15 APR 2024 · S5E6 Volsung Poems: Sinfjotli and Helgi (Solo Short Part 2 of 4)David continues his series of shorts, deep diving into the Poems of the Poetic Edda which inspired the Saga of the Volsungs. Sinfjotli and Helgi were the older half brothers of Sigurd the dragon slayer. They were Sigmund's first sons and set the stage for the fate which led Sigurd to become a hero. Helgi has three poems, The first Poem of Helgi Hundingsbani, The Poem of Helgi Hiorvardsson, and A second Poem of Helgi Hundingsbani.The Helgi poems feature different takes on the same story. The hero Helgi meeting his valkyrie lover on the battlefield and going to war with her suitor to gain her hand in marriage.Helgi's poem also features a flyting dis-battle between Sinfiotli and the leader of the opposing army.The Death of Sinfjotli is the final poem and shows the pattern we see repeated in the life of Sigurd. Dark agreements and insecurities trying to poison the hero and turn father against son or the hero against himself. Ways to support us:If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (http://www.prosocheproject.com/).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit http://thewalledgarden.com/ to learn more. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement

8 APR 2024 · In this episode, Shawn discusses the kingdom of Kent, the first of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England post-Roman Britain as told by Bede's "Ecclesiastical History of the English People" and the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle".  Shawn delves into the legendary figures of Kent's inception, focusing on the brothers Hengest and Horsa, whose lineage traces back to the All-Father, Odin. He discusses King Aethelberht of Kent, the pioneering Anglo-Saxon monarch to embrace Christianity, setting a precedent for future rulers.  The discussion extends to King Ecbert of Wessex, whose familial ties to Kent through his father, King Ealmund, raise intriguing questions about the kingdom's sovereignty. Despite their direct descent from Cerdic of Wessex, Ecbert's actions indicate a desire to assert Wessex's dominance over Kent, leading to its subjugation under Wessex's rule. Errors: - Shawn misstated the beginning of Ida of Northumbria's reign as 457 CE, intending to reference the year 547 CE. - Shawn's wording regarding Penda of Mercia's conversion implied he was the last to convert, whereas he remained a staunch pagan until his death. The correction clarifies that he was the last pagan Anglo-Saxon king, with Mercia converting after his reign. - In reference to the West-Saxon king, Shawn inadvertently used "Cadwalla" instead of "Ceadwal". - Shawn apologizes for any confusion arising from discussing two separate individuals named Ecbert without clearly distinguishing between them. Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcastFollow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (http://www.prosocheproject.com/).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit http://thewalledgarden.com/ to learn more. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement

25 MAR 2024 · In this episode, Shawn and David delve deep into the immersive world of the Vikingverse with its creator and our special guest, Ian Sharpe. In this discussion, we uncover the alternate history where the norse religion and culture thrives, not succumbing to the influence of Christianity in the Dark Ages. Ian shares insights into his creation, spanning two books, a comic book series, and most recently, a role playing game called "When the Wolf Comes". Check out the Vikingverse --> https://vikingverse.com/ Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcastFollow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (http://www.prosocheproject.com/).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit http://thewalledgarden.com/ to learn more. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement

11 MAR 2024 · S5E3 Volsung Poems: Ottar/Otter (Solo Short Part 1) David isn't quite ready to put the Saga of the Volsungs to rest. This is the first of a series of shorts on the Poems of the Poetic Edda which inspired the Saga of the Volsungs. As Shawn and I found in Season 4, Saga of the Volsungs has a few inconsistent parts, where the author appears to have tried to reconcile multiple sources into a coherent story. So David is back to interpret the original sources to see what meaning can be found in the original poems. Part 1 looks at Otter/Ottar. Two different figures with a similar name, who both are involved in a battle between brothers over inheritance and have the ability to shape shift. The Otter of Saga of the Volsungs was the 3rd brother of Regin and Fafnir. His death at the hands of Loki led to Fafnir obtaining the cursed gold and Regin, the foster-father of Sigurd, to set Sigurd on the path to destroying the Dragon Fafnir. Lay of Hyndla features an Ottar who is a follower of Freya. This Poem is another attempt to condense ideas and themes found throughout the Poetic Edda. Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcastFollow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (http://www.prosocheproject.com/).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit http://thewalledgarden.com/ to learn more. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement

4 MAR 2024 · For our 100th episode (shit!!), Shawn discusses the origin of the sun and the moon, along with the origins of night and day in Norse Mythology, as told by Gylfaginning in Snorri Sturluson's Prose Edda. (Also with some stanzas from the Poetic Edda poems, Völuspá and Vafþrúðnismál. In it Shawn also explores the idea of looking to the divine when humans cannot currently explain something, and compares humans of 10,000 looking with a sense of wonder when looking at the sun and the moon, with humans today asking ourselves what happened before the universe started expanding, and what happens after we die. Also somewhat of an error --> Shawn expresses some confusion on the different wolves chasing the sun and the moon. From my understanding (which isn't smoothly discussed in this episode) is that Fenrir may be the same wolf as Skoll, and Garm may be the same wolf as Hati. Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (http://www.prosocheproject.com/).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit http://thewalledgarden.com/ to learn more. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement

20 FEB 2024 · In this episode, Shawn and David finally put the Volsung series behind them with and episode on,,,, the Volsungs. A recap of the series where we discuss the overall themes of the tragedy, and where we discuss what may seem to be the evilness of women, which seems to REALLY be the easy manipulation of men (gods we are stupid sometimes).... They also give a recap of the main players of the series. Also, Odin seems to play a part in the death of many of his descedents. The pair discuss his involvement while also discussing whether or not he has an endgame in mind or if the endgame is just a game in the mind of a god. Does Gudrun turn into her mother? Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (http://www.prosocheproject.com/).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit http://thewalledgarden.com/ to learn more. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement

8 JAN 2024 · Shawn and David finally wrap up the "The Saga of the Volsungs". Where Gudrun, fresh off of losing her 2 brothers, plots revenge on her husband Atli. After she takes care of him (and ugh her 2 sons with him), she then finds herself married for a 3rd time to a King Jonakr. Svanhild, daughter of Sigurd and Gudrun, also plays a part and does her fucked up duty as a princess in the dark ages and becomes bethrothed to a king way above her age. This leads to many more problems for the family. Including the deaths of 2 OTHER sons of Gudrun, and a step son,,,,, Also Shawn forgets the actor "Kevin Costner" at one point. Lol Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (http://www.prosocheproject.com/).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit http://thewalledgarden.com/ to learn more. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement

29 DEC 2023 · In this episode, Shawn and David discuss the aftermath of Sigurd's death, and the life of Gudrun as a recent widow. Though she has a goodbye moment with the corpse of her husband, she then travels the world to start fresh and finds herself at a kingdom in Denmark where she befriends a Princess Thora there. After 3.5 years, she slowly regains some happiness and everything is turning up for Gudrun. That is until Grimhild her witch of a mother finds her location and pulls her back into the arms of this disfunctional family. Grimhild gives her a spell to forget the trespasses of her family, and marries her off to King Atli, the brother of her now dead rival, Brynhild the Valkyrie. This marriage was fated to happen, as Brynhild herself told Gudrun previously that this marriage would end with her killing her 2nd husband,,, You do seem to get somewhat of a redemption arc for Gunnar and Hogni; however, how much of them getting past their previous betrayal was nothing more than them accepting their own deaths, deaths which they may have welcomed as they weren't able to live with themselves for that betrayal? Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (http://www.prosocheproject.com/).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit http://thewalledgarden.com/ to learn more. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement

21 DEC 2023 · David and Shawn discuss chapters 30 and 31 of the Saga, which features in back to back chapters the deaths of 2 major characters, in this case Sigurd the Dragon Slayer of the House of Volsung, and Brynhild the Valkyrie. Brynhild at this point is still depressed over her inability to affect her fate in life, specifically with her inability to be with Sigurd. As she has found out that Sigurd himself played a part in her downfall, she gives her husband Gunnar (and Sigurd's Blood-Brother) an ultimatum. One choice, he can perhaps finally appease his wife, OR, he can betray his oath to Sigurd in front of gods and men. As we will learn, and if you haven't noticed, this story never was fated to have a happy ending for the family. Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (http://www.prosocheproject.com/).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit http://thewalledgarden.com/ to learn more. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement

14 DEC 2023 · In this episode, Shawn and David discuss Chapters 28 & 29 of the Saga of the Volsungs. Gudrun taunts Brynhild on having won the better man (Sigurd) while also trying to convince Brynhild that her true love, Sigurd, isn't that great and Brynhild's husband, Gudrun's brother, is actually quite a catch. Brynhild's anger and resentment grow until she becomes defeated and depressed. When her husband is not able to cheer her up she ends up trying to kill him, so they send in Sigurd who unsuccessfully tries to convince her that her life is not all that bad. She ends up cursing them all and praying for their deaths. It sounds like a bad soap opera, but what psychological insights can be gained from the archetypes of witches, curses, and dark agreements? It is all about the shadow of love and the hazards of betraying your self. Where did Sigurd go wrong? And how did the witch play on his insecurities? Ways to support us: If you have been enjoying our show, please write a 5 star review on itunes to help spread our podcast to a wider audience:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/between-two-ravens-a-norse-mythology-podcast/id1604263830 Buy Shawn a Beer or Coffee: https://ko-fi.com/tworavenpodcast Follow us or leave a message on Instagram:Instagram: (@BetweenTwoRavens): https://www.instagram.com/betweentworavens/ Check out David’s writing: Prosoche Project (http://www.prosocheproject.com/).Walled Garden (https://thewalledgarden.com/davidalexander) Our podcast is part of The Walled Garden Podcast Network. The Walled Garden is committed to the pursuit of Truth, Wisdom, Virtue, and the Divine, wherever it might be found. Visit http://thewalledgarden.com/ to learn more. This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5910787/advertisement