Forest Spirituality With Julie Brett

In this episode I interview author and artist Laura Perry from the USA about Minoan Spirituality. She helps us to understand the sources of information and the processes around forming a modern practice from an ancient tradition. We discuss the modern practices that have formed from this exploration, and how relevant the Minoans can be to us today as we form traditions that are inclusive and accessible to all.  Here are some links to find out more about Laura's work:  Laura Perry | Ariadne's Tribe (lauraperryauthor.com) https://ariadnestribe.com/ https://m.facebook.com/groups/1502335483312496/  The music in this episode was "One Tribe" by Olivia Roseberry. If you would like to support Olivia's album crowd funding on Indiegogo, you can do so here:  https://igg.me/at/olivia-rosebery-album-crowdfund/x#/  Find more of Olivia's music on You Tube here:  One Tribe - Olivia Rosebery (youtube.com)  And if you would like to support the Forest Spirituality with Julie Brett podcast you can do so at Patreon here:  Fores

In this episode I speak with Reverend Jean Drum, the Arch Druid from Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (ADF). We have a candid chat about our personal experiences in Druidry, the international Druidry experience, the history and structure of ADF and Jean's humble way of approaching leadership and the role of clergy. ADF has a church-like structure so differs from other forms of Druidry. In this episode we discuss those differences, and explore the wonderful opportunities for leaning and building community that ADF offers to the global Druidry community.  You can find out more about Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (ADF) here: www.adf.org You can read Jean's blog at Patheos here: Rev. Jean (Drum) Pagano, Author at From a Common Well (patheos.com) The Hearthkeeper's Way document can be found here: the_hearth_keepers_way.pdf (adf.org) Information about ADF's online gatherings and social groups can be found here: ADF: Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship   The music in today's episode was Golden Key by

In this episode I have a chat with my good friend Deborah Rose Halani. She is the creator of a course by the name of "Welsh Spirituality" that is excellent for beginners on the path of learning about mythology, connecting with spirits of place and finding cultural belonging. We also discuss my books 'Australian Druidry' and 'Belonging to the Earth' which are available at all good book retailers or via my website www.forestspiritjewelry.com.  To learn more about Deb's courses head to http://www.deborahrosehalani.com  To email Deb for more information: celebrant@deborahrosehalani.com To learn more about my (Julie's) work and to read my blog, head to http://www.juliebrett.net Email Julie with your suggestions for any topics you would like to hear us discuss: forestspiritjewelry@gmail.com   Thanks for listening! Julie Brett

In this episode I interview Dr. Gwilym Morus Baird who is a musician and Welsh Celticist. He teaches courses in Celtic mythology at https://celticsource.online/ that can be taken at your own pace. You can also find many videos he creates on his You Tube channel "Celtic Source". He has also recently released a book called "Talisein Origins: Exploring the Myth of the Greatest Celtic Bard" which you can purchase here:  http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CHLC7TPG/ref=nosim?tag=juliebrett-22 To support this podcast and my blog at www.juliebrett.net, it would be great if you could subscribe or send a once off donation to:  https://www.patreon.com/ForestSpirituality You can also see other things I make, and books I release at my jewelry website: www.forestspiritjewelry.com  Thanks for listening! Julie x  

In this episode I interview David King who is a Gundungurra man here in Katoomba in the Blue Mountains on Dharug and Gundungurra Country. We speak about the importance of looking after Country as a community, the effects of dispossession, and the importance of incorporating First Nations understandings of how to look after the land into mainstream thinking about land management.  The interview contributed to the chapter "The Dam and the Gully" in the new book Belonging to the Earth: Nature Spirituality in a changing world, that I published alongside contributions from First Nations community leaders like David.  You can purchase a copy of the book from any good retailer, or directly from me here:  https://www.forestspiritjewelry.com/product-page/belonging-to-the-earth You can find out more about the Swampcare project at Garguree/The Gully here: https://landcare.nsw.gov.au/groups/garguree-swampcare/

This interview is with Jo Clancy, a Wiradjuri woman who teaches contemporary dance with an Aboriginal influence. I join her community classes here in Dharug and Gundungurra Country at the beautiful Kindle Hill school that has a lovely hall looking out over the bushland. This interview led to the chapter "Dancing the Earth" in my new book Belonging to the Earth: Nature Spirituality in a Changing World. You can get a signed copy via my jewelry website here: https://www.forestspiritjewelry.com/product-page/belonging-to-the-earth Many thanks to Jo for her beautiful contribution to the book, and to the cultural learning of our community through dance.   

