Syncretic Scathach

Boston native. Irish polytheist with a syncretic bent. 30+, Halt and Catch Fire is an uncomfortably familiar show. Professional programmer with two English degrees. Fencer, loves both pens and swords.

[girlfleeshouse]

The new owner. The governess. The housekeeper. ... but you know this tale.

[syncretic-scathach]

On hiring packers to move

Packer #1: I've never seen so many books in a 2-bedroom... Packer #2: Have you looked in the closet? Look in the closet, there's more. Packer #3: Uh, ma'am? Is this a sword? Me: ...it's a parrying blade. Packer #3, addressing a coworker in the office: Bro, I *told* you it was too short to be a sword!

[ex0skeletal-undead]

Forest Witch by megounette

This artist on Instagram

[ayeforscotland]

Breaking News

On the anniversary of the passing of Britain’s first female Prime Minister, this blog is delighted to confirm that Margaret Thatcher is still dead.

[cipheramnesia]

Not good enough, dig her up and kill her again.

[syncretic-scathach]

Hi all!

I'm still around, it's just been a month and a half full of catching pretty much every cold/virus going lately, and Gentleman Scholar and I are in the process of moving -- not far, thankfully, but packing is A Process.

Please enjoy this photo of Babs finding new ways to be tall. Fingers crossed, things should pick up a bit here shortly.

[syncretic-scathach]

Hozier - Too Sweet

[gaytanic-panic]

shout out to this skull rosary. made me think of @cryptotheism 's post about how it was the medieval catholics who added all the spooky scary skeleton shit to halloween, not the celtic pagans

[cryptotheism]

Clarification: The Celtic pagans has some spooky skeleton shit, but when Christian syncretism started, they sent that skeleton shit into overdrive.

Catholics will see a skeleton and go "is anyone going to gild this" and then not wait for an answer

[syncretic-scathach]

What's something you miss doing, that you'd love to have the opportunity to do again?

Ooh, this is a fun one @brightgnosis, thank you!

I fenced for years pre-pandemic. Most clubs have one or two "open" nights a week that are a lot like basketball pickup games -- anyone with equipment who wants to fence is welcome to show up, with a small fee for drop-ins who aren't already members. I really liked being a regular at one or two spots where everyone was pretty low-key and it was nice to get to hang out with a mix of school aged kids, university students on break, and retirees (it's hard to find sports that are forgiving of a broad band of ages).

Like a lot of other things, most clubs shut down at the height of COVID and were slow to re-open. I'd moved by the time things settled, and the clubs near where I am now seem to cultivate membership for folks interested in professional competition. I tried the competition scene out when I was younger and didn't really enjoy it, I'm really just interested in a fun way to exercise and chit-chatting with people who are into the same niche hobby.

If I found a local club with a chill atmosphere, though! I really do miss the social environment, and muscle memory is a hell of a thing -- I missed a step going down the stairs the other day and caught myself by falling into "en garde" position.

[the1920sinpictures]

1910 Silver acorn thimble case from Tiffany & Company. From Awesome Attic, FB.

[lorbanery]

The original Peter & Wendy play was first staged in 1904.

I'm sure there's a perfectly good non-Pan-related reason why they would make this. But I hope it's not the actual reason.

[kavohh707]

Crow on a bridge on a stormy day.

[the-golden-dragoness]

I am sorry to everyone who tagged me in some tag game and I never responded. I saw it and thought “aww they thought of me” and proceeded to forget about it right after

[memewhore]

[voidsnout]

hold on let me google something

[voidsnout]

what the fuck

[triflesandparsnips]

happy Boston Molasses Flood to all who celebrate

[mossbawn]

if you continue to participate in your culture after a coloniser tried to destroy it is that an act of mourning or am i just being pessimistic. is postcolonial culture a funeral rite or is that the persistent complex bereavement disorder making me act up again

[mossbawn]

why are irish people so good at funerals! i'm just saying

[anarchotolkienist]

One modern Gaelic poem that really grapples with the intimate feeling of languge and culture loss, Gur fad am thàmh mi gu tostach sàmhach by Alasdair MacIlleBhàin, asks whether the modern "revival" is 'turadh no tuaireadh' - neither word has a direct equivalent in English, but roughly, "a break in the rainfall, or a death-song?".

Nonetheless, if what we are doing is but a tuaireadh, let us sing a tuaireadh worthy of Gaelic culture, the Tuaireadh that the Gaels deserve. Grieving is a constant process, and the singing can't stop for that.

[syncretic-scathach]

Sam Nelson - Leave Flowers

[syncretic-scathach]

Little Christmas plans for the day.

My family's yearly bash has been moved to next week to accommodate a birthday, so I have a quiet Saturday to myself with a new book and deck. I'm enjoying A Ghost in the Throat -- it's a lovely mixture of literary criticism, poetry, and memoir, and Ní Ghríofa's translation of Caoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire in the back is something I know I'll be reading again and again. I'm already looking forward to plundering the bibliography.

I spotted the Sefirot deck at my local bookstore and didn't hesitate after spotting @eliotbaum in the wild. The art is gorgeous and I was delighted to see there were several options to choose from for "The Lovers" (I know this is becoming more common with indie decks but this is the first one I own with that dynamic). Best impulse purchase in awhile.

[syncretic-scathach]

Happy Nollaig na mBan!

[stuckinapril]

“you should be at the club” Brother I should literally be sent to the seaside for my health