241 - The Sacred Herbs of Yule and Christmas with Ellen Evert Hopman - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Release Date: 12/22/2023
257 - Music and Sound in Victorian Seances with Olivia Cacchione - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Dr. Olivia Cacchione, a musicologist, sat with Patrick in the parlor to discuss her current work and study of music and sound in Victorian seances. Olivia also shared about years of uncomfortable out-of-body experiences and hearing voices that led to her being diagnosed with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Plus skepticism, haunted listening, enchantment, possibility vs. disbelief, Victorians and the accordion, the channeled music of Rosemary Brown, and asking the question, “How does music haunt us?” Visit for more info. In this episode: Intro :00 Dr. Olivia Cacchione studies the...
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256 - Missouri Paracon 2025 with Brad Blair and Jesse Leimkuehler - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Brad Blair of the Upper Peninsula Paranormal Research Society and Jesse Leimkuehler from Belvoir Winery and Inn, join together to create the Missouri Paracon, which will take place at Ameristar Kansas City from February 28th to March 1st 2025. Patrick gets the scoop on what’s in store for those attending. Plus conversation on topics such as psychics, apparitions, people who flee haunted locations, drones and alien invasions, and changes in the paranormal space since the boom that started with Syfy’s Ghost Hunters. Visit for more info. In this episode: Intro :00 Brad Blair...
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255 - Titanic with James Penca - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Titanic expert James Penca joins Patrick in the parlor for this unique episode of the Big Seance. James is a spokesperson and researcher for RMS Titanic, Inc., Creative Director for Titanic: Honor and Glory, and host of the Witness Titanic podcast. He only recently returned from the exciting 2024 Titanic Expedition that made headlines. Have you ever wondered what can be learned about a passenger or crew member, just from recovering a single artifact from the wreckage? Other topics include the re-discovery of the statue of Diana, the debate on whether the famous wreckage is a...
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254 - Calling Out Fraudulent Physical Mediumship with Jeni Juranics - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Earlier this year, psychic medium Jeni Juranics released an episode of her Spirit Call podcast where she opened up about what she described as a heartbreaking experience at a mediumship conference, where on more than one occasion she witnessed a fairly well-known physical medium faking seances. She decided to call out his fraudulent behavior. He’s been called out before, but Jeni’s story seems to have struck a chord with many in the community. In this important and sometimes emotional conversation, Patrick and Jeni discuss what this means for the mediumship community, as well...
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253 - Catching Up with Evidential Medium Jeffrey Peck - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Evidential Medium, Jeffrey Peck, returns to the show with advice and inspiration for developing mediums. Does the structure of a medium's training help or hinder them? How does one get over fears and imposter syndrome? And what is considered great evidence? Plus lots of laughs and news about some exciting Sedona retreats! Visit for more info. In this episode: Intro :00 Some notes about today’s conversation with Jeffrey Peck, including that of a big belly laugh and delicious simmering homemade soup! :49 Bio for Jeffrey Peck 2:28 Catching up! 4:47 Lessons, growth,...
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252 - True Hauntings and the Curse of Lemp Mansion - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
In anticipation of an exciting private overnight at the historic and haunted Lemp Mansion with Australia's Anne and Renata, Patrick shares an episode of their True Hauntings Podcast. In this 2021 episode, titled "Case 17: The Curse of Lemp Mansion", Anne and Renata cover the tragic history and lore of the Lemp family and their famous St. Louis home. Visit for more info. In this episode: Intro :00 Patrick has been getting excited for Anne and Renata’s next trip to the US from Australia. This fall they’ll be spending a few days in his area, which will include a...
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251 - Psychic Medium June Lundgren on Demons and Archangels - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Join Patrick in a truly interesting conversation with author and psychic medium June Lundgren, who refers to herself as a demon seer whose specialty is getting rid of demons. Along with detailed descriptions of what she sees and how she works, June also covers archangels and tells stories of working with Zak Bagans and the Ghost Adventures crew! She is the author of the forthcoming book, Dark Encounters. Visit for more info. In this episode: Intro :00 June Lundgren is a psychic, medium, demon seer, healer, animal communicator, international author, and nurse. She is...
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250 - Roberta Grimes and Sandra Champlain: Another Listen - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
In this episode we look back at highlights of two great interviews from 2017 and 2019. Roberta Grimes is an afterlife expert, author of The Fun of Dying: Find Out What Really Happens Next, and host of the Seek Reality podcast. Sandra Champlain is the author of We Don't Die - A Skeptic’s Discovery of Life After Death and host of We Don't Die Radio and Shades of the Afterlife. Visit for more info. In this episode: Intro :00 A remastered look back at two afterlife experts! :49 Highlights from with Roberta Grimes, afterlife expert and author of The Fun of Dying: Find Out...
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249 - Psychic Medium Dana Stricker - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Psychic Medium Dana Stricker tells Patrick of the fascinating, yet strange experiences of her childhood that helped to shape her work, which began at the age of 15 when she gave tarot readings. Other topics include her "Battle Axe" of a spirit guide, a shared experience that left a handprint burned into Dana's leg, and what it really means to be a Witch! Plus, what's life like on the Other Side? Visit for more info. In this episode: Intro :00 Dana Stricker’s Bio :46 Patrick and Dana met each other at Amy Bruni’s Strange Escapes event at Belvoir Winery in 2022. 2:26...
