The Hidden Gods of New York City | Upper West and East Sides

There is a simple and thin veil that separates the worlds. And thereof, with history in mind, it is most powerful and magickal to contemplate the following: what if the Old Gods had never disappeared? For indeed, they have not: and thus, to where in New York City might we begin our search for them?

WE ARE GOING TO SALEM!
Instagram: @beyondtheseaspodcast
EMAIL ME: beyondtheseaspodcast@gmail.com
Tarot Collaboration: @thefeatherwitchnyc
Weekly Book: The Tombs of Atuan
Podcast website: https://beyondtheseas.buzzsprout.com/
More info: https://www.kierandanaan.com/beyond-the-seas

Author Interview Collaboration
Crossed Crow Books (@crossedcrowbooks)

Music
"On Earth" by We Dream of Eden
"Intimacy" by Ben Winwood
"Who Else Would Walk Through These Shadows With Me?" by The SoundKeeper
"Solace" by Liquid Memoirs

Cheers Magick Makers, 
Kieran

Chapters

• 0:00 A Meeting in Central Park
• 4:02 Grand Tidings!
• 12:48 The Hidden Gods of the Upper West and East Sides
• 27:36 The Road to the Past: Conjuring the Old Ones
• 36:20 Outro

Transcript

We were to meet in Central Park, he said. 

And I was to look for a man with one eye. And two ravens. 

I chose the guise of a wise old woman, one who wandered down the lamp-lit paths of the park. 

A handbag tucked into my elbow and a braid of gray hair along my side. 

I felt more myself now than I had in ages, 

As this meeting of the Other was to be the first of its kind. 

For he was from the other side of the park. 

Rarely did The Hidden meet and discuss important matters,

Depending rather upon the Fates and Muses to patch things up. 

But this situation called for a more direct approach. 

And with that thought in mind, I stumbled upon him:

An elderly man on a bench, covered by the branches of a low-hanging tree.

A plaid patch covered one eye, and two ravens ate from his hands. 

A…shine covered him. One that only The Hidden possess.

“So. The last I heard was your feat of changing shape to chase after an errant young boy,” he said. 

“Last I heard, you’d been swallowed by a wolf,” I said. 

A slow chuckle erupted from deep within him, and the ravens took flight at the sound of it. 

Slowly did he stand in front of me, meeting me eye to eye. 

Funnily enough, it truly was just one eye to one eye. 

A moment of what I thought would turn into contention eventually resolved,

And a smile erupted across our faces. 

“Shall we walk,” I said, “and discuss the machinations of what is to come?”

“Of course, Cerridwen, of course,” he said, gesturing me to lead us on. 

“Then Odin, let me begin at the beginning…”

And on into the cover of night did they walk, under the trees and lights of Central Park, 

Knowing that the relations of the Hidden Gods in New York City,

Dire and strained as they had been, 

Were about to change. 

For their work…

Was about to begin. 

(transition music)

            Grand tidings and welcome to you on this, the fortieth episode, of Beyond the Seas. My name is Kieran and here we are again, back at it for another week. Milestone achieved! Forty episodes—can you believe it, Magick Makers? I…am just so happy to be podcasting and connecting with our circle and community at large. Y’all are the reason why we make the show and we at Beyond the Seas love doing it every week for you. Thus, the plugs: @beyondtheseaspodcast, on Instagram, and Claudia’s account, @thefeatherwitchnyc, to follow along with the weekly tarot collaboration reels, wherein Claudia teaches the tarot one card at a time, one week at a time. And also, our collaboration with Crossed Crow Books in Chicago, @crossedcrowbooks! Also, big announcement time: Beyond the Seas is creating its own Patreon page for the podcast! There are some details to hash out over the next week and change, so look forward to its publication soon. There, when you subscribe, you will receive bonus episodes, guided meditations of various lengths, journaling pages and transcripts of the show—and so many more. I cannot wait to share the Patreon with all of you so soon, and to thank you all for your support of the show—we could not be here without all of you. It is a most exciting time here for all of us and I am so happy that you are here with me, listening to the show, today. 

