The trees were still and silent as the dark clouds appeared.
Their branches and leaves slowly tensing against its approach.
The air was charged with electricity.
The ground trembled with anticipation.
Within the roots of the trees, they sent signs, signals, and messages.
The dance, the dance—the dance has come.
The dark clouds, black as pitch, rolled steadily nearer, the winds swirling around the trunks,
Through the branches.
In the distance, a flicker of light…and then a deep drumming in the air.
The music, the trees thought, the music of the dance.
The winds rose quickly now, the pounding in the air more demanding and chaotic.
The leaves on the branches began the dance, to and fro they moved.
The flashes of light came more quickly now, the following boom nearer.
The branches danced in the tumultuous winds, the leaves laughing and lilting.
The trees swayed, and the Dance began.
The Heavens opened and the waters of the sky fell to the Earth.
For hours, the trees danced to the Heaven’s music, drinking their fill of the sky’s watery gift.
Throughout the forest, the trees laughed and cried together, as they swayed to the winds and waters.
Then, as slowly as it came, so too did it depart.
The black clouds rolled past, and the rain stilled.
The dance slowed to a stand still once more.
The leaves were silent and unmoving, the branches stoic and poised. Unmoving.
Yet, deep within the hearts of the spirits,
The forest spirits knew of the dance once more,
And they rejoiced in the knowledge of its arrival once more.
For the dance goes ever on and on,
And the forest would forever be there watching—and ready.
For truly, the dance…
Had only just begun.
(transition music)
Grand tidings and welcome to you on this, the TWENTY-FIFTH EPISODE of Beyond the Seas. My name is Kieran and guess what, milestone achieved. Twenty-Five episodes, can you believe it? The podcast is, I believe, officially six months-ish old…and we are on a heck of a roll. WOW! So happy to be here and so happy to have you all with me. My dear good podcast friend, Swailes, The Bell Witch Podcast, who has an incredible show, reached out via Instagram to alert me to some FANTASTIC news: my podcast is trending on the charts in Great Britain. You guys! We have a trending show! You and me, but mostly you—I’m just the lucly guy who gets to record and chat about what he loves. All of YOU have made this show the success it is, and it’s only been six months. I am so, so—as Swailes says—chuffed. Ergo, let me round out this first paragraph with the usual plugs: @beyondtheseaspodcast on Instagram, as it is my goal to reach 250 followers by the Summer Solstice—for a celebratory giveaway as a result. And Claudia’s Insta, @thefeatherwitchnyc. And feel free to email me your reviews, ideas, feelings, responses, and future podcast topics to me: beyondtheseaspodcast@gmail.com. I cannot wait to hear from you all and thank you a million for being here with me today.
And now, artistic and literary updates! So, y’all, I have traveled once more. I’m all the way back home again in Indianapolis. Rehearsals have started up already for Actors Theatre of Indiana’s upcoming production of Forbidden Broadway—and I cannot believe we open in about two weeks. There are so many words this go around and I am slowly but surely wrapping my head around all of them. If you are in the Midwest area, buy your tickets now to Forbidden Broadway, over at atistage.org. This one features the most powerhouse cast I have been a part of here and I am so excited about it. And in terms of reading, I have about one hundred pages left of Charles de Lint’s The Little Country. What a fantastic book! It reads like a fantasy thriller: and the best part is, it is eseentially two stories in one. So many wonderful tales of a small town in Cornwall, all centered around a mysterious book that one of our main characters, Janey, happens upon in her grandfather’s house. And from this book, comes a delight of stories and myths, including the ethereal realm of the piskies—known as the Barrow World. Complete with standing stones, dolmens, secret occult societies, action, a few adult-themed moments in a hotel room, and cups of tea and cream custards, it is sure to be one of the most delightful reads of your year. Maybe I’ll start a witches’ monthly reading circle, online? Does that sound like a fun idea to you all? Hmmmmm.
And now, the Card of the Week! So, because of the Solar Eclipse literally causing chaos and standstill and “what the fuck is going on” energies throughout the continental United States, we felt it might be a good idea to hold off on the pulling of the Card of the Week until next week—so we may revel in the energies swirling around us that are already natural and etheric, and not introduce something that might disrupt that. So enjoy the energies of the Sun and Moon meeting together in the sky—and know that the Cards are waiting for us all next week. If anything, after what, eight or ten weeks of pulling cards, let us turn our attention this week to ourselves. What card, that we have discussed so far, would you want to represent you this week? Which one do you resonate the most with, given the events and moods of your days thus far? What energies do you seek or desire to manifest in the weeks to come? Envision this week’s card as you and you’re off to a great start.
