Episode 131 - Uncle Mike's Rant: Unverified Personal Gnosis (UPG)

Episode 131 - Uncle Mike's Rant: Unverified Personal Gnosis (UPG)

Author: Three Cranes Grove, ADF April 9, 2026 Duration: 17:55
Rev. Avende and Mike Bierschenk were traveling home from Trillium 2024, and started discussing that tried-and-true experiential lore: Unverified Personal Gnosis, or "UPG" for short.  Mike's general point is that we should re-evaluate how we think about religious knowledge that individuals discover on their own. If we are going to suggest that talking to deities and spirits is normal, how do we deal with the information we receive when it comes to us? We talk about the pitfalls associated with those experiences, and how we manage to work through that in our communities. This is the last episode from our previous hiatus (we think), so going forward, we're hoping to have some slightly more timely content to share :) Find us on Facebook, check us out at threecranes.org/podcast, and consider supporting us at threecranes.org/donate.

Ever wondered what Druids talk about on the long drives to and from gatherings? That’s the heart of Druids In Cars, Going To Festivals. Hosted by Revs. Jan Avende and Michael J Dangler of Three Cranes Grove, ADF, this podcast captures the unfiltered, meandering conversations that happen between rituals and workshops. It’s less a formal lecture and more like being a passenger in the car, listening in as two experienced practitioners delve into the practicalities and philosophies of modern Druidry. You’ll hear them unpack topics like ritual design, personal magical practice, and the broader Pagan experience with a focus on real-world application. The discussions are rooted in their ADF tradition but are accessible to anyone with an interest in earth-centered spirituality. The charm of this podcast lies in its casual, conversational tone-it’s the audio equivalent of those invaluable talks shared over a campfire or in a vendor’s booth, now preserved for anyone to enjoy. It offers a unique, behind-the-scenes look at the living tradition of Druidry, straight from the people who are actively shaping it. So, find a comfortable seat and join the journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Druids In Cars, Going To Festivals
Podcast Episodes
Episode 136 - Finding a Place in Chaplaincy for Pagans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:47
Rev. Avende has finished their chaplain training, and has been working as a chaplain professionally recently. As we work as a community toward creating paths that allow us to live our faith experiences, Rev. Avende is fo…
Episode 135 - A Druid's Perspective on Protection Magic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
Suggested by David from Brooklyn at ConVocation 2026, we talk a bit about what protection magic looks like for us as modern Druids. Jan discusses the creation of a Kathiskos (you can see Rev. Avende's slideshow from thei…
Episode 134 - What Defines Religion? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:15
We're trying something new this time (and the following two episodes), to get us into the car at the same time, though we were in different cars for this drive; while Rev. Dangler was returning to Columbus from ConVocati…
Episode 133 - Spirit Ally Relationships, Anxiety, and Boundaries [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:58
Taking off of our last episode, Rev. Avende dives into the last statement and we discuss the anxieties around our spirit relationships, setting boundaries, and how our biases around people and spirits impact our relation…
Episode 132 - Jan's Rainbow Stole [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:43
Rev. Avende has a new stole (well, new since our last season, so like, two years old). Jan explains the process of making it, where the idea came from, and discusses with Rev. Dangler the process of what that means in re…
Episode 130 - Dead People Don't Get To Tell You What To Do [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:04
How do we take the ancient lore in context of our modern lives? This week again, Rev. Avende and Mike Bierschenk travel home from Trillium 2024 (after a mid-drive coffee pick-me-up), and they talk about squaring their pr…
Episode 129 - Jan Wants a New Omen Set! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:11
Traveling home from Trillium 2024, Rev. Avende and Mike Bierschenk discuss how the omen reading went at the main rite. Inspired by the Spirits, they tried a new omen process, which has since become a new casting cloth in…
Episode 128 - ADF Clergy - Reporting for Duty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:30
Today, we talk about one of the administrative tasks required of us as priest: the reporting aspect of maintaining our credentials is a time-intensive process that brings up a lot of feelings for us, yet it reveals a lot…
Episode 127 - Nehalennia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:46
Today, Jacque and Rev. Dangler discuss their relationships with Nehalennia, a Belgic goddess who is known from a series of votive altars, and a modern working temple at Colijnsplaat, which you can visit! The other one me…
Episode 126 - Druidry At A Distance [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:46
we have a returning guest, Jacque, who is along for the ride to talk about ”Druidry at a Distance.” Jacque introduces us to the Virtual Fire Protogrove, which meets virtually via Zoom a couple of times a month to be soci…