Art and Alchemy Lab

This episode’s guest is “Curator or Awesomeness,” Scott Erikson (aka Scott the Painter on his popular instagram account.) Scott is an artist, author, and performance speaker, who is passionate about creating a visual vocabulary for spiritual contemplation. He’s the writer and performer of two one-man shows, the author of 5 books, and the illustrator of countless “visual prayers.” We talk about the alchemical symbol of the peacock, the process of transmuting painful seasons into glimmering insights, and how that transformation lights the path forward for each of us.Check out more of Scott’s work and life on his website.If you would like to watch this interview on Youtube, you can do that here: https://youtu.be/mPFWE_gtlX8 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s guest is Claudia Bonnie — a painter based in southwest England, whose artwork conjures mythical heroines, saints, goddesses, and epic animal icons. Her paintings live in that delicious space between mysticism and myth, where superstition is sacred, relics can heal, and a painting can work like medicine. With a background in education and therapy, Claudia is endlessly drawn to what’s happening just under the surface — the real, raw stuff of human experience. When she’s not in the studio, she’s also the official hedgehog rescuer in her area, which honestly feels very on brand for someone whose entire life seems like a waking fairytale. In today’s conversation, we get into the fascinating differences between American and British mythology, and ask the very important question: is spotting Bigfoot in the woods really any different from a fairy sighting in the English countryside? You can follow her wild and wonderful world on Instagram at Claudia.Bonnie. If you are in the area, you can see her paintings in person at the Kittoe Contemporary Gallery in London. In this episode, we touch on the alchemical theme of SUBLIMATION (more on that here), and we discuss some of these images as well.Our Days Were a Joy and Our Paths Through Flowers (1971-72) by David InshawKing, Warrior, Magician, Lover: Rediscovering the Archeypes of the Mature Masculine by Douglas Gillette and Robert JohnsonSasquatch Chronicles Podcast Claudia’s InstagramAllison’s website.Hope you enjoyed! Come back soon!AllisonAllison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s esteemed guest is Cyril Coetzee, an internationally esteemed lecturer in Art History & Esoteric Science and a renowned portrait artist whose work spans continents and collections. He’s also regarded as the favorite portrait artist of Nelson Mandela (which we talk about a bit in this episode as well.) I discovered Cyril and his ability to teach about mystical creativity through a series of courses through the Center for Applied Jungian Studies about five to six years ago. It was his insights into alchemical symbolism of birds first sparked my curious and led me down the rabbit hole that became my oracle deck project as well as this podcast.In this visually-oriented episode, we’ll unpack how Cyril uses symbols to convey deeper states of consciousness, and how visionary art can illuminate our understanding of creativity and self-realization. If you’re strictly listening to this episode, check the show notes for links to the artworks we discuss, or watch the video version on Youtube or Substack to see Cyril’s references up close. Also if you enjoy this episode, please follow the links to his website and like, follow, subscribe, etc to my page here. Thank you for listening and for all your support.I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did.Cyril’s chosen art-piece is the Kabbalistic “Teaching” Panel of Princess Antonia of Bavaria. If you love art history and are curious about esotericism, he is brilliant at expressing the combination. I knew very little about this painting before, although I did recognize the lady with the lamb. I didn’t yet know that she was one of a group of educated women who studied and passed on the language of these spiritual mysteries in artful secrecy—they protected the esoteric traditions while the men were off being killed in the wars. If you want to read more about Princess Antonia ( “the Green Lady at the beginning of her spiritual journey,”) and her altarpiece, this page is a great resource.(Cyril’s portrait of Nelson Mandela also became a South African postage stamp, commemorating the great man’s 90th birthday.)I hope you enjoyed learning from Cyril Coetzee as much as I have. There is so much depth in these layers of symbol. I’m so grateful for his nudge toward alchemical study that I felt those years ago when I first heard him describe the five birds, and it was a great honor to interview him here and pass on a bit of his knowledge with others.Cyril’s websiteAllison’s websiteIf you want to learn more about the birds of alchemy from other wonderful guests of this podcast, I have so far uploaded episodes on the Phoenix of the Rubedo and the Swan of the Albedo. Next, I’ll be sharing a spirited interview with illustrator Scott Erikson (Scott the Painter) on the alchemical Peacock. It’s all so inspiring! Fly high, soar free, and go ruffle some feathers, Allison AdamsAllison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

My guest, Matthew Ashdown, is joining me from Vancouver Island in beautiful British Columbia, though he spent much of his early life growing up in Great Britain — a landscape rich with the tradition of Arthurian legend and Tolkien’s magical worlds — and as you’ll hear, those stories have left a lasting impression on the way he thinks and works.I know Matthew through our shared work in the Gene Keys and the Dream Arc systems, and while we’ve had a number of conversations over the years, this is actually the first time the two of us have sat down together to record one.Today we’re exploring myth, storytelling, and spiritual symbolism — touching on themes like the Phoenix, the alchemical rubedo stage, the Grail myths, and The Lord of the Rings— and what these stories reveal about our personal and collective transformation, both personal and collective.You can read the description of the Rubedo/Reddening from Allison’s Alchemical Oracle (which we discuss in this episode) here. If you want to watch on YouTube, here’s video (edited by me… I think podcasts have better sound bc my brilliant musician son Maki, who masters the levels. (Subscribe there too if that’s your jam!)Matthew’s InstagramAllison’s Art WebsiteI encourage you to support the endangered art of connective storytelling (and meaningful mythos) as often as you are able! Keep the fire of HUMANITY going. Support the Arts or tell your OWN story. Most of us don’t have the luxury of passive observation anymore. Start where you are. Thank you for your service!Happy new moon. Dream bigger!Love,Allison This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s guest has spent her life turning pain into prose — and teaching others to do the same. I am really proud of this episode…I loved chatting with Erika, and I feel honored and inspired to keep championing survivor’s voices. Erika’s voice is especially rich, out loud and on the page. Erika Schickel is a memoirist, teacher, and storyteller whose second book, The Big Hurt, published in 2021 is a fearless memoir tracing two passionate, predatory, life-altering love affairs set twenty-five years apart. Erika grew up as the daughter of writers in fashionable New York of the 1970s, part of what she describes as a culture “that offers young women to men in power as sort of prizes for their accomplishments and ignores the humanity of the girls being offered.”In today’s conversation, we dig into generational wounds, the revolutionary power of using your voice in writing, and what it means to hold your family’s story in your hands — and then lose it, as Erika feels she did when the Eaton Fire destroyed her home in January 2025. Be sure to check out Erika’s fantastic Substack page, "Girl of the Burning West,” where she’s processing her next book by the same name. Her writing voice is just as cool and intelligent as her speaking voice. Be sure to check out her writing memoir workshops too. She gives a lot of her teaching secrets on this episode. So writers and readers and SA survivors, this one’s for you! If you want to watch, rather than just listen, here’s the video interview:Please remember to like, subscribe, and share. Or leave a review where you get your podcasts. I appreciate it greatly. This should be available every place you get your podcasts.This is a conversation about loss, accountability, legacy, and the irreplaceable value of telling your own story — in your own voice. And bearing witness to the women brave enough to tell theirs when they are ready.Portrait of Therese Bernard by RenoirErika’s WebsiteAllison’s Website This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