And now, the Wine of the Week! Being back in the Midwest, I love to make money and save money. Ha! That comes as a result of how I was raised. And what I love to do is explore affordable wines that pack a heck of a delicious punch—and the good ol’, tried and true, Bota Box is no stranger to such a challenge. Much like the Carlo Rossi reviews I gave a few months ago, I can hear some of you groaning right now and going, “Oh Jesus, a boxed wine from this guy?” Now, I have no qualms against a boxed wine—they are affordable, packa bang for your buck, and get the job done—and if you choose the right one, and then some. Ergo, this week I want to review Bota Box’s upper scale edition of RedVolution. It is CHERRY, CHERRY, CHERRY. Wow, so much cherry. It is definitely a red blend, and it reminds me so much of a cab sav, but it’s not a cab sav. It has a full body, but a flavor profile of a Pinot Noir or a Merlot. It is one of the strangest wines I have yet to taste, and it makes me think of two words: hybrid and bioengineered. Regardless, it still gets the job done—and then some. It makes me think of stormy summer nights, and the talks you have with your parents that venture into political debates and 401K agreements. Pair it with leftover pizza, potato salads, roasted pink salmon, sour salads, green onions, and peanut butter M&Ms.
And finally, this week’s topic. I sat at my laptop wondering what this milestone episode was going to be and how best to approach it. I was brainstorming topics and ideas to discuss on the podcast and I wrote a few titles down…and the last one I wrote, was inspired by the rain and thunder flashing and crashing around me at the time. Ergo, today, as our 25th foray into the World of the Unseen, let us explore the power and might of Thunder, Lightning, and Rain. Who are the Gods and spirits that rule these titanic forces? What stories and legends surround these atmospheric events? In magick, how do we work with, gather, and honor the forces gifted to us when these storms roll in? And why should we practice storm magick today?
For now, grab your favorite bottle of red, find a comfy chair, and close your eyes as I tell you the tale of Flash of Lightning, Crash of Thunder—and take you…
Beyond the Seas.
(transition music)
As I write this, I sit on the porch of my ancestors, on a swing that is held by a house more than a century old. It sits on land that has been owned and cared for by my family and ancestors for that time and more. And from the west, roll in dark, black, ominous clouds. The wind grows silent and still, then cold and whistling. The storm wall is seen on the horizon. The birds grow ever quieter. The trees stand still. And far off in the distance, I hear the boom of thunder, long after the flash of lightning.
Storms have existed on this planet for literally billions of years. Scientifically, we experience these storms and aerial phenomena when the weather is warm and humid. From the SciJinks website, we read that “Lightning begins as static charges in a rain cloud. Winds inside the cloud are very turbulent. Water droplets in the bottom part of the cloud are caught in the updrafts and lifted to great heights where the much colder atmosphere freezes them. Meanwhile, downdrafts in the cloud push ice and hail down from the top of the cloud. Where the ice going down meets the water coming up, electrons are stripped off.
It's a little more complicated than that, but what results is a cloud with a negatively charged bottom and a positively charged top. These electrical fields become incredibly strong, with the atmosphere acting as an insulator between them in the cloud.
When the strength of the charge overpowers the insulating properties of the atmosphere…lightning happens.
In terms of thunder, “…In a fraction of a second, lightning heats the air around it to incredible temperatures—as hot as 54,000 °F (30,000 °C). That's five times hotter than the surface of the Sun!
The heated air expands explosively, creating a shockwave as the surrounding air is rapidly compressed. The air then contracts rapidly as it cools. This creates an initial CRACK sound, followed by rumbles as the column of air continues to vibrate.”
So here, folks, is where we see the relationship among the elements. Here, we have air, fire, and water comingling in the atmosphere to create this spectacular show. The air is charged with the fires of electricity, creating the polarity of positive and negative charges. Then, the heating of the air with fire causes the resounding crash and boom of thunder. As these elements relate, so too do their efforts and effects fall down upon the earth and the beings who live there. And our spirits, as a result, experience a whole range of emotion: fear, awe, surprise, shock, anticipation, exultation, and power.
Lightning and thunder are clearly here to stay. And what intrigues us all about their existence, to this day, is the magick behind them. The stories our ancestors passed down throughout the generations tell of their origins in many cultures, places and times. The following comes from the Gateway Africa website, and recounts the tale of Lighting Son and Mother Thunder.
“A long time ago, both Thunder and Lightning lived among the people on this earth.
“Thunder was a mother sheep and Lightning was her son, a ram.
