This bonus episode is a special one for Samhain - or if you like - Halloween. There is a lot I don't like about Halloween, and about the various ways in which distorted versions of our history and lore are sold back to us.  Samhain - the Celtic festival that preceded it - has also fallen prey to those who would seek to market all things spiritual in the best way that only the colonial mindset can. 

Here's the thing. It's not for sale.

Light a candle. Place it in your window. Have a listen to my ritual in this episode if it appeals to you. You need buy nothing. 

There are three parts with timings as follows

PART ONE - Background and history of Halloween and its origins in Samhain - 02:00

PART TWO- Ghosties, ghoulies, and the turn to the Dark Side - 06:55

Heads up/Content Warning for a nasty sound effect at 08:46!

PART THREE - A gentle Samhain Ritual - 12:20

The Samhain Blessing in the ritual was written by me (Jude)

Threshold Invocation for the Festival of Samhain

(to be said at the front door of the house on the eve of Samhain,

in the evening) from Celtic Devotional by Caitlin Matthews

Grandmother Wisdom, open the door,

Grandfather Counsel, come you in.

Let there be welcome to the ancient lore,

Let there be welcome to the Winter of the Year.

In cold and darkness you are travelling,

Under crystal skies you will arrive.

May the blessed time of Samhain

Clarify the soul of all beings,

Bringing joy and wisdom to revelation.

From the depths to the heights,

From the heights to the depths,

In the cave of every soul.

The background music in this episode is as follows

1. Celtic Dream by Frank Schroeter

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6461-celtic-dream

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Artist on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frank.schroeter.52

2. Halloween Theme 1 by Alexander Nakarada

Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4735-halloween-theme-1

License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Artist website: https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

I was very excited and deeply honoured to be joined by the wonderful Dave Tomlinson on the podcast. If I am honest, I got a little bit excited to speak to one of my 'favourite Christians'.

He is an Anglican priest, broadcaster and writer whose books include The Post-Evangelical, How to Be a Bad Christian, and Black Sheep and Prodigals.

You may well have come across Dave in his regular contributions to BBC Radio 2’s 'Pause for Thought.'

Dave currently runs 'the smallest parish in Christendom' called the 'Holy Shed'  which he broadcasts every Sunday evening on Facebook and Youtube.

You can find Dave on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theholyshed

On Youtube  https://www.youtube.com/user/revddavetomlinson

On 'Pause for Thought' on Radio Two - Most recent broadcast https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0d7zm1f

At ''Soul' Space https://stethelburgas.org/event/monthly-soul-space/

This episode is an unusual solo run with me, Jude. It begins with an invitation to join me as a guest on the Podcast, and a little bit about why I am doing this, my ethical approach,  and my Master's in Public Theology. 

I then talk a little about learning to trust the creative process. I then segue into a piece about preaching (and how on Earth I came to be a preacher!) and give an example of how I do it! I offer a homily I gave a few weeks ago about fear, trust and love. Don't be put off by the 'preaching' focus, the piece says a lot about where I am coming from in my theology, which is about the radical message of the Gospels and the way I am compelled to push people's buttons!

Read all about how to be a guest and my ethical approach here https://judemills.com/be-a-guest

Contact me https://judemills.com/contact

The Gospel reading is Luke 12: 32-40

 FKD UP BY FAITH is back! 

My first guest of this new season is the fabulous Rachel Blackman, who describes herself as a somanaut, acrobat of the heart, artist,  somatic educator, somatic coach, theatre maker, and  mentor

This was such a great conversation that could have gone on for several hours (and probably will for a few more!) 

Rachel shares about growing up with Christian science, and about her evolving spirituality rooted in the earth, in interconnectedness, in the wisdom of the ancestors, in the intelligence of the body, and ultimately, and most fundamentally, in hope. She also very deftly started interviewing me at one point!

LINKS

Rachel's website - https://www.vibrantbody.co.uk

Tiny Failures  - https://www.tinyfailures.com

The Somatic School - https://www.thesomaticschool.com

Article about Improv and Polyvagal Theory  by Lacy Alana - https://www.yesandbrain.com/blog/improv-and-polyvagal-theory

Piet Ceanadach is a teacher of Paganism, especially the Wiccan and Druid-Craft paths. He is a third-degree Gardnerian High Priest and author of fiction based on Celtic Mythology. He lives in Glasgow.

Piet has a great deal of knowledge of religion and spirituality and is a humble teacher and guide. In this episode, Piet shares specifically about his pre-pagan life as a Jehovah's Witness, including a period of personal tragedy. He speaks about many things he is grateful for having received from the JW's and a number of things he is very much happy to have left behind. 

Piet's book 'The Daughters of Danu' is available from Moon Books https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/moon-books/authors/piet-ceanadach and all the usual online places. Piet's new book will be published soon.

