We live in a very full and busy world. The days seems to start earlier and earlier, yet end later and later. Sleep is no longer treated as a necessity, more of a luxury. We are raised and educated to become part of the economic cycle of production and consumption, and honestly... it all gets a bit much.
From the first buzzing, blipping or beeping of our phones, the day is filled with distraction. From folk looking for our attention to social media spaces designed to ensnare our minds in an every scrolling feed of images, reels, blurbs, vids and screenshots. We are at the beck and call of so many people, groups and indeed companies now a days, its easy to see how we 'loose time' to the ever present black screens around us.
Thankfully there is a growing awareness and acceptance that a healthy balanced life, must include as much Rest and Relaxation time as it does period of effort. For me there is nothing quite like settling into a comfortable chair, warm mug in hand and a great book to fill my mind with images of our grand origins, our ancient wonders, epic heroes, and cruel villains. Reading the mythology of a culture can really help us connect to some of the deep perspectives of a people and the land that they once inhabited.
Sometimes the world can be forgotten because I Just want to Sip Coffee and Read Mythology
Do you want a new mug that shows your love of mythology and coffee? Check out our store!
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The Irish Pagan School was founded in 2017 to provide a space for native Irish teachers and those dedicated to Irish Paganism to share in an authentic connection to Ireland and its spiritual practices.
In the years since its founding the school has grown to provide a vast range of Irish teachings, chief of which is the original guided journey practiced developed by Pagan Priest Rev. Lora O'Brien. The school has reintroduced the ancient word for tribe, Tuath, to describe the vast collection of passionate engaged people who make up our community.
We work hard to create and maintain safe, topically centric spaces for our community to gather online in social media. By setting clear expectation and consistently encouraging people towards compassion and respect our Tuath has grown into some of the most caring, supportive and fact inclined spaces around. We regularly have our school members engaging in peer to peer discussion on the classes they take.
For the lighter side of community engagement our students gather for an hour three times a week to simply share space with others who are on the same journey as them. These Live @ 5 sessions as hosted in Zoom so they are accessible to our Tuath, or tribe, no matter where they are in the world.
The truth of of any endeavour can be seen in how it grows and what it provides to those who engage with it. We are fortunate to have so many amazing people leaving reviews of our teaching and sharing how our classes and courses have helped them grow and change on their personal journey of spiritual growth.
The Irish Pagan School, providing an authentic connection to Ireland, since 2017!
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What then do we do? What makes us get up again and again and try, no matter the perceived lack of reward?
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Life is messy. Sure there are times when progress comes easy and smiles are frequent, but there are also times when every step we take feels laboured, the progress uncertain, and smiles few and far between.
What then do we do? What makes us get up again and again and try, no matter the perceived lack of reward?
Its a very personal question and only you will know the answer that applies to you, but for many of us, the answer is faith. Now faith is not a religious thing. For some its not even a spiritual thing. Faith can be defined as complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Whether that someone is yourself, a deity, or someone close to you, or the something is an ideology, a dogma, or even humanity itself, the act of having complete trust can be very empowering.
The thing is, trust can be easily spoken of, promised, or even broken, but I would suggest that it is only in the times of trial, times when the outcome is far from certain, that trust becomes Faith. It is only in those times when things seem their darkest, that we realise what it is that we are holding on to. What it is that raises our chins from our chests and gives us hope for tomorrow.
What ever that is for you, you may only find it in the difficult days, so don't give in. Move forward.
Faith is Found in Uncertainty. Believe...
The Irish language is often remarked upon for it's poetic turn of phrase and that is no more obvious in the seanfhocail - Irish proverbs, or 'old words'. Seanfhocail are well known sentences that some might see as cliché, but when each one of them is considered in more than just passing, the deeper wisdom and cultural insights can be glimpsed.
"Mol an oige agus tiocfaidh sí" translates as “Encourage young people and they will get there.” The concept of the family runs very deep in Irish traditions and can easily be traced back into our ancient past to a time when family was more than just blood, it was Tuath, or tribe.
In this seanfocail we catch a glimpse of parenting advice that one can easily see being handed down from an elder. This is a true today as ever when we look to the youth around us in our changing world. The true value of encouragement, instead of criticism can never be underestimated.
"Mol an oige agus tiocfaidh sí" translates as “Encourage young people and they will get there.”
