares some key tips and tricks to ensure that these magical birds aren't abandoned, abused or otherwise mistreated by sometimes well-meaning folks (spoiler alert: bread is NOT a food for ducks after all!).

She also shares her love for Human Design, astrology, tapping and more, outlining her journey to off-the-grid wild woman AND diviner and coach of the highest order!

This is one of those magical episodes that gives us a line of sight into a typically totally "alien" way of living: out in nature, surrounded by magical birds, and contemplating the long count cycles of human epochs!

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Madia's Links:


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17088826 Sat, 12 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4212 paganism, neopaganism, totem animal, spirit guide, Rachel white, totem readings, divination, totem tarot, totem flower essence deck, totem flower essences, the skeptical shaman, meditation, shamanism, yoga, reiki, energy healing, astrology, psychic, spiri 8 7 full false Time To Catch Our Breath, with Jennifer Eldon Time To Catch Our Breath, with Jennifer Eldon In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Jennifer Eldon (of Jennirose Breathwork) about how breathing is so much more than an automatic body function. When done properly, breathing can actually unlock deep energetic and physical healing, necessary emotional releases, and even expansive spiritual and psychedelic experiences! 

We live in tough, stressful times. Even the most experienced practitioner-- armed with tried and true, Woo-based self-care tools, tips and tricks-- is overmatched in the turbulent, overstimulating waters of a world populated by constant push notifications and demands on our time and energy. So, if we're going to reclaim our peace, health and sanity, we're going to need to reframe our routines, embracing next gen tools like breathwork to take the edge off. 

Jennifer also shares her experience in transitioning to her Woo-based business on a full-time basis, finally stepping out of the shadows and into the light (and fresh air) of fully being herself. 

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: rachel@totemreadings.com. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Jennifer's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Jennifer Eldon (of Jennirose Breathwork) about how breathing is so much more than an automatic body function. When done properly, breathing can actually unlock deep energetic and physical healing, necessary emotional releases, and even expansive spiritual and psychedelic experiences! 

We live in tough, stressful times. Even the most experienced practitioner-- armed with tried and true, Woo-based self-care tools, tips and tricks-- is overmatched in the turbulent, overstimulating waters of a world populated by constant push notifications and demands on our time and energy. So, if we're going to reclaim our peace, health and sanity, we're going to need to reframe our routines, embracing next gen tools like breathwork to take the edge off. 

Jennifer also shares her experience in transitioning to her Woo-based business on a full-time basis, finally stepping out of the shadows and into the light (and fresh air) of fully being herself. 

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: rachel@totemreadings.com. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Jennifer's Links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17125337 Sat, 05 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4043 jennirose breathwork, totem readings, the skeptical shaman, Rachel white, totem tarot deck, totem flower essence deck, totem flower essences, spirituality, supernatural, reiki, yoga, astrology, psychic, spiritual, meditation, shamanism, healing, energy he 8 6 full false The Spiritual Odyssey, with Jen Pahwa The Spiritual Odyssey, with Jen Pahwa In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats Jen Pahwa (of Hummingbird Hearings) all about Jen's strange (and strangely expansive) recent spiritual journey-- one that's taken her and her family (including several young children) all over the country!

This episode is all about what happens when we start listening to spirit-- and just how difficult and challenging it can be in practice. After all: the map is not the territory, and Jen's meandering odyssey across the U.S. (multiple times, for the record) is proof positive that our Spirit Guides can be very demanding. 

The upshot? While we don't always immediately understand the "why" behind our Spirit Guides' messages, we always end up precisely where we are meant to be-- if we actually listen! In this episode, Rachel and Jen discuss the lived reality of actually listening to spirit-- and how incredibly novel and twisting the road can be!

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: rachel@totemreadings.com. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Jen's Links:

  • https://www.hummingbirdhearings.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats Jen Pahwa (of Hummingbird Hearings) all about Jen's strange (and strangely expansive) recent spiritual journey-- one that's taken her and her family (including several young children) all over the country!

This episode is all about what happens when we start listening to spirit-- and just how difficult and challenging it can be in practice. After all: the map is not the territory, and Jen's meandering odyssey across the U.S. (multiple times, for the record) is proof positive that our Spirit Guides can be very demanding. 

The upshot? While we don't always immediately understand the "why" behind our Spirit Guides' messages, we always end up precisely where we are meant to be-- if we actually listen! In this episode, Rachel and Jen discuss the lived reality of actually listening to spirit-- and how incredibly novel and twisting the road can be!

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: rachel@totemreadings.com. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Jen's Links:

  • https://www.hummingbirdhearings.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17016269 Sat, 28 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0500 3443 the skeptical shaman, totem readings, Rachel white, totem flower essences, totem flower essence deck, totem tarot deck, divination, astrology, yoga, reiki, chakras, psychic, shamanism, shaman, meditation 8 5 full false Moonflower Moments, with Kaity Craven Moonflower Moments, with Kaity Craven In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the totally awesome Kaity Craven of the Moonflower Moments YouTube Channel. 

Kaity is the rare practitioner that actually makes quality tarot deck, oracle deck, and "how to" divinatory content on YouTube-- without making it all about herself, brand deals, or the overdone same old, same old permeating an already overly saturated social media landscape littered with useless noise.

Rachel and Kaity discuss life as professional card readers and psychics, as well as their respective gardening and herbalism work in the strangely magical American South (Rachel lives in Texas, Kaity in Louisiana). To this end, Kaity shares a very cool and super easy to execute herbal "spell jar" recipe that we can all use in this Summer Season!

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: rachel@totemreadings.com. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Kaity's Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the totally awesome Kaity Craven of the Moonflower Moments YouTube Channel. 

Kaity is the rare practitioner that actually makes quality tarot deck, oracle deck, and "how to" divinatory content on YouTube-- without making it all about herself, brand deals, or the overdone same old, same old permeating an already overly saturated social media landscape littered with useless noise.

Rachel and Kaity discuss life as professional card readers and psychics, as well as their respective gardening and herbalism work in the strangely magical American South (Rachel lives in Texas, Kaity in Louisiana). To this end, Kaity shares a very cool and super easy to execute herbal "spell jar" recipe that we can all use in this Summer Season!

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: rachel@totemreadings.com. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Kaity's Links: 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17098831 Sat, 21 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0500 3750 oracle deck, tarot deck, psychic reading, divination, kaity craven, moonflower moments, the skeptical shaman, Rachel white, totem readings, totem tarot deck, totem flower essence deck, totem flower essences, psychic, shamanism, medium, meditation 8 4 full false The Wounded Healer, with Lisa Amato The Wounded Healer, with Lisa Amato In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Lisa Amato, energy healer, reiki practitioner, and wounded healer of the highest order. 

Why the wounded healer part? Well, Rachel and Lisa both have a history of early childhood trauma, and this episode they dig into the hairy details-- but also focus on the redemptive power of transmuting said wound into its corresponding "medicine", both for the self and for others.

Lisa is a hilarious, no nonsense ball-buster of a reiki practitioner, bringing the grounded presence so often lacking in the "airy fairy", "love and light", "crystal hippy lady" set. Said another way? She can actually hold the requisite space required to undertake the real deal energy healing work for those that have suffered trauma in their lives. 

Not all wounds can be seen. Many of them lie in our energy bodies. And, for those of us lucky enough to have found our own healers and teachers that enabled us to step into this work for others, Lisa's story will resonate like hell.

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: rachel@totemreadings.com. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Lisa's Links: 

  • Lisa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calm_ya_mind_and_soul/
  • Lisa's Calendly (for booking): https://calendly.com/calmyamind

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Lisa Amato, energy healer, reiki practitioner, and wounded healer of the highest order. 

Why the wounded healer part? Well, Rachel and Lisa both have a history of early childhood trauma, and this episode they dig into the hairy details-- but also focus on the redemptive power of transmuting said wound into its corresponding "medicine", both for the self and for others.

Lisa is a hilarious, no nonsense ball-buster of a reiki practitioner, bringing the grounded presence so often lacking in the "airy fairy", "love and light", "crystal hippy lady" set. Said another way? She can actually hold the requisite space required to undertake the real deal energy healing work for those that have suffered trauma in their lives. 

Not all wounds can be seen. Many of them lie in our energy bodies. And, for those of us lucky enough to have found our own healers and teachers that enabled us to step into this work for others, Lisa's story will resonate like hell.

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: rachel@totemreadings.com. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Lisa's Links: 

  • Lisa's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calm_ya_mind_and_soul/
  • Lisa's Calendly (for booking): https://calendly.com/calmyamind

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17048959 Sat, 14 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4560 psychic, trauma recovery, narcissistic abuse, spiritual narcissism, Lisa amato, Rachel white, reiki, tarot, oracle cards, flower essences, totem readings, the skeptical shaman, shamanism, meditation, psychic, 8 3 full false Nocturnal Animals, with Andrew Madsen Nocturnal Animals, with Andrew Madsen In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the *very beautiful* and *very soulful* Andrew Madsen: a 40-year old creative intuitive defiantly and intentionally embracing the slower paced liminal space "between opportunities". 

How is he doing this, you might be wondering? Well, he's making friends with nocturnal animals in New York City's Central Park at night-- and producing stunning photos and videos of his nighttime adventures along the way! Chief among these animals are Andrew's merry band of rascally raccoons, including standouts like the larger than life "Deborah". 

Rachel and Andrew discuss the intensity of being in the "in between" against all odds-- and in the face of a modern world that wants to squeeze us to death with the increasing pressures of money, time, productivity and constant digital accessibility-- and the negative nervous system stimulation that results. But, as scary as it is to not have a plan or be pushing and grinding 24/7, all of the REAL magic happens precisely in these sacred gaps.

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: rachel@totemreadings.com. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Andrew's Links:

  • Personal Instagram: @mercibeaudrew 
  • Animal Sanctuary Instagram: @sowagoatsanctuary 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the *very beautiful* and *very soulful* Andrew Madsen: a 40-year old creative intuitive defiantly and intentionally embracing the slower paced liminal space "between opportunities". 

How is he doing this, you might be wondering? Well, he's making friends with nocturnal animals in New York City's Central Park at night-- and producing stunning photos and videos of his nighttime adventures along the way! Chief among these animals are Andrew's merry band of rascally raccoons, including standouts like the larger than life "Deborah". 

Rachel and Andrew discuss the intensity of being in the "in between" against all odds-- and in the face of a modern world that wants to squeeze us to death with the increasing pressures of money, time, productivity and constant digital accessibility-- and the negative nervous system stimulation that results. But, as scary as it is to not have a plan or be pushing and grinding 24/7, all of the REAL magic happens precisely in these sacred gaps.

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: rachel@totemreadings.com. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Andrew's Links:

  • Personal Instagram: @mercibeaudrew 
  • Animal Sanctuary Instagram: @sowagoatsanctuary 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17206260 Sat, 07 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0500 5363 Andrew madsen, Rachel white, the skeptical shaman, totem tarot, totem flower essence deck, totem tarot deck, totem flower essences, totem readings, totem readings Etsy shop, tarot, tarot deck, oracle, oracle deck, tarot reading, oracle card reading, divin 8 2 full false The Occult Elvis, with Miguel Conner The Occult Elvis, with Miguel Conner In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the illustrious Miguel Conner: host of the *very* popular Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio AND Gen Wasteland podcasts. He is the author of many books, including Voices of Gnosticism, Stargazer, Heretic, and The Executioner’s Daughter. 

In this episode, Rachel and Miguel discuss his latest book, The Occult Elvis: The Mystical and Magical Life of the King-- the cover of which, as it turns out, Joe Rogan recently posted to his Instagram stories!

Turns out, Elvis was a straight up f*cking shaman, magi, and Woo Woo practitioner of the highest order! In this episode, Rachel and Miguel dig into the nitty gritty of the King's spiritual explorations and adventures-- including an obsession with observing childbirth and corpses in morgues, revealing a fascination with the liminality of birth and death that so engrosses the ancient occult world.

And, if you enjoy this episode, remember: Rachel has been a guest on BOTH of Miguel's podcasts, too-- check them out HERE and HERE for more of these two mixing it up on all things weird and Woo!

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: rachel@totemreadings.com. 

Rachel's LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
  • TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Miguel's Links

  • Website(s) Link: miguelconner.com
  • Instagram Account: @aeonbyte
  • X Profile (Twitter): @AeonByte
  • YouTube Channel: Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the illustrious Miguel Conner: host of the *very* popular Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio AND Gen Wasteland podcasts. He is the author of many books, including Voices of Gnosticism, Stargazer, Heretic, and The Executioner’s Daughter. 

In this episode, Rachel and Miguel discuss his latest book, The Occult Elvis: The Mystical and Magical Life of the King-- the cover of which, as it turns out, Joe Rogan recently posted to his Instagram stories!

Turns out, Elvis was a straight up f*cking shaman, magi, and Woo Woo practitioner of the highest order! In this episode, Rachel and Miguel dig into the nitty gritty of the King's spiritual explorations and adventures-- including an obsession with observing childbirth and corpses in morgues, revealing a fascination with the liminality of birth and death that so engrosses the ancient occult world.

And, if you enjoy this episode, remember: Rachel has been a guest on BOTH of Miguel's podcasts, too-- check them out HERE and HERE for more of these two mixing it up on all things weird and Woo!

Please note: TOTEM is running a Review Raffle through 6/26/25, so if you feel compelled to review The Skeptical Shaman podcast, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Flower Essences, or either of the TOTEM Decks (links below), email her a screenshot to enter to win one of three Grand Prizes: rachel@totemreadings.com. 

Rachel's LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
  • TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Miguel's Links

  • Website(s) Link: miguelconner.com
  • Instagram Account: @aeonbyte
  • X Profile (Twitter): @AeonByte
  • YouTube Channel: Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-17120084 Sat, 31 May 2025 07:00:00 -0500 3914 Paganism, Neopaganism, Tarot, Oracle, Tarot Decks, Oracle Decks, Psychic, Medium, Elvis, David Bowie, Ancient Egypt, Shamanism, Mediation, Energy Work, Plant Medicine, Prometheus, Reiki, Yoga, Astrology, The Occult Elvis, Miguel Connor, Aeon Bytes, Aeon B 8 1 full false Narcissistic Abuse-- and How to Spot it!, with Vanessa Reiser, LCSW Narcissistic Abuse-- and How to Spot it!, with Vanessa Reiser, LCSW In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the incredible Vanessa Reiser: licensed clinical social worker, narcissistic abuse survivor and author of the incredible new book Narcissistic Abuse: A Therapist’s Guide to Identifying, Escaping, and Healing from Toxic and Manipulative People.

Vanessa is the human embodiment of the phrase: "New levels, new devils", having been shot into the world of narcissistic abuse-- and helping others in healing from it-- after a terribly abusive romantic relationship with a...drumroll please...NARCISSIST!

Vanessa is the best-- and we were so pumped to close this season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast out on the same note we brought it in: identifying narcissistic abuse, freeing ourselves of it, and recovering and healing after the trauma. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Vanessa's LINKS:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the incredible Vanessa Reiser: licensed clinical social worker, narcissistic abuse survivor and author of the incredible new book Narcissistic Abuse: A Therapist’s Guide to Identifying, Escaping, and Healing from Toxic and Manipulative People.

Vanessa is the human embodiment of the phrase: "New levels, new devils", having been shot into the world of narcissistic abuse-- and helping others in healing from it-- after a terribly abusive romantic relationship with a...drumroll please...NARCISSIST!

Vanessa is the best-- and we were so pumped to close this season of The Skeptical Shaman podcast out on the same note we brought it in: identifying narcissistic abuse, freeing ourselves of it, and recovering and healing after the trauma. 

Rachel's LINKS:

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

Vanessa's LINKS:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16528666 Sat, 19 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0500 3301 7 16 full false The Real Life Hogwart's, with Mark Phillips The Real Life Hogwart's, with Mark Phillips In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the lovely Mark Phillips of The Mind's Aye: medium, psychic, and avid student of all things Woo! 

Not only does Mark have a beautiful Scottish brogue-- and the arcane abilities of mediumship and psychic communication-- but he has also been attending incredible classes and workshops at the real life Hogwort's: The Arthur Findlay College in Great Britain.

Mark shares his awesome journey to accepting his own psychic abilities, and how he gave (and continues to give) himself permission to pursue his Woo passions. Mark is a prime example of an otherwise "normal" person with a day job and a family that also wants to help clients connect to their dearly departed-- and to the other side!

Rachel's LINKS:


Our Sponsors' LINKS:


Mark's LINKS:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the lovely Mark Phillips of The Mind's Aye: medium, psychic, and avid student of all things Woo! 

Not only does Mark have a beautiful Scottish brogue-- and the arcane abilities of mediumship and psychic communication-- but he has also been attending incredible classes and workshops at the real life Hogwort's: The Arthur Findlay College in Great Britain.

Mark shares his awesome journey to accepting his own psychic abilities, and how he gave (and continues to give) himself permission to pursue his Woo passions. Mark is a prime example of an otherwise "normal" person with a day job and a family that also wants to help clients connect to their dearly departed-- and to the other side!

Rachel's LINKS:


Our Sponsors' LINKS:


Mark's LINKS:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16514168 Sat, 12 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4021 7 15 full false Stories in Stone, with Cyndera Quackenbush Stories in Stone, with Cyndera Quackenbush In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the incredible Cyndera Quackenbush of Story Through Stone Substack and the Archetypal Tarot podcast about the magic, wonder and spiritual power of stones.

Cyndera is also the creator of the Story Through Stone Reflection Cards-- a new, 54-card deck featuring photographs of rare, billion year-old stones sourced, polished and organized by Cyndera's family. Cyndera made the unusual (and awesome) decision to NOT include a guide book for this deck, asking that the reader take this as an opportunity to trust their own intuition-- and how the images in the deck stimulate it!

This episode is all about the magic of discovery, especially when that discovery is BEYOND ANCIENT-- and opens up a channel to the arcane wisdom buried beneath our feet!
​
Rachel's LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
  • TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Cyndera's Links:

  • Archetypal Stories (my Substack with the card reveals)
  • Website: storythroughstone.org
  • Instagram: @story.through.stone
  • Cards can be purchased on my website or on Etsy          


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the incredible Cyndera Quackenbush of Story Through Stone Substack and the Archetypal Tarot podcast about the magic, wonder and spiritual power of stones.

Cyndera is also the creator of the Story Through Stone Reflection Cards-- a new, 54-card deck featuring photographs of rare, billion year-old stones sourced, polished and organized by Cyndera's family. Cyndera made the unusual (and awesome) decision to NOT include a guide book for this deck, asking that the reader take this as an opportunity to trust their own intuition-- and how the images in the deck stimulate it!

This episode is all about the magic of discovery, especially when that discovery is BEYOND ANCIENT-- and opens up a channel to the arcane wisdom buried beneath our feet!
​
Rachel's LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
  • TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Cyndera's Links:

  • Archetypal Stories (my Substack with the card reveals)
  • Website: storythroughstone.org
  • Instagram: @story.through.stone
  • Cards can be purchased on my website or on Etsy          


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16528707 Sat, 05 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0500 3615 7 14 full false Ayurveda in the Wood Snake Year, with Audrey Moore Ayurveda in the Wood Snake Year, with Audrey Moore In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Audrey Moore (of Audrey Ayurveda) all about how to leverage Ayurveda in this turbulent Wood Snake Year.

While Audrey's client-facing Ayurvedic practice is relatively new-- as is her auspiciously timed snake-themed branding-- her knowledge of all things herbal, nutritional, and natural is anything but. Audrey leverages her deep educational background in the history of pharmaceuticals, hedge witchery, and Indian herbalism to work 1:1 with clients all around the country (and the world) to achieve greater harmony and balance. 

Many practices like Ayurveda, European herbalism and even yoga are effectively us reaching back through time to access the wisdom that came before the peak modernity (and dis-ease) in which we currently live.

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Audrey's Links:
https://www.audreyayurveda.com
https://www.instagram.com/audreyayurveda
https://audreyayurveda.substack.com/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Audrey Moore (of Audrey Ayurveda) all about how to leverage Ayurveda in this turbulent Wood Snake Year.

While Audrey's client-facing Ayurvedic practice is relatively new-- as is her auspiciously timed snake-themed branding-- her knowledge of all things herbal, nutritional, and natural is anything but. Audrey leverages her deep educational background in the history of pharmaceuticals, hedge witchery, and Indian herbalism to work 1:1 with clients all around the country (and the world) to achieve greater harmony and balance. 

Many practices like Ayurveda, European herbalism and even yoga are effectively us reaching back through time to access the wisdom that came before the peak modernity (and dis-ease) in which we currently live.

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Audrey's Links:
https://www.audreyayurveda.com
https://www.instagram.com/audreyayurveda
https://audreyayurveda.substack.com/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16538480 Sat, 29 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4037 7 13 full false The Skeptic Metaphysicians, with Will Rodriguez & Karen Endsley The Skeptic Metaphysicians, with Will Rodriguez & Karen Endsley In this week's episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs deep with The Skeptic Metaphysicians, exploring their shared love of all things Woo AND skeptical!

Like Scully and Mulder from the X-Files, The Skeptic Metaphysicians Will Rodriguez and Karen Endsley are caught between two worlds—the allure of life's mystical mysteries and the grounding force of scientific scrutiny. It's a quest to peel back the layers of the 'woo,' seeking to find what's real, what's illusion, and what lies in the realm of endless possibilities.

Will Rodriguez and Karen Endsley are the real-life husband and wife duo behind 'The Skeptic Metaphysicians' podcast. From unraveling metaphysical enigmas, past life regression and life after death experiences to exploring spiritual awakenings, they dive deep without making it cringy. Their contrasting views—one is a true pragmatist, and the other a wonder-filled explorer—make them the perfect guides for today's journey into the great unknown.

And wait-- it gets better! The Skeptic Metaphysicians and The Skeptical Shaman herself have a special offer to WIN a gift of TOTEM products worth $300-- just for following The Skeptic Metaphysicians' podcast! check out the details here: https://station.page/skepticmetaphysician?g=RY6O3vRKJrAFPhBKTRzA

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

The Skeptic Metaphysicians Links:
https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/
https://newrealitytv.com/tv-show/skeptic-metaphysicians/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this week's episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs deep with The Skeptic Metaphysicians, exploring their shared love of all things Woo AND skeptical!

Like Scully and Mulder from the X-Files, The Skeptic Metaphysicians Will Rodriguez and Karen Endsley are caught between two worlds—the allure of life's mystical mysteries and the grounding force of scientific scrutiny. It's a quest to peel back the layers of the 'woo,' seeking to find what's real, what's illusion, and what lies in the realm of endless possibilities.

Will Rodriguez and Karen Endsley are the real-life husband and wife duo behind 'The Skeptic Metaphysicians' podcast. From unraveling metaphysical enigmas, past life regression and life after death experiences to exploring spiritual awakenings, they dive deep without making it cringy. Their contrasting views—one is a true pragmatist, and the other a wonder-filled explorer—make them the perfect guides for today's journey into the great unknown.

And wait-- it gets better! The Skeptic Metaphysicians and The Skeptical Shaman herself have a special offer to WIN a gift of TOTEM products worth $300-- just for following The Skeptic Metaphysicians' podcast! check out the details here: https://station.page/skepticmetaphysician?g=RY6O3vRKJrAFPhBKTRzA

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

The Skeptic Metaphysicians Links:
https://www.skepticmetaphysician.com/
https://newrealitytv.com/tv-show/skeptic-metaphysicians/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16513466 Sat, 22 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0500 3324 7 12 full false Rachel's Astrological Chart, with Sam the Sky Guy Rachel's Astrological Chart, with Sam the Sky Guy In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with a mysterious, underground figure whose nom de guerre shall henceforth be "Sam the Sky Guy." Why all of this cloak and dagger around a simple podcast guest's identity? Well, simply put, Sam has a real deal "big boy job" that would NOT appreciate his wading into the Woo in the bright sunlight of The Skeptical Shaman podcast. 

(I mean, we're not the Joe Rogan Experience in terms of numbers, but we're not doing bad, either!)

What are Rachel and Sam talking about, you might be wondering? 

Well, Sam is a deep geek EXPERT on all things astrology, and Rachel became utterly intrigued with Sam's perspective in an unrelated discussion. This interaction was so inspiring, so memorable, and so game-changing that she (somewhat impulsively) demanded he share his unique insights on the podcast. 

So, to make it all make sense, Sam literally "reads Rachel's chart" live and direct in this episode, revealing just how powerful astrology can be-- with the right astrologer! 

It's the good, the bad and the ugly, but at the very least this human-scaled dig into Rachel's birth chart reveals the complex energies and attributes we're all harnessing-- or fighting to contain! 

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Sam's Links:
Email: skyguyreadings@gmail.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with a mysterious, underground figure whose nom de guerre shall henceforth be "Sam the Sky Guy." Why all of this cloak and dagger around a simple podcast guest's identity? Well, simply put, Sam has a real deal "big boy job" that would NOT appreciate his wading into the Woo in the bright sunlight of The Skeptical Shaman podcast. 

(I mean, we're not the Joe Rogan Experience in terms of numbers, but we're not doing bad, either!)

What are Rachel and Sam talking about, you might be wondering? 

Well, Sam is a deep geek EXPERT on all things astrology, and Rachel became utterly intrigued with Sam's perspective in an unrelated discussion. This interaction was so inspiring, so memorable, and so game-changing that she (somewhat impulsively) demanded he share his unique insights on the podcast. 

So, to make it all make sense, Sam literally "reads Rachel's chart" live and direct in this episode, revealing just how powerful astrology can be-- with the right astrologer! 

It's the good, the bad and the ugly, but at the very least this human-scaled dig into Rachel's birth chart reveals the complex energies and attributes we're all harnessing-- or fighting to contain! 

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Sam's Links:
Email: skyguyreadings@gmail.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16529982 Sat, 15 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0500 4509 7 11 full false The Luminous Pearl, with Nicholas Pearson The Luminous Pearl, with Nicholas Pearson In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Nicholas Pearson, crystal and plant medicine expert and author of Crystals for Psychic Self-Defense: 145 Gemstones for Banishing, Binding, and Magickal Protection; Crystal Basics Pocket Encyclopedia: The Energetic, Healing, and Spiritual Power of 450 Gemstones; Flower Essences from the Witch's Garden: Plant Spirits in Magickal Herbalism. 

Nicholas is a veritable walking encyclopedia of all things Woo and wonderful, and in this episode he dives into practical, human-scaled tips and tricks to work with our plant and crystal allies in this Wood Snake Year!

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Nicholas' Links:
https://theluminouspearl.com/
https://www.innertraditions.com/author/nicholas-pearson

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Nicholas Pearson, crystal and plant medicine expert and author of Crystals for Psychic Self-Defense: 145 Gemstones for Banishing, Binding, and Magickal Protection; Crystal Basics Pocket Encyclopedia: The Energetic, Healing, and Spiritual Power of 450 Gemstones; Flower Essences from the Witch's Garden: Plant Spirits in Magickal Herbalism. 

Nicholas is a veritable walking encyclopedia of all things Woo and wonderful, and in this episode he dives into practical, human-scaled tips and tricks to work with our plant and crystal allies in this Wood Snake Year!

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Nicholas' Links:
https://theluminouspearl.com/
https://www.innertraditions.com/author/nicholas-pearson

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16438939 Sat, 08 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0600 3667 7 10 full false Tales From The Truth Seekers, with Natalie Fehlner Tales From The Truth Seekers, with Natalie Fehlner In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with previous guest and friend of the show, Natalie Fehlner of Sidhe AND the *new* podcast: Tales from the Truth Seekers.

In this episode, Natalie shares her journey from spiritual awakening (see previous episode for more details on her awesome experience) to spiritual confusion to disillusionment to her recent six month journey in the TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching Program-- and the new businesses, products and podcast that came out of it!

Natalie creates one-of-a-kind, custom pieces of art for sale on Etsy, offers channeled messages and incredible astrology readings, and works to bring her curiosity for all things Woo to life in episodes of Tales from the Truth Seekers. 

