A Grove of Ashes and Aspens

  • Reading the Runes: Pagan Storytelling in a Christian World

    Now Playing: Reader of the Runes – Book II by Elvenking Stories have been a part of human culture since time immemorial, and nowhere is that more clear than in the realm of religion. Every religion has their own stories, telling of both gods and mortal heroes, as they attempt to make sense of the…

  • Where have I been?

    Now Playing: Reader of the Runes – Book II by Elvenking Hi. It’s been a minute. Walk with me. (Metaphorically.) So where have I been? Why did posts just kinda stop for like two and a half months? Are posts going to continue? To answer those questions, my offline life got a bit chaotic, I…

  • Range Practice: Singing Baritone in a Genre of Tenors

    Now Playing: Stormseeker by Heroik In the realm of singing, there are six main categories of voice range: soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, and bass. Each of these ranges, split into two broader categories of treble/higher (soprano, mezzo-soprano, and alto) and lower (tenor, baritone, and bass). Each range has a distinct sound and range, though…

  • Anger in Paganism: Frustration with a Dominant Culture

    Now Playing: Dominhate by Elvenking Anger within a pagan context specifically can be weird. So rarely is my rage directed at any one person, but at the system that caused them to say and do the things they do. It is the unfortunate reality that we live in a society that was built on Christianity…

  • Canada Day

    Mild trigger warning: brief mention of genocide Now Playing: Fallen Timbers by Wind Rose Canada Day is one of those holidays I don’t really know how to feel about. Hear me out. On the one hand, yeah, it’s cool that the country exists and is a separate, autonomous entity and can do stuff. I love…

  • Earth Day: Giving Back to Mother Earth in a Digital Society

    Now Playing: White Willow by Elvenking Before it comes up, yes, I’m aware of the irony of a folk metal fan being a pagan and wanting to preserve nature and all that. I know I’m a bit of a walking stereotype, and I’m okay with that. Anyway, given that Earth is basically the only place…

  • Distance from the Gods: Detachment in Paganism

    Now Playing: King of the Elves by Elvenking Each person who turns to paganism has their own reasons for doing so, but most often because they felt some sort of calling to this path. But what happens when that calling goes away? Losing that sense of calling to the path can cause some to feel…

  • Pagan Leadership and Organised Hierarchy

    Now Playing: Freya by Brothers of Metal When considering the major religions of the world, there are a few things that stick out as common between most of them. There’s usually a centralised text or book (or collection of texts) and a specific group of people who are considered to have a certain authority within…

  • Paganism and Gender: A Trans Man’s Perspective

    Now Playing: The Blackest of My Hearts by Elvenking While not necessarily a “common” concept, gender is something we see come up from time to time in various pagan circles, most prominently in Wicca, where there is a heavy focus on the masculine God and feminine Goddess duality. Before going further, I feel it important…

  • Artistic Worship: An Intersection of Music, Studies, and Paganism

    Now Playing: Rún by SKÁLD (Intimate Version) Paganism, especially in its modern, reconstructed form, is incredibly diverse, both in terms of the number of types of paganism and the differences between different kinds of people who practice the religion. How it’s practiced and the specific beliefs will differ from person to person. (Ask ten different…