Jun 05 2023 91 mins
In this episode, I speak to Harriet Nwyfre Sams, who is an archaeologist, a therapist, a scholar, and a Druid! There's a very rich discussion here, particularly on the "beingness" of Objects ; how we may, from an Animist perspective, begin to question the very concept of an "inanimate" object, and rather to deal with the objects and materials things in our lives with respect, to be in relation with them rather than their "owner", or "user" only, and to acknowledge the idea that they have their own raison d'être, their own volition and purpose. Harriet's insights are fascinating, as both archaeologist and Druid, about the material world around us, objects both natural and crafted, landscapes which are wild or urban, which share our lives and histories, in which our lives and histories are encoded.
We share stories of our Vocations to Druidry, and what it means to us, in particular the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, to which we both belong (although I'm really quite a novice and Harriet is a fully-fledged Druid!) ; this discussion overlaps slightly but is complement to the one I had with Eimear Burke, Chosen Chief of the Order, on the OBOD Livestream "Fireside Chat" last week (available here : https://www.youtube.com/live/rIEn1oI6HGQ?feature=share ). Those who are interested in OBOD and what the Order has to offer can find details here : https://druidry.org/
Harriet talks also about her current research into Sacred Sites and the role they can play in our well-being - and we in theirs - in a concept called "Archaeotherapy". Her current work includes guiding individuals and communities in their evolving efforts to be in better relationship with the Land, and you can find out more about that at her website here : http://www.nwyfre-earth.co .
The essay inspired by our discussion of the concept of "Place-ness and Sacredness" can be found here : https://thehollowbehindthehearthstone.com/this-must-be-the-place-on-the-spirit-of-place-begotten-and-made-grigomere-ortgeist-and-kairotope-a-case-study/
THE HOLLOW PATH IS A MEETING OF MINDS AND HEARTS, TO FOSTER EXHANGES AROUND MAGIC, ART, ENCHANTMENT, CULTURE, POLITICS, AND POETICS ...
RE-ENCHANTMENT. RE-WILDING. RE-MEMBERING.
RESISTANCE.