
From Baptist Pastor to Magic Practitioner
05/20/25 • 45 min
What happens when a deeply committed Baptist pastor with five biblical degrees begins to question everything he's been taught? Sun of Thunder's remarkable spiritual journey will challenge and inspire anyone who has ever felt constrained by religious dogma or wondered if there's more to divine connection than what traditional institutions offer.
Sun of Thunder is a gifted healer, clairvoyant and fledgling hoodoo practitioner who was ordained as a preacher of Free Will Baptist (FWB) church. Over time, FWB recognized Sun of Thunder's earnestness in religious educational pursuits, including reading interpretations of the Aramaic and Greek Bibles, and named him Christian Education Director for 27 churches. Eventual pushback on these pursuits coupled with the church's decisions to not aid the community when in dire need convinced Sun to walk a spiritual path away from FWB that better aligns with his truth about God and living in harmony with the world.
Details
Our guest takes us through the pivotal moments that transformed his spiritual path—from a near-fatal car accident where four mysterious hands pushed him back from certain death, to his rise as a respected pastor and Christian Education Director overseeing 27 churches. But beneath his successful ministry career, questions were brewing. Why weren't churches studying original biblical languages? Why did congregations refuse to help struggling neighbors during the housing crisis? And perhaps most troubling, why did spiritual experiences in nature feel more authentically divine than anything he experienced within church walls?
Sun of Thunder describes how a gentle breeze once provided profound healing during one of his darkest moments, and how this experience challenged everything he'd been taught about divine connection. "I received what I needed from nature itself and was able to go forward. So you can't tell me it's all about things in four walls," he explains. His journey eventually led him to explore ancestral veneration practices, creating space to honor those who loved him in life and continue to provide guidance beyond death.
The conversation delves into profound questions about power, control, and authentic spirituality. What happens when institutions position themselves as necessary intermediaries to God? How do we respectfully learn about diverse spiritual traditions without appropriation? And how do we find our own truth when it conflicts with established dogma?
If you've ever questioned your spiritual path or felt drawn to deeper connections with nature and ancestors, this episode offers both validation and inspiration. As Sun of Thunder reminds us, "There's a tribe for every single person. There's no such thing as truth until you decide what truth is for yourself."
References
Dr. Delbert Blair - About Dr. Delbert Blair | The Meta-Center
Braiding Sweet Grass, author Robin Wall Kimmerer
Wild Church - Wild Church Network - Home
Sponsorships
We do not advertise nor accept sponsorships so that your listening experience remains free of distractions. If you are as passionate as we are about supporting spiritual seekers, consider buying us a coffee at: https://buymeacoffee.com/mysticalmermaidlounge.
Please feel free to email us with positive and constructive ideas, questions or comments at [email protected].
Thank you for listening! Please follow and rate/review if you love us. Blessed be.
What happens when a deeply committed Baptist pastor with five biblical degrees begins to question everything he's been taught? Sun of Thunder's remarkable spiritual journey will challenge and inspire anyone who has ever felt constrained by religious dogma or wondered if there's more to divine connection than what traditional institutions offer.
Sun of Thunder is a gifted healer, clairvoyant and fledgling hoodoo practitioner who was ordained as a preacher of Free Will Baptist (FWB) church. Over time, FWB recognized Sun of Thunder's earnestness in religious educational pursuits, including reading interpretations of the Aramaic and Greek Bibles, and named him Christian Education Director for 27 churches. Eventual pushback on these pursuits coupled with the church's decisions to not aid the community when in dire need convinced Sun to walk a spiritual path away from FWB that better aligns with his truth about God and living in harmony with the world.
Details
Our guest takes us through the pivotal moments that transformed his spiritual path—from a near-fatal car accident where four mysterious hands pushed him back from certain death, to his rise as a respected pastor and Christian Education Director overseeing 27 churches. But beneath his successful ministry career, questions were brewing. Why weren't churches studying original biblical languages? Why did congregations refuse to help struggling neighbors during the housing crisis? And perhaps most troubling, why did spiritual experiences in nature feel more authentically divine than anything he experienced within church walls?
Sun of Thunder describes how a gentle breeze once provided profound healing during one of his darkest moments, and how this experience challenged everything he'd been taught about divine connection. "I received what I needed from nature itself and was able to go forward. So you can't tell me it's all about things in four walls," he explains. His journey eventually led him to explore ancestral veneration practices, creating space to honor those who loved him in life and continue to provide guidance beyond death.
The conversation delves into profound questions about power, control, and authentic spirituality. What happens when institutions position themselves as necessary intermediaries to God? How do we respectfully learn about diverse spiritual traditions without appropriation? And how do we find our own truth when it conflicts with established dogma?
If you've ever questioned your spiritual path or felt drawn to deeper connections with nature and ancestors, this episode offers both validation and inspiration. As Sun of Thunder reminds us, "There's a tribe for every single person. There's no such thing as truth until you decide what truth is for yourself."
References
Dr. Delbert Blair - About Dr. Delbert Blair | The Meta-Center
Braiding Sweet Grass, author Robin Wall Kimmerer
Wild Church - Wild Church Network - Home
Sponsorships
We do not advertise nor accept sponsorships so that your listening experience remains free of distractions. If you are as passionate as we are about supporting spiritual seekers, consider buying us a coffee at: https://buymeacoffee.com/mysticalmermaidlounge.
Please feel free to email us with positive and constructive ideas, questions or comments at [email protected].