“Neither one was very popular with the people, for when somebody offended Lightning, he would fly into a furious rage and begin burning whatever he came across. This often included huts and corn bins, and even large trees.
“Sometimes he damaged crops on the farms with his fire, and occasionally he killed people who got in his way.
“As soon as Thunder knew her son was behaving this way, she would raise her voice and shout at him as loudly as she could, and that was very loud indeed.
“Naturally the neighbours were very upset, first at the damage caused by Lightning and then by the unbearable noise from his mother that always followed his outbursts.
“The villagers complained to the king on many occasions, until at last he sent the two of them to live at the very edge of the village, and said that they must not come and mix with the people any more.
“However, this did no good, since Lightning could still see people as they walked about the village streets, and so found it only too easy to continue picking quarrels with them.
“At last the king sent for them again. "I have given you many chances to live a better life," he said, "but I can see that it is useless. From now on, you must go away from our village and live in the wild bush. We do not want to see your faces here again."
“Thunder and Lightning had to obey the king, and agree to abide by his ruling; so they left the village, angry at its inhabitants.
“But still there was plenty of trouble in store for the villagers, since Lightning was so angry at being banished that he now set fire to the whole bush, and since it was the dry season this was extremely unfortunate.
“The flames spread to the little farms of the people, and sometimes to their houses as well, so that they were in despair again.
“They often heard the mother 's mighty voice calling her son to order, but, since it was always after the fact, it made very little difference in his actions.
“The king called all his counsellors together and asked them to advise him, and after much debate they hit on a plan.
“Why not banish Thunder and Lightning completely away from the earth, and send them to live in the sky.
“And so the king proclaimed this order.
“Thunder and Lightning were sent away into the sky, where the people hoped they would not be able to do any more damage.
“Things did not work out quite as well as they had hoped, however, for Lightning still loses his temper from time to time and cannot resist sending fire down to the earth when he is angry.
“Then you can hear his mother rebuking him in her loud rumbling voice.”
To continue our exploration into the mythology and folklore behind these phenomena, let us turn our attention to North America, and the stories of the indigenous peoples. The tribes tell of the Thunderbird, and its immense power and stature. From the Hoh and Quileute tribes, we hear that “When it is stormy weather the thunderbird flies through the skies. He is of monstrous size. When he opens and shut his eyes, he makes the lightning. The flapping of his wings makes the thunder and the great winds. Thunderbird keeps his meat in a dark hole under the glacier at the foot of the Olympic glacial field. This is his home. When he moves about in there, he makes the noise there under the ice.”
Here is an interesting tale from the Quileute tribe. “A man was living at Beaver Prairie. He was an elk hunter. He went off hunting very early one morning, but soon he came back. He told the people, "I saw a very big bird sitting just a little way above the ground in a tree. That was thunderbird. Here is a feather that I took from Thunderbird's wing." The feather was as long as a canoe paddle. He had had to bend it in order to put it into his arrow quiver when he brought it home with him. After he showed the feather to the people, he said, ‘I also saw a very big whale on the prairie. It had been carried there by thunderbird. Thunderbird was resting in the tree, because Whale was so heavy.’
“The man sent word to all the Quileute people living at the mouth of the river. "Come up! We will cut up Whale. He is so large that thunderbird cannot carry him further." All the beach and river Indians came at once to the prairie. There were from three to six people in each whaling canoe. They came to cut up the whale. When they reached that place, Whale was lying there dead in the lower part of the prairie. It was just as that man had said. The people began to measure off the parts each wanted. One family took the saddle. Another family took the head. In this fashion they divided the whole whale. By evening they had it all cut in pieces. All over the ground, pieces of blubber were piled. It was evening. The people were hungry. They cooked some of the whale meat and ate it. It tasted all right. It was good to eat.
“It got dark and the clouds overhead became very black. Thunderbird was coming back. He was very angry because the people had stolen his food. Lightning flashed from his eyes. It began to rain a little, not so much at first. Then the rain changed to hail. The hail was larger than a man's fist. It killed and mangled all the people there on the prairie Thunderbird was very angry with those people, because they had taken the whale. After the storm all those people were turned into stone. All the meat and blubber that they had piled there was turned into stone. Thus, a ridge was made of great rock blocks from one end of the prairie to the other. The ridge is still there today. Even Whale's ribs and his great head may still be seen.”
