The Pagan Portal Podcast

People often put runes into simple categories like divination tools or mystical symbols, making them seem distant and mysterious. In this episode, we challenge that idea.Rachel Patterson talks with Imelda Almqvist to explore what runes really are and what they have always meant.They discuss common misconceptions, such as the belief that runes are only for magick, and connect them back to their origins as a living writing system from the Viking Age.Topics Covered:- Common misconceptions about runes- Elder Futhark vs Younger Futhark- Runes as language vs magickal tools- The rune wheel and creation cycles- The Norns and the nature of fate- How old are the runes- Making your own rune set (tradition vs modern practice)- Learning runes vs studying the mythsThe conversation then explores the rune wheel as a cycle of creation, the Norns' actual role in shaping fate, and how to balance historical knowledge with personal practice.There is also a practical focus throughout, covering how to get started, whether to make your own runes, and when or if you should explore the myths.This episode is not about telling you there is only one right way. Instead, it aims to help you find a deeper understanding of the runes.

Rachel Patterson sits down with Carly Rose from The White Witch Podcast for a relaxed chat about what modern witchcraft is really like, from the messy moments to the magical ones and everything in between.They discuss how witchcraft becomes part of your everyday life, not just something you do occasionally. They share early influences like Merlin, Arthurian legends, and trips to places such as Tintagel, and talk about the practical side of creating your own practice. They also touch on learning by doing, staying curious, and accepting that you can’t read every book or know everything about the craft.Carly shares some of the practices that have shaped her journey, like hedge riding, breathwork, and shadow work. These tools can be truly transformative, even if they are the ones you might resist at first.Rachel and Carly also talk about the discipline that can come with keeping up a spiritual practice, the guilt many witches feel when life gets hectic, and why perfection isn’t the goal. Witchcraft is meant to fit into real life, with spilled salt, forgotten tools, and messy altars included.If you’ve ever wondered if you’re “doing it right,” this episode reminds you that witchcraft is a lifelong journey and there’s always more to discover.Topics covered:Witchcraft as a lifestyle- Learning the craft through books and experience- Merlin, Arthurian legend, and early magical influences- The deep well of UK folklore and witchcraft history- Hedge riding and spirit journeying- Discovering breathwork as a spiritual tool- Facing the challenge of shadow work- Discipline, guilt, and keeping a practice going- Why witchcraft doesn’t need to be perfectListen to The Pagan Portal Podcast for conversations with authors, practitioners, and creators from across the world of witchcraft, paganism, and modern spirituality.

Most of us are taught from a young age not to question death.We’re handed a set way of doing things. But what if you step outside that and take a closer look?In this episode of The Pagan Portal Podcast, Rachel Patterson and Kristoffer Hughes talk about death, dying, and what it truly means to return to the earth. They cover topics like the environmental impact of cremation and the process of human composting, also known as terramation. Their conversation challenges the idea that our bodies are simply something to discard.Kristoffer shares his own experience with natural organic reduction, including the unusual moment when he lay in a coffin during a mock funeral. This changed how he views death. The experience felt less clinical, less final, and more alive.This conversation is about more than just alternative death practices.It’s also about the words we choose, the rituals we keep, and the ways we’ve learned to think about the end of life.And maybe it’s about remembering something much older as well.Topics Covered:- What terramation / human composting actually is- Why “disposal” might be the wrong word for death- The environmental impact of cremation and burial- Experiencing a mock funeral firsthand- Decomposition vs transformation- Pagan perspectives on death and returning to the earth- Why ashes don’t nourish life, and what does- Reimagining funeral rituals and sacred spaceLearn more about Terramation and Eterrna here: https://www.eterrna.life/If this episode speaks to you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who’s open to rethinking what comes next.

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

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