The small boy clutched his knapsack close, the elders in white behind him.
He breathed slowly and deeply, as his teachers had taught him.
Focusing on the stillness and silence within.
For stretching before him was the expanse of the unknown.
The trial that all young ones faced.
All went in…
But only some came out.
His breath caught at the thought, but his spirit calmed him.
Breathe in, breathe out.
“The way out is found through the way in,” the Wisest Elder intoned behind him.
He felt the reassuring presence of his teachers urge him on.
Finally, as the sun reached its height, he opened his eyes.
And stared at the darkness of the vast forest before him.
The path inwards laying naked at his feet.
A cold wind bit at his skin,
But a hot fire burned in his spirit.
He hoisted the knapsack across his shoulder and clenched his teeth.
Taking a deep breath, he lifted his right foot and set it on the path.
Step after step, he reminded himself, just take the next step.
As he disappeared into the forest, the Elders clasped hands and began their chant.
He heard them, and felt their love and support.
And his deep, even breathing reminded him—
That his adventure…
Had only just begun.
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Grand tidings and welcome to you on this, the twenty-sixth episode, of Beyond the Seas. My name is Kieran and here we are again, back at it for another week. Spring has sprung, you magickal and folkloric beings, and I am in complete awe of the colors of the natural world right now. The birds are singing, the weather is warm, and the wine is flowing on the porch after rehearsals hahaha. I am so excited to be back behind the mic this week and super stoked to share this week’s topic with all of you. I love how, wherever I go, I am able to bring my recording stuff with me in my checked bag and find a quiet spot to record all the things—it feels like I’m bringing not only all of you, but also the magick with me. Super grounding. Anyhoo, here’s the social media plug: @beyondtheseaspodcast on Insta, and @thefeatherwitchnyc to follow along with Claudia’s weekly tarot collaboration with the show. Also, if you want me to research and discuss a specific topic, or send along some witchy love, email me at beyondtheseaspodcast@gmail.com. So many ways to connect these days, amiright? And as always, thanks for being here with me today.
And now, artistic and literary updates! The first week of rehearsals for Forbidden Broadway is done and we are in full swing of the second. There are so, so, so many words to learn and sing in this show—it’s almost on the level of a leading role in a play amount of words to learn, it’s crazy. But suffice it to say, I am having a blast and the company is fantastic: do you know when you go into work but it’s so much fun that it doesn’t feel like work at all? That’s what this show is. If you are in the Indianapolis area, or the Midwest, come see me act and do the thing! Tickets are available now at atistage.org. Now, Charles de Lint’s The Little Country: I finished that book last week and it was a pure delight. The ending was so satisfying and the overarching theme of music and the Otherworld did not disappoint in the slightest. I would give that book five out of five stars: it is a quick read, and still contains much mystery, atmosphere, nuance, intrigue, suspense, and a happy ending. Go pick up a copy for yourself and see why de Lint is one of the most prolific folkloric fantasy writers out there.
And now, the Card of the Week! Duh duh duh duuuuuuuuuun, we are back with a card, huzzah! Claudia sent me the pull for this week and oh boy does it resonate. It is the Two of Swords. Which means, and this is rather ironic because Claudia said these words in her reel that I had said to another friend the day before Claudia sent me the pull with her reading can you believe that, take a step back and take a breath. There are still so many energies flowing around us from the solar eclipse last week, and Claudia is precisely correct by saying that most of us have this profound sense of newfound clarity. But there are tendencies and old-form habits that still creep up, especially when points of contention or argument arise. When those moments pop up, remind yourself of the Two of Swords: take a step back and take a breath. When there are highly emotional moments in your week, take a step back and take a breath. Do not do anything rashly this week: take a step back and take a breath. Overall, folks, the card is reminding us to take an objective, removed perspective of our lives: as we journey with our emotions this week, we must be pragmatic and realistic with them. Take a step back and take a breath.
And now, the Wine of the Week! So having traveled again once more, and seeing dear friends from near and far, there are of course ample opportunities to go out for dinner and catch up! That is exactly what I did a few nights ago with my good friend, Kevin, and we ended up at a lovely local haunt for some seafood and laughs. I ended up picking a new wine from their selection and thoroughly enjoyed Sycamore Lane’s Merlot. It was definitely more of a full body Merlot, and it has been a while since I have had a glass of Merlot. It had strong notes of chocolate, blueberry, blackberry, and cherry. It pairs best with basil pesto olive oils, warm white breads, cod, crab, garlic butter sautéed broccoli, and laughter with a friend about the fickleness of relationships.
