How To Be Magical

After a year-long hiatus - we're back!! In this episode, host Nikki Buchanan shares what she's been up to, from school to merch drops to spending time with family. Now more than ever, community and joy are a necessary part of survival. Speaking of community, our family and former guests of the pod are doing some amazing things! Subscribe to Devante's Substack - https://babaobz.substack...

In this captivating episode of  How to Be Magical , host Nikki Buchanan sits down with Tea, the visionary behind Grandma Baby Apothecary and creator of the  Black Gold Lenormand  and  52 Blues Oracle  decks. Tea shares her journey into Hoodoo, revealing how ancestral connections and spiritual reliance shape her creative work. The discussion delves into the heart of Hoodoo, dispelling misconception...

In this compelling episode of How to Be Magical , host Nikki Buchanan welcomes Zahira Cabrera—activist, artist, and the voice behind Bad Dominicana—for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about survival, feminism, and reclaiming identity. Zahira shares her deeply personal journey, from enduring emotional abuse and racism in her marriage to becoming a global advocate for Black Latinx women....

In this profound episode of  How to Be Magical , host  Nikki Buchanan  sits down with  Rish De Terra , a cultural memory keeper, curator of  The Annual Hoodoo Conference , and creator of  Nine Minds Radio . The conversation delves into the importance of reclaiming ancestral roots, the role of community in spiritual practice, and the power of remembering as an act of resistance. Rish  shares her jo...

In this deeply enriching episode of  How to Be Magical , host  Nikki Buchana n sits down with  Gerard Miller —hoodoo practitioner, herbalist, doula, and textile artist—for a conversation that bridges ancestral wisdom, plant medicine, and the liberatory power of queer spirituality. Gerard , a Baltimore-born, Seattle-based rootworker, shares their journey of returning to Chesapeake Bay conjure tradi...

In this captivating episode of  How to Be Magical , host Nikki Buchanan sits down with her lifelong friend and unconventional thinker, Giovanni Luna, for a deep dive into spirituality, dreams, and the unseen connections that shape our lives. Titled  "From Taft to The Astral Plane: Gio's Unconventional Wisdom,"  the conversation explores Gio's unique journey—from his formative yea...

In this enlightening episode of  How To Be Magical , host Nikki Buchanan sits down with Mel of Luminary Wings to explore the power of an abundance mindset, spiritual healing, and the transformative journey of self-discovery. Mel shares her personal story of overcoming trauma, embracing Reiki, and building a community rooted in love and light. From debunking misconceptions about group rituals to di...

In this electrifying episode of  How to Be Magical , host Nikki Buchanan sits down with the visionary  Ace Blackwood of Hip Hop and Hoodoo  for a conversation that blends spirituality, pop culture, and unapologetic Black femme magic. From the nostalgic allure of Y2K aesthetics to the rebellious power of mythology’s unruly women, Ace shares their journey as a filmmaker, illustrator, and conjure wom...

Host Nikki Buchanan ( Soul Things Botanica ) sits down with priestess and spiritual practitioner  Iya Ajewole Osundara  for a lively discussion blending spirituality, pop culture, and real talk. Spiritual Paths : Iya’s journey from candle magic to becoming an Iyanifa, and the realities of Orisha practice. Community Wisdom : Misconceptions about initiation, vetting elders, and why discernment matte...

Happy Women's History Month, yall! In this episode of How To Be Magical host Nikki Buchanan unpacks what it means to be a Black woman in America, how stereotypes about Black women harm the collective and explores what it looks like to heal from these perceptions. Head over to soulthings.substack.com for longer form articles and think pieces about this topic and many others.

Happy Black History Month Yall! Welcome back to the How To Be Magical podcast! In this week's episode host Nikki Buchanan shares some tips and methods for staying cool, centered, and focused amid this political hellscape of a timeline we've found ourselves in. How can we center joy, community, and mental peace now? And how did our ancestors navigate the world with considerably "less&q...

Happy 2025! New year, new season of HTBM. In this episode of HTBM host Nikki Buchanan discusses current events, the transit of Pluto in Aquarius, liberation, and what it means to be free in a time of deepening restriction and regression. Our ancestors were considered unlawful because they refused to take bigotry, enslavement, and terrorism lying down. Follow Nikki and Soul Things Botanica online a...

