Fair Folk Podcast
Fair Folk
Fair Folk is a podcast rediscovering and sharing the sacred song and folk traditions of Europe.
Fair Folk is a podcast rediscovering and sharing the sacred song and folk traditions of Europe.
October Almanac: Sensibility
Epizode
The folklore of October offers us a threshold of tenderness, an opportunity to deepen into maturity and savour the golden sunset of the year. Sign up for my Pagan Sacred Chant workshop series and Frost-Tide chant workshop October 11: https://www.danicaboyce.com/chant-workshops-2026 Sign up for my Abundance Paganism workshops and Scarcity to Abundance workshop October 20: https://danicaboyce.com/abundance-paganism-2026 Join me in person in London for a chant workshop on October 23: https://www.danicaboyce.com/london-pagan-chant Join my mailing list: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/ Opening theme: Forest March by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods music: https://www.harpcenter.com/ Read the J.R.R. Tolkien poem I shared, Winter Comes to Nagothrond: https://www.eternal-flame.org/library/oldlibrary/nargothrond.html Pick up Eleanor Parker's excellent book on Anglo-Saxon seasons, Winters in the World: https://reaktionbooks.co.uk/work/winters-in-the-world
This episode focuses on the last of the harvest in the month of September, asking what spirit of this summer’s harvest you intend to host over the colder months. Sign up for my Abundance Paganism workshops: https://danicaboyce.com/abundance-paganism-2026 Join the free Abundance Paganism mini-course: https://danicaboyce.myflodesk.com/q266txu4bb Sign up for my Pagan Sacred Chant workshops: https://www.danicaboyce.com/chant-workshops-2026 Join my mailing list: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/ Music in this episode: Opening theme: Forest March by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods music: https://www.harpcenter.com/ The Wild Wild Berry by (Stephanie) Hladowski and C(hris) Joynes Buy their music: https://cjoynes.bandcamp.com/album/the-wild-wild-berry-2012 Lengsel by Sun and Moon Dance Buy their music: https://sunandmoondance.bandcamp.com/album/mitt-hjerte
The story of how I began this podcast out of burnout and illness and began feeling into the path on a different level. Plus a dive into pagan conceptions of destiny and free will from Old Norse and Old English. (Take courage!) Sign up for Well of Wyrd audio membership for £20/month starting April 20: https://www.danicaboyce.com/well-of-wyrd Sign up for the Golden Thread coaching circle for folks with a spiritual calling starting April 20: https://www.danicaboyce.com/golden-thread Learn more about Pagan Camp, July 27-30: https://www.danicaboyce.com/pagan-camp-2026 Visit my website: https://www.danicaboyce.com/ Join my mailing list: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/ Find me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danica.boyce/ Old English poem the Wanderer: http://www.anglo-saxons.net/hwaet/?do=get&type=text&id=wdr Music in this episode: Weja Ura by Olivia Fern - buy the album: https://oliviafern.bandcamp.com/album/red-thread Seven Daughters of the Sea by Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin - buy the album: https://www.irishsong.com/shop/seven-daughters-of-the-sea/ Waltz for the Cosmos by Lassi Logrén - buy the album: https://lassilogren.bandcamp.com/album/jouhikko Theme music is Forest March by Sylvia Woods. Buy Sylvia Woods' music: https://www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds
In this episode, I speak with Veronica Rottman, a somatic practitioner specializing in the female nervous system, about holy well and spring folklore and the ways it resonates with trauma integration and healing. You can sign up for our upcoming collaborative workshop, Sacred Waters: Healing at the Well of Brigid here: https://waking-womb.com/events/2026/1/24/sacred-waters-healing-at-the-well-of-brigid Veronica Rottman's website: https://waking-womb.com/ Veronica Rottman's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wakingwomb Mentioned in the episode: Frau or Mother Holle: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frau_Holle Rosaleen Durkin’s Irish sacred wells walking tours: https://visitwicklow.ie/listing/irish-sacred-wells-walking-tours/ Brielle Elise: waking the well: https://www.instagram.com/wakingthewell The well maidens account in the Elucidation: https://d.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/text/elucidation.html (Lines 29-132) A note: birds are associated with the fisher king’s court (and fish) more than other animals, somewhat counter to what I said in the episode. A special thank you to Sylvia Woods, whose tune Forest March is the intro theme to Fair Folk! Image: The goose maid at the well by Arthur Rackham Join my mailing list: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/ Find me on instagram: instagram.com/danica.boyce
In this episode I talk with Irish sean nós (old-style) singer Chan Reid about the experience of living as an immigrant far from one’s ancestors, and how experiences of migration and dislocation resonate in the heart of Irish traditional song and music. Chan sings some heart-cracking-open songs, and even obliges me by explaining how Irish traditional singers do the “diddly bits” that make sean nós songs sound so unbelievably cool. Join my pagan ritual song course here: https://www.danicaboyce.com/pagan-ritual-song Follow or contact Chan Reid here: https://www.instagram.com/seannossinger Join my mailing list here: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/ References: Joe Heaney for sean nós songs Irish Traditional Music Archive: https://www.itma.ie/ Scottish sound archive Tobar an Dualchais (Kist o' Riches): https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/ Songs in the episode: Dooley Gate by John Shiel (sung by Chan Reid) Here's a Health to the Company, traditional (sung by Chan Reid and Danica) The Shores of Loch Bran (sung by Chan Reid) Thank you to Sylvia Woods whose tune, Forest March, is the theme music to Fair Folk podcast
Join Abundance Paganism: https://www.danicaboyce.com/abundance-paganism Join the Abundance Paganism mini-course: https://danicaboyce.myflodesk.com/q266txu4bb Marika's summer course, Ancestral Embodiment: https://wildbody.ca/ancestral-body Join my Substack mailing list: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/
Sign up for the free Abundance Paganism mini-course (Sept 2026!): https://danicaboyce.myflodesk.com/q266txu4bb Sign up for Abundance Paganism workshop series 2026-2027: https://danicaboyce.com/abundance-paganism-2026 Join my mailing list: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/ Find me on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danica.boyce/
In this episode I talk with the incredible Lindsay Mack of Tarot for the Wild Soul Podcast and No Bad Cards on Substack! Sign up for our collaborative workshop Holy Homecoming: Reclaiming Magic in an Age of Illusion on May 25th at 10 am PT, 1 pm ET, 6 pm UK: https://www.tarotforthewildsoul.com/holy-homecoming Lindsay's podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AXz5dXTFFceckBMve9vNT?si=48c0a83ff9044a52 Lindsay's Substack, No Bad Cards: https://lindsaymack.substack.com/ Danica's Substack: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/ Intro theme to Fair Folk: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods
In this episode, I welcome Joanna Tarnawska aka Polish Folk Witch to the podcast, who teaches online about Polish folk magic with a syncretic perspective. In this episode she speaks generously with me about her understanding of and experience with saints within the Polish folk tradition, and I respond with my own reflections on engaging with saints with a pagan and animistic lens. Sign up for Wonder Club, my course on saints for the Christian-ambivalent: danicaboyce.com/wonder-club Join Joanna’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/polishfolkwitch Pre-order Joanna’s book, Polish Folk Magic: https://www.crossedcrowbooks.com/shop-crossed-crow-books/p/polishfolkmagic Joanna’s website: https://polishfolkwitch.pl/ Find her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polish.folk.witch/ Image: A wayside shrine