            And now, artistic and literary updates! We have opened the show here down in Cape May, New Jersey: Dial ‘M’ for Murder runs with East Lynne Theater Company until August 331st. And lemme tell you, Magick Makers, the tan I have going on right now is insurmountable! Tickets are available at the door, if you happen to find yourself in the area, as well as online at eastlynnetheater.org. Now, the book: I had the pleasure of finishing A Wizard of Earthsea this Monday, on the beach of course, and immediately thought, “well, that was one of the most pleasurable reads I have had in a very long time.” Short it may be, but chock full of philosophy, wisdom, and musings that leave the reader more introspective than relieved. It is a super quick read, but one that will leave you wanting to learn more of the adventures of Ged the Archmage of Earthsea. Thus, I have now switched out that book and the next one, from my host’s library, titled The Tombs of Atuan. I look forward to finishing that book this week and relaying all the continued positive feedback from the story of Ged and his adventures. So, if you’re following along, head to your local library or secondhand bookshop to pick yourself up a copy. 

            And now, the Card of the Week! Woof, Magick Makers, woof. Claudia has pulled none other than The Hermit. I think, besides the Magician, this card is my favorite in the deck. I personally resonate with this card so, so, so much: the sense of being alone, not lonely, and the isolation that is gifted to oneself to have the time to travel within. For to speak, there must be silence on both sides. You must first be still to then move. There is a light that is within all of us, and it will never lead you astray. This light is truth, knowledge, wisdom, life experience, and love. IT is the voice within you that guides your way. Fear not the path set in front of you, or the one on which you currently walk, because it will lead you ever onwards to moments of discovery, challenge, change, and growth. That is the wisdom of the Hermit: to know when to surrender to the Current and go with the flow, or control the tides beneath you and manifest the change you seek. Either way, you understand the light and know when to guide it. Mmmm, I love this card. So look ahead this week towards introspection, through processes, and awareness in every moment of the day. 

            And now, the Wine of the Week! So last Thursday, on Lughnasadh, we opened the show, right? The theater hosted a wonderful opening night soiree at a local restaurant in Cape May, which was lovely, and then we headed back to the house we are staying in for the rest of the night. It was there that one of the lovely hosts, Mark, (oh hi Mark) pulled out a bottle of Montinore Estate’s 2012 Reserve Pinot Noir, for the gang to share at the end of the day—and well into the early hours of the morning! Lemme tell ya, Magick Makers, this bottle was earthy, earthy, earthy—given two things: it is an organic wine and it hails from the Willamette Valley, in Oregon. It was smoky and tobacco flavored, with undertones of cherry and strawberry and floral flavors. It pairs best with 3 AM gluten free pasta making, some salty crackers, a wish for a sharp white cheddar cheese, and conversations held in the darkness of the morning kitchen. 

            And, finally, this week’s topic. So I am staying with a wonderful host couple for my time here in Cape May, hi Mark and Jane, and it was during our Sunday night conversation pre-dinner that Mark suggested the following topic: The Hidden Gods of such and such a place. And that really made the cogs within my mind start turning: where today do the Old Gods exist? As the witches and pagans continue to grow and manifest and reclaim those ancient ways, so too do the Old Gods return. But where have they been hiding for so long? Where might we find them in our world today? And what if they have not only been just beyond sight, but within us all along? So much like last week’s episode, the first half will be more textbook discussion and the second will be a newly written ritual by yours truly, that I find to be super powerful and juicy. Thus, let us begin yet another wonderful Series here on the show—the Hidden Gods of New York City Series—and explore all its amazing facets.

            Ergo, grab your favorite bottle of red, find a comfy chair, and close your eyes as I tell you the tale of The Hidden Gods of New York City—and take you…

            Beyond the Seas.

            (transition music)

            Imagine, for a moment, that the Old Gods had never been banished. That the survival of all the indigenous magick systems of paganism and polytheism existed, in an unbroken lineage, to this day. How might our world be different? Socially, environmentally, emotionally, physically? For in this moment now, wherein we seek to explore the possibilities of their survival, we may intuit how the worship of these gods would exist today. The ceremonies beneath the trees of Central Park. The temples of flame and water in Chelsea. The oracles and premonitions deep in the heart of Brooklyn. 

