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 115 - Managing the Magical: The Working [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:01
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Episode 114 - Managing the Magical: The Return Flow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Episode 113- Managing the Magical: Taking Omens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Have you registered for the Summerland Festival August 17-20, 2023, near Yellow Springs, Ohio? You should! Come meet us! This week is the third of five episodes we recoded back-to-back about "Managing the Magical," or ho…
Episode 112- Managing the Magical: Opening the Gates [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:46
We're a month out from Summerland! Consider coming out to the Summerland Festival August 17-20, 2023, in near Yellow Springs, Ohio! This week is the second of five episodes we recoded back-to-back about "Managing the Mag…
Episode 111 - Managing the Magical: (Re)Creating the Cosmos [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:44
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Episode 110 - Appalachian Summer Solstice Review 2023 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:38
Today, Rev. Avende reviews their experience at the Wisteria Appalachian Summer Solstice festival in southeastern Ohio. They discuss their favorite workshops, including one on bone throwing by one of the owners of Moon Be…
Episode 108 - Our Weirdest Druid Tools [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:26
We set a record for how fast Rev. Dangler can break Rev. Avende's composure on this episode! But the topic was a great one, where we got to speak about unconventional tools and challenge how we thought about the physical…
Episode 107 - Can I Just ”Show Up” to Paganism? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:37
A listener question today comes in, asking, "Is there a place for me if I just want to 'show up' to ritual?" And of course, our answer will surprise nobody. We talk a bit about what it means to "just show up," to be part…
Episode 106 - Burnout and Pagan Leadership [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:32
"Good leaders spread everything, from wealth to work." Talking about the commitments we make as clergy and leaders in our work, we turned on the recorder so others could sit in. We spoke about how burnout impacts us, and…