Thank you for listening! Please follow and rate/review if you love us. Blessed be.
Previous Episode

Moon Magic and Healing Religious Trauma with Katherine Eady
Katherine Eady shares her soul-stirring true tale of growing up in a controlling and restrictive religious environment. After some uncomfortable courtship moments and leadership scandals in the church, Katherine began to question the validity of the principles she'd been taught and the earnestness of the religious leaders dispensing those lessons. Through open-hearted contemplation, curiosity and inner wisdom, she decided to explore her own spiritual path and allowed her love of nature and the moon to guide her.
We are so grateful to Katherine for sharing her story with us! Not only did she afford us her precious time to interview her, but she graciously recorded and sent her thoughts to additional questions we had during the editing process. Therefore, you may notice some differences in volume and tone. We ask that you focus on her words and appreciate her spiritual journey!
Sponsorships
We do not advertise nor accept sponsorships so that your listening experience remains free of distractions. If you are as passionate as we are about supporting spiritual seekers, consider buying us a coffee at: https://buymeacoffee.com/mysticalmermaidlounge.
Please feel free to email us with positive and constructive ideas, questions or comments at [email protected].
Thank you for listening! Please follow and rate/review if you love us. Blessed be.
Sponsorships
We do not advertise nor accept sponsorships so that your listening experience remains free of distractions. If you are as passionate as we are about supporting spiritual seekers, consider buying us a coffee at: https://buymeacoffee.com/mysticalmermaidlounge.
Please feel free to email us with positive and constructive ideas, questions or comments at [email protected].
Thank you for listening! Please follow and rate/review if you love us. Blessed be.
Next Episode

The Awakening Call: Hurricane Katrina, Shamanism and KarmaFest
What happens when a medical researcher at Johns Hopkins receives powerful premonitions about global disasters? For Patricia Hawes, these visions led to an extraordinary awakening during Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, where a chance encounter with a spiritual teacher changed everything.
Today, Patti Hawse is a prophetic shamanic practitioner, and founder/producer of KarmaFest. KarmaFest is an annual festival for spiritual seekers in the mid-Atlantic. The last of 75 festivals is scheduled for June 28-29, 2025, in Havre de Grace, MD.
This episode explores Patti's spiritual awakening, teachings of her shaman mentor (Leotha Douglas), working with energies, the beginnings of KarmaFest, and what's next for Patti and the spiritual community she's cultivated over the last 20 years.
Details
Patricia recounts the fascinating story of how she transformed from a conventional career professional into the founder of Karma Fest, a metaphysical festival she's produced for 20 years. Before this radical shift, she experienced vivid premonitions of events like 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. Following her intuition to volunteer in Louisiana, she met Leotha Douglas – the man with amber eyes who had been appearing in her dreams asking "Where are you?"
During a yoga and meditation session in a Baptist church shelter, Patricia underwent a profound chakra clearing that sparked her spiritual journey. This catalytic moment led her to create Karma Fest, a gathering that embraces diverse spiritual modalities without pushing any single belief system. Through the festival, Patricia has witnessed countless transformations – including within her own family, as her daughter's life changed dramatically after receiving a reading at an early event.
Throughout our conversation, Patricia shares insights from her extensive exploration of spiritual practices – from shamanic journeying and Reiki to channeling and energy work. She explains how these experiences shaped her understanding of intuition, healing, and the connections between physical needs and spiritual awareness. Her refreshing approach embraces learning through direct experience rather than rigid doctrine.
As she prepares for her 75th and final Karma Fest this June, Patricia discusses her future plans – finishing her memoir, reviving a screenplay about Edgar Cayce, and developing retreat concepts that unite spiritual teachers. Her parting wisdom resonates powerfully: "We're so much more powerful than we think we are... you shouldn't dim yourself out of fear."
Join us for this enlightening conversation about following intuitive guidance, embracing spiritual awakening, and creating spaces where transformation can flourish. Ready to explore your own intuitive hits?
References
KarmaFest - www.karmafest.com
How Life Happens for Me, Not to Me When I Stop Playing Small, Leotha Douglas
Modern Mystery School - The Modern Mystery School
Sponsorships
We do not advertise nor accept sponsorships so that your listening experience remains free of distractions. If you are as passionate as we are about supporting spiritual seekers, consider buying us a coffee at: https://buymeacoffee.com/mysticalmermaidlounge.
Please feel free to email us with positive and constructive ideas, questions or comments at [email protected].
Thank you for listening! Please follow and rate/review if you love us. Blessed be.
Mystical Mermaid Lounge - From Baptist Pastor to Magic Practitioner
Transcript
Welcome to the Mystical Mermaid Lounge Podcast, a space where all spiritual seekers are honored and celebrated. This podcast was born from the journeys of your hosts, who have each faced her own dark night of the sun, but they've emerged with an unshakable belief in divine connection, cosmic inspiration, and her true life's calling.
SPEAKER_01Join us on a journey of personal growth, transformation and
If you like this episode you’ll love
Episode Comments
Generate a badge
Get a badge for your website that links back to this episode
<a href="https://goodpods.com/podcasts/mystical-mermaid-lounge-692847/from-baptist-pastor-to-magic-practitioner-92677119"> <img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/goodpods-images-bucket/badges/generic-badge-1.svg" alt="listen to from baptist pastor to magic practitioner on goodpods" style="width: 225px" /> </a>
Copy