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 125 - Back on the Road - Trillium! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:19
We recorded this one in February of 2024, when we were blessing houses at our annual Anagantios rite. We discuss what we love about Trillium as a festival as we prep for the festival season. If we sound excited, it’s bec…
Episode 124 - New Year, New Roads [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:11
Are we back? We’re definitely back. After a couple of years of changing experiences, Rev. Avende and Rev. Dangler are making a run at a new season. This episode, recorded in January 2026, was recorded after a few of the…
Episode 122 - When Deities are Jerks [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:14
Today, on the way out to a Dedicant Oath Rite, Rev. Avende and Rev. Dangler travel with Mike Bierschenk on the way out to State College, and chat on a topic we've been meaning to get to for a while: what does it mean for…
Episode 121 - 3CG Ancestor Box Traditions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
Happy Samhain, friends! One of the great traditions we have as a Grove is that we keep an Ancestor Box. This is a simple box that has been with us for 20 years now, receiving new ancestors and bringing them into our shar…
Episode 120 - Harvest Nights 2023 Festival Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:52
On our way out to a Druid Moon rite, we took a moment to chat about a festival Rev. Avende had been to recently: Harvest Nights! Long one of our favorite festivals, Rev. Avende had made the trip without Rev. Dangler this…
Episode 119 - The Role of the Bard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:31
Today, Rev. Avende and our Grove Bard, Mike Bierschenk, travel out to Harvest Nights and bring you along in the car with them, as they discuss the role of the Bard in Three Cranes Grove, ADF, and in ritual in general. Bo…
Episode 118 - How We Do Magic For Others [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:07
We continue our conversation from our previous episode with how we do magic for others: how we decide what sort of magical work to do, who to do it for or with, and how we divide out our magic by audience and type of wor…
Episode 117- Sympathy and Contagion; Magic as Access [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:41
After Summerland, we're back! Today, we talk about sympathy and contagion in magic: the idea that things that are alike can provide access to each other, either through being alike or containing the essence (Greek: ousia…