#fainne

[juh-artist]

Fainne, Child of the Prophecy 🔥

I think I can start by saying that the Brazilian title, A Filha da Profecia (“The Daughter of the Prophecy”), gives away quite the spoiler for those paying attention. Since I wasn’t at first, I still got completely surprised 🤭

Fainne became dear to me as soon as I read about the circumstances of her birth and upbringing. She’s very different from Sorcha and Liadan. Even her name is a hint at what she truly is — an enchanted being, thanks to her paternal grandmother. Something not entirely human.

We get lost in her self-deprecating thoughts, in her huge desire to be a good woman for the world and for the ones she loves. And I’ll admit, at times I thought that maybe her bloodline had already doomed her to chaos and darkness. But as someone told her at a certain point, “a child has two grandmothers.” That line completely broke me — I cried remembering brave, strong Sorcha. How could that fragile girl have given life to someone as powerful, beautiful, and fierce as Fainne?

And this girl made mistakes — she did, trying to be loved and accepted. But she also grew and did the right thing for the very same reasons. Until one day, when she finally realized she was the child of the prophecy, she gave up everything to live in seclusion and protect the Goddess’s secrets from the Christian advance.

Sevenwaters is such a beautiful allegory for the fall and resilience of the Old People of Ireland, and also for the reason why, even today, the Goddess can still speak to those who truly listen: there was once a sacrifice made out of devotion and love for one’s own blood. Without Fainne, the Old Faith would have been completely erased. The island shrouded in mist keeps alive the memory of the faith in the Earth and in everything that lives beneath Her.

I still get emotional when I think of how this story filled my days with so much feeling — tenderness, joy, sadness — but above all, hope. Hope that, even in times like ours, the Great Mother still watches over us and continues to whisper to those willing to hear Her mysteries 💜

I’m deeply grateful for having found this story and for everything it’s taught me 💜

[qiyeou]

hair and hands

[ravenlesslangblr]

Look what came in the mail today! 

 I was told by two people already to get one, one being my Irish teacher. I’m still not feeling very confident about it but hey, it doesn’t only show fluency but mainly willingness to speak. 

 So I may just as well wear it and be proud!

[violetcancerian]

Instead of Oonagh being Lady Bitch Witch she's now Grandma Bitch Witch

(And shit...she reminds me so much of my own grandmother on my dad's side???)

[juh-artist]

Sketch Fainne 🌱

[a-crack-in-the-universe]

“As a child, I would have done anything to take away his sadness, to bring that rare smile to his lips, and yet, when this mood was on him, he would shrug off touch, would cut short my anxious queries. Later he would do his best to make up for it, sharing a tale by the fire, listening patiently as I recounted the small events of my day. I had longed to make his world right, and had known I could not. My love for him had coloured my life then, and it did so still. It was my grandmother’s strongest weapon, and it bound me to shadows and betrayal.”

Oh Fainne. She loves her father so much and would do anything for him.😭 I also feel sorry for her, though. It would’ve been so hard having to grow up with a father who is very clearly clinically depressed. I mean, it’s clear that Ciaran was trying his best, but it still must suck for Fainne to see him so depressed and be unable to help him at all.

[a-crack-in-the-universe]

I really feel for Fainne, who is clearly very introverted, being forced to be among people even when she would rather be alone. Especially the moments when Peg and Aisling insist on her being among people even when she is clearly uncomfortable doing so. They clearly mean well, but forcing her when she doesn’t want it doesn’t seem like a good idea and ignores what Fainne would want and be comfortable with.

[a-crack-in-the-universe]

Sean and Conor’s conversations with Fainne when she first arrives at Sevenwaters really shows that she would never be able to truly fit into the Sevenwaters family, no matter how many times they claimed to accept her.

They likely meant well, but talking about how Niamh and Ciaran’s relationship was a mistake and explaining how they were keeping it secret because it was “too shameful”, right in front of Fainne, the daughter of that very union is really shitty and insensitive. And worse, they tell her that they will have to come up with a fake cover story to explain her origin to other people who don’t know the truth because they are trying to keep it a secret because they consider it too “shameful” to reveal to everyone.

Like, imagine coming to Sevenwaters as a long-lost daughter/niece and one of the first things your new family tells you is that you have to lie about your origin because they are keeping your parents’ union secret due to it being considered shameful. Poor Fainne.