Round the Herne

 This Irish story is not set at Imbolc specifically (or at any obvious juncture of the year in the versions I've read of it), however it does feature the goddess Brigid who is especially associated in both Pagan and Christian - through her association with St Brigit - imagery with the festival in early February that marks the lambing season an the emergence of early plant life after the worst of winter. The feast of Imbolc focuses mainly on three sister-goddesses, all called Brigid and essentially  facets of the same complex entity. One sister is the goddess of the forge fires of the blacksmith, another of the healing fires (used to boil potions and sanitise surgical tools, such as those found in the archaeological site at Colchester), and the third is fiery inspiration of the poet. I strongly suspect that there would have been a longer version of the short account of Ruadan's death in the surviving text, which linked these aspects of Brigid to the events in the tale. Poetry do

 It is National Storytelling Week for the next few days, so here is at least one contribution from me. This is the unsanitary tale of how King Tantalus of Sipylus (located in modern day Turkey) greatly offended the Gods of Olympus and earned an eternity of suffering. There are three versions of quite what he did to upset the Gods, and I have combined two offences into one tale. The choice of this story was suggested by one of the people who subscribes to my YouTube channel. This tale reminds me that I haven't been to my favourite Greek cafe in Bury St Edmunds since before the current lock-down - so I am in my turn being tantalised by the unattainable prospect of baklava and other sweet things! Whilst values change over time, I think most people would still agree that his second crime was particularly egregious. I'm not sure who the artist of the image inset is - if anyone knows, tell me and I'll add the proper credit in. If I am sufficiently organised I will record another

 This was a seminar given on the afternoon of 16th January 2021 via Facebook Live as an activity for the Ipswich Pagan Council, looking at ways in which Jungian theory can be applied to the understanding and practice of modern paganism. I asked the people tuning in to the live broadcast to donate £5 to The Dogs Trust. If you find this recording useful or interesting, perhaps you would also like to donate? If you are unfamiliar with Facebook Live, it allows viewers to type questions, comments etc. None of the comments can be seen in this recording, but knowing that I could see the messages at the time may help to contextualise who it is that I am responding to. For once it is not the voices in my head. Should you have any questions or feedback, please post your comments here on the blog.  

 This is my reading of the final chapter in Conrad's adventures with "The Quest of the White Merle" by Lilian Gask (1909). Our hero arrives back home in Blighty for his last encounter with a talking bird. A few people have enjoyed following these chapters, so I might record another out-of-copyright book for next midwinter. Hopefully one requiring fewer unconvincing accents and silly voices.

 The penultimate chapter of "The Quest of the White Merle" by Lilian Gask (1909), in which Conrad arrives in America and encounters a variety of birds.

 Here is my reading of the fourteenth chapter of "Quest of the White Merle" by Lilian Gask (1909). This time Conrad traverses Africa and has a brief encounter with a lion.

  My reading of the thirteenth chapter of Lilian Gask's "Quest of the White Merle" (1909). This time Conrad flies to India and encounters snake-eating birds.

 Here is my reading of the twelfth chapter of Lilian Gask's "Quest of the White Merle" (1909) in which Conrad meets some bower birds.

 In this reading of the eleventh chapter of "The Quest of the White Merle" by Lilian Gask (1909), young Conrad continues to meet with Birds of Paradise and runs into a stroppy cassowary.

 Here is my reading of the tenth chapter of "The Quest of the White Merle" by Lilian Gask (1909), this time with an encounter with spiders as well as Birds of Paradise. Only six more chapters to go (my tenuous grasp on sanity permitting).

 My reading of the ninth chapter of "Quest of the White Merle" by Lilian Gask (1909), in which the young hero encounters an orangutan as well as a variety of talking birds in Java and Borneo.

 The eighth chapter of "Quest of the White Merle" by Lilian Gask (1909) in which Conrad and his friendly robin arrive in Malay and encounter a pheasant with a hundred eyes.

 Happy New Year to my blog readers/listeners (both of you). Hopefully 2021 will be a significant improvement on that Year That Shall Not Be Named. Here is my reading of the seventh chapter of Lilian Gask's "Quest of the White Merle" (1909) in which the hero continues to explore Japan and meet its talking bird-life. The silly voices are a bit all over the place in this one - not the result of a hang-over (Gallifreyan biology, I've never had a hang-over) but probably tiredness... and the fact that I have a very limited range of silly voices!