My guest is Katja Swan, a personal embodiment coach in Germany. Katja and I met a few years ago through a Gene Keys course, and when I first heard her origin story, I was fascinated and curious to find out more. We are about the same age, both teenagers during the Cold War, but I’d never met anyone who had grown up in East Germany. Katja and her family fled the GDR when she was just 17, four months before the Berlin Wall came down, rebuilding her life as an young adult in a drastically different world. Through the unusual and unexpected circumstances in her life, Katja has become an example of resilience and adaptability that we can all use about now. The alchemical theme of this episode is PRESERVATION which asks the question: What do you want bring forward with you from your previous reality into the unknown future! For Katja, the answer is LOVE.Prefer to watch our rough-edit interview on YouTube? Check out the episode here.Now, just a gentle reminder to like, subscribe, and share this channel and episode. These things really do help get these stories out to more listeners who will benefit from them.Katja chose a piece called PRESENCE by French visionary painter, Quentin Pouyat.You can find more about Katja’s gentle embodiment coaching and Gene Keys guidance on her website.Films recommended in this episode: The Lives of Others, Goodbye Lenin, and Sonnenallee.To connect with Allison, please visit my online gallery and website.Allison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone. I wanted to get this out before the Lunar New Year on Feb 17th, which brings in the Fire Horse of the Chinese zodiac wheel. For the past 12 years, Shannon Nicole, founder of Wild Heart Pilgrimage is my knowledgable and passionate guest. For the past 12 years, Shannon has used Chinese astrology as a transformative self-discovery tool, finding it to be an invaluable guide for understanding lunar cycles, natural elements, and the wisdom of animal archetypes. This is a very informative and practical interview, chock-full of useful archetypal hacks for the collective energy cycle at hand. If you haven't felt it yet, start paying attention, this horse is chomping at the bit, stomping at the gate, and ready to run! As Shannon says in the episode, this is not a horse to tame, but one that can inspire us into our own wild natures. More important here, is the element of FIRE! Shannon suggests that this what we should be most aware of, as according to the Chinese wheel, it will be blazing for the next two years. If you prefer to watch, here’s our video. (Please subscribe if you prefer YouTube.)This episode was recorded on January 17th, one month before the Lunar New Year (and solar eclipse) on February 17th — closing out of the year of the Snake and all its cyclical shedding and two years in the earthy Wood element. As these are archetypal concepts, we expect them to expand over the whole year ahead, so this episode should remain relevant for quite awhile. You are welcome to return to it anytime and compare notes or get a refresher. Shannon Nicole will also be doing personal Chinese zodiac readings all year. You can find more about those and her other generous offerings at www.wildheartpilgrimage.com or Instagram.Visit Allison’s website.Learn more about Salvador Dalí’s Phoenix painting here. Allison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome, February! Today is Imbolc (the seasonal marker between winter and spring) and the moon is full in the FIRE sign of Leo (That’s MY personal moon, btw!) Coming up later this month is the Lunar New Year, which introduces the elemental animal of the FIRE HORSE. Lots of hot, igniting energy in the collective field—I’m sure you have been feeling it too. Above is a snippet my interview with Shannon Nicole, who shares her deep dives into this timely element of fire …equipping and preparing our spirits for a wild and safe year ahead! Exciting stuff! Check out the clip a preview, and come back in a couple days for the episode. And without further ado, here is our Alchemical Word of the Week: Ignis/Fire 🔥“But what is passion, what are emotions? There is the source of fire, there is the fullness of energy. A man who is not on fire is nothing: he is ridiculous, he is two-dimensional. He must be on fire even if he does make a fool of himself. A flame must burn somewhere, otherwise no light shines: there is no warmth, nothing.” —C.G.JungIn the realm of Symbolic Alchemy, the element of Fire is the most fundamental, as it quickly transforms everything it touches. The alchemist was, above all else, a fire-tender, using various stoves, ovens, and bellows with which to control it, turning it up here, turning it down there. Fire brings warmth, it brings light, it purifies—and unchecked, it has the power to burn and destroy anything in its path. Only when Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to mortals, were they able to survive as individuals and build their own worlds.Fire is the element associated with energy, activity, creativity, assertiveness and passion. Rage, hate, and anger are considered “fiery” emotions. Despite it’s dangerous, wild nature, we need that inner fire to move us forward. And to keep the momentum going, the flame must be continually fed. The alchemists spoke of the fire as a baby that needed constant attention. This was the most important task of all, above any experiment at hand.Has your inner fire grown cold or is it thriving? What can you do to boost and sustain its energy? Some advice from the Sufi poet Rumi: “Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames.”And as always SAFETY FIRST.Allison This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

“Grief is the the growing up of the heart that bursts boundaries like an old skin or a finished life.” —adrienne maree brownToday, we’re joined by Paul Bond, an award-winning oil painter whose work exists in that liminal space between dreaming and reality. Drawing from the Latin American tradition of Magic Realism, Paul creates what he calls “fairy tales for adults”—canvases where symbolic and fantastic elements blend with realistic atmospheres, revealing worlds where anything is possible. But beyond their visual beauty, Paul’s works have become something more profound—tools of communication and comfort, both for himself and for those who encounter them.In our conversation today, we explore grief, loss, and the healing power of art. We’ll discover how Paul’s paintings have become a language for the unspeakable, a bridge between sorrow and solace, and how creating these images has helped him—and others—navigate some of life’s most difficult moments.Please visit Paul’s website here for more of his magical paintings. The Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis WellerYou can also watch if you prefer video over purely audio: These are the paintings Paul shares in this special episode:I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did! I invite you to like, share, subscribe, (and leave a review if you listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.) All these things help this podcast gain traction and get the stories of my guests to more ears that need them. Can you believe it’s been a year since I began this podcast? And what a year it has been. Im grateful for the amazing guests who kept my vision and vibration high. And thanks to all of you who have listened in and supported this concept. For more of my work and offerings, please visit: www.allisonadams.net This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

“Jupiter has no leisure to attend to little things.” —OvidThis week, I’m joined by my friend David Beatty—actor, filmmaker, playwright, and someone who embodies what the alchemists called the Jupiterian spirit: expansive, generous, and unafraid to work across multiple creative realms. We sat down to talk about David’s creative (spiritual) process and explore the concept of JUPITER in alchemy—the principle of growth, wisdom, and abundance. Now we didn’t plan this, but we happened to record on the exact day the planet Jupiter was closest to Earth, brilliant and visible in the night sky. Jupiter is about expansion, as you’ll hear. And with two caffeinated ENFPs in conversation... everything is a little EXTRA. (That’s what the E is for!)I am moving this episode up in the queue because the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent shook the country a few days before we recorded and it felt disingenuous not to acknowledge her—or this moment in our country. What emerged in our conversation—about connection, about how to be an artist in times of grief and great change, about bringing more good things into our communities when the world feels heavy—all of this feels urgent to remember right now. This is an episode about how we show up, how we co-create, how we stay human.Support independent film and theatre (and ceramics): See more about David and his diverse projects and films on his website. If you feel you can’t afford it, start your own circle of stories right where you are.Readers, here is your personal permission for quality human connection, starting right where you are. If you yearn for more of that, please invest in live performance in your areas/communities. (At the very least, it will be entertaining! At best, cathartic.)Creating a Life Worth Living by Carol Lloyd was the artwork he brought in to share, which is funny because he didn’t talk about the book he wrote and published about creativity himself! Check out (and purchase) An Actor’s Process here.Here is my picture of Renee Nicole Good that we discuss a bit…and another of Breonna Taylor.Other books mentioned: Long Story Short,by Margot Leitman The Creative Act by Rick Rubin, and Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert.Prefer to watch video? (You can subscribe to my slowly-evolving YouTube channel below.)For more of my artwork and offerings, please visit my website: www.allisonadams.netThanks for reading, listening, sharing, supporting, subscribing, etc. I appreciate you! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

