The Seeker and the Skeptic

This meta-sode (a self-referential and possibly self-indulgent episode) is a summary of what we've learned in the last year or so of exploring the fringes of spirituality, religion and the occult. We've entered altered states, performed occult rituals and received transmissions from Angelic beings and it won't surprise regular listeners to hear, it's changed us! Some of our experiences have been scary or fun but in this episode we're talking about the ones that have affected us the most deeply and which we have integrated into our lives. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.   Connect with us: Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com   LINKS MENTIONED   Emily Wilden's piece on The Broadhaven UFO incident  https://soundcloud.com/emilywilden/the-thing-the-kids-saw   Marcus Aurelius, Meditations https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC1JAI/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_hsch_vapi_taft_p1_i1   Alister Crowley, The Book of The Law https://www.amazon.com/Book-Law-Annotated-Aleister-Crowley-ebook/dp/B07G2WN4S6   Stoicon 2020 Watch this space! https://modernstoicism.com/about-stoicon/

This episode we are not just talking about tarot, but reading each others cards live on air… Well, not really live, or on air but you get the idea. Is tarot a cheap trick, a genuine method for divining the future or the remnants of the legendary ancient Egyptian book of Thoth? The only way to find out is to listen to our podcast, or google it yourself but that wouldn't be much fun now, would it? Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Subscribe to our channel so you can always stay up to date on our latest adventures: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsAvzf-XD53ebVyH1liNZtQ?sub_confirmation=1   Find us on the social channels and tell us what you think! Have you had a similar experience? We want to hear from you!   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seekerskeptic/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/seekerskeptic   Medium: https://medium.com/the-seeker-and-the-skeptic   Website: https://seekerandskeptic.com   SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.patreon.com/seekerskeptic   Tarot del Fuego (Rebecca's deck) https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-del-Fuego-Ricardo-Cavolo/dp/073874994X   Karla McLaren Bridging the Chasm Between Two Cultures https://www.csicop.org/si/show/bridging_the_chasm_between_two_cultures   Tarot Cards a Tool of Cold Tricksters or wise Therapists? https://aeon.co/essays/tarot-cards-a-tool-of-cold-tricksters-or-wise-therapists   Cold reading https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Cold_reading   Tarot Reading Ethics https://benebellwen.com/2017/07/07/on-tarot-reading-ethics-part-i/   Carl Jung: Tarot Cards Provide Doorways to the Unconscious, and Maybe a Way to Predict the Future http://www.openculture.com/2017/08/carl-jung-tarot-cards-provide-doorways-to-the-unconscious-and-even-a-way-to-predict-the-future.html   Tarot Cards Use and History- yes that's Christopher Lee! (our intro clip) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HFq-EhVdkk

  Just a few days before the 2020 coronavirus lockdown Cat and Rebecca made a trip to London to attend a candle magic workshop.    In this episode we reminisce about being able to see, touch and share food with other humans as well as learning some basic magic spells from a real life witch. We go on to discuss the history of magic and how it's represented in contemporary media, Rebecca gets enthusiastic about chaos magic while Cat explores some ethical quandaries.   We didn't get around to making a webpage where you can sign up to find out more about our potential ‘Magic for Seekers and Skeptics' workshop, but if you're interested drop us an email, light a candle and focus your intentions and it might just manifest!   Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.   Connect with us   Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com   LINKS MENTIONED   Our candle magic teacher Lucya Starza's blog  http://www.badwitch.co.uk/   The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking, Matthew Hutson https://www.amazon.com/Laws-Magical-Thinking-Irrational-Beliefs/dp/0452298903   The Meaning of European Upper Paleolithic Cave Art https://www.ancient.eu/article/787/the-meaning-of-european-upper-paleolithic-rock-art/   The Golden Bough, James Frazer https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Bough-James-George-Frazer/dp/1420963317/   Ask Not What You Can Do For Your Country, But what Witchcraft Can Do For You https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a25131301/witchcraft-occult-movies-tv-shows-2018/   Frater Acher's website for people interested in diving into the Western Mystical tradition https://theomagica.com/   Grant Morrison on Chaos Magic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-cxBuRU09w   Liber Null and Psychonaut, Peter Carroll https://www.amazon.com/Liber-Null-Psychonaut-Peter-Carroll/dp/0877286396   A Physicists Thoughts on ‘Quantum Woo' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DGgvE6hLAU   How to Create a Sigil https://fraterlucath.com/magickal-practice/sigil-magick-for-the-chaos-mage/

This minsode we are sitting down for a quick chat about Reiki. We talk about the history of Reiki and share some of our personal experiences. We also touch on the ethics of selling your services as a Reiki practitioner and debate whether it should be provided by the National Health Service.   Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.   Connect with us   Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com   LINKS MENTIONED   Brighton Holistics https://www.brightonholistics.co.uk/   ASA advice on what claims Reiki practitioners can legally make https://www.asa.org.uk/advice-online/health-reiki.html   List of NHS Hospitals and other facilities that offer Energy Healing http://c4362503.myzen.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/NHS-energy-healing.pdf   How to make a Chi ball https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsukYmmkTag

We took part in a moon honouring cacao ceremony, got our binoculars out to study the moon's surface and did our usual in depth research. Now we're here to answer every question you might have about the moon (except that one).   This episode were discussing moon myths and legends, the goddesses and gods of the moon, lunar astrology and a bit of astronomy too.    If you've ever wondered if the moon's real or where it came from or why it's usually referred to as female this is the episode for you. If you're not already devoted to moon adoration then whether you're a seeker or a skeptic you might be after listening to this show.   Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. If you enjoy the show, we'd love your support to help us keep exploring these topics and bringing our research, experiences and discussion to you. Anything you can give is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to sharing more adventures with your support! Support the show on Patreon >>   Connect with us   Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com   LINKS MENTIONED   Opening Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWTd3oW-HOE  Earth Without A Moon Documentary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LygCTL6b7YU Migration habits of Barau's Petrel https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21215-zoologger-werewolf-birds-hook-up-by-the-full-moon/ Days on Earth Are Getting Longer, Thanks to the Moon https://www.space.com/40802-earth-days-longer-moon-movement.html Formation of the Moon Brought Water to Earth https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190521101505.htm Goodnight Moon Alexander Abians plan to blow up the moon https://people.com/archive/goodnight-moon-vol-35-no-24/ List of Lunar Deities https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_lunar_deities Moon Worship https://www.britannica.com/topic/moon-worship Story of Selene and Endymion https://www.theoi.com/Heros/Endymion.html Mysteries of the Dark Moon: The Healing Power of the Dark Goddess https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002IPZDU2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

In this episode Rebecca (The Skeptic) interviews Andrew Taggart, a practical philosopher and entrepreneur. Andrew consults with people from all over the world discussing the nature of a good life. In this conversation Rebecca takes the opportunity to ask a philosopher about the ‘quest for meaning' which many people we've met during our adventures seem to be on. They discuss what ‘meaning' means, if everyone needs it and if the need is getting greater as organised religion wanes. Rebecca and Andrew touch on Buddhism, meditation practice and suicide in this episode and enjoy a few friendly disagreements along the way. We reference John Vervake's ‘Awakening From The Meaning Crisis' which you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54l8_ewcOlY Andrew is a prolific writer and thinker, follow the links below to engage with his work. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us: Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com Support the Show (please) https://www.patreon.com/seekerskeptic

An internet quiz diagnosed both Cat and Rebecca as having ‘strong empathic abilities'. With that sort of potential, we just had to try and level up and become full blown empaths with the help of an ‘Empowering Empathic Abilities' course.   Find out if we were successful by grounding yourself, clearing your mind and tuning in to our energetic field… or by giving this episode a listen.    Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.

In this episode Rebecca (The Skeptic) interviews Mark Rogers, an artist whose work explores paranormal themes reflecting his interest in aliens and the occult. Rebecca and Mark discuss the possibility of extraterrestrial life and exchange their personal UFO sightings before venturing into some philosophical territory in a discussion of the nature of belief. Mark shares how he uses meditation and tarot to inspire his art and explains some of the basics of chaos magic and how it might just work, even for skeptics! If you listen to this episode without taking a look at Mark's paintings you are missing out just google image search his name or find his work at the links below.   Connect with Mark: Website: http://www.markrogersart.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markrogersart/ Instagram: @markrogersart   Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.   Connect with us: Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com   Support the Show (please) https://www.patreon.com/seekerskeptic

Does past life regression work on a skeptic?  After an amazing past life regression experience Cat persuades Rebecca to give it a go and we find out if she was a grumpy skeptic in all her previous lives too! We discuss the history of belief in reincarnation and what might be going on when people claim to have memories of past lives. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. If you enjoy the show, we'd love your support to help us keep exploring these topics and bringing our research, experiences and discussion to you. Anything you can give is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to sharing more adventures with your support! Support the show on Patreon >>   Connect with us   Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com   LINKS MENTIONED   References   Contact Thea if you fancy exploring your past lives. https://theaanderson.com/   The web page where Robert Baker's study was mentioned (unfortunately the study itself is behind a paywall) http://skepdic.com/pastlife.html   Past Life Therapy Trauma release and the Body, Roger Woolger https://www.earth-association.org/articles/past-life-therapy-trauma-release-and-the-body-by-roger-woolger/   The case of Bridey Murphy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridey_Murphy   More information about Deep Memory Process http://rogerwoolger.org/   (Isreali) Health Ministry to Hypnotists: Stop Helping Clients Explore Past Lives https://www.haaretz.com/1.5081411   (recovering repressed memories) The Most Dangerous Idea in Mental Health https://psmag.com/social-justice/dangerous-idea-mental-health-93325   Most Common Surnames Revealed (BBC Scotland) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2775365.stm

This minsode we answer the important question: What's your spirit animal?   We discover our animal guides live on podcast and discuss the origins of the concept in various cultures. If you guess our guides before you press play, let us know and we'll be impressed.   Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.   Connect with us   Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com   LINKS MENTIONED   Goop's Guide to Spirit Animals  https://goop.com/style/trends/guide-spirit-animals/   Three Spirit Animal Meditations https://www.gaia.com/article/3-spirit-animal-meditations   Your Spirit Animal: a cultural investigation https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/11/your-spirit-animal-a-cultural-investigation/382369/   Spirit Animal Quiz https://www.spiritanimal.info/spirit-animal-quiz/

In this episode Cat (The Seeker) interviews Michael Marshall, an incredibly busy skeptical activist. Marsh is a freelance journalist, public speaker, author and blogger and one of Rebecca's (The Skeptic) favourite podcasters.    Cat and Marsh chat about skepticism and Marsh's approach to promoting critical thinking as well as some of the interesting topics his career has led him to explore including flat earth belief and changeling mythology.   And, most importantly, Cat scores a point for the Seekers by getting Marsh to admit that Santa is real (kind of).   Connect with Marsh: Twitter: MrMMarsh   Check out Marsh's Podcasts: Be Reasonable: http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/category/podcast/be-reasonable-podcast/ Skeptics With a K: http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/category/podcast/skeptics-with-a-k/   ===   Connect with us: Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com   Support the Show (please) https://www.patreon.com/seekerskeptic   #Skeptic #SeekerSkeptic

