I’m so pleased to be sharing a conversation with one of my all-time favorite writers, Sylvia Linsteadt.
Sylvia's words have been a deep salve to my heart and sense of wonderment in this work of re-enchantment with the wild. She has such a deep understanding of the living land, a term I really appreciate. Because for so much of my life, I couldn’t see nature as alive and living. And, if I did, I would often feel scared.
In my work of reconnecting to the land, Sylvia’s writing has been a boon of courage to my soul—particularly when engaging with the grief of loss and extinction of the wild. Her words have helped me look at it with a strong and resilient heart, and I’m just so thrilled to introduce you to her.
In this conversation, we talk about so much! From finding + expressing deep connection to a place that is not ancestrally yours, to connecting to land through connecting to the animals, to navigating “fact” vs. ancestral knowing, to learning to trust your intuition when your mind has been colonized, to her work in Crete uncovering the ancient goddess-worshipping culture that once thrived there.
"We’re just socolonized in our brains—even those of us whose ancestry is of the colonizer." -Sylvia Linsteadt
Resources:
- Silva spoke about Marija Gimbutas, the late anthropologist who was ridiculed for her work on goddess worshipping pre-Christian old Europe
- The Civilization of the Goddess by Marija Gimbutas
- The Language of the Goddess by Marija Gimbutas
- The Goddesses and Gods of Old Europe by Marija Gimbutas
- Max Dashu is the historian who defended Marija Gimbutas and has also done a lot of important work in women's history and culture.
- Ragnhildur Jónsdóttir is a seer, artist, and a friend of the elves and huldufolk in Iceland (but not an official Icelandic Parliament advisor)
More from Sylvia Linsteadt:
- SylviaLinsteadt.com
- Tatterdemalion
- The Wild Folk
- The Wild Folk Rising
- Our Lady of the Dark Country
- Sylvia Linsteadt's Patreon
- @sylviavlinsteadt on Instagram
What is something you've observed and trusted your intuition to learn for yourself rather than being told as fact by someone else?
Credit for the phrase "be a good ancestor" goes to Arianna of Quw'utsun' Made
I absolutely LOVE hearing from you, Becca.
I’m so glad you are enjoying the podcast, Eileen!
I loved this episode so much I listened to it twice. Becca what a beautiful interview, thank you introducing us to Sylvia. I need to say to Sylvia thank you for sharing your intuitive led decisions…it is so needed to be shared. When it is shared it is so appreciated by those of us who are still afraid to share our intuitive thoughts and feelings. Beautiful thank you both x
Oh Lynne, what an honor that you joined us TWICE! I’m so glad our conversation served.
Loved this interview so much Becca. Very inspiring. Thank you! I have a thought for Sylvia that I hope can find it’s way to her. Toward the end of the interview she talks about feeling that songs, music or dance of matriarchal Minoan women have been buried and hoping she can uncover or re-discover them. It occurred to me when she said that those dances, songs, music were for that time and while there is value in discovering what existed then, that perhaps SO much energy might not be needed to unearth what has been tragically lost. Perhaps our focus as women doesn’t have to be SO much on digging up what has been lost in order to prove the value of feminine ways, but on creating what is needed now in our time– earth based art and ritual that informs modern culture. I’m sure there are modern women in Crete making earth-based, folk music, ritual, dance that speaks to what is needed in their culture at this time. Perhaps Sylvia can uncover who they are and share their stories, music and dance (which very well may incorporate aspects of old Minoan culture). Just some thoughts I felt were missing in the conversation– that we as modern women can take empowered action to create what the world needs now without waiting for the proof of its value to be excavated (which may only be possible through earth dreaming and ritual anyway). You and Sylvia ARE doing this in your work in the world. Just wanted to add the point into this conversation. Thanks!