In this episode I speak with Scottish storyteller Dougie Mackay about the troubled relationship between humankind and wolves in the British isles, and how we might revive the days when culture was shared with entertainment and joy at the centre. He shares a moving story from Ireland about a peculiar family a man meets while searching for lost cows, and offers a blessing for the revival of the wolf's vital place in our world. Learn more about the upcoming Wonder Club saints course, starting March 5th: https://www.danicaboyce.com/wonder-club Sign up for Cave of Dreams - Feast and Fast workshop, February 23: https://www.houseoflegends.me/cave-of-dreams Learn more about A Song of Oak and Ash retreat, Sept 11-14: https://www.houseoflegends.me/2025-retreat Dougie’s Mailing list: sendfox.com/dougiemackaystory Dougie’s website: storyconnection.org Dougie’s Podcast: Tales for our Times: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/tales-for-our-times/id1691719370 The Hearthfire sessions: https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:5916/913:25451/ The Edinburgh Fringe: https://www.edfringe.com/ Dougie’s book, Scottish Tales for Telling: https://dougiemackaystory.bandcamp.com/album/scottish-tales-for-telling
In this episode I share my most popular Substack mailing list post from 2024, as well as some ways you can work with me this January. Sign up for my mailing list on Substack: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/ Sign up for Entheos workshop: Danicaboyce.com/entheos Sign up for Wolf Milk or the Cave of Dreams series: https://www.houseoflegends.me/cave-of-dreams Make a coaching appointment with me: https://www.danicaboyce.com/shop/p/walk-talk-coaching-session Listen to the Wolf Milk almanac episode from 2023: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5itug3FltIUkTwY29YzP4j?si=c2883a9841cb4a6d Listen to Craft as pagan devotion with Daniel Allison: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2VT0N5gjTNDOR5Gpifd2pN?si=d86300a4b3754085
Sign up for October's Cave of Dreams workshop: www.houseoflegends.me/cave-of-dreams Find me on Substack: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/ In this almanac episode, I survey some themes of the folklore of October, from fire rituals to guising, and invite listeners to dream into the relationship they would like to cultivate with the unseen in the winter months of the year. The full moon of October this year is October 17th, from which this episode took its Anglo-Saxon name, Winterfylleþ, winter-full, the full moon marking the start of the winter half of the year. Music in this episode: Opening theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds "Tam Lin" by Moira Craig Buy this track: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/tam-lin/1617427959?i=1617427977 "The Foggy Dew" by Ye Vagabonds Buy it: https://yevagabonds.bandcamp.com/track/the-foggy-dew "Dromte Mig En Drom I Nat" by Musica Ficta & Bo Holten Buy this track: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/dromte-mig-en-drom-i-nat/474624260?i=474624262 Corrections: The whales I saw were in fact porpoises, and I was recording near Dunstanburgh Castle, rather than Dunstan Castle
In this episode I share about September as harvest month in folklore, Old English names for the month and season, spirits of the grain, the meaning of the equinox in tradition, the upcoming lunar eclipse, and Michaelmas! Sign up for the Cave of Dreams workshop series: https://www.houseoflegends.me/cave-of-dreams Find me on Substack: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/ September Almanac playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0gajsHJ86ljT3f1TuFtLFI?si=ce9b72a3701d4b77 Music in this episode: Opening theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds “Ripest of Apples” by Anna and Elizabeth Buy Anna and Elizabeth’s music: https://annaandelizabeth.bandcamp.com/ “Band of Shearers” by Carla Sciaky Buy Carla Sciaky’s music: https://carlasciaky.com/index.html#store “My Son David” by the Brothers Gillespie Brothers Gillespie tour and music: https://thebrothersgillespie.com/shows “Apples and Potatoes” by June Tabor June Tabor tour: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/112582-june-tabor Instrumental tracks: “Apples in Winter” by Peter Acty Buy this track: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/apples-in-winter/1617403163?i=1617403387 “Harvest Home” by Willie Clancy Buy the album: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/willie-clancy-the-gold-ring/458399572 Image: Theodor von Hörmann - Mondaufgang nach der Ernte
Subscribe to my Substack newsletter: https://enthusiastica.substack.com/ Join the Cave of Dreams workshop series: https://www.houseoflegends.me/cave-of-dreams In this episode, Daniel Allison tells the story of the god Lugh (after whom Lughnasadh is named) at the hall of the king Nuada, leading us into a discussion of how we might approach Lughnasadh folklore and mythology now. Then we share what each of us has been up to lately, especially emphasizing the role of pagan devotion in each of our work, and diving into the role of “permission” to embody sacred traditional culture.
This episode explores folklore and pagan origins of the 12 days of Christmas, with a focus on the feminine winter figures of Perchta, Holle, and Grýla, featuring a conversation with Jenn Campus, author of A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule. Pagan Ritual Song course: https://f77d9f-2.myshopify.com/products/pagan-ritual-song-course-jan-feb-2024 Buy Jenn Campus’ book, A Guide to Celebrating the 12 days of Yule: jenncampusauthor.com/product/a-guid…-days-of-yule/ Emilia Blom, who shared the solstice wishes ritual with me: www.instagram.com/vildmedicin/ My Big Fat Solstice playlist on Spotify: open.spotify.com/playlist/2LFjxSU…a743490a69a6459c Gnome for Christmas Fair Folk episode: open.spotify.com/episode/5ysFM2qu…6172f7663bc0479f Join my mailing list: view.flodesk.com/pages/62d72c01da642d55a9868141 Resources & references for this episode: The Stations of the Sun: the ritual year in Britain by Ronald Hutton "'He met his own funeral procession': The Year walk-ritual in Swedish folk tradition” Tommy Kuusela: www.academia.edu/9403910 The Icelandic Yule Lads poem in English ingebretsens-blog.com/wp-content/upl…-Lads-Poem.pdf “The Winter Goddess: Percht, Holda, and Related Figures” By Lotte Motz dokumen.tips/documents/motz-lot…s-1985.html?page=5 “Perchta the Belly-Slitter and Her Kin: A View of Some Traditional Threatening Figures, Threats and Punishments” by John B. Smith www.scribd.com/doc/17325747/Perc…itter-and-Her-Kin ‘Grýla, Grýlur, Grøleks and Skeklers: Medieval Disguise Traditions in the North Atlantic?” by Terry Gunnell notendur.hi.is/~terry/articles/T…_and_Skeklers.pdf Music in this episode: Opening theme: Forest March by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds Malpas Wassail by the Watersons Buy it: www.amazon.co.uk/music/player/alb…483616862&sr=1-1 Spinn, Spinn, Spinnerinn by Herbergsuche Gruppe Buy it: music.apple.com/ca/album/spinn-sp…55276?i=318155791 Grýlukvaeði by Thrju a Palli Buy it: music.apple.com/ca/album/gr%C3%BD…7315?i=1621787688 Instrumental track: The Wanderer by Juniper and the Wolf Buy Juniper and the Wolf’s music: juniperandthewolf.bandcamp.com/
This episode surveys the folklore of the first half of December, including St. Nicholas' Day on Dec 6th, St. Lucia's day on Dec. 13th, and the solstice. As we approach the darkest point of winter, I ask you to follow the rhythm of nature and turn your gaze to the small, the domestic and the precious. Sign up for the ONLINE Pagan Carols Singalong!: https://winter-lion-59052.myflodesk.com/sgn5zaflv8/ Sign up for the IN-PERSON Pagan Carols Singalong in Victoria BC: https://winter-lion-59052.myflodesk.com/yl53dvqx1w Join my mailing list: view.flodesk.com/pages/62d72c01da642d55a9868141 Music in this episode: St. Nicholas by Anúna Buy this track: anuna.bandcamp.com/track/st-nicholas-2 Luciavisa by Lisa (singer Emma Härdelin) Buy this track: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/luciavisa/204432292?i=204434789 There is no Rose by the King’s Singers Buy this track: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/there-is-no-rose/79623724?i=79623213 Orientis Partibus by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels Buy music by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels here: www.medievalminstrels.com/ Kąlėdų rytų saulė pražydo (The Sun Blossomed on Christmas Morning) by Sedula Buy this track: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/kal%C4%97d%C5%B3-ryt%C4%85-saul%C4%97-pra%C5%BEydo/1427982403?i=1427982982 Rex Tua Nolo Munera by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels Buy music by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels here: www.medievalminstrels.com/ Sources for this episode: Lyrics to The Sun Blossomed on Christmas Morning by Sedula: www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=5162 Some more information about medieval animal carols: http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/friendly_beasts.htm More information about medieval carols: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology-south-east/news/2020/dec/evolution-medieval-christmas-carols The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen: https://americanliterature.com/author/hans-christian-andersen/short-story/the-snow-queen
