I am but a gleaming end
An epilogue in ice and frost
to lay in slumber upon branch and bend
I am but a passer by
my time checked by waning day
Limited though I rule this sky
I am but the last farewell
the closing line to the wheele
the clocks turning, I hear my bell
I am but a moment’s thrill
Though my touch can bring such glee
The spring, it comes, to thaw my chill
And though the warmth draws a tear
I pay it no mind
My time will come, again, next year.
New Faces for Old Gods – PaganSquare – PaganSquare – Join the conversation!
An interesting, and well written read on a subject very close to my heart. Are modern portrayals and borrowing of ancient dieties creative licensing, or is it diluting their legitimacy?
What do you feel about the matter?
The obligatory Beltane / May-Day post.
Well wishes, happy harvests, and bountiful blessings for everyone this season – as it should be (or hoped to be) every season.
But, I can’t say that it is a warmly welcomed season so far. Every holiday / harvest day / celebration that comes around – I am bombarded with article after article and post after post from pagan communities, blogs and centers from all over blaring out, and sharing, and reposting on histories and traditions…….that just aren’t true. Or misconstrued, greatly. And it’s disheartening.
Now, if you are a Neo-Pagan, and you follow these modernized traditions – then you go for it. BUT, when we are discussing histories and traditional ideology of where the celebration is rooted – that’s a much different discussion than simply talking about personal practices or customs.
I’m sure you’ve all heard all the discussion of the sexual prowess of Beltane, and the Great Rite, and the copulation of the God and Goddess and the marrying of the Land and great orgies by bonfires for the sake of fertility.
And frankly, in my own opinion – that is all blasphemy. And insulting.
Beltane is a harvest festival. That is all. It is the celebration of the bounty of Spring, and welcomes Summer. Traditionally, it marked the “beginning of summer” and was a time that they would reap harvest, turn fields, begin the breeding season of certain livestock, and send the cattle out to pasture, and hope / pray for the fertility and ripeness of the land.
As a celebration of summer, and the over-turning of the seasons, it was thought to be one of the pinnacle points of the year when the spirits were most active, and the veils between worlds was the thinnest – allowing the influence of the gods / spirits to be at a peak. They would make offerings to the gods for their blessings for the upcoming season, and they would perform special rites to purify and protect their livestock, land, and even the people themselves.
It’s basis was centered around a sense of renewal, blessings, optimism and hope. Not a sex fest as modernism seems to have turned it into. And yes, arguably – you can say that the idea of the rebirth of the land, and it’s heavy focus on fertility *could* be interpreted in a sexual and symbolic manner. Yes. That could be argued – but that interpretation and ideology has developed over the modern era, and was not *traditionally* what Beltane was about at all.
Beltane is rooted in Celtic Ireland, and can be read about in some of the oldest, most influential Irish mythos – and has been well documented throughout the medieval era all over Celtic Europe.
We, of course, don’t know everything, in every detail about the very first traditions and customs of those first Beltane rites – but the fact that they had survived for so many centuries, and had been documented by many different cultures throughout the region leads us to a pretty clear picture of what exactly this Season, and celebration, meant to them. And to imply otherwise, or to perpetuate wrong-information as fact – or to state that modern interpretations and rituals as “traditional” is ignorant, and doing a disservice to the culture – regardless of if you try to walk a traditional path, or modern one.
There is a reason why we are often looked at in society today as being little more than a bunch of free-lovin-hippy-cult-revival of over-sexualized debauchery – or why certain circumstances of criminal acts seem to be so scrutinized, and impactful to our community – because the community continues to influence the idea that our culture, and history, is rooted in nothing more than a prominent sexual overtone. Which is a very shallow, cut-and-dry image to paint to a culture that has so many depths and histories within it.
We are much more than a Sex-cult. So on these days, lets try to share some of the proud, deep rooted histories of our people and customs so that others may see a different, and hopefully insightful, side to the people we really are.
I’ve read a whole lot the past couple days all about the turmoil that is hitting the pagan community.
I don’t know, maybe I am just way too disconnected from the ‘pagan community’ as a whole. – Something I do not like to refer to anyway, as I don’t believe there is one so called, all encompassing pagan community, because there are just way too man pagans to umbrella into one fucking community – but whatever.
Especially when ‘pagan community’ really means wiccan community – or vague pagan beliefs that are wicca-related.
BUT. that is not my rant for the day. Today’s rant is about the tragedy of Kenny Klein.
