Podcasts about Arcana

Send us a textEnroll in ARCANA today: https://aguaastrology.teachable.com/p/arcanaEnjoy another chaotic episode with Gabrielle and Brianna as they review the Astrology of June 2025. Please rate and review the podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you listen!See our faces on YouTube!Want to book a reading with Gabrielle? Please visit her website www.aguaastrology.com Want to book a session with Nichole? https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule/32f06ea7/appointment/72886342/calendar/11334222 Follow us on Instagram @thespirtualsisterspodcast Follow Gabrielle on Instagram @aguaastrology (She will NEVER DM you for readings! Watch out for scammers!)Follow Nichole on Instagram @thenicholechristine Subscribe to Gabrielle's YouTube Channel Agua AstrologyJoin Soul Reading MethodMini Tarot Readings with Gabrielle: https://www.etsy.com/shop/IntuitiveGabrielle

Today's show: Trump takes aim at Apple with a potential 25% iPhone tariff, Anthropic releases two powerful new Claude models claiming top performance in coding tasks, and two founders go head-to-head in the final round of Founder Fridays. In this packed episode, Jason, Alex, and Lon unpack what Trump's latest trade threat really means, why Anthropic's AI progress could reshape the dev landscape, and which startup—an AI ad network or industrial automation platform—comes out on top. A fast-paced look at the volatility, breakthroughs, and ambition defining today's startup ecosystem.Timestamps:(0:00) Episode Teaser(3:41) MORE tariffs, this time on Apple… is this just a message to Tim Cook?(7:08) Potential impact of tariffs on Apple(10:09) Northwest Registered Agent. Form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!(14:14) Anthropic's new models are topping the LLM charts but are they REALLY self-aware(20:07) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups(24:35) Who should buy OnlyFans? Jason, Alex, and Lon each have ideas(30:03) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twist(35:10) Gut health is important but do we need SMART toilets?(40:34) Which TWiST 500 companies are blowing up on secondary markets?(47:27) The Founder Friday city competition FINAL ROUND: see which startup wins!Subscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.comCheck out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcpLinks from episode:Throne One: https://www.thronescience.com/product?Arcana: https://arcana.ad/TACTUN: https://tactun.com/Follow Lon:X: https://x.com/lonsFollow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelmFollow Jason:X: https://twitter.com/JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanisThank you to our partners:(10:09) Northwest Registered Agent. Form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!(20:07) LinkedIn Ads - Get a $100 LinkedIn ad credit at http://www.linkedin.com/thisweekinstartups(30:03) Lemon.io - Get 15% off your first 4 weeks of developer time at https://Lemon.io/twistGreat TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarlandCheck out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanisFollow TWiST:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartupsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartupsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartupsSubstack: https://twistartups.substack.comSubscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Join us this week as we are live from the COMBAT CULT WRESTLING: ARCANA event at Cine El Rey in McAllen, Tx. We are joined by the homie Smance and we have a couple brewskies...WHAT!? while we enjoy this amazing show. Big shoutout to EDDIE GARZA for having us and a huge shoutout to all the wrestlers putting their bodies on the line for our entertainment. Follow Combat Cult Wrestling here: https://www.instagram.com/combatcultwrestling/

Join Gee and Ray for this double feature romantasy! From the first ideas of Dawn of the Arcana, to the rich world of The King's Beast, why do all these interesting ingredients keep resulting in lack-lustre recipes? This month we explore why execution is far more important that premise for audience satisfaction.Follow RRtL on ⁠BlueSky⁠!Follow Ray on her channel ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Whimsical Pictures⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠And if you can't get enough of me, Gee, be sure to follow me on my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BlueSky

Today, the club chats about the new Predator movie and the Beauty getting adapted into a TV show on FX! WOO! Then we're reading some comix. They're in the title, and they're goooood!

Interdite, redoutée, diabolique… La magie noire hante l'imaginaire collectif depuis des siècles. De l'Antiquité aux procès de sorcellerie, des grimoires interdits aux pactes démoniaques, elle oscille entre superstition et pratiques occultes. Mais qu'en est-il réellement ? Quelle est la frontière entre mythe et réalité ? Plongez au cœur des arcanes sombres de la magie, là où le pouvoir et l'interdit se confondent.Ouvrez la porte des Mystères avec Arcana Podcast ! Présenté par Ludovic - Arcana ⛎ Soutenir l'émission sur Tipeee : https://www.tipeee.com/arcana-mysteres-du-monde

♍️#VIRGO #TAROT♍️ Sólo sé tú mismo

♓️#PISCIS #TAROT♓️ Nada de trucos

♒️#ACUARIO #TAROT♒️ Resuelve cuanto antes ⏱️ ✨ARCANOS.COM✨ ♒️#ACUARIO♒️ No estamos para juegos

♑️#CAPRICORNIO #TAROT♑️ No des una imagen errónea

♐️#SAGITARIO #TAROT♐️ Hay un punto exacto

♏️#ESCORPIO #TAROT♏️ El saber te salvará

♎️#LIBRA #TAROT♎️ Desconfía y acertarás

♊️#GEMINIS #TAROT♊️ Sigue las reglas

♌️#LEO #TAROT♌️ Tienes algo muy valioso

♋️#CANCER #TAROT♋️ Todo debe ser correcto

♉️#TAURO #TAROT♉️ Tu gran oportunidad

♈️#ARIES #TAROT♈️ Ya se verán nuevamente

Où se trouve le mystérieux royaume du Yamatai ? Mentionné dans les chroniques chinoises, ce royaume dirigé par la reine Himiko fascine historiens et archéologues. Était-il le berceau du Japon ancien ou une civilisation disparue engloutie par le temps ? Entre légendes, indices archéologiques et récits ésotériques, partez à la recherche d'un royaume oublié, aux frontières du mythe et de l'histoire.Ouvrez la porte des Mystères avec Arcana Podcast ! Présenté par Ludovic - Arcana ⛎ Soutenir l'émission sur Tipeee : https://www.tipeee.com/arcana-mysteres-du-monde

Listen up, fellow Bunnheads, Cullen is back! Cullen Bunn returns to the Cryptid Creator Corner for a 4th time and there is so much to cover. Cullenn has to be one of if not the most productive writer working in comics today so Jimmy wasted no time in trying to cover the recent stuff Cullen has been working on. Jimmy and Cullen discuss his recent trip to Emerald City Comic Con, his involvement in AWA's Ultimate Oz Universe, Quill & Codex (the official Cullen Bunn Role-Playing System) from Outland Entertainment, Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time, Jumpscare (spinning out of the Beyond Mortal universe), Arcana Royale, and The Hexiles. The Cryptid Creator Corner is your one stop shop for all things Cullen Bunn and it is an embarrassment of riches for fans of his work right now. There is a lot packed into this episode and you don't want to miss it.  Cullen's newsletter Cullen's website Follow Cullen on Bluesky Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe One Last Time First, Deadpool killed every hero in the Marvel Universe… Then he killed every hero in another Marvel Universe… Well, now, he's back, and this time, slaughtering his way through Earth's Mightiest Heroes won't be enough! He's going after the worst of the worst, a whole Multiverse of Marvel's greatest gone bad. Get ready for world-breaking Hulks, werewolf Captain Americas, and some all-new twisted takes! The classic universe-slaughtering team of Cullen Bunn and Dalibor Talajić are back to kill everyone one…more…time! Arcana Royale #1 from Dark Horse Comics From the co-creator of The Sixth Gun and Harrow County comes a new supernatural thriller that The Sandman meets Rounders! Hudson Tremaine is a streetwise gambler who has siphoned money from every high-stakes game in Vegas. She's made a name for herself, but she's also made more than a few enemies in the gambling underworld. When she is invited to play in the most underground card tournaments of all-the Arcanos Mysterinos-she realizes the stakes are higher than she ever imagined possible. Imagine a clandestine poker tournament where magicians, demons, and demigods gamble using a set of mysterious tarot-like cards. These games shape the fate of the world... of many worlds... for good or ill. This game has always been played in secret, hidden from the prying eyes of mortals. Until now. AWA's Ultimate Oz Universe KS Exclusive hardcover featuring maps, character designs, and full graphic novel story — expanding the world of OZ like never before! Quill & Codex: https://outlandentertainment.com/collections/newest/products/quill-codex-the-base-rules Autumn Kingdom TP: https://previewsworld.com/Catalog/MAR251550 PATREON We have a new Patreon, CryptidCreatorCornerpod. If you like what we do, please consider supporting us. We got two simple tiers, $1 and $3. Want to know more, you know what to do. ARKENFORGE Play TTRPG games? Make sure to check out our partner Arkenforge. Use the discount code YETI5 to get $5 off your order. THE LANTERN CATALOG Created on the premise of creating light in the dark, this is the the go to resource to keep you up to date on the indy projects and the creators you love. You can find them at https://www.thelanterncatalog.com/. Make sure to check out our sponsor 2000AD. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The People's Guild.With the Conclave Arcana presale just a few weeks out, we invited @azircon back to the show for a deep dive into the state of the market, expectations for the new set & the evolving utility of land and card ownership. From Az's presale strategy to thoughts on black foils, collector value, and the role Arcana might play in shaping the future of Splinterlands, this one covers a lot of ground. We also touch on Dave's growing presence within the team and some ideas around simplifying the land crafting experience.Enjoy the show!************************************************************************* Follow us elsewhere: Peakd: https://peakd.com/@thepeoplesguild  Twitter: https://twitter.com/thepeoplesguild General: https://linktr.ee/thepeoplesguild