This episode we are looking into a strange fringe phenomenon that may be entirely mythical the so called ‘traditional housewife' or #TradWife as she's known on Twitter. We take a look at the movement behind the hashtag by reading and trying to apply the Fascinating Womanhood philosophy. Then we dig into the history of house wifery, feminist critiques and the modern revival of traditional marriage. And, with trepidation, explore the dark undercurrent of white supremacy running just beneath some of the content flying the #TradWife banner. Then we get back to the ironing. Exploring fringe, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com LINKS MENTIONED Fascinating Womanhood For The Timeless Woman, Dixie Andelin Forsyth https://www.amazon.com/Fascinating-Womanhood-Timeless-Andelin-Forsyth/dp/194603214X/ Fascinating Womanhood, Helen Andelin https://www.amazon.com/Fascinating-Womanhood-Helen-Andelin/dp/055329220X Helen Andelin and The Fascinating womanhood Movement Julie Debra Neuffer https://www.amazon.com/Helen-Andelin-Fascinating-Womanhood-Movement/dp/1607813270 Sex Differences in the Connectome of The Human Brain lead author Madhura Ingalhalikar https://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/111/2/823.full.pdf Number of Working Mothers in England https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/sep/29/number-of-working-mothers-in-england-rises-by-a-million-in-20-years The Feminine Mystique, Betty Friedan https://www.amazon.com/Betty-Friedan-Feminine-Mystique-18/dp/B00HTK49M4/ Feminist Theory From Margin to Centre, bell hooks https://www.amazon.com/Feminist-Theory-Margin-bell-hooks/dp/1138821659 The Minimalists https://www.theminimalists.com/about/ How Work Took Over the World, Andrew Taggart https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7UonZl-Gis Alya Stewarts Website https://wifewithapurpose.com/ We Are in the Midst of the Third Bogus 'White Extinction' Panic in Just as Many Centuries https://reason.com/2018/06/26/stoking-white-ethnic-fears-about-immigra// Millenials Want More Traditional Gender Roles https://slate.com/human-interest/2017/03/millennials-want-more-traditional-gender-roles-per-council-on-contemporary-families-symposium.html Tradwives: A New Trend https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2020/jan/27/tradwives-new-trend-submissive-women-dark-heart-history The Tradwife Movement Undercuts Femininst Gains https://www.thenational.ae/opinion/comment/new-tradwife-movement-undercuts-feminist-gains-1.978604 Feminists claiming ‘tradwives' are radicalized ‘like ISIS brides'  https://www.rt.com/op-ed/480879-tradwives-brainwashed-isis-feminism-patriarchy/ The Darling Academy https://www.thedarlingacademy.com/about/

In this episode Rebecca (The Skeptic) interviews Thea Anderson, a coach who works practically and spiritually with her clients to improve their lives. Thea and Rebecca talk about alternative medicine, energy-work, intuition and magic and manage to have a laugh despite their differences. We talk briefly about channeling (and the Pleiadians) The Seeker and The Skeptic episode in which Cat and Rebecca delve more into this subject is ‘Glastonbury (Part 2) Channelling Angels and Aliens' find it on your podcatcher or on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVu2mnuDiMc Connect with Thea: Website: https://theaanderson.com/  Facebook: @TheaAndersonUK Instagram: @theaanderson  Thea is teaching on two retreats this year find out more here: Online or residential in Ibiza March 2020 https://www.timefornewways.com/burnout-to-bright-light-programme Residential in Norway May 2020 https://www.supandsoulretreats.com/ Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us: Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com Support the Show (please) https://www.patreon.com/seekerskeptic

Our favourite listener has sent us a new gadget to try. Muse is a ‘brain sensing headband which makes meditation easy'. In this minisode we discuss our experiences trying out the headband and speculate about how and if it works.  If you want to usurp Adrian as our favourite listener, and just can't decide on what gift to send us we'll accept a five star review or a Patreon donation. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Remember, you can ask us ANY question you like us to answer on a future Q+A episode of The Seeker and the Skeptic. The more controversial the better! Get in touch here to ask away >> If you enjoy the show, we'd love your support to help us keep exploring these topics and bringing our research, experiences and discussion to you. Anything you can give is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to sharing more adventures with your support! Support the show on Patreon >> Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com LINKS MENTIONED Muse's Website https://choosemuse.com/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQiA89zvBRDoARIsAOIePbBpkvfMeLE6aCj4lsdQ2ytDEzhUNFHp8KaCxsqLvpr1J8V4JmLxvqwaAhnXEALw_wcB Article about neurofeedback therapy https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/brain-myths/201302/read-paying-100-neurofeedback-therapy

Concentrate on the sound of our delightful voices, and if any thought drifts into your mind recognise it, thank it, and let it pass. This episode we are talking about meditation, our personal experiences the history and traditions surrounding the practice and of course a little bit of science. Cat and Rebecca are both long-time meditators, but don't let that put you off, we're not the sort to judge you if you don't regularly get your aum on.  Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com Support us on Patreon (please) https://www.patreon.com/seekerskeptic LINKS MENTIONED The New Believers, David V Barrett (Rebecca's big book of cults, yes T.M. is in there) https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_New_Believers Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy  https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mindfulness-based_cognitive_therapy Is Mindfulness Meditation Science Based? https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/is-mindfulness-meditation-science-based/ Mind the Hype: A Critical Evaluation and Prescriptive Agenda for Research on Mindfulness and Meditation  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1745691617709589 The Buddha Pill: Can Meditation Change You? Miguel Farias and Dr Catherine Wikholm https://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Buddha-Pill-Meditation-Change/dp/1780287186 The Dark Knight of the Soul: For some, meditation has become more curse than cure. https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/06/the-dark-knight-of-the-souls/372766/ Guidance on avoiding and managing the psychological dangers of meditation http://meditatinginsafety.org.uk/ Om Mani Padme Hum (our intro clip) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG_lNuNUVd4