            For, as we venture back into our reality, these Old Gods continue to survive in the thriving mecca that is New York City. The amount of cultures and cross-sectional moments of the many facets of the human condition is a fact—and a daily occurrence for the individual to ask, “what will I learn and discover about someone else today?” Thus, in the customs and traditions of these many peoples on one island, we the witches of today have the opportunity to uncover just how close the Old Gods of our practice continue to survive in this most wonderful and famous of cities. 

            Thus, I treat this episode as an experiment: based upon my life and home in Manhattan, I have taken the neighborhoods I know well and equated them to the Old Gods. As a result, we may surmise how the different cultures of the world gift everyone in the city with windows of access and insight towards the survival of The Gods of the Past—who never truly disappeared. For They themselves are not only just beyond sight, but also right here alongside you and me. So let us first turn our attention on this series to two of my favorite spots, and one of which I call home: The Upper West and East Sides. 

            From my experience as a New Yorker and practitioner of the Old Ways, I have equated these two neighborhoods with the following maxims: in the Upper West Side, we encounter the Gods of Home, Hearth, and Family. In the Upper East Side, the Gods of Order, Law, and Tradition. And to the West do we first attend our scholarly ways. 

            The Upper West Side of New York City is my neighborhood, where my apartment is. And I absolutely love its culture. Here, you will find such famous sites as Lincoln Center, Juilliard, The American Museum of Natural History, Columbia University, and The Metropolitan Opera. It runs from 59th Street Columbus Circle to the bottom portion of 110th Street, where it meets Harlem. Along the various streets and avenues of the Upper West Side lie many restaurants, bodegas, artisan clothing stores, schools, and brownstone homes. It is extremely residential and caters to families young and old as a quiet place within Manhattan to raise the next generation. 

            Across the Park is the Upper East Side, bounded by Fifth Avenue and Central Park South at its lowest section and running all the way up to 110th Street, the top of Central Park. It is here, for all you fans of The Gilded Age, that the wealthy families of the early twentieth-century lived in those gaudy mansions: The Roosevelts, Van Rhijn, Rockefeller, and Stuyvesant. Socioeconomically, the population of the Upper East Side is composed of cultures and background from beyond the United States: almost half hail from Europe, while the remainder come from Asia, Latin America, and several other areas. Famous sites within this area of the city include The Metropolitan Museum of Art (which is one of my all-time favorite places in the city, it is to die for), Museum of the City of New York, National Academy of Design, and the Andrew Carnegie Museum. Primarily, this side of the city services families, too, but also young couples, higher up officials, business families, and aristocracy. The Upper East Side is where you go if you, ahem, have money. 

            Thus, with these brief demographic descriptions done, it is abundantly clear to me that there are several associations to be made. When I walk down the streets of the Upper West Side, and I see the families and strollers and dog walking, I instantly feel the Gods of Home, Hearth, and Family. When I walk through the Park to meander down the Upper East Side, I resonate more with the gods of Order, Law, and Tradition. Ergo, let us dive more deeply into each side, to uncover how the Hidden Gods of Old survive in these areas, to this day. 

            To the West, and the Gods of Home, Hearth, and Family. When I see the French bakeries, cookie shops, and various markets that service the young and old, the married and dating, the parents and children, I see and feel Hestia in the air. She guides the hands of the mothers as they walk their children to school on 96th Street. She kindles her undying Flame, much like Brigid in Ireland, when couples walk past holding hands. Though she is an eternal virgin, it is the flame of familial love that I see most on Sundays: the families that feast and dine together on the streets of Manhattan, underneath a sunny afternoon sky. The flame and fire of the hearth is most present in these moments because, to me, it is a reminder of what the city does to the inner hearth within us all: the humanity, abundance, and opportunity of rest, family, and relations allows the embers of the spirit to burn slowly yet lastingly. 

            When walking from Columbus Circle to Lincoln Center, you walk beside Apollo and Lugh—the Gods of Music and the Sun. When the Metropolitan Opera performs, or an uptown Broadway performance, they fuel the spirits of the artists onstage and create a comingling atmosphere of learning and understanding. Personally, on my many walks along Central Park West, I walk alongside them when I hear the street musicians play trumpets, violins, and guitars. I feel them from the heat of the subways underneath my feet. And know them to be alive and well the television shows film on the streets around my apartment. 

