>Thump< >Thump<  

Is that the sound of reindeer hooves on the rooftop?  A knock at the door for a surprise appearance from Santa Clause to bring gifts? 

Maaaayyybe.  Or maybe it's Père Fouettard, Belsnickel, or Sinterklaas with his chimney Piets arriving to punish the naughty.  Perhaps Krampus, Gryla, the Yule Cat or Yule Lads, or the Mari Lwyd to take you away or kill you for venturing out in the cold, harsh, dark winter.  

Step in to the dark roots of Christmas with The Fright Before Christmas author Jeff Belanger. From shapeshifters to mountain trolls, to elves, to heavy-handed

 cohorts of Saint Nicholas, the Christmas holiday has been filled with ghosts and monsters ready to dole out punishment to those who need it. The Winter Solstice is a time to be afraid. 

Delve into the folklore of these beings, traditions, and how to make them a part of your holiday practice today. 

Find Jeff on Facebook and Instagram: @exploringlegends

Get the book from your favorite bookseller (like Barnes & Noble), Weiser Books, or online retailer (B&N, Books a Million, etc.)

And for the cool Yuletide Monsters Oracle by Madame Onca I mentioned at the top of the show, order it from her Etsy shop, Madame Onca Studios, and check out our interview on episode 70.

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Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Follow my channel on Instagram: @wyrdgifts1 Facebook: @GiftsoftheWyrd

Email: [email protected]

Order The Christmast Oracle Deck created by me and artist Vinnora at https://feniksshop.etsy.com follow FB/IG: @thechristmasoracle

Please leave feedback on Apple and other podcast providers. This helps the podcast to be found easier.

Music.  Intro: O Come O Come Emmanuel Stinger and Outro: The Night Before Christmas.  Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com  Please do not add this audio content to the YouTube Content ID System. I have used background music which is owned by FesliyanStudios.

Gifts of the Wyrd Logo Created by Xan Folmer. 

Logo based on the Vanic boar created by Vanatru Priestess Ember of the Vanic Conspiracy.

Studio recordings using Zencastr and Audacity.

Joining the podcast this episode are the incredible and talented creators of the Norse Goddess Rune Oracle - Rebecca Joy "Raven" Stark and Sharon McCleod.  Raven is a rune practitioner, a volva, and a teacher of runes and Norse spirituality.  Sharon is an artist/illustrator inspired by nature, myth, magic, and all thing otherworldly. 

Together they created the amazing Norse Goddess Rune Oracle which connects the power of Norse goddesses and beings with the power of the runes for use in divination, magic, and relationship with divine powers.  

The deck focuses on the 24 runes of the Elder Futhark; and to increase the number of goddesses to connect with, merkstave cards are included bringing the deck to 39 red-edged cards.  

Hear about their wonderful friendship, how they worked with the goddesses of the deck as well as those who are not featured, and other interesting topics of conversation. 

You can pick up the deck from your favorite metaphysical shop (support community business when you can), from Llewellyn Books or Blue Angel Publishing, or from an online retailer. 

Llewellyn Books https://www.llewellyn.com    Blue Angel Publishing https://blueangelonline.com

Follow Raven and Sharon on Instagram and look up their work and projects on their websites: 

Raven Stark: www.starkravenrunes.com  Instagram @stark_raven_Runes 

Sharon McCleod: www.sharonmcleod.com    Instagram @sharonmccleod3

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Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Follow my channel on Instagram: @wyrdgifts1 Facebook: @GiftsoftheWyrd

Email: [email protected]

Order The Christmast Oracle Deck created by me and artist Vinnora at https://feniksshop.etsy.com follow FB/IG: @thechristmasoracle

Please leave feedback on Apple and other podcast providers. This helps the podcast to be found easier.

Music.  Intro: Cooking with the Italians. Outro: Emotion. Stinger: Gotta Get It. Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com  Please do not add this audio content to the YouTube Content ID System. I have used background music which is owned by FesliyanStudios.

Gifts of the Wyrd Logo Created by Xan Folmer. 

