Pagan Blog Project: Eriu

The other Day I talked about the festival to Eriu that I celebrate. This time I thought to talk more about the Goddess herself as she is one of the main Gaelic deities that I honor.

Eriu has two other sisters, Fotla and Banba; though some stories put her having the Moriggan as sisters as well. Like many female goddesses in Ireland she is a sovereignty goddess. Though she and her three sisters are sovereignty goddess of all of Ireland. Eriu is the reason why Ireland is known in Irish as Eiru, Her sister's names give a more poetic form to the island as well.

The myth of how this came to be also illustrates one of the theories of the dead in Irish thought. When the Millisens came to Ireland, their leader Donn met with Eriu and her two sisters. He asked them for his support in coming to Ireland, and each sister gave their support though Eriu gave the most. However, Donn was an arrogant man who insulted her and her sisters. So for Donn's inhospitality he became the first person to die in Ireland.

Eriu is also associated with Flaith Érenn within the story Baile in Scáil. Here, She gives Conn the cup of sovereignty. Micheal Enright in her book Lady with the mead cup, that this is a reflex of an older ritual in which a woman acts as both prophet and king-maker. Again, showing Eriu's link to Ireland as a whole.

So I honor her by remembering my own heritage; such as supporting in what ever way I can to preserve the Irish Language. But also by looking to help take care of Ireland. Charities that can help reforest, clean and in general take care of the land are something that is one way of honoring her.

Lá Fhéile Eriu

This past Monday was celebrated as Saint Patricks day by a lot of Americans, and Catholics who honor that particular saint. For me however the day is my feast for the Goddess Eriu. In America at the very least, around this time it is more of a celebration of Irish Culture and thus I have felt that it was the right time to honor the goddess of Ireland.

Eriu is the goddess of Ireland. It is her name that the island of Ireland is named after. She met the first humans, the Millesians who ventured to Ireland and met with Donn their leader. Donn sought Eriu and her sisters supporter for his conquest of Ireland. Eriu was the one to give the most support, but when Donn insulted her, he was the first to die. thus why one of the places we can go to when we die is the House of Donn.

In honor of this day, I honor Eriu and the culture of Ireland. It is a day of singing songs and feasting. I honor her by memorizing an Irish song by memory. It can be any folk song, but it has to be an Irish one. This year, I have chosen to sing the Foggy Dew.

Celebrating my ancestors and Irish culture is a big part of this day. I also honor my ancestors. While this is a minor festival, and one I have sort of made up so I recognize that it is UPG. However, it is important to help connect to the culture of Ireland.

PBP: Eusebeia

For this week of pagan blog project, I have decided to talk about one of the pillars of Hellenismos, Eusebeia. What is Eusebia? It in short means piety and being pious. Though it also means showing reverence to the Theoi and other divinities. This means providing offerings and libations to the gods and goddesses.

The Discourse of Epictetus translated by George Long says "...he who takes care to desire as he ought and to avoid as he ought, at the same time also cares after piety. But to make libations and to sacrifice and to offer first-fruits according to the custom of our fathers, purely and not meanly nor carelessly nor scantily nor above our ability, is a thing which belongs to all to do." thus one can see it means following custom, reverence, and providing with offerings.

Reverence for the gods

One of the aspects of Eusebia is reverence for the gods. "Worship the Gods (Θεους σεβου)" and "Follow the Gods(Έπου ϴεωι του)". The second maxim, Follow the Gods, is the first maxim on the list. These are to help make sure that keep the thought of honoring the gods in every aspect of our life.

The Discourse above mentions about keeping to the rituals. This is one thing I work on doing. Each morning and night providing the offerings, same when it is days dedicated to other divinities. It may not be grand, but I keep them within my heart. The Delphic maxim that says "Give what you have (Εχων χαριζου)" is one that I keep in my mind.

My Festival Year

Below is my festival year. I am relying upon the Athenian or Attica Calendar for the greek aspects of my worship as it is the most common calendar used among the Hellenic polytheistic community. The main exception to this is that I don't have up the women's festivals as they are for women. I also have the Gaelic Festivals that I also celebrate. I also put the name of the Gregorian month in parentheses to help myself.

Monthly Observances

• 1st day: Noumenia – new moon festival
• 2nd day: Agathos Daimon
• 3rd day: Athēna
• 4th day: Aphroditē, Hermēs, Hēraklēs, Erōs
• 6th day: Artemis
• 7th day: Apollōn
• 8th day: Poseidōn and Thēseús
• last day – Hena Kai Nea, the ‘old and the new’, or Hekatē’s Deipnon (Hekatē’s Dinner), Hekatē

Festivals by Month

Hekatombaiōn(July)

• 4 - Aphrodisia - festival of Aphrodite and Peitho (Persuasion)
• 12 - Kronia - festival in honor of Kronos
• 16 / 15-16 - Sunoikia - community festival in Athens. Sacred to Athena. Two-day celebration every other year.
• 21 - Sacrifice to Kourotrophos, (Hekate &) Artemis at Erchia
• 23rd-30th – Panathēnaia: This festival climaxes on the 28th and is in celebration of Athena’s birth.