Créateur imparfait, démiurge jaloux ou faux dieu ? Dans la tradition gnostique, Yaldabaoth est une entité arrogante, régnant sur le monde matériel et se faisant passer pour le Dieu unique de l'Ancien Testament. Mais qui est-il vraiment ? Quelle est sa place dans les textes gnostiques et en quoi s'oppose-t-il au véritable principe divin ? Dévoilez le secret du démiurge et le grand conflit entre lumière et illusion.Ouvrez la porte des Mystères avec Arcana Podcast ! Présenté par Ludovic - Arcana ⛎ Soutenir l'émission sur Tipeee : https://www.tipeee.com/arcana-mysteres-du-monde

Today's show: Jason, Alex, and Lon talk about stories reshaping the startup world: 70mph drone deliveries are officially live in Dallas, with Zipline and Walmart promising groceries “as the crow flies” in under 5 minutes. Meanwhile, Trump slaps a 125% tariff on China and hints at a global economic shakeup — Jason warns founders to brace for layoffs and bankruptcies unless they've got a Plan B and C. Finally, a UK startup sells for $450M and VCs barely break even… but the founders walk with $20M. Jason explains how small exits create the most dangerous kind of founder: the one who never needs another check. Plus Office Hours with Orchestra CEO Sergie Poe.Timestamps:(0:00) Jason kicks off the show!(1:37) Tariffs, market volatility, and startup implications(5:33) Startup resilience: Layoffs and bankruptcies(10:35) Brex. Get the business account trusted by 1 in 3 US startups at ⁠https://www.brex.com/banking-solutions(12:10) Globalization and startup ecosystems(13:52) Recent startup deals and Zipline's expansion(19:56) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist(21:16) Zipline drones and Marquese Brownlee's review(24:31) 70MPH Drones and the future of ddeliveries(30:05) Northwest Registered Agent. Form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!(31:51) Founder FridaysPitch Madness matchups(33:35) LifeStack and Burble pitches and discussion(43:26) Arcana and Tactun pitches and discussion(50:12) Summer West Whiskey and MomSub pitches and evaluation(56:36) Orchestra's office hours: Challenges and strategiesSubscribe to the TWiST500 newsletter: https://ticker.thisweekinstartups.comCheck out the TWIST500: https://www.twist500.comSubscribe to This Week in Startups on Apple: https://rb.gy/v19fcpLinks from the show:Orchestra: https://orch.so/Follow Alex:X: https://x.com/alexLinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexwilhelmFollow Jason:X: https://twitter.com/JasonLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasoncalacanisThank you to our partners:(10:35) Brex. Get the business account trusted by 1 in 3 US startups at ⁠https://www.brex.com/banking-solutions(19:56) Vanta - Get $1000 off your SOC 2 at https://www.vanta.com/twist(30:05) Northwest Registered Agent. Form your entire business identity in just 10 clicks and 10 minutes. Get more privacy, more options, and more done—visit https://www.northwestregisteredagent.com/twist today!Great TWIST interviews: Will Guidara, Eoghan McCabe, Steve Huffman, Brian Chesky, Bob Moesta, Aaron Levie, Sophia Amoruso, Reid Hoffman, Frank Slootman, Billy McFarlandCheck out Jason's suite of newsletters: https://substack.com/@calacanisFollow TWiST:Twitter: https://twitter.com/TWiStartupsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/thisweekinInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisweekinstartupsTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisweekinstartupsSubstack: https://twistartups.substack.comSubscribe to the Founder University Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@founderuniversity1916

Bien plus qu'une simple arme, l'épée est un symbole universel de pouvoir, de justice et de sacralité. Des lames légendaires comme Excalibur aux épées sacrées des rituels d'initiation, elle traverse l'histoire des civilisations, entre mythes et réalité. Quelle est son origine ? Quelle place occupe-t-elle dans les traditions ésotériques et chevaleresques ? Plongez dans l'histoire fascinante de l'épée, entre fer et mystère.Ouvrez la porte des Mystères avec Arcana Podcast ! Présenté par Ludovic - Arcana ⛎ Soutenir l'émission sur Tipeee : https://www.tipeee.com/arcana-mysteres-du-monde