The upshot? You can just DO STUFF. You don't need to ask permission or get approval or encouragement from anybody to pursue your dreams, make your art, or start a new thing that no one has ever thought of before. And, the only way to find out if it's going to work is if you actually do it!

The world needs your special slice of Woo, guys-- so listen to Natalie's success story and allow yourself to dream the impossible dream. Oh, and then go DO STUFF!

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Natalie's Links:
All links: https://linktr.ee/nataliefehlner
Website: https://www.sidheart.com
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/nataliesidhe

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with previous guest and friend of the show, Natalie Fehlner of Sidhe AND the *new* podcast: Tales from the Truth Seekers.

In this episode, Natalie shares her journey from spiritual awakening (see previous episode for more details on her awesome experience) to spiritual confusion to disillusionment to her recent six month journey in the TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching Program-- and the new businesses, products and podcast that came out of it!

Natalie creates one-of-a-kind, custom pieces of art for sale on Etsy, offers channeled messages and incredible astrology readings, and works to bring her curiosity for all things Woo to life in episodes of Tales from the Truth Seekers. 

The upshot? You can just DO STUFF. You don't need to ask permission or get approval or encouragement from anybody to pursue your dreams, make your art, or start a new thing that no one has ever thought of before. And, the only way to find out if it's going to work is if you actually do it!

The world needs your special slice of Woo, guys-- so listen to Natalie's success story and allow yourself to dream the impossible dream. Oh, and then go DO STUFF!

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Natalie's Links:
All links: https://linktr.ee/nataliefehlner
Website: https://www.sidheart.com
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/nataliesidhe

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16440317 Sat, 01 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0600 3839 7 9 full false Secrets of Greek Mysticism, with George Lizos Secrets of Greek Mysticism, with George Lizos In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the *very* handsome and dynamic host of the Lit Up Lightworker podcast, George Lizos all about the world of Greek Mysticism-- and the Greek Gods, their myths, and their alignment with astrology, ritual magic, and much, much more!

George is the author of the new book Secrets of Greek Mysticism: A Modern Guide to Daily Practice with the Greek Gods and Goddesses-- and, in this episode of the pod, George shares some key insights with Rachel and her listeners-- all with a focus on these primordial powers and their potential positive impacts on our lives!

The coming Year of the Wood Snake is going to be a great time to resurrect the ancient wisdom of previous civilizations-- and a great time to revivify this incredible polytheistic pantheon in our modern lives!

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

George's Links:
George Lizos Website: https://georgelizos.com/
George Lizos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgelizos/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the *very* handsome and dynamic host of the Lit Up Lightworker podcast, George Lizos all about the world of Greek Mysticism-- and the Greek Gods, their myths, and their alignment with astrology, ritual magic, and much, much more!

George is the author of the new book Secrets of Greek Mysticism: A Modern Guide to Daily Practice with the Greek Gods and Goddesses-- and, in this episode of the pod, George shares some key insights with Rachel and her listeners-- all with a focus on these primordial powers and their potential positive impacts on our lives!

The coming Year of the Wood Snake is going to be a great time to resurrect the ancient wisdom of previous civilizations-- and a great time to revivify this incredible polytheistic pantheon in our modern lives!

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

George's Links:
George Lizos Website: https://georgelizos.com/
George Lizos Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgelizos/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16403537 Sat, 22 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0600 3423 7 8 full false Love Wild, with Katie May Love Wild, with Katie May In this special Valentine's Day week episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Katie May: host of the Love Wild Podcast, founder of Embrace Yourself Whole Coaching, and creator of The Sacred Year Project and Sacred Mother Sanctuary.

The upshot of their chat? Self-love and re-wilding are crucial ingredients to a happy, whole life-- never mind a loving relationship with anyone else (including our pets and children)!

The Year of the Wood Snake (2025) is going to bring in more of the yin energy-- a welcome downshift from the hardcore yang of the Wood Snake Year. The potential downside of all these lady vibes? Grief. Surrender. Being instead of doing. And, while all of this might sound like a welcome change, they're generally pretty challenging to navigate IRL.

After all: the map is not the territory.

But here's the silver lining report: Katie and Rachel have some pragmatic tips and tricks to make the most of this molting-- and how to relearn to re-wild and "be" instead of "do".

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Katie's Links:
Website: https://www.embraceyourselfwhole.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/embraceyourselfwhole

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special Valentine's Day week episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Katie May: host of the Love Wild Podcast, founder of Embrace Yourself Whole Coaching, and creator of The Sacred Year Project and Sacred Mother Sanctuary.

The upshot of their chat? Self-love and re-wilding are crucial ingredients to a happy, whole life-- never mind a loving relationship with anyone else (including our pets and children)!

The Year of the Wood Snake (2025) is going to bring in more of the yin energy-- a welcome downshift from the hardcore yang of the Wood Snake Year. The potential downside of all these lady vibes? Grief. Surrender. Being instead of doing. And, while all of this might sound like a welcome change, they're generally pretty challenging to navigate IRL.

After all: the map is not the territory.

But here's the silver lining report: Katie and Rachel have some pragmatic tips and tricks to make the most of this molting-- and how to relearn to re-wild and "be" instead of "do".

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Katie's Links:
Website: https://www.embraceyourselfwhole.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/embraceyourselfwhole

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16419607 Sat, 15 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0600 3960 7 7 full false Emotional Sobriety, with Dan Reeves Emotional Sobriety, with Dan Reeves In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the inspirational Dan Reeves of the Spiritual Underground podcast all about addiction recovery, healing, and....drumroll please...emotional sobriety!

Dan shares his incredible story of overcoming addiction and transforming his life, as well as what drives him to continue to talk to addicts and non-addicts all about dependency, spiritual dis-ease, and radical personal accountability. Dan's podcast, The Spiritual Underground, shares stories of recovery and of spiritual enlightenment, arming listeners with actionable insights to leverage in their own lives.

Rachel and Dan deep dive into what-- and why-- stuff triggers us, and how we can overcome our inflammatory responses in pursuit of becoming truly emotionally sober. After all: what's the point of all of this Woo-based personal growth stuff if we continually react out of a place of pain, revealing our unhealed trauma?

The Woo isn't all crystals and candles. In fact, some of it can be downright ugly-- but, if we're willing to look at it and work with it, we just might be able to turn this ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' Links:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Dan's links:
Podcast Website: https://spiritualunderground.org/index.html#/
YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@spiritualundergroundpodcast?si=rkQ6OUOGv_2sKVuM

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the inspirational Dan Reeves of the Spiritual Underground podcast all about addiction recovery, healing, and....drumroll please...emotional sobriety!

Dan shares his incredible story of overcoming addiction and transforming his life, as well as what drives him to continue to talk to addicts and non-addicts all about dependency, spiritual dis-ease, and radical personal accountability. Dan's podcast, The Spiritual Underground, shares stories of recovery and of spiritual enlightenment, arming listeners with actionable insights to leverage in their own lives.

Rachel and Dan deep dive into what-- and why-- stuff triggers us, and how we can overcome our inflammatory responses in pursuit of becoming truly emotionally sober. After all: what's the point of all of this Woo-based personal growth stuff if we continually react out of a place of pain, revealing our unhealed trauma?

The Woo isn't all crystals and candles. In fact, some of it can be downright ugly-- but, if we're willing to look at it and work with it, we just might be able to turn this ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' Links:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Dan's links:
Podcast Website: https://spiritualunderground.org/index.html#/
YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@spiritualundergroundpodcast?si=rkQ6OUOGv_2sKVuM

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16411047 Sat, 08 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0600 3572 7 6 full false Manifesting in the Matterium, with Sarah Rae Manifesting in the Matterium, with Sarah Rae The Lunar New Year-- and Year of the Wood Snake-- is officially upon us in 2025, and with it a focus on intentions, resolutions, and manifestation efforts. But, in a veritable grifter soup of interchangeable manifestation coaches, influencers and life coaches, how can you separate fact from fiction?

Sara Rae (of the Spiritually Inspired podcast) joins host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) for a discussion on this very topic, digging into the reality of manifestation-- and how it often bumps up against our shared 3D material reality.

Spoiler alert: you can't just vision board your way into millions of dollars, and even a journey to abundance will be, from time to time, wrought with potholes of scarcity, fear and hardship-- and that doesn't mean you're not doing it right (or that you're a bad person)!

This episode is all about the reality of manifesting while in the material world-- a challenging, rewarding and ultimately uplifting journey worth taking!

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Sara's Links:
Website: https://www.spirituallyinspired.co
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sararae.coach/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/211-a-moral-obligation-to-thrive-with-rachel-white/id1510808815?i=1000683461314

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> The Lunar New Year-- and Year of the Wood Snake-- is officially upon us in 2025, and with it a focus on intentions, resolutions, and manifestation efforts. But, in a veritable grifter soup of interchangeable manifestation coaches, influencers and life coaches, how can you separate fact from fiction?

Sara Rae (of the Spiritually Inspired podcast) joins host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) for a discussion on this very topic, digging into the reality of manifestation-- and how it often bumps up against our shared 3D material reality.

Spoiler alert: you can't just vision board your way into millions of dollars, and even a journey to abundance will be, from time to time, wrought with potholes of scarcity, fear and hardship-- and that doesn't mean you're not doing it right (or that you're a bad person)!

This episode is all about the reality of manifesting while in the material world-- a challenging, rewarding and ultimately uplifting journey worth taking!

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Our Sponsors' LINKS:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Sara's Links:
Website: https://www.spirituallyinspired.co
IG: https://www.instagram.com/sararae.coach/
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/211-a-moral-obligation-to-thrive-with-rachel-white/id1510808815?i=1000683461314

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16385521 Sat, 01 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0600 4321 7 5 full false Unboxing Hellier, with Angela Gore Unboxing Hellier, with Angela Gore In this special episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats all things Hellier with friend of the show Angela Gore.

Some of you might remember Ms. Gore from a previous episode of this very podcast-- titled "Keep the Dead Close"-- digging (pun intended) into the world of archeology, anthropology, and ancestral connection.

In this episode, we deep dive into the television series Hellier-- a conversation sparked by what host Rachel White has called, "literally the funniest note" she has ever received in her time doing Spiritual Transformation Coaching work.

In this note, Angela gave her blow-by-blow reactions to watching Hellier, and the team dives into these hilarious bullet points in this conversation. Hits from the note that sparked this dialogue include: "Dana should stay off of neopagan subreddits" and "On the fence about Prison Amy’s sanity here", to name just a few.

And, while this episode is a great pairing for anyone watching or just reflecting on having watched the first two seasons of Hellier on Amazon, literally anyone can enjoy this discussion of all things supernatural and American Gothic. We've got Kentucky green goblins, The Mothman, Green Man, Thelema, human sacrifice, and even a sentient tin can!

This episode is the perfect chaser to our last two episodes featuring the Chesire Cat of Hellier himself: Mr. Allen Greenfield.

Stay alert for high strangeness out there, folks-- you never know when you're going to see a totally innocent and perfectly normal shiny Happy Birthday balloon out on a nature walk;)

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats all things Hellier with friend of the show Angela Gore.

Some of you might remember Ms. Gore from a previous episode of this very podcast-- titled "Keep the Dead Close"-- digging (pun intended) into the world of archeology, anthropology, and ancestral connection.

In this episode, we deep dive into the television series Hellier-- a conversation sparked by what host Rachel White has called, "literally the funniest note" she has ever received in her time doing Spiritual Transformation Coaching work.

In this note, Angela gave her blow-by-blow reactions to watching Hellier, and the team dives into these hilarious bullet points in this conversation. Hits from the note that sparked this dialogue include: "Dana should stay off of neopagan subreddits" and "On the fence about Prison Amy’s sanity here", to name just a few.

And, while this episode is a great pairing for anyone watching or just reflecting on having watched the first two seasons of Hellier on Amazon, literally anyone can enjoy this discussion of all things supernatural and American Gothic. We've got Kentucky green goblins, The Mothman, Green Man, Thelema, human sacrifice, and even a sentient tin can!

This episode is the perfect chaser to our last two episodes featuring the Chesire Cat of Hellier himself: Mr. Allen Greenfield.

Stay alert for high strangeness out there, folks-- you never know when you're going to see a totally innocent and perfectly normal shiny Happy Birthday balloon out on a nature walk;)

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16397629 Sat, 25 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0600 4511 7 4 full false An Evening with the Sorcerer (Part 2), with Allen Greenfield An Evening with the Sorcerer (Part 2), with Allen Greenfield Well, well, well. This is a big one, ladies and gentlemen. So big, in fact, that we needed TWO episodes just to cover it.

What what, exactly? Well, in this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down for a fireside chat with famous ritual magician, Kabbalist, and former Thelemite Allen Greenfield-- recently featured as a subject matter expert in Amazon's Hellier TV series.

In a world of superficial spiritual LARPers, Allen Greenfield is a bonafide real deal-- a national treasure with all manner of arcane knowledge across his more than 60 years of hands-on esoteric experience. With legit certificates and bonafides from the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and the World Association of Egyptian Obediences, Allen is a throwback to a time when sorcerers, magicians and practitioners dug deep into ancient, esoteric knowledge-- instead of just pulling an oracle card and issuing false profundities on Instagram.

In this episode, Allen shares previously unheard insights into the unfolding Hellier magic-- an exciting behind the scenes sneak peek for listeners of The Skeptical Shaman to enjoy pending the much-anticipated Season 3 of the series.

Enjoy the second half of this epic, late night marathon between two neurodivergent acolytes of the arcane and mystical. And by late night, we mean 8 PM.

Join us on a magical journey into the heart of sorcery-- and hear Allen's tarot reading for Rachel (using, of course, the TOTEM Tarot Deck)!

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Allen's links:
BOOKS: https://t.ly/zkwri
WEBSITE: http://thesecretcipher.com/
WEBSITE (2): https://lexicon.thesecretcipher.com/
PERSONAL INFO: https://bishop171.wixsite.com/allen-greenfield

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Well, well, well. This is a big one, ladies and gentlemen. So big, in fact, that we needed TWO episodes just to cover it.

What what, exactly? Well, in this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down for a fireside chat with famous ritual magician, Kabbalist, and former Thelemite Allen Greenfield-- recently featured as a subject matter expert in Amazon's Hellier TV series.

In a world of superficial spiritual LARPers, Allen Greenfield is a bonafide real deal-- a national treasure with all manner of arcane knowledge across his more than 60 years of hands-on esoteric experience. With legit certificates and bonafides from the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and the World Association of Egyptian Obediences, Allen is a throwback to a time when sorcerers, magicians and practitioners dug deep into ancient, esoteric knowledge-- instead of just pulling an oracle card and issuing false profundities on Instagram.

In this episode, Allen shares previously unheard insights into the unfolding Hellier magic-- an exciting behind the scenes sneak peek for listeners of The Skeptical Shaman to enjoy pending the much-anticipated Season 3 of the series.

Enjoy the second half of this epic, late night marathon between two neurodivergent acolytes of the arcane and mystical. And by late night, we mean 8 PM.

Join us on a magical journey into the heart of sorcery-- and hear Allen's tarot reading for Rachel (using, of course, the TOTEM Tarot Deck)!

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Allen's links:
BOOKS: https://t.ly/zkwri
WEBSITE: http://thesecretcipher.com/
WEBSITE (2): https://lexicon.thesecretcipher.com/
PERSONAL INFO: https://bishop171.wixsite.com/allen-greenfield

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16382269 Sat, 18 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0600 3577 7 3 full false An Evening with the Sorcerer (Part 1), with Allen Greenfield An Evening with the Sorcerer (Part 1), with Allen Greenfield Well, well, well. This is a big one, ladies and gentlemen. So big, in fact, that we needed TWO episodes just to cover it.

What what, exactly? Well, in this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down for a fireside chat with famous ritual magician, Kabbalist, and former Thelemite Allen Greenfield-- recently featured as a subject matter expert in Amazon's Hellier TV series.

In a world of superficial spiritual LARPers, Allen Greenfield is a bonafide real deal-- a national treasure with all manner of arcane knowledge across his more than 60 years of hands-on esoteric experience. With legit certificates and bonafides from the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and the World Association of Egyptian Obediences, Allen is a throwback to a time when sorcerers, magicians and practitioners dug deep into ancient, esoteric knowledge-- instead of just pulling an oracle card and issuing false profundities on Instagram.

In this episode, Allen shares previously unheard insights into the unfolding Hellier magic-- an exciting behind the scenes sneak peek for listeners of The Skeptical Shaman to enjoy pending the much-anticipated Season 3 of the series.

And remember: this is just the first part of this epic, late night marathon between two neurodivergent acolytes of the arcane and mystical. And by late night, we mean 8 PM.

Join us on a magical journey into the heart of sorcery-- and hear Allen's tarot reading for Rachel (using, of course, the TOTEM Tarot Deck)!

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Allen's links:
BOOKS: https://t.ly/zkwri
WEBSITE: http://thesecretcipher.com/
WEBSITE (2): https://lexicon.thesecretcipher.com/
PERSONAL INFO: https://bishop171.wixsite.com/allen-greenfield

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Well, well, well. This is a big one, ladies and gentlemen. So big, in fact, that we needed TWO episodes just to cover it.

What what, exactly? Well, in this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down for a fireside chat with famous ritual magician, Kabbalist, and former Thelemite Allen Greenfield-- recently featured as a subject matter expert in Amazon's Hellier TV series.

In a world of superficial spiritual LARPers, Allen Greenfield is a bonafide real deal-- a national treasure with all manner of arcane knowledge across his more than 60 years of hands-on esoteric experience. With legit certificates and bonafides from the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and the World Association of Egyptian Obediences, Allen is a throwback to a time when sorcerers, magicians and practitioners dug deep into ancient, esoteric knowledge-- instead of just pulling an oracle card and issuing false profundities on Instagram.

In this episode, Allen shares previously unheard insights into the unfolding Hellier magic-- an exciting behind the scenes sneak peek for listeners of The Skeptical Shaman to enjoy pending the much-anticipated Season 3 of the series.

And remember: this is just the first part of this epic, late night marathon between two neurodivergent acolytes of the arcane and mystical. And by late night, we mean 8 PM.

Join us on a magical journey into the heart of sorcery-- and hear Allen's tarot reading for Rachel (using, of course, the TOTEM Tarot Deck)!

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Allen's links:
BOOKS: https://t.ly/zkwri
WEBSITE: http://thesecretcipher.com/
WEBSITE (2): https://lexicon.thesecretcipher.com/
PERSONAL INFO: https://bishop171.wixsite.com/allen-greenfield

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16381612 Sat, 11 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0600 4164 Hellier, Hellier tv show, Allen Greenfield, secret cipher of the ufonauts, ufonauts, supernatural, a psychics story, Rachel White, totem readings, the skeptical shaman, secrets of the black lodge, illuminati, thelma, Crowley, ritual magic, sex magic, taro 7 2 full false Empathy Not Included, with Mark Vicente Empathy Not Included, with Mark Vicente Welcome back fellow spiritually-homeless, skeptical seekers!

You're in for a treat. Why? Well, the Skeptical Shaman podcast is kicking off 2025 with a real bang: no more walking on eggshells, clenching our jaws, or tip-toeing through the metaphorical tulips of cognitive dissonance, coercive control, or mass formation psychosis!

Said another way? "Behold the field in which we grow our f*cks, for it is barren!"

To kick off this new season of the pod, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) interviews award-winning film maker and NXIVM cult survivor/ whistleblower Mark Vicente, prominently featured in the HBO documentary series 'The Vow'.

But Mark's not just a "cult survivor"-- he's actually a whole, dynamic human being that is currently leveraging his considerable talents as an author, speaker, and award-winning Writer/Director/Producer to create the film ‘Empathy Not Included’ (The Narcissist’s Playbook), a feature-length documentary exploring one of the most pervasive and often misunderstood mental pathologies in our culture: narcissism.

Shot in seven countries and viewed through the lens of four self-confessed, self-aware malignant narcissists who openly share the secrets of how they operate with uncensored candor, 'Empathy Not Included' follows their disturbing stories, juxtaposed with the growing body of wisdom from victims, survivors, scientists, and mental health professionals.

Previously, Mark unified his love of science, philosophy and film-making to create  the wildly successful independent film, “What the BLEEP do we Know?!”. He is also the host of the incredible podcast 'WTF is on my mind, with Mark Vicente"-- and the brain behind one of the funniest, sharpest Instagram accounts around.

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Mark's LINKS:
https://www.markvicente.com/
https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/
https://x.com/markvicente
https://www.empathynotincluded.com/
https://www.instagram.com/empathynotincluded/
Podcast: WTF is on my Mind?!
Youtube Channel

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Welcome back fellow spiritually-homeless, skeptical seekers!

You're in for a treat. Why? Well, the Skeptical Shaman podcast is kicking off 2025 with a real bang: no more walking on eggshells, clenching our jaws, or tip-toeing through the metaphorical tulips of cognitive dissonance, coercive control, or mass formation psychosis!

Said another way? "Behold the field in which we grow our f*cks, for it is barren!"

To kick off this new season of the pod, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) interviews award-winning film maker and NXIVM cult survivor/ whistleblower Mark Vicente, prominently featured in the HBO documentary series 'The Vow'.

But Mark's not just a "cult survivor"-- he's actually a whole, dynamic human being that is currently leveraging his considerable talents as an author, speaker, and award-winning Writer/Director/Producer to create the film ‘Empathy Not Included’ (The Narcissist’s Playbook), a feature-length documentary exploring one of the most pervasive and often misunderstood mental pathologies in our culture: narcissism.

Shot in seven countries and viewed through the lens of four self-confessed, self-aware malignant narcissists who openly share the secrets of how they operate with uncensored candor, 'Empathy Not Included' follows their disturbing stories, juxtaposed with the growing body of wisdom from victims, survivors, scientists, and mental health professionals.

Previously, Mark unified his love of science, philosophy and film-making to create  the wildly successful independent film, “What the BLEEP do we Know?!”. He is also the host of the incredible podcast 'WTF is on my mind, with Mark Vicente"-- and the brain behind one of the funniest, sharpest Instagram accounts around.

Rachel's LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching
TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo

Mark's LINKS:
https://www.markvicente.com/
https://www.instagram.com/markvicente/
https://x.com/markvicente
https://www.empathynotincluded.com/
https://www.instagram.com/empathynotincluded/
Podcast: WTF is on my Mind?!
Youtube Channel

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-16232786 Sat, 04 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0600 4471 mark vicente, the vow, nxivm, Keith rainer, a little bit culty, cults, coercive control, narcissistic abuse, NLP, Nancy salesman, Allison Mack, HBO, the vow, empathy not included, wtf is on my mind with mark vicente, cult education, spirituality, supernat 8 1 full false Jesus Walks-- Right Into Shamanic Meditations!, with Brittney Barney Jesus Walks-- Right Into Shamanic Meditations!, with Brittney Barney In this seventh episode of our Supernatural Stories series, Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with guest Brittney Barney all about her recent experience with none other than Jesus Christ!

I know, I know. The name "Jesus" is SUCH a trigger across religious AND New Age circles, making him a hard figure to chat about as a spirit guide. So, JESUS BLESS Britt for her bravery, curiosity and, above all else, spiritual honesty. I mean, it's not like she MADE this all happen!

In this episode, Rachel and Britt discuss her spontaneous vision of Jesus, as well as his seemingly very effective efforts to heal her energetically-- and possibly even physically. Britt was very pregnant at the time, and woke up the next day to an epic detox-- some might say the "detox from heaven"!

We discuss how Jesus is an unusually polarizing figure in spiritual circles, despite the regular and totally accepted appearance of religious figures from other faith systems like the Buddha, Durga, Artemis, Zeus, and even the Archangels of Christianity. Even the concept of Jesus has become a serious third rail in most polite circles, which may be limiting folks from having healing contact with this loving energy.

Don't worry-- Rachel isn't going full Jesus people on you like Doreen Virtue did (whoops). She's just trying to open the dialogue up and create some sacred space to chat about direct spiritual experiences without judgement or knee jerk reactions.

It's in the objective, messy middle that all the magic happens...and Britt is well on her way!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this seventh episode of our Supernatural Stories series, Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with guest Brittney Barney all about her recent experience with none other than Jesus Christ!

I know, I know. The name "Jesus" is SUCH a trigger across religious AND New Age circles, making him a hard figure to chat about as a spirit guide. So, JESUS BLESS Britt for her bravery, curiosity and, above all else, spiritual honesty. I mean, it's not like she MADE this all happen!

In this episode, Rachel and Britt discuss her spontaneous vision of Jesus, as well as his seemingly very effective efforts to heal her energetically-- and possibly even physically. Britt was very pregnant at the time, and woke up the next day to an epic detox-- some might say the "detox from heaven"!

We discuss how Jesus is an unusually polarizing figure in spiritual circles, despite the regular and totally accepted appearance of religious figures from other faith systems like the Buddha, Durga, Artemis, Zeus, and even the Archangels of Christianity. Even the concept of Jesus has become a serious third rail in most polite circles, which may be limiting folks from having healing contact with this loving energy.

Don't worry-- Rachel isn't going full Jesus people on you like Doreen Virtue did (whoops). She's just trying to open the dialogue up and create some sacred space to chat about direct spiritual experiences without judgement or knee jerk reactions.

It's in the objective, messy middle that all the magic happens...and Britt is well on her way!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15835492 Sat, 14 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0600 2019 7 7 full false "Archangel Michael, please protect us in traffic", with Mary Blanchard "Archangel Michael, please protect us in traffic", with Mary Blanchard In this sixth episode of our Supernatural Stories series, Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with friend and client Mary Blanchard to chat all things Archangel Michael.

Is Mary a professional psychic? No. Does she do angel readings with her Doreen Virtue deck? No. Is she selling some angel merch, like bless'd fanny packs or anointed oils? Certainly not.

Mary is just a normal, high-functioning professional living with her husband and son in the Chicago suburbs. It's not her fault that Archangel Michael keeps saving her from harrowing car accidents and demonic attacks, but here we are;)

This episode is a great example of what a human-scaled, long-term interaction with an archangel is really like. Michael's presence in Mary's life is both subtle and shocking overt-- including saving her from a very harrowing and impossible-to-survive winter car wreck! And, while it's taken her some time to navigate her bond with her feathered, angelic friend, she now has an incredibly strong connection to him-- and won't hesitate to shine the Bat Signal if she needs help in the future!

This is an uplifting supernatural story-- no spooky bumps or moans in the middle of the night! Lock in, relax and enjoy with your favorite cup of chamomile tea...or maybe a stiff whisky in the winter months!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this sixth episode of our Supernatural Stories series, Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with friend and client Mary Blanchard to chat all things Archangel Michael.

Is Mary a professional psychic? No. Does she do angel readings with her Doreen Virtue deck? No. Is she selling some angel merch, like bless'd fanny packs or anointed oils? Certainly not.

Mary is just a normal, high-functioning professional living with her husband and son in the Chicago suburbs. It's not her fault that Archangel Michael keeps saving her from harrowing car accidents and demonic attacks, but here we are;)

This episode is a great example of what a human-scaled, long-term interaction with an archangel is really like. Michael's presence in Mary's life is both subtle and shocking overt-- including saving her from a very harrowing and impossible-to-survive winter car wreck! And, while it's taken her some time to navigate her bond with her feathered, angelic friend, she now has an incredibly strong connection to him-- and won't hesitate to shine the Bat Signal if she needs help in the future!

This is an uplifting supernatural story-- no spooky bumps or moans in the middle of the night! Lock in, relax and enjoy with your favorite cup of chamomile tea...or maybe a stiff whisky in the winter months!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15835503 Sat, 07 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0600 2593 full false A Bear Hug From Beyond, with Laura Oxendine A Bear Hug From Beyond, with Laura Oxendine In this fifth episode of our Supernatural Stories series, guest Laura Oxendine breaks down what it's like to get a bear hug from the great "beyond"-- courtesy of Bear as a TOTEM Animal! 