Piet was also keen to share his late wife's Siusaidh's books https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/moon-books/authors/siusaidh-ceanadach

Mark Townsend  (he/him) is an Independent priest, a celebrant, magician, and author of several books including 'The Gospel of Falling Down' 

I had a wonderful conversation with Mark about his life and experiences as a Church of England (and now independent) priest and celebrant and about the ministry of being f**k ups for Christ! We spoke about the privilege of being alongside people in their vulnerable and transitional moments, about how our own vulnerabilities and mistakes are the root and strength of authentic ministry.

https://www.marktownsendministry.co.uk 

Jude reads from 'The Wild Offering Oracle - a 52 Card Deck on Giving it all to God!' by Tosha Silver, and published by Hay House. 

Genevieve (they/them) is the founder of Queer Christians Brighton https://www.facebook.com/queerchristiansbtn

Instagram: @queerchristiansbtn

I had a wonderful, frank, moving conversation with Genevieve about issues relating to inclusion (or lack of it) in the church, and what it means to be affirmed and affirming. As part of their work with Queer Christians Brighton, (UK)  Genevieve is currently 'reviewing' inclusive churches, 'Trip Advisor' style for their followers. 

Content Warning for a frank discussion of mental health, suicide, and 'conversion therapy' 

Support Resources

Grassroots - Suicide Prevention- Find help now

Galop  - The UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity

UK based LGBTQ+ Christians seeking inclusive church might want to look at One Body One Faith and Diverse Church

MindOut Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans & Queer Mental Health Service - UK

LGBTQ- Inclusive Organisations listed on Stonewall UK

Resources for LGBTQ People of Faith listed on Stonewall UK

I had a great conversation this week with Stuart Delony. We cover quite a bit of ground  from talking around what it means to 'walk out' the path of Jesus to the purpose of preaching, to the role of ministry, to worship being more than a good song!

 Stuart describes himself as a storyteller, seeker, sojourner, question-asker, and provocateur. He’s a former pastor and the creator and host of Snarky Faith Radio, a podcast for the spiritually disenfranchised. It's a space to irreverently wrestle through life, culture and spirituality.  Stuart has a Masters of Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary and lives in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife and kids.  

Website: www.SnarkyFaith.com 

Facebook: www.facebook.com/snarkyfaith 

Twitter: @snarkyfaith  

Instagram: @stuartdelony

I had a delightful conversation in this episode with Marc-Henri Sandoz Paradella, who is a psycho-spiritual counsellor, meditation teacher and author of the book Toxic Jesus. Marc lives in Lausanne, Switzerland, and was an evangelical pastor before he began to ask questions...

 An experience of cancer in 2018, which caused him to have his leg amputated, led to what he describes as a 'reverse epiphany' where the idea for 'Toxic Jesus' was born. 

We talked about the understanding of Grace, about an authentic (non-bypassing) spirituality and about finding ways back to faith after 'deconstruction'.

Marc's website is https://en.marchenrisandoz.com/

The book 'Toxic Jesus' can be found in all the usual online outlets. 

I read the poem 'Buddha in Glory' by Rainer Maria Rilke which you can read here https://www.poetry-chaikhana.com/Poets/R/RilkeRainerM/BuddhainGlor/index.html

Marc read quotes from 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' (Thus Spake Zarathustra) a  treatise by Friedrich Nietzsche, and from the Apocryphal 'Gospel of Thomas'. 

We're back!

The first episode of FUBF for 2022 with Mairtin McNamara. 

I spent a wonderful, gentle and mindful hour speaking to Mairtin, who is an Irish martial artist and movement practitioner living and working (as an engineer) in Antwerp, Belgium. 

Mairtin spoke about his early immersion in Catholicism, and about giving the 'perfect' confession. Our conversation moved into compassion, what it means to be 'decent' in our interactions, and how our spiritual practice informs all of that. A rich and engaging conversation that I am sure will give you food for thought. 

Mairtin shared one of his own poems 'Walls' which you can see at https://www.instagram.com/p/CARLml_BEo5/?utm_medium=copy_link&fbclid=IwAR0DXLTliK4J5xOWJDDDxgoKSu85BMxuN0wsVAJw7uF9DEdY4YF9YH9AxGw

He is also running a  weekend workshop - "Re-Awakening, Care & Touch" -  with Rachel Blackman in Brighton on 30th April & 1st May 2022 link below.

https://vibrantbeing.vibrantbody.co.uk/courses/re-awakening-care-touch-a-weekend-workshop?fbclid=IwAR07ybBdLwQZj-Qr2f-HD-Y7El3I-kbF4duqxjUD53N8oFSRk9OxJLydPRQ