In this week’s episode Max Dashu speaks with Joanna about the chapter dedicated to the runes in her book “Witches and Pagans”: her newest book “Deasophy”, traditional images to contemplate and color; a broad range of meaning for the word “rune”; runes and ceremonial acts; cliches about the witches have basis in archaeological records; the origins of the word “heathen”; the modern reclamation of the Old Religion; Europe was wilderness; the mystics in the trees; the effect of language on the way we think; historic examples of the magical use of runes; haliorunnae, the women who commune with the ancestors; singing to remember.

Max Dashu founded the Suppressed Histories Archives in 1970 to research and document women’s history from an international perspective. She built a collection of 15.000 slides and 30.000 digital images, and has created 150 slideshows on female cultural heritage across human history. Dashu’s work bridges the gap between academia and grassroots education. Max Dashu is known for her expertise on ancient female iconography in world archaeology, women shamans, witches and the witch hunts; mother-right cultures, patriarchies and the origins of domination. Dashu has published “Witches and Pagans: Women in European Folk Religion, 700-1000” (Veleda Press, 2016). This book is Vol. VII in the 15-volume series “Secret HIstory of the Witches”, with two more volumes forthcoming. She has also produced two videos on dvd: “Women’s Power in Global Perspective” (2008) and “Woman Shaman” The Ancients” (2013)

Share Episode

Episode Navigator