And finally, this week’s topic. I, courtesy of the OBOD Bardic training, have been on this huge fascination and kick with…trees. Specifically, planting one and seeing it grow over the years. Now, trees themselves hold vital scientific roles in our world today: they are literally the source of the oxygen we breathe. But more mysteriously, they hold folkloric and mystical power and prowess that continues to astound us to this day. So put on your hiking boots, kiddos, because we are about to take a journey into the Wildwood and the Heart of the Forest. What are the legends and myths of the forest itself? What power do the trees hold? Where do we see this motif played out? And how might we work with the forest and its magicks today?
For now, grab your favorite bottle of red, find a comfy chair, and close your eyes as I tell you the tale of The Wood and the Wild—and take you…
Beyond the Seas.
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Picture it: night, underneath a full moon. Before you stands the edge of the forest. All you can make out with your human night vision is the outline of the trees. And yet, intuitively you know, there are so many spirits, beings, and living organisms existing in that natural realm. You feel the strongest sensation of continuously being watched—as if something otherworldly and primordial is staring back at you as you stare at it. How does this make you feel? Does it unnerve the senses or fuel the fire to travel on the trails and discover the secrets lying within?
Scientifically, the Forest, the Wood, and the Wild are the most vital parts of our world. According to the Association Francis Hallé website, “Primeval forests first appeared on our planet in the Devonian Period, 380 million years ago. They were very tall, magnificent and abundant with animal and plant life.
“Before the appearance of the human species 40,000 years ago, all of the Earth’s forests were primeval. Humans have been clearing, exploiting and deforesting them at an ever increasing rate.
“A primeval forest is a forest that hasn’t been exploited or cut down by man. If it has been in the past, then a sufficient amount of time has elapsed for the forest to become primeval again.
“In humid tropical or equatorial zones, where trees grow all year round, it takes seven centuries for a cleared area to be reclaimed by a primeval forest. In temperate zones, where trees only grow five or six months a year due to winter, it takes about ten centuries.”
Now here is why trees are so important: they create the oxygen we breathe. Pure and simple as that. How do they create this oxygen? Well, through photosynthesis and a little water and the power of the sun, they take in light and water and create a chemical reaction that produces two things: sugar, that feeds the tree itself, and oxygen. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, it is proposed that one large tree produces, in one day, the full amount of oxygen needed for four people. Think about that for a minute. With the vast amount of deforestation occurring on a daily basis, we need trees now more than ever. For if we run out of trees, we run out of oxygen…and our world would cease to exist. For literally every living thing on land. So we are all now beginning to see just how important trees are in our world, right?
What I find fascinating about trees is how connected they are to each other. Through what is known as a rhizomic root system, they are able to send messages, thoughts, feelings, and communicative responses to each other. Suzanne Simard’s book Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest explains, through her research, how trees communicate in just this manner. Now, a rhizome is different than the tree itself: the latter is a trunk, branches, and leaves. The former is the type of system of roots that a variety of plants and trees are connected to: think of the rhizome as 59th Street Columbus Circle in Manhattan. There are three different types of lines that connect there—blue, red, and orange—with different trains that stop there—A, C, B, D, and the 1. Lots of different things that are connected through the station itself. The trains are the trees and the station is the rhizomic root system that connects them.
But what legends bespeak of the enchanted nature of the forest itself? If we look at the primeval forest of antiquity, that still exists in parts of our world today, there must surely be legends and myths that surround the mysterious quality of the inhabitants and spirits within. Well, my fellow forest travelers, I am so glad you wondered because yes, there most certainly are. Let us turn our attention, first, to The Black Forest in Germany—and the Brothers Grimm. The following information comes from Michelle Leetch on the UniGuide website.
“The Black Forest (Der Schwarzwald in German) is possibly one of the most well-known enchanted forests. Bundled in between the borders of neighboring France and Switzerland, this German holt is bursting with tales of mythical creatures and happenings – thanks to its rich Celtic and Germanic bonds. In fact, many years ago, locals named the forest Abnoba Mons, after the Celtic goddess of forest and rivers, Abnoba.
