The Crystals and Beyond Podcast

A cooper loses the account his whole year rested on, and he can see the ruin coming: the empty larder, the hard winter, his family going without. He braces for the worst. And the worst never comes — the winter is lean and tiring, but survivable — and it's his twelve-year-old son who says the thing he couldn't see: "That wasn't so bad. You said it'd be starving." In this episode we use the Crosshollow tale "The Cooper's Winter" to explore a well-documented finding from psychologists Daniel Gilbert and Timothy Wilson: we consistently overestimate how bad, and how lasting, our misfortunes will be. We have an unconscious "psychological immune system" that helps us cope and adapt — but because we can't feel it working, we brace for catastrophes that mostly never arrive. This isn't "every cloud has a silver lining"; the cooper's loss is real. It's something truer and kinder — that so much of what we suffer, we suffer in advance, in dread, over a ruin that never comes to collect. A conversation about fear, resilience, and the winters that turn out to be only winters. The podcast has an accompanying blog: The Cooper's Winter

This podcast  explores  the concept and application of relationship repair magic, which is specifically designed for couples who are still together but experiencing emotional distance or conflict. Unlike spells intended to return an ex-partner, these rituals focus on clearing energetic blockages and softening long-standing resentments to allow for authentic reconnection. The hosts emphasize that these practices do not override free will or force feelings, but instead create favourable conditions for partners to choose reconciliation. Success depends on an existing foundation of love and requires both individuals to take active responsibility for their communication and personal growth. Ultimately, the source frames this spiritual work as a way to ease tension and open a doorway that the couple must then walk through together.  The podcast has an accompanying blog: Relationship Repair Spells: Mending a Bond You're Still In

TYou've almost certainly seen it — the most famous tarot deck in the world, the one nearly every reading uses and nearly every other deck imitates. Most people think of it as just "the tarot cards." It's actually a work of deliberate genius, a little over a century old, and the story of who really made it is remarkable. In this episode we explore the 1909 deck that changed tarot forever by being the first to fully illustrate all 78 cards — and the artist who painted them, Pamela Colman Smith, a synesthete who "painted feeling," was paid a flat fee, earned nothing as the deck sold in the millions, and was left off its name for a century. We also crack open a single card — the Three of Swords — to show the genius up close: the heart in it isn't broken, it's whole, pierced clean through and still intact, a quiet message of survival folded into the most painful card in the deck. A wondrous look at the tool we read with, and the woman who deserves her name on it.  The podcast has an accompanying blog:  The Quiet Genius of the Tarot Deck We Read With

This discussion  provides a guide on using Tiger's Eye and Carnelian to improve performance during job interviews. The hosts explain that Tiger's Eye is used to manage physical anxiety by conditioning the body to remain calm through breathing exercises and tactile association. Conversely, Carnelian is presented as a tool for self-promotion, helping candidates overcome the discomfort of vocalising their professional achievements. By training with these stones for a week, applicants can build muscle memory that prevents nerves from undermining their perceived capability. Ultimately, the source emphasizes that these crystals act as physical anchors for preparation rather than magical charms, ensuring the candidate's true skills are clearly demonstrated. The podcast has an accompanying blog post: Interview Coming Up? Two Crystals and a Week to Get Ready

This story podcast presents a fable from Crosshollow, a fictional medieval setting where ordinary human experiences are examined through the lens of timeless wisdom. The narrative focuses on a young woman named Liss, who becomes so consumed by her increasing responsibilities that she views time as a scarce commodity to be hoarded. Her constant rushing causes her to neglect her relationship with her mother until a spectacular display of the northern lights shifts her perspective. Witnessing the natural world's patient pace makes her realise that her sense of urgency was merely a self-imposed burden. By the story's end, she chooses to prioritise presence and connection over her frantic schedule, illustrating that time is available to those who stop trying to outrun it. This allegorical tale serves as a gentle reminder to value the current moment rather than falling victim to the illusion of busyness. The podcast has the accompanying blog story here: The Lights - A Tale from Crosshollow

This podcast  clarifies that tarot cards function as a mirror and a compass for self-reflection rather than a crystal ball for predicting the future. The hosts argue that while readings cannot provide specific dates or reveal the private intentions of others, they are highly effective at uncovering personal patterns and hidden motivations. By exploring the psychological science behind our desire for certainty, the hosts explains why people often fall for vague generalities during times of high stress. Ultimately, the material encourages seekers to ask empowering questions that focus on internal growth and present actions instead of fixed outcomes. This approach transforms the practice into a tool for restoring agency and gaining clarity on one's current life direction.  The podcast has an accompanying blog post:        Can Tarot Predict the Future? An Honest Answer

Regulus is the star of fame — but of the earned kind, the recognition that follows real work rather than the empty spotlight. In this episode we get practical: how to bring the Little King's energy into your own life with what you already have. The free timing (a Jupiter hour on Thursday, the Moon's monthly pass over the star, the spring nights when Leo rides high), the gold-ray stones led by citrine, the herbs of honor sitting in your spice rack — bay leaf, cinnamon, calendula — and simple candle work in gold wax. But the heart of it is the one thing this star asks first: name what is genuinely there — the real work your recognition rests on. Regulus honors rightful standing and lets pretenders fall, so this is never about manufacturing a reputation; it's about letting a crown you've truly earned be seen. A warm, grounded guide to being recognized for the real thing. The podcast has an accompanying blog: Bringing Regulus's Recognition Into Your Life

This discussioin of a fable from Crosshollow narrates the recovery of an elderly man named Coll, who falls into a deep, listless illness during a harsh winter. While his family provides physical necessities like warmth and broth, he remains stagnant until a young woman suggests moving his bed to a room with a view of the river. By shifting his focus from a blank wall to the vibrant outside world, his spirit begins to mend alongside his body. The story explores the idea that human vitality requires more than just biological sustenance; it thrives on a connection to the world one loves. Ultimately, the narrative suggests that perspective and beauty are as essential to healing as medicine or food. The podcast has an accompanying blog: The Window - A Tale From Crosshollow