Logo based on the Vanic boar created by Vanatru Priestess Ember of the Vanic Conspiracy.

Studio recordings using Zencastr and Audacity.

With the upcoming Winter Solstice and Yule season in the Northern Hemisphere, Imelda Almqvist joins me to talk about her upcoming webinars about Vrouw Holle (Frau Holle) and St. Nicholas (Sinterklaas in the Netherlands). 

We talk a little about who Vrouw Holle and Sinterklaas are and the interesting connections they have as soul conductors (psycho pomps) especially for children.  In this discussion, get a nice introduction to them both and our experiences growing up with Vrouw Holle and Sinterklaas as part of our Dutch heritage. 

It's an intersting discussion with more to come in the webinars.  Sign up for the webinars below.

North Sea Water - Vrouw Holle .  Nov 21, 8 pm GMT

North Sea Water - Sinterklaas. Dec 5, 8 pm GMT

Imelda is an international teacher of Sacred Art and Seiðr/Old Norse Traditions, a painter and author of nine books. She currently teaches in the UK, the US, Sweden and Greenland. https://www.shaman-healer-painter.co.uk/

Follow Imelda on Facebook, Instagram @almqvistimelda, and sign up for her Substack which shares interesting articles at least once per week.  Check out Imelda's teaching schedule and books on her website (above) and pick up North Sea Water in my Veins, The Pre-Christian Spirituality of The Low Countries. 

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Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Follow my channel on Instagram: @wyrdgifts1 Facebook: @GiftsoftheWyrd

Email: [email protected]

Order The Christmast Oracle Deck created by me and artist Vinnora at https://feniksshop.etsy.com follow FB/IG: @thechristmasoracle

Please leave feedback on Apple and other podcast providers. This helps the podcast to be found easier.

Music.  Intro: Cooking with the Italians. Outro: Emotion - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com  Please do not add this audio content to the YouTube Content ID System. I have used background music which is owned by FesliyanStudios.

Gifts of the Wyrd Logo Created by Xan Folmer. 

Logo based on the Vanic boar created by Vanatru Priestess Ember of the Vanic Conspiracy.

Studio recordings using Zencastr and Audacity.

Siri Vincent Plouff joins the podcast to talk about a favorite subject, runes. Their book, Queering the Runes, was just released in November 2024 and we talk about the book, dispel notions that runes are not for everyone (they are!), how they can relate from a queer perspective, and just about runes in general. 

The book is an excellent way to introduce yourself to the runes with a fresh look at how they interact with people today.  Or if you are used to working with runes, have a look at them with a new lens and see how they might teach something new or different.  

Siri has been a practicing with for nearly 20 years and reading tarot and runes professionally for six. They host The Heathen's Journey podcast, teaches workshops, and is coauthor of Lessons from the Empress with Cassandra Snow. 

Order Queering the Runes at your favorite bookshop, directly from Red Wheel/Weiser, or online book seller. 

You can find Siri on Instagram: @siri.vincent.plouff and Patreon: @sirivincentplouff

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Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Follow my channel on Instagram: @wyrdgifts1 Facebook: @GiftsoftheWyrd

Email: [email protected]

Order The Christmast Oracle Deck created by me and artist Vinnora at https://feniksshop.etsy.com follow FB/IG: @thechristmasoracle

Please leave feedback on Apple and other podcast providers. This helps the podcast to be found easier.

Music.  Intro: Cooking with the Italians. Stinger: Mastermind Outro: Commercial Bliss - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com  Please do not add this audio content to the YouTube Content ID System. I have used background music which is owned by FesliyanStudios.

Gifts of the Wyrd Logo Created by Xan Folmer. 

Logo based on the Vanic boar created by Vanatru Priestess Ember of the Vanic Conspiracy.

Studio recordings using Zencastr and Audacity.

As October inches towards Samhain, Rick de Yampert joins me to talk about the magic of Crows and Ravens from his book: Crows and Ravens: Mystery, Myth, and Magic of Sacred Corvids. 