In this episode, Julie welcomes Sophia from Mexico City, who shares her mental, physical, and spiritual journey towards achieving her VBAC. Sophia discusses the challenges she faced in navigating the healthcare system in Mexico, and what she did to find a truly VBAC-supportive provider. While preparing for her VBAC, Sophia had a hard time finding well-documented VBAC stories from Mexico, so she hopes to inspire other women through her story. Sophia and Julie talk about the role of a mother's intuition in the birth space. Making confident decisions when you feel safe and supported is so powerful!Coterie Diapers - Use code VBAC20 for 20% offHow to VBAC: The Ultimate Prep Course for ParentsFull Transcript under Episode Details Julie: Good morning, Women of Strength. It is Julie Francom here with you today, and I am super excited to talk with our guest today, Sophia. She is from Mexico City, Mexico, and her VBAC story takes place there as well. I absolutely love hearing birth stories from all over the world, so I cannot wait to hear Sophia's story. But before we get started with that, I do have a really short and sweet Review of the Week. This one is from Google. It's a Google review and she says simply, "Great people sharing great information. They make me feel less alone in my journey to a VBAC". I'm so grateful for that review. I think that that is one of the most important reasons why Meagan and I wanted to start The VBAC Link is because our own journeys felt very lonely at times even though we were connected to the birth world and we had a strong birth community, there are certain parts of wanting a vaginal birth after having a C-section that are just very, very lonely. We are grateful for that review. We hope that whoever is listening now also feels a little less alone in this journey because we absolutely love you, and we are so grateful that you are here with us.All right, let's get going. I have Sophia here today. Like I said, Sophia's from Mexico City, Mexico. I'm just going to sit down and be quiet and listen because I have heard lots of really interesting and crazy and cool things about Mexico City, so I'm excited to hear her birth experience there. Sophia is the mother of Luca and Rio. I just said that. I'm just reading her bio right now. She says,  "I'm a Mexican and live in Mexico City." Perfect. She is a passionate advocate for women's rights and strongly believes in the magic that results from women building together, connecting, and supporting each other. Her motherhood journey has been very humbling and healing, and she is obsessed with talking about birth. Me too, girl. I am obsessed with talking about birth as well, so I'm excited to hear your story. I'm just going to go ahead and let you take it away, and we're going to talk.I'm sorry. I said I'm going to let you take it away, but really, I'm going to keep talking for just a second. I loved reading through your story, sharing about your birth team and prodromal labor and the different things that you did to keep labor going and moving along. I am really excited to talk at the end after we hear your story about some different things that you can do to prepare for a VBAC, both mentally, physically and all of the ways. So now for real, I'm going to let you go ahead and share your story with us. Thank you.Sophia: Well, thank you so much for having me. It's truly a dream come true to be here in the podcast. I'm just really honored to tell my story because, when I was starting to prepare for my VBAC, I found it really hard to find well-documented VBAC stories coming from Mexico and in general, from the global South. So I just hope my story helps other women living in similar contexts. So I guess I'll start with the story of my unplanned C-section. So half a year after my husband and I got married, we were ready to have kids. We met on Tinder. We dated for three years, and both of us really had had the opportunity to travel the world and do amazing things. We felt like we had a good pre-kids life, and we were just ready to start a family. I was 34 at the time, and I always wanted to try to get pregnant before I became 35. I got pregnant really fast actually, like the first try. So we were so shocked and excited and surprised. At the time, we were both working remotely in Europe. We were slowly making our way to Australia because my husband is from Australia. This was 2021 and as some of you might remember, Australia was under super restrictive lockdown. No one could come in. No one could get out, so we had not seen his family for three years, and we were just waiting for the ban to lift to be able to go in and spend some time with them. This is an important part of the story because while I was in Europe, especially in Belgium and in Australia, my pregnancy was taken care of by midwives. Especially in Australia, it's really normal that all healthy pregnancies are attended by midwives, and only those special cases or complicated ones are taken by gynecologists. So my pregnancy was a really healthy, enjoyable one. I am one of those women that really loved being pregnant. I was very lucky with both of my pregnancies. But this experience was so influential because in Mexico, although we have this wonderful history with midwives in Spanish called parteras, and that's actually where the use of Rebozo comes from, this practice continues mostly in rural and particularly in indigenous communities. But in the cities, there is a really concerning high rate of unnecessary Cesareans. There's this narrative that C-sections are the easy way out. I would even dare to say, in the 80s, it became sort of a socioeconomic status thing. Women who have access to private healthcare would just opt for a C-section either because their doctor recommended it to do so or because they just thought it was the easy way out. People would say, "Why would you put yourself under unnecessary pain if you can just go get a C-section?" Like it was nothing, right? So actually, most of the women that I know had a C-section, but having the experience with midwives, I decided I really, really wanted to try to have a natural birth. So I started getting informed. I actually work in philanthropy. I work on social justice issues, so I'm very well connected to feminist and women organizations, especially in Mexico City. I remember that there were all of these colleagues working to defend obstetric rights in Mexico City. I knew that they had a really good network of doulas. It was through them that I connected remotely with my doula, Neri Fernandez, who is amazing. We spoke on Zoom, and we clicked right away. She started preparing me for my return to Mexico. The plan was always to come back to Mexico during the third trimester so I could have my baby here. She started preparing me with the reality that it is to have a natural birth in Mexico City. She told me, "Honestly, there are very few truly labor-friendly hospitals and also very few labor-friendly gynecologists. A lot of them are going tell you that of course they're gonna support you in a natural labor, but around week 37 or so, they're gonna suggest going on a C-section by week 39." So, she gave me this list of questions to ask my gynecologist, the one that I had been seeing for the past five years. So she told me, "Once you get back and you go to your appointment, just use these questions for your conversation with him." At the time, I was very naive, so I was like, oh, I'm sure he's going to support me. I'm not worried about that. Anyway, I came back to Mexico, I went to my appointment, and honestly, in the first five minutes, I noticed that he wanted me to have a C-section for no reason. So I was like, oh, my god. Okay. So I told her, "Neri, I really need to contact another service provider." She gave me a list of labor-friendly doctors. And she told me, "There's this doctor whose name is Adriana. She is a gynecologist. But the way that she works is very similar to a midwife, the way that she treats her patients and the way that she respects the woman's body and everything. I think you're really gonna like her, but you should know that she can be a little bit tough. She's a hardcore feminist, and she truly believes in women's capacity to give birth, so she's not going to pamper you." Anyway, I went in. I met her. I loved her right away. She took me, which I was so appreciative, at the time, taking my case because I was already in my third trimester, and things continued to evolve smoothly. I mention this because since I got pregnant really easy, since everything was going smoothly, that's what I thought it was going to be in the case of my birth. I just thought that things were just going to develop like that.Julie: Oh my gosh. Can I just say that I thought the same with my first? I had the easiest pregnancy. I loved being pregnant, just like you, and then all of a sudden, wham-- preeclampsia, induction, C-section, and I was like, what happened? Yeah, anyway, sorry. I just had to add that in.Sophia: I think it happens to a lot of women.Julie: Yes.Sophia: So anyway, week 40 arrived, and there was no sign whatsoever of labor. And one mistake I made is that I told everyone about my due date. I'm an open book. So I told everyone just out of excitement. But then once the due date passed, people started reaching out, like, "Hey, how are you doing? Is baby here yet? Is everything all right?" That really threw me into a bad mental state. I started to get really scared and doubtful. I was just not mentally well at that time. I was just full of fear. I didn't accept it at the time. I was telling everyone that I was fine, but internally, yes, I was in that state. And now also thinking back, I think I prepared myself a lot physically. I have been practicing yoga for 10 years. I was doing a lot of prenatal yoga, etc., but I don't think I prepared myself mentally enough. Anyway, after week 41, Adriana, my doctor said, "I think we have to start discussing the possibility of an induction. Maybe by week 41.3 we can do a very gentle induction unless something else happens." I think two days after we spoke, I lost my mucus plug, so that was exciting, but then nothing was happening. Then we were almost at week 41.5, and she said, "I think at 41.5, I should induce you." But the night before the induction, I woke up in the middle of the night with a very intense feeling. I went into my living room. I sat on my birthing ball, and my water broke like a big gush like the movies. They tell you that's never gonna happen, but that happened to me. Contractions didn't start. But at that time, I didn't realize what this meant. I didn't know that this meant I was actually going to be on a clock after my waters broke. So I was actually very excited. I thought, okay, by tomorrow, I'm going to have my baby. This is amazing. I told my doctor. I told my doula, and they said, "Okay, well, no matter what, just come here to the birthing center."At the time, my doctor had a birth center, and the plan was always to labor there and then go to the hospital when I was closer to giving birth, because I just feel safer that way. And that was the plan with my insurance, etc. So I went the next morning to check me, and I was only at 3 centimeters. So she told me, "I'm going to recommend that you just go back home. Rest. Eat your favorite food. Try not to think about this too much, and when things escalate, just let me know." The problem then is that nothing escalated for a whole day when I went to sleep. And that night, I didn't sleep out of excitement mostly, but I was already feeling some contractions. I mean, I thought they were intense, but little did I know that they were not the most intense part. And then the second night, I also didn't sleep because now I did start getting contractions, a bit stronger ones. So the next morning, I went back into her practice. She checked me, and I was about a 5. And she said, "Things are progressing, but they're progressing quite slowly, so I'm going to give you a tiny dose of Pitocin just to make sure that things keep progressing." I stayed there in the birth center, and I was with my husband, and I was with my doula. And honestly, I remember that day very fondly. My husband and I danced. We used the shower. We used the Rebozo. We just the ball, the peanut ball and everything, but things were not progressing. It was 7:00 PM, and I was only at 7 centimeters, and we were already reaching 40+ hours. And as you know, once your water breaks, I mean, at least in Mexico, they recommend that you have your baby within 48 hours because otherwise you start risking infections. So I told my doctor, "I just want to go to the hospital. I need a change of scenery, and it's just gonna make me feel better." So we went to the hospital. The hospital did have this birth pool. I went into the water and just things stalled. I didn't progress after that. This whole time, they were checking my baby's heart rate, and it started raising a lot, like, scary a lot. It wouldn't regulate. Fear just took over my body, I think. She looked at me and she said, "Sophie, I think I'm going recommend that we go for a C-section." I looked at my doula, and my doula just nodded. I was so tired and so ready to meet my baby that I said, "Okay, yeah, let's go for a C-section." Once I decided that, it was the longest 40 minutes of my life because I thought, "Oh, well, I'm going to get under anesthesia now." But the anesthesiologist took an hour to get there, so I was in a lot of pain. Then we went into the OR, and to be fair, my gynecologist did everything possible to have a gentle Cesarean. We had dim lights. We had my playlist on. The whole focus was on me. Both my doula and my husband were with me. They were holding my hands. But the one thing that makes me sad about that is that I couldn't stay awake. I was so exhausted, so I was just asleep the whole time. I only woke up when I heard my son, Luca, crying. So exactly on week 42, he was born. I just remember someone in the OR yelling, "It's a huge boy." So he weighed 8 pounds, which is not massive, but for Mexican standards, he's really big. And Luca is a Taurus baby. He's determined, he's stubborn, and you cannot pressure him to do anything. He always does everything at his own pace, and this was just the first evidence of that. So anyway, luckily, he was okay. It was a rough recovery because I was just really not prepared for a C-section. It was challenging to get breastfeeding. He had difficulties to latch. It just took me a while to heal what had happened. But the one thing I do remember a lot is that when I was in my room, the doctor and my doula both came in and they said, "Sophie, we just want you to know that you and your baby are amazing. You did everything right. You just had so many things against you. But if you ever want to get pregnant again and go for natural birth, you can do it." That really stayed with me the whole time. So 18 months after Luca was born, my husband and I decided to get pregnant again. Again, we got pregnant the first try. I mention this not to brag about my fertility or anything like that. I know it's a sensitive topic, but for me, it was important because it was the first step to recover my confidence in my body and believe that I could really do this because once I started getting informed about VBAC, I realized that the healing I had to do was more internal. I really had to believe that I could do it. So I decided to stay with the same service providers, with the same doctor and the same doula, because they knew, they really knew my story. Well. And I called my doula, Neri, and I was like, "Hey, Neri, why are you doing this summer? Do you wanna have a baby with me?" And she was like, "Of course." Both my doctor and my doula recommended that I joined maybe like an online community of VBAC women. I had no idea what VBAC was. So then I found The VBAC Link website, the Facebook group. I took the VBAC class for parents. I found it so helpful. And for me, the fact that it was full of hardcore data, it was just so, so important. So in terms of physical prep, I tried to remain active, but I wasn't honestly doing as much yoga as before because I had a toddler. I was working full-time. I was running after my 2-year-old, and I really loved that my doula told me, "Don't get too stressed about working out. Just play with your kid. Play with your kid on the floor. That's going to be enough activity for you." I also really love that this time around, my gynecologist was not even telling me how much I weighed. I really loved that approach. It was just a really, really joyful pregnancy. Again, it was a healthy pregnancy. I did go to the chiropractor this time, which I didn't do last time. I also went to acupuncture sessions, and I did that the last time. I went with the same acupuncturist because I also thought it was good that she knew what happened before. I also took raspberry leaf tea and dates after week 36. So I did all of that physical prep. But what was different this time, I think it was my mental preparation. So as I said, I really, really tried to focus on healing internally, believing in my body, and believing in myself. So with my doula and also using the some of the guiding questions and stuff from the VBAC class, we started mapping out my fears. So she was like, "What are you afraid of?" And I said, "Honestly, I think what I'm most afraid of is that my waters break again before I start labor." So I remember asking in the VBAC Facebook group, "Hey, does anyone know anything about preventing PROM?" Someone suggested taking vitamin C. So I started doing it. And, this time, I felt so much more connected with my body, with my baby, with my intuition. At week 26, my baby was breech. And I remember asking again in the Facebook group, like, "What would you girls do?" And people told me, "You can do Spinning Babies. You still have enough time for baby to get in position, but it's always easier to move a baby when they're still small." So I did Spinning Babies, and my baby turned. So that was amazing. The other thing that is I consider being part of the mental prep is that I was also in a very different space, spiritually speaking. I am honestly not a religious person. I'm not the most spiritual person in the world, but this time I paid attention to a lot of signs. There was this one occasion that I was in my office, we were moving my office, we were moving to another place. And someone hired a shaman. Like a shaman, but it's an indigenous sort of magic priest because we all wanted to do some cleansing, like spiritual cleansing, before moving into the new space. She told me, "I don't do cleansing of pregnant women because it's not good for the baby, but I could give you a blessing". So I was like, "Yeah, of course." So she did this whole ritual. She told me, "You didn't have a natural birth before, did you?" I was like, "No, I had a C-section, but I'm trying for a VBAC." And she said, "I'm really certain that you're going to get it. I'm very sure that that day when you go into labor, your ancestors are going to be with you. I'm certain of it." And she also said, "There's something that characterizes you and has characterized you your whole life, which is having clarity and determination, Sophia, so this is not gonna be the exception." And she gave me this candle, and she told me, "Please, light this up when you go into active labor just to call your ancestors to be there with you." So I was like, "Okay, great." Then also on week 36-37, I had a nesting party. I invited a lot of friends over to help me prepare the house for baby. A friend of mine brought the tarot cards. She told me, "Do you want to pick a card?" And I was like, "Okay yeah, why not?" So I picked a card. That card was the card for strength. It was number eight of the major Arcana that depicts a woman taming a lion through the application of subtle force. That was so symbolic for me because it was strength. The picture really stayed in my head, and I had to think, obviously, about Woman of Strength. So there were all these symbols out there that just really put me in a very different mental state. So anyway, the day I went into labor, it was just one day before my due date. And this time, I didn't tell anyone about my due date. Only my mom and obviously, my husband knew. So one day before the due date, I started getting contractions. I had two weeks of prodromal labor, and I had that before in my first pregnancy, so I knew what it was. I mean, it can be so frustrating because you start getting prodromal labor, but it doesn't escalate, so you get sad. But I knew this time what it was, so I was trying not to pay too much attention to it and just continue with my life. But that day, I started getting real contractions. I knew that what I had to do was to go rest. I did do Miles Circuit. And anyway, I was pretty happy. But then 24 hours after, labor completely stopped. I was so scared of the story repeating itself, so fears started sneaking in. All the doubts. I started thinking, maybe natural labor is just not for me. I was crying. I was sad. I texted my doula and I said, "Neri, I'm just really bummed. I think this is not going to happen. I think I'm going to have a C-section again." She said, "Whoa, wait, I'm going to your house right now." She lives really close to my house. So in 15 minutes, she was here. This was at 8:00 in the morning of the due date, like week 40. And she said, "I think although baby is already engaged," because we knew it was already engaged, "I think it's not in the most optimal position, so