Metageitniōn(August)

• 1-3: Lughnasa: festival to Lugh and his foster mother Tailtiu
• 16th – Sacrifice to Kourotrophos, Hekatē, and Artemis.
• 19th – Sacrifice to the Hērōines.
• 20th – Sacrifice to Hēra Thelkhinia.
• 25th – Sacrifice to Zeus Epoptes.

Boedromiōn(September)

• 2 - Niketeria - festival in honor of Athena, Nike, and perhaps Poseidon
• 3 - Plataia - festival of reconciliation, sacred to Hera Daidala
• 4th – Sacrifice to Basile.
• 5th – Genesia: Festival of the Dead
• 6th – Sacrifice to Artemis Agrotera
• 12th – Dēmokratia: Festival to honor democracy.
• 15th-21st – Eleusinian Mysteries: (also the Great Mysteries) Rites celebrating Persephonē and Dēmētēr.
• 17th – Epidauria: Festival to honor Asklēpios.
• 27th – Sacrifices to the Nymphai, Akhelōos, Hermēs, Athēna, and Gaia.

Puanepsiōn(October)

• 6 - Proerosia - agricultural festival for Demeter
• 7 - Pyanepsia - festival in honor of Apollon and Theseu
• 8 - Theseia - festival in honor of Theseus
• 19th-21st – Apaturia: paternity festival
• 30th – Khalkeia: Festival to honor Athēna and Hēphaistos.
• 31 - Samhain: Festival of the Dead

Maimakteriōn(November)

• 1-2 - Samhain: Festival of the Dead
• Last week – Pompaia: Festival honoring Zeus Meilikhos.

Poseideōn(December)

• 8 - Poseidea - festival in honor of Poseidon
• 16 - Sacrifice to Zeus Horios
• 26th – Haloa: Fertility festival for Dionysos and Dēmētēr.

Gameliōn(January)

• 8th – Sacrifices to Apollōn Apotropaios, Apollōn Nymphegetes, and the Nymphai.
• 9th – Sacrifice to Athēna
• 12-15 - Lenaia - festival in honor of Dionysus in the Attic deme of Limnai
• 27th – Theogamia: Celebration honoring the marriage of Hēra and Zeus. Also sacrifices to Kourotrophos, Hēra, Zeus Teleius, and Poseidōn

Anthestēriōn(February)

• Imbolc: Festival to Brighid
• 2 - Sacrifice to Dionysus at Erchia
• 11-13 - Anthesteria - wine festival in honor of Dionysus
• 20-26 - Lesser Mysteries in preparation for the Eleusinian Mysteries
• 23 - Diasia - festival in honor of Zeus Meilichios

Elapheboliōn(March)

• 6 - Elaphebolia - festival in honor of Artemis
• 8 - Asklepieia - in honor of Asklēpiós
• 10-16 - Greater (City) Dionysia in honor of Dionysus
• 15 - Sacrifice to Kronos
• 17 - Lá Fhéile Eriu - a festival in honor of Eriu
• 18 – Pandia: Festival to honor Zeus.

Mounukhiōn(April)

• 6 - Delphinia - in honor of Artemis, and perhaps Apollon and Theseus
• 16 - Mounikhia - festival in honor of Artemis as the moon Goddess and Mistress of the animals
• 19 - Olympieia - festival in honor of Olympian Zeus
• 20 - Sacrifice to Leucaspis at Erchia
• 21 - Sacrifice to Tritopatores at Erchia

Thargeliōn(May)

• 4 - Sacrifice to Leto, Pythian Apollon, Zeus, Hermes & Dioskuri at Erchia
• 6-7 - Thargelia - birthday of Apollon and Artemis
• 16 - Sacrifice to Zeus Epakrios
• 19th – Festival to honor the Thracian Goddess Bendis.
• 25 - Plynteria - festival of washing, where the statue of athena was removed from the city of Athens to be cleaned. Auspicious day.

Skirophōriōn(June)

• 3 - Arrephōria: Festival honoring Athena.
• 3 - Sacrifice to Kourotrophos, Athena Polias, Aglaurus, Zeus Polieus, Poseidon & possibly Pandrosos at Erchia
• 14 - Dipolieia/Bouphonia - festival in honor of Zeus Poleius
• Midsummer - Lá Fhéile Manannán: festival for Manannán mac Lir

Community and Temples

Sannion at the house of vines had an interesting article today, talking about Community and Temples. Which I think is well worth the time to read, so go ahead and read the article.

