The Priestesses

This short bonus episode features a talk by Jacob, given in November 2016 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. In it, he talks a bit about coming to Pagan theism, the strength of love, the need for justice, the power of community, and more. We'll be back with new full-length episodes in March! In the meantime, we hope you enjoy!

Website: www.thepriestesses.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ThePriestesses Facebook: The Priestesses Music: Rebecca E. Tripp (www.crystalechosound.com)

In this episode, we talk with our friend and völva, Bethany, about connecting with our ancestors. Along the way, we spiral into a little happy chaos about: Family history, roots, ancestry, Kari Tauring, Völva Stav, öorlag (the work of healing the generations), leaving a legacy, cultural heritage. foodways, cultural or community ancestors, working in dreamtime, journaling, ancestor dolls, the Nordic Women's Retreat, collecting stories, how we came to be in the moment, days and holidays for honoring ancestors, if you have to be Pagan or not to work with your ancestors, ways to dispose of offering, connecting to ancestors through deities, reincarnation, one soul vs. plural souls, the accessibility of the ancestors, and much more.

More on öorlog: http://karitauring.com/oorlog-and-wyrd/ More on Völva Stav and Völva: http://karitauring.com/volva-stav/

Website: www.thepriestesses.comEmail: [email protected]Twitter: @ThePriestesses Facebook: The PriestessesMusic: Rebecca E. Tripp (www.crystalechosound.com)

In the first half of this episode, we talk about the concept of loose ends - those things left unsaid, undone, or unfulfilled in life and what we can do about them. Along the way, we talk about: Change, loss, death, endings, closure moving on, leaving things unsaid and/or undone, cycles, seasons (especially the challenges of Winter), energy changes, Wisconsin weather, reflection, comfort in stillness, setting goals, hitting limits, mind/body/spirit, magick brownies, making (hard) choices, responsibility, the resource of time, discerning what's important, the will of the gods, the role of fate, balancing positivity and negativity, interconnectedness, and more.

In the second half, we address questions surrounding some of our previous episodes, including: Identity politics, non-binary Paganism, T. Thorn Coyle, Lasara Firefox Allen, the challenges of magick (especially love spells), intentional and unintentional magick, influence and control, fairy tales, who owns holidays (and what they mean), what to do when our deities fail us, relationships with the divine, and much more.

Website: www.thepriestesses.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ThePriestesses Facebook: The Priestesses Music: Rebecca E. Tripp (www.crystalechosound.com)

Recorded in May 2016 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Eau Claire, WI. Aimee and Amanda are joined by our friend, mentor, and wondercrone, Aeona Silversong, for some live performances and an exploration of the power of music, sound, and vibrations in Pagan practice. Along the way, they also touch on: Keeping track of and losing our recent musical roots, attributing sources, secrecy and knowledge, passing down traditions, the humanity of music, connecting through sound, what makes song sacred, working with sound as an individual and in group practice, Völva Stav, musical meditation, the origins of music, why drum circles matter, Miyazaki films, the importance of listening to the natural world, the problems with perfection, and much more.

Music performed in this episode: - Cirlce Round the Fire by Selena Fox and Jim Alan - Original songs by Aeona Silversong

Website: www.thepriestesses.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ThePriestesses Facebook: The Priestesses Music: Rebecca E. Tripp (www.crystalechosound.com)

Recorded Thanksgiving weekend 2016, Amanda reunites with our good friend Rhea for a discussion on the concept of Pagan Atheism/Atheist Paganism. What does this mean and how does it work? Along the way, they touch on: The value of skepticism, pseudoscience, woo woo, reconciling science and Paganism, science and magic, the GMO and vaccine controversies, the challenges of the Pagan and Atheist communities, evil in the name of religion, the ethics of animal testing, ghosts, how we experience reality, the purpose of life, accepting others and acceptance in community, not being Pagan enough, consent, discrimination, trigger warnings, communication, options, and much more.

Some podcasts mentioned in this episode: StarTalk Radio, Penn's Sunday School, Geeks Without God, The Atheist Perspective, and The Skeptics Guide to the Universe.

Website: www.thepriestesses.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ThePriestesses Facebook: The Priestesses Music: Rebecca E. Tripp (www.crystalechosound.com)

For a discussion on relationship(s) with deity/deities, we're joined by our friend and guest, Danise Shipley, who is a teacher and practitioner of Irish Shamanism. Along the way we explore: Journeying, encountering the gods, mixing pantheons, modes and methods of relationship, communication with the gods, personal vs. impersonal relation, synchronicity, callings, gods in the past and here in the present, divine changeability, mysticism, goddess spirituality, the feminine and masculine divine, origins and roots of the gods, individualized experience, humanity in divinity, gods as exemplars, etymology, epistemology, modern mythology, pop pantheons, benefits and difficulties to divine relationships, and so much more. Website: www.thepriestesses.com Email: [email protected] Twitter: @ThePriestesses Facebook: The Priestesses Music: Rebecca E. Tripp (www.crystalechosound.com)