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THE CHRONICLE
Step into the library…
For this blog, we’ve captured the feeling of stepping into a beautiful, tranquil library, looking out onto the rolling English countryside as you browse through our posts.
We’ve created a labyrinthine collection for everyone, whether you are an interested adult learner, dreaming of donning a velvet smoking jacket and immersing yourself in a fireside expedition through canonical scholarship or a budding researcher, eager to equip yourself for exciting fieldwork. For university and A level students, your studies should not be just a matter of cramming knowledge into your head: here, you can relax, immerse yourself in your specialism and enjoy it!
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St. Michael the Archangel
St. Michael the Archangel is revered in Christianity, Judaism and Islam. He’s also an important figure in British folklore, celebrated at Michaelmas. Dr. Orton explores the mythology, miracles and sacred geography associated with him. Theodora Salusbury’s St. Michael window in St. Andrew’s Church, Leicestershire ST. Michael the Archangel St. Michael appears in the Old Testament in Daniel 10 and Daniel 12, where he named as a chief prince. In the New Testament, he is named
Sep 29
The Hidden Himalayas: More Stories from Spiti
Following the broadcast of Mountain Spirits of Spiti on the BBC World Service, Dr. Orton hears more from residents about the narratives that informed the documentary. I’ve been travelling to Spiti Valley, in India’s high-altitude Himalayas, for over a decade, researching local folklore and wildlife narratives. My recent documentary for BBC World Service, Mountain Spirits of Spiti, is about the invisible folklore of Spiti, and it couldn’t have been made without the collabora
Sep 28
Zhangsong! Thank you to the People of Spiti!
Dr. Orton’s radio documentary, Mountain Spirits of Spiti, is now out on the BBC World Service! In this post, Dr. Orton says “Zhangsong” (“Thank you!”) to the people who made the documentary possible. You will also learn about the traditional music we used. First of all, thank you so much to the translators and interpreters I’ve worked with over the last eleven years: Tenzin Norbu, Gormet Kalzang, Sonam Yishey, Tashi Dorje, Sonam Norbu and Kesang Chhodon! Secondly, thank y
Sep 25
Mountain Spirits of Spiti: A Radio Documentary for BBC’s Heart and Soul
We are very excited to announce the broadcast of Mountain Spirits of Spiti, a radio documentary for the BBC’s Heart and Soul! Dr. Orton tells us more… Mountain Spirits of Spiti is about the hidden Himalayas; the things that can’t be seen. Biyul (hidden lands) coexist with the mundane world; some villagers have seen and entered them. Balu Thukangbu is a wish-granting being who is one foot tall, wears a one-foot-tall hat and carries a one-foot-tall stick. Lhas are local deiti
Sep 22
The Yew Tree: Durability, Divination and Death
Many of our native trees have a special association with Anglo-Saxon paganism. In this week’s post, Dr. Orton investigates the yew tree. Part of our Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism series , in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!* This series is more academically dense than some of our other posts. For a quicker, more accessible read, take a look at our posts about our baby tawny owls , polecats or animals that live in ou
Mar 16
The Rowan Tree: A Symbol of Protection
Many of our native trees have a special association with Anglo-Saxon paganism. In this week’s post, Dr. Orton investigates the rowan tree. Part of our Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism series , in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!* This series is more academically dense than some of our other posts. For a quicker, more accessible read, take a look at our posts about our baby tawny owls , polecats or animals that live in
Mar 9
The Birch Tree: A Symbol of Femininity and Fertility
Many of our native trees have a special association with Anglo-Saxon paganism. In this week’s post, Dr. Orton investigates the birch tree. Part of our Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism series , in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!* This series is more academically dense than some of our other posts. For a quicker, more accessible read, take a look at our posts about our baby tawny owls , polecats or animals that live i
Mar 2
The Oak Tree and the God of Thunder
Many of our native trees have a special association with Anglo-Saxon paganism. Last week, we looked at the ash tree and its link to Woden and the runes . In this week’s post, Dr. Orton investigates the oak tree and its possible links to the god of thunder! Part three of our Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism series, in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!* This series is more academically dense than some of our other posts. For
Jan 19
The Ash Tree: England’s Link to the Ancient Runes
We’ve planted our own native woodland and named it Woden’s Wood, after the Anglo-Saxon god Woden , Allfather of the English people ! Many of our native trees have a special association with Anglo-Saxon paganism. In this week’s post, Dr. Orton investigates the ash tree, England’s link to the ancient runes! Part of our Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism series, in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!* This series is more acade
Jan 14
Native British Trees and Anglo-Saxon Paganism
Introducing our new series, in which we explore the links between our native British trees and Anglo-Saxon paganism!* This post serves as a caveat for the historical claims in the following posts, as well as the use of certain terminology, before we get to the investigation of different trees in the main series! This series is more academically dense than some of our other posts. For a quicker, more accessible read, take a look at our posts about our native woodland or anima
Jan 8
The Pagan Festival of Yule
In our last post, we dived into the debate about the pagan origins of Christmas . But it’s also illuminating—and fairer to both Christians and pagans—to think about the festivals separately, so this week, we are taking a look at the pagan festival of Yule! For Northern European pagans, the season of Yule was a time for feasting and merrymaking, vows, ghosts and witches. The power of the spirits was at its height on Yule’s eve. Not only was it a season of darkness in the wi
Dec 15, 2025
Is Christmas Pagan?