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One of the basic tenants of all forms of paganism is meditation and introspection.
Healthy spiritual growth requires an active awareness of self and the best mechanism to create and maintain such an awareness is meditation and introspection.
Our world has become a lot more comfortable with the concept of meditation and there are many scientific studies that talk about the benefits, mental, physical and emotional, that a regular meditation practice can have on a person.
Yet there are very real and impactful forms of illness which exist in our world and not everything can be treated with positive mental attitudes, correctly aligned energy centres, or adequately cleansed crystals. Sometimes the best medicine is in fact, medicine. We now have centuries of medical knowledge built up by scientific exploration and experimentation. Where our ancestors chewed willow bark for pain, we can now take aspirin. Where our ancestors incarcerated or exorcised people with for fits and seizures, we can not correctly diagnose a range of neurodiversities and take medicinal support to aid out brains production of appropriate neurotransmitters.
We have come a long way and the medical knowledge of today is based upon the roots of the past, refined and revised over time. Now that we are living longer and more healthily we have the time to explore other forms of self care, other avenues of achieving a safe balanced existence. Meditation is one of those methods and though it cannot replace the benefits of medicine, it can at least aid us in reaching a more well rounded existence.
Meditation is not Medication...but it can help.
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There is a well known saying that ignorance is bliss. Now I could delve into the past and explore its origins but I think there is far more value to be consider things in a current context.
We live in a era of unprecedented access to knowledge. A vast majority of the world can now connect to the internet and through this global database, interact with information in a manner that even folk of the current generation find mind boggling. So in light of that is ignorance still bliss? Or is ignorance a symptom of oppression? Even worse is ignorance an expression of privilege?
In some countries access to knowledge is severely curtailed or curated in order to fit a particular narrative. We still live in a world where a person's social standing, economic status, or even something as ridiculous as gender may inhibit their access to knowledge. This state of enforced ignorance is nothing short of oppression, ensuring that certain people have access to that which empowers most, knowledge.
What of the other category though? What of those who have unrestricted access to knowledge? Is their ignorance anything other than a choice to remain closed to knowledge?
We are so many of us exposed to the difficulties of those around us in a manner that our parents and grandparents could never have foreseen. From systematic oppression of ethnicities, cultures, genders, to global climate change, ongoing wars and economic inequalities some say that we are witnessing the slow collapse of society.
Yet lets not zoom out too far, we are now capable of being more politically aware in our own countries and localities. We are able to quickly check in on our friends and family members all across the world and it's possible to easily connect to the joys and struggles of the lives of those around us.
We have so much access to knowledge, and knowledge is a form of power. So what are you going to do with you power?
Ignorance may be bliss... but its also no excuse.
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Our world can be a very fast paced experience. From selling our time to earn a living, to investing our time in relationships with friends and family the hours of the day disappear quicker than we often realise. When the next day comes, the cycle starts again in a spiral of exhaustion that sleep does not fully restore.
Rest is not a reward.
Many of us have become so linked to the cycle of effort and exhaustion, the obligation to 'make the most of your time' leave us with feelings of guilt whenever exhaustion forces us to stop. We are told that we can earn our vacation time, or if we put in a lot of effort now we can get our rewards later.
The responsibilities and obligations that we pile upon ourselves either by financial or social contracts can feel like success. We are exposed to media that constantly reminds us that happiness and satisfaction come from the gathering of wealth, or the approval of others around us, but what if this was not true..?
Like all machines that need to be stopped to prevent break downs, of fields that need to be left fallow for a season, our rest is not a reward for our efforts, its a necessity for our survival.
Take the time you need. Invest in yourself by investing in your rest.
Remember: Rest is not a Reward!
Keep reminding yourself by wearing the t-shirt - now available in our store!
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Ogham is the first written script of Ireland - said to have been created by the God Ogma as proof of his scholarly prowess. These characters can be found all across Ireland marking prominent stones where ever you may go. Combining this ancient script with the words from the living Irish language our Ogham series hopes to bring new energy and awareness to both.
Fios is the Irish word for knowledge, but unlike eolas (information) this word speaks more to visionary wisdom, carnal knowledge and in some circles a Second Sight.