This one's a bit softer and warmer and, well, Teddy Bear-adjacent. Well, except for the scenes of fiery vengeance and Lord of the Rings-level violence. Which, for the record, was totally justified (trust me-- just listen to the episode)!

Working with TOTEM Animals and Spirit Guides is often frustrating, challenging spiritual work, but in the case of Laura (and everyone else that does this work consistently and within the proper framework), it ABSOLUTELY delivers a significant return on investment.

What is this ROI, you might be wondering? Well, self-healing, soul part recollection, clarity, life's purpose, and recovery after trauma (just to name a few key bullet points off of the top of the dome).

Laura's story is sweet, personal, and deeply meaningful, and her journey from "WTF?" to bonafide spiritual practitioner is inspirational to us all.

Besides: fall is the season of Bear Medicine. So, warm up a bowl of autumnal soup and lock in for yet another real deal, bonafide supernatural story that an actual person has lived to tell the tale of it!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Laura's Website: https://phosphorus.ink

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this fifth episode of our Supernatural Stories series, guest Laura Oxendine breaks down what it's like to get a bear hug from the great "beyond"-- courtesy of Bear as a TOTEM Animal! 

This one's a bit softer and warmer and, well, Teddy Bear-adjacent. Well, except for the scenes of fiery vengeance and Lord of the Rings-level violence. Which, for the record, was totally justified (trust me-- just listen to the episode)!

Working with TOTEM Animals and Spirit Guides is often frustrating, challenging spiritual work, but in the case of Laura (and everyone else that does this work consistently and within the proper framework), it ABSOLUTELY delivers a significant return on investment.

What is this ROI, you might be wondering? Well, self-healing, soul part recollection, clarity, life's purpose, and recovery after trauma (just to name a few key bullet points off of the top of the dome).

Laura's story is sweet, personal, and deeply meaningful, and her journey from "WTF?" to bonafide spiritual practitioner is inspirational to us all.

Besides: fall is the season of Bear Medicine. So, warm up a bowl of autumnal soup and lock in for yet another real deal, bonafide supernatural story that an actual person has lived to tell the tale of it!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Laura's Website: https://phosphorus.ink

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15835484 Sat, 30 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0600 3189 7 5 full false Oscar Wilde's Ghost, with Christine McLaughlin Oscar Wilde's Ghost, with Christine McLaughlin In this fourth episode of our Supernatural Stories series, guest Christine McLaughlin shares her incredible experience with Oscar Wilde's ghost. Yah. Read that last bit again.

Wild, isn't it?

Not only was Oscar Wilde an iconoclastic, singular literary talent, but apparently he's a large orb hanging out in Canada, too!

Christine shares her experience with bringing this famous author home as a "spiritual hitchhiker" from a trip to a beautiful (and old, and haunted, and magical) inn! Thankfully, her trip did not take a hard left turn into The Shining territory, and there weren't terrifying topiaries or homicidal interludes...but there was more than a splash of magic and a vignette that sounds an awful lot like astral travel.

It's not everyday we get a real deal, lived, human-scaled story about a famous ghost, but thanks to Christine we can all have line of sight into this incredible tale.

It's a good one, guys. Light the candle on your altar, bust out your favorite glass of scotch, wine or kombucha, and tuck in for a heartening, uplifting tale from beyond the veil!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this fourth episode of our Supernatural Stories series, guest Christine McLaughlin shares her incredible experience with Oscar Wilde's ghost. Yah. Read that last bit again.

Wild, isn't it?

Not only was Oscar Wilde an iconoclastic, singular literary talent, but apparently he's a large orb hanging out in Canada, too!

Christine shares her experience with bringing this famous author home as a "spiritual hitchhiker" from a trip to a beautiful (and old, and haunted, and magical) inn! Thankfully, her trip did not take a hard left turn into The Shining territory, and there weren't terrifying topiaries or homicidal interludes...but there was more than a splash of magic and a vignette that sounds an awful lot like astral travel.

It's not everyday we get a real deal, lived, human-scaled story about a famous ghost, but thanks to Christine we can all have line of sight into this incredible tale.

It's a good one, guys. Light the candle on your altar, bust out your favorite glass of scotch, wine or kombucha, and tuck in for a heartening, uplifting tale from beyond the veil!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15796288 Sat, 23 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0600 2735 7 4 full false A Ghost Story, with Natalie Fehlner A Ghost Story, with Natalie Fehlner In this third episode in our special Supernatural Stories series, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client and friend Natalie Fehlner (of Sidhe) all about her real deal, actual, lived experience GHOST STORY.

Spooky stuff, guys.

But also, very funny and very cool!

This story starts with a totally innocent musical theater production, which seemed to stimulate a spirit to commit great feats of spectral strength. Turns out: a notoriously cranky stage hand had passed away in that very location, and his haunting was just a continuation of his famous antics while alive!

Natalie shares everything that went "thud" (literally), and shared more about how this experience kindled her curiosity about all things Woo and her still-unfolding spiritual awakening, which now includes psychic readings, astrology, and channeled art.

Ghosts are super fun stuff, guys. After all: they're just people! The only difference is they don't have a physical body anymore!

Wrap yourself with a cozy blanket and froth up a seasonal soup to enjoy with this very spooky season story!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Natalie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nataliefehlner

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this third episode in our special Supernatural Stories series, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client and friend Natalie Fehlner (of Sidhe) all about her real deal, actual, lived experience GHOST STORY.

Spooky stuff, guys.

But also, very funny and very cool!

This story starts with a totally innocent musical theater production, which seemed to stimulate a spirit to commit great feats of spectral strength. Turns out: a notoriously cranky stage hand had passed away in that very location, and his haunting was just a continuation of his famous antics while alive!

Natalie shares everything that went "thud" (literally), and shared more about how this experience kindled her curiosity about all things Woo and her still-unfolding spiritual awakening, which now includes psychic readings, astrology, and channeled art.

Ghosts are super fun stuff, guys. After all: they're just people! The only difference is they don't have a physical body anymore!

Wrap yourself with a cozy blanket and froth up a seasonal soup to enjoy with this very spooky season story!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Natalie's Linktree: https://linktr.ee/nataliefehlner

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15757026 Sat, 16 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0600 2101 7 3 full false Hanging Out With Mr. Wednesday, with Hannah Schwartz Hanging Out With Mr. Wednesday, with Hannah Schwartz In this second episode in our special Supernatural Stories series, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client and friend Hannah Schwartz all about her recent connection with the ancient Norse God Odin-- aka "Mr. Wednesday".

Hannah first encountered Odin as a person-sized raven watching over a flock of chickens in a dream, not immediately understanding just "who" the sentient being behind those massive bird eyes actually was. But she started to see more and more clues in her spiritual scavenger hunt, eventually reaching out to Rachel about an uncanny Substack post featuring chickens and eldritch terrors.

As Hannah continued to follow the metaphorical rabbit down the rabbit hole-- going into deeper and more ancient layers of research and meditation-- she realized that her "Mystery Man" was, in fact, the famous Mr. Wednesday!

In this episode, Hannah shares her very personal and very unexpected experience encountering and befriending this ancient deity, leveraging her burgeoning powers of prophecy and divination to continue to collaborate with her spiritual mentor. 

The bottom line? Odin doesn't bet on losers. He always picks a "winner winner chicken dinner", and Hannah is going to LOVE her unfolding experiences with her absolutely top shelf Spirit Guide.

This is a good one, with all of the makings of a great Spooky Season share out, so bundle up, light a cozy fire, and tuck in for a real deal, human-scaled Supernatural Story from yet another practitioner that is shattering the stereotype of the crystal hippy lady!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this second episode in our special Supernatural Stories series, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client and friend Hannah Schwartz all about her recent connection with the ancient Norse God Odin-- aka "Mr. Wednesday".

Hannah first encountered Odin as a person-sized raven watching over a flock of chickens in a dream, not immediately understanding just "who" the sentient being behind those massive bird eyes actually was. But she started to see more and more clues in her spiritual scavenger hunt, eventually reaching out to Rachel about an uncanny Substack post featuring chickens and eldritch terrors.

As Hannah continued to follow the metaphorical rabbit down the rabbit hole-- going into deeper and more ancient layers of research and meditation-- she realized that her "Mystery Man" was, in fact, the famous Mr. Wednesday!

In this episode, Hannah shares her very personal and very unexpected experience encountering and befriending this ancient deity, leveraging her burgeoning powers of prophecy and divination to continue to collaborate with her spiritual mentor. 

The bottom line? Odin doesn't bet on losers. He always picks a "winner winner chicken dinner", and Hannah is going to LOVE her unfolding experiences with her absolutely top shelf Spirit Guide.

This is a good one, with all of the makings of a great Spooky Season share out, so bundle up, light a cozy fire, and tuck in for a real deal, human-scaled Supernatural Story from yet another practitioner that is shattering the stereotype of the crystal hippy lady!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15756698 Sat, 09 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0600 2489 odin, spirit guide, supernatural, spiritual, totem readings, totem tarot deck, totem flower essence deck, totem readings, the skeptical shaman, Rachel White, tarot, astrology, oracle cards, flower essences, spirit guides, shamanism 7 2 full false The Mayan Death Bat, with KC Gale The Mayan Death Bat, with KC Gale In this first episode in our special Supernatural Stories series, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client KC Gale all about her now *infamous* visit from a Mayan Death Bat!

Despite what spooky or downright terrifying images the phrase "Mayan Death Bat" might initially conjure, KC is here to flip the script-- and explain how this unusual Spirit Guide is actually a spiritual sweetheart. No, really. He's a total pussycat!

Well, a pussy cat with flappy wings;)

In this episode, Rachel and KC methodically walk through how KC developed a more meaningful, direct relationship with this Spirit Guide-- who initially emerged in a Channeling Session with Rachel. The weeks and months to come brought a series of undeniable events, synchronicities and symbols, all of which made KC grateful that she had a helping hand from an ancient Mayan deity.

This is a great, human-scaled example of how developing and deepening relationships with Spirit Guides can make a measurable, positive impact on us in our daily lives.

Consider your Spooky Season officially launched! Gather around the camp fire, get a mug of apple cider, and dig in for a binge-worthy bundle of supernatural stories this fall!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this first episode in our special Supernatural Stories series, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client KC Gale all about her now *infamous* visit from a Mayan Death Bat!

Despite what spooky or downright terrifying images the phrase "Mayan Death Bat" might initially conjure, KC is here to flip the script-- and explain how this unusual Spirit Guide is actually a spiritual sweetheart. No, really. He's a total pussycat!

Well, a pussy cat with flappy wings;)

In this episode, Rachel and KC methodically walk through how KC developed a more meaningful, direct relationship with this Spirit Guide-- who initially emerged in a Channeling Session with Rachel. The weeks and months to come brought a series of undeniable events, synchronicities and symbols, all of which made KC grateful that she had a helping hand from an ancient Mayan deity.

This is a great, human-scaled example of how developing and deepening relationships with Spirit Guides can make a measurable, positive impact on us in our daily lives.

Consider your Spooky Season officially launched! Gather around the camp fire, get a mug of apple cider, and dig in for a binge-worthy bundle of supernatural stories this fall!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15756686 Sat, 02 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0500 2363 bat, totem animal, spirit guides, halloween, Rachel White, totem readings, totem tarot deck, totem flower essence deck, totem flower essences, herbalism, witchcraft, supernatural, spiritual, shamanism, Wicca, paganism, ted Andrews, a psychic 7 1 full false That Voodoo That You Do, with Sallie Ann Glassman That Voodoo That You Do, with Sallie Ann Glassman In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Voodoo practitioner, author and business owner Sallie Ann Glassman all about the realm of spirits, otherwise known in Voodoo as "loa".

Sallie has been practicing Vodoo in New Orleans since 1976 and is the owner of the Island of Salvation Botanica, a store and gallery specializing in Vodoun religious supplies, medicinal and magical herbs, and Haitian and local artworks. She received her spiritual training in Haiti in November, and is ordained as a Manbo Asogwe, or Priestess of Vodou-- and is one of the few white Americans to have been ordained via a traditional Haitian initiation.  

Sallie is also the creator of one of Rachel's favorite all-time tarot decks: The Voodoo Tarot of New Orleans, which features the various Voodoo loa, their invocations, and their special gifts and blessings for human practitioners. 

In this episode, Sallie and Rachel discuss just how powerful working with the world of spirit can be-- including Sallie's experience using ceremonial magic to quite literally stop crime in her New Orleans neighborhood! In fact, the crime-busting ceremony was so effective (resulting in arrests, etc.) that the New York Times and Smithsonian Magazine (among others) featured the story in their publications!

Sallie and Rachel also address the ontological fallacy of "toxic positivity" within the World of Woo, urging the spiritually homeless to keep an open mind and abandon their limiting, Puritanical beliefs to receive profound-- and tangible-- insights. Voodoo and the city of New Orleans serve as powerful reminders of the need to be rooted in the material world, integrating our spiritual gifts into the here and now for the benefit of all!

Links:

  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
  • TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/dikcLji
  • TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
  • Sallie's Website: https://www.islandofsalvationbotanica.com
  • Sallie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallieann61/?hl=en

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.





]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Voodoo practitioner, author and business owner Sallie Ann Glassman all about the realm of spirits, otherwise known in Voodoo as "loa".

Sallie has been practicing Vodoo in New Orleans since 1976 and is the owner of the Island of Salvation Botanica, a store and gallery specializing in Vodoun religious supplies, medicinal and magical herbs, and Haitian and local artworks. She received her spiritual training in Haiti in November, and is ordained as a Manbo Asogwe, or Priestess of Vodou-- and is one of the few white Americans to have been ordained via a traditional Haitian initiation.  

Sallie is also the creator of one of Rachel's favorite all-time tarot decks: The Voodoo Tarot of New Orleans, which features the various Voodoo loa, their invocations, and their special gifts and blessings for human practitioners. 

In this episode, Sallie and Rachel discuss just how powerful working with the world of spirit can be-- including Sallie's experience using ceremonial magic to quite literally stop crime in her New Orleans neighborhood! In fact, the crime-busting ceremony was so effective (resulting in arrests, etc.) that the New York Times and Smithsonian Magazine (among others) featured the story in their publications!

Sallie and Rachel also address the ontological fallacy of "toxic positivity" within the World of Woo, urging the spiritually homeless to keep an open mind and abandon their limiting, Puritanical beliefs to receive profound-- and tangible-- insights. Voodoo and the city of New Orleans serve as powerful reminders of the need to be rooted in the material world, integrating our spiritual gifts into the here and now for the benefit of all!

Links:

  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
  • TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/dikcLji
  • TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
  • TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
  • Sallie's Website: https://www.islandofsalvationbotanica.com
  • Sallie's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sallieann61/?hl=en

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.





]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15639010 Sat, 31 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0500 3645 6 5 full false A Psychic Dr. Doolittle, with Abigail Kochunas A Psychic Dr. Doolittle, with Abigail Kochunas In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) reconnects with "friend of the show" Abigail Kochunas, owner of of Sacred Healing Art AND an incredibly talented energy worker and animal communicator. 

Abigail outlines her journey discovering her natural talents with animal communication and energy work, and how she's adding these services to her otherwise human-centered spiritual healing practice--not to mention to her charity work at a variety of animal sanctuaries and equine therapy facilities. 

Rachel shares her recent experience with Abigail's remote animal communication and reiki work with her four backyard TOTEM Flower Essence garden chickens: Circe Lannister, Melisandre (The Red Witch), Arya Stark and Sansa Stark. Needless to say, Abigail-- the real life, psychic Dr. Doolittle-- totally tapped into issues and behaviors impossible for her to observe in real life from her home in California!

Spoiler alert: Circe really is the HBIC. I know. You're shocked;)

What's more: two of Rachel's chickens had major health turnarounds after their remote energy session with Abigail, laying their first eggs the next day and exuding health and happiness everyday since!

Animal communication is anything but silly. When done properly-- by practitioners like Abigail-- it can be a game-changing, value add Woo service that brings your whole family (pets included) closer together!

The TOTEM Tarot Deck (deck used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Abigail's Links and Website: https://linktr.ee/sacredhealingart
Abigails IG: https://www.instagram.com/sacredhealing_art/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) reconnects with "friend of the show" Abigail Kochunas, owner of of Sacred Healing Art AND an incredibly talented energy worker and animal communicator. 

Abigail outlines her journey discovering her natural talents with animal communication and energy work, and how she's adding these services to her otherwise human-centered spiritual healing practice--not to mention to her charity work at a variety of animal sanctuaries and equine therapy facilities. 

Rachel shares her recent experience with Abigail's remote animal communication and reiki work with her four backyard TOTEM Flower Essence garden chickens: Circe Lannister, Melisandre (The Red Witch), Arya Stark and Sansa Stark. Needless to say, Abigail-- the real life, psychic Dr. Doolittle-- totally tapped into issues and behaviors impossible for her to observe in real life from her home in California!

Spoiler alert: Circe really is the HBIC. I know. You're shocked;)

What's more: two of Rachel's chickens had major health turnarounds after their remote energy session with Abigail, laying their first eggs the next day and exuding health and happiness everyday since!

Animal communication is anything but silly. When done properly-- by practitioners like Abigail-- it can be a game-changing, value add Woo service that brings your whole family (pets included) closer together!

The TOTEM Tarot Deck (deck used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Abigail's Links and Website: https://linktr.ee/sacredhealingart
Abigails IG: https://www.instagram.com/sacredhealing_art/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15553796 Sat, 24 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0500 4354 6 4 full false Tuesdays With Moloch, with Roger Oney Tuesdays With Moloch, with Roger Oney In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show Roger Oney about her super-duper, not-so-fun week with an ancient Sumerian demon.

Yah. You read that right.

Listener beware: this episode IS spooky.

So spooky, in fact, that it took Rachel more than a year to decide that it was ultimately a net positive for clients and listeners to hear about her brief, harrowing ordeal.

The long and the short of it? Rachel spent a whole week handling (more like "getting handled by") a negative entity that was none-too-pleased with her efforts to empower a client. With nightly visits, Rachel found herself researching specific mentions in Milton's Paradise Lost, the Book of Exodus, and even Aleister Crowley's translation of the Lesser Key of Solomon.

It was some real Hereditary shit, and was so harrowing that Rachel legitimately contemplated closing her spiritual practice and abandoning her life's work-- and soul's purpose! Spoiler alert: she didn't close anything or stop doing this work, but this vignette stands as a memorable example of the stakes of spiritual exploration-- and what creatures may dwell just beyond our vision.

The good news? While negative, these experiences prove the existence of spirit beyond the shadow of a doubt. What's more: everything worked out just fine, as Rachel used her spiritual and energetic tools to intentionally and methodically cut cords and remove the sticky energy of this particular parasite.

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
Roger Oney links:

Roger's substack: https://rogergoesrogue.substack.com
Website: https://rogeroney.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show Roger Oney about her super-duper, not-so-fun week with an ancient Sumerian demon.

Yah. You read that right.

Listener beware: this episode IS spooky.

So spooky, in fact, that it took Rachel more than a year to decide that it was ultimately a net positive for clients and listeners to hear about her brief, harrowing ordeal.

The long and the short of it? Rachel spent a whole week handling (more like "getting handled by") a negative entity that was none-too-pleased with her efforts to empower a client. With nightly visits, Rachel found herself researching specific mentions in Milton's Paradise Lost, the Book of Exodus, and even Aleister Crowley's translation of the Lesser Key of Solomon.

It was some real Hereditary shit, and was so harrowing that Rachel legitimately contemplated closing her spiritual practice and abandoning her life's work-- and soul's purpose! Spoiler alert: she didn't close anything or stop doing this work, but this vignette stands as a memorable example of the stakes of spiritual exploration-- and what creatures may dwell just beyond our vision.

The good news? While negative, these experiences prove the existence of spirit beyond the shadow of a doubt. What's more: everything worked out just fine, as Rachel used her spiritual and energetic tools to intentionally and methodically cut cords and remove the sticky energy of this particular parasite.

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
Roger Oney links:

Roger's substack: https://rogergoesrogue.substack.com
Website: https://rogeroney.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15522141 Sat, 17 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0500 4706 6 3 full false The Art Of Spiritual Molting, with Britt Sandkulla-Sinclair The Art Of Spiritual Molting, with Britt Sandkulla-Sinclair In this episode of the Skeptical Shaman Podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Britt Sandkulla-Sinclair (of Golden Thread Alchemy) to discuss the crucial need for release and surrender as we enter a new epoch on planet earth.

Not only is Britt an astrologer and witch, but she's also a certified Death Doula--and very well versed in the world of letting go with grace. Rachel and Britt discuss this time of intense transition and transformation, and explore the nature of the forces converging to create this churn. They also dive into what human-scaled, daily practices we can all leverage to help us take the edge off during this very, very edgy time.

The executive summary? Death is inevitable, so if something is dying in your life-- like an old job, profession, industry, relationship, habit, or location-- then all you need to do is acknowledge and accept its coming. Don't white knuckle. Don't leave claw marks. And make adjustments as you-- and the world-- evolves. 

You don't have to be the same person forever. Everything else changes. You can-- and should-- too!

  • TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Britt's IG: @goldenthreadalchemy
  • Golden Thread Alchemy Website: www.goldenthreadalchemy.com


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of the Skeptical Shaman Podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Britt Sandkulla-Sinclair (of Golden Thread Alchemy) to discuss the crucial need for release and surrender as we enter a new epoch on planet earth.

Not only is Britt an astrologer and witch, but she's also a certified Death Doula--and very well versed in the world of letting go with grace. Rachel and Britt discuss this time of intense transition and transformation, and explore the nature of the forces converging to create this churn. They also dive into what human-scaled, daily practices we can all leverage to help us take the edge off during this very, very edgy time.

The executive summary? Death is inevitable, so if something is dying in your life-- like an old job, profession, industry, relationship, habit, or location-- then all you need to do is acknowledge and accept its coming. Don't white knuckle. Don't leave claw marks. And make adjustments as you-- and the world-- evolves. 

You don't have to be the same person forever. Everything else changes. You can-- and should-- too!

  • TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Britt's IG: @goldenthreadalchemy
  • Golden Thread Alchemy Website: www.goldenthreadalchemy.com


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15454019 Sat, 10 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0500 4485 death doula, spiritual, spirituality, supernatural, witchcraft, Wicca, paganism, animism, astrology, astrologer, a psychics story, a psychic's story, spiritual podcasts, Rachel White, totem readings, totem tarot deck, totem flower essence deck, totem flow 6 2 full false Your Guide to Navigating Planetary Turbulence, with Cardsy B Your Guide to Navigating Planetary Turbulence, with Cardsy B In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Rebecca Szymczak, aka Cardsy B (of The Hex and the City Podcast and The Saturn Diaries).

Cardsy B returns to The Skeptical Shaman to dig deep into the turbulence hitting planet earth-- and all of the other planets, for that matter-- at the present moment. What's going on with Saturn? Uranus? Pluto? And why is it making everything and everyone so f*cking crazy?

The answer? We're leaving one epoch and entering another, and the planets are conspiring to help us shake off our old skins and embrace the new 2.0 version available to us on the other side of these contractions. Cardsy and Rachel explore what this means for us as individuals and as a collective, and work to map out some tangible, next steps.

The long and the short of it?

"Please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened, seatback and tray table in their full-upright and locked position, and all carryon items completely under the seat in front of you. We're expecting some turbulence."

Said another way? We're not in control of what's happening. We ARE in control of how we react, how we live, and what we choose to cultivate. So, focus on yourself and your own, inner work! I mean, if ever there was a time to get our shit together, it's now;)

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Cardsy B's Links: 

  • Cardsy B's website: https://www.cardsyb.com
  • Cardsy B's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardsyb/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Rebecca Szymczak, aka Cardsy B (of The Hex and the City Podcast and The Saturn Diaries).

Cardsy B returns to The Skeptical Shaman to dig deep into the turbulence hitting planet earth-- and all of the other planets, for that matter-- at the present moment. What's going on with Saturn? Uranus? Pluto? And why is it making everything and everyone so f*cking crazy?

The answer? We're leaving one epoch and entering another, and the planets are conspiring to help us shake off our old skins and embrace the new 2.0 version available to us on the other side of these contractions. Cardsy and Rachel explore what this means for us as individuals and as a collective, and work to map out some tangible, next steps.

The long and the short of it?

"Please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened, seatback and tray table in their full-upright and locked position, and all carryon items completely under the seat in front of you. We're expecting some turbulence."

Said another way? We're not in control of what's happening. We ARE in control of how we react, how we live, and what we choose to cultivate. So, focus on yourself and your own, inner work! I mean, if ever there was a time to get our shit together, it's now;)

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Cardsy B's Links: 

  • Cardsy B's website: https://www.cardsyb.com
  • Cardsy B's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardsyb/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15444925 Sat, 03 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0500 3835 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 6 1 full false The Great UAP Awakening, with Brandon Page The Great UAP Awakening, with Brandon Page In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Brandon Page, an Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP) experiencer.

Brandon and Rachel connected "randomly" on LinkedIn, learning after the fact that they both worked at the same global corporate real estate firm and are, within reason, total "normies" on paper-- with, of course, the exception of their respective intense spiritual experiences!

Brandon shares his lifelong interactions with craft, orbs and lights in the sky, and how these experiences came rushing back into the fore in the last few years-- getting so intense that his young daughter has also had a few moments with these objects! He also relays the strange dissonance of being just a regular person having extraordinary experiences, and how he has navigated this tension point in his own life. 

The long and the short of it? He doesn't know exactly what these things are, why they're showing themselves to him and his family, but he does feel that it's significant-- and he's done hiding or withholding for fear of judgment. 

We're all past that at this point, and all signs point to increasing UAP activity-- and perhaps some disclosure this year!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Brandon Page, an Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAP) experiencer.

Brandon and Rachel connected "randomly" on LinkedIn, learning after the fact that they both worked at the same global corporate real estate firm and are, within reason, total "normies" on paper-- with, of course, the exception of their respective intense spiritual experiences!

Brandon shares his lifelong interactions with craft, orbs and lights in the sky, and how these experiences came rushing back into the fore in the last few years-- getting so intense that his young daughter has also had a few moments with these objects! He also relays the strange dissonance of being just a regular person having extraordinary experiences, and how he has navigated this tension point in his own life. 

The long and the short of it? He doesn't know exactly what these things are, why they're showing themselves to him and his family, but he does feel that it's significant-- and he's done hiding or withholding for fear of judgment. 

We're all past that at this point, and all signs point to increasing UAP activity-- and perhaps some disclosure this year!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15409168 Sat, 27 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0500 3803 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 5 9 full false The Reality of Being a Spiritual Healer, with Summer Sanders The Reality of Being a Spiritual Healer, with Summer Sanders In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Summer Sanders (of Sabai Studio). 

Summer shares her experience of owning and managing a brick and mortar healing center in Chicago's West Loop: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Things have changed for small business owners since the onset of Covid, and this is doubly (if not triply) true for those that deal in the Business of Woo. Summer details how this shift has forced her to shift as well, ultimately deciding to change her business model and move to Florida later this summer.

In this episode, Rachel and Summer pull back the proverbial kimono on what the last 4-5 years have been like for your friendly neighborhood healer, and how we can all best support the sincere, knowledgable practitioners to keep on keeping on. They also dive into how best to work with a healer, maximizing your ROI while simultaneously making your practitioner's day a little bit more manageable. 

The bottom line? Things have changed. A lot. And with that change, healers across  modalities (from Feng Shui to Reiki to Tarot and more) are experiencing exponential change fatigue. So, be kind, rewind, and support your local practitioner if you want to continue to benefit from their offerings!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach


Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX


Summer Sanders Links: 

  • Website: https://sabaistudio.org
  • IG: https://www.instagram.com/summersanders_official/


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Summer Sanders (of Sabai Studio). 

Summer shares her experience of owning and managing a brick and mortar healing center in Chicago's West Loop: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Things have changed for small business owners since the onset of Covid, and this is doubly (if not triply) true for those that deal in the Business of Woo. Summer details how this shift has forced her to shift as well, ultimately deciding to change her business model and move to Florida later this summer.

