This episode explores how to celebrate the Autumn Equinox & the Pagan holiday, Mabon. It is the first of a year-long series where we will explore the history & folklore of each month & how we can weave the magic of the turning seasons into our everyday lives.

In this episode:

*This year I will record a monthly episode to explore the Wheel of the Year. These episodes are companions to my monthly seasonal guidebooks.
*An explanation for how I use the terms Old Ways & Animism + their relevance today.
*A brief history of The Wheel of the Year— why it is an imperfect framework & how we can still use it to deepen our own observations of the holytides.
*September, Mabon & the Autumn Equinox—  history & folklore
*Ways to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox no matter your spiritual leanings
*Magic Apples: King Arthur, Avalon & the Golden Apples of Asgard
*How we can use myths to discover the Animist worldview of our Ancestors

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast - Episode 08 - September

This episode explores how to celebrate what is known as the Final Harvest in many cultures, also known as the Pagan holiday, Samhain. It is the 2nd of a year-long series where we will explore the history & folklore of each month & how we can weave the magic of the turning seasons into our everyday lives.

In this episode:
*October is the height of the Fall season - a time when what we witness outside in nature is really reflected in our own lives.
*It is a veil thinning time where we can tune inward, into the season of communion with the Old Powers and the Otherworlds that they inhabit. *Why Honor the Ancestors – Humans & Otherkin (Animals & Plants) * The Reason for the Season: The Last Harvest & Memory of Blood *Sardinian Halloween? Indeed. *Why we might use Gaelic names to describe this time of year (beyond that fact that Gerald Gardner, creator of the Wheel of the Year used Gaelic names for the holy days). *Pagans Among Us *The Otherworld *Samhain Customs

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast - Episode 09 - Samhain

*A special episode deviating from the Wheel of the Year monthly episodes.
*Defining how I use the term Old Ways
*Why people are so drawn to the Old Ways
*What the pandemic has revealed about our connection to the Old Ways
*How we can model a different path for our young ones than what is currently on offer by the overculture of empire
*How my training as an anthropologist allowed me to look at my own beliefs- why I believe what I believe, why I do the actions I take, what is the world view I want my children to grow up with… in the role of the observer and combined with sacred curiosity helped me choose to raise my children with the animistic worldview of my Ancestors
*It came down to 4 simple elements which I call the 4 keys because we use them to unlock the Ancestral wisdom already inside of us.
* Each one of these is like a gateway or portal to the earth-centric ways and wisdom of our Ancestors.
*Then from the urging of others came up with a framework for how I could share it with others. 
*Why myths, stories & folklore are so important, and so much more than just entertainment.
*How the concept of “myth” has been maligned.
Here is a link to join Old Ways for Modern Families https://jenncampusauthor.com/old-ways-for-modern-families-course/

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast - Episode 10 - Old Ways, Four Keys & Animism

The heart of the deep & ancient roots of "Thanksgiving" have to do with harvest & celebrating the gifts of the season with sacrifice/offerings, gratitude & the exchange of gifts between the human & spirit world. 

We can & should restore our Ancestral traditions. We do not have to let our ancient harvest rites & celebrations be coopted by a modern construct based on faulty whitewashed history. In fact, we need to demand it back for the modern “Thanksgiving” storyline is damaging, hurtful &truly unnecessary -  even from a historical perspective it doesn’t hold water.

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast - Episode 11 - Sacrifice & Gratitude

How the concept of coziness can help us cultivate an intentional life & possibly save the world by tapping into our inner Hobbit. You’ve never heard anyone talk about hygge like this before!

In the episode: *Embracing Yuletide & getting out of the Holly-DAZE
*How our family re-claimed the 12 Days of Yule & how you can, too!
*It’s up to us to make our own traditions based on what we know about this season, with inspiration from the ways in which our ancestors might have celebrated, not an exact replica (w/ resources- A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule- Book & Class)
*How to embrace the dark months instead of “getting through” them.
*How we can use the concept of coziness to build an intentional life in all seasons of our life 
*How to utilize the principles of hygge to inspire us to dismantle & let go of that which does not serve the highest good

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast - Episode 12 - Hygge

The introduction audio to the A guide to Celebrating the 12 Days Of Yule   Mini Course

Midgard Twilight Days

A guide to Celebrating the 12 Days Of Yule  - Mini Course Intro

During Yule, many of us took time to connect with the Old Powers – our Gods, Ancestors, and Spirits of Place. If you aren’t quite ready to let go of the magic, can help us with their transformative messages of regeneration, abundance & enlivening our Wild Hearts.