In our first interview-based Seeker and the Skeptic episode, Cat (the Seeker) sits down with Anthony Magnabosco to talk about the practice of Street Epistemology, and puts her belief in Astrology to the test. Connect with Anthony: Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCocP40a_UvRkUAPLD5ezLIQ Twitter: https://twitter.com/magnabosco Check out Rebecca & Anthony's Survey of Atheists: How We Let Go: https://youtu.be/-EMyPABdCHc Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

Happy New Year Listeners! This minisode we turn to the stars (again) to see what the astrological community are expecting from 2020. We talk about the problems even non-astrologers face in predicting the future and make some forecasts ourselves. Who has more acute insight into the future Cat and her star maps or Rebecca and her random shots in the dark? Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Remember, you can ask us ANY question you like us to answer on a future Q+A episode of The Seeker and the Skeptic. The more controversial the better! Get in touch here to ask away >> If you enjoy the show, we'd love your support to help us keep exploring these topics and bringing our research, experiences and discussion to you. Anything you can give is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to sharing more adventures with your support! Support the show on Patreon >> Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com LINKS MENTIONED Rick Levine (one of Cat's favourite astrologers) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiZRbBbLlxnGRNsX9XPlWUw The Astrology Podcast (one of Cat's favourite astrology podcasts) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjeqviBoLp-rsvPaelT8b5Q Nightlight Astrology (one of Cat's favourite astrology learning resources) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7TlXCZzGpnoQtx77j-3-Ew The Deathlist https://deathlist.net/ Superforecasting Philip Tetlock, Dan Gardner https://www.amazon.com/Superforecasting-Science-Prediction-Philip-Tetlock/dp/0804136718/ 23 Hilarious Predictions About The Year 2020 That Are Way Off https://bestlifeonline.com/2020-predictions/

Would you give up a good night's sleep for the promise of flying, sexual adventures and a glimpse into the collective unconscious? If so, you might want to try lucid dreaming. Sleep deprived and waxing philosophical about free will, consciousness and morphic resonance. In this episode we talk about the Richard Linklater film Waking Life and our own lucid dreaming experiments… Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com If you enjoy the show, we'd love your support to help us keep exploring these topics and bringing our research, experiences and discussion to you. Anything you can give is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to sharing more adventures with your support! Support the show on Patreon >> LINKS MENTIONED IMDB page for Waking Life https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243017/ Buzzfeed list of Lucid Dreaming Methods https://www.buzzfeed.com/fallingwaterusa/we-tried-7-techniques-for-lucid-dreaming-so-you-can-too LucidEsc (The dream pills Rebecca tried) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Supplement-Plant-Based-Awareness-Huperzine-Bitartrate/dp/B010VDUEEM Free Will, Sam Harris https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00BOSDHR0/ Susan Blackmore's article on lucid dreaming citing much of the research discussed  https://www.susanblackmore.uk/articles/lucid-dreaming-awake-in-your-sleep/ Norman Malcolm Dreaming (the Lucid Dream Skeptic) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dreaming-Philosophical-Psychology-Norman-Malcolm/dp/ Jordan Peterson on memes and archetypes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrpDSHSRynY The Meme Machine Susan Blackmore https://www.amazon.com/Meme-Machine-Popular-Science/dp/019286212X

Merry Christmas listeners! In this minisode we answer the controversial question: Would you tell your (hypothetical) kids that Santa is real? We've had a glass or two of red wine and are reminiscing about our own childhoods and wondering what causes more psychological damage: missing out on the magic of Christmas or living in a carefully constructed web of lies. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com LINKS MENTIONED Santa Claus: How Many Kids Still Believe? https://edition.cnn.com/2017/12/19/health/kids-santa-claus-belief-parent-curve-intl/index.html

