#wild speaks

[thepeaceofwildthings]

For Solarpunk Aesthetic Week, here are some homegrown peppers i dried on my window sill and then enclosed with some desiccant packets reused from my pill bottles. I'm thinking of grinding up the peppers to make them easier to use.

Happy belated solstice!

[wilddragonflying]

I am a simple creature

I see s5 Christmas episode, I want mistletoe kisses for everyone

Kisses on the mouth, cheek, nose, forehead, give me all the mistletoe kisses

(Bonus points if Chris 'traps' his dads under some mistletoe and we get a really charged mom before Buck breaks and kisses Eddie on the cheek way too softly to just be a joke and then we get to see Eddie later on touching the spot Buck's lips did)

[barefootinthewilds]

Has anyone else experienced a sudden influx of your non-witchy/pagan family who normally vary from scathing side-eye toward your pentacle to full blown ostracism....

Suddenly being all up in your shit??

Like, 'Teas to ward off illness please', 'Is there a spell to keep from getting sick', 'can you come cleanse my house? Didnt you say some smoke is anti-something that one time we all scoffed and ignored you?', 'hey! You know how to bake bread right???'

And I'm just sitting back like

[thepeaceofwildthings]

Imbolc Greetings!

Pronounced as "Im-bulk" or "Im-ulk"

Dates NH: Jan 31-Feb 1 | SH: July 31-Aug 1

Image credits:

🐑🕯️- 💐 - 🧹 🌾 - 🎀 🔥

Irish Paganism for Beginners - Irish Pagan School

Or their podcast:

Much more under the cut:

Dia duit! /Jee-ah ghwitch (throaghty gh)/

Imbolg/Imbolc is one of the Irish fire festivals or cross-quarter holidays (between solstice and equinox)

These images refer to:

Symbols associated with Brighid and early spring

Irish Fire Festival tradition of making Brigid's cross

Ribín Bríde or Brat Bride tradition on Jan 31st

🕯️Here Lora O'Brien shares some other ways you can authentically celebrate Imbolc without colonizing it with practices from other religions.

And in her Irish Pagan School podcast she shares some foods that were used traditionally to celebrate the festival:

or an episode about Brigid:

And you can check out more information about Brigid (the Goddess and the Saint) from Orlagh Costello's website

Brighid is also the Goddess of poetry so here are two poems:

Filleadh ón Antartach [Return from Antarctica]

Cloiseann sé fós é: díoscán an oighir, tormáil i bhfad uaidh, ciúnas an tsneachta. Is cuimhin leis go fóill an t-aer úr a shlogadh, an dá sc

A Visit Home by Terence MacSwiney

I walk within my prison wall; ‘Tis but my body owns their sway Oh, Ireland, home, I hear you call; Silent I wait the end of day.

And when, locked in my cell at night, My body I have laid to rest, My spirit homeward takes a flight Where Ireland waits me in the west.

Lit by beauty of the stars, City and mountain, vale and stream Are mine, despite theses bolts and bars, In all the glory of a dream

Some Irish music:

Sona (Happy) by Fionnuala Gill. Translation here

Feabhra (February) by Lúnasa

Also, here is some traditional Irish harp music from Gráinne Hambly:

And given its Black History Month (in the USA) check out these Black Irish creators!

☘️ Please participate with respect and right relationship

Slán go fóill! / Slawn gun foh-ill /

Masterpost of Irish Pagan Holidays

[thepeaceofwildthings]

Summer Solstice Greetings!

Or Samhradh in Irish Paganism

said like "Sow-ra"

Date NH: June 20-21 | SH: Dec 21-22

Image sources:

🔥 💐 - ☀️ - 📚 🎻

Irish Paganism for Beginners - Irish Pagan School

Or their podcast:

Much more under the cut

Dia duit! /Jee-ah ghwitch (throaghty gh)/

Litha is not a Irish name for the solstice and is likely Germanic.

Samhradh means summer in Irish.

Here Lora O'Brien shares some really interesting suppositions around why they had bonfires around the solstice.

She also discusses how they used to sing songs and tell folk stories around these bonfires. And how important it is to preserve knowledge instead of appropriating and rewriting those traditions how we wish. Please visit the link to hear how Lora suggests making your offering around protecting and continuing Irish traditions so that you are in right relation with the people and land whose traditions you are celebrating. This could be a chance to seek out and read stories translated straight from the lore about the Gods you wish to connect with. And as my own thoughts based on things Lora has said: consider how you can counter the sanitization of the history of colonization and the treatment of indigenous and black people.

☀️Here is a simple ritual from Lora that you can use to celebrate Samhradh without colonizing it with other religions.

And here is the IPS podcast episode talking about the importance of the summer solstice to Irish Paganism:

Given that it is pride month and what I just said about history, check out this course on the history of queerness in Ireland from Dr. Gillian:

Uncovering Ireland's Secret History

Explore the history of queerness in Ireland, with an Hon Research Associate at the Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies in Trinity College,

🌈 Check out Morgan Daimler! They are a queer author who posts a lot about Irish paganism and folklore. They have written several queer retellings of Irish folklore.

🌈 Read this article about Sir Roger Casement who was executed both for being a leader in the Irish independence movement and for being accused of 'homosexual relationships.'

