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.