I met this week’s guest at a cartoon convention a few months ago—we were set up at neighboring booths, as we are with the same agency, shout out to Celeb Works. I have been wanting to interview a voice over actor on the circuit, so I was so pleased she agreed to join me today!Janie Haddad Tompkins is a brilliant actress and voice artist you’ve heard countless times—she’s the voice of Margaret on Cartoon Network’s Regular Show, and you’ve likely seen her scene-stealing work on the HBO comedy Hacks, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, just to name a few shows. Janie has built an incredible career across both voice and on-screen work, bringing authentic humor and heart to everything she touches.As one half of the podcast “Stay the F. Homekins” with her husband, stand-up comedian Paul F. Tompkins, she knows a thing or two about the craft of comedy.Today, we’re exploring the alchemical concept of projection, becoming an actual QUEEN in midlife, getting older in Hollywood, the humanity of storytelling in the age of AI, and then a show of respect to the late great legend that is Dian Keaton (1946-2025). May she rest in peace and continue to inspire us to embrace our unique, authentic selves at every turn.Please enjoy this interview with Janie Haddad Tompkins!Here’s Janie, looking a lot like her favourite, Ms. Diane Keaton .Poster for Interiors, circa 1978.I'm so grateful to Janie for letting me have this opportunity to talk to someone working in the acting field, which is very close to my heart, despite my lifestyle and career now. I love Janie's ideas and the authentic heart that drives her work on screen and in voice-over. On that note, I watched the incredible actor's-film Hamnet last weekend. I'm SO glad I watched it in the theatre...it was cathartic, especially through the magnificent acting and cinematography. I highly recommend seeing it in a theatre while it's out. Jesse Buckley for all the Best Actress awards near year, please? (These words to God's/Goddess' ears!) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Today I’m talking with illustrator Ed Hose, calling in from the charming town of Brunswick, Georgia. We’ll explore her creative process, the joyful intention that drives her work, and then we’ll dive into the deep end, literally. We’ll be talking about the element of water and whether it might have a magical consciousness of its own. From there, we wander through bathtub break-ins, the remarkable changes of generational whale song, the weight of existential angst and sharing on the socials, and then the silly genius of Shel Silverstein. Because when you’re talking with someone as creative and vibrant as Ed Hose, everything is everything all at once. I hope you enjoy this episode.“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember, you are half water. If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.”—Margaret AtwoodMore of Allison’s artwork and alchemy here!See more of Ed’s illustrations and generous goodies on her website!Don’t forget to check out more of Ed’s fantastic work and writing. You can also check her stuff out on Instagram: “All You Can See Illustration Buffet” Open 24 Hours. Feast your eyes!If you enjoy this share, please remember to like, share, subscribe. Engagement shows support and gets this content to more people who can benefit. Thank you. Happy Holidays to all!Allison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Today’s guest is someone I first met over 30 years ago when we were students at the California Institute of the Arts. I’ve invited Jill on to share the fascinating and meandering path from professional student to professional professor, and give some insights to the archetype of Divine Androgyne, representing the Union of opposites in the alchemical Magnum Opus (or Great Work.)Jillian St. Jacques teaches Writing for Media at Oregon State University, focusing on print journalism and the role of media in popular culture. Jillian’s areas of specialization include media studies, cultural analysis, trans/gender studies, adaptation studies, psychoanalytic theory, WOKE studies, and activism. On top of all this, and perhaps what I value most, is Jill a damn entertaining writer and interesting thinker.Some of the artworks that Jill references on this episode are: Michael Asher’s Columns of Air and Laurie Anderson’s “Duets on Ice.” More of Allison’s art and offerings at wwww.allisonadams.netand more about Jillian at https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/directory/jillian-stPlease like, share, and subscribe to get this content to a greater audience. I appreciate your being here. Happy holidays, all! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Mariana Tirsa is a singer-songwriter, artist, and somatic wellness coach based between Oaxaca, Mexico and Asheville, NC. Her bilingual work blends heritage, poetry, and modern folk, while her somatic coaching helps creatives transform self-doubt into confident, embodied visions. For many years, she has been creating music under the name “Runaway Horse,” along with other regular musical contributors, drawing on the alt-country and Americana traditions of the Southwest.Today we will reflect on the Albedo stage of alchemical process as Mariana is about to jump into her next adventure, starting afresh in Mexico to answer the call of her matriarchal roots and the next season of her life and career.You can find more about Marina’s music, storytelling, and somatic coaching services here.I met Mariana through a mutual friend, Jeudi Cornejo Brealey, who guested on Episode 21: Remembering the Philosopher's Stone. We also discuss the connection of the wild horse and the Divine Feminine that mythicist Tammy Wampler explains on Episode 20:The Alchemy of Longing. (Take a listen if you haven't yet!) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Hi everyone! If you’ve been listening for a while, you may have heard me mention the Gene Keys a few times. As a Gene Keys guide myself, this system has been a profound pathway in my own life and—and today, I’m thrilled to finally dive deep with someone who knows it far better than I do.Our guest today is Elijah Parker, CEO and longtime voyager of the Gene Keys. Elijah weaves years of experience in creative design, mythical storytelling, event production, and intermodal expressive arts into his work. Elijah has a gift with language and a unique ability to transmit profound truths in spontaneous and elegant ways, drawing from his own personal journey of cultivation and growth. He’s been a lead producer for large-scale virtual events, online courses, and interactive games designed to inspire mindfulness and magic in the world.Coming up in January is a 4-month Gene Keys Golden Path online retreat. If you’re interested in going deeper into this wisdom path, the retreats are such a fulfilling way to learn inside a greater community. I’ll be facilitating a special adjunct group with my talented colleague and fellow guide, Cahrena. Click here to find out more and to register! (Early Bird prices are good till the end of November only.) And please reach out with questions if you have any. Just curious? You can start with looking at your free profile right here!And now a little bonus, if you are still reading: Elijah and I discuss the concept of the Labyrinth at length in this episode. Here are some of my own past interpretations of the maze, somewhat inspired by the problem-solving princess Ariadne and her ball of thread. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Thank you for joining me here in the Art and Alchemy Lab. My guest is Sibel Ozer—a psychotherapist, art-therapist, and spiritual seeker who just returned from an incredible pilgrimage to Turkey.I only recently discovered Sibel’s work, and I was so captivated by her writing that I reached out and asked her to join me here. She responded by sending me this beautiful hardbound book of her intuitive mythical paintings—it’s absolutely stunning. Her work explores the subconscious through art, transpersonal psychology, and a lifetime of curiosity about what makes us human.Since we describe so many powerful images throughout our conversation, I encourage you to refer to this homepage or follow the links in the Episode Notes so you can follow along visually.Join us as we explore her pilgrimage and dive into the ideas she brings to life through her art and writing.Please welcome Sibel Ozer.Persephone’s Daughter, by Sibel OzerPhotos from Cappadocia“Surrender” by Sibel OzerJustine and a friend in Istanbul, 2012.You can enjoy more of Sibel’s expressions and reach out to her on her website. Her book is available HERE.Visit \ ALLISON’S WEBSITE for Visual Art and for Consultation/Coaching.Join me in journeying with the Gene Keys Golden Path, starting January 2025. Thanks for listening and for your support!Allison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Today, we have an extraordinary guest whose career reads like a love letter to wearable art and its power to transform culture.Lisa M. Berman is the Founding Director of WAM—The Wearable Art Museum—in New York City. For over 25 years, she’s been a curator, advocate, and cultural connector, championing studio jewelry artists and guiding their work into major museums worldwide. I had the pleasure of working with her when Lisa curated a very special exhibit of my portraits at the Muckenthaler Museum in Fullerton, California in 2023—and I can tell you firsthand, her curatorial vision is remarkable.As the visionary behind Sculpture To Wear and founder of the Berman Arts Agency, Lisa has shaped the dialogue between art, fashion, and culture on a global scale. She’s also a Partner to the United Nations Sustainable Fashion & Lifestyle Network.Today, we’re exploring something Lisa knows better than almost anyone: how handmade jewelry and objects can become catalysts for conversation—preserving history, culture, and beauty in ways that matter deeply in our rapidly changing world.You can follow Lisa’s work and vision on Instagram and Facebook.Visit The Wearable Art Museum (and here on Instagram.)For Allison’s art and coaching, please visit her website.New offering with the Gene Keys: UNLEASH YOUR GENIUS This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to an episode outside our regular format. Michele Moscone, who happens to be a three-time collector of my artwork, reached out to ask if she could talk about these pieces with me on this podcast. I rarely get an opportunity for feedback from collectors, let alone in this format. I think we both did a good job of explaining where we are/were each coming from in our journeys that connected us with these three pieces. Oddly, listening back, I feel like I may have told more biography of myself on this interview than in any other, which is slightly alarming, but also rather freeing, if I’m honest. (Clearly, Michele is a gifted interviewer as well as nurse and healer.)Plus, you get to learn about Michele’s difficult-yet-fascinating stories of being a small child that had to undergo endless surgeries to the point of forgetting all that trauma until later, when she herself had become a nurse. Through practicing her healing gifts, she soon discovered her capacity to make deeper energetic connections to the patients in her care. I too, have been the recipient of her fantastic energy work, which we also discuss in this episode. I loved how practical and to the point she can be even discussing the healing of energetic mending and power animals. To contact Michele and learn more about her amazing story and her healing gifts, please visit her website: The Sacred Nurse. You can also follow her updates and essays on Substack. (Here, Michele writes about her early life trauma and shares three paintings that we discuss on this episode.) These are the paintings: For more of Allison’s artwork and consultation, visit HERE! Thanks for riding along today. Don’t forget to share and subscribe if you haven’t yet. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Ofelia Esparza is a renowned altarista (altar maker) and cultural preservationist, particularly known for her work with Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) traditions. She’s a National Heritage Fellow and has dedicated her life to preserving and teaching the traditional art of creating ofrendas (altars) for the Mexican holiday honoring deceased loved ones. If you saw the movie, COCO, you’ll have enjoyed her spiritual/cultural insights that were brought into the idea of the bridge between the dead and the living and the concept of “the three deaths.” I had wanted to interview her for this podcast all year, but even in her 90s, she is busier than me. So instead of trying to take her time this autumn season, I am going to share the conversation I recorded early this year. All I have is video now. Here is a clip.Ofelia has a show coming up this weekend. I’ll be sharing more about that tomorrow as well. In the meantime, if you are in the LA area this week, put this special event on your calendar for Saturday. It will be epic. Angelenos, we are lucky to be here when she is. More tomorrow. xoxoAllisonAllison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Today I’m excited to introduce you to Georgena Senior, a Philadelphia-based artist whose work literally stopped me in my tracks. When I saw her recent ceramic pieces paired with a notebook page of sketches, I was so moved that I immediately reached out—and I’m thrilled she agreed to join us today.Georgena beautifully embodies the multifaceted creative life. She’s an artist working in handbuilt ceramics, exploring themes of archetypes and goddess culture. She’s an educator teaching at both Temple and Drexel Universities. And she’s a designer who’s created branding for some of the world’s most recognizable properties.What I love most is how she refuses to compartmentalize these different creative roles. As she puts it, “In my life, art and design go hand in hand. Displaying all of it side by side shows that balance and gives the whole picture of who I am.”Georgena’s WebsiteAllison’s Website: Art and Alchemy CardsBelow are images and links to give more visual information to the artwork we discuss in this interview. Please remember to like, share, and subscribe, if you enjoy this episode. You are welcome here.In the words of writer Robin Wall Kimmerer, that Georgena shares with us below: “all flourishing is mutual.” Georgena’s ceramic sculpture: All Flourishing is Mutual on her fabulous Substack, OPEN STUDIO (where I found the inspiration for this interview) and her preliminary sketches.Having Fun/ Good Life: Symptoms, by Bruce Nauman, 1984Allison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the first episode of Season 2. This marks a new calendar cycle for me of getting guests on the calendar and editing these for (hopefully) the highest enjoyment of my listeners. I know… I keep saying I’m going to go to YouTube with these, but truthfully, I’m still patting myself on the back for already overcoming a huge learning curve through the podcast production process. I’m still enjoying the audio-curating process, and I’ve got a few other irons in the fire, simultaneously.That said, THANK you friends and subscribers for listening as you can. Your support has been fantastic. And without further ado, we return to this week’s interview, and the beginning of Art and Alchemy Lab Season 2:Today I’m joined by fellow CalArts alumnus and conceptual artist David Allen Burns. David’s work has always looked at contextualized relational knowledge and disrupting systems of meaning, especially exploring the limitations and boundaries of what could be considered “familiar.” In this conversation, David talks about his recent tarot deck project, which was started as part of a grander installation at the a museum dedicated to collectible cards in Modena, Italy. Bonus material includes a fresh take on midcentury artists Jackson Pollock and Allen Ginsberg.In this conversation, David joins me from his car in a parking lot in the Southern California mountains, and I’m in my yet-unfinished kitchen, as the house is still in remodel state. Please bear with any quirky glitches of sound that may occur at the beginning of this podcast. We find our flow not too far in. Welcome to this delightfully esoteric and surprisingly vulnerable meeting of the minds.Here is the Potentia card I chose for David:And here are some of the cards from David’s Biodiversity Tarot Deck:You can find more about David’s work here:Allison’s work: here.Thanks for reading Allison’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Astrologer Lindsay Garrett on the Significance of Planetary Cycles Welcome back…and Happy FULL MOON, yet again. Funny, how they are so frequent! This episode is put out just in time for the September eclipses, so we can understand a bit more of the cycles we are experiencing together. (Bonus: if you have an Aquarius in your life, this may be the conversation for you.)I’m very happy to welcome my guest Lindsay Garrett, Evolutionary Astrologer, soul collage facilitator, and my longtime mentor of all things Zodiac. As a trained psychosynthesis coach, Lindsay brings a therapeutic, humanistic lens to the chart within a spiritual context—helping us listen to the sky and listen to ourselves. In this episode, we dive into the current Eclipse season, explore how astrology and mythology can help us understand our paths, and celebrate the language that has deepened our personal growth as well as our friendship.Check out Lindsey’s informative offerings and sign up for a session on her website.You can also find her fun photos on Instagram.Kyle Montgomery’s Crystal Mary artwork.Allison's recommended novel: The Book of Strange New ThingsAllison’s Website for Art, etc. Email Allison HERE.How could I sign off on this special episode without this generational gem of genius. Let’s keep the vision alive. We all belong, and we all bring more value to the whole. We are best all together, wouldn’t you agree?Stay weird, Earthlings…and hang in there.AllisonPS Happy Full Moon! As Lindsay suggests, simply noticing and gazing at the moon is enough to remember the magic we all have access to. If you loved this episode and want to support my work in the world, please remember to share, like, subscribe. (You know the drill. A small moment on that end can help me out a lot. Thanks for engaging and for your feedback. Let’s connect! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

