The Hermit’s Lamp Podcast - A place for witches, hermits, mystics, healers, and seekers

A Beginner’s Guide to Herbalism and Magical Practice
This episode is for folks looking to get into working with plants - or deepen your relationship if you already are working with them. It is part of an ongoing series on getting started in spirituality. 

This episode living with the world through herbalism, ancestry, and the lands we live on. Exploring how plants can reconnect us to both our roots and our present communities. Sarah and Andrew set the stage to build a deep connection to the natural world.  Revisiting a podcast favourite animism — the understanding that all beings, including plants, are alive and spirited—and how this worldview reshapes herbal practice beyond simple “symptom and remedy” thinking.

Sarah shares her journey into herbalism through chronic illness, finding relief with common plantain, and discovering herbalism as both a clinical path and a spiritual, relational practice. They discuss herbal ancestors. Sharing thoughts on how  family recipes, kitchen spices, and everyday food rituals can be doorways into remembering ancestral plant traditions.

The conversation also highlights the responsibilities of practicing herbalism on Indigenous land, emphasizing relational approaches, learning local histories and treaties, and supporting Indigenous-led stewardship. 

For listeners wanting to begin or deepen their plant work—whether medicinal or magical—the episode offers practical guidance: start with the plants where you live, build long-term relationships over seasons, learning to listen to your body , and allowing plants to teach through direct experience.

 

You can find us on the socials.

Rowan and Sage main site is here

Seasonal Herb-craft program

Herbaria membership and library

Rowan and Sage learning/online courses page

Andrews as always is found here

Please share widely.

~ Andrew

With Erika Robinson


Erika Robinson brings a unique perspective to Lenormand readings. In this episode we cover the foundational pieces like how Lenormand differs from Tarot, learning why Lenormand’s focus on everyday questions can provide practical guidance and clarity for real-life concerns. And explore Erika's methods for going much deeper through intuition.



Throughout the episode, Erica shares actionable advice on how to deepen your intuition and approach readings with greater authenticity. If you're looking to enhance your divinatory skills, the episode provides practical tips for connecting more effectively with clients and for asking better, more insightful questions that yield richer results. Erica’s emphasis on the importance of self-reflection will inspire listeners to examine their personal journeys within spiritual practice and embrace continuous growth.



Beyond the technical level Erica and Andrew’s discuss using divination as a tool for activism and community building. Digging into how spiritual practices can be a source of personal power and collective action, providing ways to find joy and purpose even in challenging times.



This is an episode for anyone seeking inspiration, solace, and practical guidance to navigate both the mystical and the everyday with clarity and courage.



You can find us on the socials. Or Eika is here and Andrew is here.



Erika Robinson’s YouTube channel (In the Company of Cards):


Erika’s Substack (In the Company of Cards):


Erika Robinson’s website (Lenormand with Erika):​


Erika Robinson's Lenormand online course (hosted by Ethony):


"The Secret" by Sylvie Steinbach​


"The Language of Lenormand" by Erika Robinson (also referenced in French as "Découvrez le langage du Lenormand")​


"White Fragility" by Robin DiAngelo​


"Homage to Catalonia" by George Orwell



Please share widely!



Andrew

with Althaea Sebastiani
In this episode of The Hermit's Land podcast, I sit down with Althaea Sebastiani to dig into the heart of witchcraft—animism and spirit work. We explore what it means to walk this path with patience and authenticity. Learning to listen and truly hear will help you build deep relationships with spirits over time.

We get into the how-to of working with spirits and deities, discussing ways to practice outside formal or initiatory structures. This episode offers guidance on how to find the spirits where you live. We also dig into the responsibility of navigating cultural appropriation and engaging respectfully with Indigenous and other living traditions.

The conversation also covers spirit workers and teachers—the role they might play in your journey and how to decide if someone is truly trustworthy. With more sketchy folks gaining reach in the spiritual marketplace, discernment is more important than ever.

Finally, we remind listeners that spirituality doesn’t exist in a vacuum—the physical world still matters. Your health, well-being, and everyday life all shape your practice. Common sense is just as vital as intuition when walking a spiritual path.

