February 13, 2023

Sage.
Someone venerated
for the possession of wisdom,
judgement, and experience.

When the chemistry of wisdom, judgement, and experience become alchemical, merging with mysticism, those who embody these energies are known by many names. We call them shaman, wise woman, mystic, prophet, medicine man, medicine woman, and sage. There are many other names in cultures around the globe.  But why sage?

There is an understanding that these individuals, thus venerated, hold a depth of knowing and alliance with the natural world. And it’s global. The following poem is from what is considered China’s oldest mystical text, The Original Tao, written in the 4th century BCE. The reference here is to the energy of Qi; the energy that pervades all life, harmoniously linking the plant, animal, human and divine worlds, and enabling them to fulfill their potential.

The vital essence of all things:
It is this that brings them to life.
It generates the five grains below
And becomes the constellated stars above.
When flowing amid the heavens and the earth
We call it ghostly and numinous.
When stored within the chests of human beings,
We call them sages.

So, why sage? Doing a bit of etymological exploration, the word comes from the Latin salvus which means safe and in good health which reflects the healing and curative properties attributed to the sage plant. In English folklore, sage is said to grow best where the wife is dominant which, it seems to me, speaks to an interweaving of the plant and wise women. Healing and curative powers are generally attributed to those venerated within the many mystic archetypes, those who embody the energy that pervades all life. 

Sage. It makes sense. 

Beannacht,
Judith

February 11, 2023

If we had
the good sense
of a goose.

Another piece of wisdom emerged from the archives of my spiritual community in Boise. When the sister found and shared this, it spoke to me about the changing nature of my relationships and circles of relationships. I wrote a post about this in my Crone blog, Invoking Goldilocks.  

Consider geese flying in a V formation. 

As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the bird immediately following.
By flying in a “V” formation, the whole flock adds at least 71%
greater flying range than if each bird flew on its own.

When we are in community with those who share a common direction and a sense of purpose, we get where we are going more quickly and easily because we are traveling on the thrust of one another.

Whenever a goose falls out of formation it suddenly feels the drag
and resistance of trying to go it alone and quickly gets back into formation
to take advantage of the lifting power of the birds immediately in front.

If we have as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation and unity with those who are headed the same way we are going. This doesn’t, of course, mean we all think alike. It just means we sustain our unity with those flying in the same direction with the same sense of purpose. 

When a goose gets sick, or is wounded by gunshot,
or falls out, two geese will fall out of formation and follow down
to help protect it. They stay with the goose until it is either able to fly
or until it is dead, and then they launch out on their own or with
another formation to catch up with their group.

If we have the sense of a goose, we will stand by each other, protect one another and cherish relationships with who are going in our direction. Like all animals in the natural world, geese have an internal navigation system and ways of communicating that we can only begin to understand. Perhaps we don’t need to understand beyond knowing they exist. 

Those of us who are called to a deep sense of spiritual purpose are of the same species, the same tribe. And although we may move from one flock to another from time to time, we all share that same internal navigation system. The same homing instinct. The same call.

Honk. Honk.

Beannacht,
Judith 

February 8, 2023

Am currently reading and in love with another book. Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World by Karen Armstrong. There is such resonance flowing from these pages and clearly inspiration for a few blog posts.

I’ve written lately about myth and the importance of these larger-than-life stories in our lives. There are so many stories and myths that carry the energies of anger and hate spewing from the media and social media these days. It’s important to find, create, and share the good stories. As Karen writes…

We need good myths that help us to identify with our fellow human beings, and not just with those who belong to our ethnic, national or ideological tribe. We need good myths that help us to realise the importance of compassion, which challenges and transcends our solipsistic and tribal tribal egocentricity. And, crucially, we need good myths that help us to venerate the earth as sacred once again, because unless there is a spiritual revolution that challenges the destructiveness of our technological genius, we will not save our planet. 

On her latter point, I believe the Earth will take care of itself. It might take a long time and be possible only when we humans are no longer around. Perhaps much battered and bruised, she will survive. We may not. 