“The dense and, some say sinister, forest is said to have been the inspiration for the Brothers Grimms’ embellished versions of old German folktales, including the well-known classics “Hansel and Gretel”, Snow White”, “Sleeping Beauty”, and “The Frog Prince”.
“Another German folktale takes us to the banks of the Rhine River, which skirts the Black Forest. According to the story, a beautiful water nymph named Lorelei lived along the river’s banks. Locals say that overwhelmingly seductive aura drew passing sailors into their watery graves. Hypnotized by her beauty, they would crash into the bank and sink. Today, you will find a statue of Lorelei close to Sankt Goarshausen, overlooking the perilous stretch of water.
“Other tales of the Black Forest describe the antics of elves who loved to play tricks on unsuspecting parents and their new-born babies. A changeling, in German lore, was the deformed offspring of elves or fairies, covertly swapped for a human baby. Legend has it that the elves would hand over the infant to the devil and receive strength as their reward. Throughout Europe, the locals tell stories of changelings and similar creatures.
“One such story tells us of a young mother who, worried for the health of her new-born, brought him to a magic spring in Neuhausen, located in the northern end of the Black Forest. According to local lore, the water would either restore her baby to health or kill him within nine days. Desperate for a cure, she poured the water over him and quickly scurried towards home.
“Unbeknownst to the mother, a stranger had been trailing her through the forest. Catching up with her, he yellowed at her to throw her baby into the river, for it was a demon! Reluctantly, the mother did so, and the infant perished. When the heartbroken mother finally reached home, she was stunned when she found her baby was cooing in his crib.”
And now, to the Forests of England. “The Dark Ages brought us Arthurian legends of whimsical wizards, frivolous fairies, and intrepid kings. Forest Brocéliande in Brittany (modern-day Paimpont) seems to be the birthplace of such stories – thanks to its mossy trees, mists, lucent lakes, and other-worldly ambience.
“One such legend unravels the futile love story of Merlin, the great magician, and Vivien—or Nimue—, the ‘Lady of the Lake.’
“The story begins with two charlatans: Lady Nimue and Mark of Cornwall. Mark had ascertained news that all was not well in the land of Camelot and that his enemy’s wife, Guinevere, was guilty of an adulterous affair with one of the knights, Lancelot. Thus, Mark decided to send Nimue to King Arthur’s castle in a bid to stir up trouble.
“Despite being accepted into the castle, Nimue failed to gain the king’s favor and became somewhat of a laughingstock. This infuriated her and galvanized her wicked intentions. And so, she set her sights on the king’s trusted friend, Merlin the Great.
“Merlin was a very wise man indeed. The quintessential Renaissance man, he was an astronomer, engineer, architect, bard, and magician – all in one. However, Merlin was also human; and when it came to a fleecer like Vivien, whose feminine qualities bewitched the strongest of men, he was weak.8 Despite Merlin’s best efforts, Vivien managed to leech the secret to his potent magic charm out of him, before using it against him in an act of vengeance.
“Having been poisoned, Merlin fell into a hollow oak in the enchanted forest, where, some say, he lies to this day.”
And finally, to the West and the Americas. “Set in the historic Dutch settlement of what is now Tarrytown, New York, the story of the enchanted forest of Sleepy Hollow has both historical and folkloric roots. Washington Irving’s classic The Legend of Sleepy Hollow is a riveting combination of known history and local legend.
“Towards the end of the 1700s, the British military commander General William Howe and German Hessian mercenaries engaged in a number of battles with the Americans near Sleepy Hollow.
“According to historical tales, in a final and fatal battle that took place on Halloween 1776, an unfortunate Hessian mercenary lost his head. According to the story, fellow soldiers buried him under an oak tree in the forest. As the legend goes, the Hessian’s ghost awaits the opening of a magic portal each year on Halloween when the veil thins between the world of the living and that of the dead, so he can emerge and seek his vengeance.”
Refill your drinking horns, your goblets, your chalices, for the second half of The Wild and The Wood after this brief break.