In the episode:

*Our Ancestors lived by different calendars & time reckoning
*The history & folklore of La Befana, the Italian gift-giving winter witch
*A re-telling of the Befana story
*The Roman Goddess Strina/ Strennia & how she might tie into the Befana legends
*Neo-lithic Befana
*Bonfires & smoke/ flame auguries still practiced in Italy today
*Folklore of Frau Holle/Holda
*The Rauhnächt or Rough, Wild & Smoke nights in Germany (& other Germanic-language speaking locations)& how they tie in with Befana, Frau Holle, Perchta & the Wild Men of European folklore (Krampus, Sardinian Mamuthones…)
*The Roman Goddess, Diana & how she plays into the story
*Simple ways to honor the Winter Witches
*What is the Epiphany at its core?
*What are the Winter Witches here to tell us?

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast - Episode 13 - The Winter Witches

Even if Valentine’s Day seems a Hallmark holiday today, it was anything but shallow in the past. Valentine’s day brings us back to our pagan roots. Surprisingly the underlying themes are love, ancestors & wolves. 
 
In the episode:
 
* The history of the Month of February
* Valentine’s Day – the stuffed teddy bear in the room
* Wolf Moon
* Lupercalia * St. Valentine’s & Galatin’s Day
* Parentalia & Feralia
* Imbolc/ Candlemas/ Candelora
* Groundhog Day
* Dísablót
*Simple Ways to Celebrate This Season, Ancestrally

Episode 14 - February : Season of Love

Spring is a season of potential, a season of Hope. In this episode we will explore some of the most common symbols of potential and hope and I’ll give you some practical yet powerful ways to sink into this turning of the Wheel.

In the episode:
*Hope Springs Eternal * The Eruptive Magic of Artichokes: https://jenncampusauthor.com/product/sacred-foods-artichokes/
https://www.patreon.com/posts/49053434 *The Cosmic Egg 

*The Sacred Marriage *Ostara and the Raging Ēostre Debate 

*European Spring Goddesses *A Short Story about the Fae Folk & Return of Spring 

* Fun and simple ways to celebrate Spring! 

*March Seasonal Guide: Hope Spring Eternal: https://jenncampusauthor.com/product/seasonal-guide-for-march-hope-springs-eternal/

Episode 15 - March : Ostara

Beltane Primer: All you need to know about Beltane, the ancient spring & summer festival that people from many cultures have celebrated for thousands of years in the northern hemisphere on April 30th & May 1st. Includes history, folklore, stories, & how modern folks can celebrate.
 
In the episode:
 
*Three Billy Goats Gruff
*How & why Land Spirits are honored in May
*Land Spirt Offerings
*Sacred Fire’s role in Beltane Celebrations
* Various European May Celebrations
*Bringing in the May
*The Meaning of the Maypole
* Maggio Di Accettura
*Floralia
*Walpurgis
*May Seasonal Guide: Beltane: https://jenncampusauthor.com/product/seasonal-guide-for-may-beltane/

2022

Episode 17 - May: Beltane

Earth is our most ancient Ancestor.  In many cultures she is personified as a Giantess. In this episode, we explore how our intimate connection to the Earth and her many gifts has informed our myths and folklore over the millennia. 
 
In the episode:
 
*Living on a sentient Earth
*We are related to all other living things through our relationship with Mother Earth
*Tomba di Giganti (Giant’s Tombs in Sardinia)
*Giants and Giantesses in European Mythology
*Secular Earth-honoring holidays in April
*Trees are vital to our survival
*Yggdrasil & Yggdrasil Day
*April Seasonal Guide: The Earth is Our Mother: https://jenncampusauthor.com/product/seasonal-guide-for-april-earth-is-our-mother/

Episode 16 - April: The Earth is Our Mother

Folklore, rituals, stories, and customs for the Summer Solstice that we can use to preserve the cultural traditions that set our hearts aflame.
 
In the episode:
 
*How to celebrate the Summer Solstice in ways that are meaningful to you
*Sunna, Goddess of the Sun
*The magic of St. John’s or Solstice Wort
*L’acqua di San Giovanni
*Midsummer & Litha
*The Vestalia
*Did the Celts celebrate Summer Solstice?
*Culture is alive
*The Oak King & The Holy King
*A story: Little Valkyrie
*Saint John’s Wort: Shine Your Light
https://jenncampusauthor.com/shine-your-light-with-the-help-of-saint-johns-wort/
 *June Seasonal Guide: Midsummer
https://jenncampusauthor.com/product/seasonal-guide-for-june-midsummer/
 *St. John’s Wort Oil Video https://youtu.be/fNauiuLJMSE
*Old Ways for Modern Families Sales Page https://jenncampusauthor.com/old-ways-for-modern-families-course/
*Old Ways for Modern Days Mailing List
http://eepurl.com/c_rgNX

Unveiling the Sun

Episode 18 : Midsummer

Lammas (August 1) is a celebration of the first harvest: berries & grain. Learn about the history of this holy tide including the many ways you can engage in the underlying theme - sharing abundance with community, including regional land spirits & Gods.
 