As we have seen in our series, there are many Irish words for knowledge but I have yet to come across one that better captures the idea of esoteric or occult widsom than Fios. We see the variations of Fios connected to people who often held a lot of influence in Ireland. The lucht feasa were soothsayers and the more common Bean feasa was a wise woman or fortune-teller. It was well understood that these folk had access to knowledge and that made them both powerful and wise, as such anyone who came seeking the knowledge from them would also be wise in showing them respect.
Fios could be seen as linked with older notions of the practical applications of knowledge, for some believe that only when the knowing of a thing is linked with the experience of doing it that true wisdom can be found.
If knowledge is power, then maybe only the wise can truly be trusted with it.
Wear Your Wisdom by Grabbing One of These Tees from our Shop
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Ogham is the first written script of Ireland. Said to have been created by the God Ogma as proof of his scholarly prowess, these characters can be found all across Ireland marking prominent stones where ever you may go. Combining this ancient script with the words from the living Irish language our Ogham series hopes to bring new energy and awareness to both.
Eolas is the Irish word for Knowledge, but though it can be used for information, it is interesting that this word also covers a practical understanding or familiarity that some might attribute to deeper comprehension.
There are many words for knowledge in the Irish language as there are many tales in our mythology and folk lore where knowledge is regarded with great respect. From the stories of the great Hazel tree in the Otherworld from with knowledge falls to be consumed by salmon, to the heroic origins of Fionn as he eats one of these salmon and gains, not strength, or speed, but a greater gift than mere physical attributes. He gains access to all knowledge. and as they say, knowledge is power.
Yet Eolas goes beyond the academic range of knowledge. The word also speaks to a more fully realised expression of knowledge in its meaning of practical understanding. Access to all the knowledge in the world can be of little use when you don't know what to do with it. Much like the story of Fionn, we too have access to all knowledge, maybe even in your hand right now.
I guess only you can choose to go beyond just information, and uncover the real meaning of eolas.
Check out out Eolas Tshirts HERE
Ogham is the first written script of Ireland. Said to have been created by the God Ogma as proof of his scholarly prowess, these characters can be found all across Ireland marking prominent stones where ever you may go. Combining this ancient script with the words from the living Irish language our Ogham series hopes to bring new energy and awareness to both.
Bua is the Irish word for Victory, but it can also be applied in a number of other ways, describing a persons talent, merit, some special quality, or even their destiny or lot in life.
The concept of Bua or Victory is something that many Irish people are very invested in. Be it the local or country GAA or Hurling teams, the International sports teams and athletes or even something more important like national independence, cultural identity, civil rights or any number of important causes, the Irish drive for Victory has always been a passionate endeavour.
Yet Bua brings a deeper perspective to the idea of victory. Its not just about dominance or overcoming challenges. It speaks to a an idea of manifest destiny, to a belief that there is some special quality to be acknowledged and that every one has merit by some gift of talent or virtue.
The idea of Bua is something that has been carried on the wind from the voices of Irish folk in our past, and can still resonate deep within us all. I would encourage anyone to roar this word loudly into the wind and feel the victory rise within them.
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Ogham is the first written script of Ireland. Said to have been created by the God Ogma as proof of his scholarly prowess, these characters can be found all across Ireland marking prominent stones where ever you may go. Combining this ancient script with the words from the living Irish language our Ogham series hopes to bring new energy and awareness to both.
Clann is the Irish word for family, but it can also be used to describe descendants or offspring of a family line. This is most common use of this word but in looking a little deeper into the language and exploring its other translations, maybe we can gain a deeper understanding of what family means in Irish culture.
Some of the older uses of the word Clann actually referred to the produce or off shoots of plants. Ireland has always been described as an abundant land of green growing things and so it 's easy to see how plants might figure in our language. Yet even here it is about that which grows out of or from the main plant.
Another interesting meaning come when we look at things with also grow from us, referring to a lock of hair, or indeed tresses. A person can be describes and having a 'clann' of 'gruaig' or a family of hair growing from them.
One of the more fascinating meanings for me comes from weaving where a Clann is two interlocked threads on warping frame. The image of a union of threads in a greater weave making up a family really appeals to me.
The last I will share with you is that Clann can also be considered as people who share a following, be it spiritual or political. The idea that coming together to share and speak on an ideology can make one a family is a concept that many might benefit from sharing.
What all of this means is that the idea of family in the Irish culture is not something of a base matter of bloodline. Maybe it can be seen as a gathering of people of shared belief, intersecting and interlocking in any number of ways and producing off shoots that will grow into the future. Maybe, in some way, we are all family.