In this episode I interview Kristoffer Hughes who is an author of many books on Welsh Druidry, and it the head of the Anglesey Druid Order in Wales. This interview led to a chapter in my new book 'Belonging to the Earth: Nature Spirituality in a Changing World'. You can purchase a signed copy here: http://https://www.forestspiritjewelry.com/product-page/belonging-to-the-earth Kristopher's new book is called 'Cerridwen: Celtic Goddess of Inspiration'.  You can find out more about the Anglesey Druid Order here: https://www.angleseydruidorder.co.uk/ You can find out more about my books and other work via my blog, http://www.juliebrett.net 

This interview was recorded in June 2021. Uncle Bruce and Aunty Trish Shillingsworth joined me for an interview over lunch. The chat ended up leading to the chapter "In This Together" that features in my new book "Belonging to the Earth".  Many thanks to both Uncle Bruce and Auntry Trish for sharing their stories and their wisdom about Country and culture with us.  Copies of the book can be purchased directly from me at www.forestspiritjewelry.com and include free art postcards including one of Uncle Bruce's art. The book can also be purchased from book retailers.   

In this episode I speak with Uncle Peter Williams of Ngemba Country in NSW. He is a senior song person and contributed to a chapter in my new book Belonging to the Earth. We chat about how he got into learning about traditional song and dance practices, the area he's from around Brewarrina, the River Tour, and his dreams to set up a cultural center. If you'd like to know more about Uncle Peter's work, you can find him on Facebook via his artist page Mara Mara: https://www.facebook.com/peterthulliiwilliams Belonging to the Earth is about ways that the nature spirituality community is responding to the threat of the climate crisis. One important way is through learning more about First Nations culture and how we can better care for the Earth together. A signed copy of the book along with art postcards - one of which features Uncle Peter's art - are available to purchase via my jewelry website: https://www.forestspiritjewelry.com/product-page/belonging-to-the-earth

A podcast introducing my new book Belonging to the Earth: Nature Spirituality in a Changing World.  You can get a signed copy via my jewelry website: https://www.forestspiritjewelry.com/books-1 Or through your local bookstore or online bookstore.  Many thanks to the contributors of this book: Uncle Peter Williams, Uncle Bruce and Aunty Trish Shillingsworth, David King, Jo Clancy and Kristoffer Hughes. Their individual podcast interview episodes will be up soon.   

This episode is an interview with Helen Browning, the director of the one hour documentary 'Under a Pagan Sky' that is also being shown as a 30minute version by Compass on the ABC as 'Pagans Down Under'. We chat about the documentary, the process of making it, Helen's inspirations and how it all came about and came together.  If you're in Australia you can watch the Compass episode on ABC iView until July 20th. It is also re-showing on Sunday 27th June at 6:30pm on ABC TV.  International friends can find out more about when it is coming your way by following the documentary on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/UnderPaganSky If you'd like to see it at a film festival in Australia you can find out about that there. If you'd like to organise a screening at your local independent cinema, you can contact Helen about that via the Facebook page above. 

In this episode I speak with Luke Eastwood about his new book, 'The Druid Garden: Gardening for a better future inspired by the ancients'. We chat about his own experiences with gardening, gardens he loves and why, what's in the book, what a Druid garden is, and how you can go about starting to create your own. It also has some of his ambient music at the end. I hope you enjoy having a listen! You can find out more about Luke and his work at: www.lukeeastwood.com 

In this episode I speak to Gordon Cooper, former Grand Arch Druid of the Ancient Order of Druids of America (AODA) 2015-2019. Gordon shares stories of his journey with Druidry and discusses important topics for us all, particularly for those of us practicing Druidry outside of the lands of its origin.  You can find out more about the AODA at http://aoda.org/ Gordon is also a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids (OBOD) and has contributed articles to their website. eg: https://druidry.org/resources/wild-crafting-the-modern-druid