"The measure of intelligence is the ability to change." — Albert EinsteinI was so happy to finally sit down with my dear friend Julia Rogers, a career artist who I've been trying to get on this podcast since day one. Julia called in from her brand new studio in Shropshire, UK, where she's recently moved—she is literally surrounded by artwork she hasn't seen in over a year due to some big changes in her life, including a cross-country move. As a professional artist, mother, and someone who's mastered the art of keeping creativity alive through all of life's interruptions, Julia brings a unique perspective on maintaining an artistic practice regardless of what it looks like. She see’s it all as connected, even if it takes years to understand how. Today we're diving into her multi-faceted practice, and exploring how creativity is autobiographical, and weaves through every aspect of lifeCheck out Julia’s sculptural and installation work on her fantastic website. Julia’s InstagramAllison’s Website/ Alchemy SeriesEcco Homo (2012) by Cecilia GiménezAbout Artist Cornelia ParkerHere are some pictures I took of Julia in her previous studio on one of my visits some years back. Just found them again tonight and I forgot how much I loved them. They are followed with some pictures of some of the work mentioned in this program. For more variety, please visit her website/social links I listed above. Thanks for reading Allison’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Hi…in the spirit of mid-life integration, I’m sharing this here, as I do from time to time. I mean…why can’t Dee Dee have her own magical laboratory? My agency asks us to do mini promos when a show is coming up, so this is mine. And here are some of my paintings for the show so far…You can order one if you can't make it to the show, of course. I am to please…sometimes.😉If you want to join in the fun next, you can get tickets here for Toon Con next weekend. Maybe I’ll see some of you there!ooooooooooh, what does THIS button do?⏺️⏹️⏸️⏯️▶️🔼◀️🔅🔄*️⃣➡️⬆️⬇️💗And she’s off again…Allison (Moore) AdamsDee Dee is slowly influencing my wardrobe. I bought some shiny pink trousers for this one…maybe it will make it easier to find me, in case you are looking! 👀 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Today marks the ninth lap we’ve made around this sun since the man of our family moved on. Perhaps because he died the same year as David Bowie (and several other ahead-of-their-time icons), it’s easy to imagine him returning to the planet they first fell from. Vernon, the quintessential Aquarius was ahead of his time in his mind. His first wife (Maki’s mum) once told me she felt he came from the future. The kids have that about them too. I’m the only one who seems like I hold to the past. But now I understand this story at least in one way of how we were meant to come together. The late-bloomer that I am needed these futuristic people in my life in one form or another. It’s these 3 people who have given me a voice, someone to fight for, someone to learn from. If it were just me, I’d probably be in a library somewhere, scanning the files of the past to prove I’m in the present. Now it’s become my personal boot-camp to stay in the present as two amazing humans keep moving so quickly into the vast unknown future, in which they belong. I gotta keep up! My family may be small, but we are becoming more mighty. And we have been through so much together and have now arrived at a sort of mutual understanding that is more precious than I can put into words. Now, that isn’t what I meant to share this morning on Vernon’s D-Day, but apparently that’s where my head is this morning, and I’d say that’s some good growth to celebrate. Post traumatic growth is what all the cool kids are doing these days! I’m here to encourage it.Our youngest child (with an Aquarius moon, so independently intelligent like her Dad) is just, I feel, beginning to acknowledge the deep pain of loss of a father, even though it was so long ago now. The hardest for her is not really remembering him “whole” except for in photographs, and also remembering feeling alone a lot of the time I was off trying to take care of him. It doesn’t matter how that differs from her parents intentions, its what her experience was. So I try to honor that as well, even though I’d hoped she would have a different experience. (Just like in many ways, I’m sure my own parents hoped I’d have a different experience than what I remembered…so I am learning to have grace in all directions, including to the many versions my younger self. (I told you my kids are my teachers.) I’ll share more about Maki’s process when I nail him down for an interview him about his music. Earlier this year, he landed a contract with a recording company and is busy making his living working hard at what he cares most about. (He also balances the sound quality on my podcast.) In the Soul Sessions episode I am sharing here, I speak a lot about the power of music and song in Vernon’s second-life as a brain-injured invalid…and I think that’s what gave Maki a boost of purpose in music, even at his young teen age at the time. Give him a follow if you like. Its SO important to show our support to young artists. The future needs their voice and vision. I know this is different kind of post for this newsletter group. But like I’ve said before, I’m looking for ways to integrate it all and not keep everything so separated—because really, this is all part of the whole. Everything is what it is because of what came before and also what its being called toward next. So, we march bravely into the next unknown —and we can also stop to remember. Being present, perhaps, is staying somewhere in the middle of that spectrum. This here, right now, is what I want to feel into today. Thank you for your witness, dear reader, and thanks to Vernon for bringing these kids into my life. AllisonPS This episode of BBC Soul Sessions was produced by Karen Gregor, whom I hope to interview one of these days myself. I’m grateful for the opportunity she gave me to tell the story over British radio. Waterloo Sunset painted by the brilliant singer/songwriter/illustrator/healer Belle Logie, who is one of the family of musical angels that I speak of in this episode. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Hello, friends new and old and anywhere in between.My esteemed guest this episode is Ryane Nicole Granados, a LA-based writer and educator, and the author of the international award–winning novel The Aves. We’ll dig into the craft and writing, of simultaneously raising a family, of wildly misjudged (and beloved) 80's movies, and into the work of ally-ship and advocacy in a culture shadowed by racism—because parenting IS political. But most importantly, this is a conversation with two kindred spirits about the transformative power of HOPE.Ryane’s WebsiteRyane’s InstagramAllison’s WebsiteIf you enjoyed this episode, please share it with someone else. This is the most heart-centered way I know to expand my reach. And speaking of heart-centered ways, I’ll leave you with this gem—which is the OPPOSITE of problematic:☕️Here is a new way to fuel my work☕️ Thanks for reading Allison’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