Claim your Clann t-shirt here!
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Ogham is the first written script of Ireland. Said to have been created by the God Ogma as proof of his scholarly prowess, these characters can be found all across Ireland marking prominent stones where ever you may go. Combining this ancient script with the words from the living Irish language our Ogham series hopes to bring new energy and awareness to both.
Misneach is the Irish word for courage. Unlike many other Irish words there does not appear to be alternative meanings to this term. The concept of courage is something that many would see as a fundamental facet of the human condition, as core to our existence as fear.
Ireland's lore is filled with heroes of all kinds, from the warriors like the fabled Fionn and his mighty Fianna, to the saints like Finbarr who altered the landscape of the island by banishing monsters creating rivers and lakes. All of these tales mention time and again their bravery, battling the odds, or the elements in a variety of trials. Still some of the best stories, in my mind, show us the character of a hero, not in the moments of their triumph, but in the times of the vulnerability.
Yet where many cultures seem to define courage as an absence of fear, for me there can be no real courage without fear. A person who acts without fear may be acting without awareness of consequences. Where as a person who knows fear, knows the consequence or costs of acting, and still chooses to act? Well I would see that as an act of courage.
Ireland has many heroes and not all of them are ancient memorialized figures of myth. Some are a lot closer to us than we think from the Republicans who took part in the Easter rising of 1916, to the political prisoners who died on hunger strikes under incarceration by the British. Some of our most influential recent heroes hare those who have taken Ireland's passion, education, and physicality out into the world. From Mary Robinson the former president to took the seat of high commissioner for the United Nations council for human rights, to sporting heroes like Sonia O'Sullivan, Brian O'Driscoll.
Courage is not solely the realm of singular exemplary individuals though. Every day individual people choose what they will stand for and what they will stand against, be it unnecessary water charges, the right to legal union for same sex couples, of the repeal of a harmful amendment to the Irish constitution. Ever day people speak up despite their fears for what they believe to be right, not just for themselves, but for everybody.
This is Misneach. This is Courage.
]]>Ogham is the first written script of Ireland. Said to have been created by the God Ogma as proof of his scholarly prowess, these characters can be found all across Ireland marking prominent stones where ever you may go. Combining this ancient script with the words from the living Irish language our Ogham series hopes to bring new energy and awareness to both.
Rath is the Irish word for prosperity.
It could also be read favour, gift, or bounty. When we speak about prosperity a majority of us may default to thoughts of wealth, of affluence or luxury. Though these considerations can and do call within the bounds of prosperity, I would suggest that thoughts like, security, health, success, and community also make us prosperous.
The word 'rath' exists in Irish text dating all the way back to the 11th century, texts that use language which has been dated as belonging to the 9th century. These manuscripts such as the book of Kells, the book of Fermoy, shoe that our people have always considered prosperity as important, but that in this time before currency, prosperity did mean something other than coins.
This word has not changes in the thousands of years of its use. It has always spoken of the connections that exist between us. From its earliest use as a bestowal or grant of property or chattels from a lord to their tuath, to the grace or favour that we show to each other and we share in our gifts or bounty.
Maybe prosperity is less about the value of that which is transacted, and more about the bond upon which such transactions can be made.
What do you think?
]]>Ogham is the first written script of Ireland. Said to have been created by the God Ogma as proof of his scholarly prowess, these characters can be found all across Ireland marking prominent stones where ever you may go. Combining this ancient script with the words from the living Irish language our Ogham series hopes to bring new energy and awareness to both.
Buíochas is the Irish word for Gratitude. Its most often heard as a way of saying thanks or for the devout Catholics, 'Buíochas le dia' or thanks be to God.
There is a lot of talk out there about gratitude and though some of the fundamental principals are sound there is much that is also troubling. As with so many things in our world, context is key. A sentence like, 'be grateful for what you have' could be read any number of ways if context is not clear.
For some who have uncertainty about their situations, it can be read threateningly, for others it could be read as a positive affirmation of their abundance and status.
Gratitude is something that I encourage active engagement with, meaning that I regularly look for things to express gratitude for and remind myself that there is much that I benefit from in my life.