In this episode I gently interrogate what we mean when we say "the veil is thin" at Halloween, and offer a vision of the whole of winter as a season of hospitality between humans and the otherworld(s) through fire, story, music, and rituals of generosity. Listen to past Fair Folk episode "All Hallows' Folk Tradition at the Gates of Winter" https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/all-hallows-folk-tradition-at-the-gates-of-winter/id1177770160?i=1000452872493 Get love letters from me: https://winter-lion-59052.myflodesk.com/pijrgnu11x Join my Patreon for as little as $2 a month!: https://www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast Where to find Kirsten Milliken, the storyteller: instagram.com/kirstinmillikenstoryteller facebook.com/com/kirstinmillikenstoryteller www.kirstenmilliken.co.uk Music in this episode: Opening theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds "Réidh Chnoc Mná Duibhe" by Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin Buy the song: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/re-idh-chnoc-mna-duibhe/1653578592?i=1653581085 Image is Fairy Tale of Kings by Lithuanian painter Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis
We have reached the energetic peak of the year. The main ancient and folkloric themes of June ritualise the human relationship to two of our primary life-givers, the sun and water. Our romance with these elements (and one another) reach a peak as the year completes its in-breath around the summer solstice. This episode outlines a faint thematic arc in historical Whitsun practices at the start of June, and Midsummer at the end, focusing especially on the folk rituals and folksong of the Baltic countries, Eastern Europe and Ireland. Purchase my new Gathering the Gods course on Thor, Odin, & Freya: fantastic-hall-390.myflodesk.com/ My excellent Midsummer Solstice / June Almanac playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0gG8z6O83kpkjflUqaSMZc?si=a7a6693c091046ef The Midsummer Solstice episode of Fair Folk podcast from 2018: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1QZliHXdfHHmSVy0ySfpbv?si=fe6608a7395c4a5e “Rusalki: Anthropology of time, death, and sexuality in Slavic folklore” by Jiří Dynda https://www.academia.edu/34620531/Rusalki_Anthropology_of_time_death_and_sexuality_in_Slavic_folklore “The Mythic Sun: An Aerial Perspective” by Thomas Dubois: https://chs.harvard.edu/chapter/thomas-a-dubois-the-mythic-sun-an-areal-perspective/ “Migration of Song Genres: Two Typical Lithuanian Cases” by Rytis Ambrazevičius https://bop.unibe.ch/EJM/article/view/8335 “The Midsummer Solstice As It Was, Or Was Not, Observed in Pagan Germany, Scandinavia and Anglo-Saxon England” by Sandra Billington https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hX0NJJHjoicOq-5VH3kPfsQAX3NTbAtj/view?usp=sharing Music in this episode: Opening theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds “O Na Ivana Na Kupala” by Olexa Kabanov - Buy it: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/oh-na-ivana-na-kupala/919387915?i=919387973 “Švinta Jona Vakaralia” by Nalšia - Learn more and buy it (scroll down for English): http://www.lnkc.lt/go.php/lit/Kupole-roze-sekminiu-joniniu-dainuojamoji-tautosaka/110946 Ozolini, Ozolini by Vilkači - Buy it: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/j%C4%81nis/1201942701
This episode, a bonus introductory unit to my upcoming Gathering the Gods course, introduces Old Norse culture and language, and describes the status of gods in the Old Norse religion and cosmology. This course will give an overview of the surviving historical texts and traces of the gods Thor, Odin, and Freya. Gathering the Gods begins May 7th! Sign up here: https://fantastic-hall-390.myflodesk.com/ Access the reading and materials for this intro unit: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1GPjFkblda1E7NlXrpMCHRa0Q5WWk_JJO?usp=sharing
This episode outlines the key themes of May folklore embodied in the celebrations of May 1st, aka May Day or Beltane: bonfires for purification and protection, veneration of plants and trees, the leading of animals to green pastures, erotic expressions of pleasure, and the blooming promise of earth's abundance. Join the Gathering the Gods course on Thor, Odin, & Freya: https://fantastic-hall-390.myflodesk.com/ Listen to the Big Beltane Spotify playlist (newly updated): https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6UVpAwkdX39Bk5mY1Kd2Xc?si=0f91f96826544081 Big Beltane: May Day Song and Custom episode from 2019: https://open.spotify.com/episode/62jeozEUNP0FFrKKSafLEJ?si=4de8b4c66c284d5b Music in this episode: "Don't you Go a Rushing" by Lisa Knapp https://lisaknapp.bandcamp.com/album/till-april-is-dead-a-garland-of-may "Robin Hood and the Tanner" by Jesse Ferguson Buy it: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/folk-favourites/1238844872 "Äggavisan" by Folk och Rachare Buy it: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/%C3%A4ggavisan/1462963060?i=1462963069 Opening theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds
This episode my guest is Olle Möllervärn, Swedish folklore and paganism researcher and bear nerd! In this episode we discuss animism and how it brings us into more ethical relationship with animals, the connection between human fertility and bears, including human-bear romance, as well as the reason bears are connected with St. Tiburtius' day, April 14th. Join my mailing list for a discount on my upcoming course on Old Norse polytheism, Gathering the Gods: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62d72c01da642d55a9868141 (Registration opens April 17th) Olle Möllervärn on Academia.edu: https://miun.academia.edu/OlleM%C3%B6llerv%C3%A4rn Norwegian bear dance - skip to 18:00: https://tv.nrk.no/program/FOLA69009669 Opening theme: Forest March by Sylvia Woods Purchase Sylvia Woods' music: https://www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds
This episode outlines the folklore of April in northern Europe: April Fool's day, Palm Sunday, Easter, St. George's day, and the history of gathering greenery for ritual and soups, rising at the dawn to worship a goddess, cuckoo folklore, dragon lore, and lovely spring ritual songs to set the mood! This month's April Almanac Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2AJtQbVqaNJKhwbSNpRqxc?si=4d2dafd206f74a15 Join the mailing list: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62d72c01da642d55a9868141 Goddess of the Dawn episode of Fair Folk: https://soundcloud.com/fairfolkcast/goddess-of-the-dawn Goddess of the Dawn Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37OdQr0zs03bygse4ULS47?si=1dcb8ccce828438e Resources: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, chapter: In the Footsteps of Nanabozho: Becoming Indigenous to Place. A quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7192815-our-immigrant-plant-teachers-offer-a-lot-of-different-models Mimisbrunnr entry on the Nine Herbs Charm (Nigon Wyrta Galdor): https://www.mimisbrunnr.info/nigon-wyrta-galdor A nice German nine-herb soup recipe: https://www.kitchenproject.com/german/recipes/Suppe/Grundonnerstagsuppe/index.htm Music in this episode: Opening theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds Kuku Kaki Kultarinta by Honeypaw Purchase: https://honeypawband.bandcamp.com/track/kuku-kaki-kultarinta Edi Beo Thu Hevene Quene by Helena Ek and Goran Mansson Purchase: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/edi-beo-thu-hevene-queene/1625877870?i=1625879088 Now the Green Blade Riseth by Caedmon Purchase: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/now-the-green-blade-riseth/1491931796?i=1491932896 St. George by Waterson: Carthy Purchase: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/st-george/1280110185?i=1280110191 Instrumental track at 54:29: A Madre De Jhesu Cristo by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels Purchase: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/a-madre-de-jhesu-cristo/1346857580?i=1346857906 Bright morning stars are rising by Tony Saletan and Irene Saletan Purchase: https://folkways.si.edu/tony-and-irene-saletan/folk-songs-and-ballads
