The Ramblings and Wanderings

Archive for the ‘Reviews & Recommendations’ Category

Left click here listen now! Or right click and select Save Link As to download!

Click here to go the Podcast’s website!

Show notes:

Opening Segment

Opening song is an instrumental version of Diaspora by Juni and Bren.

Juniper and Brendan introduce themselves and talk briefly on their Pagan (and philosophical) Paths as well as discuss the layout for the show and what we hope to do with it.

The incense for this episode is Juniper’s Lucky Number Seven and the Tea is Kusmi Chocolate Chai.

Bardic Segment

Opening poem is a piece by Rumi and a sample from Jethrol Tull

Juni speaks briefly about YB Yeats and reads his poem The Dedication to a Book of Stories selected from the Irish Novelists

The link she mentions to the Rattle and Silver Branch Workshop is here

Bren reads a sad love poem translated from the Irish called Grief of a Young Girl’s Heart

Standing Stone

Opening music is selected from Imagined Oceans by Carl Jenkins.

Dr. Bren reads to us from Cicero’s Discussions at Tuscullum and talks about happiness and Ancient Roman philosophies on how a simple life of pleasure is ideal.

Rants, Raves & Reviews

Juni and Bren take a hard look at gossip and the rumour mill in the Pagan community and Brendan reads to us about the value of gossip and reputation in ancient times.

Garden Gate

Opening Poem is selected from Juni’s Hedgewitch’s Poem.

Juniper looks at house blessing and new home traditions with a critical eye and shares what she and Bren did to bless their new home.

Ask Dr. Expert

Juniper asks Dr. Expert about the origins of Drawing Down the Moon. An interesting discussion on magickal history begins.

Dr. Expert reads from Ronald Hutton’s Triumph of the Moon, Lucan’s Pharsalia and Plato’s Gorgias.

Closing Segment

Closing music is an instrumental version of Diaspora by Juni and Bren.

We ask a skill testing question that can earn you a free Walking the Hedge Calendar, tell you about our websites, plans for next episode and thank you very much for listening!

Left click here listen now! Or right click and select Save Link As to download!

Click here to go the Podcast’s website!

The Walking the Hedge 2010 Calendar is ready to be ordered and shipped!

Created by the gang at the Hedge, this scrapbook style calendar is a beautiful work of art printed on recycled paper.

It features fun facts, Pagan & other holidays, special dates, lunar phases, poetry, art, photography and much more!

You pay a $23.00 donation to Walking the Hedge (Canadian dollars, which includes shipping)

All proceeds go to the cost of the calendar and the cost of webhosting for the Hedge

Once you order, please contact Juniper by Email with your order number, how many calendars you ordered and your shipping information.

You can find some more previews of the Calendar in the Gallery, keep checking as more previews will be posted.

We will try our best to have it shipped to you in time for Yule/Christmas!

Just so you guys know, when you order the calendar it will go to a email called pugglesforu@hotmail.com to Susan Davies … Susan Davies is my Mom. We share a paypal account and have a shared bank acocunt that is attached to it, so don’t worry when you see that name!

So far the trip has been going well.

The folks in Winnipeg amazed us with their hospitality and a huge gathering of folks coming out to meet us and hear Brendan talk and sing!

I can’t wait until I am home and I have had  a bit of rest so I can write about all the beautiful sites and the amazing people we have met. As well as post some pics.

Also in the news, Brendan and I were interviewed by the good folks at the Magical Earth Podcast while in Winnipeg. It should be up soon, so check it out!

Cheers!

W i n t e r

By Felix Salten

The leaves were falling from the great oak at the meadow’s edge. They were falling from all the trees. One branch of the oak reached high above the others and stretched far out over the meadow. Two leaves clung to it’s very tip. “It isn’t the way it used to be.” said one leaf to the other. “No,” the other leaf answered. “So many of us have fallen off tonight we’re almost the only ones left on the branch.” “You never know who’s going to go next,” said the first leaf.

“Even when it was warm and the sun shone, a storm or a cloudburst would come sometimes, and many leaves were torn off, though they were still very young. You never know who’s going to go next.” “The sun hardly shines now,” sighed the second leaf,” and when it does, it gives no warmth. We must have warmth again.” “Can it be true,” said the first leaf, “can it really be true, that others come to take our places when we’re gone and after them still others, and more and more?” “It really is true,” whispered the second leaf. “We can’t even begin to imagine it, it’s beyond our powers.” “It makes me very sad,” added the first leaf. They were very silent a while.

Then the first leaf said quietly to itself, “Why must we fall?” The second leaf asked, “What happens to us when we have fallen?” “We sink down .” “What is under us?” The first leaf answered, “I don’t know. Some say one thing, some another, but nobody knows.” The second leaf asked, “Do we feel anything, do we know anything about ourselves when we’re down there?” The first leaf answered, “Who knows? Not one of all those down there has ever come back to tell us about it.” They were silent again.

Then the first leaf said tenderly to the other, “Don’t worry so much about it you’re trembling.” “That’s nothing,” the second leaf answered, I tremble at the least thing now. I don’t feel so sure of my hold as I used to.” “Let’s not talk any more about such things,” said the first leaf. The other replied, “No, we’ll let it be. But-what else shall we talk about?”

It was silent, but went on after a little while, “Which of us will go first?” “There’s still plenty of time to worry about that,” the other leaf said reassuringly. “Lets remember how beautiful it was, how wonderful, when the sun came out and shone so warmly that we thought we’d burst with life. Do you remember? And the morning dew and the mild and splendid nights .?

“Now the nights are dreadful,” the second leaf complained, ” and there is no end to them.” “We shouldn’t complain, ” said the first leaf gently. “We’ve outlived many, many others.” “Have I changed much?” asked the second leaf shyly. “Not in the least,” the first leaf said. “You think so only because I’ve gotton to be so yellow and ugly. But it’s different in your case.” “You’re fooling me,” the second leaf said. “No, really,” the first leaf answered eagerly, “believe me, you’re as lovely as the day you were born. Here and there may be a little yellow spot. But it’s hardly noticeable and makes you only more beautiful, believe me.” “Thanks,” whispered the second leaf, quite untouched. I don’t believe you, not altogether, but I thank you because you’re so kind. You’ve always been so kind to me. I’m just beginning to understand how kind you are.

“Hush,” said the other leaf, and kept silent itself, for it was too troubled to talk any more. Then they were both silent. Hours passed. A moist wind blew, cold and hostile, through the treetops.” “Ah, now,” said the second leaf, “I ” Then it’s voice broke off. It was torn from it’s place and spun down.

Winter had come.

From the book: “Bambi a Life in the Woods”, by Felix Salten written in 1928

Earth’s Children series by Jean M. Auel

Bambi: A Life in the Forest by Felix Salten (not a children’s book)

The Black Jewels series by Anne Bishop

Anything by Marion Zimmer Bradley & Diana Paxton

Greenmantle & Into the Green by Charles de Lint

The Sea Priestess by Dion Fortune

Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman

Sing the Four Quarters by Tanya Huff

The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk

The Emberverse series by S.M. Stirling

Anything by Mary Stewart & Jack Whyte & Morgan Llywelyn

Boudicca: The Warrior Queen by M. J Trow

Boudica series by Manda Scott

The Eagle and the Raven by Pauline Gedge and Donna Gillespie

Misted Cliffs series by Catherine Asaro