In this episode, Rachel and Summer pull back the proverbial kimono on what the last 4-5 years have been like for your friendly neighborhood healer, and how we can all best support the sincere, knowledgable practitioners to keep on keeping on. They also dive into how best to work with a healer, maximizing your ROI while simultaneously making your practitioner's day a little bit more manageable. 

The bottom line? Things have changed. A lot. And with that change, healers across  modalities (from Feng Shui to Reiki to Tarot and more) are experiencing exponential change fatigue. So, be kind, rewind, and support your local practitioner if you want to continue to benefit from their offerings!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach


Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX


Summer Sanders Links: 

  • Website: https://sabaistudio.org
  • IG: https://www.instagram.com/summersanders_official/


Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15336619 Sat, 20 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0500 3655 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 5 8 full false It's Not All Coming Up Roses, with Emma Cook It's Not All Coming Up Roses, with Emma Cook In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with SPECIAL GUEST Emma Cook, the designer and artist behind the TOTEM Tarot Deck and the TOTEM Flower Essence Deck. 

Rachel and Emma dig into the very strange-- and some very challenging-- spiritual experiences that came along with the production, printing and publication of the new TOTEM Flower Essence Deck. On the one hand, there were incredible, overt signs of encouragement from the Fairie realm, who seemed super pumped on our nature-oriented creation. 

On the other hand, there was some real Amityville Horror-level shit, too. We're talking plagues of flies, absolutely shit luck, and lurking entities bringing banged up, oppressive energy. 

Does it sound totally nuts? Yes. But did it totally happen? Yes it did. 

Oh-- and Emma and Rachel do actually share a bit of insight into he process of making a tarot or oracle deck: how to build out vision boards, front-load your text content, and then dial in design and final art at the end. They also dig into the process of self-publishing, and why this is the preference for the kids around TOTEM.

This is a real peek behind the proverbial kimono. In a world dominated by influencers and coaches whose income depends on them asserting confidence and worshipping at the altar of toxic positivity, Rachel and Emma wanted to tell the real deal, behind-the-scenes story behind the new TOTEM Flower Essence Deck.

It didn't all come up roses, but there are certainly some roses involved!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach


Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Emma Cook links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with SPECIAL GUEST Emma Cook, the designer and artist behind the TOTEM Tarot Deck and the TOTEM Flower Essence Deck. 

Rachel and Emma dig into the very strange-- and some very challenging-- spiritual experiences that came along with the production, printing and publication of the new TOTEM Flower Essence Deck. On the one hand, there were incredible, overt signs of encouragement from the Fairie realm, who seemed super pumped on our nature-oriented creation. 

On the other hand, there was some real Amityville Horror-level shit, too. We're talking plagues of flies, absolutely shit luck, and lurking entities bringing banged up, oppressive energy. 

Does it sound totally nuts? Yes. But did it totally happen? Yes it did. 

Oh-- and Emma and Rachel do actually share a bit of insight into he process of making a tarot or oracle deck: how to build out vision boards, front-load your text content, and then dial in design and final art at the end. They also dig into the process of self-publishing, and why this is the preference for the kids around TOTEM.

This is a real peek behind the proverbial kimono. In a world dominated by influencers and coaches whose income depends on them asserting confidence and worshipping at the altar of toxic positivity, Rachel and Emma wanted to tell the real deal, behind-the-scenes story behind the new TOTEM Flower Essence Deck.

It didn't all come up roses, but there are certainly some roses involved!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach


Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Emma Cook links:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15335701 Sat, 13 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0500 3070 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 5 7 full false Comedy, Libertarianism and Shamanism- Oh My! with Robbie "The Fire" Bernstein Comedy, Libertarianism and Shamanism- Oh My! with Robbie "The Fire" Bernstein In this SPECIAL "Emergency Transmission" episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with comedian and podcaster Robbie "The Fire" Bernstein. 

Robbie is the host of the Run Your Mouth Podcast and frequently co-hosts the Part of the Problem podcast with Dave Smith. He is also currently driving across the country to bring comedy and free speech to Americans right in their backyard. 

Like, literally. It's called the "Summer Porch Tour" and TOTEM is being graced with his presence-- and that of other, incredible comics-- this Thursday, July 11th (link to purchase tickets is below). 

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, we dive into a lively discussion about free speech, creative expression, empowerment, personal agency, and even a little bit about shamanism. The executive summary? Psst-- the government, media, and other authority figures might not have your best interests at heart!

The solution? Empower yourself. Start doing something you love. Being iconoclastic and embrace what the new day holds for you. No one is coming to save you, but that means that YOU can be the hero in your own story. 

Joseph Campbell AND Ayn Rand would be proud!

LINKS:

Join us this Thursday, July 11th for the Summer Porch Tour by getting your tickets here:

  • https://www.eventbrite.com/e/robbiethefire-summer-porch-tour-austin-texas-tickets-890747809677
  • Robbie's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/run-your-mouth/id1549622417

Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com

  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this SPECIAL "Emergency Transmission" episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with comedian and podcaster Robbie "The Fire" Bernstein. 

Robbie is the host of the Run Your Mouth Podcast and frequently co-hosts the Part of the Problem podcast with Dave Smith. He is also currently driving across the country to bring comedy and free speech to Americans right in their backyard. 

Like, literally. It's called the "Summer Porch Tour" and TOTEM is being graced with his presence-- and that of other, incredible comics-- this Thursday, July 11th (link to purchase tickets is below). 

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, we dive into a lively discussion about free speech, creative expression, empowerment, personal agency, and even a little bit about shamanism. The executive summary? Psst-- the government, media, and other authority figures might not have your best interests at heart!

The solution? Empower yourself. Start doing something you love. Being iconoclastic and embrace what the new day holds for you. No one is coming to save you, but that means that YOU can be the hero in your own story. 

Joseph Campbell AND Ayn Rand would be proud!

LINKS:

Join us this Thursday, July 11th for the Summer Porch Tour by getting your tickets here:

  • https://www.eventbrite.com/e/robbiethefire-summer-porch-tour-austin-texas-tickets-890747809677
  • Robbie's Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/run-your-mouth/id1549622417

Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com

  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15389268 Tue, 09 Jul 2024 21:00:00 -0500 4272 robbie Bernstein, Dave Smith, part of the problem, run your mouth, libertarian, libertarianism, covid, Fauci, ayn rand, end the fed, decentralize, shamanism, sacred clown, totem readings, spiritual freedom, medical freedom, anti-war, third party, psychic, full false Simple... But Not Easy, with Colleen Soisson Simple... But Not Easy, with Colleen Soisson In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show Colleen Soisson (of Feather Mountain Ayurveda).

Rachel and Colleen dig into the big, ancient world of Ayurveda: the 6,000 year old Indian equivalent of Chinese Herbalism and Medicine that leverages herbs, food, massage, and oils to create balance and vitality in the energy and physical bodies. And guess what? It doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, much of what Colleen outlines is crazy simple. The catch? Just because something is simple, doesn't mean it's easy.

This is especially true in a world built on the myth of "convenience"-- a myth that Colleen dismantles with expert precision. The trick? You gotta be consistent and you gotta be patient. That's the hard part, and many of us are quick to release new, healthy habits or mindfulness practice within a matter of days before they ever get a chance to take root!

In a world of fads, quick fixes, cheat codes and snake oil salesmen, investing in our health in a consistent, balanced way can seem like a real buzzkill. But it's not. The buzzkill is already here in the form of exploding autoimmune disorders, a looming global health crisis, and the emergence of "dis-ease" throughout the otherwise "healthy" modern world. 

So, long story short: we have nothing to lose by changing our habits, slowing down, and sticking to a simple plan!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach


Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX


Colleen Soisson Links:

  • Website: https://www.feathermtn.com
  • IG: https://linktr.ee/ColleenAyurveda?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show Colleen Soisson (of Feather Mountain Ayurveda).

Rachel and Colleen dig into the big, ancient world of Ayurveda: the 6,000 year old Indian equivalent of Chinese Herbalism and Medicine that leverages herbs, food, massage, and oils to create balance and vitality in the energy and physical bodies. And guess what? It doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, much of what Colleen outlines is crazy simple. The catch? Just because something is simple, doesn't mean it's easy.

This is especially true in a world built on the myth of "convenience"-- a myth that Colleen dismantles with expert precision. The trick? You gotta be consistent and you gotta be patient. That's the hard part, and many of us are quick to release new, healthy habits or mindfulness practice within a matter of days before they ever get a chance to take root!

In a world of fads, quick fixes, cheat codes and snake oil salesmen, investing in our health in a consistent, balanced way can seem like a real buzzkill. But it's not. The buzzkill is already here in the form of exploding autoimmune disorders, a looming global health crisis, and the emergence of "dis-ease" throughout the otherwise "healthy" modern world. 

So, long story short: we have nothing to lose by changing our habits, slowing down, and sticking to a simple plan!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach


Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX


Colleen Soisson Links:

  • Website: https://www.feathermtn.com
  • IG: https://linktr.ee/ColleenAyurveda?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15333209 Sat, 06 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0500 4428 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 5 6 full false The Tinfoil Hat 'Cast, with Roger Oney The Tinfoil Hat 'Cast, with Roger Oney In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show Roger Oney about the truth and fiction of spiritual conspiracy theories.

First up? The strange and very real case of Michael Aquino: a Colonel in the United States Army that literally wrote the handbook on 4th and 5th generational information warfare, titled: "Mindwar". An open Satanist, he founded the Temple of Set, the Church of Satan, and many assert he also founded the Process Church-- the official church of serial killers Son of Sam and Charles Manson. 

Despite being interviewed on national television many times by the likes of Oprah and Geraldo-- and showing off his ritual occult Nazi dagger in these televised appearances-- he continued to be promoted in the military, and was even knighted by the Queen of England, who also gave him land in Scotland.

That all seems weird, right? 

Michael Aquino is just one of MANY intelligence and military officials involved in the dark side of the occult, experiments on mind control, and much, much more, and his case study can provide a map for navigating the more treacherous waters of the Woo.

In this conspiracy theory-inspired episode, Rachel and Roger sift through what's fact and what's fiction...and trust us when we tell you: the truth really is stranger than fiction. Satanic Panic? Sure, there was some of that. But actual demon worship? Yah, there's was (and is) a bunch of that, too. So why are people super quick to dismiss objective reality as crazy conspiracy theory? 

Something about how the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Roger Oney links:

  • Roger's substack: https://rogergoesrogue.substack.com
  • Website: https://rogeroney.com

Topics discussed in this episode (with links and resources):

  • Michael Aquino: https://youtu.be/qnM95xmLoMY?si=Ch2piIC90Bs7YXKy
  • MK Ultra: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MKUltra
  • Chaos (Book About Charles Manson and MK Ultra): https://a.co/d/4Ug5Edv
  • Poisoner in Chief (Book About MK Ultra and Bioweapons): https://a.co/d/2AbYeye
  • Operation Paperclip (Book about MK Ultra and Nazi Scientists): https://a.co/d/33DjsJh
  • The Process Church and Son(s) of Sam (Netflix Documentary): https://youtu.be/ICFZ1wS8Fuc?si=1sIC7H1ecXBMpkdv

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show Roger Oney about the truth and fiction of spiritual conspiracy theories.

First up? The strange and very real case of Michael Aquino: a Colonel in the United States Army that literally wrote the handbook on 4th and 5th generational information warfare, titled: "Mindwar". An open Satanist, he founded the Temple of Set, the Church of Satan, and many assert he also founded the Process Church-- the official church of serial killers Son of Sam and Charles Manson. 

Despite being interviewed on national television many times by the likes of Oprah and Geraldo-- and showing off his ritual occult Nazi dagger in these televised appearances-- he continued to be promoted in the military, and was even knighted by the Queen of England, who also gave him land in Scotland.

That all seems weird, right? 

Michael Aquino is just one of MANY intelligence and military officials involved in the dark side of the occult, experiments on mind control, and much, much more, and his case study can provide a map for navigating the more treacherous waters of the Woo.

In this conspiracy theory-inspired episode, Rachel and Roger sift through what's fact and what's fiction...and trust us when we tell you: the truth really is stranger than fiction. Satanic Panic? Sure, there was some of that. But actual demon worship? Yah, there's was (and is) a bunch of that, too. So why are people super quick to dismiss objective reality as crazy conspiracy theory? 

Something about how the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist.

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Roger Oney links:

  • Roger's substack: https://rogergoesrogue.substack.com
  • Website: https://rogeroney.com

Topics discussed in this episode (with links and resources):

  • Michael Aquino: https://youtu.be/qnM95xmLoMY?si=Ch2piIC90Bs7YXKy
  • MK Ultra: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MKUltra
  • Chaos (Book About Charles Manson and MK Ultra): https://a.co/d/4Ug5Edv
  • Poisoner in Chief (Book About MK Ultra and Bioweapons): https://a.co/d/2AbYeye
  • Operation Paperclip (Book about MK Ultra and Nazi Scientists): https://a.co/d/33DjsJh
  • The Process Church and Son(s) of Sam (Netflix Documentary): https://youtu.be/ICFZ1wS8Fuc?si=1sIC7H1ecXBMpkdv

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15146619 Sat, 29 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0500 5579 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 5 5 full false Healing The Inner Child, with Damla Aktekin Healing The Inner Child, with Damla Aktekin In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Damla Aktekin of A Drop of Om all about the inner child-- and how to energetically heal wounds from our early years and experiences.

Damla is the host of the Conversations with Healers podcast, a forum in which she explores topics centered around the art (and the science) of energy healing-- particularly when this healing is focused on the inner child.

In this episode, Rachel and Damla chat about Shamanic Soul Part Recollections, what the "wounded" inner child looks like, and how to actually, for realsies do the critical healing work required-- not just write it off as "healed" after going to a finger-painting party or weekend retreat in Bali.

As we tackled in a previous episode, "Spirituality is NOT an aesthetic", and Inner Child work can be dark, grueling, and emotionally (and physically) draining. But it's also the key to unlocking a lot of our otherwise unrealized (and stifled) potential.

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Damla's Links: https://programs.adropofom.com/learn-more

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Damla Aktekin of A Drop of Om all about the inner child-- and how to energetically heal wounds from our early years and experiences.

Damla is the host of the Conversations with Healers podcast, a forum in which she explores topics centered around the art (and the science) of energy healing-- particularly when this healing is focused on the inner child.

In this episode, Rachel and Damla chat about Shamanic Soul Part Recollections, what the "wounded" inner child looks like, and how to actually, for realsies do the critical healing work required-- not just write it off as "healed" after going to a finger-painting party or weekend retreat in Bali.

As we tackled in a previous episode, "Spirituality is NOT an aesthetic", and Inner Child work can be dark, grueling, and emotionally (and physically) draining. But it's also the key to unlocking a lot of our otherwise unrealized (and stifled) potential.

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Damla's Links: https://programs.adropofom.com/learn-more

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14966118 Sat, 22 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0500 3730 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 5 4 full false Lucid Dreaming + Lucid Living, with Norma and Nisha Burton Lucid Dreaming + Lucid Living, with Norma and Nisha Burton In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the incredible mother/ daughter team of Norma and Nisha Burton, the creators of the Lucid Dreaming, Lucid Living Oracle Deck.

Norma and Nisha are legitimate, bonafide experts in the space of dreamtime, vision questing, shamanic journeying, and....drumroll please...LUCID DREAMING. 

In this episode, we dig into:
- How to lucid dream more
- How to leverage insights from lucid dreaming for better living
- What the meaning of lucid dreams really are
- Why lucid dreaming is so important for spiritual development

And, of course, we pull a very weird and very relevant TOTEM Tarot Card to sum it all up!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

The Lucid Living, Lucid Dreaming Deck on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0lVDajB
Lucid Living, Lucid Dreaming IG: https://www.instagram.com/lucid_dreaming_lucid_living/

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the incredible mother/ daughter team of Norma and Nisha Burton, the creators of the Lucid Dreaming, Lucid Living Oracle Deck.

Norma and Nisha are legitimate, bonafide experts in the space of dreamtime, vision questing, shamanic journeying, and....drumroll please...LUCID DREAMING. 

In this episode, we dig into:
- How to lucid dream more
- How to leverage insights from lucid dreaming for better living
- What the meaning of lucid dreams really are
- Why lucid dreaming is so important for spiritual development

And, of course, we pull a very weird and very relevant TOTEM Tarot Card to sum it all up!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

The Lucid Living, Lucid Dreaming Deck on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0lVDajB
Lucid Living, Lucid Dreaming IG: https://www.instagram.com/lucid_dreaming_lucid_living/

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14966133 Sat, 15 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0500 3437 shamanism, Rachel White, totem readings, the skeptical shaman, nisha Burton, norma Burton, lucid dreaming, lucid dreaming oracle deck, dreams, prophecy, symbols, shamanism, shamanic journeying meditation, dreams, supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, tar 5 3 full false The Reality of Spiritual Awakening, with Casey SJ The Reality of Spiritual Awakening, with Casey SJ In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Casey St. John, fellow spiritual explorer!

Casey's story follows a very well-worn path: girl goes exploring, finds a reiki studio, signs up for a session, has her mind blown by the utterly unexplainable energetic and spiritual phenomenon, and then finds herself on a quest to learn the who, what, when, why and how of it all. Much like a merry troupe of fictional Hobbits before her, she encounters some challenges and obstacles: most notably that of the absolutely decoherent noise dominating the Woo landscape.

There is so much contradictory information, and the stakes feel so high, that the obvious next step is to find a mentor or guide to assist with your travels. But the quality of that guide matters. A lot. And an inexperienced, incompetent, delusional or even nefarious guide can cause a lot more harm than good.

So, what's to be done?

Well, Casey's working her way through it all, using discernment, common sense, intuition, best practices and lessons learned to cut a path of her own. She may not have all of the answers just yet, but she's clear on what she wants and how she's going to get it moving forward.

The upshot? Give yourself permission to change your mind. Give yourself permission to leave something that isn't working for you. Give yourself permission to change and evolve and, yes, make a few "mistakes" along the way!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Casey St. John, fellow spiritual explorer!

Casey's story follows a very well-worn path: girl goes exploring, finds a reiki studio, signs up for a session, has her mind blown by the utterly unexplainable energetic and spiritual phenomenon, and then finds herself on a quest to learn the who, what, when, why and how of it all. Much like a merry troupe of fictional Hobbits before her, she encounters some challenges and obstacles: most notably that of the absolutely decoherent noise dominating the Woo landscape.

There is so much contradictory information, and the stakes feel so high, that the obvious next step is to find a mentor or guide to assist with your travels. But the quality of that guide matters. A lot. And an inexperienced, incompetent, delusional or even nefarious guide can cause a lot more harm than good.

So, what's to be done?

Well, Casey's working her way through it all, using discernment, common sense, intuition, best practices and lessons learned to cut a path of her own. She may not have all of the answers just yet, but she's clear on what she wants and how she's going to get it moving forward.

The upshot? Give yourself permission to change your mind. Give yourself permission to leave something that isn't working for you. Give yourself permission to change and evolve and, yes, make a few "mistakes" along the way!

LINKS:

  • Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
  • TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
  • Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

  • The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG
  • The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
  • TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-15093526 Sat, 08 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0500 4457 a psychic's story, Nichole Bigley, cult, mlm, pyramid scheme, life coaching, grifters, hunters, spiritual development, shamanism, totem readings, Rachel White, casey St. John, reiki, numerology, supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, energy work 5 2 full false All About Herbalism, with Megen Mundy All About Herbalism, with Megen Mundy In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Megen Mundy, the owner of Austin's oldest and most established herbalism store, the Herb Bar.

Rachel and Megen kick off this new season of the Skeptical Shaman podcast with a deep dive into the wide world of herbalism: how herbs support wellness, what issues they treat + support, and what herbs everyone should have as their "go-to's" in their pantry. This isn't hippy shit. This is human shit, and people like Megen and her team at the Herb Bar are working to bring back the old ways and reconnection shoppers and clients to the healing, plant magic all around us.

And our discussion of "le milky oats" is enough to make you blush!

Rachel and Megen also discuss flower essences: how they are the gentle, "gateway drug" for more intense herbalism protocols and tinctures-- not to mention witchy AF! The Herb Bar carries several TOTEM Flower Essences, and will be hosting our joint TOTEM Flower Essence Deck-themed event on the Summer Solstice.

LINKS
Secure your ticket (and swag bag) for the TOTEM Flower Essence Deck event at the Herb Bar on June 21st here: https://www.theherbbar.com/product/a-dark-garden-party/5235?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=72


Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Megen Mundy, the owner of Austin's oldest and most established herbalism store, the Herb Bar.

Rachel and Megen kick off this new season of the Skeptical Shaman podcast with a deep dive into the wide world of herbalism: how herbs support wellness, what issues they treat + support, and what herbs everyone should have as their "go-to's" in their pantry. This isn't hippy shit. This is human shit, and people like Megen and her team at the Herb Bar are working to bring back the old ways and reconnection shoppers and clients to the healing, plant magic all around us.

And our discussion of "le milky oats" is enough to make you blush!

Rachel and Megen also discuss flower essences: how they are the gentle, "gateway drug" for more intense herbalism protocols and tinctures-- not to mention witchy AF! The Herb Bar carries several TOTEM Flower Essences, and will be hosting our joint TOTEM Flower Essence Deck-themed event on the Summer Solstice.

LINKS
Secure your ticket (and swag bag) for the TOTEM Flower Essence Deck event at the Herb Bar on June 21st here: https://www.theherbbar.com/product/a-dark-garden-party/5235?cp=true&sa=false&sbp=false&q=false&category_id=72


Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:

TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14971843 Sat, 01 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0500 3072 herbalism, the herb bar, the herb bar Austin, Wicca, witchcraft, tinctures, tincture, flower essence, totem flower essences, Etsy, totem flower essence deck, the skeptical shaman, Rachel White, Megen Mundy, totem readings, totem flower essence deck, totem 5 1 full false The Princess and The Pea-- SOLO The Princess and The Pea-- SOLO In this special, solo episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs a bit further into The Business of Woo: the "industry" of psychics, shamans, energy workers, and yes-- even the dreaded, mythical "life coaches".

Next up on the Business of Woo myth-busting list? Self-care. 

If you're a full-time practitioner of the Woo, odds are: you're sensitive. Like, really sensitive. That's kind of how this whole psychic thing works. In fact, we're so sensitive that it can read as a bit high maintenance, ala the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. Now, multiply that inherent sensitivity by the variables of psychic and energetic client work against the backdrop of our overstimulating, relentless world and you've got a classic recipe for epic burnout. 

So, what can we do? Turns out, we can do a lot-- but we have to be consistent about it, even when we're busy or tired or a bit lazy. Salt baths, sage, grounding food, and the rest of the usual suspects really do help, but what really helps is building systems into your Business of Woo model:

  • Group like tasks: organize dates/ times for client sessions and separate dates/ times for administrative work so you're not switching so hard between "radio stations"-- energy flows where attention goes, and this approach helps you harness natural momentum and reduce the grind on your gears!
  • Maintain boundaries: energy and spirit go where they're allowed to go, so maintaining consistent containers for your life and time are super important! There will always be tasks to do and clients wanting urgent help, so it's up to you to build in the barriers so everyday isn't an energetic negotiation.
  • Give yourself a break: client-facing psychic work is a real workout for your mind, body and spirit-- so planning out breaks and scheduling self-care (like massages, salt baths and more) needs to be a standard, daily part of your business model. This isn't heading into a corporate office, sending a few emails and chatting in the lunchroom!
  • Fill your spiritual cup: as practitioners, it's vital that we set time aside for our own spiritual practice-- and not just the work we do with clients! Not only will this get you out of a pity party or stress spiral, but it's a reminder of why you started doing this in the first place-- a crucial ingredient to a long, successful Woo-based business!

A lot of this stuff sounds obvious, but it's significantly harder to operationalize in the brutal day-to-day of also being a small business owner in a time of intense competition, a rapid rate of change/ churn, and economic pressures like inflation. 

The irony? It also matters now more than ever. 

So, give this episode a listen and see what elements of Energetic Hygiene you can make a consistent thread in your workday-- and then watch as a thousand flowers bloom!

Interested in working with Rachel in a coaching or mentoring capacity? Here are the links to learn more and/or book a free consultation to discuss:

The Business of Woo Mentoring Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching

Other links to learn more about TOTEM Readings and Rachel White:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special, solo episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs a bit further into The Business of Woo: the "industry" of psychics, shamans, energy workers, and yes-- even the dreaded, mythical "life coaches".

Next up on the Business of Woo myth-busting list? Self-care. 

If you're a full-time practitioner of the Woo, odds are: you're sensitive. Like, really sensitive. That's kind of how this whole psychic thing works. In fact, we're so sensitive that it can read as a bit high maintenance, ala the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. Now, multiply that inherent sensitivity by the variables of psychic and energetic client work against the backdrop of our overstimulating, relentless world and you've got a classic recipe for epic burnout. 

So, what can we do? Turns out, we can do a lot-- but we have to be consistent about it, even when we're busy or tired or a bit lazy. Salt baths, sage, grounding food, and the rest of the usual suspects really do help, but what really helps is building systems into your Business of Woo model:

  • Group like tasks: organize dates/ times for client sessions and separate dates/ times for administrative work so you're not switching so hard between "radio stations"-- energy flows where attention goes, and this approach helps you harness natural momentum and reduce the grind on your gears!
  • Maintain boundaries: energy and spirit go where they're allowed to go, so maintaining consistent containers for your life and time are super important! There will always be tasks to do and clients wanting urgent help, so it's up to you to build in the barriers so everyday isn't an energetic negotiation.
  • Give yourself a break: client-facing psychic work is a real workout for your mind, body and spirit-- so planning out breaks and scheduling self-care (like massages, salt baths and more) needs to be a standard, daily part of your business model. This isn't heading into a corporate office, sending a few emails and chatting in the lunchroom!
  • Fill your spiritual cup: as practitioners, it's vital that we set time aside for our own spiritual practice-- and not just the work we do with clients! Not only will this get you out of a pity party or stress spiral, but it's a reminder of why you started doing this in the first place-- a crucial ingredient to a long, successful Woo-based business!

A lot of this stuff sounds obvious, but it's significantly harder to operationalize in the brutal day-to-day of also being a small business owner in a time of intense competition, a rapid rate of change/ churn, and economic pressures like inflation. 

The irony? It also matters now more than ever. 

So, give this episode a listen and see what elements of Energetic Hygiene you can make a consistent thread in your workday-- and then watch as a thousand flowers bloom!

Interested in working with Rachel in a coaching or mentoring capacity? Here are the links to learn more and/or book a free consultation to discuss:

The Business of Woo Mentoring Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching

Other links to learn more about TOTEM Readings and Rachel White:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14844818 Sat, 11 May 2024 07:00:00 -0500 2431 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 4 6 full false New Levels, New Devils-- SOLO New Levels, New Devils-- SOLO In this special, solo episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs a bit further into The Business of Woo: the "industry" of psychics, shamans, energy workers, and yes-- even the dreaded, mythical "life coaches".

Next up on the Business of Woo myth-busting list? Sabotage! Online harassment! Intellectual property theft! Abusive clients! Para-social strangeness!

Along with the new levels you reach in your Woo-based business, come along a myriad of proverbial "devils". Think Super Mario Brothers: every time you beat a level, you enter a new level with an increasingly fast and imposing Bowser.

I know what you're thinking. I used to think it, too:"Who has the time to cause problems for someone with a small little business like yours?"

The answer? Some people. I know. I'm just as surprised as you are. And who is usually behind the Scooby Doo mask when you pull it off? Competitors. I know. It's insane to act out of pocket and spend time or energy on a competitor. More times than not, we can all actually collaborate and help each others' Woo-based businesses. 

But not everybody sees it that way. And, for that matter, not everybody believes in basic civility. But never fear: new levels, new devils? Sure. But with new devils come new devil-destroying tools and tricks, and we're here to share them with you!