This episode we have fallen under the thrall of infamous occultist Aleister Crowley AKA ‘The Beast 666'. It's December the 1st 2019, exactly seventy two years since Crowley's death, and yet his influence lingers on… Crowley's philosophy and ideas are often dismissed as crazy and/or evil but in this episode we attempt to give the devil his due. We met the people who practice the religion Crowley founded, dive deep into his biography and practice a ritual live on podcast so you at home can sense the dark energies rising. In case that sounds a bit intimidating, listeners will be comforted to know that this episode was recorded in our Christmas pajamas shortly after consuming our first mince pies of the season. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com LINKS MENTIONED Mr Crowley, Ozzy Osbourne (our opening clip) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3LvhdFEOqs Living Thelema: A Practical Guide To Attainment in Alister Crowley's System of Magic, David Shoemaker https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EOA5SIG/ The Book of The Law, Aleister Crowley https://www.amazon.com/Book-Law-Aleister-Crowley/dp/1723783773/ Perdurabo: The Life of Aleister Crowley, Richard Kaczynski https://www.amazon.com/Perdurabo-Revised-Expanded-Aleister-Crowley/dp/1556438990/ Overview of The Exclusive Brethren https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/exclusivebrethren_1.shtml Trevor Moore, High in Church https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgjodEzrLgw Aleister Crowley Distorted the Practice of Yoga https://bethelkhem.wordpress.com/2015/05/13/aleister-crowley-distorted-the-practice-of-yoga-creating-a-potential-pitfall-for-students/ Pope Francis on Guardian Angels https://catholicherald.co.uk/news/2018/10/02/do-you-speak-to-your-guardian-angel-asks-pope-francis/ 11 Principles of Thelemites https://iao131.com/2013/03/19/11-principles-of-thelemites/ The Orgasmic Ordeal: Sexual Magic in Thelema, Fra. In Sterquiliniis Invenitur. https://thelemicunion.com/orgasmic-ordeal-sexual-magic-thelema/ Document- Proof Aleister Crowley Worked For The British Government as a Spy https://mikemcclaughry.wordpress.com/2016/03/21/document-proof-aleister-crowley-worked-for-the-british-government-as-a-spy/ Strange Angel (T.V series about Jack Parsons career and involvement with the OTO) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7210448/ I Have Been Wronged: Sex and Power in the OTO https://thelemicunion.com/i-have-been-wronged-sex-power-oto/ Misogyny in Crowley's writings and the Occult https://foolsthatmenadore.wordpress.com/2014/05/17/misogyny-in-crowleys-writings-and-the-occult/

This minisode we answer the slightly leading question: Are isolation tanks overrated? Isolation tanks or floatation tanks or sensory deprivation chambers - whatever you call them they seem to be experiencing a bit of a renaissance but do they deserve the hype? We've both dipped into the salty depths on more than one occasion, if you're tempted to give floating a try we've got some words of caution and suggestions... mainly regarding vaseline application. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.   Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com   LINKS MENTIONED Altered States (1980) IMDB https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080360/ Lisa and Homer Simpson try floating https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSmt7iElrNk

Is modern Stoicism just self help rebranded for tech bros or something more interesting? Rebecca went to Stoicon Athens to meet the Stoics and imbibe some wisdom only a few miles away from the very porch where Stoic philosophy first kicked off. While Cat put the ancient philosophy to the test and tried living like a Stoic for a week. We talk about our experiences compare Stoicism to other philosophies and engage in an impromptu (much needed) Stoic inspired therapy session. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives we're The Seeker and The Skeptic. If you enjoy the show, we'd love your support to help us keep exploring these topics and bringing our research, experiences and discussion to you. Anything you can give is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to sharing more adventures with your support! Support the show on Patreon >> Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com   LINKS MENTIONED Extract from: Marcus Aurelius Best Lecture on Stoicism EVER! Professor Michael Sugrue (our opening clip) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5897dMWJiSM Meditations, Marcus Aurelius translated by Gregory Hays https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255 Letters From a Stoic, Seneca translated by Robin Campbell https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RI99KK/ How to Be a Stoic: Using Ancient Philosophy to Live a Modern Life, Massimo Pigliucci https://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Stoic-Massimo-Pigliucci/dp/0465097952 A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy, William B. Irvine https://www.amazon.com/Guide-Good-Life-Ancient-Stoic-ebook/dp/B0040JHNQG Modern Stoicism YouTube Channel (watch this space for the recordings of Stoicon Athens 2019 talks) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34paKsEjtrlapZyRczztYw Information about Stoic Week https://modernstoicism.com/about-stoic-week/ Report on the Efficacy of Stoic Week https://modernstoicism.com/stoic-week-2018-report-part-4-feedback-on-stoic-week-and-overall-conclusions-tim-lebon/ Kathryn Koromilas (Stoic journalling) https://thestoicwriter.com/mom-1 Stoicon 2018: Antonia Macaro on "How Buddhist is Stoicism?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAuIDe5d-Cs More Than Happiness: Buddhist and Stoic Wisdom for a Sceptical Age, Antonia Macaro https://www.amazon.com/dp/1785781332 Why Modern Stoicism Misses the Point, Mark Vernon https://www.idler.co.uk/article/who-modern-stoicism-misses-the-point/ SHAM How the Self Help and Actualisation Movement Made America Helpless, Steve Salerno https://www.amazon.com/Sham-Self-Help-Movement-America-Helpless/dp/1400054109  

Happy Halloween listeners! It's mid October so to get you in the mood, we are answering a spooky question in this minisode: ‘Have you ever seen a ghost?' We have personal experiences with possible poltergeists, debatable demons and suspicious spirits to discuss and Rebecca attempts to peer pressure Cat into giving Ouija a go.  Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Remember, you can ask us ANY question you like us to answer on a future Q+A episode of The Seeker and the Skeptic. The more controversial the better! Get in touch here to ask away >> If you enjoy the show, we'd love your support to help us keep exploring these topics and bringing our research, experiences and discussion to you. Anything you can give is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to sharing more adventures with your support! Support the show on Patreon >> Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

Get ready to chant along with us because Cat is just back from three weeks living in a Hare Krishna community. You might remember Hare Krishnas from the 60's and 70's as shaven headed, orange robed, ridiculously happy people singing and dancing in airports or in the car park of your local mall. Or, like Rebecca, you may have enjoyed some of their vegetarian cooking for free (or a small donation) at one of their many restaurants worldwide. We talk about Cat's experience of day to day life in the Krishna community and the history and beliefs of the movement and tackle the difficult question… is this a cult? Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us: Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Subscribe to the podcast  Links mentioned: George Harrison - Om Hare Om (Gopala Krishna) - Our opening clip Goloka Dhama The Hare Krishna Murders - American Scandal Podcast Krishna Killer Beheaded His Guru Krishna Payouts Begin After 50 Years Hare Krishna Believers Are No Longer Berobed White Hippies Who Drum Up Donations In Airports ‘It's latent misogyny': Hare Krishnas divided over whether to allow female gurus Quote from Prabhupada's lectures on the topic of ‘mental speculation' Bhagavad Gita As It Is (Prabhupada's translation of the Bhagavad Gita) Prabhupada on rape Prabhupada on homosexuality Prabhupada on Hitler Boy George Rejected by Hare Krishnas For Being Gay