Some Irish songs:

Midsummer's Night - Dervish

Speaking of pride month, read the translation of this song and tell me a woman singing this doesn't sound queer af

Éirigh'S Cuir Ort Do Chuid Éadaigh - Altan

Here is a pride-themed episode of a music podcast that shares 'fresh' Irish and Celtic music:

Irish & Celtic Music Podcast: Celts of Pride Month #712

We’re celebrating the LGBTQ+ Celtic musicians this Pride Month today on the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast #712 . ! Malin Lewis, The Homes

And some nontraditional but banger queer Irish music I learned about here.

☘️ Please participate with respect and right relationship

Slán go fóill! / Slawn gun foh-ill /

Masterpost of Irish Pagan Holidays

[thepeaceofwildthings]

Winter Solstice Greetings!

Geimhreadh in Irish Paganism said "Geev-ra"

Potential Date NH: Dec 21-22 | SH: June 20-21

Image sources:

☕️ 🎂 - 🔥 - 🌠 🕯

Irish Paganism for Beginners - Irish Pagan School

Or their podcast:

Much more under the cut:

Dia duit! /Jee-ah ghwitch (throaghty gh)/

The word Yule does not have its origins in Irish traditions and is more likely Germanic.

Geimhreadh means winter in Irish.

❄️Here Lora O'Brien shares her personal practice of holding vigil to greet the returning sun. A practice you can share if you would like to celebrate the holiday without colonizing it with practices from other religions.

And in the Irish Pagan School's podcast they have an episode that talks about the importance of Winter Solstice to Irish Paganism:

Maybe it could be a time to learn from the Cruachán to not flinch away from the dark.

A few Irish songs:

Winter, Fire and Snow - Fionnuala Gill

Apples in Winter - Dervish

Traditional Irish Harp music by Tara Viscardi & Robert Harvey

☘️ Please participate with respect and right relationship

Slán go fóill! / Slawn gun foh-ill /

Masterpost of Irish Pagan Holidays

[thepeaceofwildthings]

Spring Equinox Greetings!

Or Earrach in Irish Paganism said "Arrock"

Potential Date NH: March 19-21 | SH: Sept 19-21

Image sources:

🌧 🌱 - 🪺 - 🦌❄️

Irish Paganism for Beginners - Irish Pagan School

Or their podcast:

Much more under the cut:

Dia duit! /Jee-ah ghwitch (throaghty gh)/

The name Ostara doesn't have its roots in any Irish dieties or traditions and instead is a Germanic diety.

Earrach means spring in Irish.

Lora O'Brien says "In my native practice, I break the focus, themes or concerns out as follows: "The Fire Festivals – with Community elements, but a focus on Hearth & Home, and the Otherworld. "The Solstices and Equinoxes – with Community elements, but a focus on the Land & Sovereignty, and this World." So while Imbolc focused more on the Otherworld and deities, this Equinox you could focus on what this World needs. Such as making sure you are in right relation with Ireland and her people. For me, reaching out to my local land looks like researching local pollinators and the local flora to plant to support them.

🌱Also check out this link where Lora shares simple rituals you can use for the holiday without colonizing it with practices from other religions.

And since St. Patrick's Day is March 17: ☘️Learn to dispel some myths about St. Patrick in the pagan community. ☘️Learn about Leprechauns in Irish Folklore Information can also be found at the IPS podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1971933/episodes/15617756-are-there-different-types-of-leprechauns-in-irish-mythology.mp3

Some Irish music:

Shining Water - Fionnuala Gill

The Old Torn Petticoat / The Primrose Lass / The Heather Breeze - Sorcha Costello

Wildflower and Barley - Hozier

Glow - Aby Coulibaly

☘️ Please participate with respect and right relationship

Slán go fóill! / Slawn gun foh-ill /

Masterpost of Irish Pagan Holidays

[thepeaceofwildthings]

Bealtaine Greetings!

said as "Byal-tin-eh" or ‘Beeowl-tinna’

Date NH: April 30-May 1 | SH: Oct 31-Nov 1

Image sources:

🎀 - 🥚 🌷 - 💐 🌼 - 🔥

Irish Paganism for Beginners - Irish Pagan School

Or their podcast:

Much more under the cut:

Dia duit! /Jee-ah ghwitch (throaghty gh)/

Bealtaine is one of the Irish fire festivals or cross-quarter holidays (between equinox and solstice)

Images referencing:

Yellow flowers (especially Primrose) used to ward off the Sidhe

Maypoles and the decorating of may bushes to protect from ill fortune

Washing face with dew

Protective fires

Divination tradition done with flour

Potential bad luck done by bad eggs (pun intended)

All of which you can read about here: https://irishpagan.school/bealtaine-cheat-sheet/ and here Learn about the Hill of Uisneach, sometimes called the spiritual center of Ireland, and its associations with Bealtaine here.

🌻Here Lora shares a simple warding for Bealtaine so you can celebrate it without colonizing it with practices from other religions.

And in her Irish Pagan School podcast she shares some foods that were used traditionally to celebrate the festival:

I've linked a music video I think is cool and you'll hear Bealtaine repeated a lot to learn the pronunciation 😆

Though be cautious if you are sensitive to flashing light. Initially there are just some sudden cuts but at 4:30 onward the fire light has a strobe light effect.

Samhradh Samhradh - The Gloaming (Translation)

The May Morning Dew - Dervish

Paper Houses by Lisa Hannigan

☘️ Please participate with respect and right relationship

Slán go fóill! / Slawn gun foh-ill /

Masterpost of Irish Pagan Holidays