Interested in working with Rachel in a coaching or mentoring capacity? Here are the links to learn more and/or book a free consultation to discuss:

The Business of Woo Mentoring Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching

Other links to learn more about TOTEM Readings and Rachel White:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special, solo episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs a bit further into The Business of Woo: the "industry" of psychics, shamans, energy workers, and yes-- even the dreaded, mythical "life coaches".

Next up on the Business of Woo myth-busting list? Sabotage! Online harassment! Intellectual property theft! Abusive clients! Para-social strangeness!

Along with the new levels you reach in your Woo-based business, come along a myriad of proverbial "devils". Think Super Mario Brothers: every time you beat a level, you enter a new level with an increasingly fast and imposing Bowser.

I know what you're thinking. I used to think it, too:"Who has the time to cause problems for someone with a small little business like yours?"

The answer? Some people. I know. I'm just as surprised as you are. And who is usually behind the Scooby Doo mask when you pull it off? Competitors. I know. It's insane to act out of pocket and spend time or energy on a competitor. More times than not, we can all actually collaborate and help each others' Woo-based businesses. 

But not everybody sees it that way. And, for that matter, not everybody believes in basic civility. But never fear: new levels, new devils? Sure. But with new devils come new devil-destroying tools and tricks, and we're here to share them with you!

Interested in working with Rachel in a coaching or mentoring capacity? Here are the links to learn more and/or book a free consultation to discuss:

The Business of Woo Mentoring Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching

Other links to learn more about TOTEM Readings and Rachel White:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14844835 Sat, 04 May 2024 07:00:00 -0500 2349 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 4 5 full false A Bird In The Hand-- SOLO A Bird In The Hand-- SOLO In this special, solo episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs a bit further into The Business of Woo: the "industry" of psychics, shamans, energy workers, and yes-- even the dreaded, mythical "life coaches".

Next up on the Business of Woo myth-busting list? Client retention. What is it? How do you do it? Why does it matter? And why is it actually for realsies way more important than any bullsh*t you're up to on social media.

Spoiler alert: your clients are your business, so by focusing on the fundamentals of your service delivery and just being a f*cking human being, you're already ahead of the curve.

After all: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

My hot take? The very best new customers come from current client referrals, so focusing on delivering exceptional services and products in the moment is the most important marketing technique you can master.

Your brand is your most important asset, and as we've already covered: your brand isn't just a logo. In fact, your behaviors are the most critical, experiential aspect of your brand, and can either reinforce or erode your reputation in the marketplace.

In this episode, we dig into the crucial importance of "chopping wood and carrying water" in your Woo-based business, and why focusing on the basics and getting present and focused with each client meeting, session or consultation is the real competitive advantage.

Interested in working with Rachel in a coaching or mentoring capacity? Here are the links to learn more and/or book a free consultation to discuss:

The Business of Woo Mentoring Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching

Other links to learn more about TOTEM Readings and Rachel White:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special, solo episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs a bit further into The Business of Woo: the "industry" of psychics, shamans, energy workers, and yes-- even the dreaded, mythical "life coaches".

Next up on the Business of Woo myth-busting list? Client retention. What is it? How do you do it? Why does it matter? And why is it actually for realsies way more important than any bullsh*t you're up to on social media.

Spoiler alert: your clients are your business, so by focusing on the fundamentals of your service delivery and just being a f*cking human being, you're already ahead of the curve.

After all: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

My hot take? The very best new customers come from current client referrals, so focusing on delivering exceptional services and products in the moment is the most important marketing technique you can master.

Your brand is your most important asset, and as we've already covered: your brand isn't just a logo. In fact, your behaviors are the most critical, experiential aspect of your brand, and can either reinforce or erode your reputation in the marketplace.

In this episode, we dig into the crucial importance of "chopping wood and carrying water" in your Woo-based business, and why focusing on the basics and getting present and focused with each client meeting, session or consultation is the real competitive advantage.

Interested in working with Rachel in a coaching or mentoring capacity? Here are the links to learn more and/or book a free consultation to discuss:

The Business of Woo Mentoring Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching

Other links to learn more about TOTEM Readings and Rachel White:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14844809 Sat, 27 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0500 2249 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, full false Say What You Mean- SOLO Say What You Mean- SOLO In this special, solo episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs a bit further into The Business of Woo: the "industry" of psychics, shamans, energy workers, and yes-- even the dreaded, mythical "life coaches".

Next up on the Business of Woo myth-busting list? Content creation. What is it? How do you do it? And, more importantly, how do you make it work for you-- instead of just turning into the "dry hump of marketing campaigns"?

A simple trick? Figure out what you're going to say before you start saying it.

Another trick? Don't say (or write or post) stuff unless you have something to say-- and a good reason to say it.

Nothing is new under the sun, and we need look no further for proof than in the PowerPoint slide-style, rote "three things to remember" bullet-point social media posts littering the landscape. Spoiler alert: when you boil something down to the very nub of the basics, you're not actually saying anything anymore.

People can handle content. They have attention spans. They read text-heavy, long-form posts-- and they're thirsting for thought leaders, business owners and spiritual practitioners that offer them value instead of constantly vying for position-- and their hard-earned money.

What's more: people are getting savvy, and they're sick of the same, regurgitated, commoditized race-to-the-bottom drivel. They're starting to pick up on the soft bigotry of low expectations, and they're not too fond of the feeling of grabby hands in their pockets.

There's a better, more natural way to share your thoughts and create content. And it's pretty simple: you just need to think about whether or not you would be interested in hearing or reading what you're about to communicate. And this The Business of Woo series is here to help!

Interested in working with Rachel in a coaching or mentoring capacity? Here are the links to learn more and/or book a free consultation to discuss:

The Business of Woo Mentoring Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching

Other links to learn more about TOTEM Readings and Rachel White:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special, solo episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs a bit further into The Business of Woo: the "industry" of psychics, shamans, energy workers, and yes-- even the dreaded, mythical "life coaches".

Next up on the Business of Woo myth-busting list? Content creation. What is it? How do you do it? And, more importantly, how do you make it work for you-- instead of just turning into the "dry hump of marketing campaigns"?

A simple trick? Figure out what you're going to say before you start saying it.

Another trick? Don't say (or write or post) stuff unless you have something to say-- and a good reason to say it.

Nothing is new under the sun, and we need look no further for proof than in the PowerPoint slide-style, rote "three things to remember" bullet-point social media posts littering the landscape. Spoiler alert: when you boil something down to the very nub of the basics, you're not actually saying anything anymore.

People can handle content. They have attention spans. They read text-heavy, long-form posts-- and they're thirsting for thought leaders, business owners and spiritual practitioners that offer them value instead of constantly vying for position-- and their hard-earned money.

What's more: people are getting savvy, and they're sick of the same, regurgitated, commoditized race-to-the-bottom drivel. They're starting to pick up on the soft bigotry of low expectations, and they're not too fond of the feeling of grabby hands in their pockets.

There's a better, more natural way to share your thoughts and create content. And it's pretty simple: you just need to think about whether or not you would be interested in hearing or reading what you're about to communicate. And this The Business of Woo series is here to help!

Interested in working with Rachel in a coaching or mentoring capacity? Here are the links to learn more and/or book a free consultation to discuss:

The Business of Woo Mentoring Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo
TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching Program: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching

Other links to learn more about TOTEM Readings and Rachel White:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14759344 Sat, 20 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0500 2699 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 4 3 full false A Hollow Rhyme?-- SOLO A Hollow Rhyme?-- SOLO In this special, solo episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs a bit further into The Business of Woo: the "industry" of psychics, shamans, energy workers, and yes-- even the dreaded, mythical "life coaches".

First up on the Business of Woo myth-busting list? Differentiation and branding. What is a brand? What is a differentiator? And how do these super duper corporate concepts come into play for a Woo-based business? 

What's more: how much should you pay someone for a "brand" or for help with you differentiating your offering in the marketplace? And what do these deliverables look like?

There are a lot of children playing "office" on social media, garnishing their word salad with these words in an effort to seem knowledgable against an intensely curated (and very expensive) backdrop of lifestyle flotsam and jetsam-- but are they experts? After all, the ubiquitous focus on "authenticity" and "sincerity" is reading a bit saccharine, don't you think? Or, as the brilliant Rick Rubin put it: "Sweetness made small. A hollow rhyme in a greeting card."

Don't be a hollow rhyme. Don't do what everyone else is doing. Don't indulge the urge to ugly cry on Instagram in the hopes of coming across as "sincere".  People are getting pretty good at smelling the proverbial manure from greater and greater distances. 

What's more: that's not a brand. That's not a differentiator. That's not a value proposition.

There's a less cringe way to brand and market, and guess what? It's pretty simple. You just need to put your big kid pants on for a minute and look at things objectively. And this The Business of Woo series is here to help!

Interested in working with Rachel in a coaching or mentoring capacity? Here are the links to learn more and/or book a free consultation to discuss:

Other links to learn more about TOTEM Readings and Rachel White:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this special, solo episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs a bit further into The Business of Woo: the "industry" of psychics, shamans, energy workers, and yes-- even the dreaded, mythical "life coaches".

First up on the Business of Woo myth-busting list? Differentiation and branding. What is a brand? What is a differentiator? And how do these super duper corporate concepts come into play for a Woo-based business? 

What's more: how much should you pay someone for a "brand" or for help with you differentiating your offering in the marketplace? And what do these deliverables look like?

There are a lot of children playing "office" on social media, garnishing their word salad with these words in an effort to seem knowledgable against an intensely curated (and very expensive) backdrop of lifestyle flotsam and jetsam-- but are they experts? After all, the ubiquitous focus on "authenticity" and "sincerity" is reading a bit saccharine, don't you think? Or, as the brilliant Rick Rubin put it: "Sweetness made small. A hollow rhyme in a greeting card."

Don't be a hollow rhyme. Don't do what everyone else is doing. Don't indulge the urge to ugly cry on Instagram in the hopes of coming across as "sincere".  People are getting pretty good at smelling the proverbial manure from greater and greater distances. 

What's more: that's not a brand. That's not a differentiator. That's not a value proposition.

There's a less cringe way to brand and market, and guess what? It's pretty simple. You just need to put your big kid pants on for a minute and look at things objectively. And this The Business of Woo series is here to help!

Interested in working with Rachel in a coaching or mentoring capacity? Here are the links to learn more and/or book a free consultation to discuss:

Other links to learn more about TOTEM Readings and Rachel White:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14759323 Sat, 13 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0500 2805 the skeptical shaman, skeptical shaman, Rachel White, totem readings, totem, totem tarot deck, totem flower essences, branding, small business, female-owned business, side hustle, differentiation, the business of woo, new age, shamanism, meditation, spiri 4 2 full false The Business of Woo-- SOLO The Business of Woo-- SOLO In this SOLO episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs into The Business of Woo: the "industry" of psychics, shamans, energy workers, and yes-- even the dreaded, mythical "life coaches".

With the economy and job market doing STRANGE THINGS and the rate of change and churn hitting an exponential pace, more and more folks might get the idea that they should dive into the deep waters of the Woo, perhaps even becoming a professional practitioner. And, while those that are genuinely getting pinged by the Universe should embrace their destiny, the same isn't true for the spiritual grifters, hustlers and get-rich-quick schemers that think the Business of Woo is an "easy way to make money".

It's not.

And you better be genuinely obsessed with it if you want to do it for a living.

This episode explores the myths of "passive income", social media as a guaranteed business amplifier, and why book deals and retreats aren't all they're cracked up to be.

Spoiler alert: the thoughtfully-curated world presented to you by other coaches or influencers on social media isn't the whole picture-- and, in many cases, is a purposeful (and profit-driven) misdirection.

The Business of Woo SOLO series of The Skeptical Shaman harkens back to the tagline of MTV's The Real World: "This is what happens when we stop being polite, and start getting real."

Interested in working with Rachel in a coaching or mentoring capacity? Here are the links to learn more and/or book a free consultation to discuss:

Other links to learn more about TOTEM Readings and Rachel White:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this SOLO episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs into The Business of Woo: the "industry" of psychics, shamans, energy workers, and yes-- even the dreaded, mythical "life coaches".

With the economy and job market doing STRANGE THINGS and the rate of change and churn hitting an exponential pace, more and more folks might get the idea that they should dive into the deep waters of the Woo, perhaps even becoming a professional practitioner. And, while those that are genuinely getting pinged by the Universe should embrace their destiny, the same isn't true for the spiritual grifters, hustlers and get-rich-quick schemers that think the Business of Woo is an "easy way to make money".

It's not.

And you better be genuinely obsessed with it if you want to do it for a living.

This episode explores the myths of "passive income", social media as a guaranteed business amplifier, and why book deals and retreats aren't all they're cracked up to be.

Spoiler alert: the thoughtfully-curated world presented to you by other coaches or influencers on social media isn't the whole picture-- and, in many cases, is a purposeful (and profit-driven) misdirection.

The Business of Woo SOLO series of The Skeptical Shaman harkens back to the tagline of MTV's The Real World: "This is what happens when we stop being polite, and start getting real."

Interested in working with Rachel in a coaching or mentoring capacity? Here are the links to learn more and/or book a free consultation to discuss:

Other links to learn more about TOTEM Readings and Rachel White:

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14759314 Sat, 06 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0500 2528 totem readings, Rachel white, totem, the skeptical shaman, skeptical shaman, spirituality, supranational, the business of woo, totem tarot deck, totem flower essences, tarot deck, flower essences, shamanism, shaman, meditation, shamanic journeying meditat 4 1 full false The Woo Woo Woman, with Shelly Saunier The Woo Woo Woman, with Shelly Saunier In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the "Woo Woo Woman" herself: Shelly Saunier. Shelly is a holistic yoga instructor, registered nurse and the host of the Woo Woo Woman podcast, which is designed to help listers unlock their empowerment and self-improvement through tapping into the deep Woo all around us.

Rachel and Shelly explore the reality of running a Woo business-- and why having something interesting to say is more important than just feeling compelled to say SOMETHING! What's also important? Keeping it really real in a world serving up a steady diet of raw bullshit from "influencers" and "content creators" that compulsively share and post without first thinking through the "why".

Shelly shares her experience posting insights from the meditative temple of the toilet (as in, literally) and why she's breaking her own "rules" to pursue a more fluid, yin way of being in business-- and in the world more broadly. Life isn't perfect, and neither are practitioners. Investing all of your energy into a false, curated "persona" is a waste of critical time and energy that can otherwise be spent actually working with real life humans in meaningful, poignant ways!

Of course, we pull a freakishly on point card from the TOTEM Tarot Deck!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Shelly's Links: https://linktr.ee/shellysaunier
The Woo Woo Woman Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0z79EyGYVSlE9jq7J240PX?si=9b7bd9ba5cc14a85

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the "Woo Woo Woman" herself: Shelly Saunier. Shelly is a holistic yoga instructor, registered nurse and the host of the Woo Woo Woman podcast, which is designed to help listers unlock their empowerment and self-improvement through tapping into the deep Woo all around us.

Rachel and Shelly explore the reality of running a Woo business-- and why having something interesting to say is more important than just feeling compelled to say SOMETHING! What's also important? Keeping it really real in a world serving up a steady diet of raw bullshit from "influencers" and "content creators" that compulsively share and post without first thinking through the "why".

Shelly shares her experience posting insights from the meditative temple of the toilet (as in, literally) and why she's breaking her own "rules" to pursue a more fluid, yin way of being in business-- and in the world more broadly. Life isn't perfect, and neither are practitioners. Investing all of your energy into a false, curated "persona" is a waste of critical time and energy that can otherwise be spent actually working with real life humans in meaningful, poignant ways!

Of course, we pull a freakishly on point card from the TOTEM Tarot Deck!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Shelly's Links: https://linktr.ee/shellysaunier
The Woo Woo Woman Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0z79EyGYVSlE9jq7J240PX?si=9b7bd9ba5cc14a85

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14662719 Sat, 30 Mar 2024 08:00:00 -0500 3190 spirituality, shamanism, a psychic's story, totem readings, totem tarot deck, totem flower essences, the skeptical shaman, Rachel White, skeptical shaman, shamanism, meditation, reiki, yoga, energy work, plant medicine, herbalism, witchcraft, paganism, Wi 3 9 full false Spirituality Is Not An Aesthetic, with Natalie Fehlner Spirituality Is Not An Aesthetic, with Natalie Fehlner In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Natalie Fehlner, writer, teacher, theater artist and actual, real-deal spiritual seeker all about Natalie's spontaneous spiritual awakening-- and the good, the bad, and the ugly that followed!

Rachel first stumbled upon Natalie and her story via the most unlikely of sources: a poem read aloud on Instagram! This poem, titled, "Spirituality Is Not An Aesthetic", sums up the inevitable disillusionment that comes along with any spiritual journey: first you have the incredible, paradigm-shifting experience, then you reorganize your personal belief system, and then you get super excited to venture out into the world of Woo to meet other, like-minded spiritual explorers.

The upshot? A lot of spiritual teachers, gurus and "experts" are a big fat disappointment to those coming off a fresh (and genuine) spiritual experience. The let down is inevitable, as you go from healing circle to urban sweat lodge filled with performative, spiritual LARPers wearing their requisite costumes and leveraging their requisite New Age vernacular.

But it's not all bad. That disappointment in outside voices redirects us back to ourselves-- and to direct revelation from and communication with spirit. F*ck all those life coaches and green juice drinkers and pashmina-wearing spiritual narcissists! We've got something better: ourselves and our spirit guides.

And Natalie's unabashedly honest and vulnerable story-- very much in-progress-- gives us all line of sight into our own journeys, as well as the necessary radical self-acceptance required for the REAL journey ahead.

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Natalie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/nataliefehlner/
Natalie's Substack: https://nataliefehlner.substack.com

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Natalie Fehlner, writer, teacher, theater artist and actual, real-deal spiritual seeker all about Natalie's spontaneous spiritual awakening-- and the good, the bad, and the ugly that followed!

Rachel first stumbled upon Natalie and her story via the most unlikely of sources: a poem read aloud on Instagram! This poem, titled, "Spirituality Is Not An Aesthetic", sums up the inevitable disillusionment that comes along with any spiritual journey: first you have the incredible, paradigm-shifting experience, then you reorganize your personal belief system, and then you get super excited to venture out into the world of Woo to meet other, like-minded spiritual explorers.

The upshot? A lot of spiritual teachers, gurus and "experts" are a big fat disappointment to those coming off a fresh (and genuine) spiritual experience. The let down is inevitable, as you go from healing circle to urban sweat lodge filled with performative, spiritual LARPers wearing their requisite costumes and leveraging their requisite New Age vernacular.

But it's not all bad. That disappointment in outside voices redirects us back to ourselves-- and to direct revelation from and communication with spirit. F*ck all those life coaches and green juice drinkers and pashmina-wearing spiritual narcissists! We've got something better: ourselves and our spirit guides.

And Natalie's unabashedly honest and vulnerable story-- very much in-progress-- gives us all line of sight into our own journeys, as well as the necessary radical self-acceptance required for the REAL journey ahead.

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Natalie's IG: https://www.instagram.com/nataliefehlner/
Natalie's Substack: https://nataliefehlner.substack.com

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14638833 Sat, 23 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0500 3701 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 3 8 full false Philosophy As Therapy, with Matthew Gindin Philosophy As Therapy, with Matthew Gindin In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Matthew Gindin, freelance writer, teacher, acupuncturist and author of the Philosophy as Therapy Substack.

To say that Matthew's background is eclectic is an understatement. When he was 21, he lived as a monastic Forest Monk in the Thai Buddhist tradition for three years. Since then, he has continued to explore and examine, experimenting with observant Jewish practice, Advaita Vedanta, Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, and Western Esoteric traditions while all along the way reading philosophy and science. He also taught meditation and yoga and has worked as an Ayurvedic counsellor and Chinese medical acupuncturist.

Yah. It's a lot of stuff, and it's all informed his new writings on the Philosophy as Therapy Substack, which brings together his dynamic background with the philosophical teachings of the Buddha and Hellenic (particularly Stoic) philosophers-- all with the intent of offering relief from suffering through the cultivation of meaning.

Rachel and Matthew also explore how true spiritual and intellectual exploration and growth will inevitably lead to ego death, the destruction of closely-held paradigms, and the exponential expansion of personal perspective, sharing their personal stories of evolution.

In other words: tribalism and teams don't survive true spiritual growth OR intellectual honesty. And yes, it really pisses people off when you grow or, worse yet, "change your mind".

The upshot? Your old, bad ideas and beliefs have to die so you don't have to suffer in ignorance. And, to do this, you must expand out beyond your limitations and explore new intellectual, existential and spiritual cultures and concepts.

Regardless of what Becky at the lunch table has to say about it.

Is it hard to face facts? Let go of your closely held beliefs? Sit in the "in between" of the messy middle?

Yes. But it's also totally worth it.

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Matthew's Substack: https://matthewgindin.substack.com
Matthew's Medium: https://matthewzgindin.medium.com

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Matthew Gindin, freelance writer, teacher, acupuncturist and author of the Philosophy as Therapy Substack.

To say that Matthew's background is eclectic is an understatement. When he was 21, he lived as a monastic Forest Monk in the Thai Buddhist tradition for three years. Since then, he has continued to explore and examine, experimenting with observant Jewish practice, Advaita Vedanta, Zen, Tibetan Buddhism, and Western Esoteric traditions while all along the way reading philosophy and science. He also taught meditation and yoga and has worked as an Ayurvedic counsellor and Chinese medical acupuncturist.

Yah. It's a lot of stuff, and it's all informed his new writings on the Philosophy as Therapy Substack, which brings together his dynamic background with the philosophical teachings of the Buddha and Hellenic (particularly Stoic) philosophers-- all with the intent of offering relief from suffering through the cultivation of meaning.

Rachel and Matthew also explore how true spiritual and intellectual exploration and growth will inevitably lead to ego death, the destruction of closely-held paradigms, and the exponential expansion of personal perspective, sharing their personal stories of evolution.

In other words: tribalism and teams don't survive true spiritual growth OR intellectual honesty. And yes, it really pisses people off when you grow or, worse yet, "change your mind".

The upshot? Your old, bad ideas and beliefs have to die so you don't have to suffer in ignorance. And, to do this, you must expand out beyond your limitations and explore new intellectual, existential and spiritual cultures and concepts.

Regardless of what Becky at the lunch table has to say about it.

Is it hard to face facts? Let go of your closely held beliefs? Sit in the "in between" of the messy middle?

Yes. But it's also totally worth it.

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Matthew's Substack: https://matthewgindin.substack.com
Matthew's Medium: https://matthewzgindin.medium.com

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14519408 Sat, 16 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0500 3747 shamanism, the skeptical shaman, the skeptical shaman podcast, skeptical shaman, skeptical shaman podcast, totem readings, totem, Rachel white, totem tarot deck, totem flower essences, tarot, tarot cards, divination, psychic, psychic medium, medium, chann 3 7 full false The Business of Intuition, with Dean Newlund The Business of Intuition, with Dean Newlund In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Dean Newlund, CEO of Mission Facilitators and the host of The Business of Intuition podcast all about the world of intuition.

What is intuition? Why is it important for business? How can we leverage it? What does intuition look like in human-scaled examples? And what's the ROI on focusing on cultivating-- and leveraging-- our intuition?  Dean is effectively a human aggregator of all things intuition, having collected metadata from hundreds of discussions on the topic with industry leaders from all walks of life, and he sheds some serious light on these and other questions.

Dean and Rachel also take a typical sharp left turn into The Fourth Turning, AI, Epochs, and general End Times fun. The upshot? Cultivating our intuition during these turbulent times marked by churn and hyper-novelty could just make the difference in navigating shifting landscapes successfully. In other words? Intuition isn't just for shamans and crystal hippy ladies anymore-- consider it your competitive advantage in a really challenging marketplace.

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Dean's Website: https://mfileadership.com
The Business of Intuition Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business-of-intuition/id1511851813

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Dean Newlund, CEO of Mission Facilitators and the host of The Business of Intuition podcast all about the world of intuition.

What is intuition? Why is it important for business? How can we leverage it? What does intuition look like in human-scaled examples? And what's the ROI on focusing on cultivating-- and leveraging-- our intuition?  Dean is effectively a human aggregator of all things intuition, having collected metadata from hundreds of discussions on the topic with industry leaders from all walks of life, and he sheds some serious light on these and other questions.

Dean and Rachel also take a typical sharp left turn into The Fourth Turning, AI, Epochs, and general End Times fun. The upshot? Cultivating our intuition during these turbulent times marked by churn and hyper-novelty could just make the difference in navigating shifting landscapes successfully. In other words? Intuition isn't just for shamans and crystal hippy ladies anymore-- consider it your competitive advantage in a really challenging marketplace.

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Dean's Website: https://mfileadership.com
The Business of Intuition Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-business-of-intuition/id1511851813

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14519399 Sat, 09 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0600 3395 the business of intuition, dean Newlund, intuition, the skeptical shaman, Rachel white, totem readings, totem tarot deck, totem flower essences, shamanism, flower essences, plant medicine, energy work, psychic, psychic medium, channeling, religion, shaman 3 6 full false Be It 'Till You See It, with Lesley Logan Be It 'Till You See It, with Lesley Logan In this magical episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Lesley Logan, founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com and the host of the Be It Till You See It podcast. Lesley is a dynamic, iconoclastic solopreneur that has broken free of her limiting beliefs to ditch perfection and pursue her dreams-- however wild they may seem or sound.

And guess what? It all worked out-- and worked out in bigger and more marvelous ways than she could have ever expected!

In this podcast, Lesley and Rachel share their business "origin stories", giving an unvarnished view of how the messy small business sausage gets made. Spoiler alert: there is no cheat code or life hack that lays it all out when you're creating something new out in the proverbial wilderness. What you do have at your disposal is your intuition, your common sense, and your commitment to taking the ultimate risk: betting on yourself.

Besides: the old rules of working hard and staying with a company in the long term in exchange for job security just don't apply anymore. Starting your own thing might be the new hedge against a very turbulent, hyper-novel marketplace marked by churn and an ever-increasing rate of change. And, if you can create a business, practice or product that aligns with your life's purpose, all the better!

It's not a perfect journey, and there are fits and starts. But, if you widen your gaze and embrace the mantra of "be it 'till you see it", you'll certainly come out the other side living your own dream.

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck:https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Lesley's full bio can be found at https://LesleyLogan.co/about
Lesley's links: onlinepilatesclasses.com
Lesley's Free Mat Pilates series: fullbodyin15.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this magical episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Lesley Logan, founder of OnlinePilatesClasses.com and the host of the Be It Till You See It podcast. Lesley is a dynamic, iconoclastic solopreneur that has broken free of her limiting beliefs to ditch perfection and pursue her dreams-- however wild they may seem or sound.

And guess what? It all worked out-- and worked out in bigger and more marvelous ways than she could have ever expected!

In this podcast, Lesley and Rachel share their business "origin stories", giving an unvarnished view of how the messy small business sausage gets made. Spoiler alert: there is no cheat code or life hack that lays it all out when you're creating something new out in the proverbial wilderness. What you do have at your disposal is your intuition, your common sense, and your commitment to taking the ultimate risk: betting on yourself.

Besides: the old rules of working hard and staying with a company in the long term in exchange for job security just don't apply anymore. Starting your own thing might be the new hedge against a very turbulent, hyper-novel marketplace marked by churn and an ever-increasing rate of change. And, if you can create a business, practice or product that aligns with your life's purpose, all the better!

It's not a perfect journey, and there are fits and starts. But, if you widen your gaze and embrace the mantra of "be it 'till you see it", you'll certainly come out the other side living your own dream.

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck:https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Lesley's full bio can be found at https://LesleyLogan.co/about
Lesley's links: onlinepilatesclasses.com
Lesley's Free Mat Pilates series: fullbodyin15.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14487556 Sat, 02 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0600 3703 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 3 5 full false Of Soul And Sky, with Bonnie Piesse Of Soul And Sky, with Bonnie Piesse In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the incredible Bonnie Piesse,  host of the I Am The Sky podcast.

