Our Numinous Nature

Philip Freeman is a Professor of Humanities at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. With a Ph.D. from Harvard University in Classical Philology and Celtic Languages & Literatures, he has authored over a dozen New York Times reviewed books on ancient & medieval studies. For this episode we stick to the Celtic world, starting at ancient Gaul [Celtic western Europe 2,000+ years-ago]: farming, warriors, head trophies, druids, sacred oak groves, human sacrifice, belief in reincarnation & what little is known about the old gods. From there we travel to Ireland & Wales, where Celtic language & mythology survived the passage of conquests & time. Freeman describes a lewd horse sacrifice coronation ritual, curse tablets found in a lake, & the medieval gods known as the Tuatha Dé Danann & their mysterious Otherworld. Finally we come to the present with Freeman's visit to the spring of St. Brigid, followed by what connects his love of mythology with his Catholic faith. To end this epic episode, Freeman recounts the first Halloween [aka Samhain] story, The Adventure of Nera. Freeman's Books Referenced in the Podcast:Celtic Mythology: Tales of Gods, Goddesses, & Heroes Celtic Spirituality: An Introduction to the Sacred Wisdom of the CeltsOh My Gods: A Modern Retelling of Greek & Roman Myths For more of Freeman's work visit: philipfreemanbooks.comMusic provided by Ancient Music Ireland"Introduction"Written by Ancient Music IrelandPerformed by Ancient Music Ireland"The Butterfly"Written by Ancient Music IrelandPerformed by Ancient Music Ireland"Lilting Horns"Written by Ancient Music IrelandPerformed by Ancient Music IrelandSupport Our Numinous Nature on Patreon.Follow Our Numinous Nature & my naturalist illustrations on InstagramCheck out my shop of shirts, prints, and books featuring my artContact: herbaceoushuman@gmail.com

Barry "Bear" Siragusa is a former musher, a vet-tech & the host of The Hunting Hound podcast residing with his Norwegian wife, kids, & dogs in the snowy mountains of eastern Norway. On this long-distance correspondence we hear descriptions of the land, archeology & mythology of Norway: the Sámi people; moose, bears & wolves; Fenrir & the berserkers; a troll-like feeling in the woods; stave churches; & hunting over ancient Viking moose pits. Then we switch topics & head back to Bear's childhood in rural Maine where he stumbled into a lifelong passion of mushing & working dogs. From Alaskan trappers to the Iditarod, Bear tells some brief mushing history followed by two of his potent sled dog stories, first a beautiful vision & then an icy brush with death! Before our episode times out, we muse a bit about true dog-people & the significance of hunting with dogs. Check out Bear's podcast series, The Hunting Hound under the umbrella of the Hound PodCast: Double U Hunting Supply.  And follow along on Bear's Instagram. Music provided by Vitali Drimbar & Bear Siragusa"Bukkehorn in D-sharp" Written by Vitali DrimbarPerformed by Vitali DrimbarCourtesy of Vitali Drimbar"Pair of Conch Shells in F Sharp"Written by Vitali DrimbarPerformed by Vitali DrimbarCourtesy of Vitali Drimbar"The Wayfaring Stranger" Traditional Folk SongPerformed by Bear Siragus on Kerry Optima Low D Whistle" Courtesy of Bear Siragus  Support Our Numinous Nature on Patreon.Follow Our Numinous Nature & my naturalist illustrations on InstagramCheck out my shop of shirts, prints, and books featuring my artContact: herbaceoushuman@gmail.com

JD Kleopfer is the state herpetologist at Virginia's Department of Wildlife Resources. We begin this herpetological extravaganza on the illegal turtle trade between the US & China, then move on to reptile & amphibian natural history: turtle eggs & their predators, hibernation [properly called brumation], Appalachia's legendary hellbenders, salamander folklore, poisonous newts, vernal pools, & how-to make good herp habitat in your yard. For his stories, JD tells of finding a state-endangered tiger salamander site & another about his formative years as a young herper.  We close on today's conservationist youths, The Great Dismal Swamp & canebrake rattlesnakes.  Join Virginia's Herpetological Society & check out a short documentary about Protecting Appalachia's Hellbenders.Music provided by Luke Brindley"Raritan River Blues"Written by Luke BrindleyCourtesy of Luke Brindley Support Our Numinous Nature on Patreon.Follow Our Numinous Nature & my naturalist illustrations on InstagramCheck out my shop of shirts, prints, and books featuring my artContact: herbaceoushuman@gmail.com