This almanac episode dives into the folklore of February through the lens of the Ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia on February 15th, tracing the themes of birth, milk, wolves, wildness, purification, death, twilight, and thunder through the month’s other pagan holidays, including St. Brigid’s day on February 1st, Candlemas / Gromnica / Perkunas Day on February 2nd, and Scandinavian St. Peter Hotstone on February 22nd. This month’s episode asks what the notion of purification might mean in a pagan context, and suggests it may mean facing the shadow parts of ourselves that we tend to project onto animals (and women) so we can ritually integrate them, clarifying and owning our role as powerfully in-between creatures in a powerfully in-between world. Important dates: February 1: Brigid’s Day / Bride (Ireland / Scotland) February 2: Candlemas (Christian) / Gromnica (Slavic) / Perkunas day (Lithuania) / Perun’s Day (Belarus) February 14: St. Valentine’s day February 15: Lupercalia February 21: Mardi Gras / end of Carnivale / Start of Lent February 22: St. Peter Hot-stone Listen to the February Almanac playlist on Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/4c148b82-bfe5-46cf-ba26-63b7bc2a7acd Listen to the February Almanac playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2QSKLQ8WeAq9v26NWfpTtX?si=33e31c5e2fe74971 Music in this episode: “Lupercalia” by Faun Buy Faun’s music: https://shop.faun-music.com/ “Värgsangen” by Jonna Jinton More Jonna Jinton music: https://www.youtube.com/user/jonnajinton Buy Jonna Jinton’s art: https://jonnajintonsweden.com/ “Ulvetimme” (The Hour of the Wolf) Maria Franz and Christopher Juul Buy Heilung’s (Maria Franz and Christopher Juul) music: https://heilung.bandcamp.com/ “Mary’s Keen” by Noirin Ni Riain Buy this track: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/marys-keen/992023961?i=992023970 Buy Noirin Ni Riain’s music: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/stor-amhran/41446103 “Grá” by Wardruna Buy Wardruna music and merch: https://wardrunashop.com/collections/music Buy Wardruna digital tracks: https://wardruna.bandcamp.com/music Opening theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds Sources for this episode: Watch Ronja Robbersdaughter: https://fsharetv.io/watch/ronja-robbersdaughter-episode-1-tt0088015 Watch Wolf Walkers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_Z_tybgPgg Emperors of Rome Podcast, Lupercalia episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/episode-cxxxv-lupercalia/id850148806?i=1000465237605 History and Folklore Podcast: Medieval Wolves episode: https://historyandfolklorepodcast.libsyn.com/medieval-wolves Medieval Folklore: A Guide to Myths, Legends, Tales, Beliefs, and Customs edited by Carl Lindahl, John McNamara, and John Lindow: entry: “Wolf [Canis Lupus] and Werewolf” The Nordic Animist Year (book) by Rune Rasmussen Candlelight Tales Podcast: Brigid episode: https://soundcloud.com/candlelittales/episode-7-brigid Transcript: Welcome to the podcast. This is the February Almanac episode of Fair Folk called Wolf Milk. In these Almanac episodes, I comb through European calendar custom. that is folklore relating to the cycle of the year, typically with a focus on Northern Europe. And I share what I find with you to help you orient the month ahead. Equipped with knowledge of nourishing traditions that can help reconnect you to the natural cycles of the year to land and the life in the plants, animals, our bodies, and ourselves. Seasonal folklore and festivals call us back into community with all beings on the earth in its regular spinning wheel of life and death. And they help us to tend through ritual, our ties to our kin of all species, both our ancestral kin and our future kin to come. The recovery of European traditional cultures, the ones that privilege relationality, interconnection and respect for all beings, which you might call indigenous cultures, is so early in its stages.
In this January almanac episode, I share about how English Plough Sunday and Plough Monday rituals dovetail with pagan midwinter worship of Odin to present a quandary as rich today as ever: How do we hold sacred the human capacity to employ technologies that multiply our power, while dancing on the delicate balance between service and domination? How do we bless the hard work of human hands where it meets the life of the world? This episode delves into traditions of chasing out the spirits of Yule, as well as blessing of apple trees, ploughs, and ultimately ploughboys as representatives of the overflow of human passion and physical power. Sign up for UNEARTHED, my course on the roots of imperialism in the Christian Middle Ages: https://rustic-waterfall-641.myflodesk.com Listen to the January Almanac playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2lcgJz369QMIDmN8J4LEAq?si=96bd3fac66c8482f Contact me by email fairfolkcast [at] gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danica.boyce/ Music in this episode: January Man by Lau & Karine Polwart Buy it: https://lau-music.bandcamp.com/track/january-man Apple Tree Wassail by Jon Boden Buy his albums https://hudsonrecords.co.uk/shopfront/jon-boden Ploughboy’s Dream by Janice Burns and Jon Doran Buy it: https://bandcamp.com/download?cart_id=97060025&sig=7770feb4eddf1844063928c397bc5b88&from=checkout Ploughboy’s Glory by Lisa Knapp Buy it: https://lisaknapp.bandcamp.com/track/ploughboys-glory Instrumental track: St. Agnes’ Eve by Carol Wood Buy it: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/st-agnes-eve/130331483?i=130332115 Opening theme: Forest March by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds Sources and Resources for this episode: Rune Hjarno Rasmussen’s St Knut / Odin parallels video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l99YoPiPLrg The Nordic Animist Year (book) by Rune Hjarno Rasmussen: https://shop.nordicanimism.com/shop/9-books-and-calendars/9-the-nordic-animist-year/ The Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain by Ronald Hutton (book) “The Winter Goddess: Percht, Holda, and Related Figures” By Lotte Motz dokumen.tips/documents/motz-lot…s-1985.html?page=5 “Perchta the Belly-Slitter and Her Kin: A View of Some Traditional Threatening Figures, Threats and Punishments” by John B. Smith www.scribd.com/doc/17325747/Perc…itter-and-Her-Kin Lyrics to folk song "Ploughboy’s Glory" http://www.joe-offer.com/folkinfo/songs/362.html Episode Image: by John Bauer from story "The Ring," by Helena Nyblom, 1914 Transcript: This is the January Almanac episode of Fair Folk in which I will be discussing the folklore and pagan roots of January celebrations with an emphasis on nourishing traditions we can bring forward and apply to our modern lives, to help us connect to land and to history in productive and empowering ways. This month I'll be focusing on the new cycle of years changing over the end of the Yule season and our relationship to labour and technology, which was a focus that arose for me while I was researching this January episode. That hasn't arisen for me before, but it definitely is an emphasis of English and Nordic tradition, and it'll explain more as we go ahead. Other themes that arise in January folklore are the continued divination and predictive quality for the year ahead that we've may have already seen in December. Folklore also the supernatural and the feminine visiting from the wilds beyond, because it is still winter and these forces still rule. There's often a theme in January songs especially of weather, bad weather, loneliness, cold and love, longing as metaphorically associated with those sensations of coldness and isolation in the wintertime. And of course, the slow return of the sun is being observed across European folklore, which is what I always focus on.
