In this episode of The Sacred Places Podcast, I’m joined by animist practitioner, scholar, and author Vanessa Lavallee for a deep conversation about the true roots of ancient magic and what it means to decolonize our spiritual practices today.

Vanessa is currently working toward a doctorate in religious studies, and her work is driven by a passion for understanding where magical traditions began, how they were shared across cultures, and why they have survived for so long. Together, we explore the origins of practices many of us recognize, including how casting a circle can be traced back to Mesopotamia, and how ancient texts often described the stars themselves as divine beings.

We talk about how ancient people traveled and exchanged ideas more than modern scholarship often acknowledges, and how this movement shaped spiritual traditions across regions. Our conversation also explores the emotional worlds of ancient texts—fear, suffering, devotion, and the question of “why me?”—and what these stories reveal about the continuity of human experience.

This episode also ventures into topics that challenge and expand modern spiritual frameworks, including demons, the influence of ancient goddesses like Inanna, and the importance of holding both academic rigor and open-minded wonder. We reflect on how fantasy, mythology, and modern storytelling (from ancient epics to The Lord of the Rings) continue to echo these timeless archetypes.

Above all, this conversation is an invitation to study more deeply, question more carefully, and approach ancient magic with respect, curiosity, and humility.

Learn more about Vanessa and her work at vanessalavallee.com.

✨ If this episode resonates, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who loves sacred history and living magic.

Order my books to support me and support your connection with the land! https://www.seekingnumina.com/publishedworks

Subscribe to Seeking Numina with Elyse Welles on YouTube for video versions of ALL episodes sharing footage of the places and topics discussed.

To learn more about my upcoming retreats to sacred places in Greece and beyond, or learn with me in workshops, classes, or mentorship, visit seekingnumina.com.

Support Seeking Numina on Patreon for a library of 300+ rituals, meditaitons, exclusive videos, and more, + opportunities for free tarot readings and discounts on ALL classes and retreats. Visit patreon.com/elysewelles

This podcast episode was edited by Jordan, a cohost from The Astro Study Room. Book an astrology consultation with her to learn more about your soul's path in this lifetime!

Music: Tribal Wind - SergePavkinMusic
Music Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWe5Z7qISMQ

In Part 2 of my conversation with spiritual teacher, author, and psychologist Philip Carr-Gomm, we step fully into the sacred landscape of Sussex and explore what it means to walk the land as a pilgrim.

This episode centers on Philip’s book The Long Man and Friends: Sacred Sussex and the deeper questions it raises: how to share sacred places without turning them into something to be consumed, how to honor land without exploiting it, and how to listen when a place calls you to walk it. Philip shares the powerful story of how, after the death of his mentor, the land itself asked him to go on pilgrimage and walk the Long Man.

Together, we reflect on what pilgrimage truly is. It's not a checklist or a destination, but a relationship with place, memory, and meaning. Philip also shares a story from one of his most recent pilgrimages, and we explore lesser-known moments in British history connected to pilgrimage, including surprising truths from the time of Henry VIII.

For those who feel drawn to Sussex, Philip offers gentle, insider guidance on where to begin a sacred journey in that landscape and how to approach it with respect and intention. We also discuss the idea of chakra systems within the earth, and how certain places seem to act as centers of spiritual flow and remembrance.

Our conversation weaves through stories of pilgrimage across England, France, Bulgaria, and Greece, revealing how sacred travel continues to shape both personal and collective transformation.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, to listen more carefully, and to trust when the land asks something of you.

Learn more about Philip and his work at druidry.org and philipcarr-gomm.com.

✨ If this episode resonates, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who feels called to walk sacred paths.

Order my books to support me and support your connection with the land! https://www.seekingnumina.com/publishedworks

Subscribe to Seeking Numina with Elyse Welles on YouTube for video versions of ALL episodes sharing footage of the places and topics discussed.

To learn more about my upcoming retreats to sacred places in Greece and beyond, or learn with me in workshops, classes, or mentorship, visit seekingnumina.com.

Support Seeking Numina on Patreon for a library of 300+ rituals, meditaitons, exclusive videos, and more, + opportunities for free tarot readings and discounts on ALL classes and retreats. Visit patreon.com/elysewelles

This podcast episode was edited by Jordan, a cohost from The Astro Study Room. Book an astrology consultation with her to learn more about your soul's path in this lifetime!

Music: Tribal Wind - SergePavkinMusic
Music Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWe5Z7qISMQ

In this first episode of Season 3 of The Sacred Places Podcast, I’m joined by spiritual teacher, author, and psychologist Philip Carr-Gomm for a thoughtful conversation on Druidry as a living spiritual path.

This episode focuses on the foundations of Druidry and why relationship with the land is central to the tradition. Philip shares reflections from his early life growing up in post–World War II London and how encounters with nature shaped his spiritual path.

We explore the concept of the Awen, the flowing current of inspiration in Druidry, and how it connects with the psychological idea of the flow state. Our conversation also touches on modern loneliness, the impact of technology and AI on human connection, and why so many people today are feeling called to reconnect with the land despite living in systems that make that difficult.

One of the central questions we explore is one I hear often from listeners: Why me? Why would the land care to have a relationship with me? Philip’s response offers a grounded and compassionate perspective on reciprocity, belonging, and relationship with place.

Learn more about Philip and his work at druidry.org and philipcarr-gomm.com.

Order my books to support me and support your connection with the land! https://www.seekingnumina.com/publishedworks

Subscribe to Seeking Numina with Elyse Welles on YouTube for video versions of ALL episodes sharing footage of the places and topics discussed.

To learn more about my upcoming retreats to sacred places in Greece and beyond, or learn with me in workshops, classes, or mentorship, visit seekingnumina.com.

Support Seeking Numina on Patreon for a library of 300+ rituals, meditaitons, exclusive videos, and more, + opportunities for free tarot readings and discounts on ALL classes and retreats. Visit patreon.com/elysewelles

This podcast episode was edited by Jordan, a cohost from The Astro Study Room. Book an astrology consultation with her to learn more about your soul's path in this lifetime!

Music: Tribal Wind - SergePavkinMusic
Music Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWe5Z7qISMQ