In the episode:
*Dog Days
*Weather Gods
*How Old School Sardinians Beat the Heat
*Seasonal guide, July & August: Lammas  (https://jenncampusauthor.com/product/seasonal-guide-for-july-august-lammas/)
*The First Harvest
*Berry Picking 
*Reading of Peter in Blueberry Land by Elsa Beskow
*Sacred Foods: Grain Magic  ( https://jenncampusauthor.com/product/sacred-foods-grain-magic/ )
*Sinister Grain Spirits
*Ferragosto & The Ascension of Mary
*Sacred Pilgrimage

Episode 19 - Lammas

In the episode: Reclaiming Día de Muertos Traditions
*The origins of Día de Muertos
*Altars for the Beloved Dead - what goes on them & the symbolism of the items
*Why & how Liz keeps the traditions of her Chichimeca, Huichol and Otomi Ancestors alive in her everyday life.

Episode 20: Day of The Dead w/ Liz Muñoz

Most people know Mardi Gras, yet that’s just the culmination of a many weeks long cycle of public & often archaic rituals—a modern conglomeration of Old & New World mythology. Carnival gives us the perfect opportunity to explore how the old & new come together in a way that benefits the continuation of long-held traditions.
 
In the episode:
* What is Carnival?
* How is Carnival Celebrated – past & present?
* Carnevale gets it’s name from Carne Levare – to remove meat
* Sardinian Carnevale—folkloric masks & dances – Mamuthones, Sa Sartiglia, Boes & Merdules
* The Dionysian Mysteries connection to Carnevale in Sardinia
* Is Carnival Pagan?
* How We Can Celebrate Carnevale Today
 
Links:
Carnevale Guide: https://jenncampusauthor.com/product/seasonal-guide-carnevale/

Table of Contents (in addition to what’s in this episode): 
* What is Mardi Gras?
* Swabian Fasching
* Weiberfastnacht
* So, is Carnival Pagan?
* Saturnalia
* Lupercalia
* So, Then it’s NOT Pagan?
* The Drive to Debunk
* Traditions are Alive
* Sardinian Carnevale is So Pagan
* The Gods of Carnival
* History & Symbolism of Coriandoli(Confetti)
* Foods of Carnevale (+Recipes!)

Episode 21: Carnevale / Carnival Origin Story

In this special episode of The Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast, we uncover the surprising and magical origins of Santa Claus. From ancient gods and Wild Men to the Holly King and modern traditions, explore how this beloved figure has evolved as a living symbol of generosity, hope, and connection to the sacred. Discover why Santa is far more than a modern invention—he’s a keeper of the old ways.

Featuring music by Roberto Campus.

OWFMD Podcast - Will the Real Santa Claus Please Stand Up

Autism is not new. It’s ancient. This episode explores the sacred roles neurodivergent people may have once held in ancestral communities (including research!)—and how those echoes live on today. Through personal story, anthropology, archaeology, and spiritual remembrance, Jenn offers a soul-centered reframing of autism and ADHD as ancestral gifts navigating broken modern systems, and not as pathologies to be fixed.|
Referenced Studies for Show Notes
1. Attention deficits linked with proclivity to explore while foraging https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rspb.2022.2584

2. Pattern Unifies Autism
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7907419/

3. Conceptualizing the Autism Spectrum in Terms of Natural Selection and Behavioral Ecology: The Solitary Forager Hypothesis
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/230796909_Conceptualizing_the_Autism_Spectrum_in_Terms_of_Natural_Selection_and_Behavioral_Ecology_The_Solitary_Forager_Hypothesis

4.Ancient Roots: A Cambrian Explosion of Autism Susceptibility Genes
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/aur.2984

5. The Shaman’s Secrets- Archaeology Magazine https://archaeology.org/issues/march-april-2023/features/germany-mesolithic-shaman-burial/
6. Ancient Sorcerer’s “Wake” Was First Feast for the Dead https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/100830-first-feast-science-proceedings-israel-shaman-sorcerer-tortoise
7. The Strange Prehistoric Triple Burial of Dolni Vestonice https://www.historicmysteries.com/archaeology/dolni-vestonice-burial/33932/
8. Why This Paleolithic Burial Site Is So Strange (and So Important) https://www.sapiens.org/archaeology/paleolithic-burial-sunghir/

Episode 22: Autism as Ancestral Inheritance

In this soulful and reflective episode, Jenn shares the winding path that led her back to Sardinia, tracing a journey that began long before she ever set foot on the island. Through story, ancestral memory, and lived experience, she explores the concept of cultural orphanhood—what it means to feel disconnected from both the land of your birth and the ancestral homelands you’ve never known.