            Finally, it is the wisdom of Cerridwen that suffuses the many elders of the Upper West Side. And the bars one frequents. For with strong food and drink available at the ready, it leads so many in that portion of the city to reveal their inner truths, expound upon the past, and conduct the greatest test of all: opening up to others by first trusting oneself. Much like Cerridwen guards the potion of knowledge, stirred in her great Cauldron of Rebirth, so too do we live, die, and become reborn when we experience the fall of day into night on Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues. But most importantly, she lives within the spirit of our Ancestors, who are most strongly expressed in the ways of the elders in this community. Their level of outreach, support, advocacy, and guidance are unparalleled and much of the programs and opportunities along the Upper West Side would not exist without their efforts. Cerridwen stirs her Cauldron of Rebirth daily and gifts us with her wisdom thereof. 

            But on the Upper East Side, things are slightly different, for there we experience the Gods of Order, Law, and Tradition. Most prominently, Odin the All Father reigns within this area of the city, especially when one encounters the histories of those who dwell there. He is in the ancient architecture of the mansions of the mighty, wherein great business deals and energies swirl and abound. He is present when you pass by a suited individual, making business deals and plans on a continual basis. His sense of magick and runic knowledge is most present when you walk through the Consulates and Museums of the Upper East Side: through the governmental relations and the art of the ancient world, one glimpses the spells and wisdom he gained—by first sacrificing his own eye—to gift to the world. If one looks most closely, there may be further spells and runes to discover with his aid and blessing. 

            As it is the height of summer in Manhattan, and the lightning forks across the urban skyline at night more often than not, one feels the presence of Zeus on an almost nightly basis. If you have been to New York City before, whether as a resident or visitor, you understand when I say how there is a pulse, an electricity, a power that beats underneath and within the city. It is a charge that feeds and connects the many ambitions of those who dwell within its confines. And to Zeus do we give some credit towards, in that regard: for the fires of passion, creativity, business acumen, planning, and love all stem from his blessing of leadership and might. His immortal lightning bolt preserves the structure of not only the Upper East Side, but also the city at large—and demands a sense of self-reliance and assuredness as one walks down the streets of old. He is always present, and always watching. 

            And finally, Dian Cecht, the Irish God of Healing. After hearing the stories from a nursing friend, there is an abundance of health services and hospitals on the Upper East Side, wherein one experiences the guiding of the god in every surgery and outpatient appointment. The insight one holds for himself as he ventures to the doctor or dentist on the Upper East Side is led by Dian Cecht, who prompts the underlying need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The organic grocers and plant-based services that populate this area of the city maintain the god’s inner skill of healing the body from within. Thus, he heals a long-forgotten wound within these New Yorkers: to follow the inner pull towards health and bodily autonomy is the greatest act of self-control and self-love, when contemplating the care taken for oneself, by oneself. 

            Thus, the Gods of Old are never as far away as we think, for they live on in the artists onstage; the doctors in surgery rooms; the mothers of children; and the professionals of today. Separated only by Central Park itself, we see how these two sides of the city hold space and opportunity for the Hidden Ones to flourish—simply by enacting cultural and lifestyle activities. And as a result, their continued presences are felt, honored, and worshipped. 

            Refill your drinking horns, your goblets, your chalices, for the second half of The Hidden Gods of New York City | The Upper West and East Sides, after this brief break. 

            (transition music)

            When ready to work and connect with the Gods of Home, Hearth, and Family, as well as Order, Law, and Tradition, one must first picture Central Park. For herein lies the Waters of Wisdom and the Fires of Family. See within your mind’s eye the massive reservoir at the Park’s heart: surrounded by fences and joggers, tourists and families, it holds secrets and histories that only the waters may tell us of. Those waters connect us to Cerridwen, the Goddess of Wisdom and Inspiration. The trees surrounding the reservoir are grounded, mature, and strong—they connect us to Odin, the All Father. And with this image of the Park in your mind’s eye, we now begin the ritual I have come to call The Road to the Past: Conjuring the Old Ones. 