Now, before our break, I am sure all of you are wondering the following: there must be a list of deities, gods, and spirits that rule and reside within the storm, that cause the thunder and lightning? Well, you smart pants you, of course there are! Here is a compiled list of those we already know: Zeus, Thor, Thunderbird, Posideon (toa degree), Freyr, and even Christ himself—as he quelled the waves and weather when he walked on water to save the drowning man. Here is a list of gods that are lesser known, but still as powerful: Lei Gong, a Daoist deity, that punishes humans who misuse secret knowledge or spirits that misuse Daoist principles and wisdom against humans. Tāwhirimātea, the Maori god of weather. He rules the seas, rains, lightning, and thunders—and casts dread and favor upon those who choose good or ill actions in their lives. Indra, the Hindu god of rain, weather, thunder, and lightning: he is the most revered god in the Rigveda and holds a special place of high regard among all Hindus today. Tezcatlipoca, the Mayan god of hurricanes and rain. He ruled over the harsh storms of the jungle and punished those who committed acts of wrongdoing—and protected those who sought justice and might in the world, by sheltering them beneath the jungles safe branches and trees. And finally, Taranis, the Celtic god of Thunder. He is primarily a Gaulish god, hailing from the northern France and Spain area, before the Roman conquest. Taranis thundered across the night sky, allowing the Celts to revere the skies and storms as the seasons changed from Spring to Summer, and back again. If not for the Romans, we very well may all be worshipping Taranis—and the other gods—today.
Refill your drinking horns, your goblets, your chalices, for the second half of Flash of Lightning, Crash of thunder, after this brief break.
(transition music)
Not too long ago, I was visiting family in the Midwest when the forecast called for a huge thunderstorm to roll in. A massive one. Think damaging winds, heavy rainfall, flooding, and immediate sense of danger if close by anything metal. So naturally, I felt the urge to go outside at its peak. Call me crazy, but that is exactly what I did: as the storm approached on the horizon, and the skies darkened, the wind slowly stilled until picking up once more—a biting chill on its breath. The trees began their dance in the winds and the humidity intensified as the first drops of rain fell to the earth. The lighting flashed and the thunder boomed. Then, it was almost as black as night—the intensity of the storm was epic. That is when I opened the door and went outside, hearing the warnings and surprised shock come from my family members inside—and was immediately drenched.
I remember being cold—and very wet. But the winds, strong as they were, did not endanger me…they comforted me. Supported me. The lighting lit up the sky above me, showing intricate patterns and shapes that foretold the future. I saw faces and images, signs and symbols. The crashing of the thunder around me shook the ground and I felt the spirits of the trees around me almost sing in a ululating praise. I lifted my arms to the heavens and just let go of whatever had been sitting with me in that moment, or rather leading up to that moment. And still my family yelled at me from the doorway, urging me to come back into safety. But still I prayed to the Ancestors and the Old Ones in that storm—and felt so calm, so still, and so peaceful. That is what I found the most magickal: in the storm—amongst all the moments and energies of chaos—there is a profound sense of wonder, stillness, and silence. The eye. The one. The All. And if you tap into that, there is no telling where you might be swept off to, as I find any moment to insert that famous quote, or what you might conjure as a result.
Ergo, Weather Magick—specifically Storm Magick—is rife with folklore and methodologies of conjuration, manipulation, change, and destruction. It is exactly like magick itself: completely neutral. It is neither good nor evil, but simply is. Now, let us briefly take a look into the ethics and morals behind Weather magick itself. Some say that conjuring the winds or summoning rain—even averting certain weather phenomena to another part of the planet—is inherently wrong. For, if one thinks about it, you see how you either take those weather patterns needed elsewhere away from those areas, or you banish weather patterns to areas that are not in need of them. You may, inadvertently, create chaos, destruction, and a series of events that will cause more harm than good. However, if the need for rain or wind is strong enough in your area—like a drought, for instance—is it wise to summon rain? To feed the crops, plants, and life in your area, so as not to wither and perish? These are the conundrums one faces when dealing with the weather, and I dare say these thoughts and insights will be here for long after.
If you do decide, however, to conjure and work with weather magick, there are a number of things and workings that I find powerful and applicable today. The first is what I like to think of as Harnessing the Winds. If you venture forth outside, during a powerful storm with high winds, take with you a strong piece of rope, or several multi-colored ribbons. Hold them forth into the winds, seeing the energies of the air flowing into the material in your hands. Then, beginning at the top of the cord or cords, tie nine knots down its length, envisioning the winds and their energies literally knotted into your material. This is the Harnessing of the Winds, to unleash in the future when you the practitioner has need of them. It may be to help drive away negativity, or banish evils or unwantedness from your life. To do so, simply untie the knots—beginning at the bottom—and envision the winds sailing forth around you once more, free and unbound. This act will help you dispel the evils in your life, and make room for the positive and magickal.