In this month's Q+A we're tackling the question: is the Placebo Effect real? This is a controversial one – especially if you're a hardcore Skeptic. Remember, you can ask us ANY question you like us to answer on a future Q+A episode of The Seeker and the Skeptic. The more controversial the better! Get in touch here to ask away >> If you enjoy the show, we'd love your support to help us keep exploring these topics and bringing our research, experiences and discussion to you. Anything you can give is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to sharing more adventures with your support! Support the show on Patreon >>   LINKS MENTIONED The Power of The Placebo: a skeptical view (Article by Mike Hall, the skeptic Rebecca mentions in this episode) http://www.merseysideskeptics.org.uk/2010/04/the-power-of-the-placebo-a-skeptical-view/#more-593 How Real is the Placebo Effect? https://theovertake.com/~alpha/placebo-nocebo/ Placebo Effects Revisited https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/placebo-effects-revisited/ Placebo Improves Asthma Symptoms, But Not Lung Function https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/placebo-improves-asthma-symptoms-not-lung-function Knee surgery ‘waste of time', researchers argue https://www.nhs.uk/news/medical-practice/knee-surgery-waste-of-time-researchers-argue/ 97% of UK Doctors Have Given Placebos to Patients at Least Once http://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2013-03-21-97-uk-doctors-have-given-placebos-patients-least-once

If you like hearing people ramble on about their drug induced visions this episode is the one for you. We're back from an ayahuasca ceremony in Amsterdam and eager to share our newfound wisdom. The line between Seeker and Skeptic is getting increasingly blurred! We talk about the history, psychology and science of entheogens and compare our recent encounters with Mother Aya to Cat's previous trips in Peru. We also explore the potential dangers of drinking poison with a bunch of strangers in a foreign country.  This may be our longest episode yet so prepare to blast off to new levels of consciousness and hear a bit more talk about vomit than you usually prefer. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.   Connect with us   Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

On our first ever Q&A episode, we're tackling the mystery of... Saturn Returns. What are they? Why should you care? Why do we hate Saturn so much? All this and more in today's episode...   Ask a Question to the Seeker & the Skeptic! Have a burning question about a previous show, or another esoteric topic? Contact us at hello@seekerandskeptic.com Or at: Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit: https://seekerandskeptic.com

This episode is about UFOs, so we went to the site of one of the UK's most famous encounters Rendlesham Forest to investigate, talked to few locals and released some chinese lanterns to see if we could start yet another UFO flap in East Anglia. We discuss the details of the Rendlesham case, the history of UFOs and, of course the sex habits of the Pleiadians. Rebecca is searching for mundane explanations, while Cat watches the skies but who is Mulder and who is Scully? You decide. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.   Connect with us: Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com   Support the show on Patreon >>

In this episode we are talking about astrology… again! Apparently Rebecca's skeptical powers were insufficient to prevent Cat's love affair with the stars moving to second base. She's just back from The Northwest Astrology Conference (or NORWAC as all the cool kids are calling it) and Rebecca wants to hear all the details. If you missed our first astrology episode, you can listen to it here. That's where we talk about what astrology actually is, how it's supposed to work and explore some of the classic skeptical critiques. Here we are going deeper, looking at the culture and community of astrology and the varieties of beliefs under that banner. If you're a skeptic wondering ‘how do people get into astrology?' or if you're an astrology enthusiast wondering ‘why won't skeptics leave us alone?' this episode will enlighten you. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.   Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic   Links Mentioned Age of Aquarius, The 5th Dimension (our opening clip) NORWAC conference Most Young Americans think Astrology is a Science Mr. Rick Levine of USA addressing on "Quantum Astrology" Quantum Mysticism Interview with Judith Hill (Medical Astrologer) ‘My Astrology Obsession Stopped Me Leaving The House' BBC Article The Astrology Podcast – interview with Sam Reynolds Hellenistic Astrology – Chris Brennan The astrology course Cat is taking Street Epistemology on Astrology Article by @OccultProblems

Rebecca damages her skeptic street-cred by revealing her interest in yoga and Cat, as a yoga teacher, encourages her and makes the odd adjustment. In this episode we talk about yoga from ancient to modern and reflect on our own yoga practices. We discuss yoga's possible dangers (from brain damage to sexual assault) and reflect on it's benefits (from physiotherapeutic to spiritual). We even dare to raise the contentious issue of cultural appropriation, you have been warned. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