            Whether in your mind’s eye or physically, procure the following: a cauldron, a chalice, a charcoal disk, your favorite loose incense, quartz crystals of various shapes and sizes, a black candle, a purple candle, lavender essential oil, bergamot essential oil, and a bottle of your favorite red wine. Place the Cauldron and Chalice in the middle of your working area, with the black candle behind the Cauldron and the Purple behind the Chalice. 

            Begin by centering and grounding, drawing energy into yourself first and then up from the Earth beneath you. Align the center of your being with the Heavens Above and the Earth Below. Then, with energy raised, cast the circle or tread the compass round in your chosen traditional manner. Invoke the Four Directions and call upon the Gods in this manner:

            “Cerridwen, Great Mother, Light of Wisdom and Knowledge, 

            She who stirs and guards the Cauldron of Rebirth, 

            Aid me in honoring you this night, 

            As I travel between the worlds,

            To bring forth once more your Light from the Shadows.

            Odin, All Father, Great God of us all,

            You who store the spells and runes of old,

            And gift the world and its peoples with myth and magick,

            Aid me in honoring you this night,

            As I travel between the worlds,

            The bring forth once more your Light from the Shadows.”

            Allow yourself whatever time is needed to feel the presence of the Gods descend into your circle. Then, when ready, ignite the charcoal disc in your cauldron. Feel the fire and flame work its way through the instrument, causing the Cauldron itself to heat and enflame. This is the Fire of Order and Tradition that Odin presents to us, as represented by the Upper East Side. Reflect upon the Order and Law within your own life, and the structure that Upper East Side reminds us to maintain. 

            Then, take you r bottle of wine and fill it to the brim of your Chalice, seeing the rich ruby red flow and ebb from the bottle and into the instrument. These are the waters of the Upper West Side, and represent the powers of Cerridwen—her Cauldron of Rebirth. Reflect upon all the knowledge and wisdom you have gained from your life experience thus far, and that which you seek to strive for as you continue on.

            When ready, say the following:

            “Odin and Cerridwen, Father and Mother,

            Ye Gods of Olde whom I honor and worship,

            Remain steadfast in my heart and spirit,

            Guide my footsteps along the way,

            And fill my being with your immortal enlightenment.”

            Breathe slowly and deeply now. When ready, take the lavender essential oil and anoint the purple candle in the manner that feels most intuitive to you. Repeat with the bergamot oil and black candle. Take your chosen quartz crystals and create a stone circle around these candles and other instruments, chanting slowly within yourself and out loud words of love, honor, affirmation, and worship towards Cerridwen and Odin. This intonation of words will raise energy and flow from stone to stone, infusing your instruments of arte with magick and power. 

            Only you may intuit when the energy raised is ready, for you will have stopped your utterance of words of worship. The energy contained within the stones and instrument of arte will slowly release into the Universe as the candles burn down. Now is the time to ask Cerridwen and Odin for their assistance in matters of knowledge, guidance, legal and financial matters, and familial relations. Spend time here meditating on their burning flames, and relating to these powerful deities. Sip from your bottle of wine and enjoy this moment. 

            Finally, to end the ritual, thank the Four Directions for their presence and protection and release them whence they came. Take up the Circle you cast or the Compass you tread, and open this space. Thank the spirits of the land and your ancestors for being with you always, especially in this moment. And watch those candles burn down completely as you revel in the gratitude of your own Home, Heart, and Family, and Order, Law, and Traditions. 

            For, whenever this ritual may take place for you, it reminds us of the Hermit: the light of truth will guide the way, both inwardly and outwardly. The introspection required is not grandiose or overtly philosophical, but as simple as asking ourselves one question: “for what am I now grateful for, and by extension, for what do I now yearn for?” Allow yourself, with the aid of Cerridwen and Odin, to meander down that inner path and discover all the possibilities presented to you. For within the beating depths of your own heart lie the answers to all your life’s questions. For the Old, Hidden Gods will help you reveal those answer to yourself. 

            And as a result, your magick, my magick—our magick—will always be made stronger…because of it. 

            (transition music)

            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.