Devotion to the living world through vernacular spirituality, folklore and song
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Hi, I’m Danica Boyce
I’m a folklore researcher, an academic medievalist, and a pagan.
For the past seven years I have been producing Fair Folk Podcast, a research-based show sharing accessible information about folklore, folk song, and vernacular spirituality.
As a pagan, I am not hostile to Christianity, but I am deeply aware of its historical intertwining with imperialism and with colonialism.
I’m curious about how we can unravel the binds that have been tied in our hearts and our bodies by that imperial culture of suspicion and competition which has dominated Europe and its colonies over the last two millennia.
To me, a living, modern form of paganism is a call both to re-engage with and re-invent the earth-honouring practices of the traditional cultures of Europe. I hope that with this re-engagement I might begin to heal the wound of my own ancestors and fellow Euro-descended peoples where it began: in disconnection from land, from self, and from our fellow creatures.
Whatever we call ourselves, pagan, secular, Christian, other, I believe that optimism and mutual liberation are the soil in which we can plant a more beautiful future for ourselves. And that starts with a shift of perspective. I hope this newsletter can sometimes provide that shift for you.
Together let us plant some seeds of good faith.
Who I hope will read this
If you’re inexplicably fascinated with the past, or with rural cultures, with medieval manuscripts, and probably the film Wicker Man, and you seek reminders to stop and pay attention to life’s green invitation to prayer; if you are enthralled by the generosity of the sun and to the moon (or just want to be), and you enjoy opening fresh pathways into loving yourself and others, then this newsletter may serve you.
What you can expect
Every week this summer I will post a newsletter for free, where I will tell you about something I have been experiencing or thinking about, whether that is a curious fact about lightning and oak trees, or my recent experience singing pagan chants in Lithuania.
If you upgrade to paid, you’ll get an audio version of that newsletter via my podcast feed, as well as a monthly audio Q&A session where you can ask me to share my earnest insights into your questions about pagan practice, folklore research, writing, or music.
So excited to follow the continuity of your work and curiosity.