This episode explores folklore and pagan origins of the 12 days of Christmas, with a focus on the feminine winter figures of Perchta, Holle, and Grýla, featuring a conversation with Jenn Campus, author of A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule. Unearthed: medieval imperialism course: https://rustic-waterfall-641.myflodesk.com Buy Jenn Campus’ book, A Guide to Celebrating the 12 days of Yule for $5: https://jenncampusauthor.com/product/a-guide-to-celebrating-the-12-days-of-yule/ Emilia Blom, who shared the solstice wishes ritual with me: https://www.instagram.com/vildmedicin/ My Big Fat Solstice playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2LFjxSUsJYrJE2S0nuYWdB?si=a743490a69a6459c Gnome for Christmas Fair Folk episode: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5ysFM2qushhgWVuEx5kLq1?si=6172f7663bc0479f Join my mailing list: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62d72c01da642d55a9868141 Resources & references for this episode: The Stations of the Sun: the ritual year in Britain by Ronald Hutton "'He met his own funeral procession': The Year walk-ritual in Swedish folk tradition” Tommy Kuusela: https://www.academia.edu/9403910 The Icelandic Yule Lads poem in English https://ingebretsens-blog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/The-Yule-Lads-Poem.pdf “The Winter Goddess: Percht, Holda, and Related Figures” By Lotte Motz https://dokumen.tips/documents/motz-lotte-the-winter-goddess-percht-holda-and-related-figures-1985.html?page=5 “Perchta the Belly-Slitter and Her Kin: A View of Some Traditional Threatening Figures, Threats and Punishments” by John B. Smith https://www.scribd.com/doc/17325747/Perchta-the-Belly-slitter-and-Her-Kin ‘Grýla, Grýlur, Grøleks and Skeklers: Medieval Disguise Traditions in the North Atlantic?” by Terry Gunnell https://notendur.hi.is/~terry/articles/TerryGunnell-2001_Gryla,Grylur,Groleks_and_Skeklers.pdf Music in this episode: Opening theme: Forest March by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds Malpas Wassail by the Watersons Buy it: https://www.amazon.co.uk/music/player/albums/B09WJGTF52?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1483616862&sr=1-1 Spinn, Spinn, Spinnerinn by Herbergsuche Gruppe Buy it: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/spinn-spinn-spinnerin/318155276?i=318155791 Grýlukvaeði by Thrju a Palli Buy it: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/gr%C3%BDlukv%C3%A6%C3%B0i/1621787315?i=1621787688 Instrumental track: The Wanderer by Juniper and the Wolf Buy Juniper and the Wolf’s music: https://juniperandthewolf.bandcamp.com/
This episode surveys the folklore of the first half of December, including St. Nicholas' Day on Dec 6th, St. Lucia's day on Dec. 13th, and the solstice. As we approach the darkest point of winter, I ask the listener to follow the rhythm of nature and turn your gaze to the small, the domestic and the precious. Join my mailing list: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62d72c01da642d55a9868141 Music in this episode: St. Nicholas by Anúna Buy this track: https://anuna.bandcamp.com/track/st-nicholas-2 Luciavisa by Lisa (singer Emma Härdelin) Buy this track: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/luciavisa/204432292?i=204434789 There is no Rose by the King’s Singers Buy this track: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/there-is-no-rose/79623724?i=79623213 Orientis Partibus by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels Buy music by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels here: https://www.medievalminstrels.com/ Kąlėdų rytų saulė pražydo (The Sun Blossomed on Christmas Morning) by Sedula Buy this track: https://music.apple.com/ca/album/kal%C4%97d%C5%B3-ryt%C4%85-saul%C4%97-pra%C5%BEydo/1427982403?i=1427982982 Rex Tua Nolo Munera by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels Buy music by Trouvere Medieval Minstrels here: https://www.medievalminstrels.com/ Sources for this episode: Lyrics to The Sun Blossomed on Christmas Morning by Sedula: https://www.mamalisa.com/?t=es&p=5162 Some more information about medieval animal carols: http://www.hymnsandcarolsofchristmas.com/Hymns_and_Carols/friendly_beasts.htm More information about medieval carols: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology-south-east/news/2020/dec/evolution-medieval-christmas-carols The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Andersen: https://americanliterature.com/author/hans-christian-andersen/short-story/the-snow-queen
This is a conversation with Scottish folk-magic blogger and social worker Scott Richardson Read about the Gaelic folklore figure called the Cailleach: the old woman known as Scotland’s midwife; landscape shaper, storm-bringer, sovereignty figure, ancestral being, resurrected once and again, and present all through the folk calendar of the year. The Cailleach has been popularly associated with wintertime, which is why I feature her on Fair Folk now, at the beginning of winter. Transcript of this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12oDeT-0u-0fnnascirU_k5izVU4kQHACj2zqTFI2wGA/ Resources referenced in this episode: Cailleach’s Herbarium blog, Cailleach article #1 https://cailleachs-herbarium.com/2015/08/the-cailleach-a-tale-of-balance-between-darkness-and-light/ Cailleach’s Herbarium blog, Cailleach article #2 https://cailleachs-herbarium.com/2015/08/the-cailleach-a-tale-of-balance-between-darkness-and-light-part-two/ Cailleach’s Herbarium blog entry on an animist shrine dedicated to the Cailleach: https://cailleachs-herbarium.com/2018/01/the-cailleach-scotlands-midwife-tigh-na-bodach/ Article: The Cailleach in Place-names and Place-lore by Alasdair C. Whyte: https://clog.glasgow.ac.uk/ojs/index.php/JSNS/article/view/58/107 Mckenzie’s Wonder Tale, Beira, Queen of Winter: https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/tsm/tsm04.htm 9th century poem about the Cailleach, “The Old Woman of Beare” Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65CWjdVcBmg Text: https://www.ronnowpoetry.com/contents/anonymous/OldWomanBeare.html Songs in this episode: Opening theme: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds “The Old Woman of the Mill Dust / Cailleach An Dudain” by Alison Kinnair & Christine Primrose Buy Alison Kinnair & Christine Primrose’s music: https://guysegers1.bandcamp.com/track/cailleach-an-dudain-the-old-woman-of-the-mill-dust-alison-kinnaird-christine-primrose (album) https://music.apple.com/ca/album/cailleach-an-dudain-the-old-woman-of-the-mill-dust/294080419?i=294080481
This episode asks how we can take the natural themes of the month and separate them from the contexts that have framed and sometimes twisted them, so we can use them to empower all beings – especially, this month, foxes and geese. It surveys November droving and pannage traditions, Guy Fawkes Day on November 5th, fox hunting and its complex legacy, St. Martins day on November 11 and its entanglement with goose lore, and St. Catherine’s day on November 25th, which opens the season of the Germanic winter goddesses, whose later folklore connects spinning and wheels, snow, wild animals, flying, geese, and children. Join the Mailing List: view.flodesk.com/pages/62d72c01da642d55a9868141 Listen to the November Almanac playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/094rCk7NZWNOSLmoHHPqc2?si=83d27558f563416b Fair Folk’s Patreon: www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast Songs featured in this episode: “The Fox” by Laura Viers Buy Laura Viers’ music on Bandcamp: https://lauraveirs.bandcamp.com/track/the-fox “Kadrilaul” by Collage / Choir of Tallin University of Technology Buy Collage’s music: https://music.apple.com/gb/album/kadriko/1100185926 “Martinmas Time” by James Yorkston Buy James Yorkston’s music digitally: https://jamesyorkston.bandcamp.com/ Buy James Yorkston’s records: https://www.jamesyorkston.co.uk/shop/ “Goose and Common” by the Askew Sisters Buy the Askew Sisters’ music: http://www.askewsisters.co.uk/ Opening theme: Forest March by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds Some sources for this episode: The Year in Ireland by Kevin Danaher, 1972. Folk-Lore and Folk-Stories of Wales by Marie Trevelyan, 1909. https://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book//lookupid?key=olbp54204 Article: “The Winter Goddess: Percht, Holda, and Related Figures” by Lotte Motz https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HDXoKGBG3PojPXDJrJXZ3Ae2A7HQCCA7/view?usp=sharing Article: "Perchta the Belly-Slitter and Her Kin: A View of Some Traditional Threatening Figures, Threats and Punishments" by John B. Smith https://drive.google.com/file/d/1280qQAcXA-p0bbrF3_zujAbB0tJMr0Bo/view?usp=sharing Frau Holle in the Grimm's Fairy Tales: https://sites.pitt.edu/~dash/grimm024.html An article about enclosure: https://medium.com/@daveuwakwe/what-a-poem-about-a-goose-teaches-us-about-property-3dfe6f7972ec St. Martin Lore from County Kerry ℅ the National Folklore Collection of Ireland: https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4666609/4666442 (Search the vast collection for more!)