“He lives most life whoever breathes most air. “ Elizabeth Barrett BrowningHollywood hair and makeup artist, Saida Staudenmaier identifies as a multi-hyphenate (artist, mother, philanthropist, and social advocate). In this conversation, Saida and Allison contemplate the thing that should come most natural to us humans: the act of breathing. Could something so simple be the Elixer Vitae that the alchemists of old were searching for? The secret of life lives in the lungs, and has been with each of us our entire lives—like the Sufi poet Rumi suggested: “Everything in the universe is within you. Ask all from yourself." Saida generously shares her insights from a transformative life that touch on her career, her home, activism and her personal creativity. Highlights of this episode:* The transformative power of breath and mindfulness* The journey of living alone for the first time* The role of community and mentorship in personal growth* The creative process and storytelling through art* The importance of giving back and supporting the LGBTQ communityFranz Marc’s Blue HorsesSaida’s upcoming show at The Hive, Pasadena. Saida’s WebsiteAllison’s ArtDon’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode if you enjoyed it. Thank you for your support. Keep on breathing that air! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Hailey Fynaardt, a vibrant resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, has fully embraced the rich creativity and festive spirit of Parade Culture and community—an aspect of the city that I now realize is far more complex and fascinating than I initially understood. I invited Hailey to join us as an alchemist of costume, someone who transforms and elevates this tradition through her unique perspective and artistry. Today, she’s here to share her journey and experiences navigating this historically rooted and fantastically expressive practice.This conversation was so fun! Using a brand new card made for the spirit of COMMUNITY, we swam all over in the flow of our dialogue—including a bunch of random segues like Allison’s recent experience working at Comic Conventions, the likelihood of mushrooms inheriting the earth, and the Human Design profile of the USA (it’s a 5/1 btw) and somehow we pulled it all together in the end! Just like the celebratory parades of New Orleans culture. Hailey definitely makes a case for not only visiting this wonderful city, but for throwing oneself into it’s unique community—and being fully loved back! This is the alchemy of place and people, transmuting every day objects into magical costumes and difficulty into joy! As she says, it not easy living in the “Big Easy,” but every day, she’s grateful that she gets to live in this celebratory city. Her enthusiasm is convincing! (Listen in, and you’ll see what I mean.)Check out Hailey’s instagram for more fantastic costumes and amazing parade photos. Pure joy!Please remember to like, subscribe, and share if you liked this episode!For more alchemical artwork, visit Allison’s website.Have a wonderful week. Be right where you are with who ever is near. That’s where you’ll find community. Joyfully yours,AllisonPS Who else wants to run off to New Orleans after this episode? I’m ready to pack my bags—and my glue gun! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Meet Jeudi, “The Vintage-Voiced Chanteuse” and intersectional artist who transforms family stories into timeless performance art. Born into a large Latin family of raconteurs in San Diego, she grew up listening to tales of triumph and resilience while pumping foot pedals on the family player piano, singing along to 1920s piano rolls.Now, as the family archivist and keeper of traditions, Jeudi bridges past and present through what she calls 'memoryscapes'—atmospheric performances that weave together salvaged jazz, theatrical vignettes, and forgotten musical gems. With her multi-passionate performance background and a voice that evokes Old Hollywood romance, she's dedicated to unearthing lost narratives and lifting spirits through the dual art forms of gratitude and song.In this conversation, Jeudi shares her unique path following her innate creative calling as a performer…and fulfilling her purpose, as preserver of the family heritage, as her Life’s Art. Storytelling and song have always been the best way way of keeping the heart of our cultures beating from generation to generation.Here are some of the courageous women she speaks of in this episode, which is ultimately about finding that channel of expression that reminds us at once of our mortality and timelessness in our our experience of the Human Family. Here is Jeudi’s Website.And here are the themes she chose.(Bonus: here is a little something on Monet’s Waterlilies if you would like to know more.)Thanks for listening and reading. Please, like, subscribe, and above all…SHARE with a friend who would enjoy this conversation. It’s easy for you and it supports my work. Much Appreciated. Lots of Love,AllisonAllison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thanks for reading Allison’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

My guest this episode is artist and mythicist, Tammy Wampler, hailing from Kentucky (which I learned is not only the heart of bluegrass music, but also the homeland of the fastest horses.) One of Tammy’s published works is the oracle deck and guidebook, The Maidens of the Wheel.In this conversation, Tammy discusses the recognition of her un-trained artistic gifts and her understanding of the encoded female thread through mythology and history and culture. Dissolution seems to be a recurring theme amongst my guests, maybe because I have a couple symbols for that process, or maybe it’s because this is a collective theme right now. It’s so interesting to observe the choices of others, without influence from myself. Anyway…here we are again in a watery conversation. (Fine with me, I love swimming and bathing!) But Tammy turns her informing toward the collective unconscious with layers of ancient stories about goddesses and fairytales. As someone who fashioned her earlier education around “becoming Joseph Campbell,” Tammy followed her own bliss of learning about the feminine stories and patterns in mythic traditions…while teaching herself to draw and paint beautiful portraits.Her passion, knowledge, and talent have come together in the oracle deck published by Blue Angel Press, called “The Maidens of the Wheel,” which you can order HERE (as well as perusing more of her gorgeous artwork.) Here are some of the paintings we focus on in this conversation: The Swan Princess and William Waterhouse’s epic painting (especially for Gen X girls): The Lady of Shallot, not chosen for the first time among my guests. (Click here for another episode.)I’m sure I’m missing links over all the things we talked about…but I have these: Songcatcher Movie (I mis-titled it in the episode. I need to watch it again, obviously.)Bad Apple CollectiveAllison Adams ArtPlease follow, like, subscribe, etc. You know the drill. Art and Alchemy aren’t spectator sports. As always, I appreciate your support and interaction. xoxoAllisonPS We recorded this a while back…but we are always in some kind of lunar and creative cycle. I hope that whenever you join, it resonates beyond the calendar. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Mandy Thompson is a multi-media artist, social advocate/ally, and journaling coach, who brought a wealth of diverse and practical tools to the conversation, mostly in the realm of journalling practice, which is what I asked her to speak on. Her lived experience and enthusiastic clarity around the simple practice of writing our thoughts on the blank page—even if it’s just a scribbled mess sometimes— is inspiring (and contagious, I might add.)Mandy chose the card of Constriction and Expansion and spoke about finding life and limitation in the tension between the two and how her creative practice helps her regulate the nervous system and brings peace to her experience as an artist, sensitive human, and mother alive in this most challenging of times.The transformative artwork she chose to share is the book Spilling Open by Sabrina Ward Harrison. (The link has lots of pictures!)Here is Mandy’s website, where you can get all sorts of free tools as well as sign up for her newsletter and writing support. Below are some of her personal entries (and there are a lot more where these came from….check them out!)Click here for Allison’s website and more on her Alchemy Deck, paintings, personal growth coaching, and workshops.Thank you for reading, listening, supporting. If you would, please like, subscribe, and share with a friend. All these help me expand this work and get it to the ears of those who benefit from it. Expansion > contraction! I appreciate you!AllisonAllison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