It’s we who are in desperate need of the good myths. And those always begin with story. The seeds of myth are sown in stories that resonate through generations, stories that reflect our highest and best nature, stories that call us to be in right relationship with the sacred, the Earth, and each other. 

We are all of us storytellers. Hope lies in our stories, the stories we tell ourselves, the stories we tell family and friends, the stories we tell our communities. We are called to craft and share those good stories that they might become good myths. Mythic. It’s what we storytellers aspire to.

Beannacht,
Judith

February 5, 2023

You may have already seen this image. It’s seems much out there at the moment, especially on social media. As it should be. A powerful statement by Yemeni photographer Boushra Almutawakel about the encroaching darkness facing so many of our sisters. While it’s sobering and horrific, it’s a reminder of why we are called to hold and shine the Light in this world. More than ever. Stronger than ever. 

It’s what we do when darkness descends. 

Beannacht,
Judith 

February 2, 2023

In the murky mists of myth and legend, threads of stories are handed down through time and generations. Sometimes those threads get tangled up a bit.

February 2nd. For some it’s Groundhog Day, for others it’s Candlemass. Yesterday was Brigid’s Day, a festival of light and candles. Of course when the Catholics arrived in Ireland they couldn’t let that stand and so created Candlemass. As I’ve mentioned in prior blogs, this overlaying of Catholic doctrine on ancient ceremonies and sites, especially holy wells, was ubiquitous. On Candlemass, clergy would bless and distribute all the candles needed for winter — and over time the focus of the day became increasingly about predicting how long winter would last because they included this song:

 If Candlemas be fair and bright
Come, Winter, have another flight;
If Candlemas brings clouds and rain
Go Winter, and come not again.

Enter the groundhog shadow search, although the groundhog tradition seems to have its origins in Eastern Europe. But back to Ireland. I understand there is another thread tangled in all this. It’s a legend about the Cailleach who needed to gather her stones in fair weather and so if the weather permitted her stone gathering continued and, because she is the goddess of winter, so did winter. The only association I can think of between the groundhogs and the Cailleach is the she was also the guardian of animals. It’s all pretty murky. 

And…speaking of murky. I will add one more thing. Many think yesterday was also Imbolc. However, as Anthony Murphy writes: Imbolc and Brigid’s Day are not the same thing and, in fact, Imbolc as an astronomical cross-quarter date can NEVER fall on 1st February. This year, Imbolc falls on 3rd/4th February depending on where you are in the world. In Ireland, it occurs early on Saturday 4th February.

I suppose the consolation in all this confusion is that all these celebrations are about light, the Light. And however we celebrate the Light is a good thing.

Beannacht,
Judith

January 31, 2023

Fate whispers to the warrior,
‘You cannot withstand the storm.’
The warrior whispers back,
‘I am the storm.’

We were standing on the edge of the cliffs near Doolin as the storm came barreling across the Atlantic, a wall of wind and wave. The waves crashed against the cliff face reaching up the hundreds of feet to where we stood. It’s something I would never recommend in person. But we weren’t in person. I was standing with my ancestor in an Otherworld encounter. She is the same ancestor who was present in that stoned in Colorado experience, the ancestor who told me that working with the energies of stone and water was, as she put it, her magic. This was an experience of her water wisdom.

To this point, it had been easy to accept and resonate with her teachings on water. Water is, in most spiritual traditions, associated with emotion, cleansing, healing, change, and the grace of fluidity. Perhaps a reflection of an alliance with the energies of water, the Brehon Laws of ancient Ireland specified that hospitals should be placed by a stream of running water.

Healing, cleansing, and fluid grace. It’s comfortable to commune with a gently flowing stream. And it’s easy to contemplate how a sacred alliance with those energies can be manifest in our lives. Knowing when it’s time to visit a well of wisdom, perhaps one where the nearby hazel trees feed the Salmon of Knowledge. Knowing when it’s time to welcome a gentle cleansing rain. Knowing when the energies of a calm pool are necessary to still and calm turbulent emotions. Knowing when the steady rhythm of ocean on shore reminds us of the ebb and flow of life. All fairly zen, actually.