Best known for her role as Luke Skywalker's Aunt Beru in the ’Star Wars’ Universe, (Episodes II, III and Obi-Wan Kenobi), Bonnie is also a singer, songwriter, and intuitive practitioner, supporting her clients through her spiritual practice Of Soul and Sky. Bonnie was also featured prominently in the HBO documentary-series ‘The Vow', which detailed her harrowing journey with the destructive NXIVM cult.

Rachel and Bonnie discuss how Bonnie's connection to her intuition--which may or may not be referred to as "The Force"-- helped to wake her up to the reality of living inside of NXIVM, empowering her to break free and ultimately extract others-- ultimately working with authorities to ensure that the abusive NXIVM "leader", Keith Raniere, got a 120-year prison sentence.

Bonnie is living proof that intuition can override the often persuasive (but ultimately false) narratives intrinsic to coercive control dynamics and related thought prisons, acting as a kind of kryptonite against propaganda, group think, social pressure, financial exploitation, and more.

Since leaving NXIVM, Bonnie has created a spiritual practice designed to support people in reconnecting with their intuition, awakening to their true nature and helping them to live a soul-aligned life. But, as positive and powerful as this mission is, Bonnie has had to navigate some blistering online abuse and criticism for stepping out of the "psychic closet"-- an unfortunate manifestation of the "third rail" nature of spirituality and psychic phenomenon, as well as the mob-like nature of anonymous online trolls.

Bonnie is an inspiring, incredible human-- and this episode (and our TOTEM Tarot Deck card pull) highlight the indestructible light we all have within!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Bonnie's Instagram: @bonniempiesse @ofsoulandsky
Bonnie's Spiritual Practice: https://www.ofsoulandsky.com
Bonnie's Website: https://www.bonniepiesse.com

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the incredible Bonnie Piesse,  host of the I Am The Sky podcast.

Best known for her role as Luke Skywalker's Aunt Beru in the ’Star Wars’ Universe, (Episodes II, III and Obi-Wan Kenobi), Bonnie is also a singer, songwriter, and intuitive practitioner, supporting her clients through her spiritual practice Of Soul and Sky. Bonnie was also featured prominently in the HBO documentary-series ‘The Vow', which detailed her harrowing journey with the destructive NXIVM cult.

Rachel and Bonnie discuss how Bonnie's connection to her intuition--which may or may not be referred to as "The Force"-- helped to wake her up to the reality of living inside of NXIVM, empowering her to break free and ultimately extract others-- ultimately working with authorities to ensure that the abusive NXIVM "leader", Keith Raniere, got a 120-year prison sentence.

Bonnie is living proof that intuition can override the often persuasive (but ultimately false) narratives intrinsic to coercive control dynamics and related thought prisons, acting as a kind of kryptonite against propaganda, group think, social pressure, financial exploitation, and more.

Since leaving NXIVM, Bonnie has created a spiritual practice designed to support people in reconnecting with their intuition, awakening to their true nature and helping them to live a soul-aligned life. But, as positive and powerful as this mission is, Bonnie has had to navigate some blistering online abuse and criticism for stepping out of the "psychic closet"-- an unfortunate manifestation of the "third rail" nature of spirituality and psychic phenomenon, as well as the mob-like nature of anonymous online trolls.

Bonnie is an inspiring, incredible human-- and this episode (and our TOTEM Tarot Deck card pull) highlight the indestructible light we all have within!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Bonnie's Instagram: @bonniempiesse @ofsoulandsky
Bonnie's Spiritual Practice: https://www.ofsoulandsky.com
Bonnie's Website: https://www.bonniepiesse.com

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy:  https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14519424 Sat, 24 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0600 3407 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 3 4 full false The Cards You're Dealt, with Theresa Reed The Cards You're Dealt, with Theresa Reed Fan favorite Theresa Reed, aka The Tarot Lady, is back on The Skeptical Shaman to dig into how to provide tarot readings and psychic support for clients dealing with the heavy stuff.

Theresa is the author of the new book The Cards You're Dealt:  How to Deal When Life Gets Real, a look at how to navigate issues like grief, scarcity, pain, the burden of caretaking and more in a tarot  setting. The true story? The vast majority of clients booking a tarot reading or psychic session are dealing with something intense, whether it be a recent layoff, a career crossroads, the loss of a loved one, a troubled romantic relationship, health issues, or other challenges.

In this episode, Rachel and Theresa dig into how to navigate such sensitive and intense topics with both professionalism and appropriate empathy, with a focused look at how to maintain boundaries and stick to your scope of services-- i.e. reading those damn cards!

The World of Woo is full of opportunities to overstep and/or step "in it", and this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast features two seasoned tarot pros sharing their best practices and lessons learned from reading for thousands of clients from all over the world. If you're a tarot card practitioner, thinking of becoming one, or are building your own "Woo business", this episode really digs into the kind of brass tacks that can make or break a spiritual practice-- and your relationships with your clients!
 
LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Theresa's Website: https://www.thetarotlady.com
The Cards Your Dealt Book: https://a.co/d/163boPE
There's IG: https://www.instagram.com/thetarotlady/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Fan favorite Theresa Reed, aka The Tarot Lady, is back on The Skeptical Shaman to dig into how to provide tarot readings and psychic support for clients dealing with the heavy stuff.

Theresa is the author of the new book The Cards You're Dealt:  How to Deal When Life Gets Real, a look at how to navigate issues like grief, scarcity, pain, the burden of caretaking and more in a tarot  setting. The true story? The vast majority of clients booking a tarot reading or psychic session are dealing with something intense, whether it be a recent layoff, a career crossroads, the loss of a loved one, a troubled romantic relationship, health issues, or other challenges.

In this episode, Rachel and Theresa dig into how to navigate such sensitive and intense topics with both professionalism and appropriate empathy, with a focused look at how to maintain boundaries and stick to your scope of services-- i.e. reading those damn cards!

The World of Woo is full of opportunities to overstep and/or step "in it", and this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast features two seasoned tarot pros sharing their best practices and lessons learned from reading for thousands of clients from all over the world. If you're a tarot card practitioner, thinking of becoming one, or are building your own "Woo business", this episode really digs into the kind of brass tacks that can make or break a spiritual practice-- and your relationships with your clients!
 
LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Theresa's Website: https://www.thetarotlady.com
The Cards Your Dealt Book: https://a.co/d/163boPE
There's IG: https://www.instagram.com/thetarotlady/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14438291 Sat, 17 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0600 3815 Theresa reed, the tarot lady, tarot, tarot cards, tarot reading, the cards you're dealt, psychic, psychic practitioner, spirituality, boundaries, shamanism, meditation, yoga, psychic medium, medium, channeling, oracle cards, shamanic journeying meditation 3 3 full false The Energetic Alchemist, with Yolanda Williams The Energetic Alchemist, with Yolanda Williams In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down to chat with Yolanda Williams, the "Energetic Alchemist" and host of the oldest and longest-running reiki-themed podcast, Reiki Radio.

Yolanda and Rachel dig into the weird world of the "Business of Woo", spilling a bit of tea and throwing the requisite amount of shade as they dispel common myths and pull back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes. Yolanda shares tips for navigating the energy work landscape, arming listeners with key red flags (or green lights) to keep an eye out for as they seek out practitioners with whom to work.

Yolanda also shares her recent move to take a pause from client work, new workshops and programs, and the overall push and grind that has dominated the last four years for small business owners, Woo and not-Woo alike.  It can be tough to go inward and focus on your own spiritual practice when you also manage a client-facing spiritual practice-- but it's also THE most essential retreat to move forward.

Rachel and Yolanda even address the seemingly untouchable topic of what frequently happens to our bodies when we receive reiki attunements or reiki treatments. Here's a hint: it rhymes with "schmymeria".  Why doesn't anyone get this warning ahead of time?

This episode has laughs and poignant moments in equal measure-- enjoy and please rate and review The Skeptical Shaman anywhere you get your podcasts!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Yolanda's Website: https://www.theenergeticalchemist.com/about-me
Reiki Radio:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reiki-radio-podcast/id725309051
Yolanda IG: https://www.instagram.com/reikiradio/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down to chat with Yolanda Williams, the "Energetic Alchemist" and host of the oldest and longest-running reiki-themed podcast, Reiki Radio.

Yolanda and Rachel dig into the weird world of the "Business of Woo", spilling a bit of tea and throwing the requisite amount of shade as they dispel common myths and pull back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes. Yolanda shares tips for navigating the energy work landscape, arming listeners with key red flags (or green lights) to keep an eye out for as they seek out practitioners with whom to work.

Yolanda also shares her recent move to take a pause from client work, new workshops and programs, and the overall push and grind that has dominated the last four years for small business owners, Woo and not-Woo alike.  It can be tough to go inward and focus on your own spiritual practice when you also manage a client-facing spiritual practice-- but it's also THE most essential retreat to move forward.

Rachel and Yolanda even address the seemingly untouchable topic of what frequently happens to our bodies when we receive reiki attunements or reiki treatments. Here's a hint: it rhymes with "schmymeria".  Why doesn't anyone get this warning ahead of time?

This episode has laughs and poignant moments in equal measure-- enjoy and please rate and review The Skeptical Shaman anywhere you get your podcasts!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Yolanda's Website: https://www.theenergeticalchemist.com/about-me
Reiki Radio:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/reiki-radio-podcast/id725309051
Yolanda IG: https://www.instagram.com/reikiradio/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14401184 Sat, 10 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0600 3349 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 3 2 full false The Year of the Dragon, with Nichole Bigley The Year of the Dragon, with Nichole Bigley Fan favorite Nichole Bigley is back on The Skeptical Shaman to dig into the worlds of angels, dragons, aliens and more with host Rachel White of TOTEM Readings!

Nichole is the host of the A Psychic's Story podcast, and co-author of the new book (and TOTEM Book Club pick) Looking for Angels:  A Guide to Understanding and Connecting with Angels. She is also a psychic medium that offers angel readings and other intuitive sessions.

In this episode, Rachel and Nichole dig into the big, strange world of woo, sharing their experiences with their "totem animal" dragons, seemingly simultaneous recent encounters with negative entities, and their shared (and very strange) feelings about those pesky aliens running around that Miami mall!

The upshot? This coming year-- the Year of the Wood Dragon in Eastern Astrology-- is going to be one for the ages. Expect the veil of illusion to melt and the high strangeness actually present in our reality to emerge. It'll be a rock 'em, sock 'em good time for weirdos and psychics, with many others feeling "shook".

But, sometimes, getting shook is a good thing. Especially from the perspective of a micro-dosing, anti-establishment shaman!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Nichole's Website: https://www.apsychicsstory.com/about-a-psychics-story
Looking for Angels Book: https://a.co/d/hIZK2f9
Nichole's IG: https://www.instagram.com/apsychicsstory/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Fan favorite Nichole Bigley is back on The Skeptical Shaman to dig into the worlds of angels, dragons, aliens and more with host Rachel White of TOTEM Readings!

Nichole is the host of the A Psychic's Story podcast, and co-author of the new book (and TOTEM Book Club pick) Looking for Angels:  A Guide to Understanding and Connecting with Angels. She is also a psychic medium that offers angel readings and other intuitive sessions.

In this episode, Rachel and Nichole dig into the big, strange world of woo, sharing their experiences with their "totem animal" dragons, seemingly simultaneous recent encounters with negative entities, and their shared (and very strange) feelings about those pesky aliens running around that Miami mall!

The upshot? This coming year-- the Year of the Wood Dragon in Eastern Astrology-- is going to be one for the ages. Expect the veil of illusion to melt and the high strangeness actually present in our reality to emerge. It'll be a rock 'em, sock 'em good time for weirdos and psychics, with many others feeling "shook".

But, sometimes, getting shook is a good thing. Especially from the perspective of a micro-dosing, anti-establishment shaman!

LINKS:
Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach

Please support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126
TOTEM Flower Essences on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

Nichole's Website: https://www.apsychicsstory.com/about-a-psychics-story
Looking for Angels Book: https://a.co/d/hIZK2f9
Nichole's IG: https://www.instagram.com/apsychicsstory/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14398207 Sat, 03 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0600 3631 energy healing, flower essences, flower therapy, plant medicine, witchcraft, herbalism, shamanic journeying meditation, spiritual coaching, spiritual transformation coaching, tarot, the totem tarot deck, totem tarot deck, totem tarot, Rachel White, totem 3 1 full false The Badass Babe, with Kelly Pender The Badass Babe, with Kelly Pender In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with yoga instructor, retreat coordinator, and manifestation coach Kelly Pender. Kelly is also the host of the Badass Babe Oracle podcast, drilling into the real deal behind all things abundance, manifestation and having-ness.

In this episode, we talk sh*t and spill the tea on the “manifestation industry”, taking the time to separate what’s real, what’s nonsense, and what’s a straight-up grift. Kelly shares her very personal and very human-scaled journey with the world of abundance gospel and manifestation doctrine, displaying a great sense of humor as she evaluates what she used to believe— and where she’s at now.

This episode is landing in the magical, liminal space between Christmas and the New Year, a time during which most of us are reflecting on the past year and setting our intentions— and making our resolutions— for the year to come. This discussion is designed to give us all permission to ask, believe and receive, but also offers tangible lessons learned so you don’t have to fall into a multilevel marketing scheme or find yourself miles away from your goals in 2024.

In a hilarious and very apt twist, Kelly has given birth to a brand new baby just as this episode is landing, a literal encapsulation of magical manifestation!

And, as per usual, we pull a very aligned and very accurate card from our TOTEM Tarot Deck to sum up our discussion.

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Kelly’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_badassbabe/
The Badass Babe Oracle Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/badassbabeoracle/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with yoga instructor, retreat coordinator, and manifestation coach Kelly Pender. Kelly is also the host of the Badass Babe Oracle podcast, drilling into the real deal behind all things abundance, manifestation and having-ness.

In this episode, we talk sh*t and spill the tea on the “manifestation industry”, taking the time to separate what’s real, what’s nonsense, and what’s a straight-up grift. Kelly shares her very personal and very human-scaled journey with the world of abundance gospel and manifestation doctrine, displaying a great sense of humor as she evaluates what she used to believe— and where she’s at now.

This episode is landing in the magical, liminal space between Christmas and the New Year, a time during which most of us are reflecting on the past year and setting our intentions— and making our resolutions— for the year to come. This discussion is designed to give us all permission to ask, believe and receive, but also offers tangible lessons learned so you don’t have to fall into a multilevel marketing scheme or find yourself miles away from your goals in 2024.

In a hilarious and very apt twist, Kelly has given birth to a brand new baby just as this episode is landing, a literal encapsulation of magical manifestation!

And, as per usual, we pull a very aligned and very accurate card from our TOTEM Tarot Deck to sum up our discussion.

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Kelly’s IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_badassbabe/
The Badass Babe Oracle Podcast IG: https://www.instagram.com/badassbabeoracle/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14157745 Sat, 30 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0600 3847 Kelly Pender, badass babe, Badass Babe Oracle, Badass Babe Oracle podcast, Rachel White, TOTEM Readings, TOTEM Tarot Deck, TOTEM Flower Essences, The Skeptical Shaman, Skeptical Shaman, The Skeptical Shaman Podcast, manifestation, abundance, manifesting, 2 13 full false The Map Is Not The Territory, with Roger Oney The Map Is Not The Territory, with Roger Oney In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with podcast producer, energy healer, coach and all-around mystic Roger Oney of Synergies Studio.

In this episode, we dig into the REALITY of the world of Woo-- no spiritual bypassing or toxic positivity here! Roger and I discuss how "the map is not the territory" when it comes to implementing spiritual insights in everyday human life.  Remember: any practitioner, coach or guru that promises total certainty and black-and-white solutions is selling you a steaming satchel of cow poo poo.

There is no one system, modality or practice that can live your life for you. Rather, at their best these practices are just maps designed to guide you as YOU do the hard (and real) work of navigating the actual landscape of life.

If you've been curious about working with a spiritual practitioner or launching your own spiritual practice, this episode is a must listen: Roger and I get totally transparent about our collective 40+ years of on-the-ground experience in the Woo, sharing our lessons learned (so you don't have to learn them quiet as hard as we did).

And, as per usual, we pull a card from our TOTEM Tarot Deck to sum up our discussion— and, as per usual, it was so on point it was creepy.

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Synergies Studio (Roger's website):  https://synergies.studio

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with podcast producer, energy healer, coach and all-around mystic Roger Oney of Synergies Studio.

In this episode, we dig into the REALITY of the world of Woo-- no spiritual bypassing or toxic positivity here! Roger and I discuss how "the map is not the territory" when it comes to implementing spiritual insights in everyday human life.  Remember: any practitioner, coach or guru that promises total certainty and black-and-white solutions is selling you a steaming satchel of cow poo poo.

There is no one system, modality or practice that can live your life for you. Rather, at their best these practices are just maps designed to guide you as YOU do the hard (and real) work of navigating the actual landscape of life.

If you've been curious about working with a spiritual practitioner or launching your own spiritual practice, this episode is a must listen: Roger and I get totally transparent about our collective 40+ years of on-the-ground experience in the Woo, sharing our lessons learned (so you don't have to learn them quiet as hard as we did).

And, as per usual, we pull a card from our TOTEM Tarot Deck to sum up our discussion— and, as per usual, it was so on point it was creepy.

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Synergies Studio (Roger's website):  https://synergies.studio

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14129959 Sat, 23 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0600 5261 Rachel White, Roger Oney, TOTEM Readings, Synergies Studio, Woo, Guru. Coaching, Spiritual Coaching, Human Design, MLM, multilevel marketing scheme, tarot, tarot readings, totem tarot deck, totem flower essences, flower essences, podcast, spirituality, sh 2 12 full false Body Beautiful, with Gina Graham Body Beautiful, with Gina Graham In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Gina Graham, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and professional photographer. Gina is also the author and artist behind the book Body Beautiful: How Changing the Conversation About Our Bodies Has the Power to Change the World.

Gina's mission-driven work leverages her experience as a therapist and a photographer and artist, empowering women to address their trauma around and issues with eating disorders, body image, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and hormonal changes.

In this conversation, Gina and Rachel dig deep on how social media is bombarding women with unhealthy images and expectations, all while seemingly offering exploitative "coaching" packages, weight loss supplements, and other commoditized products seeking to exploit the neurosis and lack of self-love pervading our society.

There is a middle ground between superficiality and entropy: we can want to be healthy and take care of ourselves and our appearance while still accepting the idiosyncrasies that make us uniquely beautiful.

As always, we pull a TOTEM Tarot Card to pull together this critical dialogue, encapsulating the elevating power of real beauty!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Gina's links: https://linktr.ee/lifelensandlove
Gina's IG: https://www.instagram.com/lifelensandlove/
Gina's Book, Body Beautiful: https://a.co/d/eORmzMM

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Gina Graham, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and professional photographer. Gina is also the author and artist behind the book Body Beautiful: How Changing the Conversation About Our Bodies Has the Power to Change the World.

Gina's mission-driven work leverages her experience as a therapist and a photographer and artist, empowering women to address their trauma around and issues with eating disorders, body image, depression, anxiety, self-esteem, and hormonal changes.

In this conversation, Gina and Rachel dig deep on how social media is bombarding women with unhealthy images and expectations, all while seemingly offering exploitative "coaching" packages, weight loss supplements, and other commoditized products seeking to exploit the neurosis and lack of self-love pervading our society.

There is a middle ground between superficiality and entropy: we can want to be healthy and take care of ourselves and our appearance while still accepting the idiosyncrasies that make us uniquely beautiful.

As always, we pull a TOTEM Tarot Card to pull together this critical dialogue, encapsulating the elevating power of real beauty!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Gina's links: https://linktr.ee/lifelensandlove
Gina's IG: https://www.instagram.com/lifelensandlove/
Gina's Book, Body Beautiful: https://a.co/d/eORmzMM

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-14101490 Sat, 16 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0600 4449 gina graham, body beautiful, life lens and love, photography, therapy, social work, healing, trauma healing, trauma recovery, self-acceptance, empowerment, women, female, body image, eating disorders, anxiety, depression, tarot, tarot readings, totem taro 2 11 full false The Wise Heart, with Holly Brodt The Wise Heart, with Holly Brodt In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Holly Brodt, retired St. Paul police officer, devout Buddhist, and meditation coach extraordinaire.

Holly was already a Buddhist when she became a St. Paul police officer, using her spiritual toolkit— and her warrior medicine, intuition, and empathy— to not only keep the streets safe, but to support and assist all stakeholders in recovering from trauma, healing their wounds, and pulling out of negative spirals.

Holly has worked directly with police unions, EMTs and more to help them recover from trauma and build resiliency among their ranks. The primary focus of her recent work with P.O.W.E.R. Resiliency Education was to use the tips and tricks from Buddhists (and modern science) to undertake adrenal fatigue and recover from traumatic experiences.

Holly is a very funny and dynamic woman that defies definition, further proving that all of the good (and true) stuff lies in the messy middle of real life— not in tribal, flattened stereotypes. Holly truly has a wise heart, and in this episode she shares her unique perspective and insights with all of us.

And, as per usual, we pull a card from our TOTEM Tarot Deck to sum up our discussion— and, as per usual, it was wildly on point!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Holly Brodt, retired St. Paul police officer, devout Buddhist, and meditation coach extraordinaire.

Holly was already a Buddhist when she became a St. Paul police officer, using her spiritual toolkit— and her warrior medicine, intuition, and empathy— to not only keep the streets safe, but to support and assist all stakeholders in recovering from trauma, healing their wounds, and pulling out of negative spirals.

Holly has worked directly with police unions, EMTs and more to help them recover from trauma and build resiliency among their ranks. The primary focus of her recent work with P.O.W.E.R. Resiliency Education was to use the tips and tricks from Buddhists (and modern science) to undertake adrenal fatigue and recover from traumatic experiences.

Holly is a very funny and dynamic woman that defies definition, further proving that all of the good (and true) stuff lies in the messy middle of real life— not in tribal, flattened stereotypes. Holly truly has a wise heart, and in this episode she shares her unique perspective and insights with all of us.

And, as per usual, we pull a card from our TOTEM Tarot Deck to sum up our discussion— and, as per usual, it was wildly on point!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13996170 Sat, 09 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0600 3233 buddhism, the wise heart, jack kornfield, holly brodt, police, police officer, peace officer, meditation, adrenal recovery, trauma recovery, compassion, warrior medicine, empathy, meditation, wisdom, spiritual growth, tarot, totem tarot deck, totem tarot 2 10 full false Feng Shui Your LIfe, with Summer Sanders Feng Shui Your LIfe, with Summer Sanders In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Summer Sanders, owner of Sabai Studio in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood. Summer is a physical therapist, reiki practitioner, Feng Shui consultant and much, much more.

In this episode, we explore the dynamic and magical world of Feng Shui: the system of laws that govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi). While Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice-- much like acupuncture and Chinese medicine-- it's inherently useful for the unique challenges of our modern world, offering energetic relief from frustration, stagnation and even basic b*tch burnout.

We dig into the bagua map that governs the quadrants of our homes, offices, and yes-- even energy bodies, as well as what every listener can do "on day one" to shift their own energies in the direction of their dreams. With Feng Shui, little adjustments can generate big changes-- and even wholesale transformations-- so proceed intentionally!

And, of course, we pull a card from our TOTEM Tarot Deck, revealing the unique presence of Feng Shui in the realm of tarot.

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Summer's website: https://sabaistudio.org

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Summer Sanders, owner of Sabai Studio in Chicago's West Loop neighborhood. Summer is a physical therapist, reiki practitioner, Feng Shui consultant and much, much more.

In this episode, we explore the dynamic and magical world of Feng Shui: the system of laws that govern spatial arrangement and orientation in relation to the flow of energy (qi). While Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese practice-- much like acupuncture and Chinese medicine-- it's inherently useful for the unique challenges of our modern world, offering energetic relief from frustration, stagnation and even basic b*tch burnout.

We dig into the bagua map that governs the quadrants of our homes, offices, and yes-- even energy bodies, as well as what every listener can do "on day one" to shift their own energies in the direction of their dreams. With Feng Shui, little adjustments can generate big changes-- and even wholesale transformations-- so proceed intentionally!

And, of course, we pull a card from our TOTEM Tarot Deck, revealing the unique presence of Feng Shui in the realm of tarot.

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Summer's website: https://sabaistudio.org

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13996192 Sat, 02 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0600 3436 feng shui, summer sanders, sabai studio, chinese medicine, reiki, interior design, energy work, massage, physical therapy, tarot, tarot readings, totem tarot deck, totem flower essences, magic, full moon, abundance, personal space, energy therapy, health, 2 9 full false How to be Soul-ish with Whitney Abke How to be Soul-ish with Whitney Abke In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) talks to Whitney Abke, host of the Soul-ish Podcast, about navigating the odd twists and turns that come with a real deal, bonafide spiritual journey-- and, in this case, one that started out in hardcore Christianity.

Whitney grew up as a non-denominational Christian pastor’s daughter, even attending seminary and becoming a licensed pastor before some "heretical" skepticism set in: specifically, Whitney started to struggle with the obvious disparity between how men and women were being treated in her faith.  Her insistence on asking the tough questions resulted in her church refusing to ordain her-- a hard realization after growing up in the faith and wanting to be of service.

While she still served as a volunteer in several church ministries for over two decades, it never quite felt in alignment again. In the intervening years, her spiritual journey has urged her to unbox and explore beliefs about herself, God, and her purpose, ultimately bringing her to the waters of the Woo-- and the radical self-acceptance that comes from not trying to fit into the prescribed box of organized religion.

If well-behaved women seldom make history, then it's a natural conclusion to assume the witchy ones go down in the history books! To that end, we talk Old Testament, Red Tents, and looking for love in the wild!

Of course, we conclude our discussion with a card pull from The Skeptical Shaman's sponsor: The TOTEM Tarot Deck. Stay tuned for it-- it's a goodie;)

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Whitney's Links: https://linktr.ee/whitneyabke
The Soul-Ish Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-soulish-podcast

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) talks to Whitney Abke, host of the Soul-ish Podcast, about navigating the odd twists and turns that come with a real deal, bonafide spiritual journey-- and, in this case, one that started out in hardcore Christianity.

Whitney grew up as a non-denominational Christian pastor’s daughter, even attending seminary and becoming a licensed pastor before some "heretical" skepticism set in: specifically, Whitney started to struggle with the obvious disparity between how men and women were being treated in her faith.  Her insistence on asking the tough questions resulted in her church refusing to ordain her-- a hard realization after growing up in the faith and wanting to be of service.

While she still served as a volunteer in several church ministries for over two decades, it never quite felt in alignment again. In the intervening years, her spiritual journey has urged her to unbox and explore beliefs about herself, God, and her purpose, ultimately bringing her to the waters of the Woo-- and the radical self-acceptance that comes from not trying to fit into the prescribed box of organized religion.

If well-behaved women seldom make history, then it's a natural conclusion to assume the witchy ones go down in the history books! To that end, we talk Old Testament, Red Tents, and looking for love in the wild!

Of course, we conclude our discussion with a card pull from The Skeptical Shaman's sponsor: The TOTEM Tarot Deck. Stay tuned for it-- it's a goodie;)

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Whitney's Links: https://linktr.ee/whitneyabke
The Soul-Ish Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-soulish-podcast

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13908458 Sat, 25 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0600 3537 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, full false Thank You For Coming To Our Ted Talk, with the TOTEM Coaching Roundtable Thank You For Coming To Our Ted Talk, with the TOTEM Coaching Roundtable In this very special GROUP episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) facilitates an illuminating discussion with three of her incredible TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching clients-- and artists and spiritual practitioners in their own right:

- Abigail Kochunas of Sacred Healing Art LA
- Karen Cadiero-Kaplan of Wisdom Collective
- Laura Oxendine of Thrown Light

This episode came together after a rather spontaneous-- and informal-- Ted Talk all about spirituality and spiritual growth from an authentic, human-scaled perspective. When we do long-form shamanic work-- like in the TOTEM Coaching Program-- there are all kinds of game-changing flashes of insight, shifted paradigms, and even some real-deal surprises. These bonafide proofs are often lost in the noise of the spiritual development space of Canva templates and reductionist life coaching crap, remaining untold stories of legitimate, game-changing interactions with the realm of spirit.