It’s still June, which is Pride Month. I’m happy to bring that point back to the surface in the middle of a wild month in the national Un-reality Show currently being broadcast. That said, I will always be an advocate for my LGBTQ+ friends, anytime of year. There is a segment of this conversation that we briefly discuss the AIDS crisis of the 1980s…and that, I believe, was one of the first core experiences of the greater society around me that molded that role in me. My guest, Nei, was wonderfully forthcoming about his own childhood experience with his self-identity in Rio and his emotional connection to classical art-forms at significant periods of his life.Nei Cruz is an Art Director, a photographer, and a makeup artist. Nei shares some of his experience working over decades with some of the world’s most glamorous faces in the Beauty and Marketing industries—and how no one escapes the self -judgement of an unconscious ugliness that perhaps, they alone can see. We also talk about the early days of Instagram, and the importance of sharing our creative practices.You can find examples of Nei’s high-end editorial and commercial work on his website. (I highly recommend perusing his NYC street photos on Instagram as well!)You can find the description of The Vili Figura/Despicable Face here. Allison’s Website: art and services.The Statue of “Winged Victory”Thank you for listening and supporting. I appreciate you. Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe/follow, and most importantly, SHARE. For the algorithm to work for me, I need all the help I can get. Thank you so much! Have a wonderful week!xoAllison This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

“We must be willing to get rid of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us. The old skin has to be shed before the new one can come. If we fix on the old, we get stuck. When we hang onto any form, we are in danger of putrefaction.” —Joseph CampbellMy guest for this episode is Ross Hamilton, calling in from Perth, Australia. (Please forgive my lingering-cold and early- morning voice…and whatever sniffles were recorded.) After discovering some very old family photographs, Ross commissioned me to make a painting of his great grandmother. What happened next was beyond either of our expectations. I love the idea of solving ancestral mysteries, and even if we didn’t solve this one entirely, it seems we developed some ghost-whispering skills through this collaboration. I’m so happy that we recorded our unusual experience at last. I don’t talk like this about every painting I make. No way. But this one deserved a podcast. I hope you enjoy the process.Just a few of the many clippings Ross found: And for the astrologers in this audience, here is her chart. Let me know what else you see and I’ll pass it on to Ross. We may not be finished building her memory yet!If you would like to have a portrait experience of your own, you are welcome to contact me about your idea. I still paint, believe it or not! :) And I love these kinds of artistic journeys. Look at www.groundbreakinggirls.com or www. allisonadams.net for information. I’m always happy to discuss ideas—no pressure. Thank you, friends, for supporting my stories and content. If you haven’t, please subscribe. If you’ve subscribed please leave a comment or review wherever you listen to your podcasts. And above all, if this episode resonated with you, please SHARE it with a friend who would enjoy it. I’ve always worked best with word-of-mouth integrity! In closing, take care of yourself. Pay attention. Honor your loved ones. Invite authenticity and empathy into your life. You are invited to add to this list of tips in the comments…or share a story of finding a lost ancestor! I, for one, would love to hear it!xoxoAllison This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.” —George Bernard ShawIn this episode, guest Rachael Cerrotti shares her experiences as a “storytelling alchemist’ and inherited memory collector, which seem to be the unexpected themes that keep unfolding through her life. Rachael is an award-winning author, documentary storyteller, educator, and curator. Through an interdisciplinary practice, she explores stories rooted in the humanity of grief and inherited memory. Her flagship work, We Share The Same Sky, is a decade+ long project following her grandmother’s wartime history. She recently completed fellowships with The Witness Institute and New America, and now hosts the Along The Seam podcast.I met Rachael in 2016, when we were both part of a very cathartic “Write Your Grief” group, facilitated by grief-specialist Megan Devine. It was great to connect with Rachael again in a vastly different moment in our lives, we and discuss what we learned there and how it helped us move forward with wider, softer hearts for ourselves and others. In this episode, we talk about the incredible synchronicities that can happen when we follow the mysteries that unfold through ancestral secrets, inherited memory, and shared stories within the murky Domus Tenebrosa.Contact Allison at: www.allisonadams.net or InstagramAllison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Allison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.“I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.” —Anne LamottI am honored to share this inspiring episode especially with the state of disability rights being threatened in the US at the moment. My immediate family has lived with various disabilities, and I understand how challenging it can be, trying to live with ease in our busy, modern world. And yet…listening to 18-year old Sadie, who has such a refreshing approach to it all, I felt so inspired by her attitude. I know she’s not alone: this is a generation of kids who “get it” earlier than those who came before. Thank goodness for that! And they have a lot to teach those of us who grew up in a different era. I’m so proud to witness and lift up the voices of young people like Sadie.Sadie, once a thrown into the spotlight as a child inventor, is now nearly finished with High School and ready for the next chapter. The self-awareness that has grown in her young life already astounds me. I’m inspired to be more like Sadie in my own activism, As she talked about her life-long dance with cerebral palsy (CP) and how she moved from improving mobility with her inventions to being a clear and vibrant voice as the advocacy-alchemist she is, something changed in my own attitudes. I feel very lucky to have had this interview. She’s a star and I’m a fan.Also, I painted a portrait of Sadie for the Women’s Museum of California in San Diego some years back. She is still just as cute…just older and even more eloquent now.Video of Young Sadie as inventor in 2018Sadie’s new film project: THE UNBALANCING ACTAllison’s WebsiteMuch love,AllisonPS, Each episode is recorded earlier than it is released. When we recorded, we didn’t know yet that the new Pope would be an alum of Villanova University, where Sadie will be going in the fall. Congratulations to Sadie…and to Leo XIV. Good company. Thanks for reading Allison’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Brigid Hopkins on the Alchemy of Inspiration (updated podcast with better sound.)Hi everyone! This is my very first TRIGGER WARNING (so I hope that means lots of listeners, right?). Seriously though, in this episode there is dialog around death and the bodies of the departed, both animal and human. I want to be mindful of sensitivities. And not just for the podcast…below, I will be sharing artistic pictures of some small dead wild animals, that our guest has honored in her practice.Consider yourself warned…or, hopefully for most of you, invited in to this conversation that ultimately touches on what we see as sacred, and we hope it brings insight and reverence to these profound topics. To me, this episode is one of the most moving and heart-opening conversations I’ve had here. So without further ado…welcome to the natural (and spiritual) world of my wonderful guest, Brigid, and her insights on life, death, and the ever-moving gift of inspiration.“Inspiritus” ImageBrigid Hopkins, hailing from Ohio, is an author, visual artist, catalyst coach, and eco-therapy guide. Brigid says she is in a committed apprenticeship with Mother Earth, and I have long been inspired by her gentle photographs of her reverence work—a devotional practice of restoring health to hurting places through the creation of earth art in various natural settings. In this episode, she shares her approach to Reverence Work.Here are the animal photos she shared with us. Enjoy! Brigid and I recorded this episode some time before it was published, and I found that this conversation did its work on me. It altered how I experience being a witness to death in nature. I'm finding myself more able to intentionally honor the creatures I find on my path, and that makes me feel even more engaged in this planet we share. (I will likely be sharing my own recent experiences on a post very soon…most likely for paid subscribers only as it’s all so recent and I’m more intimate with recent information.)Brigid’s WebsiteBrigid’s SubstackAllison’s Website/ Alchemy Lab Picturesmentioned: Ty Nathan Clark EpisodeHave a wonderful week, and until next time... may we walk gently on the earth and find inspiration in its endless wonders and living/dying cycles.Much love,AllisonAllison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