In our last post, we looked at how the Christmas story has inspired philosophers, artists, dramatists and theologians throughout the ages. It seems like every year, there are debates about the origin of the Christmas festival in Europe—most notably whether the early Christians appropriated a pagan festival for their own religion. But things are not so straightforward, as Dr. Orton discovers! A Level students will find this a useful summary of some of the background topics
Dec 8, 2025
The Christmas Story: The Annunciation and Nativity
The Christmas story is one of the most important and influential narratives in world history. It has inspired philosophers, artists, dramatists and theologians throughout the ages and has enormous significance for Christians today. Dr. Orton investigates… A Level students will find this useful background for some of the topics you will need for your exams. For university-level scholars or independent researchers , we’ve included clickable links to useful literature and can
Dec 5, 2025
The Snake and the Sensei: Reflections on the History of Karate
Dr. Orton explores the martial art of Karate and reflects on the lessons we can learn from its history. Sacred Fountain at Castle Peak from Eight Views of the Ryūkyū Islands by Hokusai (1832) In his autobiography, Gichin Funakoshi (sometimes called “the father of modern Karate”) re-tells the story of how the great Okinawan Karate master Sokon Matsumura* defeated another master without striking a single blow. Matsumura had initially told a strong, well-built engraver tha
Nov 30, 2025
The Sacred Forest Shrines of Japan
Dr. Orton explores the history of Shinto and Buddhism in Japan, the academic debate about Japanese religion, Inari (the fox deity) and the country’s beautiful forest shrines. For university-level scholars or independent researchers , we’ve included clickable links to useful literature and canonical scholarship you need to be acquainted with to get started. For everyone else , enjoy this introduction to Japan’s sacred forest shrines! Takinoo Inari Shrine in Nikko Religion in
Nov 25, 2025
The Black Madonna, Our Lady of Czestochowa
The Black Madonna of Częstochowa, an icon of the Virgin Mary and child, is a national symbol of Poland and motherhood. It is also a miracle-working icon and protector of the Polish people. Dr. Orton investigates the folklore and history of Poland’s most important painting. Copy of the Black Madonna at Jasna Gora I recently had the good fortune to visit the famous Jasna Góra monastery of Częstochowa, Poland’s spiritual capital and home to one of the world’s most important
Oct 6, 2025
Clever and Cosy: Vernacular Architecture in the Himalayas
The distinctive, traditional mud-brick homes of Spiti Valley in the Indian Himalayas are climatically intelligent, earthquake-resilient and sustainable. Dr. Orton has been doing fieldwork in Spiti for over ten years. Here, she explores the profound connection between Tibetan Buddhism and local culture. Kee village Visitors to Spiti Valley in India’s high-altitude Himalayas will notice the two-storeyed, flat-roofed mud houses nestled into the mountainsides and in the valleys
Jul 30, 2025
Faith and Reason
In previous posts, Dr. Orton explored the academic debate about how we define religion and whether society is becoming more secular. In this post, she explores the debate about how faith and reason can coexist. For A Level Philosophy and Religious Studies students, this is an overview of one of the most important topics you will need for your exams. For university-level scholars or independent researchers, we’ve included clickable links to useful literature, primary sources
Apr 14, 2025
Do We Need Religion? On The Secularisation of Society
In a previous post, Dr. Orton explored the academic debate about how we define religion. These days, we hear a lot about the growing number of people who profess to have no religion and the decline in religious influence on society. Can this be right? Or is religion making a comeback? Dr. Orton investigates. For A Level Philosophy and Religious Studies students, this is an overview of one of the most important topics you will need for your exams. For university-level schola
Apr 7, 2025
Woden, Leader of the Wild Hunt
Woden is one of the most important characters in Anglo-Saxon tradition, associated with the Norse god Odin, but adopted into English...
Feb 6, 2025
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