165: Brigid, Imbolg & Irish Cosmology (with Sharon Paice MacLeod)

We’re joined this week by Celticist, teacher, and musician Sharon Paice MacLeod who provides a beautiful, nuanced primer for Irish Cosmology. We discuss the Maiden-Mother-Crone, music in Celtic lore, keening, and Brigid’s cross.  This week, Julia recommends Dooku: Jedi Lost.  Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about religious persecution, child death, monarchy and political power structure.   Guest Sharon Paice MacLeod is a Harvard-trained Celticist, grant funded researcher, teacher and author. She is also a professional vocalist and musician, specializing in Celtic, medieval, early and ancient music. Her areas of specialization are Celtic religion and belief, mythology and folklore, and poetic and visionary traditions. She is the author of numerous books and journal articles, including ‘Celtic Myth and Religion,’ ‘Celtic Cosmology and the Otherworld,’ ‘The Divine Feminine in Ancient Europe,’ and the forthcoming ‘Early Celtic Poetry and Wisdom Texts.’  She is currently researching the earliest known Celtic instrumental music and vocal art forms, in socio-religious context. The award-winning self-titled CD ‘The Moors’ - Celtic, medieval, world and dark wave music - is available on Apple Music.   Sponsors - GC2B is a trans-owned company providing accessible, comfortable, and safe options for gender-affirming chest binding. Use code SPIRITS at checkout for 10% off! - Honeybook, a purpose-built business management platform for creative small businesses. Get 50% off your first year on TryHoneyBook.com/SPIRITS. - Stitch Fix is an online personal styling service that finds and delivers clothes, shoes, and accessories to fit your body, budget, and lifestyle. Get started at stitchfix.com/spirits for 25% off when you keep your whole box!   Find Us Online If you like Spirits, help us grow by spreading the word! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Goodreads. You can support us on Patreon to unlock bonus Your Urban Legends episodes, director’s commentaries, custom recipe cards, and so much more.  Transcripts are available at spiritspodcast.com/episodes. To buy merch, hear us on other podcasts, contact us, find our mailing address, or download our press kit, head on over to SpiritsPodcast.com.   About Us Spirits was created by Julia Schifini, Amanda McLoughlin and Eric Schneider. We are founding members of Multitude, a production collective of indie audio professionals. Our music is "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com), licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0.