I’ll be honest – I had to google who the hell he even was. Which is pretty sad, because for such a pronounced member of the community – so everyone is saying – I should have at least heard of him before now. I hadn’t. Not even through HuffPost, which I read……way too much. Still, have -never- heard of him.
My question is. WHY. Why is this a tragedy to the pagan community? Why does this have to involve the pagan community at all? A sick man was arrested, a sick man was arrested who also happened to be a photographer- which his hobby / indy career as a photographer was far more relevant to the arrest than his pagan association. So why, at the most, was it not a tragedy to the photography community if anything ?? Or why not to the Huff? OR Llewellyn?? Why does it have to be a pagan issue? anything could have made sense, but that’s not what everyone is going on and on about. Nope. It’s alllllll about how he’s a pagan. And then the explosive back-lash of “how to be safe in the community”. Article after article detailing predators in pagan circles or covens, and how to protect yourself.
WHY
dear gods above why.
what the fuck.
Why does it have to be specifically categorized out as a special threat to the pagan community? Why is it an ‘extra’ precaution being taken to pagans? Everyone blasting that boundaries are important and that abuse is not ok no matter where the setting – if that is true, then why do we need to come outright and say that blatantly? If abuse is not ok, then we shouldn’t have to tell people that it’s not ok.
Why can it not simply be “there are fucked up people out there – be careful no matter where you are”
There could be a predator at your child’s school. There could be one living down the street form you. There could be one at the grocery store, at the mall, on the fucking bus. ANYWHERE. Why do we have to target ourselves as being singled out? This is NOT an issue of the pagan community, this is an issue no matter what your creed, religion, practices, background, what have you.
There have been dozens of serial killers, serial rapists, pedophiles and then some of all sorts of creeds – Especially christianity (just by statistical basis that christianity is still a majority) so every time one of these things happens is there an outcry in the christian society about the travesty that has affected their community??? No. Why? because people don’t view it as a “christian” issue that one person is demented. It’s a simple cut-and-dry issue of X man is fucking demented, end of story. So why is it different for us? why does this have to be turned into a pagan issue?
It is not.
There was a person, who had a hidden life, who turned out to have some serious mental issues. Who, on a side note, also happened to be pagan…..That is where it stops.
You are only making us look worse by turning it into an issue that it does not have to be.
If someone robs a store, are we going to turn to the fact that “gang violence” has become a community issue? No. You are purposely and unnecessarily associating yourself with something horrid. You keep on making a huge deal out of it, or making a point to raise awareness, then people WILL start to believe that this is something that is prevalent in our society, or stems from our beliefs, or that somewhere in some circle this is condoned.
Stop it.
I know pretty much everything there is to know about my story. Of course, duh – it’s my story. I’m the creator, I’m the writer, I’m the inventor of this world……but it’s not quite so simple.
It’s a much bigger issue when you’re creating a world based around, or inspired by things that already exist in this world today, or in literature and mythology. Generally speaking – my story is *inspired by* not *based on*. Which is a big, big difference, so I can pretty much go where I want to take it and be done with it. Because inspiration in nifty like that – you take one idea that sparks another idea and just run with it, rather than trying to retell something that’s been told a hundred times. But, that being said – it is important to me to keep some things true – or, well…as true as they can truthfully be.
which in the celtic legends…….is. really. fucking. hard.
x_x
really hard.
there’s about a thousand different versions of -every- tale out there. And even more *interpretations* for each one of those versions. Theres endless debates of who’s really who – if so n so is the same person as other so n so, or if they just HAPPEN to have the same name and lived around the same time (which sounds stupid, sure, but then tell me how many “Tom"s you think there are out there? Yea. Point made. They’re probably not all talking about the same person) But for whatever reason X individual is a fact nazi and assumes everything ever mentioned about so n so HAS to be the same person (why? how does this make any logical sense?) then Y individual is a history nazi who thinks – If this is what is says, then this is what it HAS to be! even though said literature wasnt written til centuries upon centuries after so n so supposedly lived…..so how do we have any idea if this "history” is accurate? What if they just made shit up as they went along? Or what happens if something is so blatantly off it doesn’t make any slack bit o sense?
Nope.
There’s no reasoning with any -one- of these types of people. None of them.
SOOOOO.