I'm just gonna use the Rebozo." And we used the Rebozo. She told my husband and my mom how to use it. That was pretty magical. And then we also did a lot of Spinning Babies exercises. She said, "But aside from this, just try to relax. Everything's going to be okay." That day, I had my 40-week appointment with my doctor. I went and that was a game changer because she checked me, she checked my baby and she said, "Both of you are fine. Everything is okay. Please try to go home and relax. Do anything that makes you get oxytocin." She was like, "Why don't you go and eat or get a bath or eat cake in the bath?" And I was like, "Okay, that's a really specific suggestion, but why not?" So that made me feel much better. And she said, "I do recommend that you call the acupuncturist and tell her what's happening to see if she can give you an extra session." So I called my acupuncturist and she told me, "I'm an hour away from Mexico City because I'm teaching at a university, but I'm on my way there. I'm going to see you because I know you can do this." It was so sweet of her. She drove all the way here, she gave me a session and she told me, "I never do this, but I want to see you again. This was at noon." And she told me, "I want to see you again at night. Come here at 8:00 PM, and I'm going to give you an extra session that is specific to help baby get in a good position and to descend."So I was like, okay. So I went home. I actually came back and went to listen to Meagan's because I remember that she had a story of failure to progress. I listened to that episode. It was so helpful. So then I went back to the acupuncturist at 8:00 PM, and during the session of acupuncture, I felt a super strong contraction. Because what had been happening is that my contractions were intense, but they were really short. They were only 30 seconds. So when I was there, I knew that was a minute or longer. Anyway, after the session, I came back home, and they always recommended to walk after the acupuncture session. I went walking with my husband, and active labor started. It was clear, and it was so intense. It really started every 15 minutes, then every 10 minutes, then 7, then 5. So at 5:00, I texted my doctor and my doula, and they were like, "Okay. This is fantastic. Let's wait until you are 3-1-1." So every three minutes, one minute long for one hour. But I felt like things were going super fast. So I told Neri, my doula, "Can you please come see me?" Because she always told me the timing between contractions and the duration is important, but it's even more important that I see how you're acting. So she came. And in the meantime, my husband was packing the last things to go to the hospital. I also was pretty relaxed in the sense that my mom was taking care of my toddler, so I was really relaxed about that. My husband had become an expert in helping me put pressure in my hips during each contraction. He was packing and helping me, and he was just a rock star. He was offering me water, and he was my biggest cheerleader. Neri arrived, she saw me and she's like, "Okay, it's time to go to the hospital." So I was like, "Okay. So we went into the car." At this time, I was already in a lot of pain. Contractions were so long. They were 1:20, some of them, a minute and a half. It was super intense. I couldn't see anymore. I was just holding to the back seat. I was sitting in the back, just facing the other way. And here is where all the mental preparation really stepped in because I was remembering all of the affirmations that I was listening to. I was remembering all of the stories that I heard. I was also obsessed with watching birth videos. So all of that was going through my head. I love them so much. My dad, who was my favorite person in the world, passed away seven years ago. I could really feel he was there. It was just crazy. So anyway, I was doing all this mental work during each of the contractions while in the car. And this was at midnight, and we were very close to the hospital. The road was blocked, completely blocked by construction. And we were like, "Oh my god." I was in labor land. I was not paying attention to details, but I could hear in the back my husband and my doula getting a bit worried. My doula went out of the car, and I could hear her telling the police guys and the construction workers, "Hey, guys, we have a lady here that's in labor. If you don't let us through, she's going to have her baby here." And it was like, "Wow. Okay." So they opened the road just for us. We went through. We arrived to the hospital. And it's crazy at that time because you only do the few things that you can do in between contractions. I went into the room. This time, it was a different hospital. The room was so lovely. I remember it being a peach color. We had essential oils. We had my playlist. Again, my husband was my biggest cheerleader. Five minutes later, my doctor arrived, which made me feel so much better. And she's like, "I'm going to check you." I was already at an 8. So that was super exciting because it was already past what I had achieved last time, and then my water broke. My doctor said, "Sophie, I need you to look to me in the eyes and listen to me." So I looked at her and she said, "Sophie, this baby has to be born now, so I need you to start pushing." I was still not at 10 centimeters. I think I was 9 or something. But what they didn't tell me at the time is that my water already had meconium, and my baby's heart rate was starting to have some significant declines. But luckily, he was recovering. I was very thankful later on that they didn't tell me all of this because I was just so focused. So anyway, I tried different positions. First, I went and sat down on what we call a Mayan chair. I did all fours. So I think I pushed for an hour or an hour and a half. I just remember it being very magical in the sense just seeing my doctor, my doula, and my husband working together, cheering me, communicating even without words. Everything was just flowing. But still, baby was not being born, and pushing was so much harder than I thought. And also, I guess because I was not at 10 centimeters yet, I was not having the super urge to push, but they were guiding me to do so, and it was really, really great guidance. So finally I went into throne position, which, honestly, was the last position that I thought I was going to give birth in, but it felt all right. I was a second away to give up and to tell them, "You guys, I think I cannot do this." But then I remembered in all of the podcast stories that I listened to that usually when you're at that stage, it is because baby is about to be born. So then my doctor told me, "Sophie, baby is almost here. Do you want to touch their head?" We had decided this time not to know the sex until birth, so I had no idea if he was a boy or girl. I touched the head and that was so, so, so exciting. So I was like, okay. It just gave me another rush of energy. My doula said, "I really think two more pushes, and you're going to meet your baby." So I pushed once. The little head popped out and then it went back in. And then this whole time, they had been telling me to try not to push with my throat, but with my abdomen. But then they said, "This time when you push, push with all of your strength. If you feel like screaming, scream." So I pushed so hard. I screamed. My baby was born at 2:22 AM and baby started crying right away. I started yelling, "I did it. I did it. I can't believe it." And yeah, just for a few seconds, I had no idea if he was a boy or girl because I right away put him in my chest. And then my husband looked and he said, "Oh my god, it's a boy." And yeah, people asked, "So what's his name?" And we said, "His name is Rio." Rio in Spanish means river. And it also stands for the flow of life. I really, really think it really honored the way that he arrived into this world. And honestly, he's a pretty chill and easy going baby. So it was honestly the best day of my life. And later my doula, my doctor and I just, just went through the whole story. And again, we all said, I think my mental and spiritual state of mind was very different. This time was much more positive. I also really felt held by my drive. I had this chat of my all my best friends in this WhatsApp chat, and they were all rooting for me. And also, remember I told you there was this shaman, like this magician priest who told me that I was going to be able to do it? They gave us a candle. My mom lighted the candle when we went to the hospital, and the candle turned off by itself at 2:20 and Rio was born at 2:22. So that was pretty magical as well.Julie: Wow.Sophia: Yeah. And just the last thing I'll say about the story is that also, my gynecologist and my doula were also in a different state of mind. They had had a lot of VBAC experience which was great. And my doula always told me, "It doesn't matter how your baby is born. What matters is the experience, and that you really feel this connection with your baby. But in this case, Adriana told you to push this baby out, and you understood the assignment. You literally delivered your baby, and you had the baby when you were asked to do so, and that in itself is strength." So, yeah, that's my story.Julie: I absolutely love that. Just all of it. What a journey. I'm sorry. I'm trying to figure out where to start. I took some notes as you were talking, and I just think it's so incredible, all of the different things that you did to prepare. I really like what your doula told you during your pregnancy about your personality that you've always had clarity and determination. It was something like that. She said, "Clarity and determination is your personality." I love that because I think sometimes it's easier to advocate and fight and navigate having a VBAC when that clarity and determination is already something that comes naturally to us. It's not something that comes naturally to everybody. It's not good or bad or assigned into a category. It just is. And like me, I'm incredibly stubborn, and I will fight sometimes harder than I should to get the things that I want or desire. And I think that my stubbornness played a huge part in working towards that. Sometimes it's just easier to advocate for yourself when you already have those strong personality traits.Sophia: So yeah, for sure.Julie: But it's okay because you don't have to have those strong personality traits inherently in order to get your VBAC. There are lots of other things that you can do and lots of other things that are on your side as well. I wanted to touch on some of the things that you did to prepare. You took the VBAC class which is amazing. I love our VBAC class. It's really incredible. Lots of good information. I feel like obviously, it's pretty well-rounded and has lots of different characteristics and addresses all of the different learning styles and things like that. Things for the data junkie like me, and things for the people who are more holistic minded, things that are more mentally mental preparation focused, and things like that. You talked about Rebozo, Spinning Babies, and learning how to relax your mind and your body, the positioning of the baby, acupuncture. You hired a very, very good doula and provider who both had lots of VBAC experience. That was also something that was really important to me. I interviewed, I think, like 12 doulas when I was preparing for my first VBAC because I really wanted a doula who had a VBAC herself and supported lots of VBAC families. I don't think it's necessary that to have a doula who has had a VBAC herself in order to have a really solid VBAC doula. I don't think that's necessary, but that's something that was important for me.Sophia: Yeah, for sure. For me, too.Julie: Yeah. Yeah. I wanted midwives who had done lots of VBACs, and that was really important to me. Now it's not, like I said, necessary, but it's something that you can put in your toolkit to prepare. So I feel like a lot of times I hear people say something to the effect of, "I tried all the things, and I still didn't get a VBAC or I tried all the things and I didn't get a vaginal birth." And you know what? Some people try all of the things and don't get a delivery method that they want. And some people do literally nothing and have a perfect birth. I want to just tell you that birth is inherently unfair. Sophia: Yeah.Julie: Especially with the way our system is set up to handle pregnant women, and babies, and labor, and all of that stuff. It's inherently unfair. Sometimes you can do everything and have a completely unexpected birth experience, and sometimes you can and do absolutely nothing. My sweet sister-in-law is getting induced tomorrow. She knows absolutely nothing about labor and birth and delivery. She has no desire to know anything. She knows absolutely nothing. She's getting induced tomorrow, and I'm just really trying start hard to stay in my role as supportive sister-in-law when I see some choices that she's making that might influence her birth in a way that she doesn't want, but also, I don't think the outcome really matters to her, to be honest. I just don't think how the baby gets here matters. And that's okay. It is. That is okay. I guess my point of all of this is that you don't have to do all of the things. I feel like some people say, "I feel like I don't want to miss anything." What you need to do is learn about the things that are available to you, and then gravitate towards the ones that resonate well with you. Maybe you don't even care about Spinning Babies or what position your babies in, but you really want to focus on nutrition and getting your mind ready and finding a supportive provider. Cool. Do those things.Sophia: I really tried to enjoy this pregnancy because I only plan to have two kids, so I was like, maybe this is my last pregnancy. I just wanna make sure I enjoy it. I even did a photo shoot with my family and stuff. I just really enjoyed it. I know that for some women, it stresses them to think about all this prep, but for me, this time around, it just made me feel good just being informed and things like that. And honestly, to have a VBAC in a context like Mexico is not a minor achievement. The system is so set-up to just go into C-sections. So yeah, it was just a lot of challenges against me, but I was really lucky that I had really good service providers by my side that were supportive. My doula told me, "When we saw that you had meconium, and we saw that your baby's heart rate was descending, I'm sure any other doctor would have sent you to the OR, but Adriana, your doctor, really believed that you could do it, so that's why she decided to just give you a chance and you did it." That's just really important as well.Julie: Yeah no, I agree. If you want to do all the things, if doing all the things makes you happy and helps you feel prepared, then by all means, do all the things. I don't think you should do nothing. Let me clarify that. I think you should do something, at least one thing. But do the things that really resonate with you. I saw an Instagram post yesterday, I think. I'm trying to find it now. I think it was maybe on the account called Trusting Birth or something like that, but basically it said that there are studies that show-- nope, it is not trusting birth. Dang it. Gosh, dang it. I really want to find it. It was something about how there are studies that show that women when they're pregnant, make smart choices. Okay? They make smart choices. That doesn't mean they go deliver in the hospital and have an epidural. It's not a blanket statement, right? They make smart choices, which means they let their intuition guide them. No, not smart choices. Safe choices. Safe choices. And what is safe depends on the parent and the baby and the pregnancy. When you let women guide their own care and give them options, they make the safe choice. Now, the safe choice is different, like we just said, but the choice that is safest for them at the time. There is a study to back that up. And gosh dang it, I wish that I could find it. I'm literally on my phone right now thinking of all the different accounts it could be. I wonder if I liked it. Dang it. Anyway, if I can find it, I will have Paige, our podcast transcriber, link it in the show notes. I'll send it to her. But anyway, it was really interesting because that's what we've been advocating for all along. Trust in your intuition. Trust your gut. Trust your internal guide. You will make a safe choice. And if that's birthing at home, if it's birthing in the hospital or whatever it guides you to, if it's acupuncture, Spinning Babies, massage, getting a doula, not getting a doula, doing a VBAC class or what VBAC class to do. All of those things are safe choices that you can make for yourself. Now, dang it. I just want to hang out here until I can find it. Sophia: No worries.Can I add one more thing?Julie: Yes, please do while I keep looking.Sophia: Yeah. Talking about the safe choices, I think one of the things that made me feel very safe and allowed me to really focus on the contractions and the pushing is just knowing that my birth team was really on my side, like my doctor, my doula, and my husband. Most women who I know in Mexico have to spend a lot of time advocating for their obstetric rights, so not having to worry about that and just focus on my birth just made me feel really safe and just being able to know that they believed that I could do it.Julie: Awesome. Yes, I agree. I agree. Believing in yourself is a big thing. Granted, sometimes you'll believe in yourself. I think when I say believe in yourself and trust yourself and trust your intuition, it's not trust yourself that you can have a VBAC, although that is very important. That's important. But trust yourself that you will navigate the birth in a way that's safe and healthy for you and your baby, and that might be a repeat C-section. It might be a home birth, an unassisted birth, a hospital birth, but trust yourself that you will be able to guide yourself safely through the birth process whatever that looks like. And guess what? I found the post. I had liked it, and I just had to go into my activity in my Instagram history. It's from an Instagram account called Intentional.Birth. Intentional.Birth. And it says that there's a PhD biologist and doula, Sophie Messager who bridges the scientific and intuitive worlds of birth at the induction equation. So I think maybe that's the induction equation. Oh, I guess I don't know what the induction equation is. Anyway, so the post shows though, it says, "Research shows that women make safe choices. Because of the constant communication between the woman and the baby, women tend to know when something is wrong, and they also tend to know when something is right. Ignoring a woman's instincts is a very stupid thing to do." I like that. Women's instincts tend to know when something is right. I hear that all the time. This is what it sounds like.It sounds like, "Oh, my doctor recommended an anatomy scan at 32 weeks, but I just don't feel like that's necessary." Yeah, it's because you know something's right. Or, "I know measuring for a big baby isn't really evidence-based, but I just think I want to do it." That maybe feels like something is right, the big baby scan or whatever. Or maybe that something's wrong, right? "My doctor brought up inducing at 39 weeks. And normally I would say no, but it just feels like the right thing to do." That is your intuition. Or, "My doctor said maybe we should induce at 39 weeks, but I just don't think that that feels. That doesn't feel right to me." And so you wait. That's your intuition. Like those comments, trust that you know when your baby is safe. You know when something's wrong. You know when something's right even if you can't literally define it. Follow those feelings. They're important, and there is science to back it up.Sophia: That's how I felt when my baby was breech. I had this intuition that I'm going to be able to turn it around and, everything's going to go well, and it did. I love that there's this study backing up the importance of following your intuition.Julie: Yeah. So go check it out. It looks like, it links to the study at Sophie. That's your name? No, you're Sophia.Sophia: People call me Sophie.Julie: So yeah, there we go.Sophia: It's all connected.Julie: Yeah, there we go. It's all connected. Sophie Messager. That's M-E-S-S-A-G-E-R. That is the PhD biologist who is linked with the host. I'm going to follow this lady right now. Transformational Journey Guide for Sacred Shifts. Incredible. All right, awesome. Well, thank you so much, Sophia, for sharing your story with us today. I loved talking with you. It's incredible for everyone birthing in Mexico and Mexico City especially, we know there are a lot of similarities between the United States, but there's also some differences, and different challenges to navigate. So we appreciate hearing your perspective and your experience, and I just really enjoyed having you here with me today.Sophia: Likewise. Thank you so, so much.ClosingWould you like to be a guest on the podcast? Tell us about your experience at thevbaclink.com/share. For more information on all things VBAC including online and in-person VBAC classes, The VBAC Link blog, and Meagan's bio, head over to thevbaclink.com. Congratulations on starting your journey of learning and discovery with The VBAC Link.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vbac-link/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

