They live in the sea as seals. On land, they pass as human. And if someone steals the skin they shed on shore, they can never go home. Selkies are one of the oldest and most quietly heartbreaking figures in Celtic and Norse folklore. Creatures who ask almost nothing of the people around them, and are betrayed anyway. In this episode, Beth and Michelle explore the selkie legends of Scotland, the Shetland Islands, and the remote cliffs of the Faroe Islands: where these stories came from, what they were really trying to say, and why they hit differently now than they probably should. They dig into the documented folklore and the possible real-world origins, including the Inuit and Sami people whose sealskin kayaks and parkas may have done more worldbuilding than any storyteller intended. They cover the man who stabbed a selkie king, the otter king who showed up when it mattered, the Faroese women who chose the sea over the children they loved, and the Scottish clan that traces its webbed fingers back to a fisherman's marriage. Also discussed: the fragile nature of choice, duality as a way of life, the longing that never quite goes away, and why Michelle is officially breaking up with Mothman live on air. Calendar of the Weird for June 28 through July 11 Cryptid & Paranormal Events The Lizard Man Stomp Date: Saturday, June 28, 2026 | 10 AM – 2 PM Location: Downtown Main Street, Bishopville, SC What it is: South Carolina's beloved annual festival celebrating the Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp -- the 8-foot, red-eyed, three-toed swamp creature first sighted in June 1988. Expect a parade down Main Street, live music, arts and crafts vendors, a car show, kids' games, face painting, food trucks, and of course, the Lizard Man himself available for photos. A free, family-friendly community event that keeps the legend alive. https://www.facebook.com/LIZARDMANSTOMP/ Hodag Heritage Festival Date: July 9-12, 2026 (Heritage Festival runs alongside Hodag Country Fest week) Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin What it is: Rhinelander celebrates its legendary local cryptid -- the Hodag, a fearsome horned beast said to haunt the Northwoods -- with a day of folklore, community, and creature lore. Features a traditional pancake breakfast, the beloved Hodag Calling Contest, live music, a Hodag Historical City Bus Tour, cryptid speakers, and more. A deeply local tradition that has made this beast Rhinelander's identity for over a century. https://www.rhinelanderchamber.com/hodagheritagefestival/ Sacred Days & Observances June 29 -- Full Strawberry Moon in Capricorn The last of the summer's early moons, named by Indigenous traditions for the ripening of wild strawberries. In Capricorn, this is a moon that rewards focus and ambition -- a grounded full moon energy perfect for taking stock of what you've built so far this year. July 4 -- Independence Day / Day of Pax Celebrated by patriotic American Wiccans as a day to honor Lady Liberty and perform workings for peace and the wellbeing of the land. In ancient Rome, this date also honored Pax, goddess of peace and harmony -- making it a layered day of fire, freedom, and intention. July 6 -- Day of the Horned Goddesses An ancient Pagan observance honoring all horned goddesses across traditions: Hathor, Hera, Isis, Juno, Selene, and more. Also the opening day of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, Spain -- yes, that includes the Running of the Bulls, which carries its own deep mythological weight around the sacred bull as a symbol of fertility and divine masculine power. July 7 -- Tanabata (Star Festival) Date: July 7, 2026 Location: Japan (and celebrated by Japanese communities worldwide) What it is: One of Japan's five traditional seasonal festivals, Tanabata celebrates the one night each year when the star-crossed celestial lovers Orihime (the star Vega) and Hikoboshi (the star Altair) are allowed to cross the Milky Way and reunite. Rooted in a Chinese myth brought to Japan in the 8th century, the tradition involves writing wishes on small strips of colorful paper called tanzaku and hanging them on bamboo branches. A festival of longing, starlight, and love against all odds. https://nationaltoday.com/tanabata/ July 9 -- Panathenaea (Ancient Greek) Every four years in ancient Athens, a six-day festival began on this date in honor of Athena, goddess of wisdom and craft. Also traditionally celebrated as the divine birthday of Dionysus, god of wine, ecstasy, and transformation. July 10 -- Day of Holda A day honoring Holda (also known as Hulda or Holle), the ancient Germanic and Norse goddess of the underworld, winter, spinning, and the hidden order beneath the earth. Marked with candles, offerings of rose petals, and prayers to the keeper of the dead. July 14 -- New Moon in Cancer The dark of the moon in Cancer -- a watery, introspective new moon perfect for intention-setting around home, ancestry, and emotional healing. Cancer energy invites us inward before the sun moves on. In the Sky This Fortnight June 29 -- Full Strawberry Moon in Capricorn July 5 -- Earth reaches Aphelion (its farthest point from the Sun in its orbit) July 14 -- New Moon in Cancer Events & Festivals 15th Annual WitchsFest USA -- Ye Olde Pagan Street Faire Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026 | 10 AM – 5 PM Location: Astor Place (between Broadway & Lafayette Streets), New York City -- FREE to attend What it is: New York City's beloved outdoor pagan street fair, hosted by the NYC Wiccan Family Temple. Now in its 15th year, WitchsFest USA brings together witches, pagans, druids, hoodoo practitioners, Santeria communities, and seekers of all paths for a day of live performances, workshops, a psychic court, magical vendors, a silent auction, and a summer blessing ritual -- all on the streets of the East Village. Benefits Feed America, City Harvest, and St. Jude Children's Hospital. https://witchsfestusa.org/ Attributions: 160904 seals at low tide.WAV by Bluesy1905 -- https://freesound.org/s/353439/ -- License: Attribution 3.0 Music by https://pixabay.com/users/echonn-30541699/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=220954 Szymon Jasiński from https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=220954 Pixabay