That is, they were untold stories-- until now.

The upshot of these spiritual experiences? You don't always get what you thought you wanted, but you always get what you actually need. These ladies share some incredible anecdotes about their recent (and ongoing) "spiritual scavenger hunts", revealing how they followed the bread crumb trail to greater personal, professional and artistic inspiration and expansion. They all make one simple, actionable recommendation that listeners can put into effect immediately to set them up for spiritual development success.

Of course, we wrap our discussion with a card pull from our TOTEM Tarot Deck, revealing yet again that there is no such thing as coincidence when in the waters of Woo. And not even L. Ron Hubbard's ghost can stop us.

Want to learn more about the TOTEM Transformation Coaching Program and our next round of coaching work in January 2024? Book a free consultation here: https://calendly.com/rachel-1061/totem-spiritual-transformation-coaching-consultation

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Substack (newsletter): https://totemrach.substack.com/
Karen's website: https://www.wisdomcollective.net/
Abigail's links: https://linktr.ee/sacredhealingart/
Laura's links: http://www.lauraoxendine.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.


]]> In this very special GROUP episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) facilitates an illuminating discussion with three of her incredible TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching clients-- and artists and spiritual practitioners in their own right:

- Abigail Kochunas of Sacred Healing Art LA
- Karen Cadiero-Kaplan of Wisdom Collective
- Laura Oxendine of Thrown Light

This episode came together after a rather spontaneous-- and informal-- Ted Talk all about spirituality and spiritual growth from an authentic, human-scaled perspective. When we do long-form shamanic work-- like in the TOTEM Coaching Program-- there are all kinds of game-changing flashes of insight, shifted paradigms, and even some real-deal surprises. These bonafide proofs are often lost in the noise of the spiritual development space of Canva templates and reductionist life coaching crap, remaining untold stories of legitimate, game-changing interactions with the realm of spirit.

That is, they were untold stories-- until now.

The upshot of these spiritual experiences? You don't always get what you thought you wanted, but you always get what you actually need. These ladies share some incredible anecdotes about their recent (and ongoing) "spiritual scavenger hunts", revealing how they followed the bread crumb trail to greater personal, professional and artistic inspiration and expansion. They all make one simple, actionable recommendation that listeners can put into effect immediately to set them up for spiritual development success.

Of course, we wrap our discussion with a card pull from our TOTEM Tarot Deck, revealing yet again that there is no such thing as coincidence when in the waters of Woo. And not even L. Ron Hubbard's ghost can stop us.

Want to learn more about the TOTEM Transformation Coaching Program and our next round of coaching work in January 2024? Book a free consultation here: https://calendly.com/rachel-1061/totem-spiritual-transformation-coaching-consultation

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Substack (newsletter): https://totemrach.substack.com/
Karen's website: https://www.wisdomcollective.net/
Abigail's links: https://linktr.ee/sacredhealingart/
Laura's links: http://www.lauraoxendine.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.


]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13957009 Sat, 18 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0600 4462 spiritual transformation coaching, totem spiritual transformation coaching, spiritual coaching, personal development, human potential, shamanism, art, totem readings, totem tarot deck, tarot cards, tarot reading, mediumship, channeling, shamanic journeyin 2 7 full false Shady Shit, with Casey Balsham Shady Shit, with Casey Balsham In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Casey Balsham, stand-up comedian and host of the Never Not Tired and Shady Shit podcasts.

Not only is Casey a new mother and busy, working comedian, she’s also obsessed with all things shady: serial killers, true crime, scam artists, cults and more! Rachel and Casey spill some major tea, digging into the scandal of “Scamanda”—and the podcast of the same name—and how covert narcissists and con artists are finding a warm, protective home within spiritual communities.

Rachel and Casey dig into the tangible red flags to keep an eye out for in a very, very shady world. Guess what? People actually fake cancer to raise money, get attention and garner sympathy, and oftentimes these cons are unbelievably elaborate and involve a spiritual dimension. Just when you think humans couldn’t get any worse…

In this podcast, we explore the potential, latent narcissism behind the archetype of the perpetual victim, especially when that victim overshares their “struggle” online. Many, many spiritual narcissists (and other species of exploitative psychos) will wrap themselves in sheep’s clothing to disarm and disorient you. Never forget: those big eyes and ears and teeth belong to a wolf, no matter how nice the sheep’s clothing is!

And, as per usual, we wrap our revelatory discussion with a card pull from the TOTEM Tarot Deck that threads the themes of our discussion together!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Casey's Links: https://linktr.ee/Casefaceb
Casey's IG: https://www.instagram.com/casefaceb/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Casey Balsham, stand-up comedian and host of the Never Not Tired and Shady Shit podcasts.

Not only is Casey a new mother and busy, working comedian, she’s also obsessed with all things shady: serial killers, true crime, scam artists, cults and more! Rachel and Casey spill some major tea, digging into the scandal of “Scamanda”—and the podcast of the same name—and how covert narcissists and con artists are finding a warm, protective home within spiritual communities.

Rachel and Casey dig into the tangible red flags to keep an eye out for in a very, very shady world. Guess what? People actually fake cancer to raise money, get attention and garner sympathy, and oftentimes these cons are unbelievably elaborate and involve a spiritual dimension. Just when you think humans couldn’t get any worse…

In this podcast, we explore the potential, latent narcissism behind the archetype of the perpetual victim, especially when that victim overshares their “struggle” online. Many, many spiritual narcissists (and other species of exploitative psychos) will wrap themselves in sheep’s clothing to disarm and disorient you. Never forget: those big eyes and ears and teeth belong to a wolf, no matter how nice the sheep’s clothing is!

And, as per usual, we wrap our revelatory discussion with a card pull from the TOTEM Tarot Deck that threads the themes of our discussion together!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Casey's Links: https://linktr.ee/Casefaceb
Casey's IG: https://www.instagram.com/casefaceb/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13682925 Sat, 11 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0600 3506 cult, cult recovery, NXIVM, scams, Scamanda, narcissist, narcissism, spiritual narcissism, covert narcissism, coercive control, shady shit, Casey balsam, tarot, totem tarot deck, tarot cards, tarot reading, astrology, world of woo, woo, life coaches, spir 2 4 full false The Saturn Diaries, with Cardsy B The Saturn Diaries, with Cardsy B In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Cardsy B, aka Rebecca Szymczak, the host of the Hex and the City podcast and author of The Saturn Diaries. Cardsy B is a working witch, tarot card reader, and intuitive coach that has published her own tarot deck-- a bit like our host here at The Skeptical Shaman.

In this episode, we explore the question: "What happens when the planets stop being polite, and start getting real?"

We go deep on the impact crater of our Saturn Return astrological phases, exploring the dark turns our lives can take as the planets wreak havoc. But it isn't all breakups and breakdowns-- sometimes, it's a really big breakthrough, and one that transforms our lives and sets us up for success long into the future.

The power of Cardsy's message lies in her "Zero F*cks" policy and radical honesty, laying bare her biggest struggles with a sense of humor, perspective and desire to help others avoid the pitfalls she stepped into along the way.

Of course, we satisfy the bloodthirsty, Sumerian gods-- *ahem*-- I mean our sponsor, the TOTEM Tarot Deck, by pulling a card to tie the whole damn dynamic chat together.

The upshot of this episode? Just because you're psychic and smart and powerful doesn't mean you're not a human having a human experience, so be kind and rewind!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Cardsy B's website: https://www.cardsyb.com
Cardsy B's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardsyb/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Cardsy B, aka Rebecca Szymczak, the host of the Hex and the City podcast and author of The Saturn Diaries. Cardsy B is a working witch, tarot card reader, and intuitive coach that has published her own tarot deck-- a bit like our host here at The Skeptical Shaman.

In this episode, we explore the question: "What happens when the planets stop being polite, and start getting real?"

We go deep on the impact crater of our Saturn Return astrological phases, exploring the dark turns our lives can take as the planets wreak havoc. But it isn't all breakups and breakdowns-- sometimes, it's a really big breakthrough, and one that transforms our lives and sets us up for success long into the future.

The power of Cardsy's message lies in her "Zero F*cks" policy and radical honesty, laying bare her biggest struggles with a sense of humor, perspective and desire to help others avoid the pitfalls she stepped into along the way.

Of course, we satisfy the bloodthirsty, Sumerian gods-- *ahem*-- I mean our sponsor, the TOTEM Tarot Deck, by pulling a card to tie the whole damn dynamic chat together.

The upshot of this episode? Just because you're psychic and smart and powerful doesn't mean you're not a human having a human experience, so be kind and rewind!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Cardsy B's website: https://www.cardsyb.com
Cardsy B's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardsyb/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13868386 Sat, 04 Nov 2023 08:00:00 -0500 2908 cardsy b, hex and the city, the Saturn diaries, Saturn returns, astrology, tarot, tarot card readings, podcasting, psychic, breakups, relationships, transformation, breakdown, breakthrough, healing, sobriety, radical honesty, Rachel White, totem, totem re 2 4 full false Keep the Dead Close, with Angela Gore Keep the Dead Close, with Angela Gore In this very special Halloween-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Angela Gore—a real deal working archeologist that specializes in Beringian archaeology: the study of the earliest humans in North America.

In this episode, we pivot from the usual, cliché Halloween content, opting instead for a deeper dialogue around our connection to the dead—and what that means for the health of our modern culture. We discuss the Indonesian tradition of digging up their dead to invite them back into the world of the living, how ancient proto-Americans interred their loved ones beneath their homes, and how the Japanese honor and “keep the dead close”—all a stark contrast to our death-phobic modern cultural norms.

From an archeological and anthropological perspective—Angela’s academic wheelhouse—the dead are all around us all of time, their remains enriching the terroir and becoming a part of the nature all around us. From a shamanic perspective—the foundation of Rachel’s spiritual practice-- the dead are all around us all the time in spirit, ready to interact and affirm through dreams, mediumship appointments, and other signs and symbols.

Halloween, The Day of the Dead, Samhain, All Saints Day and more are all late-October/ early November holidays that share a critical theme: take advantage of the thinning of the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead to make contact with our dearly departed.

This episode is equal parts Discovery Channel and Beetlejuice, briding the realms of science and spirituality through the common ground of the dead.

Despite the macabre topic, we wrap our discussion with an unusually uplifting and positive tarot card pull from the TOTEM Tarot Deck. Just goes to show you: the realm of spirit is full of paradigm-shifting surprises, even when it’s from our tyrannical sponsor: The TOTEM Tarot Deck.

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this very special Halloween-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Angela Gore—a real deal working archeologist that specializes in Beringian archaeology: the study of the earliest humans in North America.

In this episode, we pivot from the usual, cliché Halloween content, opting instead for a deeper dialogue around our connection to the dead—and what that means for the health of our modern culture. We discuss the Indonesian tradition of digging up their dead to invite them back into the world of the living, how ancient proto-Americans interred their loved ones beneath their homes, and how the Japanese honor and “keep the dead close”—all a stark contrast to our death-phobic modern cultural norms.

From an archeological and anthropological perspective—Angela’s academic wheelhouse—the dead are all around us all of time, their remains enriching the terroir and becoming a part of the nature all around us. From a shamanic perspective—the foundation of Rachel’s spiritual practice-- the dead are all around us all the time in spirit, ready to interact and affirm through dreams, mediumship appointments, and other signs and symbols.

Halloween, The Day of the Dead, Samhain, All Saints Day and more are all late-October/ early November holidays that share a critical theme: take advantage of the thinning of the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead to make contact with our dearly departed.

This episode is equal parts Discovery Channel and Beetlejuice, briding the realms of science and spirituality through the common ground of the dead.

Despite the macabre topic, we wrap our discussion with an unusually uplifting and positive tarot card pull from the TOTEM Tarot Deck. Just goes to show you: the realm of spirit is full of paradigm-shifting surprises, even when it’s from our tyrannical sponsor: The TOTEM Tarot Deck.

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13782302 Sat, 28 Oct 2023 08:00:00 -0500 4227 halloween, archeology, day of the dead, Samhain, the dead, mediumship, channeling, tarot, totem tarot deck, anthropology, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, native Americans, spirituality, mediumship, shamanism, spiritual discussions, shamanic practitioner 2 3 full false The Retreat To Move Forward, with Tirrell Cherry The Retreat To Move Forward, with Tirrell Cherry In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Tirrell Cherry, certified hypnotist, coach and the host of the Magic Meets Mind podcast.

Tirrell has had an extraordinary adventure through the world of new age coaching, recently taking a crucial break to reset, recalibrate, and get back to center. Why was this "retreat" for Tirrell so necessary to "move forward"?

Well, the coaching ecosystem is a strange place, wrought with unexpected hurdles, strange pressures to poke at latent pain, and majorly mixed messages-- not to mention the palpable presence of the unscrupulous used car salesmen archetype.

Tirrell found himself at a critical crossroads: How does a coach know if they're in alignment with their soul's purpose? When does a coach push to grow their business and when do they chill to get back to human-scaled, ethical basics? How do you know if you're acting out of sincerity and not scarcity?

It's really hard to hit "pause" on your business, and it's even harder to ask yourself the tough questions...but it's also TOTALLY necessary when operating as a spiritual practitioner in our modern world of woo.

And, as per usual, we wrap our revelatory discussion with a card pull from the TOTEM Tarot Deck. I would say it didn't disappoint, but when does it ever? Shout out to our tyrannical sponsors: The TOTEM Tarot Deck and TOTEM Readings.

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Elisha’s IG: @tirrellcherry
Terrell's Website: https://tirrellcherry.life

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Tirrell Cherry, certified hypnotist, coach and the host of the Magic Meets Mind podcast.

Tirrell has had an extraordinary adventure through the world of new age coaching, recently taking a crucial break to reset, recalibrate, and get back to center. Why was this "retreat" for Tirrell so necessary to "move forward"?

Well, the coaching ecosystem is a strange place, wrought with unexpected hurdles, strange pressures to poke at latent pain, and majorly mixed messages-- not to mention the palpable presence of the unscrupulous used car salesmen archetype.

Tirrell found himself at a critical crossroads: How does a coach know if they're in alignment with their soul's purpose? When does a coach push to grow their business and when do they chill to get back to human-scaled, ethical basics? How do you know if you're acting out of sincerity and not scarcity?

It's really hard to hit "pause" on your business, and it's even harder to ask yourself the tough questions...but it's also TOTALLY necessary when operating as a spiritual practitioner in our modern world of woo.

And, as per usual, we wrap our revelatory discussion with a card pull from the TOTEM Tarot Deck. I would say it didn't disappoint, but when does it ever? Shout out to our tyrannical sponsors: The TOTEM Tarot Deck and TOTEM Readings.

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Elisha’s IG: @tirrellcherry
Terrell's Website: https://tirrellcherry.life

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13650717 Sat, 21 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0500 3374 Tirrell cherry, magic meets mind, tarot, tarot cards, tarot reading, shamanism, life coaching, spiritual coaching, hypnosis, cults, gurus, a little bit culty, ethics, self-care, sincerity, podcasts, transformation, shamanism, herbalism, magic, totem tarot 2 3 full false Star Systems, with Kate Waldwick Star Systems, with Kate Waldwick In this episode of the Skeptical Shaman Podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Kate Waldwick of Cronos Astrology to chat all things astrology…and SYSTEMS!!!

Kate is a pretty smart lady, especially when it comes to complex systems: their functionality, interdependencies, and behaviors. Not only is Kate an MIT grad and current high-level employee at a giant tech company, but she’s also an astrologer—a practice that leverages her systems thinking in fresh and innovative ways.

Kate’s differentiated approach to astrology is a fresh take on an old classic, and in this chat we explore our very modern and (very) dystopian landscape through the filter of the cosmic bodies and their movements. In this episode, we dig into how the stars and planets aligned during the French and American Revolutions…and how those very same objects are aligning right now.

Halfway through, we realize we’re saying “systems” so much that we really should have announced a drinking game at the outset of the interview, so if you’re listening during downtime, feel free to take a shot every time you hear the magic word: systems.

We wrap up our discussion with a card pull from the TOTEM Tarot Deck, further reinforcing the interconnected nature of our reality. You know: systems!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Kate’s IG: IG @cronos.astrology

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of the Skeptical Shaman Podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Kate Waldwick of Cronos Astrology to chat all things astrology…and SYSTEMS!!!

Kate is a pretty smart lady, especially when it comes to complex systems: their functionality, interdependencies, and behaviors. Not only is Kate an MIT grad and current high-level employee at a giant tech company, but she’s also an astrologer—a practice that leverages her systems thinking in fresh and innovative ways.

Kate’s differentiated approach to astrology is a fresh take on an old classic, and in this chat we explore our very modern and (very) dystopian landscape through the filter of the cosmic bodies and their movements. In this episode, we dig into how the stars and planets aligned during the French and American Revolutions…and how those very same objects are aligning right now.

Halfway through, we realize we’re saying “systems” so much that we really should have announced a drinking game at the outset of the interview, so if you’re listening during downtime, feel free to take a shot every time you hear the magic word: systems.

We wrap up our discussion with a card pull from the TOTEM Tarot Deck, further reinforcing the interconnected nature of our reality. You know: systems!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Kate’s IG: IG @cronos.astrology

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13608132 Sat, 14 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0500 3240 astrology, cronos, saturn, kronos, zodiac, pluto, hades, French Revolution, American revolution, systems thinking, technology, drinking game, tarot, totem tarot deck, Rachel White, Kate Waldwick, the skeptical shaman 2 2 full false No Cheat Code, with Elisha Halpin No Cheat Code, with Elisha Halpin In this episode of the Skeptical Shaman Podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Elisha Halpin, a nervous system-training coach that works with individuals wanting to get out of adrenal fatigue, effectively retraining their brains to not freak the f*ck out all the damn time.

Elisha calls herself an ‘awakened academic’, having extracted herself from the grind of higher education to work with clients to heal trauma through meditation, somatic therapy, and much, much more. She works with clients to achieve better nervous system regulation—no small feat in our nervous system-destroying world.

In this discussion, we explore the hyperstimulation of the simulacra in which we live: a world obsessed with the “viral”, the hyper-novel, and the increasingly depraved and intense as we hunt for the illusive brain chemicals that generate the happy feels.

 Long story short: there are no cheat codes are hacks to mental health or spiritual development, so stop treating this stuff like a vending machine. There is no short cut. 

The bottom line? Chasing the dragon of dopamine while fighting off the monster of cortisol is no way to go through life. Sometimes, we all just need to get back to the somatic and cerebral version of the missionary position. With socks on. And lights off.

I realize this is a daring and risqué metaphor, but it’s also apt.  I mean, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Join Elisha and I in our crusade to empower others to chop wood and carry water: i.e. embrace the meditation of the mundane and the recalibration to normal that our nervous systems are dying to experience again. All of life is sacred—not just the neon, smell-o-vision stuff!

We wrap up our discussion with a card pull from the TOTEM Tarot Deck, and it does not disappoint!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Elisha’s IG: @elisha_halpin
Elisha’s Website: https://elishahalpin.com 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of the Skeptical Shaman Podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Elisha Halpin, a nervous system-training coach that works with individuals wanting to get out of adrenal fatigue, effectively retraining their brains to not freak the f*ck out all the damn time.

Elisha calls herself an ‘awakened academic’, having extracted herself from the grind of higher education to work with clients to heal trauma through meditation, somatic therapy, and much, much more. She works with clients to achieve better nervous system regulation—no small feat in our nervous system-destroying world.

In this discussion, we explore the hyperstimulation of the simulacra in which we live: a world obsessed with the “viral”, the hyper-novel, and the increasingly depraved and intense as we hunt for the illusive brain chemicals that generate the happy feels.

 Long story short: there are no cheat codes are hacks to mental health or spiritual development, so stop treating this stuff like a vending machine. There is no short cut. 

The bottom line? Chasing the dragon of dopamine while fighting off the monster of cortisol is no way to go through life. Sometimes, we all just need to get back to the somatic and cerebral version of the missionary position. With socks on. And lights off.

I realize this is a daring and risqué metaphor, but it’s also apt.  I mean, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Join Elisha and I in our crusade to empower others to chop wood and carry water: i.e. embrace the meditation of the mundane and the recalibration to normal that our nervous systems are dying to experience again. All of life is sacred—not just the neon, smell-o-vision stuff!

We wrap up our discussion with a card pull from the TOTEM Tarot Deck, and it does not disappoint!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Elisha’s IG: @elisha_halpin
Elisha’s Website: https://elishahalpin.com 

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13608119 Sat, 07 Oct 2023 10:00:00 -0500 4495 meditation, cortisol, adrenal fatigue, neurosculpting, self-care, somatic, trauma recovery, nervous system regulation, social media, brain function, theta wave state, shamanism, tarot, tarot cards, totem tarot deck 2 1 full false All About Angels, with Nichole Bigley All About Angels, with Nichole Bigley In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Nichole Bigley of the incredible podcasts A Psychic's Story, Supernatural Matters, and A Psychic Story: Kids' Edition.

Nichole is also a psychic intuitive that has been I’ve been talking to angels her whole life. It started at a very early age when her memories of before being born on Earth suddenly returned. She is currently cowriting the book Looking for Angels: A Guide to Connecting with Angels in the hopes of putting more people in touch with their own angelic guides.

In this episode, we dispel the myths of the angelic realm and help folks figure out what angels are-- and what they're NOT (hint: it has a little something to do with toxic positivity and Precious Moments dolls).

Rachel and Nichole both share their early and very personal first encounters with angels, and how these experiences have shaped their psychic client work and broader lives. Long story short: angels are pretty high impact and basically change the trajectory of your whole life!

And, of course, we pull a card from the TOTEM Tarot Deck and it does NOT let us down! So, stay to the end-- that's where the good stuff is in any case;)

LINKS:
Rachel's links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings' Website: https://www.totemreadings.com/
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
A Psychic's Story Podcast: https://www.apsychicsstory.com/
Nichole's Book: https://www.lookingforangelsbook.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apsychicsstory/

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Nichole Bigley of the incredible podcasts A Psychic's Story, Supernatural Matters, and A Psychic Story: Kids' Edition.

Nichole is also a psychic intuitive that has been I’ve been talking to angels her whole life. It started at a very early age when her memories of before being born on Earth suddenly returned. She is currently cowriting the book Looking for Angels: A Guide to Connecting with Angels in the hopes of putting more people in touch with their own angelic guides.

In this episode, we dispel the myths of the angelic realm and help folks figure out what angels are-- and what they're NOT (hint: it has a little something to do with toxic positivity and Precious Moments dolls).

Rachel and Nichole both share their early and very personal first encounters with angels, and how these experiences have shaped their psychic client work and broader lives. Long story short: angels are pretty high impact and basically change the trajectory of your whole life!

And, of course, we pull a card from the TOTEM Tarot Deck and it does NOT let us down! So, stay to the end-- that's where the good stuff is in any case;)

LINKS:
Rachel's links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings' Website: https://www.totemreadings.com/
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
A Psychic's Story Podcast: https://www.apsychicsstory.com/
Nichole's Book: https://www.lookingforangelsbook.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apsychicsstory/

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13312822 Sun, 13 Aug 2023 12:00:00 -0500 3749 A psychics story, podcast, psychic kids, Nichole Bigley, angels, looking for angels, psychic, flower essences, tarot, tarot cards, imaginary friends, psychic practitioner, intuition, totem tarot deck, totem deck, medium, spirits, working with angels, arch 1 full false The Tarot Lady, with Theresa Reed The Tarot Lady, with Theresa Reed In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White of TOTEM Readings sits down with The Tarot Lady herself: Theresa Reed.

Not only has Theresa been a professional tarot card reader for her entire adult life, she's translated her arcane know-how into success as an author, having created a multitude of published works: The Tarot Coloring Book, Tarot For Troubled Times, Astrology For Real Life, Twist Your Fate – Manifest Success with Astrology and Tarot, and Tarot: No Questions Asked – Mastering the Art of Intuitive Tarot Reading.

Theresa boasts a LARGE social media and Patreon following, so she knows a thing or two about converting tarot into professional success. But this means she ALSO knows all about the flip side of making it big: from con artists to impersonators to people with poor boundaries.

In this episode, Rachel and Theresa chat about red flags for folks to look out for when seeking a tarot card reader or psychic practitioner and, conversely, what GOOD attributes to keep an eye out for in the ethical-- and talent-rich-- world of woo.

Theresa is not only a tremendous talent, but a gracious, generous and insightful human being-- so listen to her words of wisdom before leap into the wild unknown!

Of course, we wrap up with pulling a TOTEM Tarot Card and, as per usual, it just doesn't disappoint.

LINKS:
Rachel's links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Theresa's links: https://linktr.ee/thetarotlady

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White of TOTEM Readings sits down with The Tarot Lady herself: Theresa Reed.

Not only has Theresa been a professional tarot card reader for her entire adult life, she's translated her arcane know-how into success as an author, having created a multitude of published works: The Tarot Coloring Book, Tarot For Troubled Times, Astrology For Real Life, Twist Your Fate – Manifest Success with Astrology and Tarot, and Tarot: No Questions Asked – Mastering the Art of Intuitive Tarot Reading.

Theresa boasts a LARGE social media and Patreon following, so she knows a thing or two about converting tarot into professional success. But this means she ALSO knows all about the flip side of making it big: from con artists to impersonators to people with poor boundaries.

In this episode, Rachel and Theresa chat about red flags for folks to look out for when seeking a tarot card reader or psychic practitioner and, conversely, what GOOD attributes to keep an eye out for in the ethical-- and talent-rich-- world of woo.

Theresa is not only a tremendous talent, but a gracious, generous and insightful human being-- so listen to her words of wisdom before leap into the wild unknown!

Of course, we wrap up with pulling a TOTEM Tarot Card and, as per usual, it just doesn't disappoint.

LINKS:
Rachel's links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Theresa's links: https://linktr.ee/thetarotlady

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13312826 Sun, 06 Aug 2023 10:00:00 -0500 3375 the tarot lady, Theresa Reed, Wiser Tarot, tarot cards, tarot reading, tarot, totem tarot deck, totem tarot, psychic reading, scam artists, red flags, pitfalls, ethics, transparency, quality, provider, energy worker, intuitive, medium, rules, boundaries, 1 9 full false The Refugees and the Remnants, with Roger Oney The Refugees and the Remnants, with Roger Oney This episode is very near and dear to my heart, as it will surely be for any of you familiar with our work here at TOTEM and "friend of the program", Roger Oney.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend of more than 15 years (yes, we're very, very old) and producer of The Skeptical Shaman podcast to talk about the literal and figurative end times. We chat about the energetic and spiritual impacts of AI and the rapidly accelerating rate of change across all industries, geographies, and professions.

Will there be refugees and remnants after this technological and sociological revolution? Will these enclaves form a modern version of the ancient mystery schools, reminding society of the "before times" and what it means to be a human being? What parts of our spiritual traditions and practices need to be carried on in a kind of living time capsule?

My friend, Roger Oney, aka the High Mesa Mystic, works with clients across a variety of energy healing, spiritual coaching, and just straight up life guidance modalities-- all with a focus on navigating change in a strange, constantly-shifting world. He's a talented psychic with an open mind and even more open heart.

And, of course, we pull a TOTEM Tarot Deck card at the end of our chat so as to stave off the tyrannical abuses of our show's sponsor. And, as per usual, the card is absolutely perfect for the themes of our discussion-- and our action items moving forward!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com/
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Roger's Links: https://highmesamystic.com 

]]> This episode is very near and dear to my heart, as it will surely be for any of you familiar with our work here at TOTEM and "friend of the program", Roger Oney.

In this episode, I sit down with my friend of more than 15 years (yes, we're very, very old) and producer of The Skeptical Shaman podcast to talk about the literal and figurative end times. We chat about the energetic and spiritual impacts of AI and the rapidly accelerating rate of change across all industries, geographies, and professions.