If you're looking to start practicing witchcraft, this episode will give you the pointers you need to begin. With patience and practice, you’ll be building solid relationships with the spiritual world in no time.

You can find us on the socials. Or Althaea is here and Andrew is here.

Episodes with drop biweekly going forward. Help me let the world know I'm back by sharing on socials and leaving review on the platform on which you listen to us.

Much love

Andrew

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Witchcraft and Animism

04:54 Starting Your Journey in Witchcraft

11:04 Engaging with Spirits and Deities

21:12 Navigating Appropriation and Authenticity in Practice

26:56 Personal Rituals and Nature Connection

28:57 Engaging with Indigenous Traditions

30:53 Understanding Living Traditions

32:21 The Role of Spirit Workers

34:29 Finding Authentic Spirit Workers

36:42 Navigating the Spiritual Marketplace

40:34 Cautions in Spiritual Practices

43:04 Balancing Spiritual and Physical Worlds

Full transcript on my site here.

With Enrique Enriquez
Are you ready to go deep? Andrew McGregor and Enrique Enriquez take a deep dive into the mysteries of presence, dreams, divination, and the ever-unfolding journey of the soul. They explore the impact of our physical presence on the world around us, the wisdom hidden within our dreams, and how divination can serve as a guiding light through life's uncertainties.

Enrique shares his thoughts on the soul as a dynamic process of engagement with the world. The discussion expands into the distinction between understanding and knowing, the metaphor of gardens as a way to think about presence and connection, and the intriguing concept of the invisible as the space between things. Through personal stories, humour, and wisdom, Andrew and Enrique highlight the importance of self-discovery, embracing fluidity, and finding meaning in the unknown.

Whether you're looking to deepen your awareness, explore the symbolic world, or reflect on your own place in the grand tapestry of existence, this episode is a must-listen. 

You can find us on the socials. Or Enrique is emailable here and Andrew is here.

Episodes with drop biweekly going forward. Help me let the world know I'm back by sharing on socials and leaving review on the platform on which you listen to us.

Much love

Andrew

PS Enrique's favourite late cretaceous animal is the Stegosaurus.

Full transcript is available here.

In this episode of The Hermit Lamp Podcast, tarot legends Andrew McGregor and Mary K. Greer unravel the art, ethics, and evolution of tarot reading. Whether you're a beginner shuffling your first deck or a seasoned reader refining your craft, this conversation is packed with wisdom and guidance to elevate your practice.

The key?
Choose a deck that resonates with you. Dive in. Start using your deck immediately. Let the images speak to you. Have a conversation with the cards. Bring in your personal associations and experience.

Andrew and Mary share how to structure a reading. A well-crafted question guides the reading, shaping the narrative that unfolds in the cards. Start with a Three-card spreads. It is a simple way to start building story, and comfort with the cards. Tarot isn’t just about predictions; it’s about weaving meaning, insight, and personal truth.

The discussion also ventures into deeper territory. Covering ethics, legal responsibilities, and setting boundaries. Readers should always try to empower. Engaging clients in the process strengthens understanding, especially when working with court cards, which often mirror real people in a querent’s life.

They explore the evolving nature of tarot, reminding us that meanings shift and grow over time. Book definitions and keywords are helpful, but intuition and experience can play a vital role too.

Mary and Andrew also tackle the emotional side reading of tarot. Anxiety and obsession can creep into practice, and managing them is essential for a healthy relationship with the cards. Boundaries matter—not just with querents, but also with ourselves.

Ultimately, this episode is an invitation to explore, experiment, and trust your own connection with the cards. Tarot isn’t about getting it "right"—it’s about discovery, transformation, and the magic that happens when you truly listen.

You can find us on the socials. Or Mary is here and Andrew is here.

Episodes with drop biweekly going forward. Help me let the world know I'm back by sharing on socials and leaving review on the platform on which you listen to us.

Much love

Andrew

PS Mary's favourite late cretaceous animal is the stegosaurus 

Full transcript on my website here.