The Thriving Artist: celtic

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Beltane: The Original Fire Festival #mayday

On the full Moon in May

As One the Lord and the Lady

Tonights the Eve of Holy Beltane

As One the Lord and the Lady

Following between the Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, Beltane (pronounced "Bell-Yell, Te Ne") is the festival celebration of the warmer times to come. A time when the union of the Gods and Goddesses, specifically Mother Earth and the Green Man, Cernunnos the Horned God, are at their utmost union. A time to offer the 'bright fire' to the God Belenus, the Bright One, who uses fire as a means of protection and purification for the times to come, representative of the warm energy of the sun.

Thematic symbols of the festival abound, but none more than that of unity and fertility. Freedom of sexuality and sexual depiction are a part of the celebration, not in a way of depravation however. Natural artifacts are placed upon the altars and amidst houses, those which represent the phallic, the vagina, the abundance of life the warmer months will bring, whether that be in the gardens, in the fields with the livestock, or in the personal life and connectivity with others. The popular dance of the May Pole is a visual representation of this connectivity, the pole as the phallic, the hole placed into the ground that of the vagina, the interweaving ribbons by the male and female dances the union of the God and Goddess. The union of sexual connection, thus, is a representative of the spiritual union of God and Goddess so ever presently flourishing in this time.

This holiday is also a moment when the veil between the seen and unseen worlds is lifted. Relationship and interaction with the fae and fairies is much more apparent than normal. Thus, providing sustenance, shelter, and offerings is a vital ritual service during Beltane.

Also, reconnection with the earth by planting seeds and preparing glowing flower gardens is an involvement that will provide much healing and soul nourishment. Spending time with the Mother Earth in solitary provides the moment of quiet reflection and meditation needed for successful spiritual growth.

Finally, the act of the bonfire is a rejoicing of the warmer days to follow, but also a promise of protection from outside effects as well a purification as preparedness for the journey ever unfolding.

Creative Passions Bursting Forth

As One the Lord and the Lady

Leads us back to the Source

As One the Lord and the Lady

Lisa Thiel - Beltane (Lord & Lady Song)

Articles Used As Research:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Beltane

https://teaandrosemary.com/beltane-may-day/

https://www.pagangrimoire.com/what-is-beltane-celebrate/

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

The Origins Of St. Patrick's Day

This Thursday, March 17, 2022, dawns the holiday known as "St. Patrick's Day", merely a day for wild celebratory behavior, such as the imbibing of green liquor beverages, donning the green clothing lest you get pinched, and fun school festivities and dances. But, have you ever stopped to think what this day is truly all about and why do we celebrate in such fashion, or abstain?

So, for starters, who is this guy and how and why ever did he get this date named after him? The man who would become the infamous Patrick was born Maewyn Succat, in either Scotland or Wales, as a Roman citizen. Much of his life remains unknown in the shadowy distant past. However, it is a fact of history that he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland in slavey when he was 16 years old, by what he described as Irish pirates. While he was there, he ignited his faith as a Catholic, believing that his kidnapping was punishment for his unbelief. Because of this, he spent much of his time in prayer during these hard years which brought him a vision of being a stowaway on a British ship. Following this vision, he found his way back to his homeland and his family.

Once returned home, he began studying Catholicism in earnest, eventually traveling to a French monastery. It is believed that he may have changed his name to Patrick when he was ordained but others say that name might have been given to him upon his death. Studying in the monastery led to his becoming a Bishop which led him to the belief that he needed to return to Ireland to bring the salvation of Jesus Christ to the lost Irish souls.

A popular idea tossed around for those who oppose St. Patrick and this day is that he is known for ridding the country of Ireland of "snakes", which some believe is a slang for "Pagans". The thought is that he gave a masterful sermon that caused the "snakes" to flee. Throughout his tenure of 20 years preaching in Ireland, he befriended the royalty and appeased the ire of the Druids and Pagans with love-gifts in order to continue his service. He died on March 17, 461 or 463 (as it is not clear), which is how the celebratory date became known. In addition, he was never made a saint by the Catholic church as he lived before the sainthood was given.

The reality of having the original Irish religion, Celtic Paganism, eradicated from Ireland and thus celebrated leaves a definite sour taste to those, like me, who favor the Pagan religions today. It can seem ironic that the many Saints decreed throughout the history of Catholic canon resemble the many gods and goddesses of the Celtic and Pagan religions. Indeed, it is known that much of the Christian holidays are taken from the celebrations of the old religions, such as Christmas and Easter.

Furthermore, with the righteous removal of statues built to honor the "heroes of the confederacy" in 2020, the pain of celebrating such a day for a Pagan feels akin to raising statues honoring slavery in the United States. A bit of solace can be found in that, like Christmas and Easter, the holiday of St. Patrick Day has become a commercialized tradition. Thus, for my part, as a former fundie Christian and now born-again wiccan, proud Irish descendant, I hang the traditional commercialized version of St. Paddy's day, as I once did as a child, yet still hold the understanding of the true history and suffering caused by one forcing another to conform to the ways they deem as correct.

As a former fundie, I can say that I behaved in ways, through voice and action, that wounded those I love and who were undeserving based on what I was taught to believe, because of this, I feel compassion for those imposing controlling ways as those who feel imposed upon. Nuance is more true than black or white, we all have reasons why we inflict, usually based on our own past wounds.

In humility, I feel it important to admit my weaknesses and imperfections, thus, once done I find the true joy in living a life more beautiful.

I celebrate for the childhood traditions I once so loved as well as to honor not the genocide of a religion but to lift up the homeland of my heart, Ireland.

Ireland's Call