Have you ever encountered a terrifying shadowy presence looming over the foot of your bed? Was he wearing a hat? In this episode Cat and Rebecca talk about their experiences with sleep paralysis and chat about a documentary that explores the phenomenon through the lens of several different cultures. If you've woken up unable to move and seen something terrifying whether it's an old hag, a ghost, a batlike creature with terrible claws or an alien wielding a probe you'll know how real it feels, but is it? Listen and decide for yourself. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkepticInstagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com LINKS MENTIONED The Nightmare (The documentary discussed in this episode and our intro clip) https://youtu.be/gY2gh51KdnQ The Nightmare (The scarier documentary recommended by Rebecca but strongly advised against by Cat) https://youtu.be/tYW1fADeDf4 A systematic review of variables associated with sleep paralysis. DanDenis, Christopher C.French, Alice M.Gregory. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1087079217301120 Sleep Paralysis: Historical Psychological Perspectives, Dr Brian Sharpless, Karl Doghramji https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sleep-Paralysis-Historical-Psychological-Perspectives/dp/0199313806 Abducted: How People Come to Believe They Were Kidnapped by Aliens, Susan Clancy. https://www.amazon.com/Abducted-People-Believe-Kidnapped-Aliens/dp/067402401X Horror, Personality and Threat Simulation. https://pure.au.dk/portal/files/137585045/HorrorAndPersonality.pdf Joe Nickell's article on the Popobara https://web.archive.org/web/20180413052602/https://www.csicop.org/sb/show/skeptic-raping_demon_of_zanzibar Coast to Coast episode featuring Heidi Hollis discussing Hat Man. https://www.coasttocoastam.com/show/2008/07/23 The inspiration for Wes Craven's Nightmare on Elm Street https://horrorfreaknews.com/real-story-inspiration-behind-freddy-krueger The Hat Man: The True Story of Evil Encounters, Heidi Hollis. https://www.amazon.com/Hat-Man-True-Story-Encounters/dp/0983040192 The Shadow Man (episode of The Twilight Zone) https://youtu.be/pu6FtkWxiAQ Freddy's Song (Our outro clip) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1MvYXkZHhU  

This episode we are chatting about the four hours we spent basking in the wisdom of David Icke like reptiles under a heat lamp. We are interrupted twice by Google assistant, who may, or may not, be working for ‘Them'. David Icke is probably the UK's most well known conspiracy theorist, made famous for his public announcement back in 1991 that he was the son of God. He's kept huge audiences enthralled in the years since with his theory that all earth culture, society and politics is manipulated by extraterrestrial lizards. We discuss the merits of Ickes ideas, why they've proved so popular and the psychology of conspiracy theories in general. This is our longest podcast yet, so get comfortable and prepare for an information download. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

In this episode Cat and Rebecca discuss their experience attending a Spiritualist Church and witnessing Jackie the medium seemingly contact the dead. Is Jackie a Psychic Vampire, a conduit to the other side or something else entirely? We discuss the history of spiritualism and mediumship and explore how people fake psychic abilities. Rebecca has a go at cold reading one of Cat's friends and we are left with the question, is any of this stuff for real? Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

This episode we'll be talking about Wake Up a documentary by Jonas Elrod. Jonas was a (arguably) normal guy until he suddenly started seeing angels and demons, hearing people's thoughts and having precognitive visions. The angels, or maybe the demons, urged him to tell the world of their existence and so he produced Wake Up.   You don't need to have seen the documentary to enjoy this episode, but if you'd like to links are in the show notes. We use Jonas's story as a jumping off point to talk about the big question: how do we know who or what to believe? And we tackle tricky topics such as mental illness and religion with as much grace as we can muster.   Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.   Connect with us Twitter @SeekerSkeptic Instagram @SeekerSkeptic Or visit www.seekerandskeptic.com

In this episode Rebecca plans to ruin Cat's day by convincing her astrology isn't a super-reliable method for seeing the future. We look at our astrological charts to see how accurate and useful we find them and test if Rebecca's partner can guess who's is who's. We discuss a YouTube video Skeptic Michael Shermer vs. Jeffrey Armstrong Vedic Astrologer and as usual the whole topic turns out to be a lot more interesting and nuanced than either of us predicted. But will Cat delete her favourite astrology apps? You'll have to listen to find out. LINKS MENTIONED: Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Skeptic Michael Shermer vs. Jeffrey Armstrong Vedic Astrologer. China Job ads Discriminate Against Scorpio and Virgo. Telegraph. How Astrology Took Over the Internet. NY Times.  The Real Constellations of the Zodiac. International Planetarium Society. Why Dr. Oz's astrology tweet was so disappointing. Vox. The Fallacy of Personal Validation (Forer's original paper on the Forer Effect)

Yuletide greetings to our skeptical and not-so-skeptical listeners! We just got home from a Winter Solstice celebration, so this episode we will be pouring ourselves some mulled wine and mulling over the topic of Wicca. Give us a break- tis the season for terrible puns. Rebecca's an ex-witch and Cat's maybe on the verge of joining her local coven. We discuss the history of Wicca, what it means to be a practicing witch today and if it's possible to be an atheist witch. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Earth Magic: A Dianic Book of Shadows, Marion Weinstein. A Witches Bible: The Complete Witches Handbook, Stewart and Janet Farrar. The Triumph of The Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft, Ronald Hutton. Religion for Atheists: A Non-Believers Guide to the Uses of Religion, Alain de Botton. Maeshowe chambered Cairn Santa Claus is Pagan Too Performed by Emerald Rose (our intro clip)

So we spent an evening talking about Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules for Life at a local book club recently, and in this episode we are going to talk about that book and what the book club made of it... and the Jordan Peterson phenomenon in general. Links mentioned: 12 Rules for Life by Jordan Peterson Jordan Peterson and Sam Harris debate Jordan Peterson and Matt Dillahunty debate   Connect with us: Twitter @seeker_skeptic Instagram: @seekerskeptic