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In modern literature and media, the motif of the enchanted forest and its Wild and Wood is abundantly profound. In The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins and his Dwarven companions travel through Mirkwood to find themselves in the home of the Woodland Elves, lead by King Thranduir. In Harry Potter, the Forbidden Forest sits next to Hogwarts’ grounds—and is strictly off limits to all students. In The Wild Wood Tarot, the Fool’s Journey begins as this figure leaps over the rainbow bridge and into the Wild Wood, where the figures of the Major and Minor Arcana are found along the path. Finally, in The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams—a fantastic novel, you should all read it—Simon, and the rest of his companions, travel through Aldheorte Forest, where they meet a Baba Yaga type figure in her hut in the woods—and discover the answers to many secrets.
What is interesting to note here is the archetypal nature of not only the forest itself, but also the figures that mysteriously lurk within its confines. In our primordial minds, the forest has always represented the unknown—the journey into what lies beyond the confines of society, normality, and the expected. Think of Joseph Conrad’s The Heart of Darkness: what is unknown and beyond in that story—the horror, for all intents and purposes—is nature itself, because society has cut us off from what we naturally adhere to—Nature. This lack of reciprocity is one of the largest and most powerfully confounding problems of the modern age. There is no overarching connection between Nature and Man in our modern day and, as such, there is a complete disregard and respect for the natural flows of energy and the cycles of life. As such, the archetypal qualities of Nature still itch within the backgrounds of our minds. Because we are not directly interacting with it on a daily basis, we constantly deal with the nagging of the itch in our minds and spirits. A longing that will forever be calling, until we heed its cry and venture forth into the wild.
Let us turn our attention once again to the East, specifically the Celtic lands. Recall the ancient magick of the Druids: the songs and chants created in the circles of standing stones, the star lore and knowledge passed down among the generations, and—most applicable to our discussion today—the sacred groves they conducted their rites and rituals within. A grove is simply a circle of trees that surrounds either a viewable or hidden glade in the forest. Here, more often than not complete with a center altar stone, is where the magick of the Druids was most focused and powerful. The most sacred of trees to the Druids was the Oak and Mistletoe, for the latter they believed to be an antidote to all poisons. This tree most often formed the sacred grove, though any tree will suffice if it completes the circle round. Today, in modern Druidry, trees of all kinds are chosen when planting a new grove: for their significance, associations, and correspondences, as they relate to the land upon which they will grow.
In literature, the hero’s journey through the enchanted forest is prevalent and abundant. Back to Tolkien, Merry and Pippin travel deep into Fangorn Forest, at first thought to be a place of evil and despair—but hiding the secret of an ancient presence that I will not reveal just in case there are those of you out there who have yet to experience the grandeur that is The Lord of the Rings. Furthermore, in The Silmarillion, the Two Trees of Valinor gift the world with the light of day and night, respectively, until the evil of Melkor destroys them. From the Brothers Grimm, Hansel and Gretel travel deep into the forest and end up ensnared by the witch in the wood. The prince in Sleeping Beauty must travel through the forest and cut down the vines and thorns surrounding the enchanted palace to awake the princess. The princess in Rumpelstiltskin ventures forth into the woods surrounding her castle to happen upon the little troll and eventually uncover his name. Robin Hood and his Merry Men live in Sherwood Forest, and have many great adventures there. And finally, William Morris’ The Wood Beyond the World is considered the first fantasy novel in the world, and recounts a man’s voyage into the enchanted wood of the Lady and the many adventures that take place there.
Let us take a look at the archetypal character that seems to always be present in the woods. We all know that figure to be none other than the witch. For centuries, the idea of the witch living just beyond sight, hidden in her cottage in the trees, has suffused folklore, fairy tale, and history. This figure is more often than not depicted as evil, abhorrent, and societally inept. However, the grain of truth that lives on in this archetype is the sacred power of Nature and the magickal practitioner who ventures forth to interact with it. Gone are the days of the witch hunts and burnings—and may they never arise again—but the yearning in our hearts and spirits for that close connection with nature lives on in this trope. For here, the wise woman lives in the heart of the wood and retains knowledge of the sacredness of herbs, plants, stones, and the stars. She listens to the trees and connects with them on a deep spiritual level. So too does she have the ability to listen to the wind and hear the voices of the animals. She is the guardian of the wood, and the protector of its secrets. That is what we emulate today in our magickal practices and rites: the relationship to and with nature and ourselves. For when we tap into the energies of Nature’s gifts—stones, herbs, plants, and so forth—we honor the witch in the wood, the Druids in the sacred groves, and the wisdom of our ancestors.