Vladimir Beregovoy is a retired wildlife biologist, author, & breeder of aboriginal Laika hunting dogs, currently living in Buchanan, Virginia. We begin at the beginning, his childhood memories of WWII in the Russian countryside & his early love of the natural world which destined his career as a biologist, both in communist Russia & eventually, after emigrating, here in the United States. From there Vladimir gives an in-depth description about the time he spent with a family of native Mansi hunters in Western Siberia: their dogs; sable furs; their woodsman etiquette; how they hunt moose & bear; dog mittens; reindeer skins; housekeeping; & a beaver biologist left for dead. We wrap it up on a bit about the Amur tigers of the Far East & Vladimir's herbalist grandmother.  Check out Vladimir's book, Hunting Laika Breeds of Russia & more at his website.Music sampled from "Mansi Music on the Sangkvyltap"Reading segment from Dersu the Trapper by Vladimir Klavdievich ArsenievSupport Our Numinous Nature on Patreon.Follow Our Numinous Nature & my naturalist illustrations on InstagramCheck out my shop of shirts, prints, and books featuring my artContact: herbaceoushuman@gmail.com

Megan Rowland of Wayfaring Hind is a deer stalker, land manager, & crofter in the legendary Scottish Highlands. On this long-distance correspondence, we get a taste of Highland tradition, history, flora & fauna, such as: crofting, salt panning, the Picts, black pudding & haggis, peat bogs, working for an estate, red & roe deer, the last wolves & foraging. For her story, Megan describes how a Highland hunt would play out, a first-timer blood ritual, & her own experience from life-long vegetarian to deer stalker. We end on hunting as meditation, tweed, ferreting, & preserving culture.  Check out Megan's Wayfaring Hind & follow along on Instagram.  Music provided by Małgorzata Priebe"My Heart's in the Highlands"Written by Arvo PärtPerformed by Małgorzata Priebe and Błażej MusiałczykCourtesy of Małgorzata PriebeSupport Our Numinous Nature on Patreon.Follow Our Numinous Nature & my naturalist illustrations on InstagramCheck out my shop of shirts, prints, and books featuring my artContact: herbaceoushuman@gmail.com

Dr. Jamie Day is a physics professor & the curator of the Monroe Moosnick Medical & Science Museum [a collection of 19th-century medical oddities & science equipment] at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky. This morbid tour through the old cabinets leads us into trepanning, electrified corpses, syphilis, phrenology, grave robbing students, a mummified child, country doctors, folk medicine hairballs & much, much more. For his personal story, Jamie describes an unnerving find in the university's storage, that of a charred, 200-year-old wax model known as an Anatomical Venus. In closing, we hear of some of the collection's wildest oddities we nearly forgot about: a figurine of a parasitic twin & a comically grotesque tobacco pipe! Learn more about the Moosnick Museum & follow along on Facebook. Music provided by New Trinity Baroque "Oboe Concerto in D minor, Op. 9, No. 2. I. Allegro e non presto"Written by Tomaso AlbinoniPerformed by New Trinity Baroque & Nevena MajdevacCourtesy of Predrag Gosta of New Trinity Baroque"Oboe Concerto in D minor, Op. 9, No. 2. II. Adagio"Written by Tomaso AlbinoniPerformed by New Trinity Baroque & Nevena MajdevacCourtesy of Predrag Gosta of New Trinity Baroque "Oboe Concerto in D minor, Op. 9, No. 2. III. Allegro"Written by Tomaso AlbinoniPerformed by New Trinity Baroque & Nevena MajdevacCourtesy of Predrag Gosta of New Trinity BaroqueSupport Our Numinous Nature on Patreon.Follow Our Numinous Nature & my naturalist illustrations on InstagramCheck out my shop of shirts, prints, and books featuring my artContact: herbaceoushuman@gmail.com

Mike Ousley is an Appalachian folk artist & a natural storyteller from the deep, dark hills of Eastern Kentucky. We begin on country music, murder ballads, southern gothic literature & folk art. From there Ousley rattles off wild local lore: an exorcism, a resurrected witch, sitting up with the dead, the haint under Ol' Man Chester's house, "Burn 'em out" [a neighborly-feud phrase], coal towns, & black walnut necromancy. For story time Ousley recounts his own experiences with devil dogs & a mysterious high-beamed light, way back in the mountains. We end this folklore bonanza on regional folkways, folk magic, and mountain eccentrics.  Check out Ousley's artwork at Mike Ousley Fine Art & follow along on his Instagram. To buy a painting visit or reach out to Haley Fine Art gallery. Music provided by Earl Suitor"Down in the Willow Garden"Performed by Earl SuitorCourtesy of Earl SuitorSupport Our Numinous Nature on Patreon.Follow Our Numinous Nature & my naturalist illustrations on InstagramCheck out my shop of shirts, prints, and books featuring my artContact: herbaceoushuman@gmail.com

Earl Suitor, formerly a firefighter & EMT, is an avid caver & the current Eastern Region National Cave Rescue Commission Deputy Resource Section Chief in Virginia's Shenandoah Valley. We begin with why Appalachia's geology makes for good caving, then ruminate on the inherent mystery of caves, hear about the historical mining of bat guano, learn about fossils & ancient cat scratches, & the reasons behind secrecy in the caving community. In story form, Earl describes how a cave rescue plays out with examples from finding a lost couple in West Virginia to a shocking tragedy in Utah & the famous cave flood in Thailand. Earl then shares harrowing lessons learned from his firefighting & EMT days, opening profound conversations about "burn out," dying, & his interest in world religions. If you'd like to go caving & learn more, reach out to your regional caving club [grotto] through Caves.org. Music provided by Jan Laurenz"First Song on Lyre Harp"Written by Jan LaurenzCourtesy of Jan LaurenzSupport Our Numinous Nature on Patreon.Follow Our Numinous Nature & my naturalist illustrations on InstagramCheck out my shop of shirts, prints, and books featuring my artContact: herbaceoushuman@gmail.com

Rita Mae Brown is a prolific New York Times bestselling author, and a master of foxhounds & huntsman with the Oak Ridge Fox Hunt Club in Afton, Virginia. We open on St. Hubert [patron saint of hunters & hounds], the old world occupation of royal huntsman, & get into modern - no kill - equestrian fox hunting. We hear examples of the fox's witty participation, learn some hound history, get insight into the formal wardrobe etiquette, and paint a picture of a day in the field. In the last section, Rita Mae explains her deep animal friendships starting from her orphaned childhood. She shares two short stories, one about a mounted specter & another about animal sentience & love. We end on a couple of Rita Mae's heroins, the huntress queens of old Europe. Browse Rita Mae's many books. ***A ST. HUBERT'S DAY RECIPE***Boulets Liégeois: From the city of Liège, these Belgian meatballs in a sweet & savory fruit sauce served with fries are absolutely mouthwatering. You'll need to order a vital ingredient, Sirop de Liège, a thick, dark apple & pear sauce dating back to the 1600's or you can substitute for a milder flavor with apple butter. Recipe should work just fine with pork, beef, venison, beaver, wild boar.Music provided by Dr. Clare Longendyke & Dr. Jacqueline Horner-Kwiatek"Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat Major, D. 929, Op. 100 II. Andante con moto "Written by Franz Peter SchubertPerformed by Trio FioreCourtesy of Dr. Clare Longendyke"Meditation"Written by Dr. Jacqueline Horner-KwiatekPerformed by Modern MedievalCourtesy of Dr. Jacqueline Horner-KwiatekSupport Our Numinous Nature on Patreon.Follow Our Numinous Nature & my naturalist illustrations on InstagramCheck out my shop of shirts, prints, and books featuring my artContact: herbaceoushuman@gmail.com

On this Halloween bonus episode, we are trying something new! Instead of a guest, I read eerie stories submitted by podcast listeners. Your all's folklore! We've got a dozen tales from the likes of outdoorsmen, hunters, herbalists, and homesteaders on three dark & mysterious themes: supernatural events, ghosts & spirits, and haunted houses. You'll hear about unexplainable roars in the George Washington National Forest, whispers in Hell's Hollow, & an accidental suicide that not only haunts a family's home, but their dreams... Support Our Numinous Nature on Patreon.Follow Our Numinous Nature & my naturalist illustrations on InstagramCheck out my shop of shirts, prints, and books featuring my artContact: herbaceoushuman@gmail.com