In this episode I share about how the COVID lockdown has affected my life, my community and how my community gardens have offered a beautiful place for me to come back to my center.  I would love to hear your stories too, so please contact me via my website contact page: www.forestspiritjewelry.com 

In this episode I speak with Emma Restall Orr, my favourite author, on many different topics. Emma's writing on Druidry has shaped my experience over many years and after hearing that she no longer called herself a Druid I was fascinated to hear how that came about, what it meant to her, and how it had changed her practice and experience.  The talk was recorded in about July 2019, but due to various reasons I haven't been able to publish it until now. I'm really happy to finally release it and share this conversation with you.  You can find out more about Emma and her work at http://emmarestallorr.org/

My apologies for a long absence! In this episode I check in a bit about where I've been and where you can find out about the DDUDE talks (Druids Down Under Discuss Everything) that I have been working on. Find them here at the SerpentStar OBOD channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCaB05FdAhVRP1v5XlGQiwVw Due to bushfires and COVID-19 life has changed a great deal in the last few months. Personal struggles made it hard for me to get podcasts out, however community adaptation in these times of adversity has meant some great developments and this meditation is one of them! Created by Kacey Stephensen with some little effects added by me, it was made for the SHOBODO event 1-10th May 2020, for our Samhain ritual. I hope you enjoy the journey it takes you on to seek the wisdom of the Cailleach and the ancestors. Many blessings of the season to you! Julie   

This episode is a meditation based on the story of the Mabon in the Mabinogion tale of Culhwch and Olwen, but with an Australian twist. The meditation can be done as a part of your Autumn Equinox ritual or just by itself. I will be releasing a blog with a ritual plan at www.juliebrett.net soon.  This online ritual has come about due to us being encouraged to self-isolate in the COVID-19 outbreak. Hopefully this will help us to connect at a distance. If you'd like to share your experience of the ritual with others, you can do so on the Druids Down Under Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/druidsdownunder/ Voices: J. Brett, R. Pickard and L.Norris. Music: J.Brett and K. Stephensen. 

In this podcast I talk about the busy, active time of the Spring Equinox and moving into the light half of the year. It's super late, but if you listen in, you'll see why! I talk about some activist trips I have been on, some work with ritual for environmental grief, also what's been happening in the garden and in the bush and how it relates to our lives in the symbolism of awakening into the light half of the year.  Music featured is Bloom by Elana Low who is from New York and is a listener to the podcast. Thank you so much Elana! You can find more of Elana's work on Spotify and other good online music sources.     

In this episode I talk with Damh The Bard about his trip out to Australia this year to be a part of Druid Camp in the Adelaide Hills. We talk about the processes that went behind the workshops and rituals of the camp, about Australian Paganism and Druidry, and about how he finds inspiration with his music. It's all about listening for that song of the land and waiting to hear it's call. I really enjoyed this interview! I hope you do too.  You can find more about Dave via his website: https://www.paganmusic.co.uk/ He is also the host of the OBOD podcast Druidcast which you can find on all good podcast apps, or here on his website: https://www.paganmusic.co.uk/podcast/ Thanks again Dave!

In this episode I speak with Louise Hewett who is the author of the Pictish Spirit series of fiction novels. The books explore the ethics of intimacy and sexual politics, looking at many challenging themes that explore discussion around the acceptability of cultural norms. It covers feminism, the sexualisation of violence, sexuality and relationships, as well as being set in a very Pagan community of present day Adelaide. While exploring these political themes, Louise also explores the reality of Pagan life in the spiritual experiences of everyday people in ritual, meditation, healing and open awareness. The books are enormous and a real outpouring of Louise's inspiration. They are full of poetry and musical lyrics and she has also inspired musicians within the Pagan community to put her words into their art. The interview also includes some of these tracks. Purchase the first book of the Pictish Spirit series, 'Mist' at Book Depository or Amazon.  You can find out more about Louise's work on Facebook throu