Sissel Morken Gullord is a Scandinavian musician and singer living on a farm in Biri, Norway. We begin this enchanting musical episode by heading up to the saeter - the summer mountain farm - to hear the instruments, songs, and herding calls of the bygone milkmaids and shepherds, starting with the bukkehorn [goat horn]. Sissel describes how they're made and how livestock reacts to both the horn and a whimsical style of calling called kulning [or hujing in Norwegian]. We hear the blasting of a lur, a long wooden horn and followed by her commission by Disney. Opening up the more magical and sublime side of nature, Sissel tells a story about performing for hunters and foresters in which she spoke to them about the folkloric forest nymph known as Hulder and the accompanying huldra-folk [elves]. We wrap up this slice of Norwegian culture on folk song motifs, the nation's famous brown cheese, and bunad [the traditional rural clothing from the 1700-1800's].  Check out more of Sissel's music on Spotify & YouTube. Reading from Folktales of Norway edited by Reidar ChristiansenReference images:- Hans Dahl romantic milkmaid painting- Example of a traditional Norwegian home interior decorated with rosemaling- 2nd Example of folk paintings on walls of home- Norwegian woman playing the lur - Bunad traditional clothing Music by:"Kulokk - Call On The Cattle"Performed by Sissel Morken Gullord"Kråkevisa"Performed by Sissel Morken Gullord"Lokker geitebukker med bukkehorn"Performed by Sissel Morken Gullord"Bukkehorn & Hujing"Performed by Sissel Morken Gullord"Huldrelokk"Written & performed by Saga Sjöberg "Till, till Tove"Performed by Sissel Morken Gullord"Den Bakvendte Visa"Performed by Sissel Morken GullordSupport Our Numinous Nature on Patreon.Follow Our Numinous Nature & my naturalist illustrations on InstagramCheck out my shop of shirts,

Mike Smith is the former superintendent of Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park, as well as an artifact & fossil enthusiast and traditional bow hunter, in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. We begin with his time at Droop Mountain, metal detecting under old oak trees and recounting the regional Civil War history. He tells of park visitors' many ghost experiences and significant archeological finds, such as three boys stumbling upon a Confederate rifle in the steep woods. We turn the pages of time back to arrowheads of the Shawnee and earlier native peoples; then even further back to 300-million-year-old fossils. Half way we switch to Mike's life, starting with his stories of an annual snapping turtle party, followed by his earliest boyhood memories of being a primitive hunter armed with only rocks.  We close on hellbender tongues, making buckskins and a proud father-son moment. Buy the book Mike helped research, Last Sleep: The Battle of Droop Mountain Reading from Confederate Ghosts by Susan Crites Music by:"John Brown's Body"Performed by Pete Seeger "Mother Kissed Me in my Dream"Unknown Artist"In the Pines"Performed by Dock WalshSupport 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

Kevin Malcomb is a beekeeper, former coon-hunter, welder, and mechanic in Pocahontas County, West Virginia. After a reading about the old frontier profession of the bee hunter, Kevin describes both his own & old time methods of Appalachian beekeeping: traditional "bee gum" hives; keeping ants out; catching feral swarms with a shotgun; how to hunt for wild bee trees from water sources; bee trapping; hive threats such as warm winters, mites, hornets, insecticides, & wax moths. We move on to his unconventional mechanic business run from a used-hearse which opens up musings and intuitions on potential past lives. For the last quarter we hear about coon-hunting in his youth along with an illustrative story about a formidable coon taking on an entire horde of hounds. We end on eating raccoon & less popular wild game; eccentric bird houses; and a sliver of local folk medicine.Reading from Bees in America: How The Honey Bee Shaped a Nation by Tammy Horn.Music by:"Going Across the Mountain"Written & Performed by Frank Proffitt"Sourwood Mountain"Written & Performed by Frank Proffitt"Rueben Train"Written & Performed by Frank Proffitt"Moonshine"Written & Performed by Frank ProffittSupport 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

Chris Semtner is an artist, author, lecturer & curator at The Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia. In Part II of our Edgar Allan Poe podcast, we begin with an archival recording of "The Black Cat." Then we pick back up where we left off, with "the imp of the perverse” and exploring the psychology of the criminal mind through his villainous characters. After describing a prophetic scene about shipwreck & cannibalism from Poe's only novel, Chris explains the literary genres beyond horror that Poe founded or advanced: the detective story, science-fiction, and perhaps the southern gothic. We then turn back to the biographical, with Poe's death and his mysterious last few days on the streets of Baltimore. From African-American hoodoo to spiritualist mediums, we hear what the paranormal was like in his time, and end on modern sightings of his ghost.  Check out The Poe Museum and Chris' books. 1954 archival reading of Poe'sThe Black Cat performed by Marvin Miller 1939 archival reading of Poe’s The Raven performed by Nelson OlmstedMusic:"The Raven"Written & Performed by The Ivy League Trio"Quiet Mysterioso; Diver's Dream; Four Cuts"Written & Performed by The Crawford Light OrchestraSupport 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