To conjure a storm, acquire a clear quartz crystal that has been shaped into a pyramid. Hold it in your hand for a few moments, gazing into its icy interiors. Here are the clouds and waters that are inherent with the stone itself, that will soon manifest in the skies and air. When ready, step outside, and find a place of solitude and quiet. Then, with the base of the crystal held between your palms, with the tip of the pyramid pointing down to the earth, envision dark clouds rolling into the area around you, filling the sky, and suffusing your home with lightning and thunder. Chant the following words, for as long as you may need: “Pyramid of mystical form, conjure from the sky a storm. Thunder rumble, cold wind wail, fall to Earth the rain and hail.” Now, I did find this particular working from a book—and its reference has long since disappeared—so please know this these words are not my own. Blessed be to the practitioner who came up with them.
If you find your home and area surrounded by a particularly powerful storm, allow yourself the opportunity to conjure the storm within. This working is meant to instill not only a sense of power and courage, but also a strong amount of banishment and protection. When the peak of the storm is over your home, venture forth outside—for it is with bravery and courage that you must face the elements, physically and emotionally. As you feel the rain and winds bash your body with their power, close your eyes and raise your arms to the heavens. Envision the storm’s energies flowing around you—and ultimately into you. These energies comingle with your own, first banishing all that holds you back, to make room for the power and courage that is the storm. See the dark shadows of whatever ills and blocks hold you back disappear—and the vacant space is now suffused with an actual storm inside your spirit. This storm is a new source of inspiration, courage, and bravery within you—living in your spirit until you have need of it. Then, once you do, see its energies infuse the all that is you, your entire body, and feel its power course through your veins. Then, when needed, repeat the working again to conjure another storm within your spirit.
Cleanse, consecrate, and empower your working tools beneath the flashing lightning and booming thunder. If they are able to contact water, take them outside and allow the storm’s energies to cleanse the energies around them and infuse them with the elements of the weather. Otherwise, place them next to a window that looks upon the storm and visualize its energies flowing into and around your tools, first cleansing them and then empowering them. This energy, much like that of the full moon, works to a potent degree—and contains strong ties of protection, banishment, courage, bravery, and might.
Collect storm water and rain water to use in rites of warding, turning, protection, cleansing, empowerment, intuition, and divination. If there is strife in the home, and its occupants tend towards argument and loud fights, collect storm water and sprinkle in the corners of each room. This will allow the space to rid itself of the toxic negativity and invite in a strong amount of cleansing and sweeping away of the old. This rain water is also holy, in and of itself: as a gift from the heavens, it contains the energies of the sky and the gods who dwell there. Use it in blessings of all kinds, purification of the body and spirit, and attraction of good will and love into your life. Gift it to a dear friend, when they have need of magick in their lives.
For overall, folks, storms, storm magick, and weather magick remind us all of the following: we each deal with our own metaphorical inner storms. There is much lightning and thunder that lives in each of us, in our hearts and minds and spirits. Whether caused from trauma or daily experiences at work—even relationships in the home or to a particular place—there may exist a bombardment of emotions within the psyche that dictates a need for change, cleansing, and renewal. Allow yourself to feel this need and desire, and conduct a working of weather magick and storm magick to aid you in quelling and healing these inner storms.
For when we face the lightning and thunder within, we see and know them for what they truly are: nothing more than mirrors of our fear and anxieties, and hopes for our future. They are two in one, one and the same. And the lifting of the shadow of ego and fear reveals light, hope, and success.
For that is what the storm is: shadow into light, destruction into creation.
The Way that is Path Back and Forward.
The winds sweep away the old.
The rains wash away the sour.
The lighting illuminates the blockage.
The thunder cracks the foundation of our fears.
And our spirit guides our way to healing, fruition, and rejuvenation.
For as the trees, leaves, branches, and spirits know the Dance,
So too will we once more.
So may we venture forth into the wild,
Underneath the black-clouded sky.
For there is where we may lift our arms to the heavens,
And feel the elements enwrap our body in love and support.
And once we are washed clean once more,
We will open our eyes in the peak of the dance,
To know that, deep within our hearts and spirits,
Our magick will always be made stronger…
Because of it.
(transition music)
The stories, research, and production elements were done and edited, respectively, by me, Kieran, with sources attached in the description. If you want to be a guest on the show, or have a topic you wish me to explore and discuss, send me an email at beyondtheseaspodcast@gmail.com. And be sure to hit the follow button, on whichever platform you enjoy the podcast, and look forward to more content next week. Until then, seek the veil between the worlds, and allow yourself to travel…Beyond the Seas.