She speaks about the layered experience of returning to Europe as an American of European descent, and the grief that can arise when you realize how much was lost—or mocked—through assimilation.

She reflects on being adopted, and how that shaped her understanding of belonging; about hearing a message from the land itself; about the difference between ethnicity and nationality; and about the mythic memory that lives in our blood, in our bones, in the land.

Jenn also shares the very real challenges of life in Sardinia—language barriers, social isolation, neurodivergent parenting in a traditional village—and the unexpected gifts that came from being held by the land when the community couldn’t.

This episode is a love letter to the ones who left, the ones who stayed, and the ones—like Jenn—who’ve come back, not to reclaim, but to remember.

Episode 23: The Bones Remember: : Answering Ancestral Longing as a Cultural Orphan

Please join me for a quick 25 minute primer for preparedness that doesn’t come from fear, but from what we already know. In this episode we tap into pearls of wisdom, old adages, and mottos that validate our innate knowledge that often bubbles up and calls on us to act in times of crisis.

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast - Always Be Prepared

Elders hold the key to our connection to the past, and help us navigate the future. In this podcast episode, join me and my special guest Lyra Madrona as we discuss loving measures to best protect our elders, the most vulnerable group during this pandemic, through our behavior choices.

Jenn’s Blog:  https://jenncampusauthor.com

More Thoughts on Modern Matriarchy:  https://jenncampusauthor.com/modern-matriarchy/

Love in Every Bite: The Secret to Cooking Healthy Recipes with Positive Energy https://jenncampusauthor.com/books/love-in-every-bite-the-secret-to-cooking-healthy-recipes-with-positive-energy/ 

Lyra’s info
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/lyramadrona
Instagram: @serpent.spiral
Facebook: https://www.fcebook.com/madronalyra
Blog: http://lyramadrona.wordpress.com

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast 02 - Navigating Coronavirus with Elders

Have you wondered why so many people are drawn to baking right now? In this episode we explore how this need ties directly to our instincts and interestingly into some cultural concepts about ancestors.

Jenn’s Blog:  https://jenncampusauthor.com

More Thoughts on Modern Matriarchy:  https://jenncampusauthor.com/modern-matriarchy/

Love in Every Bite: The Secret to Cooking Healthy Recipes with Positive Energy https://jenncampusauthor.com/books/love-in-every-bite-the-secret-to-cooking-healthy-recipes-with-positive-energy/

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast 03 - Why We Bake in Times of Crisis

In this podcast episode we discuss how, in this reset moment, we have the chance to align with our purpose on this planet by seeking older ancestral wisdom about the sacred contracts we make with ourselves, each other, and the world around us. With special guest Dena Crowder.

Jenn’s Blog:  https://jenncampusauthor.com

Dena Crowder: https://www.denacrowder.com

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast 04 - Ancestral, Earth, and Viral Wisdom

Sardinia and how it relates to the four keys of Food, Land, Tradition and magic to unlock the ancestral wisdom already woven into our DNA.

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast 05 - Sardinia Food Land Tradition Ma

Discover 10+ down-to-earth rituals to introduce Ancestor Veneration practices to children.
Open communication with the Otherworld, and especially our Ancestors can be a yearlong part of your spiritual practice. It’s valuable to introduce our children to this practice from a young age because it not only helps them navigate the death of a loved one but helps them to see their individual gifts as blessings.

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast - Episode 06 - Ancestral Veneration for Children

Introduction to "A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule" mini-course.

12 Days of Yule Mini Course - Intro

Old Ways for Modern Days - 12 Days Yule mini-course : Intro

Hearth Magic is a tool to access the portal to the Otherworld. Domestic practices are potent Magic hiding in plain sight. There really is nothing mundane about it.

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast - Episode 07 - Hearth Magic

Old Ways for Modern Days: Discovering our animist roots through Food. Land. Tradition. Magic. 4 keys to unlocking the ancestral wisdom & traditional skills already entwined in our DNA. 
The aim of the podcast is to show how we are already connected to this consciousness, and how we can cultivate more connections in our everyday life and tasks.

Old Ways for Modern Days Podcast

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