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Airmid’s Almanac
Storying the Landscape & Place-based Spirituality in Ireland, with Sean Fitzgerald
Ep. 16
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In this episode Kenzie and Mica chat with Sean Fitzgerald, Irish artist, writer, and co-founder of Airmid's Journal. Sean tells a version of the tale of Balor of the Evil Eye local to Torey Island (with an unexpectedly queer plot twist!), and we hear how the landscape is an intimate part of this epic story at the heart of the Moytura saga. We then talk about how fairy belief practiced in Ireland differs from what is discussed on the internet, the consequences of internet appropriation of living folk customs, the importance of teaching the myths and cultural reclamation through re-storying the land, the problems with New Age universalism and unethical behavior in sacred sites, the importance of asking awkward questions in the process of decolonization, the misappropriation and cooptation of myths, history, and sacred rites by fascists and the right wing, and a few bouts of fairy wafting. ;)
Follow Sean Fitzgerald on Instagram at @seanfitzgeraldart.
This first hour is part 1 of our discussion. Part 2 will be available immediately to our patrons on Patreon, but for those who are not patrons we will publish part 2 for free on this podcast in two weeks time.
If you enjoy our podcast please like and subscribe. Also consider supporting us on Patreon. Your small monthly contribution helps us pay for the expenses associated with this podcast, and you'll get exclusive benefits. Learn more here: www.patreon.com/airmidsalmanac. A third of the profits go to a LGBTQ and/or BIPOC-led organization doing decolonial healing work. Right now we are partnering with Kunsi Keya Tamakoce of Huntington, so-called-Vermont (Abenaki Territory). Kunsi Keya provides a pathway for Native women from Lakota and other nations to come and reconnect to traditional lifeways. Learn more at: www.kunsikeya.org
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