AIRMID'S JOURNAL #4

TITLE - AIRMID'S JOURNAL #4 - SPRING EQUINOX 2022

CREATED BY  - LUCY O'HAGAN & SEAN FITZGERALD [& VARIOUS CONTRIBUTORS]

GENRE - CELTIC LEGENDS / FOLKLORE  / FORAGING / MYTHS / MAGIC / REMEDIES / REWILDING / 

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN - IRELAND

A5/2 PAGES/B&W/PAMPHLET

PRICE - 8 EUROS + MINIMUM 2 EUROS SHIPPING DEPENDENT ON LOCATION FROM THE WILD AWAKE  WEBSITE | 10% OF PROFITS FROM THE SALE OF THE FOURTH ISSUE WILL GO TO SOLIDARITY APOTHECARY

“Airmid’s Journal” is a zine featuring articles on medicinal plants, Irish mythology, herbal remedies and Celtic legends. It is produced by Wild Awake, an organisation which aims to encourage re-wilding and reconnection to nature and community.

The folky zine genre is a crowded one so it’s always good to find one that offers something a little different. Steeped in the folklore of Ireland, “Airmid’s Journal” is earthy and honest, and it has a pleasingly authentic look to it. Issue 4 opens with Isla Skye’s piece on the Sheela-na-gig which is informative and intelligent and sets the tone for the rest of the zine’s content - research and knowledge combine to create a rich and enlightening experience. Tara Lanich-Labrie explores the humble yet powerful nettle plant, and shares a comprehensive recipe for nettle champagne across the centre pages, which I assume can be removed for easy reference. The brew certainly sounds potent! Sticking with the theme of medicinal plants, Hili McDevit examines the chickweed herb, and shares a thorough guide to the harvesting, uses and properties of this powerful plant.

Anthony Murphy’s erudite article “Equinox in Irish Mythology” explores the scarcity of references to the equinox in Irish mythology, while Amy O’Riordan (“The Crafty Cailleach”) discusses the history and decline of handcrafting in modern society, which is undergoing a recent resurgence in the post-pandemic era. Laura Murphy rounds off the zine with a look at St. Brigid, patron saint of many things including poetry, protection and healing.

Reading “Airmid’s Journal”, you get the feeling that you’re holding a thing of great age: if they’d made zines back in the Dark Ages, they would’ve probably looked like “Airmid’s Journal”. The articles are intelligent and well-researched, clearly written by experts in their chosen field, be it herbalism, paganism or mythology, who possess an ancient and practical knowledge of the powers of nature. There is even a Gaelic chant. Evocative illustrations decorate the zine and the striking cover, including original art pieces, which add a visual dimension to the finished product. Not a zine to be read quickly, it is more like an academic document from the coolest university ever. To read and fully absorb “Airmid’s Journal”, you’ll need to sit down and study it, and it is thoroughly deserving of a prominent position on your folklore shelf.