So much about life is beyond our authority, and we often fear those things we are unable to control. We fear the unknown. We fear change. Sometimes we’re afraid of fear itself. So today, since we’re entering the month of Fear, what better time to discuss its nature, as well as its significance.

References

Welcome to the second episode of ‘Weave Me a Story', bonus episodes of the Faith and Fear podcast where I read you original stories I myself have written.

In this episode, I will be telling you a story of djinn and one particularly powerful ring.

Sometimes being who we are and accepting ourselves as is, can lead to unexpected, and rather surprising outcomes. So, let me Weave You a Story.

This Episode's Story:

One Ring to Rule, To Summon and Subdue

Inspirations:

Seasons change, they come and go... It represents the cycle of life for all things.

Seasons Change

Mythology

Welcome to the first episode of ‘Weave Me a Story', bonus episodes of the Faith and Fear podcast where I read you original stories I myself have written. 

Today is World Storytelling Day, a global celebration of the world’s many oral traditions and an opportunity to pass on stories to others, especially through word of mouth. 

This year's theme is New Beginnings and I’ve written a few fairly brief, and somewhat eerie, tales of my own. So, let me Weave You a Story.

World Storytelling Day

Stories

Inspiration/Influences

In this episode, I focus on the topics of gender identity, the spectrum of sexuality, as well as the existence of those same themes throughout mythology and some of the world’s many preChristian cultures. References, including https://www.genderbread.org/, at the bottom of show notes.

Gender

Sexuality

Other Terminology

Mythology and Deities

References:

In the next couple of episodes we’re going to be talking all about that four-letter word; love. But not love exclusively. I want to discuss everything tangentially related; love languages, deities, gender, and yes, sexuality.

5 Love Languages

Love Deities

References:

Who we are and what we are capable of becoming… is it determined by our actions and choices, or by forces beyond our control. Can we change things if we make the right moves, or is it all set in stone, predetermined before we were ever born? Are we victims, mere pawns; chess pieces on a universal board...or do we actually have agency, some semblance of power, or sway over who we were and will become?

Free will vs Fate

References:

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fate

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/destiny

https://mythology.wikia.org/wiki/Time_and_fate_deity

https://ancientegyptonline.co.uk/shai/

http://www.thewhitegoddess.co.uk/divinity_of_the_day/african/ikenga.asp

http://www.orisa.si/en/spiritual-community/philosophy-of-orisha/ori

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahakala

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Varuna

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Kali

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anunnaki

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mamitu

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manat_(goddess)

https://pantheon.org/articles/b/bangun_bangun.html

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Zurvan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatia

https://amp.blog.shops-net.com/36909042/1/ora-mythology.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zana_(mythology)

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Laima

https://enacademic.com/dic.nsf/enwiki/412826

https://norse-mythology.org/gods-and-creatures/others/the-norns/

https://www.greekmythology.com/Other_Gods/The_Fates/the_fates.html

https://www.greekmythology.com/Other_Gods/Primordial/Ananke/ananke.html

https://mythology.wikia.org/wiki/Time_and_fate_deity

The winter season typically brings to mind the cold, hibernating animals, snow-covered...everything, and of course family gatherings. We prepare for frozen storms and historically, potential food shortages; even power outages, and being stuck at home inside. But it’s also a time of being thankful, grateful for the things we do have, and more importantly the people we have in our lives. When many of us think Winter Holidays it likely brings to mind Christmas and New Years’, but there are several others that you may not know much about, or have even heard of. So let’s see if we can garner a little love for the other festive practices out there.

Unlike last week, this episode is perfectly kid-friendly. So feel free to cuddle up with your little ones and listen together to the several depictions of Santa from around the world. With a little bit of magic, the long-lived saint continues to spread joy and cheer everywhere he goes, taking on many faces.