I would love to see more temples. I do believe that they are important. Imagine if modern day new York was like that. Where if you went to little Italy, you saw shrines to Jupiter, Juno, Vesta and Mars. Go to the Greek part of town and see shrines to Zeus, Hera, Athena, Dionysus and the others. Go to the Irish neighborhoods and one could see the same thing: shrines to nuada, Dagda, Brighid and so on. The same thing could be seen in all the other neighborhoods with having shrines to their own gods; while sometimes visiting the others.

That being said, while I do think they are important, the foundation must be strong. Temples are buildings. If the foundation is weak it collapses, this also goes for the community. We have seen time and time again that a community centers for paganism has been closed. why? The community. Without the community it was just a building. There has to be the community there to support a building, not a building to support a community. This goes all religions. A good example is that during the time when the British were oppressing the Irish, Catholic priests would perform Mass in the glens. They didn't need the churches because they had the community. This is just the same as the Dionysus example that Sannion uses.

One of the things that I love about the Polytheist traditions is that community aspect. I am a solitary currently, not by choice but because their is no one near where I live for that. The festivals and the rituals for the gods is a beautiful thing. They bring us together to celebrate together. This could be just your household or it could be the whole town like in Ancient Athens. This is not the celebrations like pantheacon which happened recently. I mean the public festivals, such as Lughnasad or Greater Dionysia.

Why is it that I think that these rituals are important? because they help bring together community. We don't need temples to do rituals. There is a cliche that must be said, "Rome wasn't built in a day". This is very true here. I want to see temples, but they were not built in a single day. neither was any ancient city. The ancients had to worry about finances just like we do. So we should not expect temples and religious buildings to just sprout up out of the ground. This is not about "if you build it they will come". For one must build your local community before you can proceede to do anything else.

We must start small, look into perhaps using a local Park and gathering there. Communities start off small. I don't want to remain a solitary, so I will seek out others. If there is a number of you, instead of buying a building. Rent space at somewhere local. If our community is not stable, then a temple does us no good. What good is a temple if people can't gather together for a festival or a ritual under the open sky.

So, the foundations of the temple must be strong. I want that vision of new York to be true, and be true for any major city. But we must start small. Growth will come. but we need to make sure that the foundation of a temple is strong, let the local community take root and the building won't fall down. This is the most important thing. We must have a community that is strong before we can start thinking of centers or temples.

Visit to a Hindu temple

This past Sunday, I visited the Hindu Center and Temple of Charlotte. I was required to attend this course for my World Religions class that I am taking. I went there with a friend, who provided the transportation. It was a unique experience and one that I will not forget.

I felt extremely comfortable there. My contact, Mr. Topiwala, at the Center was very knowledgeable. He was able to answer all the questions we had. More over, the religious service was something I felt at home in. While there are differences between my religion and Hinduism, I felt more at home here then I did at any church I have been too. I was allowed to participate in the aarti part of the service. Not knowing Hindi I could not understand the songs and the story being told. But I could feel the energy from the music at least. It felt more joyful to me anyways, and the atmosphere at the temple was much better then I imagined.

After that we had lunch, which was provided to us for free. I am not a vegetarian, though I am trying to eat better in general. So while I knew that I wouldn't care much for the food, as a good host I ate what I could. The food was much more spicer then I expected, but I did try it.

We had a talk about what Hinduism is which was interesting. While I do disagree with some things, ie the monism of it. I do find it an admirable religion. After that he did take us to look at all the Statues of the various deities that they had displayed as well as tell us more about them.

This was an awesome experience for me. I got to participate in another religions rituals and see their ceremony up close. Mr. Topiwala was a gracious host. He even gave us several books for free, including a copy of the Bhagavad-Gita, as well as giving me a statue of Ganesh. All in All it was an experience that I am glad I had.

Family and Kinship

For the month of February the Pagan Blog Project is talking about love. As I am single, I thought I would talk about Familial love. Family and the household were important in both ancient Greece and Ireland. Kinship ties meant a lot to them.

In Modern America, we are not taught that much to have strong familial bonds. We have a small family of just your brief immediate family. Where as in the past it was much larger including others, such as your cousins, aunts and uncles and further relations. In fact a common insult is "you live with your mom!" which is used as an insult to young people around my age, 20s. This is not to say, I don't have plans to move out of my family's house after college. It is the connotation that bothers me, that when you are my age, you need to weaken your family ties even if just a little bit.

I would argue that the opposite should happen. When I get my own place to live after graduating from college, my ties will weaken unless I maintain them. I know that I am not as close to the rest of my family as I could be. Though I hope that does change in the future.

