Chthonia

Website: https://chthonia.netPatreon: https://patreon.com/chthoniaMerch: https://chthoniapodcast.creator-spring.com/School: https://instituteforfemininemyth.orgHappy new year! Our first podcast of 2025 looks at Joan of Arc, also known as Jeanne D'Arc, and La Pucelle (the Maid). We discuss Joan's short life, having been burned at the stake at the age of 19 after being victorious in pushing the English out of France in the Hundred Years' War, and installing Charles VII on the throne. We focus on three things: her visions of Michael the Archangel, St. Margaret of Antioch and St. Catherine of Alexandria; the heresy charges leveled against her for wearing male attire; and finally the question that plagued me as I recorded this--who exactly WAS Joan that she would be sought out for this mission?

Website: https://chthonia.netPatreon: https://patreon.com/chthoniaMerch: https://chthoniapodcast.creator-spring.com/School: https://instituteforfemininemyth.orgThe last podcast of 2024 focuses on the grandmotherly figure of La Befana, a witch who appears on Epiphany Eve to bring gifts (or coal) and to sweep the house. Children may not look at her without suffering consequences. The origins of La Befana may lie in an Etruscan/Sabine goddess, and the paradoxical nature and perception of this witch figure may tell us something about the uneasy relationship of a patriarchal world with Nature.

Website: https://chthonia.netPatreon: https://patreon.com/chthoniaMerch: https://chthoniapodcast.creator-spring.com/School: https://instituteforfemininemyth.orgThis week we look at the Loireag, a "plaintative" tiny fairy associated with the traditional process of spinning and weaving cloth. The Loireag is considered to be a water spirit in the folklore of the Hebrides, as well as a spinster, making her full of apparent paradoxes when it comes to her associations as a feminine force. We look at the folklore that exists surrounding the Loireag, which also deals with singing, and the mythology of weaving and what it might represent. 

This week’s subject is Tlazolteotl, the Aztec goddess of filth, lust, and patroness of adulterers. Tlazolteotl is both the disease and the cure, being a goddess of debauchery, but also the one who can purify you from debauchery. We look at the idea of “Holy S**t”, how excrement was viewed as a divine and healing substance, and how this idea compares in other cultures. We also discuss how “filth” ends up being connected with the Feminine, and how this can affect our ideas abuot sex and sensual pleasure.

Dive into the enchanting lore of selkies, magical beings who transform between seals and women. Discover the captivating story of a selkie woman trapped in a fisherman’s world, grappling with themes of love, freedom, and gender dynamics. Explore the trickster nature of love and the importance of independence in relationships, echoed in myths like Persephone and Hades. The discussion emphasizes the dance of sovereignty, showcasing how healthy connections thrive on mutual respect and the balance of masculine and feminine energies.

Discover the enchanting origins and multifaceted nature of Hecate, the goddess of thresholds and transformation. Explore her ancient ties to magic and witchcraft, as well as her pivotal roles in mythology, such as guiding Demeter. Delve into the cultural complexities surrounding identity and the significance of transitional spaces. Learn how Hecate's worship evolved over time and her unique position among deities, balancing nurturing qualities with a dark, protective nature.

Website: https://chthonia.netPatreon: https://patreon.com/chthoniaMerch: https://chthoniapodcast.creator-spring.com/ISFM: https://instituteforfemininemyth.orgThis week's episode looks at the folkloric storm hags of Ireland, Scotland, and Lake Erie in the United States. While hag and witch figures often represent forces of nature, the Storm Hag represents a unique danger that comes at the end of winter--the fragile state of birth and rebirth.

This week we look at Nure-onna, a Yokai who preys on men who try to help or rescue an apparent woman and child in need. We look beyond any social explanations of the story, to explore the realities of nature and natural forces.

Dive into the enchanting world of the Queen of Elphame, a fascinating figure in Scottish fairy lore. Explore the intertwining of myth and matriarchy, and how goddess worship has evolved culturally. Discover the dark history behind witch trials and enchanting tales like 'Tam Lin,' revealing the perilous side of fairy folk. Journey through Ireland, contemplating liminal spaces between heaven and hell, and the intriguing nature of time in the fae realms. Embrace the legacy of Clan Mothers and their crucial role in Wiccan rituals.

Website: https://chthonia.netPatreon: https://patreon.com/chthoniaMerch: https://chthoniapodcast.creator-spring.com/School: https://instituteforfemininemyth.orgThis week's episode is about Nicnevin, a Scottish witch queen whose is first named in a poetic flyting (comedic poetry battle) written by Alexander Montgomerie in 1585. She is described as a fairy queen, a witch queen, a terrifying hag,the Scottish Hecate, a goddess, and/or the name of a witch burned at the stake. We examine the stories of Nicnevin and her associations; is she an ancient witch queen, or a literary invention?