Hence, let us take a quick look at the magick of five trees that are powerfully potent today. Oak, Ash, Blackthorn, Birch, and Rowan. The Oak tree is one of the most powerful trees to work with in the world. Magickally, cradle its leaves and branches as you conduct rites for weather magick and earth magick. It has associations with wisdom, strength, vitality, life, and the thunder, as found in the indigenous mythology of North America. The Ash Tree is seen as one of the most sacred trees in the world, as it is often linked to the direct vitality of human beings. Several myths tell that humans sprang forth from the Ash Tree, which is the World Tree. Use the Ash in rites of protection, healing, divination, and connection to the Good Neighbors. It has strong associations with health, world unification, and hope. The Blackthorn is a winter tree and offers strong protection against evil spirits, creating boundaries, purification of the self and home, and aiding in shadow work as one confronts the dark aspects of the self. What is interesting to note is that this tree is of neutral power, so its uses are directly influenced and created by the magickal practitioner—you decide how to use its power. The Birch tree is a fascinating tree: its bark has a special chemical component that is used as the main ingredient for wintergreen flavoring—hence, drinks and treats of all kinds have been created from this tree by people in North America and the United Kingdom. Magickally, it is associated with purification, protection, new beginnings, and illumination. One legend tells of wrapping a Birch branch with white and red ribbons and then, when left in front of the door, will drive away elves. Finally, the Rowan tree is also known folklorically as Witchwood and is the most associated tree with witchcraft. If one strings Rowan berries together on a string and hangs them by the windows and doors, it will grant the house protection and an enhanced atmosphere for psychic phenomena. The tree itself has magickal associations with the Fae, divination, scrying, clarity, inspiration, and the runes.
As we begin, then, our journey back out of the forest today, let me leave you with a practical working on how to connect with the energy of a tree and draw up earth energy through its roots and branches. This working comes from Phyllis Curott’s Book of Shadows and it is magnanimously powerful. Go outside when you have the need and walk through a forested area. Allow your senses and intuition to guide you to the correct tree, rather than choosing one rationally. When your witch’s senses have guided you to the right one, sit down next to it—with your back against its trunk. Allow yourself to sit as straight as possible, leaning upon the tree for support it needed. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for a few moments, settling ever more deeply into the quietude of the forest around you. Listen to the birds and feel the wind brush across you. Empty your mind of all thoughts. Drift. When you have found that inner peace, visualize your energy comingling with that of the tree: two different colors of light meeting where your back touches its trunk. How does this physically make you feel? After a few moments of this interaction, visualize earth energy flowing up the trunk—from the depths of the earth and through the tree’s roots—and into your body. Deepen your breathing and open your spirit to the healing properties of both the earth and tree energies. How does this change your body, mind, and spirit. Drift in this communion for several moments. When ready, release the comingled energies and earth energy from your body, seeing them travel back into the tree and into the earth. Open your eyes and see how your vision of the world is new and changed.
For the changing of our world rests upon our return as a species to the Wood and the Wild. The Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids supports the planting of sacred groves and trees as a part of the Tree Initiative. Go out into the world and buy a tree for a few dollars—in North America, we have the option to order saplings from the Arbor Day Foundation for free. Plant as many trees as you can, to invite the magick of The Wood and Wild back into our reality.
For the way forward is found in the way back.
By venturing forth into the darkness below the trees
And communing with the spirits of nature within the wood.
Take the hero’s journey into the heart of the forest,
And allow the journey to open your heart and spirit.
Return to our world again once more,
With the magick of the ancients flowing in and through you,
A gift from the trees themselves.
And as you share this message and magick with the world,
It will forever draw us nearer to the reconciliation with Nature.
And as a result, our magick will always be stronger…
Because of it.
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The stories, research, and production elements were done and edited, respectively, by me, Kieran, with sources attached in the description. If you want to be a guest on the show, or have a topic you wish me to explore and discuss, send me an email at beyondtheseaspodcast@gmail.com. And be sure to hit the follow button, on whichever platform you enjoy the podcast, and look forward to more content next week. Until then, seek the veil between the worlds, and allow yourself to travel…Beyond the Seas.