Will there be refugees and remnants after this technological and sociological revolution? Will these enclaves form a modern version of the ancient mystery schools, reminding society of the "before times" and what it means to be a human being? What parts of our spiritual traditions and practices need to be carried on in a kind of living time capsule?

My friend, Roger Oney, aka the High Mesa Mystic, works with clients across a variety of energy healing, spiritual coaching, and just straight up life guidance modalities-- all with a focus on navigating change in a strange, constantly-shifting world. He's a talented psychic with an open mind and even more open heart.

And, of course, we pull a TOTEM Tarot Deck card at the end of our chat so as to stave off the tyrannical abuses of our show's sponsor. And, as per usual, the card is absolutely perfect for the themes of our discussion-- and our action items moving forward!

LINKS:
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com/
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Roger's Links: https://highmesamystic.com 

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13162421 Sun, 30 Jul 2023 08:00:00 -0500 3163 energy healing, energy work, psychic, shamanism, meditation, magic, witchcraft, remote viewing, end times, apocalypse, end of the world, artificial intelligence, AI, machine learning, change, transformation, upheaval, mindfulness, meditation, survivor, tr 1 8 full false What Feeds Your Soul?, with Colleen Soisson What Feeds Your Soul?, with Colleen Soisson In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Colleen Soisson, Ayurvedic Practitioner and actual wellness expert to discuss the tension inherent to getting healthy and embodied in a world built on convenience and time-scarcity.

Ayurveda is a 5,000 year old form of holistic medicine from India, mirroring much of what makes Chinese medicine (and functional medicine) tick.

In this discussion, Rachel and Colleen debate the answer to this perennial existential question: what feeds your soul?

But like, literally.

We play the hits: why is everyone so unhealthy? Why is everything in our world literal poison? How can we survive, thrive, and not go nuts in the process?

The long and short of it? We’re on our own, kids. Time to take accountability for our own well-being, happiness, diet and lifestyle because there is NO knight on a white horse rolling up to save our asses!

What’s more: a lot of this comes down to personal accountability. Are we addicted to the very thing that’s bad for us? Are we in a cycle of simply being drawn to what we know, like a kind of personal gravity that pulls us into what we’ve been eating, doing and thinking? ENTROPY?!?

F*ck. No one told me being a grown up was going to be like this. It’s actually a lot of work to survive and thrive in this world!!!

What's more: we discover that Rachel is addicted to her fire dosha, that Colleen's dosha doesn't love air travel, and that both shamans and Ayurvedic practitioners can spit fire when they're tired or overworked.

It's not all light and love;)

Of course, we pull a TOTEM Tarot Card to wrap up our dynamic chat, revealing a not-so-subtle message from spirit;)

LINKS:
Rachel's links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Colleen's website: Website: colleensoisson.com
Colleen's IG: @colleen_ayurveda

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Colleen Soisson, Ayurvedic Practitioner and actual wellness expert to discuss the tension inherent to getting healthy and embodied in a world built on convenience and time-scarcity.

Ayurveda is a 5,000 year old form of holistic medicine from India, mirroring much of what makes Chinese medicine (and functional medicine) tick.

In this discussion, Rachel and Colleen debate the answer to this perennial existential question: what feeds your soul?

But like, literally.

We play the hits: why is everyone so unhealthy? Why is everything in our world literal poison? How can we survive, thrive, and not go nuts in the process?

The long and short of it? We’re on our own, kids. Time to take accountability for our own well-being, happiness, diet and lifestyle because there is NO knight on a white horse rolling up to save our asses!

What’s more: a lot of this comes down to personal accountability. Are we addicted to the very thing that’s bad for us? Are we in a cycle of simply being drawn to what we know, like a kind of personal gravity that pulls us into what we’ve been eating, doing and thinking? ENTROPY?!?

F*ck. No one told me being a grown up was going to be like this. It’s actually a lot of work to survive and thrive in this world!!!

What's more: we discover that Rachel is addicted to her fire dosha, that Colleen's dosha doesn't love air travel, and that both shamans and Ayurvedic practitioners can spit fire when they're tired or overworked.

It's not all light and love;)

Of course, we pull a TOTEM Tarot Card to wrap up our dynamic chat, revealing a not-so-subtle message from spirit;)

LINKS:
Rachel's links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Colleen's website: Website: colleensoisson.com
Colleen's IG: @colleen_ayurveda

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13162407 Sun, 23 Jul 2023 11:00:00 -0500 3367 Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Practitioner, dosha, diet, nutrition, lifestyle, wellness, food allergies, food toxicity, convenience, slow, yin, cooking, meal planning, meditation, tarot, shamanism, meditation, witchcraft, modern world, ancient practices, tarot read 1 7 full false I prefer the pod, with Susan Dones I prefer the pod, with Susan Dones In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White sits down to chat with real deal, actual hero and cult whistleblower Susan Dones, MA LMT.

Susan was featured in the HBO's The Vow, a docuseries detailing the rise and fall of  NXIVM: an American-based "personal development" program that was, actually, a highly abusive cult. NXIVM's leader, Keith Raniere, is currently serving a 120-year sentence for his crimes, and survivors and whistleblowers like Susan are spreading the word to help mitigate future fallout from similar "high control groups", as well as help survivors heal.

Susan is a fascinating individual who's bonafides totally upend the flattened-- and horribly misinformed-- stereotype of a "cult member".  Before entering NXIVM and becoming a coach, Susan was a decorated aircraft mechanic in the U.S. military, a licensed massage therapist, and a therapist-therapist with a Masters degree in psychology who had been working to help clients heal through the mind + body connection.

In other words: she wasn't a slouch before entering NXIVM, but that didn't protect her from dealing with a multi-decade back-and-forth with a multi-million dollar juggernaut that launched more than 200 fake legal claims her. Susan was capable and intelligent enough to beat NXIVM's powerful lawyers across all of this "vexatious litigation", and yes: she represented herself.

I know, right? Super. F*cking. Impressive.

Now, Susan is focused on helping others heal after being in coercive control, high-demand groups or just abusive and traumatic dynamics more generally. She joined The Skeptical Shaman podcast to talk red flags when exploring personal and spiritual development, as well as why she likes to stay away from big groups and stick to a small, decentralized "pod" of good friends.

Stick to the small pod, my friends. Decentralization is the key.

Her lessons learned translate across the woo world, giving all of us line of sight into how to navigate an often nebulous, tricky landscape riddled with spiritual narcissists, abusers and con artists. And, because Susan is super f*cking cool, she indulged our very demanding and temperamental sponsor-- The TOTEM Tarot Deck-- as we pulled a tarot card to summarize our discussion and provide a bit of spiritual insight to the listeners.

LINKS:
Rachel White Website (TOTEM Readings): https://www.totemreadings.com
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Susan Dones Website: https://susandones.com
Sustan Dones IG: @susandones456
The Vow Docuseries Website: https://www.hbo.com/the-vow/season-1

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White sits down to chat with real deal, actual hero and cult whistleblower Susan Dones, MA LMT.

Susan was featured in the HBO's The Vow, a docuseries detailing the rise and fall of  NXIVM: an American-based "personal development" program that was, actually, a highly abusive cult. NXIVM's leader, Keith Raniere, is currently serving a 120-year sentence for his crimes, and survivors and whistleblowers like Susan are spreading the word to help mitigate future fallout from similar "high control groups", as well as help survivors heal.

Susan is a fascinating individual who's bonafides totally upend the flattened-- and horribly misinformed-- stereotype of a "cult member".  Before entering NXIVM and becoming a coach, Susan was a decorated aircraft mechanic in the U.S. military, a licensed massage therapist, and a therapist-therapist with a Masters degree in psychology who had been working to help clients heal through the mind + body connection.

In other words: she wasn't a slouch before entering NXIVM, but that didn't protect her from dealing with a multi-decade back-and-forth with a multi-million dollar juggernaut that launched more than 200 fake legal claims her. Susan was capable and intelligent enough to beat NXIVM's powerful lawyers across all of this "vexatious litigation", and yes: she represented herself.

I know, right? Super. F*cking. Impressive.

Now, Susan is focused on helping others heal after being in coercive control, high-demand groups or just abusive and traumatic dynamics more generally. She joined The Skeptical Shaman podcast to talk red flags when exploring personal and spiritual development, as well as why she likes to stay away from big groups and stick to a small, decentralized "pod" of good friends.

Stick to the small pod, my friends. Decentralization is the key.

Her lessons learned translate across the woo world, giving all of us line of sight into how to navigate an often nebulous, tricky landscape riddled with spiritual narcissists, abusers and con artists. And, because Susan is super f*cking cool, she indulged our very demanding and temperamental sponsor-- The TOTEM Tarot Deck-- as we pulled a tarot card to summarize our discussion and provide a bit of spiritual insight to the listeners.

LINKS:
Rachel White Website (TOTEM Readings): https://www.totemreadings.com
Rachel's Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
Susan Dones Website: https://susandones.com
Sustan Dones IG: @susandones456
The Vow Docuseries Website: https://www.hbo.com/the-vow/season-1

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13162424 Sun, 16 Jul 2023 18:00:00 -0500 3225 NXIVM, cult, Keith Raniere, Nancy Salzman, Allison Mack, The Vow, HBO, documentary, cult survivor, trauma, trauma recovery, covert narcissism, narcissism, coercive control, intuition, group think, social pressure, spirituality, tarot, tarot cards, spiritu 1 6 full false The Godessy, with Lianne Arends The Godessy, with Lianne Arends In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) interviews Lianne Arends, researcher and author of the in-progress book series titled “The Godessy”. 

Lianne’s life’s work is all about researching and understanding the origins of the Ancient Mystery Teachings, which have been shrouded in secrecy for millennia. The Godessy is historical fiction, detailing the story of a very real scientist that got swept up in a very real ancient mystery school that emerged in the wake of World War 2. 

The Godessy—and Lianne’s research—is all about how the ancient world worshipped the goddess alongside the god, and how our society might just benefit mightily from bringing a little bit of yin back into the mystical (and pragmatic) mix.

Lianne and I bond over our love of all things ancient (and dorky), including the hieroglyphic nature of the ancient Hebrew language, it’s meaning in the study of the ancient mystery schools, and what the true nature of our origins as a species might be. Hint: the clues are right in front of our face (and in our genome)!

We dig into the incredible work of Graham Hancock, the world of Ancient Egypt, and how what we may be going through now as a species—including with the emergence of AI—might actually be part of a much older, repeating pattern. To this end, digging into the mystical past (and our own spiritual birthrights) may just give us the map for this new (and often scary) terrain.

Interesting in ancient wisdom and mystery schools? Kabbalah? Hebrew? Goddess worship? The severely misunderstood figure of Lilith? This episode has the high strangeness and occult goodies you’ve been craving!

As always, we pull a TOTEM Tarot Card…and it’s so on point, creepy doesn’t quite cover it! 

Links:
•The TOTEM Tarot Deck (used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
•TOTEM Readings (Rachel’s website): https://www.totemreadings.com
•Rachel’s IG: @totemrach
•Liane’s Website: www.liannearends.com
•Liane’s IG: @arends_lianne

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) interviews Lianne Arends, researcher and author of the in-progress book series titled “The Godessy”. 

Lianne’s life’s work is all about researching and understanding the origins of the Ancient Mystery Teachings, which have been shrouded in secrecy for millennia. The Godessy is historical fiction, detailing the story of a very real scientist that got swept up in a very real ancient mystery school that emerged in the wake of World War 2. 

The Godessy—and Lianne’s research—is all about how the ancient world worshipped the goddess alongside the god, and how our society might just benefit mightily from bringing a little bit of yin back into the mystical (and pragmatic) mix.

Lianne and I bond over our love of all things ancient (and dorky), including the hieroglyphic nature of the ancient Hebrew language, it’s meaning in the study of the ancient mystery schools, and what the true nature of our origins as a species might be. Hint: the clues are right in front of our face (and in our genome)!

We dig into the incredible work of Graham Hancock, the world of Ancient Egypt, and how what we may be going through now as a species—including with the emergence of AI—might actually be part of a much older, repeating pattern. To this end, digging into the mystical past (and our own spiritual birthrights) may just give us the map for this new (and often scary) terrain.

Interesting in ancient wisdom and mystery schools? Kabbalah? Hebrew? Goddess worship? The severely misunderstood figure of Lilith? This episode has the high strangeness and occult goodies you’ve been craving!

As always, we pull a TOTEM Tarot Card…and it’s so on point, creepy doesn’t quite cover it! 

Links:
•The TOTEM Tarot Deck (used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
•TOTEM Readings (Rachel’s website): https://www.totemreadings.com
•Rachel’s IG: @totemrach
•Liane’s Website: www.liannearends.com
•Liane’s IG: @arends_lianne

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-13112959 Sun, 09 Jul 2023 18:00:00 -0500 3568 goddess, mystery schools, metaphysics, tarot, tarot reading, totem tarot deck, ancient Egypt, Egyptian mythology, ritual magic, witchcraft, ceremony, historical fiction, adventure, goddess worship, paganism, judaism, Hebrew, language, AI, artificial intel 1 5 full false The Emotional Entrepreneur, with Scout Sobel The Emotional Entrepreneur, with Scout Sobel In this episode of the Skeptical Shaman, host Rachel White chats with "The Emotional Entrepreneur": Scout Sobel. Not only is this the title of Scout's book, but it's also her life's mission statement. As the owner of Scout's Agency and the cohost of the "Okay, Sis" podcast, Scout is upending every pre-conceived "rule" of what it means to be a woman, a mother, and a business owner, harnessing the power of her emotions and intuitions instead of fighting them at every step.

Scout's Agency has a simple but powerful mission: to get women as guests on podcasts, and through delivering this incredible product Scout has absolutely gained invaluable lessons learned across business, personal development, and spirituality more broadly.

In this chat, Rachel and Scout dig into the crucial importance of the chakras, how to radically accept your nature and your soul's purpose, and how to navigate the "shadow aspect" of your incredible super powers...you know, because we all have them!

Scout credits her bipolar disorder with many of her own superpowers, market differentiators and--frankly speaking-- her competitive edge, but also acknowledges that "with great power comes great responsibility".  Scout shares her own best practices for self-care, how to manage the instinct to "fawn" in a society obsessed with customer service, and what she needs to fill her tank up after an exhausting workday.

We end our discussion with Rachel pulling a TOTEM Tarot Card for Scout, who reflected a totally awesome, totally curious open mind when faced with an often misunderstood mythical character!

TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's spiritual practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (deck used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Scout's Agency website: https://www.scoutsobel.com
Scout's IG: https://www.instagram.com/scoutsobel/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of the Skeptical Shaman, host Rachel White chats with "The Emotional Entrepreneur": Scout Sobel. Not only is this the title of Scout's book, but it's also her life's mission statement. As the owner of Scout's Agency and the cohost of the "Okay, Sis" podcast, Scout is upending every pre-conceived "rule" of what it means to be a woman, a mother, and a business owner, harnessing the power of her emotions and intuitions instead of fighting them at every step.

Scout's Agency has a simple but powerful mission: to get women as guests on podcasts, and through delivering this incredible product Scout has absolutely gained invaluable lessons learned across business, personal development, and spirituality more broadly.

In this chat, Rachel and Scout dig into the crucial importance of the chakras, how to radically accept your nature and your soul's purpose, and how to navigate the "shadow aspect" of your incredible super powers...you know, because we all have them!

Scout credits her bipolar disorder with many of her own superpowers, market differentiators and--frankly speaking-- her competitive edge, but also acknowledges that "with great power comes great responsibility".  Scout shares her own best practices for self-care, how to manage the instinct to "fawn" in a society obsessed with customer service, and what she needs to fill her tank up after an exhausting workday.

We end our discussion with Rachel pulling a TOTEM Tarot Card for Scout, who reflected a totally awesome, totally curious open mind when faced with an often misunderstood mythical character!

TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's spiritual practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (deck used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Scout's Agency website: https://www.scoutsobel.com
Scout's IG: https://www.instagram.com/scoutsobel/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Scout Sobel Buzzsprout-12963932 Sat, 01 Jul 2023 20:00:00 -0500 3156 emotional entrepreneur, scout's agency, PR, podcasts, podcast, chakras, shamanism, totem, totem readings, totem tarot deck, tarot, tarot cards, tarot reading, shamanism, meditation, reiki, energy work, self-care, female business owner, female owned busine 1 4 full true Ralph Sarchie vs. Old Scratch Ralph Sarchie vs. Old Scratch Ralph Sarchie is a retired NYPD Sargent and an active Traditionalist Catholic Demonologist and Exorcist. Ralph’s story can be found in the book Deliver Us From Evil, which was also converted into a film of the same name. Ralph refers to his efforts as a police officer as “the Job”, calling his work as a Demonologist and Exorcist “the Work”.

Ralph joins me, Rachel White, host of the Skeptical Shaman and owner of TOTEM Readings, to discuss the phenomenon of evil: what it is, why it matters, and why we should care in a woo world intent on ignoring the dark side. Ralph describes his journey with demonology, exorcism and traditional Catholicism more broadly. He mentions several key mentors and teachers, including Ed and Loraine Warren (of Amityville fame) and Father Malachi Martin, a Jesuit priest that translated portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls. 

Ralph also explains the difference between his Catholic Church and the one headquartered in Rome. At which point, of course, Rachel just had to make her standard joke about the Papal Audience Hall being designed in the shape of a giant snake with a snakey, firey statue flanking a bunch of dudes dressed up as evil Nazi wizards from some yet-to-be-screened Star Wars movie. 

 It’s a classic.

Whether you’re a hard core Catholic or spiritually-homeless agnostic, this discussion is all about the importance of prioritizing your spiritual life…and what happens when you put material concerns above all others.

Ralph is a legitimate kind soul and open-minded guy, and we’re grateful he spent some time with us at The Skeptical Shaman.

TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com

Ralph Sarchie's Book, Deliver Us From Evil: https://a.co/d/eukZMlt

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Ralph Sarchie is a retired NYPD Sargent and an active Traditionalist Catholic Demonologist and Exorcist. Ralph’s story can be found in the book Deliver Us From Evil, which was also converted into a film of the same name. Ralph refers to his efforts as a police officer as “the Job”, calling his work as a Demonologist and Exorcist “the Work”.

Ralph joins me, Rachel White, host of the Skeptical Shaman and owner of TOTEM Readings, to discuss the phenomenon of evil: what it is, why it matters, and why we should care in a woo world intent on ignoring the dark side. Ralph describes his journey with demonology, exorcism and traditional Catholicism more broadly. He mentions several key mentors and teachers, including Ed and Loraine Warren (of Amityville fame) and Father Malachi Martin, a Jesuit priest that translated portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls. 

Ralph also explains the difference between his Catholic Church and the one headquartered in Rome. At which point, of course, Rachel just had to make her standard joke about the Papal Audience Hall being designed in the shape of a giant snake with a snakey, firey statue flanking a bunch of dudes dressed up as evil Nazi wizards from some yet-to-be-screened Star Wars movie. 

 It’s a classic.

Whether you’re a hard core Catholic or spiritually-homeless agnostic, this discussion is all about the importance of prioritizing your spiritual life…and what happens when you put material concerns above all others.

Ralph is a legitimate kind soul and open-minded guy, and we’re grateful he spent some time with us at The Skeptical Shaman.

TOTEM Readings Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com

Ralph Sarchie's Book, Deliver Us From Evil: https://a.co/d/eukZMlt

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Ralph Sarchie Buzzsprout-12949878 Sat, 24 Jun 2023 20:00:00 -0500 2734 evil, demonology, spirituality, exorcism, exorcist, Ralph, Sarchie, ralphsarchie, deliverusfromevil, shamanism, meditation, ghosts, demons, Catholicism, reiki, yoga, tarot, witchcraft, faith, spirituality, skepticism, rachelwhite, totem, totemreadings, TO 1 3 full false Out of the Broom Closet, with Britt Sandkulla-Sinclair Out of the Broom Closet, with Britt Sandkulla-Sinclair In this episode of the Skeptical Shaman Podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Britt Sandkulla-Sinclair of Golden Thread Alchemy to discuss what it's like to "come out of the broom closet" as a witch.

Britt is a witch, astrologer and integral coach. She's been a practicing witch for 20 years, mainly as an individual practitioner. Through her practice, Britt's offers includes coaching, astrology readings and in-person New Moon women's circles in her area.

In this discussion, Rachel and Britt get into the definitions-- and differences-- of witchcraft, Wicca and paganism, as well as how listeners can harness a bit of witch woo for themselves (book recommendations from Britt are included with links below). We also explore the upcoming Summer Solstice (aka Midsummer) and what this special celestial event-- and pagan holiday-- mean for us mere mortals.

Britt and Rachel also discuss the very modern urge to "outsource" spirituality to practitioners, along with our society's "perpetual summer" problem, exploring potential nature-based (and very yin) solutions. Emotional sobriety? Embracing archetypes? The Year of the Witch? Yes, yes and yes!

We wrap up with a particularly poignant TOTEM Tarot Card pull, giving Britt a very powerful spiritual "wink" from the other side.

TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Britt's IG: @goldenthreadalchemy
Golden Thread Alchemy Website: www.goldenthreadalchemy.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of the Skeptical Shaman Podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with Britt Sandkulla-Sinclair of Golden Thread Alchemy to discuss what it's like to "come out of the broom closet" as a witch.

Britt is a witch, astrologer and integral coach. She's been a practicing witch for 20 years, mainly as an individual practitioner. Through her practice, Britt's offers includes coaching, astrology readings and in-person New Moon women's circles in her area.

In this discussion, Rachel and Britt get into the definitions-- and differences-- of witchcraft, Wicca and paganism, as well as how listeners can harness a bit of witch woo for themselves (book recommendations from Britt are included with links below). We also explore the upcoming Summer Solstice (aka Midsummer) and what this special celestial event-- and pagan holiday-- mean for us mere mortals.

Britt and Rachel also discuss the very modern urge to "outsource" spirituality to practitioners, along with our society's "perpetual summer" problem, exploring potential nature-based (and very yin) solutions. Emotional sobriety? Embracing archetypes? The Year of the Witch? Yes, yes and yes!

We wrap up with a particularly poignant TOTEM Tarot Card pull, giving Britt a very powerful spiritual "wink" from the other side.

TOTEM Readings website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck (card used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Britt's IG: @goldenthreadalchemy
Golden Thread Alchemy Website: www.goldenthreadalchemy.com

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Buzzsprout-12971324 Sun, 18 Jun 2023 19:00:00 -0500 4020 witchcraft, witch, paganism, Wicca, ritual, ritual magic, astrology, death doula, coaching, natal, chart, birth chart, fairy, fairies, nature spirits, solstice, midsummer, tarot, tarot reading, tarot deck, tarot cards, TOTEM Tarot Deck, TOTEM Readings, Ra 1 2 full false A Post-Cult Life, with Abigail Kochunas A Post-Cult Life, with Abigail Kochunas In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman, host Rachel White sits down to chat with Abigail Kochunas of Sacred Healing Art. Abigail is an actress, artist, psychic and energy worker and the owner of Sacred Healing Arts in Los Angeles.

Abigail is also the author behind the "My Post Cult Life" Substack, detailing her experiences and insights across narcissistic abuse, cultivated from 14 years in a cult...within a cult. In this episode, we discuss Abigail's experience with an infamous Hollywood acting coach, her introduction to and experience of Scientology, and how Covid-19-- and reliance on Zoom-- helped break the spell and free Abigail from many unseen (but very real) prisons.

And, when we scheduled this discussion, we had no idea it was literally the two year anniversary of Abigail's jail break...and, later in the day, we would learn that famous actor and Scientologist Danny Masterson was convicted of rape after two trails that brought the dark side of Scientology out into the sunlight of public discourse.

So, the woo was strong with this one, my friends.

We wrap up this discussion by pulling a TOTEM Tarot Card for Abigail and the collective, exploring the necessity of time, space and silence in which to cultivate inspiration and psychic revelation.

The TOTEM Tarot Deck (deck used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Abigail's Links and Website: https://linktr.ee/sacredhealingart
Abigails IG: https://www.instagram.com/sacredhealing_art/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman, host Rachel White sits down to chat with Abigail Kochunas of Sacred Healing Art. Abigail is an actress, artist, psychic and energy worker and the owner of Sacred Healing Arts in Los Angeles.

Abigail is also the author behind the "My Post Cult Life" Substack, detailing her experiences and insights across narcissistic abuse, cultivated from 14 years in a cult...within a cult. In this episode, we discuss Abigail's experience with an infamous Hollywood acting coach, her introduction to and experience of Scientology, and how Covid-19-- and reliance on Zoom-- helped break the spell and free Abigail from many unseen (but very real) prisons.

And, when we scheduled this discussion, we had no idea it was literally the two year anniversary of Abigail's jail break...and, later in the day, we would learn that famous actor and Scientologist Danny Masterson was convicted of rape after two trails that brought the dark side of Scientology out into the sunlight of public discourse.

So, the woo was strong with this one, my friends.

We wrap up this discussion by pulling a TOTEM Tarot Card for Abigail and the collective, exploring the necessity of time, space and silence in which to cultivate inspiration and psychic revelation.

The TOTEM Tarot Deck (deck used in episode): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Readings Website (Rachel's practice): https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach
Abigail's Links and Website: https://linktr.ee/sacredhealingart
Abigails IG: https://www.instagram.com/sacredhealing_art/

Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

]]> Abigail Kochunas Buzzsprout-12963933 Sun, 11 Jun 2023 15:00:00 -0500 5118 scientology, cults, cult, acting, los angeles, reiki, energy healing, art, art herapy, crystals, cult survival, cult recovery, tarot, tarot reading, totem tarot deck, Rachel white, Abigail kochunas, shamanism, meditation, divination, psychic, TOTEM Readin 1 1 full false About the Skeptical Shaman About the Skeptical Shaman We’re about to start an incredible journey, exploring the world of woo and addressing the burning questions for the “spiritually homeless”. In the Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White will talk to everyone: the cynics, the skeptics, the curious, and the true believers. Why? Well, the truth is always somewhere in the messy middle.

Rachel White is the owner of TOTEM Readings and a trained shaman, medium, energy worker and herbalist. Rachel is the co-creator of the TOTEM Tarot Deck, available for sale on Amazon. Rachel is also the owner of the TOTEM Readings ATX Etsy Shop, making hand-made flower essences available to the market. 

Rachel updates clients every week on the world of woo via her TOTEM Readings Substack. 

Interviews and new episodes to come, so keep your eyes peeled to listen, like, share and subscribe!

Links for Rachel White and TOTEM Readings of the Skeptical Shaman:
TOTEM Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

]]> We’re about to start an incredible journey, exploring the world of woo and addressing the burning questions for the “spiritually homeless”. In the Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White will talk to everyone: the cynics, the skeptics, the curious, and the true believers. Why? Well, the truth is always somewhere in the messy middle.

Rachel White is the owner of TOTEM Readings and a trained shaman, medium, energy worker and herbalist. Rachel is the co-creator of the TOTEM Tarot Deck, available for sale on Amazon. Rachel is also the owner of the TOTEM Readings ATX Etsy Shop, making hand-made flower essences available to the market. 

Rachel updates clients every week on the world of woo via her TOTEM Readings Substack. 

Interviews and new episodes to come, so keep your eyes peeled to listen, like, share and subscribe!

Links for Rachel White and TOTEM Readings of the Skeptical Shaman:
TOTEM Website: https://www.totemreadings.com
TOTEM Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com
TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0578980126?ref=myi_title_dp
TOTEM Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX

]]> Rachel White Buzzsprout-12894398 Mon, 22 May 2023 06:00:00 -0500 92 supernatural, psychic, psychic medium, shamanism, shaman, tarot, oracle, tarot cards, oracle cards, tarot deck, oracle deck, witchcraft, herbalism, seance, channeling, energy work, reiki, chakras, chakra, crystals, plant medicine, ghosts, spirit, spirits, 1 1 trailer false