But today we were clearly exploring another aspect of water energy and this didn’t feel very zen. It was the aspect of storm, an aspect we humans would describe as lashing, violent, and pounding. Descriptions from a vocabulary we humans attribute to the actions and forces of nature, Mother Nature, when things aren’t going as we would like. It’s an attribution of intention when there is no underlying intention. It’s just the way things are. Stepping into an alliance with the natural world calls us to be with, literally and figuratively, what is … all of what is… and glean the wisdom present in it. 

Standing on that cliff, the warrior in me was exhilarated. I threw my head back and opened my arms to embrace the full force of it. My ancestor chuckled. She sensed the lesson was landing. In every aspect of water there is change, but nothing like this. A gentle stream may slowly move sediment, a gentle wave may shift the sand. But storm holds the power to move boulders.

On reflection I’m beginning to understand that it requires a warrior energy to both withstand and be the storm. Not the warrior energy of battle, conquest, and power over but the warrior energy of strength of purpose, of sacred purpose and sacred alliance, of service to our people and the Earth. Storms happen. It’s the power of what we hold and what we do in those storms that matters. 

In this power I am the storm.

Beannacht,
Judith

Note. If you’ve been following this blog for a while you will remember that I wrote extensively about water and the Seven Nations back in June of 2021. The Seven Nations include Stone, Fire, Water, Air, Creatures, Plants, and the Earth.

January 26, 2023

With my last post I thought I was done teasing out the threads of wisdom from Manchán Magan’s book. Apparently not. Perhaps it’s the synchronicity of currently watching Our Universe, an amazing series on Netflix narrated by Morgan Freeman. The graphics, photography, and message are stunning. I highly recommend it. 

Manchán writes about the HeartMath Institute and their research into the Earth’s magnetic field and the connection to humans. This resonated as did the Institute’s vision when I went to their website to explore their research: A kinder, heart-centered world where we care for one another and live harmoniously in peace.

In 2021, the Institute published an Investigation of Parallels Between Human Basal Metabolic Features and Local Earth Magnetic Field. I know. But hang in there. The study’s conclusion speaks profoundly to our liminal landscape experiences.

The study concludes that all living systems are affected by external and internal environments. One factor in the external environment is the Earth’s magnetic field, which fluctuates over a wide frequency range. A series of studies indicate that low frequency magnetic fields can affect cellular mitochondrial activity and impacts every cell’s metabolism. This frequency band embraces the same frequency bands that are typically used for human brain waves.

About these findings, Manchán writes the following. Indeed, it is well beyond my comprehension as well. But even a glimmer of understanding begs consideration of the implications he suggests. 

The science of this is beyond my comprehension, but their findings appear to show that the earth is continuously emitting information that the human body then responds to. It will take further study and more sophisticated apparatus to reveal whether the great gathering sites of Ireland that have been attracting followers for thousands of years are emitting frequencies that most of us are no longer conscious of, or whether the mysterious solar alignments that were laid out between significant points in prehistory by our Neolithic and Bronze Age forebears are part of an energy or magnetic grid that we have forgotten how to decipher. What does seem clear, though, is that our world and all the beings and plants within it are elements of a biofeedback loop, in which all of us are intermingled in innumerable ways.

Whether earthly or cosmic, it’s all energy. We are all energy. And we are all connected and intermingled through time and space. Manchán’s book is titled Listen to the Land Speak. Listening is important as we wander the sacred and liminal landscapes in Ireland. Yet perhaps as essential is hearing, hearing with every cell of our bodies. In hearing perhaps we can begin to decipher what has been lost and forgotten. 

Beannacht,
Judith

January 24, 2023

Irish mythology is based on the notion that the natural, human and divine worlds
all co-exist, overlapping one another and with different elements
becoming subordinate at different times.
Manchán Magan

Beannacht,
Judith

Since it was difficult to include their names in creating this graphic… The image of Rhiannon is the artwork of Susan Seddon Boulet. The forest image is the artwork of Mark E. Fisher.

January 23, 2023

Liminality
From Latin limen.
Being on a threshold.
A state of transition.
The quality of ambiguity or disorientation.