Doubt and Hellenismos

Lately, I feel drawn towards Hellenismos and the worship of the Greek pantheon. I don't know why, I am feeling this. Is it doubt for my own path? I am not sure. However, I am going to be looking into it more seriously. Perhaps this can complement my own Gaelic path, I am not sure.

I know there is a strong emphasis on not honoring deities outside of one's pantheon. Sometimes it feels like a commandment: "thou shall only worship gods of [x] pantheon!". I am well aware that if I go down this route it won't be full recon, but I am alright with that. On the other hand, I don't want to be a 'cafeteria' polytheist. The recon method helps me out. It gives me grounding.

I think part of the reason what is drawing me to Hellenismos, is that it has much more to work with. The Irish unfortunately did not write any of there religion down till after Christianization. While the monks did preserve it, it was still not being written down by people that believed in the Irish Gods and goddesses. Ancient Greece, on the other hand did write a lot of stuff down, and later the Romans did as well.

All this being said, I am not stopping being a Gaelic Recon. Maybe not to a 100% as before, but I shall continue it. I still will honor them. I will make sure that in the Gaelic way, I honor them and in the Greek way I honor the Greek gods. I want to make sure that I give proper respect to both, without committing cultural Appropriation. I do wish to make sure that I provide them with respect, which also goes to the cultures as well.

so that is what is going on with me. This typhoon of confusion in my soul. I do not know how long this feeling will last, but I shall see where this new avenue leads. If it does not help me out, then I know to walk away, but perhaps it shall provide what I wish for.

30 Days of Deity Devotion: 23-30

A time when this deity has helped you

I do not really have much of a time when He helped me.

A time when this deity has refused to help

nor, do I have a time that he refused help.

How has your relationship with this deity changed over time?

not much, but then I just started on this path.

Worst misconception about this deity that you have encountered

The worst misconception is liking nuada to the Wicker Man movie, which claimed he was a sun god that accepted human sacrifices. neither of this is true. Aine is the sun goddess

Something you wish you knew about this deity but don’t currently

Well, I would wish to know more how the ancient Irish honored him.

Any interesting or unusual UPG to share?

I view Dogs sacred to him. This stems from the fact that nodens and nuada are sometimes thought to be the same god. I am not sure if they are, but in either case nodens is said to have the dog sacred to him. So, I view the dog sacred to nuada as well.

Any suggestions for others just starting to learn about this deity?

To read the various myths about him. While, this can be tricky as the stories are not always available; this is one of my main recommendations that I would make for people just starting out.

pagan blog project D: Dagda

For this week of the Pagan Blog Project, I thought I would talk about an Dagda; One of the Tuatha de Dannen. The Dagda is the druid of the Tuatha and the father of the other gods. He is called the Good God because he is good at everything. Just as Lugh is skilled at everything; the Dagda is good at everything. they are of course not the only epithets of the Dagda. Below are a number of other epithets.

Epithets of the Dagda[1]

• An Dagda "The Good God"
• Eochu Ollathair "Horse Great-Father"--generally taken as his "true" name and not a nickname
• Ruadh Rofhessa "Red One Great in Knowledge"
• Fer Benn Bruach Brogaill Broumide Cerbad Caic Rolaig Builc Labair Cerrce Di Brig Oldathair Boith Athgen mBethai Brightere Tri Carboid Roth Rimaire Riog Scotbe Obthe Olaithbe
• Fer Benn: "man of the peaks" or "horned/pronged man"; could be a poetic reference to lightning, or could indicate a now-lost idea of the Dagda being horned, a not-uncommon feature in British and Gaulish iconography. Suibhne also calls himself Fer Benn, after a passage praising stags
• Broumide: "flatulent"?
• Cerrce: Sayer says it may derrive from *perkw "striker", i.e. lightning
• Labair: Gray interprets this as "talker", Sayer as "noisy"
• Athgen m Bethai: "rebirth of land"?
• Oldathair: from Ollathair, "great father"
• Aed Abaid of Ess Ruaid
• Dagda donn: Dark Dagda; it could have been "Lord Dagda", but "Dark Dagda" is possible, because he is elswhere described as having a dun tunic (aodhar), and a dark cloak (lachtna)
• Dagda dein: swift Dagda
• Dagda (n)dur/Dagdai duir: "harsh/stern" Dagda, but duir also may refer to the oak dair; the association of duir and dair also appears in the ogham tracts. Comparing the Dagda to an oak would also lend credence to the interpretation of him as a thunder god
• Dagdai deirg: "Red Dagda"

He is described as often being pot-bellied, with an immense appitite. He has three items that he is famous for: His harp, his club, and his cauldron. His club is said to have the power to heal as well as kill. His cauldron is one of the four legendary items that were brought to Ireland. He once owned Brain nu Boyne but he was tricked out of it by his son, Óengus macÓg.

