57: Hidden Plant Practices of Ancient Witches & Pagans with Max Dashu
In last week’s episode, we talked about how plants weren’t just important as food, medicine, and shelter to our ancient ancestors, but they were a key part of the entire religious experience in people’s lives. Today, I have an amazing guest who’s dedicated her life to researching and sharing the hidden, and largely suppressed stories about women’s spiritual lives in ancient times. Author and researcher, Max Dashu, founded the Suppressed Histories Archives in 1970 to research and document global women's history. I recently read her book called witches and pagans, women in European folk culture 700 to 1100. In this episode, Max shares her earliest memories of plants in her life, what brought her to this research, why she chose to focus her book on such a specific time period and what was happening during that time, examples of sacred rituals the church was intent to separate people from, what we’ve lost in our culture as a result of this disconnection from the sacred rituals of our ancestors, and more. To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit the show notes. Want to connect with me elsewhere in the multiverse? Join the Following Hawks Earth Keepers Community on Facebook and follow me on Instagram. Book a Reading with Me. During a Restorative Healing Session with the Spirits of the land, I'll work with the energies of your home and property to clear, heal and balance the energy. Join the Earth Tenders Academy. Work in partnership with your spirit guides, ancestors, and the Spirits of the Land to sink into deeper resonance with the place you live, while learning clearing and healing techniques to share your special medicine with the earth in this online course.