It is important to me to retain some honest perspective so that I do not fall into a delusion of toxic positivity. I try to be conscious of the advantages that my life offers be, but without falling into a cycle of comparing myself to others.
Gratitude is something that everyone can express in their own unique way to themselves. I don't see it as a magic "laws of attraction" solution, but I do find that I personally feel more secure within myself when I take time to be grateful. Not just for all the nice and easy things, but also for the hard and hurtful things, because even these difficult experiences have led me to the place I am in today. Gratitude is not always easy, but I find that it can help to actively engage in personal gratitude from time to time.
Oh and as for that version of gratitude I mentioned earlier? I think I might add a little "buíochas le Dagda" into my devotions.
Catch you next time.
]]>Ogham is the first written script of Ireland. Said to have been created by the God Ogma as proof of his scholarly prowess, these characters can be found all across Ireland marking prominent stones where ever you may go. Ogham is created by marking horizontal and diagonal lines meeting or crossing a central line. The number, position, and angle of these mark indicate the fid, or character / letter that the marks create. What is commonly misunderstood is that Ogham is read from the 'root' upwards, making the first letter of the word you're spelling the bottom fid in the ogham glyph.
Combining this ancient script with the words from the living Irish language our Ogham series hopes to bring new energy and awareness to both.
Sláinte is the Irish word for health. It speaks to a total form of well being that is not just about the physical. This term is one of the more famous Irish words that is heard time and again around the globe wherever folk gather and raise glasses in a toast. As with a lot of Irish language, there is a deeper meaning to our words. When someone clicks your glasses, looks you in the eye, and says sláinte, they are not just saying 'cheers'. They are wishing you health and well being, all on one simple yet powerful word.
This may be a very real example of a physical imbalance of power, but we have continued to make the same error in presumption over an over again. Ethnic and racial minorities go without representation. Sex and gender bias denies the very existence of many of our fellow humans. Everywhere around our world there is poverty and privation because of this imbalance. There are some who have prosperity and power, holding to a belief that they are not anymore privileged than their fellow humans, or worse again those who know they are and choose to use their power and influence to maintain this imbalance.
All over our world, people are starved of recognition, compassion, acceptance, and shockingly hundred of years on, basic food and water. We pride ourselves on the marvels of our modern world and its technological progressiveness, but all of these advances are still benefiting only a potion of our world and leaving the rest to suffer and struggle for their very survival.
Today we still exist in a world where time and again we are reminded that the well-fed do not understand the lean.
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The Irish language is often remarked upon for it's poetic turn of phrase and that is no more obvious in the sean fhocail - or 'old words'. Sean fhocail are well known sentences that some might see as cliché, but when each one of them is considered in more than just passing, the deeper wisdom and cultural insights can be glimpsed.
Ar scáth a chéile, a mhaireann na daoine translates as "Under the shelter of each other, people survive."
There is a very really bond that exists between peoples who have suffered under targeted oppression. Whether that oppression was based on conquest, or persecution because of things like ethnicity , skin colour, religion, sex, or gender, we see time and again how the oppressed gather together and support each other.
There is a connection that goes beyond basic human acceptance, becoming a bond of survival, not just of the individual, but of the ideals, and values of the collective.
Time and again we see the noble virtues of our species arise to combat our darkest traits. Time and again, the vulnerable weak are defended by the capable strong and it is because of that protection, that our people survive. In our current history there has never been an external oppressive threat to our species as a whole, but there have been many terrible examples of oppression that we have to to ourselves.
There are still people alive to day who would not be, or entire family trees that exist purely because they were sheltered in their time of need, be it from the deprivations of famine, the horrors of war, violence both domestic or not, and any other form of persecution. If not for the willingness of some to be open and accepting, no matter the challenges, our world would, to my mind, be a much worse place.
If you have experienced Irish culture and native Irish communities, then maybe you can appreciate how gladly we accept others and how passionately we will then defend them. This might help give you an insight into some of the deeper layers of this sean fhocail.
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We are continuing our sean Fhocail, or "old Word" series with another phrase. Sean fhocail are well known sentences that some might see as cliché, but when each one of them is considered in more than just passing, the deeper wisdom and cultural insights can be glimpsed.
Tús Maith Leath Na Hoibre translates as "A good Start is Half the work".