He is the father of the Óengus macÓg with Boann, who is his main Consort. He fathers a number of other children including Brighid and Aine. He mated with an Morrigan in order to bring victory to the Tuatha de Dannen when they went to fight the Formorians.

Sources:
[1] epithets

PBP D: Dan

Dan or more correctly Dán is a concept I have found recently that has greatly intrigued me. I have only discovered Dan this year. There are different concepts of Fate in the world. From Karma to Wyrd but this is about the Irish one. So what is Dan? The eDIL gives four definitions, they are:

1. Fate/Destiny
2. Gift
3. Talent
4. Poem

They are ultimitly derivived from the Sanskrit word Da which means to give.

this gives us a number of meanings but within Irish, it is an adjective i ndan with two similar meanings. In store(as fate) and to happen. What sort of idea Does that give us. At first it seems that Fate is unescapable, that it is what it is. It seems to be something that does not change.

However, I do not think that it is meant to mean there is a lack of free will and everything is predestined. As that is ignoring the other definations of the word. It does not address Gift, talent or poem as what it could mean. no, it could mean that your talent in something is innate. It could be releated to gift, that a gift once given is given.

There still needs to be work done in researching Dan, but it is an idea and concept that I think deserves more research.

Sources used: Etymology Dictionary
other dictionary

PBP: Cailleach

Recently the southern United States got hit by a winter storm, which I thought would be a good time to talk about Cailleach.

Cailleach is the hag of winter, the name means Hag in Irish. She is found in various different forms throughout Ireland and Scotland. It is possible that she is a name for various local goddesses of the more vicious aspects of nature. One of the earliest records we have of Cailleach is an early medieval poem called "The lament of the Old Woman of Beare". within the poem she is called Caillech Bérri.

As stated, she is the hag of Winter, for this is what she is best known as of. She is seen as the negative force of winter. Bring the death and decay with it. the epithet Bheur is said to come from beura or bheura, which means 'shrill, sharp, cutting', probably in reference to her association with the cold weather and storms of winter.[1]this does make sense as during the winter months the wind can be shrill and feel like it is cutting you; or literally cutting you with ice.

There is some legends that link her with Brighid, or in Scotland Bride. In Scotland, there is Latha na Caillich, or Old Woman's day. "when she was supposed to finally give up her struggle in opposing the onslaught of Spring."[2] This might be why some link her to Imbolc which some see as the beginning of Spring. Though Spring can come much later in Ireland and Scotland, hence why the day for Latha na Caillich is March 25th and not February.

While she is not a spirit, I often would put out offerings for, she is still an entity of power. Her winds bite like the shrill snap of the cold gale upon the back. Though, she is not an evil demon but a force of nature and nature is destructive just as well as constructive. Still I do honour her and ask for relief from the winter when it does hit.

[1]Taris on Cailleach [2]Taris on Latha na Caillich

I know this is a bit late but hey other things take prioty.

30 Days of Deity Devotion: Days 21-23

Day 21 - Music that makes you think of this deity

This is actually hard to ansewr as I don't really have a particular song that makes me think of nuada.

Day 22 - A quote, a poem, or piece of writing that you think this deity resonates strongly with

“The man who passes the sentence should swing the sword. If you would take a man's life, you owe it to him to look into his eyes and hear his final words. And if you cannot bear to do that, then perhaps the man does not deserve to die.” - George R.R Martin

While Game of thrones/Song of Ice and Fire is a low fantasy with gritty morals. I do like this quote, and it makes me think of Nuada, in that it makes me of how a king should act, Which is noble, and Honorable.

Day 23 - Your own composition – a piece of writing about or for this deity

Battle lost him the hand
But he kept to the laws
kept to honor and justice
and gave up his throne
then the physican made for him
a hand of silver
a hand of honor
for with the hand
he brought justice
back to the halls of Tara

PBP: culture

For the week of C, I thought I should talk about Culture; specifically how it relates to my Path. In this case, I am talking about Irish Culture.

Language

I do not speak nor really understand Gaelige. nevertheless, I try to learn Gaelige. Why? it is the language of the Irish. It helps me connect to the culture. My ancestors spoke it and this helps me honor them in a way. The fact that a number of documents are written in Irish, albit old Irish, makes this more useful. I try speaking it in every day conversation just to get better at speaking it.

While there are debates within the CR movement of learning a celtic Language. I do not feel like I need one to be a Gaelic Polytheist but that I want to know it. I don't know a second language, but I try to learn Irish. I want to learn it, I don't need it but it does help me connect to Irish culture.