In this episode host Nikki Buchanan has an intimate chat with Midwest Hoodoo, spiritualist, early childhood educator and coffee lover, Miss Honey aka H.H. Jupitera. Author of "The Guide To A Sweet Life", Miss Honey shares the way she connects with spirit, her journey as an educator and how she uses her platform to help others connect with the Divine. Follow Miss Honey on Twitter and TikTok at @Mis...

Happy Hoodoo Heritage Month, y'all!! In this episode of The How To Be Magical Podcast host Nikki Buchanan of Soul Things Botanica sits down with Hoodoo, conjurer, pythoness, and love witch Nessy Whitmire. Listen in as Nikki and Nessy talk all things low country, astrology, love work and the importance of glamour as a magical practice. For show notes, clips and resources from this episode follo...

In this episode of the How To Be Magical Podcast host Nikki Buchanan of Soul Things Botanica sits down with Loli Moon of Mystic Moon Medicine about her work as an astrologer, ancestral roots in Jamaica, and women's liberation. Check out Mysticmoonmedicine.com to learn more about Loli and her practice. For show notes, clips and resources from this episode follow the podcast on Instagram at @how...

In this episode of How To Be Magical host Nikki Buchanan has a chat with Bronx native Angelica Crespo aka Angie Thee Brujx. Angie is multidisciplinary brujx that specializes in herbal medicine, reiki, tarot, sound therapy. Angie is also a practicing doula and birth worker. To learn more about Angie Thee Brujx and her practices follow them on Instagram @theebrujx. For show notes, clips and resource...

Host Nikki Buchanan talks about her new book "The Lil Book of Glamour Baths" and the importance of using glamour magic in our everyday lives. Download a free digital version of the book at Soulthingsbotanica.com.

In this episode of How To Be Magical, host Nikki Buchanan sits down with singer, author, and Hoodoo Jay St. Flono to discuss about their new book "Black American Magic: A Feast of Food & Folklore". Available for purchase at Barnes & Noble. Follow Jay on instagram at @jaysaintflono and on Twitter at @zorascreation For show notes, resources and clips from this episode follow the po...

In the final installment of The Soul of Masquerade host Nikki Buchanan speaks with her good friend - native Brooklynite, Orisha devotee, carnival enthusiast, and flight attendant, N'ima Alston. N'ima shares her connection to carnival culture, how it's transformed her personhood, and how she incorporates the culture into her life. To follow N'ima's adventures in the sky and on t...

In this last installment of "The Good Spirits Return" and the second half of host Nikki Buchanan's conversation with Alex and his Yayi Mercedes, Alex continues his tale of discovering which house was best for him, his journey as a medium, and his relationship with his godmother Mercedes. To learn more about navigating your natural gifts from Mercedes follow her on Instagram at @Cuban...

In the third installment of "The Good Spirits Return" host Nikki Buchanan of Soul Things Botanica speaks with multi-disciplinary practitioners Alex and his Godmother Mercedes about their roots and experiences with different spiritual systems. To learn more about navigating your natural gifts from Mercedes follow her on Instagram at @Cubanthingssynergy. To keep up with Alex and his astral...

In this first installment host Nikki Buchanan of Soul Things Botanica chops it up with writer, carnivalian, and co-host of Stay In The Sun podcast, Toni Wilson about body positivity and liberation in carnival culture. Follow Toni on Instagram at @fatblackluxury. For more show notes, resources, and clips from this episode follow the podcast on Instagram at @howtobemagicalpodcast, on Twitter at @how...

In the second installment of "The Good Spirits Return" host Nikki Buchanan of Soul Things Botanica chops it up with Hoodoo and Conjure man Marsan of Coil & Bloom Conjure about his foundation in hoodoo, ancestor veneration, and working roots. To schedule a consultation or to purchase mojos, conditioning oils, and powders from Marsan bookmark his site coilandbloomconjure.com and use th...

In this first installment host Nikki Buchanan of Soul Things Botanica sits down with Orisha devotee and Trinidadian Devante about his experience as a masquerader, the importance of carnival culture in the African diaspora and the significance of the steel pan. To keep up with Devante on social media follow him on Instagram at @thehoodobeahman. For more show notes, resources and clips from this epi...

Welcome to the 3rd season of The How To Be Magical podcast. In this first installment host Nikki Buchanan of Soul Things Botanica has a cross Atlantic chat with spiritualist Sharifa of Ageno's Luxury Decks about her journey with spirit, reclaiming her personal power through the White Table and her path as it unfolds in the Akom tradition. To schedule a reading or to purchase decks, baths, curi...