Fair Folk is back in operation after a year's break! This episode shares some of the folkloric themes of October: it's the pagan start of winter, and features spooky post-harvest customs of feeding the dead, love longing, rekindling the community fire, and a cute dose of shoe folklore. Call for key collaborators in the Pagan Monastery Project: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jq9XCt29MqQXEaRNtnoUj4n_5LObtqmWf-F-g8fGdto/edit?usp=sharing Listen to the Pagan Monastery Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/pagan-monastery-podcast-with-danica-boyce/id1610505250 Listen to the Pagan Monastery Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7xFdHUx1nJqge8Oq9Bs1GY?si=53d91206134049e8 Join the Mailing List: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/62d72c01da642d55a9868141 Listen to the October Almanac playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6vxucYP0zGjsH2AxfwlayL?si=d5ae8d42bbbe473f Fair Folk’s Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast Listen to Our Supernatural Landlords: folklorist Terry Gunnell on northern European winter guising traditions: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/fair-folk-podcast/id1177770160?i=1000501474652 Songs featured in this episode: Tam Lin by Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer Buy Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer’s album: https://anaismitchell.ochre.store/release/250476-anas-mitchell-jefferson-hamer-child-ballads Cheshire Souling Song by Cantorion CynWrig Singers Buy the Cantorion CynWrig Singers’ music: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/cantorion-cynwrig/156043718 Holland Handkerchief by Chris Foster Buy Chris Foster’s music: https://chrisfoster1.bandcamp.com/music Who’s Gonna Shoe my Pretty Little Foot by Barbara Dane Buy Barbara Dane’s music: https://barbaradane.bandcamp.com/ “Old Jacky Frost” by the Wildness Yet Buy the Wilderness Yet’s music: https://www.thewildernessyet.com/shop.html The Wilderness Yet on Bandcamp (digital): https://thewildernessyet.bandcamp.com/ Opening theme: Forest March by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: https://www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds Some sources for this episode: Andreas Nordberg “Ritual Time and Time Reckoning.” The Pre-Christian Religions of the North: History and Structures, Volume ii, 725 On Shoes in walls: https://ztevetevans.wordpress.com/2020/08/12/strange-folklore-the-mystery-of-concealed-footwear/ For more info on boots and shoes and Hedwig: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/oa-edit/10.4324/9781315166940-13/boots-saint-hedwig-jacqueline-jung Recipe for Hedwigsohlen (Hedwig's soles pastries): https://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2014/10/soles-of-st-hedwig.html British Calendar Customs: England (1942) Polish Customs, Traditions and Folklore. 1996. Kevin Danaher. The Year in Ireland. 1972.
This episode announces that I will not be producing Fair Folk Podcast for the forseeable future. I am deeply grateful for all of the support you have all given me as I have grown this podcast, and I hope you will continue to connect with me in one of the following ways: My mailing list: https://mailchi.mp/53d8b01c469b/newsletter My Youtube channel with my partner Quinn: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw5BgVgYLuRWmEs66AHx38A Instagram: www.instagram.com/danica.boyce Patreon: patreon.com/fairfolkcast If you stay subscribed to this podcast, you will receive updates on any further Fair Folk activity, and I'll let you know if I start another audio venture in the future! All my love, Danica
This episode is a road map to the folklore, mythology, songs and rituals of the goddess of the dawn, gathered from the many cultures of the Indo-European language family. It paints the picture of a radiant, dependable, go-getter goddess who is born again with every day and every epoch. The episode ends with my ritual performance of the medieval hymn “Polorum Regina” in an abandoned church on a mountaintop at sunrise. Check out Medieval Hymn to the Dawn Goddess on our new YouTube series! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_moj-dcn5nM The episode I mentioned: A Priest and a Piper: A Conversation with Ignas Šatkauskas, Pagan Priest of Romuva https://m.soundcloud.com/fairfolkcast/ignas-satkauskas-interview A great resource for Indo-European mythology, folklore and poetry research that I used for this episode is Indo-European Poetry and Myth by Martin Litchfield West Episode edited by Quinn McCord. Thank you very much to Sylvia Woods, whose song Forest March is the opening theme to Fair Folk Podcast! Image: The Coming of Bride by John Duncan, 1917
In our second conversation on Fair Folk, folklorist Terry Gunnell and I discuss the northern European folklore of the winter season, especially the tradition of guising and monstrous visitors in pagan and Christian times, and -- getting to the juicy stuff -- how male deities came to dominate the Nordic sphere in the Viking era, when it is rather obvious feminine deities used to play a significantly larger role. Join me on Patreon for future pre-released episodes and Q&As: www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast Some of Terry Gunnell's articles can be downloaded here: https://hi.academia.edu/TerryGunnell Music: Intro theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods 32:32 “K Viola” by ICP Orchestra 58:30 “K Viola” by ICP Orchestra (again)
An interview with Daniel Allison, Scottish storyteller and author. We talk about the beginning of the winter season, how he became a storyteller, and how we can make our dreams a reality with the winter dark as our guide and protector. He tells the beautiful story "The Dream Makers" from his book "Scottish Myths and Legends." House of Legends Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/59C6P4JKydqeUoWYhILZBU?si=WqKHjqsTT7i8uZulU5U5aA Get Daniel's books: https://www.houseoflegends.me/books Daniel's Membership Site: https://www.houseoflegends.me/membership-site instagram: https://www.instagram.com/houseoflegendspodcast/ Fair Folk Patreon: www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast Danica on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danica.boyce Music in this episode: Intro theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods 1:30 Untitled Scottish melody by Stephen Arndt 24:05 "The Song of the Chanter" by Tale of the Gael
Enjoy this 2019 episode exploring the ancient traditions behind today's favourite Halloween activities: trick-or-treating, jack-o-lantern carving, divination, and... communing with the dead. This episode's music: Intro Music: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods 2:09 “Nöstmo Halvar” by Per O G Runberg 7:04 “King Orfeo” by Alva 13:07 “Samhain” by Ron Allen 14:55 “Punkie Night” by Withe & Stone 17:11 “Tam Glen” by Jean Redpath 22:45 “Colcannon” by The Black Family 26:30 “The Wife of Usher’s Well” by Alfred Deller & The Deller Consort 31:38 “Souling Song” by the Watersons 38:10 “Faithful Johnny” by Bryony Griffith & Will Hampson 42:30 “Lyke Wake Dirge” by the Young Tradition Image: Scotch Mist by John Duncan
This is an extremely potent interview of myself by Kathryn Fink, of the Heart is a Cauldron Podcast! The Heart is Cauldron Podcast: https://kathrynfink.com/the-heart-is-a-cauldron Sign up for my mailing list to hear when Abundance Paganism opens again: www.fairfolkcast.com Kathryn Fink instagram: www.instagram.com/kathryn.a.fink/ My instagram: www.instagram.com/danica.boyce/ Fair Folk Patreon: www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast
In this episode I dive deep into Ancient Germanic apple and tree symbolism with researcher Joseph S. Hopkins of Norse mythology resource mimisbrunnr.info. Links: Abundance Paganism info and registration: https://fair-folk-media.mykajabi.com/sales-page Mimisbrunnr.info About Joseph S. Hopkins: www.mimisbrunnr.info/hopkins Kvasir Symbols Database entry on apples: https://www.mimisbrunnr.info/ksd-apple Music: Intro theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods "Oj Jabuko" by Ansambl Ladarice "Do you Love an Apple" by the Bothy Band
Abundance paganism is running again in 2026-7 as a workshop series! To sign up: https://danicaboyce.com/abundance-paganism-2026 Join the free Abundance Paganism mini-course Sept 2026: https://danicaboyce.myflodesk.com/q266txu4bb Sign up for my Pagan Sacred Chant workshops: https://www.danicaboyce.com/chant-workshops-2026 Join my mailing list: www.Enthusiastica.substack.com Find me on instagram: instagram.com/danica.boyce This episode introduces the concept of abundance paganism, and announces my offering of a course by the same name! Topics covered: *how abundance mentality dovetails with a pagan worldview and pagan practice *my definition of ancestry *appropriation and integrity *the connection between suffering, death, sacrifice and transformation *what our ancestors were doing most of the time (hint: it wasn’t war) Music: Fair Folk intro theme: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods 16:55 “Ia Patonepi” by Imke McMurtrie, Nana Mzhavanadze & Tamar Buadze https://www.amazon.com/Georgian-Songs-Mzhavanadze-Buadze-McMurtrie/dp/B07BJFJLQH 32:00 “Helvegen” by Kalandra (written by Einar Selvik) https://kalandra.bandcamp.com/ “Kur Sakuolalis Ten Gegiutala” by Kulgrinda https://www.facebook.com/Kulgrinda/
This is a re-release of last year's August Fair Folk Almanac for Patreon about the Irish festival of Lughnasadh, its mysterious history, and its afterlife in modern Irish folklore. This is the feast of the harvest's beginning, of the shining sun, of first precious golden loaf. In Irish, Lughnasa is a gathering for the god Lugh, who was responsible for teaching the people of Ireland how to harvest the grain, and for maintaining the four quarters of the year, with the harvest at their peak. Music: Intro theme: Forest March by Sylvia Woods 10:00 Instrumental track: The Dear Little Isle (air)” by Antóin Mac Gabhann & Caitlín Nic Gabhann with Brian McGrath 18:45 "Corn Rigs" by Us and Them 29:00 "The Band of Shearers" by Carla Sciaky 37:15 "Corn Rigs" by Whirligig 44:30 "The Lammas Tide" by the Corries 51:05 "Corn Rigs" by Whirligig (again) The book I referenced is "The Festival of Lughnasa" by Máire MacNeill
This episode witnesses the troubled relationship between the folklore of wells and springs and memories of trauma and violation. It discusses the vulnerability and suffering of women and Jews under medieval Christianity that is symbolized in the image of the well and processed through the embodied act of singing. Links: Mailing list: https://winter-lion-59052.myflodesk.com/pijrgnu11x Patreon: www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast.com Transcript: https://tinyurl.com/yb6cp36h Music: 1:40 "Gungnir" by Valgaldr (Gøran Hálfdanarson Ellingsen) 9:15 “You are the Field” by Sarah Neufeld 12:30 “The Holy Well” by Jean Ritchie 20:00 “Maria Magdalena” by Vendla Johansson 24:25 “The Well Below the Valley” by Frankie Armstrong and Maddy Prior 30:20 “George Collins” by John Fleagle 38:15 “Per Tyrsons döttrar i Vänge” by Jan Hammarlund 49:30 “Little Sir Hugh” by Alasdair Roberts 58:15 "Herr Töres Döttrar I Vänge" Jan Johansson
This episode discusses Empire and its deconstruction, and the relationship between healing and learning in life and in this podcast. I speak on abundance and scarcity in the context of European traditional spirituality and culture, and invite listeners to give themselves moments of grace in order to address the work of anti-racism from a place of abundance and love. Music: Intro theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods Instrumental track: "The Warm Shoulder" by Mary Lattimore "Sleepers Awake" by Jackie Oates
The first in a series on wells and springs, this episode explores the phenomenon of wells and springs in mythology and spiritual belief and practice. Wells for magic, wells for healing, wells for wisdom and love; wells for the pure awe and wonder of living water. Bi-weekly Q&A on Patreon, Conjuration Tier: https://www.patreon.com/join/fairfolkcast/ Music: Intro theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods "Háleygir" by Valgaldr (instrumental) “Tobar Tobar” by Marit and Rona “Nornegaldr” by Runahild “The Leaves of Yggdrasil” by Myrkur “My Love is a Well” by Daoirí Farrell “Туман яром, туман долиною” (Tuman Yarom) by the Veryovka National Folk Choir of Ukraine “Makosh’ ” by Vedan Kolod “Čisto Srce Gospod želi” by Grupa Legende “Nornegaldr” by Runahild
My interview with Faber Horbach of Sowulo Pagan Band in the Netherlands, June 2019. Listen to Sowulo's new album and more: https://www.sowulo.nl/ (Bandcamp) https://www.facebook.com/Sowulo/ (Facebook) https://www.instagram.com/sowulo.music (Sowulo Instragram) https://www.instagram.com/faber.horbach/ (Faber Horbach Instagram) https://www.facebook.com/amplifiedhistory/ (Heilung Facebook) Music: Intro Theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods 2:00 "Wulfwiga" by Sowulo 6:40 "Sol" by Sowulo 11:30 "Slincan Snican" by Sowulo 15:35 "Beltane" by Sowulo 20:25 "Wohs Wildum" by Sowulo 31:45 "Wulfwiga" by Sowulo This episode edited by Laura Hamill.
My interview with Ignas Šatkauskas, pagan priest of Romuva, in August 2018 Pagan Ritual Songs from Romuva Camp, playlist on Fair Folk's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwfbVKoLviE&list=PLDGCg4JtohsA1pJf6bB_pNbmKT_AK0d6W Fair Folk's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw5BgVgYLuRWmEs66AHx38A Music: Intro Theme: "Forest March" by Sylvia Woods 22:00 ”Kukal, Rože, Ratilio” by Jievaras 26:45 “Improvisation on the Bagpipe” by Skirmantas Sasnauskas 34:50 "Nuslaida Saulala" by Kulgrinda 39:50 “Vakarinė žvaigždelė” by Kulgrinda 46:40 "Turėja liepa” by Vilniaus čiurlionio Mgs Ansamblis
In Part Two of Children of the Sun episode, I travel to the forests of Dzūkija region with ethnomusicologist Eglė Česnakavičiūtė to meet the elder and traditional singer Elena Česnulytė, and talk folksong politics. I finally wind up at Šatrijos Ugnis, a perpetual flame tended at a hill in a national park in Samogitia, where I decide maybe paganism is not about belonging after all, but rather, more powerfully, about connection. Music Intro theme: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods 00:45 “LIV Kompozicija” by Žemyna Trinkūnaitė 3:35 Elena Česnulytė, Žiūrai village, Dzūkija 5:17 “Lyliumoj” by Elena Česnulytė, Žiūrai village, Dzūkija 7:40 “Aš Kelaliu Keliavau” by Žiūrų kaimo folkloro ansamblis / Žurai village folklore ensemble (Dzūkija) 17:00 “Aš Pasėjau Balandėlį” by Obelija 19:55 “Ant Tėvulio Dzidzio Dvaro / In the Father’s Great Manor” by Obelija 22:55 Eglė Česnakavičiūtė 25:45 “LIV Kompozicija” by Žemyna Trinkūnaitė 38:30 “III Kompozicija” by Žemyna Trinkūnaitė 40:45 “Rimo Rimo, Tūto” by Birutė Račkaitienė, Vaidotas Digaitis, and Kęstutis Račkaitis 41:50 “XII Kompozicija” by Žemyna Trinkūnaitė 43:45 “Rimo Rimo, Tūtoj” by Jievaras 47:30 “XII Kompozicija” by Žemyna Trinkūnaitė Šatrijos Ugnis: https://www.facebook.com/SatrijosUgnis/ Obelija’s music can be purchased on bandcamp, or streamed on Spotify. https://obelijaband.bandcamp.com/releases You can find the amazing Žemyna Trinkūnaitė’s music on Spotify, the itunes store, and streaming at pakartot.lt. You can also email her at zemynat@gmail.com to order a CD by post. Thank you so much to all the people who helped me in various ways in producing this podcast; your assistance was essential to my understanding. Any factual or pronunciation errors are my own. Special thanks to Matas Tamsusis Bodrijė for translating endlessly both song lyrics and social norms, and teaching me to dance, all while almost never cracking a smile.