Rick has been working with Crows and Ravens for a number of years along his path and has dedicated a lot of study to how corvids behave and how we can commune with them to enrich and enhance our connection to nature, magic, and the Web of Wyrd. 

Do you have crows or ravens appearing in your path or daily routine? Do they visit your yard or bring gifts? Do you speak with them? Does their presence in your life help you with your magical practice? Rick's book provides some ways to connect with them and build a magical connection to them.   

Have a listen as we discuss some of those topics and more. 

Crows and Ravens is published by Llewellyn Books and available from Llewellyn, your favorite book seller, or online. 

Check out Rick's projects and schedule at: https://rickdeyampert.com/   and see Mr. Crow and other artwork at Mister Crow Art. 

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Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Follow my channel on Instagram: @wyrdgifts1 Facebook: @GiftsoftheWyrd

Email: [email protected]

Order The Christmast Oracle Deck created by me and artist Vinnora at https://feniksshop.etsy.com follow FB/IG: @thechristmasoracle

Please leave feedback on Apple and other podcast providers. This helps the podcast to be found easier.

Music.  Intro: Cooking with the Italians. Outro: Commercial Bliss - Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com  Please do not add this audio content to the YouTube Content ID System. I have used background music which is owned by FesliyanStudios.

Gifts of the Wyrd Logo Created by Xan Folmer. 

Logo based on the Vanic boar created by Vanatru Priestess Ember of the Vanic Conspiracy.

Studio recordings using Zencastr and Audacity.

"Welcome to the Nine Worlds, home of Gods, Valkyries, Dwarves, and more!" promises MacMillan Publishsers about the latest series by my guest; author and artist George O'Connor. George created the 12 volume series The Olympians and just released Thor in October 2024, the second book of his series The Asgardians.

The first volume of The Asgardians series, Odin, was released in March 2024.

We talk about his process for bringing the myths of these two popular pantheons as illustrated storytelling.  It was a fun and interesting discussion to hear about George's interest with the Norse stories and how they have been a part of his life for so long and still inspiring ways to be told.  And it's always nice to get a behind the scenes scoop on how ideas come about, the creative process, and other bits of writing and drawing a graphic novel about such interesting characters and adventures. 

Both series' can be ordered through your local book store. Find out more about George's works at MacMillan Publishers. 

Follow George on Instagram at @thegeorgeoconnor and on his website for his upcoming webcomic and events.

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Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Follow my channel on Instagram: @wyrdgifts1 Facebook: @GiftsoftheWyrd Email: [email protected]

Order The Christmast Oracle Deck created by me and artist Vinnora at https://feniksshop.etsy.com follow FB/IG: @thechristmasoracle

Please leave feedback on Apple and other podcast providers. This helps the podcast to be found easier.

Music.  Intro: Cooking with the Italians. Stingers: Mastermind & Feeling Happy. Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com  Please do not add this audio content to the YouTube Content ID System. I have used background music which is owned by FesliyanStudios.

Outgoing: The Northern Path by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 4.0 Licesne https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 

Logo Created by Xan Folmer. 

Logo based on the Vanic boar created by Vanatru Priestess Ember of the Vanic Conspiracy.

Studio recordings using Zencastr and Audacity.

Author Gunivortus Goos joins me to talk about the long awaited (by me especially) English translation of his book on Nehalennia.  The book is avaialable in German, Dutch, and now English.  The English title is: Nehalennia: Divine Lady of Prosperity, Trade and Safe Crossings.  It is now available via Amazon throughout the world and in Europe on BoD Buchshop. 

Nehalennia is a Dutch Goddess who was revered and honored in the area controlled by the Romans of the first - second centuries in what is now the southern west coast of the Netherlands.  After that time, Nehalennia was lost to the oceans and time and evidence was literally fished up in the 17th century in the form of votive stones, revealing an acitive practice of honoring her. 

Goos and I talk about Nehalennia, a bit about her origins,  about the process of researching and bringing the information together for the book, and about bringing in into an English version. 

