34 Circe Salon -- Make Matriarchy Great Again -- Disrupting History

Let's talk about the taboo: Dawn "Sam" Alden talks with Erin, Samantha and Ceridwen about the joys and horrors of the menopausal journey, and try to get some valuable info out into the void. Let's all go public with our hot flashes and embarrass the men around us!

In this fascinating episode, we talk with Rabbi Batshir Torchio, a woman who leads a Jewish congregation in Northern California. Rabbi Torchio tells us about both the historical and modern roles of women in Judaism and about her own journey of discovery of the feminine face of spirituality. Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden co-host.

The Norse pantheon is known for its fearsome goddesses, but not all of its divine women are familiar to us. Introducing Ran, the Norse goddess of the sea. She is powerful, harsh, rapacious-- but what more do we know about her? Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden as they chat with the "Norse Pagan Witch," L. Stephanie Tait, about this marvelous and mysterious deity.

In a very warm and insightful episode, we talk with Kaitlin Shetler, a poet who is taking the journey through the Feminine Divine as a Christian. Christianity has a long and wonderful heritage of connection with faith from a feminine standpoint, but that heritage is often forgotten or directly denied. The cost for those who make the journey today can often be difficult-- but the rewards can also be transcendent. Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden as they discuss this poignant and timely aspect of the Divine Feminine.

A quick note from the 34 Circe Salon creators wishing you a happy holiday season and giving you an update on the upcoming shows! Here's wishing you all the best in the coming year!

Perhaps no goddess embodies the Ancient Greek attitude towards women than Hera, Queen of the Gods. Portrayed as the perpetually spiteful wife, her power was shown as limited and lesser. But who was the true Hera and where did she come from? Join Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden as they discuss the history of this goddess with noted archaeologist and Homeric scholar, Dr. Gary Stickel.

Simply a wonderful and amazing discussion-- the power of the feminine in the paganism of the North. In our third episode on the Feminine Divine, we interview Stephanie, a practicing witch and devotee of the Feminine Divine. We discuss her heritage of witchcraft and her love of the goddesses of Norse paganism. Stephanie is a knowledgeable, open and warm as she shares her experiences with us. In popular culture, the religion of the Norse is skewed towards the masculine, but the truth is that North mythology contains some of the most dominant and dynamic women in all of world mythology. The Norse Goddesses are the true mothers of its mythical power and Stephanie regales us with her thoughts on the subject. Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden host.

“O, learn to love, the lesson is but plain, And once made perfect, never lost again.” ― William Shakespeare, Venus and Adonis Aphrodite, Venus-- The Goddess of Love. She is perhaps the most well known of any in the Greco-Roman Pantheon. But what do we really know of her story and her origin? Join us as Dr. Gary Stickel tells her tale as we praise the Goddess! Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden host.

In a wonderful, spirited discussion, Max Dashu discusses her recent research into the warrior women called "Amazons." How did the Ancient Greek conception of femaleness shape the stories of Amazons that we know today? What is the relationship of Amazon concept to the warrior tribes that existed in the Black Sea region? Was there really a standalone tribe of warrior women? Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden discuss these concepts with Max.

The first of a new series: In Praise of the Goddess! In this series we take a scholarly approach to examining the Divine Feminine. Join us as our guest, archaeologist and Homeric scholar Dr. Gary Stickel, tells us the story of one of the most famous goddesses in any pantheon, Athena! Goddess of wisdom and defensive war, and matron of the great city of Athens, Greece. Sean Marlon Newcombe and Dawn "Sam" Alden host.