En esta ocasión el creador de contenido y brujo nos cuenta cómo es que se volvió fiel seguidor de la Santa Muerte y los milagros que le ha concedido Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*This is the Free Content version of my interview with Dr. Jeff Howard. To access the entire episode, please consider becoming a Tier 3 ‘Garden of Arcane Delights' member, or you can purchase this episode for a one-time fee. The Patreon page offers much more content as well, including a book club that meets 4 times per year via Zoom. If you are interested in esoteric topics, please check it out!  www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion ~ Many thanks, StephanieDr. Jeff Howard is a scholar of occulture and esotericism. He works as Associate Professor of Games and Occulture at Falmouth University in Cornwall, where he specialises in the occult and games. He is the author of two monographs Quests: Design, Theory, and History in Games and Narratives (now in its second edition) and Game Magic: A Designer's Guide to Magic Systems in Theory and Practice. He translates theory into practice as a core team member of Apocalypse Studios, where he consults on worldbuilding and systems design. He is also the creator of “Howard's Law of Occult Design,” published in 100 Principles of Game Design. Howard has presented on games and the occult at a variety of international conferences, including Berlin Occulture, Trans-States, and ESSWE9. In addition, he has been an invited speaker at Viktor Wynd's Last Tuesday Society, where he has spoken about folk magic and folk games. Howard studies Sabbatic Craft at the intersection of the Left Hand Path and the Typhonian current. Through his scholarship and creative practice, Howard is an ambassador for the power of play as a transformative and transcendent practice.[ Falmouth University Website]In this interview, Jeff shares his background as a “technomage” and talks about his understanding of ludomancy and the history of the concept. With regard to classic role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, he discusses the effects that the moral panic known as the ‘Satanic Panic' had on gaming and game developers, not only during the ‘peak' years but also in later years. Jeff also talks about ‘magical' or ‘occult' games that have been inspired by various forms of media, including the sci-fi/fantasy/horror genre, as well as how the motivations and attitudes of players have changed over the years. On an historical level, Jeff gives some examples of games that are based on occult groups/traditions. He also talks about how he approaches his own game design with occult practices as a starting point, and gives some examples of games that people could look into, should they be interested. Lastly, Jeff expands on his concept of ‘playful occulture' as the basis for an upcoming monograph, and shares a bit about an article he co-wrote for RENSEP, titled "To Reveal the Hidden Kingdom of Eld: Andrew Chumbley, the Cultus Sabbati, and Imaginal Space in Cornwall” that can be found on the RENSEP website for members. (Just a reminder: RENSEP membership is free of charge for Tiers 3 and 4!) PROGRAM NOTESGame Magic | Putting the Magic Back in Magic Systems (website with all links)Game Magic Book | Game MagicQuests | Design, Theory, and History in Games and Narratives | Jeff Ho100 Principles of Game DesignArcana: A Ceremonial Magic Simulator (Updated 2021) | Game MagicJeff Howard - YouTubeLeft Hand Path of Game DesignDr Jeff HowardJeff Howard - Ludomancy: Games as Occult Practice in Between StatesJeff Howard (@gamemagicarcana) • Instagram photos and videoshomo_ludens_johan_huizinga_routledge_1949_ : Johan Huizinga : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet ArchiveMaking Deep Games by Doris C Rusch | GoodreadsPassage: a Gamma256 video game by Jason RohrerKult: Divinity Lost | KULTBooks by Jack Vance (Author of The Dying Earth)Moorcography.org – Moorcography.org: The Michael Moorcock BibliographyEarthsea Cycle Series by Ursula K. Le GuinThe 9 Quantic Gamer Types - Quantic Foundryich.ioDriveThruRPG - The Largest RPG Download Store!Steam SearchCultist Simulator – Weather FactoryHome - Research Network for the Study of Esoteric PracticesTheme Music and Editing: Daniel P. SheaEnd Production: Stephanie Shea 

Au-delà des clichés, le tantrisme est une tradition spirituelle complexe, mêlant rituels, méditation et alchimie intérieure. Issu de l'hindouisme et du bouddhisme, il enseigne une voie de transformation où le corps, l'énergie et la conscience s'unissent pour atteindre l'éveil. Quels sont ses véritables enseignements ? En quoi diffère-t-il des autres courants spirituels ? Plongez au cœur d'une tradition ésotérique où le sacré et le secret se rejoignent.Ouvrez la porte des Mystères avec Arcana Podcast ! Présenté par Ludovic - Arcana ⛎ Soutenir l'émission sur Tipeee : https://www.tipeee.com/arcana-mysteres-du-monde

Welcome back to Memorizing Tarot Cards! Today, we explore the deeply symbolic Two of Swords, a tarot card that represents indecision, mental conflict, and the struggle between logic and intuition. In this episode, we'll break down the powerful imagery of the blindfolded woman, crossed swords, the vast sea, the crescent moon, and the distant islands, revealing the tension and clarity this card brings to decision-making.

Welcome back to Memorizing Tarot Cards! Today we're slicing through confusion with the Ace of Swords, a powerful card symbolizing mental clarity, truth, and breakthrough thinking. In this episode, we explore the symbolism behind the divine hand, upright sword, golden crown, laurel wreath, rugged mountains, and dramatic color palette—all pointing to a moment of intellectual awakening, fresh insight, and clear communication.

1692. Une petite ville du Massachusetts sombre dans la paranoïa. Accusations en série, jugements expéditifs, exécutions… Le procès des sorcières de Salem reste l'un des épisodes les plus sombres de l'histoire de la sorcellerie. Quelles étaient les véritables causes de cette hystérie collective ? Qui étaient les victimes et les bourreaux ? Entre superstition, fanatisme religieux et jeux de pouvoir, revivez l'un des procès les plus célèbres de l'histoire.Ouvrez la porte des Mystères avec Arcana Podcast ! Présenté par Ludovic - Arcana ⛎ Soutenir l'émission sur Tipeee : https://www.tipeee.com/arcana-mysteres-du-monde

Welcome to the SHIRO! SHOW! news updates!   This week, we'll be discussing: - Under the Microscope: The Incredible Hulk — The Pantheon Saga - Tokyo Shadow #BestOfSaturn - NEW Stable Release of JoEngine – Saturn Software Development Tool - NEW Powerful Development Tools to Push Sega Saturn's Limits… - Stream Saturn Games via Fenrir WiFi - English Patch for D&D Tower of Doom Nears Completion - SegaXtreme Saturn Homebrew Competition Inches Closer to the Deadline - English Patch for Arcana Strikes Is Out Now Follow us on our social media sites: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlaySegaSaturn Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/playsegasaturn Website: https://www.segasaturnshiro.com/ Buy our merch at: https://segasaturnshiro.threadless.com/ Buy issue #1 of SHIRO Magazine: https://www.segasaturnshiro.com/shiro-magazine/ Support us on our Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/shiromediagroup Join our Discord to discuss translation patches, Saturn obscurities, and all things SEGA Saturn!: https://discord.gg/SSJuThN

Francs-maçons, Illuminati, Prieuré de Sion… Les sociétés secrètes nourrissent depuis des siècles fantasmes et soupçons. Mais où s'arrête l'histoire et où commence la fiction ? Avec Jean-Pierre Monteils, explorons les mécanismes des théories du complot, leur impact sur notre société et la part de vérité derrière ces récits. Entre manipulation, pouvoir et mystères occultes, plongez dans les coulisses de l'ombre.Ouvrez la porte des Mystères avec Arcana Podcast ! Présenté par Ludovic - Arcana ⛎ Soutenir l'émission sur Tipeee : https://www.tipeee.com/arcana-mysteres-du-monde

Créature titanesque surgie des abysses, Léviathan incarne le chaos primordial et la puissance indomptable des océans. Monstre de l'Ancien Testament, symbole du mal ou simple force cosmique ? Redouté par les prophètes et affronté par Dieu lui-même, il hante les textes sacrés et les traditions ésotériques. D'où vient cette entité ? Quel est son véritable rôle dans la mythologie biblique ? Plongez dans les profondeurs du mythe… et affrontez le Léviathan !Ouvrez la porte des Mystères avec Arcana Podcast ! Présenté par Ludovic - Arcana ⛎ Soutenir l'émission sur Tipeee : https://www.tipeee.com/arcana-mysteres-du-monde