Often in our lives we fall afoul of a difficult to perceive influence which we are exposed to all of the time in our modern world. We are constantly shown how "great" a thing is in its completed state and rarely the effort that went into getting it there. Through out the day we are exposed to so many exterior perspectives of "perfection" or even just completion, that our minds are turned by these images and videos without our active awareness.
From the fashion and fitness industries to travel and food, home and living, and so many more, we're are sold this idea of a perfect existence. Of looking a certain way, or living in a certain style.Though some of us may find this inspiring and feel energised with ambition, the downside of this influence is the damage it can do to motivation. Some of us find ourselves caught unable to take the first step because all we are so focused on is the last. Everything becomes about the final image and not the process and progress of the journey to achieve it.
This phrase reminds me that done is better than perfect, and taking even the smallest initial action or step, can often have more of an effect on our progress than we realise.
Fancy a Mug instead? Grab one HERE
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The Irish language is often remarked upon for it's poetic turn of phrase and that is no more obvious in the sean fhocail - or 'old words'. Sean fhocail are well known sentences that some might see as cliché, but when each one of them is considered in more than just passing, the deeper wisdom and cultural insights can be glimpsed.
Ní Bhíonn An Rath Acht Mar A mBionn An Smacht, translates as “There Is No Prosperity Without Discipline.” I find this phrase as both a motivation and a bit of a call out, which makes me smile.
Taking the Irish language at face value is okay, but sometimes going to Teanglann.ie and exploring the layered meaning of the words. Doing this with these Sean fhocail can be very worth the effort.
The word Rath above means prosperity, but it can also refer to grace, abundance, or Usefulness.
The word Smacht above is taken to be discipline, but one could easily substitute, regulation, dominion, or restraint.
Though the accepted translation mentions discipline and prosperity, you equally say that there is no usefulness without regulations, or abundance without restraint.
There are many times in our days when it seems that the hardest thing to do, is the thing that is the most important to do. We slip into habits of easier tasks or distracting entertainments, none of which truly drive us towards our greatest prosperity. It is at times like that when this sean fhocail rings its loudest in my mind, driving me to be disciplined ans do the uncomfortable yet important things, so that I engage mindfully with prosperity.
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The Irish language is often remarked upon for it's poetic turn of phrase and that is no more obvious in the sean fhocail - or 'old words'. Sean fhocail are well known sentences that some might see as cliché, but when each one of them is considered in more than just passing, the deeper wisdom and cultural insights can be glimpsed.
Nuair a Bhíonn an Fíon Istigh, Bíonn an Ciall Amuigh!
translates as
“When the Wine Is In, Sense Is Out!”
This is a very fascinating statement crossing the line between helpful guidance and also a warning. Of course there is a lot to consider regarding the impact of alcohol on Irish culture, but it might be fair to say that, in general, things are managed with the same wit and wisdom as we do almost anything else.
One can almost envision a parent warning a youth about the dangers of drinking alcohol and how it effects a person. Yet this phrase may also be offered as guidance regarding dealing with drunk people and how sense may not be achievable in the conversation.
From my own experience it is oft over heard from folk passing remark on those who may not be making the most sensible choices either in action or word when they have the 'few scoops' upon them. As a person who has ridden in a shopping trolley in my wilder youth I can admit that my 'Ciall', sense, was indeed 'Amuigh', out.
This sean fhocail really does speak to the point, providing a perspective quite possibly based on experience.
]]>The Irish language is often remarked upon for it's poetic turn of phrase. To really appreciate how true these comments are one needs to turn to a book. Not a dictionary, in this case we mean a history book.
Some of the oldest written records of the Irish language come from the 9th century common era in the form of the great monastic tomes such as the book of Kells, the Yellow book of Lecan, and, the recently return to Ireland, book of Lismore. The thing is, though there is great value gained by these works, it also highlighted that the Irish language existed for centuries on our island with only Ogham as it's sole written expression.
Prior to a broadly recognised script and a population educated in literacy, the only way information was recorded was in memory, and transferred between memories by oral recitation. Those people trained in memory and recitation were known as bards, and it was with bards that the language grew as everyone knows that it is easier to memorise a rhyme or poem than it is to recall an entire novel. Irish is a poetic language because it began and grew as the language of poets.
One of the more modern expression of the linguestic flare of the Irish language are known as the sean fhocail - or 'old words'. Sean fhocail are well known sentences that some might see as cliché, but when each one of them is considered in more than just passing, the deeper wisdom and cultural insights can be glimpsed.
