Black Isis & Kali: Secrets of the Pythian Priestess Unleashed – The Dark Goddess Rises!

Host: Jason Rigby

 

Guest: Ashley M. Ryan (Pythian Priestess)

 

Guest Bio: Ashley M. Ryan, known as Pythian Priestess, is an initiated priestess in a Hermetic Order dedicated to the Goddess Auset (Isis). With over half her life dedicated to studying and practicing magick and witchcraft, she rose to TikTok fame in 2019 and founded the Pythian Mystery School in 2020. Ashley is a spiritual leader, educator, and advocate for reclaiming the sacred feminine in its wholeness—light and shadow alike.

 

Episode Overview: In this powerful and thought-provoking episode, Jason Rigby welcomes back Ashley M. Ryan, the Pythian Priestess, to discuss her evolving journey as a spiritual leader and the fierce, unapologetic nature of the divine feminine. Ashley shares her insights on sacred rage, the commodification of spirituality, and the importance of integrating the shadow self. Drawing from ancient archetypes like Black Isis, Kali, and the Black Madonna, she offers practical rituals and wisdom for women seeking wholeness in a world that often dilutes the sacred. The conversation explores themes of truth, resilience, and the balance of light and shadow, challenging the "love and light" narrative with a call to embrace the wild and transformative aspects of spirituality.

 

Key Themes:

 

1. Sacred Rage and the Warrior Archetype

• Ashley steps into the "warrior archetype" as a woman, not to destroy, but to defend truth, the sacred, and the mysteries (01:40).
• She connects this to her astrological birth chart (Saturn and Mars in the sixth house), emphasizing service and discipline (01:40).

 

2. The Dilution of Spirituality

• Ashley expresses grief over the commodification of spirituality, watching it become a "branded ATM" rather than a transformative tool (02:35).
• She critiques spiritual bypassing and the avoidance of pain, especially post-LA fires (03:32).

 

3. The Dark Goddess and Wholeness

• Referencing Dancing in the Flames by Woodman and Dickinson, Ashley explains the absence of the dark goddess in modern society and its damaging effects (04:41).
• Archetypes like Kali, Black Isis, and the Black Madonna embody resilience, fierce love, and the integration of suffering (16:06, 20:00).

 

4. Thumos: The Spirited Fire of the Soul

• Ashley introduces the ancient Greek concept of Thumos—righteous anger that defends truth and honor—contrasting it with the "love and light" narrative (10:39).
• She ties this to Plato’s chariot allegory and the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot’s Chariot card, symbolizing balance between the soul’s appetites and higher aspirations (14:05).

 

5. Embracing the Shadow

• Ashley emphasizes that the shadow is not an enemy but a part of wholeness, urging listeners to alchemize pain into wisdom (33:50, 35:15).
• She shares a personal story of a nightmare at 15, revealing unexpressed rage and the unconscious mind’s role in healing (23:04).

 

6. Practical Rituals for Integration

• Ashley offe