Join us as we take a deep, despair-filled dive into Hades, where souls are currency, mercenary fiends run the economy, and even the afterlife has worse working conditions than your last job! Links 2014 Dungeon Master's Guide (affiliate link) 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide (affiliate link) Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (affiliate link) Forgotten Realms Wiki - Hades Pathfinder Wiki - Abaddon RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes Puzzles Summary: In this episode, the hosts explore the intricate structure of Hades, its inhabitants, and the common misconceptions about this infamous plane in Dungeons & Dragons. The discussion covers the different layers, known as glooms, and the City of the Dead, a pivotal location where souls face judgment. The hosts shed light on the Yugaloths, their mercenary nature, and their role in the cosmic structure of the Blood War. The conversation also delves into the eerie nature of Nighthags, their trade in larvae, and the unique existence of daemons in Abaddon. Key locations such as the Wall of the Faithless and the town of Death of Innocence are examined, providing insight into the philosophical and mechanical aspects of these realms. Additionally, the hosts explore Hecate's magical domain, the haunting town of Hopeless, and the nightmares that manifest in physical form. The discussion concludes with an analysis of puzzles and riddles in RPG gameplay, offering tips on how to create engaging and balanced challenges for players. Key Takeaways: Hades and Its Structure: Hades is a bleak yet complex plane, often misrepresented as merely another version of hell. The City of the Dead serves as a place of judgment for mortal souls. Hades consists of multiple layers called glooms, each intensifying in despair. Mortal souls function as currency, reinforcing the grim nature of the plane. The front lines of the Blood War are located in Oinos, the first gloom. The realm imposes exhaustion on visitors, adding a challenging survival element. Portals to Hades are difficult to access and often heavily guarded. Yugaloths and Their Role: Yugaloths are mercenary fiends operating within Hades and other planes. Their hierarchy ranges from lesser to greater forms, each fulfilling specific roles. They embody the worst aspects of capitalism, prioritizing deals and self-interest. Arcana-loths are known for their knowledge but are notoriously untrustworthy. The design and nature of Yugaloths are chaotic, reflecting their unpredictable tendencies. Daemons and Abaddon: Abaddon, a desolate and ominous plane in Pathfinder, is home to daemons. Daemons are formed from the souls of evil mortals and have distinct thematic citadels. Demodans, originally a slave race, rebelled to carve out their own existence. Nighthags trade in larvae, using them in potions and dark dealings. Notable Locations and Lore: The Wall of the Faithless imprisons souls that did not choose a deity, sparking controversy. Death of Innocence is a unique town in Hades that resists the plane's apathy. Hecate's realm is shrouded in mystery and filled with magical elements. Corpus, a city made of living bodies, adds to the plane's disturbing aesthetics. Nightmares physically manifest on the Hill of Bones. The town of Hopeless is devoid of color and emotion, ruled by High Cardinal Thingle and his beholder army. Gameplay Insights: Riddles and puzzles can enhance gameplay but should be carefully balanced. Clear hints are essential to prevent frustration among players. Creativity and clarity are key when designing engaging riddles. The Wishless Well serves as a gateway to Hades, offering narrative opportunities. Imaginative settings and character development are crucial for compelling RPG storytelling. This episode provides a deep dive into the lore of Hades, Yugaloths, and related planes, offering both philosophical musings and practical gameplay insights. Whether crafting a campaign set in these dark realms or incorporating elements of their lore, RPG enthusiasts can gain valuable knowledge from this discussion.

Join us as we take a deep, despair-filled dive into Hades, where souls are currency, mercenary fiends run the economy, and even the afterlife has worse working conditions than your last job! Links 2014 Dungeon Master's Guide (affiliate link) 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide (affiliate link) Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes (affiliate link) Forgotten Realms Wiki - Hades Pathfinder Wiki - Abaddon RPGBOT.Podcast Episodes Puzzles Summary: In this episode, the hosts explore the intricate structure of Hades, its inhabitants, and the common misconceptions about this infamous plane in Dungeons & Dragons. The discussion covers the different layers, known as glooms, and the City of the Dead, a pivotal location where souls face judgment. The hosts shed light on the Yugaloths, their mercenary nature, and their role in the cosmic structure of the Blood War. The conversation also delves into the eerie nature of Nighthags, their trade in larvae, and the unique existence of daemons in Abaddon. Key locations such as the Wall of the Faithless and the town of Death of Innocence are examined, providing insight into the philosophical and mechanical aspects of these realms. Additionally, the hosts explore Hecate's magical domain, the haunting town of Hopeless, and the nightmares that manifest in physical form. The discussion concludes with an analysis of puzzles and riddles in RPG gameplay, offering tips on how to create engaging and balanced challenges for players. Key Takeaways: Hades and Its Structure: Hades is a bleak yet complex plane, often misrepresented as merely another version of hell. The City of the Dead serves as a place of judgment for mortal souls. Hades consists of multiple layers called glooms, each intensifying in despair. Mortal souls function as currency, reinforcing the grim nature of the plane. The front lines of the Blood War are located in Oinos, the first gloom. The realm imposes exhaustion on visitors, adding a challenging survival element. Portals to Hades are difficult to access and often heavily guarded. Yugaloths and Their Role: Yugaloths are mercenary fiends operating within Hades and other planes. Their hierarchy ranges from lesser to greater forms, each fulfilling specific roles. They embody the worst aspects of capitalism, prioritizing deals and self-interest. Arcana-loths are known for their knowledge but are notoriously untrustworthy. The design and nature of Yugaloths are chaotic, reflecting their unpredictable tendencies. Daemons and Abaddon: Abaddon, a desolate and ominous plane in Pathfinder, is home to daemons. Daemons are formed from the souls of evil mortals and have distinct thematic citadels. Demodans, originally a slave race, rebelled to carve out their own existence. Nighthags trade in larvae, using them in potions and dark dealings. Notable Locations and Lore: The Wall of the Faithless imprisons souls that did not choose a deity, sparking controversy. Death of Innocence is a unique town in Hades that resists the plane's apathy. Hecate's realm is shrouded in mystery and filled with magical elements. Corpus, a city made of living bodies, adds to the plane's disturbing aesthetics. Nightmares physically manifest on the Hill of Bones. The town of Hopeless is devoid of color and emotion, ruled by High Cardinal Thingle and his beholder army. Gameplay Insights: Riddles and puzzles can enhance gameplay but should be carefully balanced. Clear hints are essential to prevent frustration among players. Creativity and clarity are key when designing engaging riddles. The Wishless Well serves as a gateway to Hades, offering narrative opportunities. Imaginative settings and character development are crucial for compelling RPG storytelling. This episode provides a deep dive into the lore of Hades, Yugaloths, and related planes, offering both philosophical musings and practical gameplay insights. Whether crafting a campaign set in these dark realms or incorporating elements of their lore, RPG enthusiasts can gain valuable knowledge from this discussion. How to Find Us: In-depth articles, guides, handbooks, reviews, news on Tabletop Role Playing at RPGBOT.net Tyler Kamstra BlueSky: @rpgbot.net TikTok: @RPGBOTDOTNET Ash Ely Professional Game Master on StartPlaying.Games BlueSky: @GravenAshes YouTube: @ashravenmedia Randall James BlueSky: @GrimoireRPG Amateurjack.com Read Melancon: A Grimoire Tale (affiliate link) Producer Dan @Lzr_illuminati

We discuss the latest round of game pass games we played! The 001 Radio Gamescast is our weekly podcasts where a group of game developers and artists talk about a variety of different topics, ranging from current news to games and entertainment. If you'd rather listen to the show on your favorite podcast platform, check us out on the platform of your choice. 001 Radio Gamescast airs on Tuesdays at 7 PM EST, though occasionally episodes may air at different times in the week. Links: www.twitch.tv/megamatchanchor.fm/001radiohttps://www.youtube.com/@001RadioAbout the HostsAll of us have been involved in the game industry in the past, primarily as artists and designers. Ryan currently works at Blizzard on Diablo IV as a game designer. Opinions are our own.

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Gary Wayne re-enters the Garden to discuss The Watchers, Demons and The Four Horsemen of the apolcalypse. In this discussion, he ties in the Annunaki, the Igigi, Titans and Olympians, and many other beings and figures of myth and history. What is a demon? Who is Satan? Why are there more Satans? This forces us to describe the different kinds of Angels, which leads to the Horsemen. I can't do justice to the scope of this discussion in my description. You'll need to listen.

Buy Hexen 2.0 Tarot and the forthcoming Hexen 5.0 Tarot: https://cosmogenesis.worldPreview Hexen 5.0's: new images: https://www.suzannetreister.net/HEXEN_5/HEXEN5.htmlLars Bang Larson's Essay: https://www.suzannetreister.net/HEXEN2/HEXEN_2_LBLessay.htmlNote: if you were watching the tarot deck flip through on YouTube, you are seeing the Hexen 2.0 deck.About the new deck:HEXEN 5.0, an update of HEXEN 2.0 (2011), presents a critical, historical and mystical exploration of new global developments in terrestrial and interplanetary technologies, science and communications, corporate and governmental forces, the ecosystem and climate crisis, recent and traditional fields of knowledge and spirituality, new branches of bio/socio/political theory, contemporary countercultural and futuristic movements, new directions in science-fiction, and proposed possible solutions for an ethical survival of the human race.The visual structure of the works is largely based on alchemical drawings of the 13th - 18th centuries, entwining these subjects into a holistic mystical space where they become differently animated and resonant. In alchemical drawings, science, art and religion/spirituality co-exist, echoing the recently converging fields illuminated in some of the cards, such as Spiritual Ecology, Nexus thinking and Earth System Science, fields which may lead to better solutions for the climate crisis and to returning the planet towards a self-regulating system.Where HEXEN 2.0 analysed the legacy of cybernetics as embodied in Web 2.0 and systems of control, showing how Web 2.0 works as a societal controlling system, HEXEN 5.0 traces cybernetics' relevance to whole earth systems and how the cybernetic self-regulating feedback loops of the planetary ecosystem, which we have sent out of whack, need to be addressed through an understanding of the workings of the total global ecosystem. This is embodied in the aims of Earth System Science and potentially in an even more holistic system incorporating traditional knowledges and spirituality.The published deck of tarot cards is intended to be used as a tool for groups to discuss and envision positive alternative futures and may be used in conjunction with HEXEN 2.0 Tarot deck.Support the showSupport the podcast:https://www.acidhorizonpodcast.com/Linktree: https://linktr.ee/acidhorizonAcid Horizon on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/acidhorizonpodcastJoin The Schizoanalysis Project: https://discord.gg/4WtaXG3QxnSubscribe to us on your favorite podcast: https://pod.link/1512615438Merch: http://www.crit-drip.comSubscribe to us on your favorite podcast: https://pod.link/1512615438 LEPHT HAND: https://www.patreon.com/LEPHTHANDHappy Hour at Hippel's (Adam's blog): https://happyhourathippels.wordpress.com​Revolting Bodies (Will's Blog): https://revoltingbodies.com​Split Infinities (Craig's Substack): https://splitinfinities.substack.com/​Music: https://sereptie.bandcamp.com/ and https://thecominginsurrection.bandcamp.com/