Níl saoi gan locht translates as 'there is no wise man without fault' and I think we can all agree that here is a deep sentiment, worthy of consideration, wrapped in something as directly simple as four words.
Yes, you. Whether you bought the shirt yourself, as a gift for someone, or even just shared the links to the product, You have helped do an amazing thing.
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Thank you.
Yes, you. Whether you bought the shirt yourself, as a gift for someone else, or even just shared the links to the product, you have helped do an amazing thing.
Mermaids is a UK based charity, helping gender-diverse kids, young people and their families.
They are one of the UK’s leading LGBTQ+ charities, empowering thousands of people with its secure online communities, local community groups, helpline services, web resources, events and residential weekends. They also seek to educate and inform wider society on gender identity by helping professionals accommodate and reassure gender-variant young people.
Learn more about this charity HERE
At the end of September 2020 the global trans community took another in a long line of hurts, this time in the public alignment of a certain internationally recognised author with an aggressively anti trans retailer.
Given the damage that this caused, not just to trans members in our own community but to trans people all around the world we decided to take a step to do something, no matter how small. Launching our t-shirt sporting the slogan "This Witch doesn't Burn" we agreed to donate 100% of all profit from the sale of this shirt generated until Samhain 2020, the end of the pagan year.
Here is where you came in and honestly you have done us and our community so proud, generating €326.66 for this deserving charity. The Eel and the Otter increased this to €400 and have today donated the sterling equivalent of £356.
There will always be some people who are motivated by fear and closed minded agendas. They choose to deny others the respect of living to their own truth, feeling entitled to judge others by harmfully bigoted perspectives. Yet Eel & Otter Press are proud to stand up for trans rights in whatever ways we are can.
Trans men are men. Trans women are women. Trans Rights are Human Rights.
So we will end as we began, with gratitude.
Thank you.
The Eel & The Otter
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Now a language that had existed for centuries, with its own rich history, lore, and stories was suddenly a hindrance. Parents knew that their children, struggling in a forcibly disadvantaged system, would need to do whatever it took to better themselves. By this mixed control of positions of authority, military might, and economic power, the British empire was able to force natives of any country they conquered to abandon their culture in order to survive.
One of the primary examples of this was installed by a state system of primary education introduced in 1831. This installed a targeted form of corporal punishment. Children attending school had to wear a stick on a piece of string around their necks. Each time they used Irish, a notch was cut into the stick. At the end of the day, they would be physically punished according to how many notches they had on their stick. The "tally stick", or "bata scoir" in Irish, represented one of the terrible things that the state did to its children.
Today Irish still lives as Ireland still has a number of local areas known as 'Gaeltacht' where the Irish language is the main language used but it is still in danger. As such any time even a few words as gaeilge (in Irish) pass our lips we are each of us doing something to keep it alive.
Is fearr Gaeilge briste, ná Béarla cliste - Broken Irish is better than clever English.
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The Word Túath is an ancient Irish term that most consider to mean tribe or people. As with almost everything in the Irish language though, there are deeper layers to explore and consider in order to really get an understanding of any Irish word.
The most commonly recognised occurrence of this word is of course in Túatha Dé Danann of the People of Danu, and for many folk here is where their linguistic exploration ends. As mentioned there is so much more to unearth once we do a little digging.
Of course if you're going to do some linguistic archeology into the Irish language, your best resource would have to be eDIL - Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language
The electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language (eDIL) is a digital dictionary of medieval Irish. It is based on the Royal Irish Academy’s Dictionary of the Irish Language based mainly on Old and Middle Irish materials (1913-1976) which covers the period c.700-c.1700 but incorporates corrections and additions to thousands of entries.
Though this site may look intimidating (and trust me I still wrangle with it at times), once you have any word in old or middle Irish you can perform a 'headword only' search and you will find not just a singular translation, but a whole list of possible alternative meanings and uses. From noun to adjective and more you can chase the green text definitions for its various meanings, but you will also find excerpts showing its use and even more awesomely, citing the old source texts for that excerpt. If words is your thing, then like me, you may find a great deal of information available to you, but back to our word of today, Túath.