I imagine many of us have played the Telephone Game where people sit in a circle and whisper a phrase to the next person until that phrase comes back full circle completely transformed. Apparently there’s an updated version, the Whisperer Challenge, where everyone’s required to wear headphones and listen to loud music, passing the message along through lip reading. One suggested phrase from a long list of possibilities: A nod’s as good as a wink to a blind horse. Feel free to dive down that rabbit hole yourself.

If a word or phrase can get distorted in just a matter of minutes by just a few people, I wonder how legends and stories passed down through millennia survive with any integrity. I appreciate the memorization required in the Druidic, Bardic, and Seanchaí (story teller) traditions in Ireland as an attempt to preserve that integrity. Yet even if the legends and stories remained the same, the cultural context did not. As those legends spiraled down through the course of history, they spiraled through shifting cultural perspectives and beliefs. Legends that at one time may have been considered been entirely plausible are today considered fantastical, well beyond the realm of reason.

Take shape shifting as one example. Myths and legends around the world are filled with stories of shifting between realms and shapes. Wise woman to hare is one of the most popular shape shifting legends in Ireland and even within the last hundred years, folklorists gathered accounts from those who swore this to be true. They had witnessed it. 

Ancient cultures, and apparently not so ancient cultures, held a very different knowing of what was possible within an alliance with natural world and other world energies. Thoughtful speculation aside, we can really only begin to imagine those possibilities. We can only begin to imagine the cultural consciousness present when these stories, myths, and legends came into being. There is indeed both a quality of ambiguity and disorientation in this together with a threshold, an invitation, for more exploration.

When Mary O’Halloran sent me this photo of the Callanish Stone Circle in Scotland, it was just such a threshold moment. One can immediately see the cloaked Druid shapes of the stones. Known as a Druid circle, legend tells us these stones were once people who were cursed by an evil witch. It’s a legend similar to stones of the Long Meg and Her Daughters circle that were once a coven of witches turned to stone by a wizard, the stones in the Nine Ladies Stone Circle who were maidens until they were turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath, and the Piper’s Stones who were also a group of dancers and piper musicians turned to stone for dancing on the Sabbath.

That these circles of stones are millennia older than Sabbath celebrations begs a question of the original legend and lore and offers a glimpse of the many liminal layers within these stories and legends. These are the stories and legends today. What were the stories and legends long ago and how did those come into being? It’s likely we will never know.

But perhaps it’s enough to know, to appreciate, that there is a liminal quality of the myths, legends, and lore. Perhaps it’s enough to stand at the threshold and know there is much more beyond our current understanding.

Beannacht,
Judith

January 21, 2023

If you want to awaken all of humanity,
then awaken all of yourself.
If you want to eliminate the suffering in the world,
then eliminate all that is dark and negative in yourself.
Truly, the greatest gift you have to give
is that of your own self-transformation.
Lao Tzu

Perhaps the greatest gift. But not the only gift. For although it may begin here, awakening humanity, eliminating suffering in the world, and other aspirations of peace, compassion, and justice means that it doesn’t end here. Yes, being awakened is important. However  equally essential is living our lives from that place of, dare I say it, being woke. We may meditate to master self-transformation. And then what? Unless you choose to spend your life living in a meditation cave, and I assume if you are reading this blog that you are not, you are also about doing.

Spending my life meditating in a cave would be a challenge just this side of impossible. The challenge I dance with is manifesting my sacred beingness in the world, ensuring that my sacred intention matches my actions, my doing. 

I know that this could never be possible if I weren’t anchored in relationship and alliance with the sacred. For in this alliance I am co-creating with the sacred source of all life and all life. In this alliance, I am mostly able to remember that I’m not in charge. Such is the way of co-creating with Source, the sacred, the divine, the all is one. Some name this energy God. Yet the nomenclature doesn’t really matter for it’s essentially all the same energy, the same divine harmony. This is when and how my self-transformation can support transformation in the world. 

Each of us has our own unique gifts and our own unique way of manifesting that magic in the world. When we embrace those gifts and anchor ourselves in sacred alliance, anything is possible.

Beannacht,
Judith