Music

If language is the heart of a culture, music might as well be its soul. I enjoy Irish music, both music that is in Irish and in English. Most of the Holidays to me, should have music or singing inovlved. They are days to honor the sacred three but also to be festive, to make merriment and to enjoy one's self.

Like with the Irish language, I try to learn various Irish songs. On st.Patrick's day, or as I celebrate it Eriu's day, I try to sing a complete song by memory. I may not be that great, but I still try. It also helps with the language, I tend to sing songs out loud, so songs in Irish can help me there.

Food

As I mentioned festivals earlier, they are not festivals if there is not food. My father is a cook, though I am not, but this is something that I seek to learn. But Food is important to culture. It is filled with love. Food is important because one shares it with family, friends guests, and strangers. I also seek to learn how to cook Irish food because my current diet is shamefully poor. I need it to change, so that is something that I seek to do.

30 days of Deity devotion: day 19-20

Day 19:What quality or qualities of this god do you most admire? What quality or qualities of them do you find the most troubling?

The qualities of Nuada that I admire the most is his honor and sense of duty and justice. He is a noble and wise king. As the High King of the Tuatha De Dannen, he gave up his seat when he was no longer suited for that role. That leads to the quality that I do have some trouble with in that he had to be physically perfect.

Day 20: Art that reminds you of this deity

There are some pictures that make me think of Nuada.

This particular picture shows not just his silver hand, but, also his legendary sword. It also shows a warrior's determination. As nuada is the High King of Ireland, and he fought in battles, this shows the warrior side of him more.

This is from a larger work, showing the arrival of Saint Patrick to the king at Tara. However, this makes me think of Nuada, particularly as the High King. This shows not just Nuada himself, but the others of the court. It shows the Bard, the Druid, other warriors, and even the dogs; I connect dogs as an animal that is connected to him. This picture shows him as the king in action.

Pagan Blog Project: Brigid

Well, I thought that I would talk about one of the goddesses I honor today Brigid. She is after all a Gaelic Goddess and the festival of Imbolic is coming up soon.

Brighid is one of the most popular goddesses within Irish mythology there are countless variations are her name. O'hOgain says that her name means 'Exalted One'. This is likely an epithet for the goddess. She is a multifaceted goddess, associated with fertility, agriculture and inspiration.

While it is difficult to know exactly what is the goddess and what is the saint, there is some things that we can know. The lore says she was the Daughter of the Daghda. Though who her mother is not that clear. She is the mother of several other of the Tuatha de Dannen, and she is said to have invented the practice of keening when one of her sons died in the second battle of Magh Turedh. Offerings for her are dairy products of some sort, the most common being milk and butter. the reason is that she is connected to Cattle.

She is a goddess that I seek to know and honor more. While I may not deal with much that she looks over, inspiration is something she can help us all out with, especailly as I am in a field that relies on creativity. Of course it could be that Imbolc is coming up that she is on my mind.

Genealogy of Brighid

The genealogy of the holy goddess Brighid,
Radiant flame of gold, noble mother of Ruadan,
Brighid, the daughter of an Daghda the Good God,
Brighid, daughter of Boanne, shining white,
Every day and every night
That I say the genealogy of Brighid,
I shall not be killed, I shall not be harried,
I shall not be jailed , I shall not be wounded,
Nor shall my Gods leave me.
No fire, no sun, no moon shall burn me,
No lake, no water, nor sea shall drown me,
No arrow of fairy nor dart of Fey shall wound me,
I am under the protection of the Gods of life,
And my gentle foster-mother is my beloved Brighid.

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Sources

Morgan Dalmar Genealogy of Brighid: http://lairbhan.blogspot.com/2012/04/brighid.html Mary Jones:http://www.maryjones.us/jce/brigit.html

The passing of Jonas Trinkūnas

Yesterday, Monday the 20th of 2014, Jonas Trinkūnas passed away. Jonas Trikunas was the founder of modern Romuva. He was dedicated to his people, his faith, and his culture throughout his life. I am neither Lithuanian nor a practitioner of Romuva. However, his work in modern reconstructionist faiths is worthy of praise.

Lithuania was the last country in Europe to convert to Christanity and during its time as a pagan Grand Duchy it formed one of the largest realms in Europe. Though in the late 1300s, the country converted to Christianity. Jonas though worked to revive the ancient religion. As a reconstructionist, I look to my own country of Ireland but the story of Lithuania is one that has always captured my imagination.

Jonas is a man who was committed to his culture and his people. He was a true preserver of culture. He spent his time at the Vilnius University as a professor teaching and studying about his culture till the Soviet Authorities tried to stop that. He then set out to explore his country, listening to the folktales, songs and in general getting a sense of the folklore roots and culture that the soviets tried to stamp out. This is something in which as a Gaelic Polytheist, I can relate to. For England's treatment of Ireland is very comparable to what the Soviets were doing.

