#82 Botanicas, Magick Stores and Gris-Gris Shops

Jason Mizrahi, manager, and Jack Mizrahi, founder, of Original Products Botanica Supplies in the Bronx

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Fahrusha warmly welcomed Jason Mizrahi, manager of Original Products and David B. Metcalfe, paranormal researcher to Shattered Reality Podcast to discuss the growing business of magickal supplies around the world. The founder of Original Products, Jack Mizrahi (retired), pictured above, is the father of Jason and an incredibly erudite businessperson. He started the business with his longtime friend Milton Benezra in the 1950s upon returning home from the Korean War. Because he could speak Ladino the language of the Sephardic diaspora, it was easy to understand Spanish, as Ladino has its roots in Old Spanish. As a result of his facility with languages and innate humor and common sense, Original Products became a successful institution in the South Bronx, catering to the Latin American community’s spiritual supply needs and later to the Afro-Caribbean  community. Today Original Products’ reach spans the globe and their products are used by people of many different spiritual traditions.

Also featured on this episode is return guest, David B. Metcalfe, a prominent paranormal researcher, writer and multimedia artist focusing on the interstices of art, culture, and consciousness. He is a contributing editor for Reality Sandwich, The Revealer, the online journal of NYU’s Center for Religion and Media, and The Daily Grail. His blog is Exploring the Outer Edges of Society and Mind. He has worked extensively with Andrew Chesnut who has researched the Santa Muerte tradition and is the co-developer of the website Most Holy Death.

David B. Metcalfe, intrepid researcher of the paranormal

We had a lively discussion about emerging spiritual traditions, magickal supplies, and what it is like to be involved in paranormal studies.

Shattered Reality Podcast encourages listeners to submit their own paranormal experiences for inclusion in the “Listeners’ Corner” featured on some episodes.

 

C.M.Mayo, Spiritism and the Mexican Revolution #33

C. M. Mayo, author of Metaphysical Odyssey Into The Mexican Revolution: Francisco I. Madero and his secret book, Spiritist Manual.

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Kate Valentine and Fahrusha welcome award-winning author C.M. Mayo to “Shattered Reality Podcast” to discuss the role of Spiritism on the 1910 Mexican Revolution and related topics. Francisco I. Madero who briefly became the President of Mexico was a devout Spiritist. He was also a leader of the 1910 Mexican Revolution.

Mayo’s book Metaphysical Odyssey into the Mexican revolution: Francisco I. Madero and his secret book Spiritist Manual, is actually two books in one. The first part is an well researched examination of Francisco I. Madero’s Involvement with Spiritism (an offshoot of Spirtualism with some unusual twists) and its effect on the Mexican Revolution and thereby the history of Mexico. It also chronicles C.M. Mayo’s journey to understanding the very complex network of interrelationships between the players and philosophies responsible for the Mexican Revolution.

The second book within a book is C.M. Mayo’s painstaking translation of Madero’s Spiritist Manual which he wrote under the nom de plume “Bhîma”. It is an interesting look inside the mind of one of Mexico’s most famous leaders from a metaphysical perspective.

We think students of history as well as those interested in the paranormal will find this episode fascinating.

Errata: The 2016 SSE Symposium happened in Boulder, CO not Denver.

Book cover: Metaphysical Odyssey into the Mexican Revolution: Francisco I. Madero and his secret book,Spiritist Manual.