Túath most commonly means 'people' but it can also mean 'country, or territory' defining a location or a place. What is great about this is that a Túáth was also recognised in the old Irish Laws as `territory, petty kingdom, the political and jurisdictional unit of ancient Ireland'. So already we have gone beyond just a people and into people of a particular place.
One of the more fascinating meanings to me is the following description; 'the state as opposed to the church; the laity; lay property, secular buildings'.
This more than anything highlights for me that this word did not mean a specific upper class of powerful section of society. It was not used for the ruling class at all. I was a word for the lay person and any locations that recognised as property of those people, the community mill for example. Any place that could be deemed secular, or not linked to any church. Any place that was of practical function to the people an áit túathi.
In exploring this word I believe that Túath is a collection of people recognised by law just for who they are, not what they believe.
To me, Túath is everybody.
(check out more on this @ eDIL - Electronic Dictionary of the Irish Language)
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The fire festivals of Ireland form one of the main cycles by which pagans mark the year. These festivals are still honoured today and used in conjunction with the cycle of the equinox as the basis of many a spiritual or ritual practices.
The importance of these festivals has continued through the centuries and even now many of them lend their name to a month in the modern Irish calendar. To really understand their importance, one needs to delve into the meaning connected to each festival.
IMBOLG - (im-BULL-g) - 1st of February - meaning ‘in the belly’, for the pregnancy aspects, this festival is about cleaning and clearing out after the down time of the year as first foods of Spring begin to appear.
BEALTAINE - (bee-OWL-tinnah) - 31st of April - meaning ‘The month of the beacon-fire’, this festival is tied to reallocating resources and the division of labour for the coming seasons. It is also a time of boundary crossover and protection as people work towards their abundance and in many cases fertility and conception.
LÚNASA - (LOO-nahsa) - 1st of August - coming from the name of the God Lugh, Lugnasad is known as ‘the festival of Lugh. It is a time of reaping and harvesting, feasting and frolicking, whilst also being a time of contracts, agreements and marital unions.
SAMHAIN - (SOW-win) - 31st of October - meaning ‘death of Summer’ this festival is the Irish new year, linked with ancestor work, community celebration and planning and preparation for the down time of the year.
There is a lot to learn about honouring these festivals in our practice, not least of which is how to pronounce them properly, but the first step should always be remembering when they are.
If you too have troubles recalling the dates, then maybe this t-shirt is for you as much as it is for me.
]]>100% of the Profits until Samhain 2020 will be donated to The following Charitable organisation.
Mermaids supports gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.
100% of the Profits until Samhain 2020 will be donated to The following Charitable organisation.
Mermaids supports gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.
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Ireland has its fair share of witches.
Of course I'm using the present tense here because it does, and always has had. Now the word witch may come from a certain root, or practice and may conjure every conceivable image from the pointy hat, green skin, stripy socks, to flying brooms, potions, and wands as represented in certain media, but what it has almost always referred to is folk with a particular knowledge, skill, or talent, that in some ways defies what many consider as "normal" expectation.
Of course when we apply the cliché that "knowledge is power", these folk with knowledge invariably become folk with power. Here is where things go slightly down hill though. Not everyone holds respect for the power of knowledge. Some folk fall to fears, allowing it to close their minds. Of course fear doesn't only blind people to truth, it can also lead to an emotional instability which invariably leads to harm. Self harm in some bad cases but harm of others in the worst of cases.
This is the core of closed minded instability which led to the burning of witches at the stake. Fear of not just power, or knowledge, but fear of anything that could be considered different. In many cases this fear turned against anyone who did not fit a fictitious "norm". Those who, for any number of reasons, did not conform to the expectations of others. Fear replacing compassion, bigotry replacing acceptance, and death replacing life for many who were innocently living the one life they had. Living to the best of their ability in line with their own truth.
These days the physical stakes are gone, but some people are still motivated by fear and closed minded agendas. They choose to deny others the respect of living to their own truth.
For us here are Eel & Otter, we will stand against the fear because This Witch Doesn't Burn!
Buy this T-Shirt and support Transgender and gender-variant children.
100% of the Profits until Samhain 2020 will be donated to The following Charitable organisation.
Mermaids supports gender-diverse children and young people until their 20th birthday, as well as their families and professionals involved in their care.
Transgender and gender-variant children and teens need support and understanding, as well as the freedom to explore their gender identity. Whatever the outcome, Mermaids is committed to helping families navigate the challenges they may face.