Polytheism Today

My guest today is Mudang Seonmi, an officiated Mudang or Korean shaman-priest. Mudang Seonmi is mixed Korean diaspora, having lived in Seoul, Korea, for the first handful of years before moving to the United States to be raised by her native Korean mother and Korean mixed father. She is LGBTQIA+ and diagnosed AuDHD. She went through her initiation ceremony (신내림굿) with an elder in 2017. Prior to her initiation, she had been an eclectic witch and pagan since 2001. Some of her primary gods are the War Cutter Goddess,  Mudang Goddess, Prosperity God, 7 Star Gods, and Heavenly Fairy Goddess. Her pantheon contains hundreds of other gods and goddesses as well! 

Her website is firelightlotus.com, and you can find her on Instagram at @themudang.

Click here for a transcript of this episode.

In this episode, we referenced a few books you may want to check out.

Shamans, housewives, and other restless spirits: women in Korean ritual life by Laurel Kendall, University of Hawaii Press, 1985.

The life and hard times of a Korean Shaman: of tales and the telling of tales by Laurel Kendall, University of Hawaii Press, 1988.

An Illustrated Guide to Korean Mythology by Choi Won-Oh, Global Oriental, 2008.

Welcome to the first episode of Season 2. Today’s episode is a commentary looking at In Praise of Polytheism by Maurizio Bettini, professor of classical philology at the University of Sienna.

Click here for a transcript of the episode.

You can purchase In Praise of Polytheism through the University of California Press.

There is also a blog post about the book on their site.

I ask all my guests to start and end their interviews with a prayer of invocation and one of thanksgiving. In this teaser, hear the voices of my guests from Season 2 uplifted in prayer — one line from each.

Season 2 starts Sunday, September 22, 2024. You can find the schedule at our website: PolytheismToday.com.

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I’m excited to announce that Season 2 of the Polytheism Today podcast premiers on Sunday, September 22, 2024.

This season, our line-up includes a Korean shaman-priest, a Druid, a Mesopotamian priest, an anthropologist, and much more! Check out our guests, topics, and schedule on our website.

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple podcasts or listen to them here on Substack.

In this episode, Angela Raincatcher reflects on some of the themes from this season’s interviews and looks forward to the future of the podcast.

Click here for a transcript of the episode.

You can follow Polytheism Today on Instagram.

In this episode, Angela Raincatcher talks with Caroline Kenner about the presence of the gods in our everyday lives, working with the gods for healing, and the importance of offerings.

Click here for a transcript of the episode.

You can find Caroline Kenner online at:

Facebook | Caroline Kenner

Recommended and Referenced Resources:

The Theoi Project

Theogony by Hesiod

Foundation for Shamanic Studies

Sandra Ingerman

Boadicea’s Tarot of Earthly Delights

In this episode, Angela Raincatcher talks with Elder Lady Amber Dawn about being a child of the lwa Shango and her 30 years of being a witch.

Click here for a transcript of the episode.

You can find Elder Lady Amber Dawn online at:

Facebook | Genise R. White

Facebook | Goddess Genise

Facebook | World Reggae Party

Recommended Resources:

Vodou Visions: An Encounter with Divine Mystery by Sallie Ann Glassman, Garrett County Press, 2014.

Secrets of Voodoo by Milo Rigaud, City Lights Publishers, 1985.

Covenant of the Goddess

Fellowship of Isis

Parliament of World Religions

In this episode, Angela Raincatcher talks with Sara Mastros about working with Hermes and Hecate, deities of magic and the crossroads.

Click here for a transcript of the episode.

You can find Sara online at:

Mastros & Zealot: Witches for Hire

WitchLessons.com

Sara on Facebook

Recommended Resources:

Photos of Sara’s Herm: Image 1, Image 2.

D’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths by Edgar and Ingri d’Aulaire, Delacorte Press, Reprinted 1992.

The Orphic Hymns Grimoire by Sara L. Mastros, 2nd edition, Hadean Press, 2022.

The Hekataeon by Jack Grayle, Miskatonic Books.

Erowid: Documenting the Complex Relationship between Humans and Psychoactives

In this episode, Angela Raincatcher talks with Cat Heath about inclusive heathenry, her experiences with Frey and Freya, the Cult of the Spinning Goddess, and much more.

Click here for a transcript of the episode. Please note that this interview was transcribed by Otter.ai and has not been fully corrected. Phrases and words that I am still seeking verification on are highlighted in yellow.

You can find Cat online at:

Seo Hulrune: Elves and Witchcraft, Seidr and Grimoires

Feed the Fairies Podcast

Recommended Resources:

Elves, Witches, and Gods: Spinning Old Heathen Magic in the Modern Day by Cat Heath, Llewellyn Publishing, 2021.

The Troth: Education and Service for Inclusive Heathenry

The Cult of the Spinning Goddess

Prose Edda by Snorri Sturluson, translated by Anthony Faulkes, 1995.

Poetic Edda translated by Henry Adams Bellows, 1936.

The meanings of elf and elves in medieval England. PhD thesis by Alaric T.P. Hall, University of Glasgow, 2004

In this episode, Angela Raincatcher talks about how biodiversity, cultural diversity, and divine diversity are healthy and natural for a generative world. She also talks about diversity within polytheisms.

Click here for a transcript of the episode.

Recommended Resources:

Regenerative agriculture

Kiss the Ground for Regeneration

How regenerative agriculture can help heal the planet and human health | TED talk by Charles Massy

“The intersectionality wars” by Jane Coaston for Vox.com

The urgency of intersectionality | TED talk by Kimberlé Crenshaw

In praise of polytheism by Maurizio Bettini, translated by Douglas Grant Heise. University of California Press, 2023. (I have not read this book yet, but it’s on my list.)