Here’s my summary: I have read ungodly amounts of information about everything of everything there is to do with Celtic Ireland. I have read the sssaaaaammmmmeeeeeee stories ungodly amounts of times …..with them being different every single one of those times. And let me say one thing to you – – no one agrees with each other. No one. Way more than half of those stories don’t make a shit bit of sense. So i have taken everything that I’ve read – and followed my gut, of what *I* feel, in my own opinion, my *heart* and *instincts* and *soul*….and common sense …. tells me makes sense, and what feels right. What feels true. Human kind has been taught to rely too much on technology and science, and reason, and analytic judgement and have totally forgotten we do, indeed, have instincts, and intuition. And we have them for a reason, and really – more often than not – if we just shut up and listen to them, they;re usually almost always right.
So that is what I did.
And that is what I’m using to base my stories around.
And I’m standing by that. End. Of. Story.
So everyone else who likes to have their own opinion of shit – congratulations! You have every right.
And so do I. 🙂
So go suck a nut somewhere, I don’t care.
<3
In the olde faiths, the Irish Celts (and much of their brethren) would light candles and lanterns and hang them in the trees to illuminate their path and spirits through the Dregs of Winter – the 12 darkest days of the year leading up to the Winter Solstice – And in memoriam, as a Vigil, to the spirits of the Earth that dwindled and died in the bleak Winter Months.
The Solstice itself culminated the Dregs of Winter, and was celebrated not only because it marked their end, but also the return of the Light beginning the waxing of daylight hours towards the Summer Solstice.
Because of this, the Solstice was celebrated with many rites, rituals, feasts and celebrations. They would light all the previous candles and lanterns lit through the dregs, in honour of the returning light – and would garland the trees with sweet treats, heady foods, and lush offerings to the Gods to bless them for the upcoming year, and to ensure the return of light, life, fertility to the lands and abundant harvests for the growing seasons that laid ahead, and the rebirth of the Land and Earth that had been slumbering through the season.
They would do this as they believed the spirits of the Earth and the Gods lived in the Trees, and by placing the blessings and offerings in the trees, they would be handed directly to the Gods and Spirits of the Earth themselves.
As time went by, and the New Faith spread across the lands, and crossed the Sea to the Isles, the faiths became mingled. As the Celts did not fear or resent change as many people do – they accepted it, and honoured it. They were very easily converted to the New Faith because of this acceptance to change, and their easy and willing natures to grow and evolve as Time and Earth ever does – but because they were also a people of great respect, pride and integrity – They never, completely, let go of their olde ways or beliefs, and continued to observe certain sacred traditions and rituals, integrating them together with their new Faith, growing and evolving them both into something new – something unified together. Just as is their nature, until eventually we forgot about the Yule tides of the Northmen and their relative Tribes, or the Festival of Lights of the Gauls and Galacians, or the Midwinter rites of the insular tribes of Celts, from Goidelic, Manx, Picts and Brythons.
Until these were all blended together with the new reigning faith, and as their empire grew they adopted it and defined it as their own, and slowly over years and years of exaggeration with new tradition built ontop of new tradition it has grown into modern times – but nonetheless, we are all each tied to our distant past in a least expected way.
Each time you decorate your christmas tree.
This is the time of year I get most offended…..by everyone….from all sides. And it seems to be coming full-force, a hell of a lot early this year (or at least, a more steady – constant stream of it this year)
Before I go on, I feel like I need to explain some things so I don’t sound like a complete ass, although it’s inevitable.
I am a pagan. I’m not your run-o-the-mill umbrella term pagan, I am a very educated, self-aware, specific type of pagan.
I am an Irish Celt (the pre-christian kind celt that is). I consider myself a traditionalist, in truth and sincere honesty. No – I am absolutely NOT a witch, and nothing related to. No – I am absolutely NOT a wiccan, and nothing whatsoever related to. No, I am not a Druid, because a druid is much more than just a believer. I am exactly what I said I am, and nothing different than that. And no, this is not open to your personal interpretation of semantics.
Why am I so specific about what *exact* type of pagan I am, and why do I follow a traditional path?
Because I am a pagan who hates pagans.
In the sense that – I hate *neo* pagans, modern pagans, and the hodge-podge crap that has spewn forth from their ignorant creations.
I am sick to death of giant umbrealla Pagan “denominations”, organizations or “covens” that think that if you happen to not be a christian, or happen to be some type of animist, or happen to believe in magick, that somehow that means you’re automatically a “pagan” and that somehow that means all pagans are the same, and interchangeable, and that ALSO means it’s synonimous with the words “wiccan” and “witch”.