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248 - Your Stories of Messages from Passed Loved Ones Part 2 - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Have you received communication from a dead loved one? In this Part 2 episode, listeners Leslie, Kelly, Susan, Bruce, and Amy certainly have! From a physical and literal sign left on a desk to a comforting voice from the garden. Plus a spirit who communicates through an alarm system, the return of a beloved cat, and a lost and found bracelet. Visit for more info, and to learn how you can share your own story! In this episode: Intro :00 Patrick recently asked listeners to send in stories of messages from loved ones in the spirit world. The most recent episode, , was Part 1...
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Uncover the enchanting history of Yule and Christmas in this interview with Ellen Evert Hopman, master herbalist and Druidic initiate since 1984. Her book, The Sacred Herbs of Yule and Christmas: Remedies, Recipes, Magic and Brews for the Winter Season, gets beautiful reviews. The recipes, cocktails, and traditional Christmas meals from around the world will have you salivating. Ellen introduces you to mystical figures like Gully Gawk, Pot Scraper, Bowl Licker, Flora the Roman Goddess, Saint Lucia with the candles on her head, and of course, Krampus. Learn about the origins of putting candles in windows, and why we leave a place at the table for our dead loved ones, or leave our beds empty. Plus the history of mistletoe, the traditional red and green colors, and why you should absolutely NOT answer the door on Christmas Eve if a werewolf is on the other side! Visit BigSeance.com/241 for more info.
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In this episode:
Intro :00
Call in or reach out with your holiday traditions for this time of the year, no matter the holiday, and particularly if it’s different from what we might think of as traditional American holiday activities. What are some of the interesting traditions that maybe have been passed down for centuries at this time of year? Email [email protected]. There are also a couple of ways that you can leave a voice message, and to learn more about that go to BigSeance.com/contact. Patrick can’t wait to hear from you! :50
Ellen Evert Hopman is a master herbalist and lay homeopath, who has been a Druidic initiate since 1984. She is a founding member of the Order of the White Oak, the Archdruid Amerita and founder of Tribe of the Oak, a former professor at the Grey School of Wizardry, and a member of the Grey Council of Mages and Sages. She is the author of Celtic herbals and Druid novels, including Secret Medicines from Your Garden, The Sacred Herbs of Samhain, and Once Around the Sun: Stories, Crafts, and Recipes to Celebrate the Sacred Earth Year. She lives in Massachusetts. You can learn more about Ellen at EllenEvertHopman.com. 2:41
Reviews for The Sacred Herbs of Yule and Christmas: Remedies, Recipes, Magic and Brews for the Winter Season. 4:57
The similarities between our Halloween/Samhain traditions and Christmas. 6:20
Why do we put lights on trees? 8:20
Have goblins? Burn old shoes in the fireplace! 9:49
Have a persistent ghost that won’t go away? Burn a strip of leather! 10:21
Guising and Mumming 11:19
Memories of May Day 12:05
Are you bad or good? Mystical Icelandic figures, including Gully Gawk, Stubby, Spoon Licker, Pot Scraper, Bowl Licker, Door Slammer, Sausage Snatcher, and Doorway Sniffer, and yes, Krampus! 14:03
“This is really a life or death time of year.” Why have we been scaring children, for centuries, to get good behavior? 16:20
“Iceland is an unusually literate, book-loving society, and on Christmas Eve, Icelanders exchange books as gifts and then spend the night reading them, often while drinking hot chocolate or an alcohol-free Christmas ale…” 17:51
The Office (Dwight Christmas) and Belsnickeling 19:05
The Roman Goddess, Flora. “Bring a goat to the festival and liberate a rabbit.” 19:58
The Goddess of Winter 22:24
Ellen reads her Call in the Three Worlds of the Ancestors, Nature Spirits, and Gods, and the Petition for Healing, which is from the Rite for the Goddess at the Winter Solstice. 23:04
Recipes, Cocktails, and Christmas meal traditions from around the world. 28:47
The Irish tradition of Women’s Christmas 33:30
The spirit of Santa isn’t the only spirit that comes down the chimney! Plus, lighting candles, leaving beds empty, and a place set at the table with food for dead loved ones. 36:09
Libation and the Essence of Food 38:52
Saint Lucia, the Christian figure with candles on her head. 41:31
Did you know all of Santa’s reindeer were women? Plus, the red and white Amanita Muscaria mushroom. 44:15
Mistletoe 47:48
Where did we get the traditional Christmas colors of red and green? 51:11
Final Thoughts from Ellen Evert Hopman 53:01
Tip: Do NOT answer the door on Christmas Eve if it’s a werewolf! 55:16
Outro 56:06
A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 57:26
For more on Ellen Evert Hopman
The Sacred Herbs of Yule and Christmas on Amazon
The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Amazon Music, Audible, iHeart Radio, and YouTube. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at [email protected]. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the seance!