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