Rune Soup – Details, episodes & analysis

We're trialling a new format this week, as I am in the Bay of Fires for work. A visit to a beer-drinking pig inspired some ruminations on how and why we connect as this idiotic, digital hellscape builds itself around us.

The episode discusses the manipulation and sanitization of reality through digital currencies, IDs, and the evolving media landscape, including the shift to 'private' or enclosed digital engagement opportunities like Mighty Networks and Substack, aiming for authenticity in an increasingly controlled and artificial world.

00:00 Introduction: The World Without Sin
00:21 Filming in the Bay of Fires
00:27 The Pub in the Paddock and Priscilla the Pig
01:58 Exploring the Concept of 'The World Without Sin'
05:18 Digital IDs and Global Changes
09:08 Cultural Reflections and Media Strategy
16:50 The Gap Between Public and Private Discourse
22:55 Media Evolution and Personal Adaptations
39:09 Conclusion: Navigating the World Without Sin

In lieu of show notes, here is a picture of a pub, followed by a pig. You're welcome.

This week, we welcome to the show Mexican-Bolivian-Chilean healer, Red Path shaman and teacher Julián Katari.

Fun fact about Julián: He was my translator for my recent trip up to stay with the Kallawaya in the Bolivian High Andes. So we talk about that, of course.

We also talk about his own remarkable journey of spirit:

⭐ Vision quests
⭐ Aztec dance ceremonies
⭐ Peyote
⭐ Andean shamanism

We then discuss the sacred Mayan calendar and what it teaches us about the structure of the universe.

Super cool chat. Julián is the archetypal weird kid!

NOTE: Julián will be teaching a 20-week course on the Mayan calendar that will be available to purchase for $99 on the Rune Soup Premium Member Mighty Network. This is a discount of $400 and will only be available for purchase for the duration of the Time Magic course. Afterward the course will be available on his own site at its full price.

This is one of the best deals I have ever made available to premium members and it is, just on its own, worth joining. I've been in ceremony with Julián in the High Andes. He's a great teacher. 

Show Notes

• Julián's website.
• Julián on Instagram.

00:00 Introduction and Childhood
06:00 Embarking on a Spiritual Journey
19:04 Finding the Red Path
22:43 Exploring the Maya Cosmology
30:55 Teachings from a Maya Elder
39:18 Connecting with Nature and Community
44:38 Exploring the Complexity of the Mayan Calendar
49:52 Understanding the Mayan Worldview: A Code for Time and Space
57:16 The Practice of Day Keeping in the Mayan Calendar
01:03:31 The Role of Human Perception in the Creation of Time and Space
01:24:38 Uncovering My Bolivian Roots
01:27:23 The Magic and Mystery of Bolivia
01:34:17 Journeying with the Kallawaya Healers
01:46:26 Exploring the Maya Calendar

The legendary Christopher Knowles of the Secret Sun joins us this week to explain how to be a synchromystic. We learn

✅ What is synchronicity?
✅ What role synchronicity plays in modern mysticism.
✅ The importance of symbol sets in this pursuit.
✅ How this modern practice is really an ancient one described.

Whilst it's always a pleasure to have Chris back on the show, this particular episode happens on the occasion of the release of his latest book. The Secret Sun Synchromystic Handbook!

• Get it here.
• Follow Chris here.

This week, we welcome to the show author, teacher and herbalist, Seán Pádraig O'Donoghue.

Seán joins us today to talk about his journey to animist herbalism, how he defines it, and what constitutes health in a living framework.

Really good, timely stuff. Enjoy!

• Seán's website, Otherworld Well.
• Seán's course, Holistic Pharmacology for Herbalists.

A long-overdue solo show this week, telling the story of Rune Soup from its beginnings as a blog in Bristol, through the books, through the development of the podcast, and the membership and the events and so on.

At the end, there is also some discussion of where to next.

• Subscribe to Rune Soup on Rumble.
• Subscribe to Rune Soup on Odysee.
• Check out Fortune's Fools.

Author, magician, returning guest and friend, Ivy Bromius, joins us again this week on the occasion of the publication of her completely free book, The Cancer Grimoire.

We talk about her experiences treating and overcoming cancer, blending allopathic and holistic methods, and finding meaning in our own health crises. An important discussion at the best of times. Probably more so now.

Download the episode directly here or watch along on YouTube below.

• Find everything Ivy has going on at Circle Thrice.

This week, we are joined by the hosts of one of my very favourite podcasts, Fucking Cancelled.

Clementine and Jay talk to us about their own journey to activism, through what they call the nexus -that toxic combination of social media bullying and neoliberal group thing- and out the other side to a genuine left they call 'socialism with freaky options'.

Along the way we discuss what cancellation is, how old it is, why it works and whether or not its efficacy is fading.

Super fun show with some super fun people!

• Fucking Cancelled on Patreon.
• Fucking Cancelled on Libsyn.
• Fucking Cancelled on Instagram.
• Clementine's website.
• Clementine on Instagram.
• Jay on Instagram.

This week, we welcome back to the show Dr Matthew Segall. Matt joins us to talk about his recently released book, Physics of the World Soul: Whitehead's Adventure in Cosmology.

So we chat about the shortcomings of materialism, what science could be like and how it could be done. We also discuss the concept of the Anima Mundi -or World Soul- and what the point of the universe might be.

• Get Matt's book, Physics of the World Soul.
• Matt's blog.
• Matt's YouTube channel.

This week we welcome to the show Karen Johnson.

Karen is a shaman, healer, and former judge. She was catapulted into the life of a healer when her son died suddenly of a heroin overdose at the age of twenty seven. Leaving her old life behind, Karen embarked on a multi-year spiritual quest around the world, ultimately discovering -among many modalities and sources of spiritual nourishment- shamanic energy medicine. (Karen is actually my teacher at the Four Winds Academy, which comes up a couple of times in the show.)

She joins us today to talk about her brand new book, Living Grieving: Using Energy Medicine to Alchemize Grief and Loss.

A really great chat about a really powerful topic. Enjoy.

Show Notes

• Living Grieving: Using Energy Medicine to Alchemize Grief and Loss.
• Karen's energy medicine website and blog.
• Karen's Instagram.

Christmas only comes but once a year, which makes the half-yearly astrological forecasts twice as good as it!

Big thanks to the one and only Austin Coppock -as well as the premium members and patrons who join the call. As is now tradition, we look at the previous six months, the upcoming six months and situate our discussion in the context of longer cycles.

I always look forward to these chats!