Between Two Ravens: A Norse Mythology Podcast

David interviews Simon Drew, Poet, Podcaster, and Founder of The Walled Garden Philosophical Society. In our conversation, we talk about the founding of The Walled Garden, and it's mission of "finding Wisdom, wherever it might be found". How poetry and mysticism contribute to the mission of a philosophical society. We discuss pathways to initiation, including mythology and philosophy, as ways to understand Wisdom. We discuss our own journeys of coming to understand what we know and what we don't know. Simon also shares one of his poems, The Mystic, to explain "What is a Mystic anyways?" There is an event with Professor Joe Siracusa on January 5th. If you are interested in attending and want a 50% off discount code, contact me on Twitter. https://thewalledgarden.com/humanbeinginglobalizedworld Links to two of Joe’s podcast episodes with Walled Garden: https://player.fm/series/the-walled-garden-2364564/the-power-of-the-human-spirit-with-prof-joe-siracusa https://anchor.fm/thewalledgarden/episodes/Prof--Joseph-Siracusa--911-and-American-Diplomacy-e19apja Rocco Jarmin’s Eyes Wide Open Podcast: https://eyeswideopenlife.org/podcast/ My I Ching episode and The Walled Garden Episode with Paul O'Brien. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s1-episode-22-b2r-short-divination-and-the-i-ching/id1604263830?i=1000565923175 https://thewalledgarden.com/paul-obrien-divination-the-i-ching Poem 'The Mystic' at Simon’s ‘The Sanctuary’ within the Walled Garden. https://thewalledgarden.com/thesanctuary Follow us on Twitter (@TwoRavenPodcast https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast) to get updates about the Fireside Chat, planned for early January 2023. A live Between Two Ravens event where fans can watch Shawn and David record a live episode, read a myth by a fire, and answer fan questions. It is free for everyone to attend and we look forward to meeting some of our fans face to face (so to speak). The event will be posted at https://thewalledgarden.com/events Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Follow us or leave a message on Twitter or Instagram: Twitter: (@TwoRavenPodcast): https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing:  Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).  Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found.  Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more about weekly meet-ups and the writing and podcasts of our other contributors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David brings a both light hearted and serious look at the celebration of Yule. A completely non-comprehensive take on the idea of celebrating the Winter Solstice from an archetypal perspective and reflecting on our modern traditions that reflect back to a much earlier time before the Christianization of the season. The Recipe for Wassail: https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/2022/12/22/wassail-recipe/ Links, references, and sources of inspiration: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icelandic_Christmas_folklore https://www.learnreligions.com/holly-king-and-the-oak-king-2562991 https://www.learnreligions.com/go-a-wassailing-for-yule-2562973 https://www.learnreligions.com/history-of-yule-2562997 https://seawitchbotanicals.com/blogs/swb/celebrating-yule-the-chill-version-of-christmas https://wyrddesigns.wordpress.com/2018/12/21/the-twelve-days-of-yule-from-mothers-night-thru-twelfth-night/ https://brodgar.co.uk/2020/12/14/odin-as-santa-claus-and-other-norse-yule-myths/ https://www.scandinavianchristmastraditions.com/oldnorseyule.html Follow us on Twitter (@TwoRavenPodcast https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast) to get updates about the Fireside Chat, planned for early January 2023. A live Between Two Ravens event where fans can watch Shawn and David record a live episode, read a myth by a fire, and answer fan questions. It is free for everyone to attend and we look forward to meeting some of our fans face to face (so to speak). The event will be posted at https://thewalledgarden.com/events Donate to help buy Shawn & David matching drinking horns for the Fireside Chat! https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/donation/ (Updated with pictures!) Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Follow us or leave a message on Twitter or Instagram: Twitter: (@TwoRavenPodcast): https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing:  Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).  Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found.  Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more about weekly meet-ups and the writing and podcasts of our other contributors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"The Wanderer" - A poem by Shawn Gaich to celebrate the Winter Solstice and the Holiday Season. 4 years ago, Shawn's colleagues at work asked him to write a holiday poem. So of course he writes a poem where Odin (The Wanderer) toys with the souls of mortals. Though the poem was lost, Shawn was able to remember enough of it and fill in the blanks everywhere else. Note --> The obvious portion of the poem Shawn used themes from "The Saga of Ragnar Lodbrok", and a less obvious one from "How I Met Your Mother"... We hope you enjoy the things that really matter in life over the winter break. Thank you all for listening! Follow us on Twitter (@TwoRavenPodcast https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast) to get updates about the Fireside Chat, planned for early January 2023. A live Between Two Ravens event where fans can watch Shawn and David record a live episode, read a myth by a fire, and answer fan questions. It is free for everyone to attend and we look forward to meeting some of our fans face to face (so to speak). The event will be posted at https://thewalledgarden.com/events Donate to help buy Shawn & David matching drinking horns: https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/donation/ Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Follow us or leave a message on Twitter or Instagram: Twitter: (@TwoRavenPodcast): https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing:  Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).  Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found.  Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more about weekly meet-ups and the writing and podcasts of our other contributors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 2, Episode 26. Shawn and David conclude the season long series on Loki: the cause of and solution to all of life's problems. Shawn recaps the adventures of Loki up to this point, and we explore the sections of Lokasenna and Gylfaginning Chapter 50 which provide the story of Loki fleeing from the Aesir after his involvement in the death of Baldur. Loki turns himself into a fish and we learn why Loki is his own worst enemy. Thor is finally not afraid to get wet, and surprise return of the long departed Kvasir. Does this prove that there is no continuity to the stories of Norse Mythology? David analyses what we can take away from the imagery of Loki the fish, and Loki's torture by a goddess, and the aid provided by Loki's wife. It is the story of the development of consciousness and awakening of the unconscious. Follow us on Twitter (@TwoRavenPodcast https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast) to get updates about the Fireside Chat, planned for early January 2023. A live Between Two Ravens event where fans can watch Shawn and David record a live episode, read a myth by a fire, and answer fan questions. It is free for everyone to attend and we look forward to meeting some of our fans face to face (so to speak). The event will be posted at https://thewalledgarden.com/events Outro - Die Forelle (The Trout). Donate to help buy Shawn & David matching drinking horns for the Fireside Chat! https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/donation/ Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Follow us or leave a message on Twitter or Instagram: Twitter: (@TwoRavenPodcast): https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com). Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more about weekly meet-ups and the writing and podcasts of our other contributors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S2 Episode 25: B2R Short Norse Mythology and Exploring the Shadow. David shares his ideas on why there is a connection between Stoic Philosophy, Jungian Psychology, and Norse Mythology. They are all methods of seeking wisdom and healing the human soul.  I share my personal take on why Norse Mythology is the ideal mythology for understanding the archaic man within the soul of modern man and the personal shadow within the unconscious. A step which is necessary for Jungian individuation and, I argue, for Stoics on the path of the Prokopton.Follow us on Twitter (@TwoRavenPodcast https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast) to get updates about the Fireside Chat, planned for early January 2023. A live Between Two Ravens event where fans can watch Shawn and David record a live episode, read a myth by a fire, and answer fan questions. It is free for everyone to attend and we look forward to meeting some of our fans face to face (so to speak). The event will be posted at https://thewalledgarden.com/eventsDonate to help buy Shawn & David matching drinking horns: https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/donation/Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830Follow us or leave a message on Twitter or Instagram: Twitter: (@TwoRavenPodcast): https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing:  Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).  Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found.  Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more about weekly meet-ups and the writing and podcasts of our other contributors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S2 Episode 24: The Vikings of North America II: The Saga of the Greenlanders In this episode, Shawn discusses another version of the Norse discovery and settlement of Greenland, along with the settlement of North America, as told in "The Saga of The Greenlanders", a source written in the early to mid 13th Century. This story shows a similar but different version of events that detail these discoveries, one in which the Norse were the agressors in their first interaction with the Native Americans, killing 8 of them in cold blood. Freydis also schemes to kill a bunch of Norseman. Less awesome than her actions in "The Saga of Eirik the Red" where she pounded a sword against her exposed breast to scare the Natives in the midst of battle... Donate to help buy Shawn & David matching drinking horns and participate in the December 2022 Fireside Chat! https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/donation/ or https://www.patreon.com/prosocheproject Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Follow us or leave a message on Twitter or Instagram: Twitter: (@TwoRavenPodcast): https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing:  Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).  Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found.  Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more about weekly meet-ups and the writing and podcasts of our other contributors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S2 Episode 23: The Vikings of North America: Eirik the Red's Saga In this episode, Shawn discusses the tale of the Norse discovery and settlement of Greenland, along with the accidental discovery by Leif Erikson of North America, as told in "Eirik the Red's Saga", a source written in the early 13th century. Although the story details the lives of the characters of Eirik the Red, his offspring Leif, Thorstein, and Freydis... It more so follows the adventures of Karlsefni and his adventures trying to build a permanent settlement on the New World only to fail in his venture due to the consistent threat of Native Americans. Karlsefni's wife, Gudrid, also plays a big part in this story as she was prophesized to achieve great things, along with her family line that "can be traced" to the Icelandic Bishops in the 13/14th centuries. Donate to help buy Shawn & David matching drinking horns and participate in the December 2022 Fireside Chat! https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/donation/ or https://www.patreon.com/prosocheproject Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Follow us or leave a message on Twitter or Instagram: Twitter: (@TwoRavenPodcast): https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing:  Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).  Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Additional Info/Books Discussed: 'He: Understanding Masculine Psychology' by Robert A. Johnson: https://amzn.to/3fB18Lr Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found.  Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more about weekly meet-ups and the writing and podcasts of our other contributors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Note --> Renamed on 7/3/23 to be the first episode on "The House of Yngling" In this episode, Shawn discusses the family line of the Ynglings. According to Snorri Sturlason's work "Ynglinga Saga", this family line supposedely started with a humanized version of the Vanir god, Njord (and his son, Freyr). The story states that Njord was a king in Uppsala, Sweden. Over the years the family of kings gained and lost land. The House of Ynglinga continued until it came to a man Named "Halvdan the Black". At this point his land controlled parts of Norway. Halvdan's son was supposedly Harold Fairhair, the first king of Norway, who is probably a historical figure. Are the Vanir gods ancestors of the first Kings of Norway??? Donate to help buy Shawn & David matching drinking horns and participate in the December 2022 Fireside Chat! https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/donation/ or https://www.patreon.com/prosocheproject Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Follow us or leave a message on Twitter or Instagram: Twitter: (@TwoRavenPodcast): https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing:  Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).  Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Additional Info/Books Discussed: 'He: Understanding Masculine Psychology' by Robert A. Johnson: https://amzn.to/3fB18Lr Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found.  Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more about weekly meet-ups and the writing and podcasts of our other contributors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Season 2 Episode 2: Freyr’s “Courtship” of Gerder (Part 2) This week Shawn and David wrap up the 2 part series on the story of how Freyr sends his servant, Skirnir, to propose to the giantess Gerdr on his behalf. Last week with them discussing Chapter 37 of Gylfaginning from the Prose Edda; however, this week them discussing its Poetic Edda counterpart, the poem, “For Skirnis”. Skirnir in this poem is…. uhhhh slightly more sinister in his approach to “coercing” Gerdr to say yes. Meaning of course he threatened her for 11 stanzas with a horrific fate if she doesn’t agree to marry the Vanir god. David continues the connection to Percival from the Fisher King. The pair also deep dive into Skirnis’ and Freyr’s motivations and insecurities, and how we all have our own forms of imposter syndrome and ambitions to take risks (or make sacrifices) in life. Donate to help buy Shawn & David matching drinking horns and participate in the December 2022 Fireside Chat! https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/donation/ or https://www.patreon.com/prosocheproject Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Follow us or leave a message on Twitter or Instagram: Twitter: (@TwoRavenPodcast): https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing:  Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).  Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Additional Info/Books Discussed: 'He: Understanding Masculine Psychology' by Robert A. Johnson: https://amzn.to/3fB18Lr Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found.  Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more about weekly meet-ups and the writing and podcasts of our other contributors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shawn and David present "Lokasenna - A Radio Drama" In celebration of releasing our 50th episode. Share your vote for your favorite God/Goddess/Voice Actor on Twitter @TwoRavenPodcast Loki - The Trickster with a big mouth. Odin - King of the gods and Loki’s blood brother who swore an oath to listen to Loki’s bullshit. Bragi - The God of poetry and being inspired to write poetry after drinking good mead. Idunn - Goddess of beauty and the golden apples. Loki tried to sell her to some giants. Also Bragi’s wife. Gefjun - The goddess of plowing. She birthed 4 giant oxen to win a bet that she could have all the land she could plow in a day.  Frigg - Odin’s wife and the voice of reason. Freya - Goddess of lust, passion, witchcraft. She slept with 4 dwarves to gain a pretty necklace. Njord - The god of the sea and golden showers. father of Freyr and Freya. Tyr - The old king. The god of sacrifice and justice. Freyr - The god of fertility and The Lover (although not a very successful lover). Byggvir - The personification of Barley. Heimdall - The watchman of the gods and the god of social order.  Skadi - The huntress. She came to the Aesir after they killed her father and she was tricked into marrying Njord because he has pretty feet. Loki likes to “amuse” her. Sif - Thor’s Wife and the most blameless of all the goddesses (except for that time she slept with Loki). Beyla - Byggvir’s wife. She is the lesser goddess of bees and manure. (“the dung spattered milk-maid”). Thor - Thor hungry. Thor smash. Don’t make Thor repeat himself a 4th time. Next week look forward to Freyr Part 2 on Skirnismal from the Poetic Edda and more discussion of the Shadow aspects of Frey the Lover and how Percival finds true love and mature masculinity where Frey fails. We have talks in the works to design and create matching drinking horns for the December 2022 Fireside Chat! Click below for more info: https://tworavenpodcast.wordpress.com/donation/ You are welcome to join David's Mindfulness meet-up. Next group is November 12th, Saturday 7:30am Pacific 10:30am Eastern. It will be before the Stoicon X virtual event at The Walled Garden: https://thewalledgarden.com/events Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Follow us or leave a message on Twitter or Instagram: Twitter: (@TwoRavenPodcast): https://twitter.com/TwoRavenPodcast Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing:  Prosoche Project (www.prosocheproject.com).  Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found.  Visit thewalledgarden.com to learn more about weekly meet-ups and the writing and podcasts of our other contributors. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices