An Interesting Title

Celtic Reconstruction Pagan. I will be posting all the things on Paganism.

[windyfiresoul-deactivated201601]

Brighde and Catholicism

When I first started out in Irish Polytheism and was researching Brighid (or Bride, or Brigit, or Brighde as I have started to spell it) In almost every entry, it was stated that the Goddess was subsumed or created into a Catholic saint.

St. Brigid is the daughter of Dugall the druid.  She was an actual human being, she existed, she built nunneries, taught people, converted people, she existed. And yes, eventually when she became a saint, legends started to abound about her, and possibly there was some bleed-over effect between the Goddess Brighde and the Saint Brigid, but to say that everything associated with St. Brigid was actually stolen from the ancient worship of Brighde is, quite frankly, ridiculous.  

A trend I have noticed in the pagan community (wiccans, pagans, polytheists, et al) is that while we easily accept the existence of other pantheons - and even of new pantheons being created (pop culture paganism) - there seems to be this pervading idea that all Christianity is a lie and that Christians are merely deluded poor souls who can’t see The Truth.  Does anyone see the irony here?

We, as pagans, have to be careful with cultural appropriation.  We need to listen to the cultures who have closed their religions and respect that that religion is off limits, but many people seem to view Christianity, and especially Catholicism as a free for all.

Catholicism is a closed religion.  You have to go through an initiation process where you are educated about the mysteries and theology of the religion.  You can’t participate in these mysteries (Baptism, Communion, Confession, etc.) until you are a full member of the religion.

Brigid’s cross is a symbol that is historically and archaeologically associated with St. Brigid and Catholicism.  Any speculation that it could have been a hold over from the pagan worship of the Goddess Brigid is just speculation. That symbol, that cross, has meaning in a religion, a closed religion, a religion where you must be a initiated as a member by a long and detailed process.  I am not a member of that religion.  I cannot use that symbol.  I have seen a prayer floating around from the Carmina Gadelicah that was a hymn to Brigid. It is a hymn to Saint Brigid.  People have attempted to “re-paganize” it.  No. Don’t. Stop.  Just stop.  The Descent of Brigid, as the hymn is called, is a Catholic prayer.  It was written by Catholics, for Catholics, so leave it for Catholics.  If you want a hymn to the pagan goddess Brighde, write your own. I do not hang dream catchers in my house; I don’t use Buddha statues as a design aesthetic, and I will stop using Catholic symbols to express my devotion to Brighde.

I’ll admit it, I did.  I had a necklace with Brigid’s cross, I tried to say the Descent of Brigid at least once a day, skipping over the Christian bits, I found myself believing that St. Brigid, was merely another “wily christian ploy” to seduce the “simple pagans” to their religion.

But when I asked my sister - who is Catholic and has been nothing but respectful and loving and supportive to me when I told her that I was no longer Catholic - if I was making her uncomfortable at all, she said, “The only thing that makes me uncomfortable is that you are worshiping Saint Brigid as a Goddess.”  I immediately told her that I wasn’t worshiping St. Brigid, I was worshiping the Goddess Brigid.  They are two different people.  When I told her that, she was relieved, and said, “Oh, okay then!  That’s alright.”  But it wasn’t alright.  How could she have thought that I was worshiping a Saint?  I looked down around my neck where my Brigid’s cross necklace was.  I thought about my St. Brigid medallions, where I blatantly ignored the Catholic prayers on the back, and my attitude toward this holy woman of another religion.

I said to my sister, “Maybe I shouldn’t use Brigid’s cross anymore.”  My sister, with incredible gentleness and understanding, said, “yes, you probably shouldn’t.”

So there you have it, ladies, gents, genderfluids, and agendered people.  I will stop using Catholic imagery in my worship, not only because I am not a member of that religion, but also because I want my religion to stand on it’s own two legs, strong and unique, instead of forever trailing behind Christianity.

[an-stoirm]

You’re most certainly right that the Saint Brid gets completely kicked out by pagans in favor of Goddess Brighid. I know I’m awfully guilty of this and I’m trying to be better. But I think you’re having an “all or nothing” type of mentality about how Saint Brid was/is in Ireland.

A lot of the conversion that happened in Ireland was peaceful, but a lot of the practices of pre-Christian times were kept and adopted to the new Christian lore.  

“The main significance of the Feast of St Brigid would seem to be that it was a christianization of one of the focal points of the agricultural year in Ireland, the starting-point of preparations for the spring sowing.” (quoted in The Year in Ireland by Kevin Danaher, original quote by Seán Ó Suilleabhain in the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland.) 

Even Alexander Carmicheal writes: “There are many legends and customs connected with Bride. Some of these seem inconsistent with one another, and with the character of the Saint of Kildare. These seeming inconsistencies arise from the fact that there were several Brides, Christian and pre-Christian, whose personalities have become confused in the course of centuries—the attributes of all being now popularly ascribed to one.” 

Dáithí O hOgáin also writes of how the Saint took on traits of the Goddess: “In Irish Christian tradition, St Brighid has always been regarded as the special patroness of farm animals and crops, and these are precisely the functions that one would expect of a pre-Christian divinity of spring. It is significant that the saint shares her name with the Celtic goddess BRIGHID, who in Ireland was honoured for her ‘protecting care’. It is therefore probable that a pagan sanctuary at Kildare was Christianised by a holy woman of the Fotharta. This would have meant that the cult of that sanctuary became attached to her, including the GODDESS-name Brighid, which may have been a title borne by the chief druidess there.” (The Lore of Ireland, page 52.)

These authors aren’t polytheists, but see that the Saint had taken over aspects of the Goddess. And while that does not allow for the idea that “The Christians stole Brighid!” or “There never was a saint, it was only the goddess”, history shows that the line was blurred between the two until the Saint just took on the Goddess’ attributes. 

I also can’t find it, but I know there is a is source that explains how the church at the time of Ireland’s conversion was frustrated by their non-Christian practices being used as Christian ones. They just couldn’t stop the Irish from continuing their polytheist beliefs even after conversion. 

It should also be noted that Carmichael recorded peasantry prayers, many of which don’t fit with Christian lore. It is instead thought that they are remnants of pre-Christian prayers that are then “Christianized.” Some prayers are obviously Christian, but if the only Christian aspect you can find is that it mentions the Christian figureheads, then it might be that those figureheads were originally Gaelic gods and heroes. I see the Genealogy of Bríde to be a prayer that could have gone either way. 

Another thing to consider is that, unlike other faiths, Christianity forced people to convert. This didn’t happen in Ireland necessarily, but certainly in other places. Take Voodoo for instance. So telling people that the culture that came in and created this need to disguise pre-Christian beliefs in Christian and then turn around and say that, since the Christian disguise is what stayed, they can’t use their own culture is…something I don’t agree with. In the Irish Polytheist context, it is not the fault of modern day Irish Polytheists that the monks took any traits of the Goddess and ascribed them to the Saint without footnoting when they were doing that. 

There are definitely things of the Catholic Church that are off limits, like Communion and Confession, but when you get into things that the Roman Catholic Church hasn’t adopted because it’s too polytheist…. It’s possible that they are indeed pre-Christian beliefs and practices. It won’t be clear-cut unfortunately. But I’m keeping my cros Bríd because my research points to how this isn’t a Christian practice but a cultural one. And while the cros is associated with the Saint, there is plenty of superstition involved with the cros to suggest it was originally a pre-Christian practice. And with it being tied to Imbolc—a day that is most certainly pre-Christian—it seems very likely that the cros was originally associated with the Goddess.

I hope this all makes sense? 

[spooksayer]

I do not have to validate my own faith by belittling other people's beliefs.

[xolittlewitchox]

Can snakes from bonds with their owner?

[lindenbeginning-blog]

I imagine this is subjective. I've personally come to the conclusion that if you feel that there is a connection there, it is highly probable that there is. Even if it is just you projecting, it's still a connection of sorts, or rather a bond.

[lindenbeginning-blog]

Just curious: is there a reason you consider yourself a Celtic Recon and not a Gaelic Recon?

Baha, I was wondering when someone was going to ask me this. I do, obviously, have quite a fondness for all things Gaelic. The truth is, I've always felt drawn toward Gaelic, but, I've also felt a draw toward other Celtic faiths (more specifically, Gaulish, Brythonic). I guess, I don't feel as though I'm well enough versed in everything to choose something that specific, yet, if that makes sense. I feel that beliefs, in general, are ever evolving and changing. So, while I could comfortably say that Gaelic Reconstruction is where the vast majority of my interest and study is focused today, I might wake up tomorrow and be like, "Well, fuuuu-- I feel like my values/beliefs fall more in line with Gaulish." Celtic Recon just seems to fit for me, right now. :) 

[lindenbeginning-blog]

This is still a work in progress, obviously. I started this as a present for a friend of mine. He's Asatru, and he wanted to learn more about Tarot. SO! I decided to try my hand at making him a tarot deck.

This is The Fool.

Program: GIMP

DeviantArt: ICantWait4u2FuckMeUp

[crescita-e-conoscenza]

Le chiama fairies… ma a me sembrano tanto alieni queste dolls. Bellissime.

She calls her dolls fairies… but they seems aliens to me. Beautiful.

[cosmoshop-deactivated20190228]

omg this is literally the first time i’ve seen fairies that doesn’t look too cliché or bland

[photophorez-blog]

holy shit i thought these were people with makeup and prosthetics on

[lindenbeginning-blog]

Well, I'm startled by this piece. Chiefly, because I made it before I found polytheism, or chose my patrons. For starters, it's the number three- and the posing of them, indicative of the Maid, the Mother and the Crone. The iconography is also, to me, vaguely reminiscent of the Bean Sidhe (Banshee). 

It's just so strange to look back, and realize that I was breadcrumbing, even in my art long before I identified as Celtic Polytheist.

Models: Apnea

Stock: deio-kamots-stock's nature010

Program: GIMP

[lindenbeginning-blog]

Therianthropy In A Nutshell

I'm going to preface this by saying that I am not a Therian myself. I do, however, teach a Therian and have done my fair share of research in hopes of helping them along their path. I say this to make it apparent that I am not the authority on what it means to be a Therian. As always, the best way to gain an understanding of Therian Faith, Culture and Psychology is to get into contact with someone who identifies as such.

With all disclaimers out of the way, I hope that you find this article informative and helpful! As always, if you feel as though there is something that I missed or misconstrued, please feel free to let me know!

What is Therianthropy?

Therians are individuals who identify strongly with non-human animals. Some believe that they have the soul of an animal, or, were once an animal in a past life, whereas others feel that it is a purely psychological connection. This means that they might connect mentally with a perceived mentality of their animal, or, they feel as though they can shift; meaning that the animal spirit will come to the forefront.

From my own research, I haven't found much reference to physiological shifting. The most common reference to shifting is psychological, or spiritually. However, there are some that say minor physical characteristics can change, such as eye color, or posture ([1]). However, other sources claim that Therians believe that a full shift is impossible ([2])

Therianthropy can coincide with the furry fandom, however, that's not necessarily universal with all Therianthropes.  As with all things in spirituality, culture and psychology, the beliefs are as widely varied as there are people in the world.

However, it should be noted that Therian comes from the Greek theríon [θηρίον] meaning "wild animal" or "beast." 

Most Commonly Mentioned "Types" of Therianthropes

It is important to note that these "types" have been defined purely on an etymological level. I have yet to see any Therian websites that offer a clear-cut defined list of what others identify as. It should also be noted that I put this list in this article, purely to draw attention to the seeming Therian preference for mammalian predators. I should mention, again, that this is simply what I've found in my own research! 

Lycanthropy

While this term is more specifically applied to Werewolves (having derived from the Greek word lykos, which means wolf), literally translating to "man-wolf," this term has been used to describe Therians who identify with wolves. 

Cynanthropy

This, beyond Lycanthropy, is the best known term for a specific variety of terianthropy. Cynanthropy (Kynior [Greek, for dog]), or, alternatively kynanthropy refers to Therians whose "alt" personality is that of a dog.

Ailuranthropy

This term has been used for the more common phrase, "Werecats." This, in specific refers to human to feline transformations.

Musoanthropy

This term refers to human to mouse transformations.

It should also be mentioned that there are far more kinds of Therianthropy out there than just what has been listed. There are those that might feel tied to insects, sea creatures and/or rats, etc. The preference seems to be toward mammalian predators, however, that is not how everyone in the community perceives themselves/identifies.

Types of Therian

Antherians: Animals that shift into other animals or humans, they experience many of the same things we do, and can be PolyTherians, or non-shifting Therians themselves. (Source: Link)

Cladotherian: An individual whose theriotype encompasses an entire genus of animals. (e.g. Canines, Felines) (Source: Link)

Con-Therian: Someone who believes he or she is constantly Shifted. (Source: Link)

Nonshifting Therian: A Therian who has memories of being an animal, but cannot Shift at all. (Source: Link)

Polytherian: Someone who believes they can Shift into more then one animal, often two or three. (Source: Link)

Standard Therian: An individual who experiences their therianthropy through a single theriotype, often experiencing significant changes in mentality between a human and animal mindset known as shifts. (Source: Link)

Suntherian: An individual whose theriotype is integrated into their baseline personality. (Source: Link)

What are Shifts? What Kinds Are There?

As I keep mentioning in this article, I am not the authority on Therianthropy. I am only citing what my research has unearthed. If there is something that you feel should be added to this list, please let me know!

Aural/Astral Shift

The experience of a therianthrope's 'aura' or astral body shifting into that of their theriotype. (Source: Link)

Cameoshift

When a therianthrope experiences a mindset or behaviours not of their primary theriotype/s. (Source: Link)

Dream Shifts

When a therian has dreams where they are, or turn into, their theriotype. (Source: Link)

Mental Shifts

A change in mindset towards or away from one's theriotype, which can vary in intensity and duration. (Source: Link)

Phantom Shifts

When a therian experiences a non-human body part superimposed on his or her body, similar to the feeling amputees report whom have lost a limb. Common phantom limbs include tails, wings and ears. (Source: Link)

Physical Shift

The physical transformation of an individual, either partially or completely into their theriotype. (Source: Link)

Therian Types, as listed by Therian-Guide.com

The images below indicate where one is, on the scale of their shift. The red dot refers to the human form, whereas the blue dot refers to the animal side. The green dot indicates where one is on this specific scale.

I have not altered any of the information listed below. This information was directly copied from the Therian-Guide website.

Fully Feral – This is the most common form of Therianthropy. The animal is in its fully natural form. 

Anthromorphic – In this form, the figure is entirely human except for the head, hands, feet, and they are gifted with a tail. Anthro have Animal-like appendages, and are more like Animals that walk Upright, like humans. 

Anthro-Alt- This is a little more animalistic then the ordinairy Anthro form. 

Human Headed- In this form the body is entirely animal except for the head. 

Animal Headed- Animal Headed are like Humans, with human appendages, (hands, ankles and feet) but they have animal heads, sometimes some fur, and sometimes a tail, or wings. 

Therian Faith?

Thus far, it might seem like a very clinical overview of what Therianthropy is. There has been no mention of faith, whatsoever. This is because Therianthropes are not necessarily predisposed to one faith or the other. A Therianthrope could be a Christian, just as easily as they could be a Kemetic Polytheist.

Some could consider their relationship with their "spirit animal," or "alt personality" as a spiritual relationship, however most Therians are inclined to believe that their relationship is a purely psychological phenomenom. There are even those that believe, like transgenders, that they were born in the wrong body, or, alternatively, were once their spirit animal in a past life. Therianthropy is unique to every person, and as such, cannot be given a tidy label.

Sources:

Therian-Guide.com

Therianthropy Research Group

Wikifur's Write-Up on Therianthropy

Wiki's Write-Up on Therianthropy

Communities

Therian-Wilderness

Awereness, Therianthropy.org

WulfHowl

Have a Community/Blog to Share?

Reblog this, with your community/blog information, so I can list it here!

[lindenbeginning-blog]

The Wild Hunt, by NikitaDrizhenko

[lindenbeginning-blog]

Morrigan, by Illahie from DeviantArt.

[lindenbeginning-blog]

Manannan Mac Lir, by twistedstrokes  on DeviantArt.

[lindenbeginning-blog]

What do you want to learn about?

I've been struggling with coming up with something to write about. Is there anything you'd like to learn more about? Any questions you'd like answered/want my opinion on? Feel free to ask me! =D

[nubbsgalore]

lightning strikes the grand canyon. photos by (click pic) travis roe, dan ransom (timelapse), rold maeder, david ponton and doug koepsel  

[lindenbeginning-blog]

Nature porn.

[alexvaluy]

[lindenbeginning-blog]

Want Your Own Custom Runes? Or a reading?

Up until recently, I have been making Runes, Ogham Staves/Stoves, Thebian "Runes" and "Witch Runes" for my friends as gifts. However, it has come to my attention that my father figure has been struggling, desperately, with this medical bills. Because of this, I have been doing Rune/Tarot readings for $15.00 a pop (which, is also where I've been, if you've been wondering!)

Now, I'm going to start offering any of the aforementioned Rune designs. If you'd like a set, by me (which, I can assure you, will be made properly), please, PM me for inquiries. As of right now, I can order in most any sort of stone. However, the price of the stone will dictate how much the set is. The sets that I've made before have gone from $20.00 - $50.00. 

In a Tarot/Rune Reading, you will receive: 

1) A Picture of your reading.

2) An in depth explanation of the runes/cards, and what their positioning and placement means.

Spread the word!

[astrophagia]

Ouija boards are not bad, it is a tool.

Ouija boards are not bad, it is a tool.

Ouija boards are not bad, it is a tool.

OUIJA BOARDS ARE NOT BAD, IT IS A TOOL.

They are a tool used for communication. Literally. That in itself doesn’t denote it being good or bad.

When you don’t know how to use a tool, you learn how to use it so you don’t hurt yourself. When I was a kid and grabbed a hammer cuz it looked like fun, there were a few times I hit my thumb with it because I didn’t know how to use it.

Ouija boards can be helpful.

There is nothing inherently bad with them. They are tools.

Just putting this out there since there’s been a lot of people saying not to use them and they are the *~worst thing ever~*

so yep.

[gefdreamsofthesea]

i have no idea why Ouija boards get so much crap when many people use other tools to contact spirits and/or deities. Some people use tarot cards or pendulums for the same purpose and nobody rants about how you’ll poke your eye out if you use a pendulum.

[lindenbeginning-blog]

Actually, this one time at Pagan camp... Kidding.

In all seriousness, there is nothing inherently evil about a Ouija board, regardless of your scope of practice (being a curious marginally rebellious teenager), Wiccan, Pagan, New Ager, etc. The problem is that it is a form of Divination. In truth, the disclaimer should be put on all Divination practices.

Ouija happens to be the most easily accessible and simple forms of Divination. Ergo, the uneducated and, often times, disrespectful happen to get their hands on it quite easily, for a night of party tricks, and whatnot. I think that's why one hears so many negative stories about Ouija boards. They're repeatedly being tried, and stress-tested in unfavorable conditions.

Giving someone a Ouija Board that doesn't have respect for the practice, or potential ramifications is like giving a megaphone to a mute person. You're gifting someone the ability to speak, that probably shouldn't. 

There are always going to be people out there that do stupid things. Messing around with stuff they know nothing about is simply part of the human condition. The best thing that can be done is to continue to educate people on the use of divining tools, and explain how it's not something to be taken lightly, or done as a drunken party trick. 

[wildeyedsoutherncelt]

Dalriada – Dál Riata The people of the Kingdom of Dál Riata spoke a Q-Celtic Goidelic language. They lived in Argyll on the West Coast of what is now Scotland from around AD 400. The Gaels of Dál Riata are often called ‘the Scots’ as the Romans named the Q-Celtic speaking peoples of Ireland and Argyll ‘the Scotti’ which probably meant ‘pirates’. The Scotti attacked Roman shipping off the west coast. Only twelve miles of sea separates the Mull of Kintyre from Antrim. The Gaels of Dál Riata and Antrim traded across the sea routes, intermarried and sometimes fought.