In this episode Cat interviews Rebecca, The Skeptic. Rebecca explains what being a skeptic means to her and why she is passionate about spreading ‘the good news' of reason and compassion. Cat digs into Rebecca's past and they talk about her previous life as a Wiccan and what made her change course from a spiritual to a scientific worldview. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.   Skeptical Books The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark Astrophysicist and science communicator Carl Sagan's 1995 book intended to explain the scientific method to lay-people. Considered a key text by many skeptics. Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me): Why we Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts Social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson's 2007 book explores numerous cognitive biases and their impact in our political and personal lives. Why People Believe Weird Things: Pseudoscience Superstition and Other Confusions of Our Time Renowned skeptic and editor of skeptic magazine Michael Shermer's 1997 book reflects on the psychology behind belief in the incredible.   Skeptical Websites What's the Harm? A website which documents the stories of people who have been harmed by lapses in critical thinking leading to financial loss, physical injury or death.   Skeptical Podcasts Skeptics with a K British fortnightly podcast. Each episode the irreverent hosts chat about current affairs and topics of perennial interest to skeptics. Skeptics' Guide to the Universe American weekly podcast. Each episode the hosts skeptically examine several issues and present a game that allows listeners to hone their own critical thinking skills. The Reality Check Canadian weekly podcast. The hosts discuss topical ‘controversies and curiosities' using critical thinking skills and wit to separate science-fact from science-fiction.   Sceptical Education Your Deceptive Mind: A Scientific Guide to Critical Thinking Skills 24 lecture course presented by professor Steven Novella, M.D. empowers students with knowledge and techniques which will improve their critical thinking skills. Available directly from The Great Courses or on Audible.com.   Skeptics on YouTube Rethinking Doubt: The Values and Achievements of Skepticism An impassioned TedX talk from prominent skeptic George Hrab which introduces the audience to skepticism and explains its critical importance. Captain Disillusion A YouTube channel produced by independent filmmaker Alan Melikdjanian. In monthly installments The Captain humorously debunks viral videos. James Randi Educational Foundation A YouTube channel curated by the James Randi Educational Foundation featuring lectures from prominent skeptics on many topics.   Skeptic Socialising Skeptics in the Pub Informal meetups held all over the world predominantly in the U.K. and U.S. events usually feature a talk, a Q&A session and a chance to socialise with fellow skeptics. Your Local Skeptic Society Try Googling your location and the word skeptic, most countries have at least one skeptical organisation that hosts social and educational events. You could also try looking for skeptically themed events on meetup.com.

In this episode Rebecca interviews Cat, The Seeker. Cat explains what being a Seeker means to her and how she became interested in the spiritual and esoteric topics we discuss on the show. Rebecca grills Cat about growing up Catholic and how it did, or didn't influence her worldview. We talk about why we decided to start our podcast and how excited we both are to talk to someone with a different approach to the world who shares our sense of humour and is able to handle respectful disagreement and (hopefully good-natured) teasing. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. More about Cat >>

This episode we are talking about our experiences at Buddha Maitreya The Christ's Soul Therapy Meditation Centre where we meditated in pyramids and almost joined a cult...

In this episode Cat and Rebecca discuss their first angelic and their first extraterrestrial encounter, it was quite an evening. We saw an advertisement for a Pleiadian Healing Session with Michiel Kroon in the Miracles Room and couldn't resist. This was Rebecca's first experience with channelling and she was surprised to learn how popular it is, and that Cat has a favourite channeler. We share the wisdom gleaned from the Arc Angel Michael and the Pleiadians and wonder what makes someone a channeler- divine insight, lust for money or mental illness? You probably know by now it's going to be a bit more complicated than that. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Dissociation: Adjustment or Distress? Dissociative Phenomena, Absorption and Quality of Life Among Israeli Women Who Practice Channeling Compared to Women with Similar Traumatic History.  Personal identity the Narrative Self. Elisabeth Camp, Rutgers University.  Rational Wiki's page on Pleiadians  Michiel Kroon

This Episode Cat and Rebecca are just back from a weekend in Glastonbury a town in the South West of England renowned for its Arthurian Legends, Ley Lines and New Agey population. We discuss the myths and legends we learned about on a tour of Glastonbury's spiritual hot-spots and if they are supported by historical evidence. Then we relate our experiences of standing at Glastonbury Tor where several powerful ley lines cross and try to figure out what these mysterious energy channels are and how to find them. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic.   Links mentioned: Wikipedia's list of about 170 prehistoric structures in Great Britain.  British Religion in Numbers (article cites number of churches in the UK at 50,700 as of a census in 2015)  The Ley Hunters Manual: A Guide to Early Tracks Alfred Watkins Early British Trackways, Moats, Mounds, Camps and Sites. Alfred Watkins Ley Line Locator  Ley Lines marked by the remains of ancient Woolworths stores  New Light on the Ancient Mystery of Glastonbury John Michell  Divine Light Tour 

In this (our first) episode Cat and Rebecca talk about their experience trying Holotropic Breathing a practice in which you breathe weird until your carbon-dioxide deprived brain produces visions. We dance, writhe around on the floor and wave our spirit fingers at the other hippies in a sharing circle. The conversation veers from how we know what is really real to prehistoric bog bodies and the potential dangers of alternative health practices. Exploring esoteric, paranormal and spiritual topics from two completely different perspectives it's The Seeker and The Skeptic. Links mentioned: Holotropic Breathwork: A New Approach to Self Exploration and Therapy Stanislav Grof and Christina Grof Rational Wiki entry on Holotropic Breathwork Wiki article on Hyperventilation Syndrome The Physiology of the Tunnel Susan J Blackmore, Tom S Troscianko The Alchemy of Breath