He was very committed to helping to revive and preserve the religion of his Ancestors. In addition to having the only english book about Romuva's traditions written up, he was also a musician and a member of the band Kūlgrinda. He helped support and was an active member of the World Council of Ethnic Religions which is now known as the European council of Ethnic Religions. Last Summer he was given the prestigious award of Order of the Grand Duke Gediminas from the President of Lithuania herself.

While I have never met the man, I live in America after all. Everything I have read about the man shows a man who despite being called krivis or supreme priest, remained humble and even shy. A gentle fellow, I do wish that I could have had the chance to meet him.

May he go to his Ancestors and Gods; and may his deeds be remembered.

30 days deity devotion: day 15-18

day 15: Any mundane practices that are associated with this deity?

As nuada is the High King and helps with justice; I would imagine that just living with justice, honor, and hospitality. While it is not a major thing to act with honor, Justice and remembering to be a hospitable host; it is something that nuada would want us to do.

Day 16: How do you think this deity represents the values of their pantheon and cultural origins?

nuada is the high king, and he respents the ideal king to the Irish. The high king was an actual position of gaelic Ireland, who in theory ruled over all of the Irish. While in reality they had little power, nuada is the ultimate high king. He rules the whole land with a hand of silver, a hand of honor.

day 17: How does this deity relate to other gods and other pantheons?

The most obvious deity that he is compared to is Tyr or Tiw, the germanic god of war and valor. Both gods after all did lose their hands for similar reasons. Tyr lost it to the monster Fenrir while nuada lost it to the Formorians. They both represent justice and honor. Though the obvious difference is that nuada is a king while Tyr is not.

Day 18: How does this deity stand in terms of gender and sexuality? (historical and/or UPG)

He does not seem to care about either as long as one acts with Honor, Hospitapitly, and Justice.

30 days of devotion: day 10-14

Day 10:Offerings – historical and UPG

I am not sure of what would have been offerings. Morgan Daimler over at Living liminally, suggests fish, beer and guiness. I would imagine swords could be given as an offering or dedicated to him. Doing volunteer service could also be seen as an offering for him.

Day 11:Festivals, days, and times sacred to this deity

I am not aware of any particular festival for Nuada. Though I imagine there might have been a day dedicated for him.

Day 12:Places associated with this deity and their worship

Brugh na Boyne, the well of Nechtan, and the Hill of Tara are associated with Nuada.

Day 13:What modern cultural issues are closest to this deity’s heart?

Nuada is the High King, justice, war, wisdom and even water are all part of him. Good leadership and ruling well is clsoe to his heart. Social Justice is thus important to him. He is also connected to water, so helping to keep water health and clean would be something that is close to him.

Day 14:Has worship of this deity changed in modern times?

Well, he has stopped being worshiped lately. so I am not sure how he might have changed.

[PBP] An Assessment of my path

The new year has come and we are now near the end of the second week in January. So I thought I would do an assessment of my path.

An Ancient Religion

There are many groups under the pagan umbrella, but I do feel comfortable with this path. It is what I gravitated towards when I truly looked into paganism. I did not come from wicca or any similar derivied path, such as Druidry. I came to what felt right to me, and this path, this gaelic polytheistic path is just that.

As a reconstructionist, I look to the past, how the ancient Irish would have practiced. As a polytheist, I believe that all the gods and goddesses are separate individuals. For practices, I keep to the four main fire festivals. I also work on providing offerings to the Sacred Three, Deities, Spirits and Ancestors. This is important to me as it helps me thank one or more of the Sacred Three, a thanksgiving if you will. Doing this more often is something that I want to do more of.

Resolutions, Habits, New Beginnings

The new year has come and the first week of it is gone. Like many people I have made resolutions during this time. I put them into three catagories or themes: Health, Religious, and Occupation. why themes? because by focusing on a theme I can change the little things over time to fit things that come up.

Health

I am not in the best of health, so one of the biggest things I am working on changing is getting into shape. I am a picky eater and hate trying new food, yet I am going to do just that. my diet is just miserable, so I am slowly going to add more and more healthy food to it. I will be eating more fruits and vegetables.

I am also working on doing more exercise throughout the year. With school starting back up, I hope to try and learn some Yoga before I graduate and perhaps climb my school's rock wall. But the biggest thing is to do more exercise often. I often put it aside as I am lazy, but I do need to keep in shape.

