The Cailleach w/ Scott Richardson-Read

The Cailleach w/ Scott Richardson-Read

Author: Fair Folk November 16, 2022 Duration: 1:02:35
This is a conversation with Scottish folk-magic blogger and social worker Scott Richardson Read about the Gaelic folklore figure called the Cailleach: the old woman known as Scotland’s midwife; landscape shaper, storm-bringer, sovereignty figure, ancestral being, resurrected once and again, and present all through the folk calendar of the year. The Cailleach has been popularly associated with wintertime, which is why I feature her on Fair Folk now, at the beginning of winter. Transcript of this episode: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12oDeT-0u-0fnnascirU_k5izVU4kQHACj2zqTFI2wGA/ Resources referenced in this episode: Cailleach’s Herbarium blog, Cailleach article #1 https://cailleachs-herbarium.com/2015/08/the-cailleach-a-tale-of-balance-between-darkness-and-light/ Cailleach’s Herbarium blog, Cailleach article #2 https://cailleachs-herbarium.com/2015/08/the-cailleach-a-tale-of-balance-between-darkness-and-light-part-two/ Cailleach’s Herbarium blog entry on an animist shrine dedicated to the Cailleach: https://cailleachs-herbarium.com/2018/01/the-cailleach-scotlands-midwife-tigh-na-bodach/ Article: The Cailleach in Place-names and Place-lore by Alasdair C. Whyte: https://clog.glasgow.ac.uk/ojs/index.php/JSNS/article/view/58/107 Mckenzie’s Wonder Tale, Beira, Queen of Winter: https://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/celt/tsm/tsm04.htm 9th century poem about the Cailleach, “The Old Woman of Beare” Audio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65CWjdVcBmg Text: https://www.ronnowpoetry.com/contents/anonymous/OldWomanBeare.html Songs in this episode: Opening theme: “Forest March” by Sylvia Woods Buy Sylvia Woods’ music: www.harpcenter.com/category/harp-cds “The Old Woman of the Mill Dust / Cailleach An Dudain” by Alison Kinnair & Christine Primrose Buy Alison Kinnair & Christine Primrose’s music: https://guysegers1.bandcamp.com/track/cailleach-an-dudain-the-old-woman-of-the-mill-dust-alison-kinnaird-christine-primrose (album) https://music.apple.com/ca/album/cailleach-an-dudain-the-old-woman-of-the-mill-dust/294080419?i=294080481

There's a deep, resonant history woven into the melodies passed down through generations across Europe, and Fair Folk Podcast is an invitation to listen closely. Each episode feels less like a lecture and more like a quiet conversation in a familiar room, where the focus rests entirely on the music itself-the ancient carols, the seasonal ballads, the work songs that carried people through their days. We explore these traditions not as dusty artifacts, but as living expressions of community, spirituality, and the human experience. You'll hear the songs in their raw, often haunting beauty, accompanied by reflections on their origins and the cultures that sustained them. This isn't about polished production; it's about authenticity and connection. Tuning into this podcast offers a rare space to slow down and let these timeless sounds settle in, revealing stories and emotions that feel both profoundly old and surprisingly immediate. It's a journey for anyone curious about the roots of folk music, the power of sacred song, or simply the comfort found in a melody that has weathered centuries. The Fair Folk podcast serves as a gentle guide, ensuring these resonant traditions find new ears and continue to echo into the future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 67

Fair Folk Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Ploughboy's Glory: January Almanac [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:52
In this January almanac episode, I share about how English Plough Sunday and Plough Monday rituals dovetail with pagan midwinter worship of Odin to present a quandary as rich today as ever: How do we hold sacred the huma…
The Twelve Days: December Almanac [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:02
This episode explores folklore and pagan origins of the 12 days of Christmas, with a focus on the feminine winter figures of Perchta, Holle, and Grýla, featuring a conversation with Jenn Campus, author of A Guide to Cele…
Little Christmas: December Almanac [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:55
This episode surveys the folklore of the first half of December, including St. Nicholas' Day on Dec 6th, St. Lucia's day on Dec. 13th, and the solstice. As we approach the darkest point of winter, I ask the listener to f…
Fox & Goose: November Almanac [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:23
This episode asks how we can take the natural themes of the month and separate them from the contexts that have framed and sometimes twisted them, so we can use them to empower all beings – especially, this month, foxes…
Rekindle: October Almanac [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:38:22
Fair Folk is back in operation after a year's break! This episode shares some of the folkloric themes of October: it's the pagan start of winter, and features spooky post-harvest customs of feeding the dead, love longing…
Do What You Want: Pausing Fair Folk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:07
This episode announces that I will not be producing Fair Folk Podcast for the forseeable future. I am deeply grateful for all of the support you have all given me as I have grown this podcast, and I hope you will continu…
Goddess of the Dawn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:27
This episode is a road map to the folklore, mythology, songs and rituals of the goddess of the dawn, gathered from the many cultures of the Indo-European language family. It paints the picture of a radiant, dependable, g…
The Dream Makers: Daniel Allison, Scottish Storyteller & Author [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:55
An interview with Daniel Allison, Scottish storyteller and author. We talk about the beginning of the winter season, how he became a storyteller, and how we can make our dreams a reality with the winter dark as our guide…
All Hallows': Folk Tradition at the Gates of Winter [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:11
Enjoy this 2019 episode exploring the ancient traditions behind today's favourite Halloween activities: trick-or-treating, jack-o-lantern carving, divination, and... communing with the dead. This episode's music: Intro M…