Chris Semtner is an artist, author, lecturer & curator at The Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia. After a reading of Edgar Allan Poe's "A Tale of The Ragged Mountains," we hear part I of Chris' interview on Poe's life, opening on the most poetic topic in the world, the death of a beautiful woman. From there, we get biographical with Poe's upbringing: The Great Dismal Swamp; boyhood on the James River; Charlottesville's Ragged Mountains; the museum's courtyard garden; his wealthy foster family in Richmond; and southern dueling culture. Chris describes Poe's aspirations as a poet & the tension this caused with his foster father, followed by his brief stints at university & West Point. We end this to-be-continued episode on Poe's idea of "The Imp of the Perverse!" Stayed tuned for Part II...Check out The Poe Museum and Chris' books. Reading from The Complete Tales & Poems of Edgar Allan PoeMusic by: "The Fall of the House of Usher"Written & Performed by The Ivy League Trio"Regency Minuet"Written & Performed by The Crawford Light Orchestra"Annabel Lee"Written & Performed by The Ivy League TrioSupport 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

For this holiday special we begin with a traditional English Christmas feast as described by a family friend, highlighting a strange historical black dessert called a plum pudding or simply a Christmas pudding. Being topped with a holly sprig, we then learn the origins of some ancient plant-lore. But the meat of this sumptuous episode is a reading from a deeply mysterious and haunting, 14th-century Arthurian legend that takes place at a Christmas feast; one rudely interrupted by an axe-wielding Green Knight who demands a volunteer to join him in a deadly game. Merry Christmas! Reading excerpts from Folklore of Kent by Fran & Geoff Doel;  English Botany Or, Coloured Figures of British Plants · Volume 2 by James Sowerby; and Plant Lore, Legends, and Lyrics; Embracing the Myths, Traditions, Superstitions, and Folk-lore of the Plant Kingdom by Richard Folkard.Main reading from Sir Gawain and The Green Knight translated by Simon Armitage."Sweet was the Songe the Virgine Sung" 16th-century Christmas CarolPerformed by Ernst Stolz & Katrhine Brandt"Dove's Figary or Chestnut" English Country DancePerformed by Ernst Stolz"Be Merry, Be Merry I Pray You"Medieval English CarolPerformed by Ernst Stolz "What Child is This? (Greensleeves)"English Folk SongPerformed by Ernst StolzSupport 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

Rasmus Boström is a professional hunter & outdoor gear ambassador in Älvdalen, Sweden. After readings about Scandinavian bear hunting folklore & shape-shifting in the Old Norse sagas, we learn about a regional language & the area's hunting culture. From there it's hunting history with wolf-posse laws & bear spears. Rasmus then describes the Swedish brown bear & taking part in scat-gathering studies. After some background information about the modern bear hunt with hounds, he tells a harrowing story about tracking a wounded bear. For the last third we switch to a handful of other outdoorsman topics: bird hunting from skis; Ullr the Norse hunting god; marten trapping with deadfalls; a first time hunt custom, and invasive mink hunting on small islands in the name of sea bird conservation. Outdoor gear & apparel: Astro Sweden & Bearskin on YouTube.Reading excerpts from The Lycanthropy Reader: Werewolves in Western Culture edited by Charlotte F. Otten and Scandinavian Folk Belief and Legend edited Reimund Kvideland & Henning K. Sehmsdorf.Art reference images: "Return of the Bear Hunter" by Adolph Tidemand"Wild Bird Hunters" by Knud BergslienUllr [Norse hunting god] on the Böksta runestone"Hårgalåten"Swedish folk songPerformed by Nyckelharpa Tunes"Vid Stormyren"Written by Eric SahlströmPerformed by Nyckelharpa Tunes"Säkkijärven polkka"Finnish folk songPerformed by Nyckelharpa TunesSupport 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

Philip Lufolk is a blacksmith in Storvik, Sweden inspired by the archeology & mythology of Scandinavia. We begin on the role of the Viking blacksmith & how bog iron was processed.  Philip describes objects & jewelry that he forges based on historical artifacts: the seeress' völva staff; a charm known as a Thor's hammer; a landowner's Viking key; and oath rings inscribed with law. We switch to mythology with the tale of Mjölnir [Thor's hammer] & the rest of the gods' treasures, fashioned by the industrious & highly-skilled dwarves. Then there's the vengeful blacksmith, Völund. We discuss burial mounds & rock art: picture stones, rune stones & a petroglyph just outside of Oslo's city center. Approaching the end Philip tells an archaic divination technique called Årsgång or "The Year Walk." Follow Lufolk on Instagram and check out his wares at Lufolk.com. Reading excerpts from The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology & Religion by Daniel McCoyMusic provided by Lyre of the Crossroads"Sigurd and Fafnir'"Written & Performed by Lyre of the Crossroads"Bass Jouhikko / Basssharpa / Bass Tagelharpa"Written & Performed by Lyre of the Crossroads"Helm of Awe"Written & Performed by Lyre of the Crossroads"Talharpa/Tagelharpa/Stråkharpa"Written & Performed by Lyre of the CrossroadsSupport 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

Anna Björg Þórarinsdóttir is the manager of The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft in The Westfjords region of Iceland.  We begin on the country's origins as a Viking settlement, followed by life in the traditional turf houses. From there we learn that belief in elves is still relevant today and how spirits in the land have shaped not only Icelandic legends, but the ethos. We hear of a nearby farm built over a heathen temple where an ominous Viking-era stone was discovered. In story form, Anna tells the rich history of the island's 16th-to-17th-century sorcerers: the religious temperament of the time, their persecution, and her own ancestral involvement. This opens up further synchronicities around her position at the museum & growing up in a New Age household. For the remaining time, it's an all out deluge of folklore and magic: spirit guides called Fylgja, hunting & farming folk magic, The Helm of Awe, the Yule Lads, a pair of human skin pants, and finally, a grotesque milk-stealing wool-worm known as the Tilberi! Learn more about The Museum of Icelandic Sorcery & Witchcraft & follow Anna on Instagram.Reading excerpt from Icelandic Folk Legends: Tales of Apparitions, Outlaws and Things Unseen by Alda Sigmundsdóttir  Music Credit:"Ragnarok" [The End of the Gods]Performed by Ensemble: SequentiaCourtesy of 𝔐𝔲𝔰𝔦𝔠𝔞 𝔐𝔢𝔡𝔦𝔢𝔳𝔞𝔩𝔢 "Á fellr austan um eitrdala" [The Prophecy of the Seeress]Performed by Ensemble: SequentiaCourtesy of 𝔐𝔲𝔰𝔦𝔠𝔞 𝔐𝔢𝔡𝔦𝔢𝔳𝔞𝔩𝔢 "Leikr elds ok ísa" [The song of Fire and Ice] Performed by Ensemble: SequentiaCourtesy of 𝔐𝔲𝔰𝔦𝔠𝔞 𝔐𝔢𝔡𝔦𝔢𝔳𝔞𝔩𝔢Untitled Kravik LyrePerformed by Lyre of the CrossroadsCourtesy of Lyre of the CrossroadsSupport 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

Kathryn Parker & Olivia Lloyd are owners of The Veiled Mirror, an online store of antique jewelry & curiosities with a penchant for the romantic, dark and macabre based out of Richmond, Virginia. To start this tour of Victorian culture [1837-1901], we begin with a crafting fad, ornate floral wreaths made of human hair. From there we touch on mourning etiquette; the comical paraphernalia of secret society initiations; The Aesthetic Movement; showing off with a pineapple; & the accessories of women's fashion as eccentric as live insects. Switching to the personal, the ladies share a handful of haunting anecdotes; one about researching a man's calling card found in a bin of 1920's clothing; another about unwittingly removing a "witch bottle" from an abandoned farm house. We end on further memories of urban exploration.  Follow The Veiled Mirror on Instagram & check out their website's current collection at theveiledmirror.com.Music Provided by The Library of Congress"The Strife is O'er, the Battle Done"Performed by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina & Trinity Quartet"War Song of the Normans"Crusades HymnPerformed by Reinald Werrenrath & Victor Male Chorus"Black-Eyed Blues"Composed by Don KendallPerformed by Roy Bargy & Benson Orchestra of Chicago"The Green Fields of Virginia"Ford, Ward H., performerCowell, Sidney Robertson, 1903-1995, collector."Nina Gitana"Composed by Reginald De KovenPerformed by Reed MillerSupport 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