It’s an interesting thing in Irish mythology and folklore that the Gods were reduced not into human characters, by and large, but into Fairies. So it is with Áine of Cnoc Áine in county Kerry who is believed to have been a goddess originally but is held to be a(…)
Author Archives: Lairbhan
Midsummer in transition
So the summer solstice was on Wednesday and this year I found myself feeling very challenged on how to celebrate. I have only just decided to refocus my spiritual practice, well more accurately my religious structure, and I was actually at a bit of a loss as to what to(…)
Summer Introspection
I am not a summer person. While everyone else might be out at the beach, at barbecues, hiking, or otherwise enjoying the outdoors I’m avoiding the bright sunlight and heat by holing up inside. I’ve always been like this; I was the kid in high school who spent my summers staying up(…)
Ansuz
This month we are studying the fourth rune of the first aett, called Ansuz, Ás, Áss, or Os. It is cognate with the letter “A” in English. Just as the first two runes, Fehu and Uruz, represented opposite principles, so do Thurisaz and Ansuz. Where Thurisaz is(…)
"Good Wish"
This is a blessing prayer from the Carmina Gadelica, called “Good Wish”. It’s one of my favorites so I’m posting a slightly modified version that I use.
Good Wish (282)
Power of raven be yours
Power of eagle be yours
Power of the Fiann<br(…)
Weeping for the stone
I try to be philispohical about the vagaries of life. Bad things happen, and often these bad things are senseless, and there is just as often nothing constructive to be done. War and death and suffering are a constant of life and as much as I might detest them, as(…)
Living Honor
What does it mean to live an honorable life? Many modern pagan groups have outlined a list of basic virtues to nurture, and honor is usually included in each of them, but what is it to to live honorably? How can we know how to shape our actions(…)
Dark Night of the Soul
It would be accurate to say that I am having a dark night of the soul period right now, as I understand the concept. I have been increasingly questioning whether reconstruction is the right thing for me and my place within the larger spiritual communities I have chosen.(…)
recommended reading
Well I finished writing my newest book and am back to blogging. There are several pagan recommended reading lists floating around including one at Patheos and(…)
a more traditional view…
artwork(…)