Religious

One theme I have for this year, and partially why I started this blog, is to learn more about my religion of Gaelic Polytheism. Thus I hope to be more religiously active. If I can, I might see about having my family together for the four major fire festivals. I am also taking a course on world religions which might give me inspiration for my own faith.

Occupation

Finally, I should be leaving college this may and hopefully entering the work force. naturally there are a lot of things related to this, resumes, job, and so on. For me, I hope to have my own website done sometime by summer. As a web designer, I will need my own website, even if I do not have much work to show, I will still need my own. I am planning on making my senior projects good enough that they can get me a job and hopefully my own place eventually.

30 days of deity devotion: days 5-9

I know I have not kept track with these lately, so lets try and get back on track.

day 5:Members of the family – genealogical connections

He is the son of Echtach. He is said to have five children: Tadg, Caither, Cucharn, Echtge, and Etaram. Tadg links nuada to the hero Fionn mac Cumhaill. Though who the mother is of these children is not entirely clear. A few sources say that his consort was Macha. Which would link her with the Morrigan.

Day 6: Other related deities and entities associated with this deity

As the king of the Tuatha De Dannen, nuada is connected with many of the other gods and goddesses, and other various beings in Irish mythology. Through his son, the druid Tadg, he is connected to the hero Fionn. During the second battle of Maige Tuired, he gives up his leadership as king to Lugh to lead the Tuatha to battle. The physican Dien Cecht works to heal his loss arm slain by the formions in the first battle. So ultimatly, as the king, he is connected to most beings.

Day 7: Names and epithets

His most famous epithet is Airgetlamh, silver hand/arm. I have not managed to find other epithets for him.

Day 8: Variations on this deity (aspects, regional forms, etc.)

There are several variations that deserve mention. The scholar O hOgain connects him to nechtans, through nuada necht. This would give him a connection to water. He also connects him to Elcmar. In particular he claims that he was the orginal owner of Brugh na Boyne and thus Boyne. This seems like a regional variation on the god for me, but I do believe there is some connection between them.

There is also some possibility of him being connected to the Gaulish god Nodens. If this connection is accepted, then the dog would be one of the animals associated with him. But I am not sure how well this is supported.

Day 9: Common mistakes about this deity

The only one that I am aware of is for him to be considered a sun god because of the movie The Wickerman.

Death and respect

The other day, P.S.V.L had a post about the meaning of Funerals that I thought was interesting and as I had talked about the Afterlife for the first week of the Pagan Blog Project, I thought I would do a response to this.

I will agree that this lack of respect for Death is a part of the overculture that most of us in the West hear and see. I watched some videos about Dia de Muretos in mexico recently, and the treatment of death is quite different from how it is dealt with in America. Death is not thought of really; it also a somber event.

However, what i saw in the videos on Day of the Dead is IMO a better treatment for the dead. It is a party for the dead. Food is left at the house altar and the graves of the deceased. The three days of day of the dead while it is filled with merry making, is still for the dead. This is similar to Samhain that many pagans celebrate as well.

The fact is that in the west, we tend to ignore the dead for the most part; which does not help us when dealing with death or dealing with our ancestors. Samhain, Dia de Muretos and similar events for the dead; while not funerals themselves does help with remembering the dead and making sure that we keep them in mind.

30 days of deity devotion: day 3 and 4

Symbols and icons of this deity

There are two main symbols associated with nuadu. The first is his silver hand.The second is his sword which is one of the four treasures of the Tuatha de Dannen that they bring to Ireland.

A favorite myth or myths of this deity

the story of how he got his silver hand is probaly my favorite.

nuadu fought against the chaotic Fomorians and in one battle; his hand was severed from his body. The laws of the Tuatha De Dannen stated that only the perfect should be the kings, so he humbly and willingly abdicated as king. This is when half-formorian Bres reigned as king of the Tuatha. During this dark time, the physcian Dien Chet made nuada a silver hand.

This shows his humility, as well as his duty to justice and righteousness. It is a story that I always find interesting. It also is a great advice, for when you are not fit for your job you should be willing to step aside. The next person may be like Bres, or may be like Lugh but be like nuadu and know when to give up power.

30 days of Deity Devotion: #2

How did you become first aware of this deity?

I am not quite sure when I exactly became aware of Nuadu. He was one of the first deities I became aware of though when I started to venture down this path as a Gaelic Polytheist.

30 days of deity devotion: Day #1

I have thought to do for the month of January 30 days of deity devotion. I might do a few more of these later in the year for the other gods and goddesses I honor, if this one is recieved well. Though for the month of January I am going to cover, Nuadu.

A basic introduction of the deity

So who is Nuadu? He is one of the kings of the Tuatha de Dannen. He is a moral character and his stories show this about him. As such, he tends to deal with justice and honor. Famously he stepped down from kingship when he was found unfit to be king.