The book has minor updates of new finds and information not in the German or Dutch editions.  Goos has many other books available on a variety of Gods, Goddesses, and topics which you can find more about at his website Boudicca. There you can find books in German and Dutch as well as other essays. Many are available via Amazon or in Europe via BoD. 

Goos has been on the podcast before to talk about his works: Mist Witches (episode 59) and Frau Holle and Germanic Magic (episode 41). 

If you want to learn more of the history that we know of about this obscure Dutch Goddess who now has a devoted following, have a listen and order the book. 

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Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Follow my channel on Instagram: @wyrdgifts1 Facebook: @GiftsoftheWyrd Email: [email protected]

Order The Christmast Oracle Deck created by me and artist Vinnora at https://feniksshop.etsy.com follow FB/IG: @thechristmasoracle

Please leave feedback on Apple and other podcast providers. This helps the podcast to be found easier.

Music.  Intro: Cooking with the Italians. Outgoing: Commercial Bliss. Stingers: Biggest Smile & Emotion. Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com  Please do not add this audio content to the YouTube Content ID System. I have used background music which is owned by FesliyanStudios.

Logo Created by Xan Folmer. 

Logo based on the Vanic boar created by Vanatru Priestess Ember of the Vanic Conspiracy.

Studio recordings by Zencastr and Audacity.

It is great to have Amy Blackthorn on to talk about things botanical - brews, magic, and sacred plant magic. Amy us author of several books on botanical magic, including Blackthorn’s Botanical Magic, Blackthorn’s Botanical Brews, and Blackthorn’s Botanical Wellness. She is the founder of Blackthorn’s Botanicals. 

Her upcoming book Blackthorn's Book of Sacred Plant Magic is from Red Wheel/Weiser Books and scheduled for release in August 2024. Pre-order now with your local bookstore (if possible), Weiser's website, or online seller. 

Amy Blackthorn shows readers how to bring plant spirits into their daily spiritual practice with therapeutic access, subconscious learning, and divining skills that help them understand plant spirits on a deeper level. Using the power of scent, we can create a sense of the sacred in our daily lives. Part reference guide, part recipe book, and part ritual journey, it offers readers an in-depth exploration of the vital connection between scents and magical practice.

Links: 

https://amyblackthorn.com/

Blackthorns Botanicals

Sacred Space Conference

https://bookshop.org/

* * *

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Follow my channel on Instagram: @wyrdgifts1 Facebook: @GiftsoftheWyrd Email: [email protected]

Order The Christmast Oracle Deck created by me and artist Vinnora at https://feniksshop.etsy.com follow FB/IG: @thechristmasoracle

Please leave feedback on Apple and other podcast providers. This helps the podcast to be found easier.

Music.  Intro: Cooking with the Italians. Outgoing: Commercial Bliss. Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com  Please do not add this audio content to the YouTube Content ID System. I have used background music which is owned by FesliyanStudios.

Logo Created by Xan Folmer. 

Logo based on the Vanic boar created by Vanatru Priestess Ember of the Vanic Conspiracy.

Studio recordings by Zencastr and Audacity.

Conversations With.... In this episode I invited a good friend to join me whom I've wanted to chat with for a while.  Hilary has been in the Heathen community in the San Francisco Bay Area for several decades. She is a seidhkona, rune worker, and Freya's woman. 

This is a casual conversation about her journey in Heathenry and her work in those areas.  Pull join us in our virtual seating area for this delightful time. 

* * *

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Follow my channel on Instagram: @wyrdgifts1 Facebook: @GiftsoftheWyrd Email: [email protected]

Order The Christmast Oracle Deck created by me and artist Vinnora at https://feniksshop.etsy.com follow FB/IG: @thechristmasoracle

Please leave feedback on Apple and other podcast providers. This helps the podcast to be found easier.

Music.  Intro: Cooking with the Italians. Outgoing: Commercial Bliss. Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com  Please do not add this audio content to the YouTube Content ID System. I have used background music which is owned by FesliyanStudios.

Logo Created by Xan Folmer. 