In this episode I spend a week with pagan religious group Romuva, and reflect on the role of belonging in paganism and folk tradition. Live recordings taken in 2018. Music: Intro theme: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods 4:10 - “XL Kompozicija” by Žemyna Trinkūnaitė 6:57 “Dūno upė” - Romuva camp attendees / Kūlgrinda 9:08 Gabija chant - Romuva camp attendees / Kūlgrinda 10:35 Leliumoj - Romuva camp attendees / Kūlgrinda 13:35 Žemyna chant -Romuva camp attendees / Kūlgrinda 17:35 “XLVI Kompozicija” Žemyna Trinkūnaitė 30:05 “Nuslaide Saulala” by Kūlgrinda 32:40 “XLI kompozicija” by Žemyna Trinkūnaitė 36:30 Inija Trinkūnienė 48:50 “Kompozicija xix” by Žemyna Trinkūnaitė Thank you so much to all the people who helped me in various ways in producing this podcast; your assistance was essential to my understanding. Any factual or pronunciation errors are my own. You can find Žemyna Trinkūnaitė’s music on Spotify, the itunes store, and streaming at pakartot.lt. You can also email her at zemynat@gmail.com to order a CD by post. Kulgrinda can be found at https://www.facebook.com/Kulgrinda
This episode draws on the folklore of the household spirit (gnome, tomte, tonttu, nisse, domovoi, et al)and the folk music of Scandinavia to explore the ancient traditions of animism and ancestor veneration at midwinter. Music: Intro theme: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods “Tomtarnas Julnatt” by Göteborgs Symfonietta (instrumental) “Nisse-Polka” by Sing Song Sisters “Winter Darkness (Mørketid)” by Georg Buljo & Nils Økland “Haugebonden” by Folk Och Rackare “Tomtarnas” Julnatt by Fem Bobbies “Tomtehallingen” by Øyonn Groven Myhren “Tomten” by Kraja “Hej Tomtegubbar” by Nina Persson & Oscar Johansson The book I referred to in the intro: Gnomes and Secrets of the Gnomes Wil Huygen and illustrator Rien Poortvliet Resources for this episode: The Tradition of Household Spirits by Claude Lecouteux Russian Folk Belief by Linda J. Ivanits Tomten by Viktor Rydberg (a video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rJ0Ec-jYg8)
I recorded this conversation last fall with the award-winning Irish storyteller Eithne Ní Ghallchobhair, who lives in Donegal, Ireland, and learned her craft from the last living traditional storytellers in Donegal. Get the Fair Folk tote at my new website www.fairfolkcast.com! Notes: *The book Eithne mentions at 39:00, Women Who Run With the Wolves is written by Clarissa Pinkola Estés. It’s available at used and new bookshops all over. *42:05 the "schools collection" she refers to is part of the National Folklore Collection of Ireland, at University College Dublin *This episode edited by Laura Hamill of Perennial Collective! http://www.perennialcollective.com/ Music: Intro theme: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods “Carolan's Farewell to Music” by Julia Seager-Scott “Untitled” by Jean Christian “Carolan - Five Tunes By the Irish Harper: IV. Carolan's Farewell to Music” by Da Camera “When She Cam Ben” by Da Camera “Untitled” by Jean Christian “Carolan's Farewell to Music” by Julia Seager-Scott “The Great Silkie of Sule Skerry” by Ale Möller & Aly Bain Image: Eithne Ní Gullaher on St. Colmcille’s bed at Glencolmcille, Donegal
This episode explores the ancient traditions behind today's favourite Halloween activities: trick-or-treating, jack-o-lantern carving, divination, and... communing with the dead. This episode's music: Intro Music: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods 2:09 “Nöstmo Halvar” by Per O G Runberg 7:04 “King Orfeo” by Alva 13:07 “Samhain” by Ron Allen 14:55 “Punkie Night” by Withe & Stone 17:11 “Tam Glen” by Jean Redpath 22:45 “Colcannon” by The Black Family 26:30 “The Wife of Usher’s Well” by Alfred Deller & The Deller Consort 31:38 “Souling Song” by the Watersons 38:10 “Faithful Johnny” by Bryony Griffith & Will Hampson 42:30 “Lyke Wake Dirge” by the Young Tradition Image: Witch plate. Fancy dresses described, or, what to wear at fancy balls, Arden Holt, 1882.
An astounding performance and conversation with Finnish expert runo-singer and jouhikko player, Outi Pulkkinen. Pulkkinen is a Doctor of Music specializing in runo-singing and holistic improvisation with voice, movement and speech. She also works with several bands, eg. the female a cappella groups MeNaiset and Pulkkinen-Räss-Sadovska. She is currently researching archaic music through a shamanistic approach, and she teaches folk music, voice training and holistic improvisation at University of the Arts Helsinki. She has released three solo albums, which you can purchase here: http://shop.digeliusmusic.mycashflow.fi/search/?q=Outi+pulkkinen You can also listen to her music on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/outipulkkinen Find her group MeNaiset on SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-505647846 The MeNaiset album Kelu can be purchased here: https://www.kansanmusiikkiliitto.fi/nettiputiikki/aanitteet/menaiset-kelu MeNaiset has recorded another album, which will be released next year, so keep your eyes open for that! Pulkkinen can also be contacted directly by email: outipulkkinen10@gmail.com The intro theme to Fair Folk is “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods Portrait of Outi Pulkkinen by Christoffer Relander
Nigel Pennick is the author of over fifty books, on topics ranging from paganism and folk magic to geomancy and divination with the runes. His book The Eldritch World will be available soon in an American edition, produced by Arcana Europa. You can read the preface here: https://arcanaeuropamedia.com/blogs/arcana-blog/preface-for-nigel-pennicks-the-eldritch-world Many of Pennick's past and future books can be found at Inner Traditions, including the soon-to-be-released Operative Witchcraft: https://www.innertraditions.com/author/nigel-pennick/ Music: "Edith Swan-Neck" by Paddon and Pennick "Ellacombe (Berthon)" by Nigel Pennick "Ground Hog Blues" by John Lee Hooker "Fairy Bells" by Nigel Pennick "The Outlandish Knight" by Will Noble "The Bobtail Mare" by Nigel Pennick The image Nigel mentioned of the sorceror's apprentice is here: https://tinyurl.com/yy53sg4x Subscribe to the Fair Folk Almanac on my Patreon page: www.patreon.com/fairfolkcast