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: 50

Druids In Cars, Going To Festivals
Podcast Episodes
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…
S6 Bonus Episode 1 - Roadside Divinatory Attractions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:54
We're on our way to the Wellspring Gathering this week and working hard on getting new content, so you get a bonus episode! This week, it's all about roadside divinatory attractions you can find throughout the North Amer…
Episode 105: Goal-Oriented Ritual Planning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:29
On our way to the Three Cranes Grove, ADF, annual liturgical planning meeting, Rev. Dangler hit Rev. Avende with a random question when they got in the car: do you set goals for your ritual year? We talk about what we ex…
Episode 104 - A Sacred Travel Trip Review [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:49
Last week we talked about how Rev. Avende and Rev. Dangler were trying to plan out a trip to Greece; this week, we circle back to the trip that Rev. Dangler and his wife took, and how they managed the space between good…
Episode 103 - Planning Sacred Travel to Greece [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:36
Early last year, Rev. Avende and Rev. Dangler discussed the process of planning a trip in the not-too-distant future to Greece to tour some sacred sites. During the chat, they also talked about other trips they've taken,…
Episode 102 - Rites of Passage and Community Connections [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:11
When we think about rites of passage, we usually think about how they impact the person who experiences the passage directly, rather than the community around them. In this episode, we talk a bit about what it's like to…
Episode 101 - Advice To Our Younger Pagan Selves [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:13
We're back for Season 6! At our Anagantios Druid Moon in 2022, we recorded this episode about the advice we would give to ourselves when we were our younger Pagan selves. It turns out our advice is actually still pretty…
Episode 100 - Rites of Passage at our 100th Episode! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:58
One of the things about recording a podcast is that you find yourself passing milestones on the journey, and today, we managed to get in our 100th episode! We talk a bit about how rites of passage have figured into our w…