Logo based on the Vanic boar created by Vanatru Priestess Ember of the Vanic Conspiracy.

Studio recordings by Zencastr and Audacity.

Life is pretty busy lately and it's made a bit of a challenge to book guests. So I took a couple books off the shelf that I've had for a while adn thought I'd have a little review/chat about them. 

Loki and Sigyn: Lessons on Chaos, Laughter & Loyalty from the Norse Gods  by Lea Svendsen. Llewellyn, February 2022. This captivating book takes you deep into the infamous legacy of Loki and the quiet power of Sigyn, the goddess of loyalty and compassion. As a controversial figure in Heathenry, Loki is often approached with trepidation. But this book introduces you to his true self: a trickster, but also a loving husband and creative problem-solver.

Elves, Witches, & Gods : Spinning Old heathen Magic in the Modern Day by Cat Heath, Llewellyn, 2021. Cat Heath has carefully pieced together and recreated Heathen magic techniques, and she shares the theories, skills, and tools you need to begin or deepen your own practice. This book provides explanations and hands-on techniques for galdr, seidr, fiber magic, herb craft, journeying, and going under the cloak.

Both books were received from the publisher for review. Comments reflect my own opinions.

* * *
Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Follow my channel on Instagram: @wyrdgifts1 Facebook: @GiftsoftheWyrd Email: [email protected]

Order The Christmast Oracle Deck created by me and artist Vinnora at https://feniksshop.etsy.com follow FB/IG: @thechristmasoracle

Please leave feedback on Apple and other podcast providers. This helps the podcast to be found easier.

Music.  Intro: Cooking with the Italians. Outgoing: Commercial Bliss. Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com  Please do not add this audio content to the YouTube Content ID System. I have used background music which is owned by FesliyanStudios.

Logo Created by Xan Folmer. 

Logo based on the Vanic boar created by Vanatru Priestess Ember of the Vanic Conspiracy.

Studio recordings by Zencastr and Audacity.

The Cartomancer team: Amber Highland, Jaymi Elford, Saphira Stone

This episode is recorded during Women's History Month and I'm pleased to bring on to the podcast three incredible women who are the skillfull creators of The Cartomancer Magazine. 

Joining in are Publisher Amber Highland, Creative Director Saphira Stone, and Line Editor Jaymi Elford.   We discuss the history of the magazine and a lot of the behind the scenes of what goes into putting together each quarterly issue. 

And a lot of other fun and shenanigan discussions - as is normal when getting together with any of these three amazing people. 

Check out The Cartomancer Magazine for interesting and well presented topics on divination by many of the best in the divination community.  Including tarot, oracle cards, Lenormand, runes, ogham, and more. 

Women's History Month is a special month to celebrate the accomplishments of women throughout history and to support, collaborate, and celebrate all they do today.  But it is not only in March - do so all year round.   

Visit and subscribe to The Cartomancer Magazine here. 

Visit Saphira Stone's website for graphic design and more at Space Dragon Designs. 

Listen to Jaymi on her podcast Card Slingers Coast to Coast on Podbean. 

Follow The Cartomancer on Facebook and Instagram at: @thecartomancermagazine

#giftsofthewyrd #thecartomancer

Create your podcast today! #madeonzencastr

Follow my channel on Instagram: @wyrdgifts1 Facebook: @GiftsoftheWyrd Email: [email protected]

Order The Christmast Oracle Deck created by me and artist Vinnora at https://feniksshop.etsy.com follow FB/IG: @thechristmasoracle

Please leave feedback on Apple and other podcast providers. This helps the podcast to be found easier.

Music.  Intro: Cooking with the Italians. Outgoing: Commercial Bliss. Royalty free music from https://www.fesliyanstudios.com  Please do not add this audio content to the YouTube Content ID System. I have used background music which is owned by FesliyanStudios.

Logo Created by Xan Folmer. 

Logo based on the Vanic boar created by Vanatru Priestess Ember of the Vanic Conspiracy.

Studio recordings by Zencastr and Audacity.