This week's guest, Dr. Michael Lennox, is a highly sought-after astrologer, psychologist, dream expert, and author. You may know him from the wildly-popular ⁠Red Robe Astrology ⁠ platform on social media, where he highlights the daily cosmic "weather report," or from his weekly podcast, ⁠Conscious Embodiment⁠, on which he discusses current astrological transits and interprets the called-in dreams of his listeners. He has written several books on dream interpretation, (including ⁠Allison's favorite⁠, as mentioned on the show.) Now, he finds his greatest joy being a teacher of self-transformation—an "ambassador to conscious embodiment."In this conversation, Allison and Michael talk about his "Going Deeper" classes, which bring the archetypal power of myth and fairytale into the playing field of the psyche...and how learning to be transparent and responsible for his own shadows and ways of being of a human in the world have evolved into an exciting teaching platform he never could have imagined when he was younger. This conversation is a celebration of personal evolution and maturity through the 'long-haul' journey of conscious exploration. It is often the hard things that are the making of us in the end—not the things that "we think" come so easily.Join us for an engaging, energetic conversation about ALL THE THINGS. My cat Maddy brings some unexpected domestic drama into the session about half way through! Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, and share...so we can keep growing this platform, which is always and foremost, a labor of time and love.To sign up for the upcoming (and highly recommended) "Going Deeper" classes (the next one on ⁠Little Red and Medusa⁠ starts mid-May) or any of Michael's other amazing offerings, visit his ⁠website⁠. ⁠It's all HERE!⁠⁠Allison's Website: Art and Offerings.⁠⁠The Crystallization Card⁠ (prints are available with US shipping for $60)Art Inspiration: Congelatio illustration (circa 1700s)🐍⚗️∞💠💗Thanks for listening and engaging!Allison Adams*Disclaimer: I am aware that there were some sound quality issues in parts of this episode. Please listen through those as things even out again soon. For the substack/newsletter crew, here is some artwork I made during Dr. Lennox’s classes in the past. Strong memories for me, I’m glad I have the visuals!(Medusa) Made during Shadow class(Camille Claudel) Made during Shadow class.Made during Selke class.Made during Hansel and Gretel classMade during Demeter/Persephone class. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

This episode is special to me because it was a chance to listen to the sweet voice of my dear friend Marie Louise Flexen, a professional dancer who lives in England. She’s one of the few dancers I know who has made a career of dancing— that has sustained her through her life thus far, and likely, far into the future. In this episode, Marie Louise reflects on the memory-themes that keep showing up in her life, and discusses how her own “lack of options” pushed her to continue to hone her craft…to the point that there was nothing else to do…but keep on dancing!She discusses two projects in particular: her earlier work with horses, and her current work with birds. Here is a link to watch the award winning film: Arrival by Horse. And here is a link to the Red List of endangered birds. Below are some wonderful pictures (taken by husband, Steve Skinley) which will give you some visual clues to her latest project.As synchronicity works, I was editing this episode this week, after recording it last month, and after re-hearing her sharing about the amazing Swift, our local skies were full of them. I do not remember noticing this many before. It was certainly a delight to watch them flying fast and high and understanding a little more about this magnificent bird, and the timing was exquisite.Here are a couple more fun bird pictures I took this weekend. Look up, this is the best season for it. Pigeons at Sea.You know that pigeons are really doves with bad marketing, right? It’s true. Look it up! They come in peace!Marie Louise’s WebsiteAllison’s WebsiteThank you for supporting this podcast by subscribing, following, sharing, and commenting. Happy to have you in this community. Till next time, dance like no one is watching…or like EVERYONE is watching. You do you. Just move your body!Love,Allison This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

This episode centers on something central to my everyday life: the way the ADHD brain works and learning how to “hack” it to work for a person instead of against them. Of course I’ve only been learning about this for about a year now, since I was diagnosed with ADHD in March, 2024. So in some ways, the publishing of this episode is an anniversary celebration! One whole year of exploring a new relationship with my neurodivergent brain, after 52 years of not giving it the credit deserved. I realize many people don’t care to be labeled or diagnosed, but in my case, it’s been one of the most freeing realizations I’ve ever had. For example, knowing this helps me to be more gracious and understanding as a mother. (These things run in families, after all.) Even more, it’s helped me to be more gracious and understanding with myself.So OF COURSE I enjoyed talking with Jennie Friedman, ADHD and Business Coach, about how she helps her clients focus their ever-seeking minds and shine in their livelihoods. The things that seem simple for some are not so simple for others, and Jennie has a clear and energetic way of sharing helpful tips and tools from her bounteous tool-box, particularly using the framework of Human Design. After all, she calls herself a Lightwalker: part magician, part Jedi knight. And that is exactly what she seems to be.If you are new to Human Design, Jennie does a great job simplifying the system and explaining the different types. She is a Projector, and I’m a Manifesting Generator. If you are curious about working with Jennie as a coach or joining her “Shiny Tribe,” you can reach her at these links: Jennie’s Website (book a session!)Jennie's Facebook PageShiny Tribe InstagramJennie chose to discuss the Alchemy of Self-Organization. Here is the illustration.To see more of my paintings, order prints, book a Gene Keys reading, or are interested in personal coaching sessions with me, please visit my website: It’s all there. You can email me here with any questions or comments. Thanks again for listening and learning with us! Keep experimenting!Allison This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

You guys! I think this may be my most favorite episode yet. But of course, I have no real objectivity. I love them all. But this one felt especially sweet as it was a conversation with a friend that I met in an alternate timeline (Middle School) in an alternate place (Papua New Guinea). Isn’t life …at its truest, simply SURREAL? Not sure how else I can describe it, especially as us survivors keep going and bumping into the magical strangeness of our collective reality. I think perhaps the best way is to just TALK ABOUT IT. Kristen Hayer is a long time friend, someone who shares the 3rd Culture Kid experience with me, even though our experiences with our families and environments were each uniquely our own. Kristen experienced real life sharks, while I simply had nightmares about them. She’s a multiple-dog owner, and I’m obsessed with my cat. My current art project is in ancient alchemical symbols, while hers is focused on the living desert of Mexico. In this conversation, two reunited adolescent TCK friends discuss our experience of discovering an exotic Animal Kingdom , both physical and symbolic. We remember loving riding horses, being afraid of sharks and snakes, and how our unexpected spirit animals have led us out of confusion and grief. The Coyote on the FOOL card of Kristen’s deck.Handsome “Handsome Rob” has a TikTok you can follow!Work in progress: Kristen’s desert-life tarot project. Stunning!ART OFFER:If you listen to this episode and let me know your favorite part, I’m offering a discount on the prints we discussed. Usually they are $60 but with your discount they are only $45 (25% off…with free US shipping as well.) I’m happy to offer this to you listeners. I appreciate the valuable time you give just in reading my notes and listening to these alchemical conversations. Prints available here. Use code PODCAST at checkout. “Wolf Moon”“Stand Your Ground”“Queen of the Jungle”Guardian Angle (You Were Always There)Also please visit www.allisonadams.net/coaching if you would like to work with me directly.Book Mentioned in Podcast: Animal Speak by Ted AndrewsThank you again for listening and supporting! Much love, AllisonAnd if you got to the end of this: Here is a bonus photo: 13 year old Alli and Chestnut, (who I still sometimes dream about.)Please share with other animal-loving friends and subscribe, if you haven’t yet! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Samantha Bennet is a pure-personality powerhouse! Beyond that she is GENEROUS. The wealth of practical knowledge and insight she brings to this brief episode is remarkable. Everything can be distilled to simple approaches, and massive projects can be fulfilled in just 15 minutes a day. Sam is the founder of TheRealSamBennett.com, a company committed to helping overwhelmed creatives and frustrated over-achievers get unstuck, so they can prioritize, focus and move forward on the goals that matter. In this episode, we discuss how her she may be an “uncorking” alchemist in the grand laboratory of communication and her love for the colorful cutouts of the great Henri Matisse.Sam’s Website: TheRealSamBennet.comAllison’s Website“Virgin in a Bottle” (Lac Virgines Card)Allison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

"The shadow is a moral problem that challenges the whole ego-personality, for no one can become conscious of the shadow without considerable moral effort. To become conscious of it involves recognizing the dark aspects of the personality as present and real. This act is the essential condition for any kind of self-knowledge."— Carl Jung, "Aion" (1951)Artist and Therapeutic Art Facilitator Jessica Ballantyne discusses the alchemy of Chaos her curious, creative approach to Jungian shadow-work and active imagination practice. As something that can sound so scary to some, Jessica has discovered playful ways to experience once-rejected elements of Self and, in the process, has found more health in her body and joy in heart. Please check the following links for more about Jessica's work...and the illustrations we discuss in this episode.Create Calm Crew⁠⁠Jessica's Facebook Page⁠⁠⁠Jessica’s Instagram Page⁠⁠⁠Robert Fludd Illustrations⁠⁠⁠⁠Rick Rubin's Book Cover⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Swans Reflecting Elephants⁠⁠⁠⁠HeartMath Institute: Global Coherence⁠⁠Allison’s Art Website⁠Allison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts, please subscribe. Unedited video versions of episodes are available for paid subscribers. Thank you for supporting my work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Hello everyone…here is my second attempt at getting this episode published! The trickster is afoot big time this Mercury Retrograde! I’d launched the wrong version! Thankfully, Jill ,my guest, listened early and pointed the mix-up before too long. However if you did try to listen to that one or got confused with an email that didn’t open…this is the one I re-invite you to listen to!Join me in conversation with Jill Carnay, a vocal musician and sound-healer, whose journey with sound began in childhood and has evolved into a profound practice of healing and expression. With formal training spanning jazz, classical voice, and North Indian devotional traditions, Jill brings a profound musical foundation to her work. What makes Jill's approach remarkable is how her personal healing journey through somatic practices transformed her relationship with her body and art. After experiencing her debilitating physical dys-regulation through heavy metal poisoning, she discovered that working directly with the body's nervous system could release long-held patterns of tension and restriction. Through this embodied approach, she healed her body, improved her emotional regulation, and deepened her sense of purpose beyond what conventional therapies had offered. Now as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, she guides others through this transformative process, using movement, breath, and awareness practices that honor the body's innate wisdom and capacity for healing.⁠⁠⁠Jill's Website: The Vocal Universe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jill's Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Allison's Alchemy Deck⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dissolutio Card⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Butoh Dance⁠⁠Thank you so much for listening to this podcast. It’s a true labor of love and curiosity for me. Please subscribe so you don't miss next week's episode! Be well!xoxoAllisonPhotography of Butoh Dancers by Tom Johnson This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

In this intimate conversation, open-book and globetrotting painter Rebekah Evans shares her practice of making paintings inspired by the sacred places she visits. Co-creating with the Earth and the Water, she has continued her creative practice even through the unexpected death of her son and her deep grieving experience. Rebekah shares her personal insights of becoming a “Sprit Mother,” now inspired in new ways by her beloved child’s spirit. We discuss the great alchemical symbol of the Ouroboros, the snake eating its own tail, infinity and beyond, and her appreciation for the ancient Chinese painter Xu Beihong’s Galloping Horse.Rebekah’s InstagramAllison’s Art WebsiteRebekah’s Brisbane Show (April 2025) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Life Coach and Psychologist Mike Parisi was Allison's mentor for four years (2020-2024.) This hilarious (to us) conversation touches on all sorts of Quantum Dynamics: the stabilizing energy of the Axis Mundi (or World Tree) along with EFT/Tapping, the importance of naming one's personal mythology, the higher message of Autism, AI 'consciousness,' and wondering if we might actually be aliens after all. Are we wacky, wise, or just Creative Idealists? The jury is still out. Follow along if you dare!We invite you to subscribe, share, and leave feedback! Thanks for being here!⁠See Allison's Artwork here⁠Allison's Substack ⁠Listen on SpotifyListen on Apple This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

A. Laura Brody is a costume designer, sculptor, and creator of Opulent Mobility, an artistic movement that re-envisions disability and mobility devices as mythical and elegant works of art, often larger than life. Her theatrical approach comes from her roots as a theatrical costume designer, and her advocacy comes from real-life experience with how physically disabled people are hidden from our awareness because we don't have the imagination to do things differently. A. Laura Brody contemplates the alchemical concept of the IMAGINATION, which is always asking "What if things were different? What if earlier limitations don't need to exist? What new thing wants to happen? How can I make things better for everyone? Etc."Note to the rest of us: What is getting in the way of our imagination?Listen on SpotifyLinks for this episode:Opulent Mobility"War is not Healthy for Children and Other Living Things" by Lorraine SchneiderAllison’s Alchemy SeriesSister Corita Kent (mentioned in episode) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Tanya Taylor Rubinstein founded Somatic Writing as a way to help her clients move through personal blocks to write their truest memoirs. She is also a Family Constellation and Ancestral Reparation Facilitator, honoring the invisible bonds between generations as a way to bring healing in the present, for the sake of the future. She chose two Alchemy Cards: The Divine Spark and Dissolution(Disintegration). In Tanya’s view, the two are equal parts of the same story, connected, in her words, “by a Möbius strip.”The Artwork she chose was from the photography series Migrations by Sebastio Salgado. (Please take the time to browse some of the powerful photos on that link.)If you would like to join Tanya’s writing community or just try out a (donatation-based) Ancestral Writing Circle, they will be held monthly. Please register in advance. Ancestral Writing CircleTanya’s InstagramTanya’s FacebookAllison’s Art WebsiteListen to this episode on SpotifyPLEASE SUBSCRIBE so you don’t miss an episode, to be published weekly. I truly appreciate your support and your time.Allison’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.L This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

“I have put in the work, dedicated myself to learning, become extremely disciplined in my studio practice and at the end of the day; it's the work that speaks. It is always about the work. It always has been.”-Ty Nathan ClarkThis is the first interview in our podcast series. Allison Adams speaks with abstract artist Ty Nathan Clark about his commitment to the Work of Art, his chosen alchemical symbol, Conceptio/The Divine Spark and his love for a particular Cy Twombly masterpiece.Please follow the links below for more ways to visit the images discussed and for Ty’s vast artistic offerings to the world. Ty's WebsiteTy’s InstagramJust Make Art Podcast/YoutubeAllison’s Website The Divine Spark ImageTy's Chosen ArtworkConceptio/The Divine Spark“Here is where our real selfhood is rooted, in the divine spark or seed, in the image of God imprinted on the human soul. The True Self is not our creation, but God's. It is the self we are in our depths. It is our capacity for divinity and transcendence.”—Sue Monk KiddIn many religions throughout the world, the concept of the Divine Spark is seen as the portion of God that resides within each person—a piece of the infinite creative force and pure consciousness. You might even say our individual lives are the Divine enjoying human experiences through us. In that case, there is nothing left to do but express that spark and see where it takes us! We are here to create, rather than fix. Life moves forward with curiosity and expression.When you start a new project, idea, moment, remember that you are co-creating with the Universe. There is nothing more pure than the lighting of this spark. And if you have doubts or lose your momentum, try to remember the purity of that initial urge that longs to become something greater. Although you may let your traumas, insecurities, or logistics dampen the spark, please remember that that spark is bigger and more powerful than your container. Isn’t that worth honoring and trusting and seeing where things go? You’ve somehow made it this far without knowing what you are doing...and done a pretty magical job of it too.Challenge: make a prayer to your creativity and see if something greater than your mind answers. What if all the fear you have felt is just a conditioned resistance to the call of the wild Universe that just wants to play and expand? And if you knew you were completely supported at every turn, would you let that inner Spark lead the way?It’s always the beginning. The best is yet to come. Imagine it. Create it. Get comfortable with this power. This is the boundless Divine. What’s next?Here is a mantra to play with: “I am not here to fix, I am here to create.”XO Allison Adams This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe

Art and Alchemy Lab explores transformation through creativity. Host Allison Adams talks with Modern Alchemists - artists, healers, and visionaries who have learned to turn lead into creative gold." This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit artandalchemylab.substack.com/subscribe