Forest Spirituality with Julie Brett

Emma Restall Orr

In this episode I speak with Emma Restall Orr, my favourite author, on many different topics. Emma's writing on Druidry has shaped my experience over many years and after hearing that she no longer called herself a Druid I was fascinated to hear how that came about, what it meant to her, and how it had changed her practice and experience. 

The talk was recorded in about July 2019, but due to various reasons I haven't been able to publish it until now. I'm really happy to finally release it and share this conversation with you. 

You can find out more about Emma and her work at http://emmarestallorr.org/

Samhain Meditation

My apologies for a long absence! In this episode I check in a bit about where I've been and where you can find out about the DDUDE talks (Druids Down Under Discuss Everything) that I have been working on. Find them here at the SerpentStar OBOD channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaB05FdAhVRP1v5XlGQiwVw

Due to bushfires and COVID-19 life has changed a great deal in the last few months. Personal struggles made it hard for me to get podcasts out, however community adaptation in these times of adversity has meant some great developments and this meditation is one of them! Created by Kacey Stephensen with some little effects added by me, it was made for the SHOBODO event 1-10th May 2020, for our Samhain ritual. I hope you enjoy the journey it takes you on to seek the wisdom of the Cailleach and the ancestors. Many blessings of the season to you!

Julie 

 

Meditation for Mabon

This episode is a meditation based on the story of the Mabon in the Mabinogion tale of Culhwch and Olwen, but with an Australian twist. The meditation can be done as a part of your Autumn Equinox ritual or just by itself. I will be releasing a blog with a ritual plan at www.juliebrett.net soon. 

This online ritual has come about due to us being encouraged to self-isolate in the COVID-19 outbreak. Hopefully this will help us to connect at a distance. If you'd like to share your experience of the ritual with others, you can do so on the Druids Down Under Facebook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/druidsdownunder/

Voices: J. Brett, R. Pickard and L.Norris.
Music: J.Brett and K. Stephensen. 

Spring Equinox in Australia

In this podcast I talk about the busy, active time of the Spring Equinox and moving into the light half of the year. It's super late, but if you listen in, you'll see why! I talk about some activist trips I have been on, some work with ritual for environmental grief, also what's been happening in the garden and in the bush and how it relates to our lives in the symbolism of awakening into the light half of the year. 

Music featured is Bloom by Elana Low who is from New York and is a listener to the podcast. Thank you so much Elana! You can find more of Elana's work on Spotify and other good online music sources. 

 

 

Damh The Bard on Druid Camp and Music

In this episode I talk with Damh The Bard about his trip out to Australia this year to be a part of Druid Camp in the Adelaide Hills. We talk about the processes that went behind the workshops and rituals of the camp, about Australian Paganism and Druidry, and about how he finds inspiration with his music. It's all about listening for that song of the land and waiting to hear it's call. I really enjoyed this interview! I hope you do too. 

You can find more about Dave via his website:

https://www.paganmusic.co.uk/

He is also the host of the OBOD podcast Druidcast which you can find on all good podcast apps, or here on his website:

https://www.paganmusic.co.uk/podcast/

Thanks again Dave!

Louise Hewett and The Pictish Spirit

In this episode I speak with Louise Hewett who is the author of the Pictish Spirit series of fiction novels. The books explore the ethics of intimacy and sexual politics, looking at many challenging themes that explore discussion around the acceptability of cultural norms. It covers feminism, the sexualisation of violence, sexuality and relationships, as well as being set in a very Pagan community of present day Adelaide. While exploring these political themes, Louise also explores the reality of Pagan life in the spiritual experiences of everyday people in ritual, meditation, healing and open awareness. The books are enormous and a real outpouring of Louise's inspiration. They are full of poetry and musical lyrics and she has also inspired musicians within the Pagan community to put her words into their art. The interview also includes some of these tracks.

Purchase the first book of the Pictish Spirit series, 'Mist' at Book Depository or Amazon. 

You can find out more about Louise's work on Facebook through Pictish Spirit, Egg and Serpent Studio, and The Hearth of the Antlered Mother. 

You can purchase the song 'Priestess' by KC Guy on Bandcamp.

You can find more about Kacey Guy Stephensen, his music and poetry at www.kaceystephensen.com 

You can also listen to 'The Song for Scathach' also named 'A Song For Skye' on You Tube. 

Find out more about Kacey's music in this earlier podcast:

https://forestspirituality.podbean.com/e/kacey-guy-stephensen-on-music-and-druidry/

You can find the 'Through A Sylvan Doorway' album by Spiral Dance which includes the 'Gift of the Boinne' song on Bandcamp.

You can find more about Spiral Dance at www.spiraldance.com.au

 

ps: sorry if you got the first download of this where I missed a chunk that I should have edited out where I'm typing and looking up stuff on You Tube! It's such a long talk I missed a bit :P This one should be all good ;-) 

Imbolc in Australia

In this episode I discuss my experiences with Imbolc, moving house, planting trees, starting our veggie garden and the metaphor of planting seeds and preparing for the return of growth and flowering in the land. As we align ourselves with the energies of the seasons we find peace within. This episode is part of a series I have been making this year, so if you'd like to listen to one from another time or festival, check out my full playlist. 

I live in the Upper Blue Mountains of New South Wales in Australia. 

Read more about the wheel of the year in my book Australian Druidry.

Bardic circles, writing and WA Druidry with Tina Merrybard

In this episode I have a chat with Tina Merrybard who is a Druid grade OBOD member from Western Australia. We talk about Bardic circles, writing, musical instruments, and WA Druidry. I love how the talk had a theme of how we can find out greatest connection to Awen by simply showing up to do the work. 

You can find Tina's You Tube channel Keechpeach here:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1dIs15QdU-e3i637L3IzSw

You can find out more about her books here:

https://www.amazon.com/T.-L.-Merrybard/e/B00L8E4YOK?ref_=dbs_p_ebk_r00_abau_000000

You can learn more about OBOD Druidry at:

www.druidry.org

And you can find out more about my book Australian Druidry at:

www.juliebrett.net 

Here is some information about Twrch Trwyth the Boar

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twrch_Trwyth

Winter Solstice in Australia

This is part of a series of wheel of the year episodes I have been making where I share what I'm experiencing in the turning of the seasons, and share ideas about how we can feel more connected to the land. Find out more at www.juliebrett.net or in my book Australian Druidry: connecting with the sacred landscape. 

Kacey Guy Stephensen on Music and Druidry

In this episode I speak with Kacey Guy Stephensen, about his music, Druidry, and how his spiritual journey has been a part of the process. He's a member of The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) and this comes up a lot in the talk. You can find out more about OBOD and their courses at www.druirdry.org. 

Find out more about Kacey and his music at his website www.kaceystephensen.com

Follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KcGuyMusic/

Find him on Spotify and iTunes under the name KC Guy.

Find his Bandcamp releases here, also under KC Guy: https://kcguy.bandcamp.com/