I hate them for the same reason I hate these Decaturite busy bodies and moms. You’ll only get that if you live in Atlanta……..but if you live in Atlanta, and have ever made an expedition to Decatur and Buckhead to observe the horrible upper-middle class monstrousity of women (and sometimes men, but sadly mostly the women) then you know *exactly* what that means.
I hate ignorance, stupidity, lies and self-righteousness, no matter what form it comes in or from whom. I just. hate. them.
Unfortunately, it’s been a growing trend -as far as I’ve been witnessing – over the past several years that the Pagan community is slowly becoming less sheepish, and secretive……and as part of their coming out, apparently, is breeding a thriving community of exactly all the things I hate. And it is frustrating, embarrassing, disappointing, and purely angering.
I’ve grown up my whole life having to learn how to cope, dodge, and overcome these exact same things – only from the outside. I was never a ‘normal’ child, as far as religious teachings go. My family is Irish – and country. Religion plays a -huge- factor in family, and life in general.
We were forced to go to church, and bible school. Even though I was too young to get it, really, even then I knew this wasn’t the place i was supposed to be. Of course, if you ask my mom – that’s not true. Children don’t think that way, I was too young to know what I was doing, or what I wanted.
Yes – partly – but there’s also that part of children that is just pure instincts, that people should absolutely listen to instead of just ignore it or shrug it off as ‘they’re just kids’. Children have more intuition than adults. And I just knew something wasn’t meshing right for me. Not in general – but for me.
My mother’s disbelief of that, and disapproval, is just one more stepping stone of life. I’ve been kicked out of places, called endless amounts of names, forced to remove jewelry or items of clothing, oppressed into not celebrating holidays, or singing certain songs, even was fired from a job. Religious discrimination ! you shout and scream, which yes. It is. But fighting it is a very different story. For those who are unfamiliar, the legal clause that protects religious freedoms and liberties are only applicable to those religions *federally recognized* as religious organizations. And guess whose religion is not federally recognized?
yup.
So, legally – it’s not religious discrimination at all, when what they are discriminating against *isn’t* a religion.
Bet ya didn’t know that. I didn’t either. Lots of what you think are you’re natural rights actually come with stipulations.
Even so recent as last holiday season, I was yelled at by one of my customers at work to turn off the music that was playing because it was “heathen” music and was shameful, offensive and inappropriate for the “Spirit and sanctity of the season”. The music that, just so happened to be playing on a random compilation played on ‘shuffle’ that she was referring to was celtic music. Not even celtic pagan music. Just regular ol’ – completely instrumental – celtic flutes, harp, fiddle and drums.
She refused to pay until I turned it off.
So after growing up, learning many hard life lessons of the world and how unequal it truely is; having to deal with all of this from the outside world, I sure as fuck don’t need to take it from my own people.
Or who *think* they’re my people.
It is hard living a life as I do, because I have learned over the years a very hard truth:
The Pagan Community is more hateful, judgmental, ignorant, and alienating than any outside source.
Because for people like me – not only are you generally looked over from the outside world because of the simple fact that you don’t fall into the 3 majorly accepted religions (or really, 2 accepted religions after 9/11) but you are also shunned from your fellows because you’re not the *right* kind of pagan.
Because, apparently, there are extremely strict guidelines of what it means to be a pagan these days – and if you happen to disagree with one of these “Facts” or do not support a widely praised, or followed networks – you are a fake. Or a pretender.
This is a lonely path. I knew that when I first fought my mom one Sunday morning, when I yelled at her that I didn’t want to go to church with Gramma anymore. I knew that when I started learning more and more of what actually *did* make sense to me. I knew that when I made the decission officially, and when I went behind my mom’s back to learn from my brothers – who supposedly didn’t exsist. It was ground into me even more when they had to leave, and I continued on my own – and opened even more doors that were even more guarded.
I knew what it meant.
I guess I just never thought it would be *completely* alone. I thought there would be someone to bump into somewhere down the road, and exchange scraps here and there and pass on to someone, or to receive from someone else, tid bits here and there of what they learned and what they knew, and could each take that back with us on our own way.
But no – it’s not like that at all, and not because it *has* to be like that, it’s like that just purely because of the complete utter closed-mindedness of the community…..that they are completely oblivious too, because of course, ask any pagan – they’ll slather you with how open, and enlightened they are towards all people…..
Sadly, it’s just a lie.