For the Rest of Us

Chatting about the Great Mother and things that didn't make it into the episodes.

The continuning saga of Kybele, now with her self-castrating gender expansive priests, the Galli. Were they transgender? Who were they, really, and who was she, their goddess? We track their journey from Phrygia all the way to the end of pagan Rome.In Search of God the Mother: The Cult of Anatolian Cybele by Dr. Lynn E. Roller, 1999.Kybele - Mother of the Gods: The Goddess Project Podcast by Dr. Carla Ionescu  (additional information obtained from a paid course from Dr Ionescu's website, The Artemis Centre)The Goddess Cybele: Dr. James Rietveld Salon Lecture SeriesArticle Concerning Acoustics in a Kybele TempleThe Works of PausaniasThe Works of the Emperor Julian: Hymn to the Mother of the GodsAn Archaic Ivory Figurine from a Tumulus Near Elmali: Cultural Hybridization and a New Anatolian Style by Tuna ŞareEpisode image found at https://arkeonews.net/getting-to-know-matar-kubilea/Thanks to the contributors at Freesound for the use of sound clips:Cymbal Swell 106 by FiatLuxxCymbal Swell 015 by FiatLuxxWillow Flute by HedmarkingMiddle East Two by CrapsghettiOlympos, Gregorian and Pluto Wind Chimes by Philip Goddardirish Whistle by NigelnixKubaba, Matar, Matar kubileya, Agdistis, Meter, Meter Kybele, Kybele, Cybele, Magna Matar, Magna Mater deorum Idaea

We peer into pre-history at early evidence of the Anatolian goddess Matar/Kybele, whose presence may have been discovered in this ancient egalitarian society. Or, maybe, was this society a matriarchy? What do the findings say?Thumbnail image: Seated Woman of Çatal Höyük, located in the Museum of Anatolian Civilizations in Ankara, Turkey.In Search of God the Mother: The Cult of Anatolian Cybele by Lynn E. RollerTurkish Cultural FoundationSocial Dynamics in Western Anatolia Between 3000 and 2500 BC by Christoph Schwall and Barbara HorejsTransanatolie.com Koç University https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/features/2026/6/4/archaeologists-find-ancient-matrilineal-society-in-turkiyes-catalhoyukThanks to Twin Musicon for the song At the Foot of the Sphinx

A change in chat strategy followed by the reading of The Violent Death of Maedhbh.

A guided meditation up Cnoc na Riabh to Queen Maedhbh's cairn and, perhaps, to somewhere deeper than what meets the eye.

An exploration of one of the heroes of the Táin Bó Cuailgne (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), Queen Maedhbh of Connacht, said to be the driving force of the war between Connacht and Ulster. But was she? And what's more, was she successful? Is she a soverignity goddess, or simply an Irish heroine?Want to hear or read the Táin? The Tain by Thomas KinsellaFireside, a podcast by Kevin C. Olohan available also on any podcast player. Ulster Cycle begins at episode Conchobar and The Pangs of Ulster, posted Nov 6th 2019 and continues through the next several episodes.Other resources used:"And thus I will it": Queen Medh and the Will to Power by Edyta Lehmann, Proceedings of the Harvard Celtic Colloquium, Vol 28 (2008), pp. 142-151The Dream of OengusAided Meidbe - The Violent Death of Maeve. Translation by Vernam Hull, published in Speculum. v.13 issue 1. (Jan. 1938), pp 52-61 (as published on Mary Jones' Celtic Literature Collective). Posted at Storyarchaeology.comLive Irish Myths episode 51: Queen Medb, Mythical IrelandIreland: A Journey into Lost Time by P.A. Ó SíocháinCarrowkeel.com Banríon Méabh at Duchas.ieInis Clodhrann at Duchas.ieMedb's Men, or, The Battle of the Boyne. Book of Lecan, 351b-353a. "Cath Boinde." Eriu. v.2 pp. 173-185. Joseph O'NeillDictionary of Irish Biography: Walker, Roger Chambers. by Martin A Timoney.

A tale recorded by monks in 14th/15th century Ireland concerning the magical gender change of a particular abbot. What is the significance of the story, and are there others like it?

In this guided meditation you will walk a path across a bog, meeting the Hag in her wild domain.This guided meditation was inspired by the Seana Mhach bog trails outside of Costelloe.

The post-show chat where I ramble about my thoughts on the Cailleach and add things I may have left out.

We explore the lore behind the ancient creatrix of the Celtic Isles, The Hag (an chailleach).Sources Include:The Book of the Cailleach: Stories of the Wise-Woman Healer by Gearóid Ó CrualaoichIrish Stories and Songs: II. The Old Woman of Beare by Kuno Meyerhttps://www.wildernessireland.com/blog/hag-beara-irish-myths-legends/Mythical Ireland YouTube channel by Anthony Murphy, in particular the episodes: Live Irish Myths, episode 8: The Cailleach of LoughcrewThe Almanac of Ireland podcast by Manchán Maganhttps://www.carrowkeel.com/files/conwell.htmlhttps://www.carrowkeel.com/sites/loughcrew/hag.htmlhttps://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5070784/5063137 The Loughcrew Hillshttps://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4921821/4909258/5182758 The Hag's Bed on Labacally HillManchán Magan Explains Why Has Ireland Forgotten All About its Goddesses | The Six O'Clock Show, hosted on YouTubeThe Red-Haired Girl from the Bog by Patricia Monaghan

Fáilte. In this episode I discuss the impetus for this podcast series as well as what to expect in future episodes.