The seven of wands shows us a young man standing on a hill that ends in a cliff, and what seem to be stick-wielding assailants are coming at him. He doesn't have anywhere to go, as he has been backed into a corner. His only choice now is to stand and fight. The 7 of Wands shows us when we are forced into a position, or forced to make a choice. We are under pressure, or we are put upon by others. This is a card of open conflict, but there is not a fight yet — just the threat of implied violence. All too often the threat of implied violence is enough to make most people behave or acquiesce to our demands. But in this case, this young man has chosen to stand and fight. He doesn't look prepared. He is wearing mismatching shoes. No one knows if this was one of the many accidents pam made in drawing the art — as she said her self that she was underpaid and rushed to completion. But to be fair, Art only wanted the “major” Arcana scene-illustrated, so in some ways she just went over budget — but the fact that she did changed history, and it is too bad how her story played out. But back to this guy . . . in the 7 of Wands we see implied conflict. We are experiencing peer pressure, whether it is an open mob or conversion therapy. We are being hunted, punished, or shamed for not going along with the “group think.” We may have earned this ire (we insulted someone, or we we a menace to society), or this could be any one of the countless cases of being wrongly accused of an action or belief we never took part in.  The seven of Wands doesn't tell us “why” or “what” — it only shows us the consequences of previous actions or general unpopularity. To fully understand this card in a spread we need to know the context in which we are reading. We need to have a question this card answers, or we need other cards that *do* state what happened, and how we go to this place.  Lastly, if this card is the very last card and indicates the final outcome, it implies that someone is getting their comeuppance (whether that is deserved or not), but without another card that shows “how that Tuens out,” it leaves us to believe that justice served is enough information, and that we should ask no more. 

The seven of wands shows us a young man standing on a hill that ends in a cliff, and what seem to be stick-wielding assailants are coming at him. He doesn't have anywhere to go, as he has been backed into a corner. His only choice now is to stand and fight.The 7 of Wands shows us when we are forced into a position, or forced to make a choice. We are under pressure, or we are put upon by others. This is a card of open conflict, but there is not a fight yet — just the threat of implied violence. All too often the threat of implied violence is enough to make most people behave or acquiesce to our demands. But in this case, this young man has chosen to stand and fight.He doesn't look prepared. He is wearing mismatching shoes. No one knows if this was one of the many accidents pam made in drawing the art — as she said her self that she was underpaid and rushed to completion. But to be fair, Art only wanted the “major” Arcana scene-illustrated, so in some ways she just went over budget — but the fact that she did changed history, and it is too bad how her story played out.But back to this guy . . . in the 7 of Wands we see implied conflict. We are experiencing peer pressure, whether it is an open mob or conversion therapy. We are being hunted, punished, or shamed for not going along with the “group think.” We may have earned this ire (we insulted someone, or we we a menace to society), or this could be any one of the countless cases of being wrongly accused of an action or belief we never took part in. The seven of Wands doesn't tell us “why” or “what” — it only shows us the consequences of previous actions or general unpopularity. To fully understand this card in a spread we need to know the context in which we are reading. We need to have a question this card answers, or we need other cards that *do* state what happened, and how we go to this place. Lastly, if this card is the very last card and indicates the final outcome, it implies that someone is getting their comeuppance (whether that is deserved or not), but without another card that shows “how that Tuens out,” it leaves us to believe that justice served is enough information, and that we should ask no more. 

On today's show, we're chatting with Dr. Kimberly McGlonn, an award-winning social entrepreneur, working at the intersections of social justice and environmentalism. You might know her as the founder & CEO of Grant Blvd, and now Blk Ivy, which is a Philadelphia-based secondhand store that specializes in cultural artifacts celebrating the aesthetics and work of the Civil Rights movement. Her work has been featured by Fast Company, Inc Magazine, Essence, and has been funded by Beyonce's BeyGood Foundation. In 2022 she was a recipient of the Visa's “She's Next in Fashion Award” and the Black Enterprise “Business Disruptor of the Year” award, and ultimately, her goal is to inspire others to see the power of fashion as and for activism. This episode was indeed inspiring – and rich with history! – and Kimberly even gave us a little preview into her latest book. I'll let her tell you the whole story. I think you're gonna love it –  so let's dive right in!  DISCUSSED IN THE EPISODE: [3:40] Kimberly loved the 90s style she grew up in, but got hooked on vintage through a 1960s dress found in Chicago. [6:22] Her professional career started as a public school teacher, and she has always been an educator. [7:28] Her social entrepreneur initiative in fashion was Grant Blvd. [11:25] Learning about Black Ivy style. [16:29] The rich history of Sunday best as an aesthetic of the Civil Rights movement. [22:50] A lot of research went into telling the story of the clothing sold in Blk Ivy. [25:07] How the space at Blk Ivy Thrift is used for present day social justice work.  [27:04] Kimberly's book, Build It Boldly  EPISODE MENTIONS:  Blk Ivy Thrift @blkivythrift Build It Boldly (book) Netflix documentary, 13th I Called Him Morgan Black Ivy (book) Arcana bookstore in LA Take Ivy King in the Wilderness documentary Angela Davis Unbought and Unbossed by Shirley Chisolm The music of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan and Sam Cooke LET'S CONNECT: 

Welcome to the SHIRO! SHOW! news updates! This week, we'll be discussing: - Princess Crown Translation Update: eadmaster Releases Version 0.8 - Under the Microscope: Actua Golf & Virtual Golf - Dragon Force #BestOfSaturnGold - Arcana Strikes English Translation Patch Nears Completion - Nova Saturn Emulator Updated to Version 0.7 Follow us on our social media sites: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PlaySegaSaturn Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/playsegasaturn Website: https://www.segasaturnshiro.com/ Buy our merch at: https://segasaturnshiro.threadless.com/ Buy issue #1 of SHIRO Magazine: https://www.segasaturnshiro.com/shiro-magazine/ Support us on our Patreon at: https://www.patreon.com/shiromediagroup Join our Discord to discuss translation patches, Saturn obscurities, and all things SEGA Saturn!: https://discord.gg/SSJuThN

This week we kick off with some retro news in the MiSter FPGA world and the N64 Core, followed by the YUZU drama - then we jump into our topic as we highlight some hidden gems and compare them to similar well known games in the 16 Bit era of RPGs. From Secret of Mana and Earthbound - to Arcana and Twisted Tales of Spike McFang - This is Retro Rehab.CREDITS Aaron

In this episode of Wildly Tarot Podcast, Ettie teams up with the amazing Meg (@3am.tarot) to share a candid and heartfelt chat about growing up amidst Christian fundamentalism and their shared trauma of being raised in that culture. Together, they unpack how those experiences shaped their paths to self discovery and their relationship with tarot. Especially with the Devil card. The listener question this week comes from Greg, who is looking for guidance on reconnecting with their distant partner. Meg's talen in creating spreads on the fly is unmatched as they build a reading to help support Greg as he works on communicating with his partner. The deck of the week is the Starlore Arcana by Nitasia Roland with the mass market edition published by Weiser Books . This is a cartomacy-oracle deck with antique celestial vibes based on constellation illustrations from the early 1700s. (Ettie and Meg compare Indie and Mass Market editions of the deck.) Follow Meg on Instagram and check out their website to gain access to their Newsletter, and check out their podcast, Card Talk, for bite sized tarot learning!  Follow Ettie on Instagram and buy a personal reading from them in the Wildly Tarot Shop, and for bonus content support the podcast on Patreon!

We are featuring a feed drop from a brilliant show on the RQ Network: Planet Arcana. Created by the talented J Strautman and B Marsollier. Planet Arcana is a science fantasy audio fiction, presented by two game runners, and built through a D&D 5e framework. The show will appeal to fans of actual play and audio drama alike. The world of Planet Arcana is rife with mystery, intrigue and crime and no answer is ever straightforward. What really happened at the Riskotheque casino? Who's been stealing Android organs? And why? 4000 years after a calamity known as the Big Oops, the world of Planet Arcana is a place of humans and androids, neon metropolises, sunken cities, phenomenal parties, paranormal oddities, and a pantheon of Major Arcana. An influencer, a drug dealer, and a cowboy walk into a casino, then into a vast mystery of science, magic, and Tarot-inspired gods. Three Fools on a simple quest to find a key, and open a box. Introduction and outro by Lowri Ann Davies. Listen to Planet Arcana on The Rusty Quill website, on Acast, or wherever you get your podcasts, or learn more about Planet Arcana on its official website. If you want to support planet arcana and its creators, until November 15th, at 10 PM PST head to www.rustyquill.com/foolserrand For ad-free and early access episodes and exclusive bonus content you can join their Patreon at Patreon.com/planetarcana Credits: Co-Creators & DMs J Strautman and B Marsollier Performed By J Strautman, B Marsollier, Peter Marsollier, Shaun Oldfield, and Skye Wallace Editing, original music, and sound design by J Strautman Sound effects from Nikko Hunt's Cinematic Sound Pack [https://nikkohunt.gumroad.com/l/dpclP] used, under CC by 4.0 [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode]. Pitch modified lower from the original Content warnings: swearing, violence, drug use. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.