St Patrick Day

From the article:

(Although there were a small number of Christians on the island when Patrick arrived, most Irish practiced a nature-based pagan religion. The Irish culture centered around a rich tradition of oral legend and myth. When this is considered, it is no surprise that the story of Patrick life became exaggerated over the centuries—spinning exciting tales to remember history has always been a part of the Irish way of life. )

For myself, whose spirituality is practiced in accordance with those ancient earth-centered traditions, my family's favorite holiday takes on an aspect of mourning. It wasn't until recent years that I learned that the snake is one of the oldest symbols of the Goddess. The legend of St. Patrick driving the snakes from Ireland is a myth which illustrates the destruction of Goddess worship, including druidry.

It is a testament to the nature of the celts that the Christians "gave" them St. Bridget. There was no defeating the passionate following of the Goddess Brigit. Her shrine is tended still today.

All my life, St. Pat's has never been about religion. It was about visiting family, hanging with friends at pubs, and wondering who'd get to dance with who. My Grandpa Barney was a musician, so are both my parents, and so am I - lots of Irish music on this day. We love to dance! Also an excuse to damn everyone's diet and eat corned beef.

My parents never really discussed the religious or political conflicts in Ireland with me in depth. They focused on the fun stuff - the music, the whiskey, the intense love of land and respect for nature instilled by centuries of pagan beliefs that Christianity could never destroy. I learned about the Civil war and the terrorism from my great aunt, who emigrated here during the 1920's, but only from her personal experiences, which were terrifying enough that I didn't ask too many questions. But it wasn't until recent years that I learned the details of the Easter Rebellion, the political events leading up to the partition of Ireland into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Eire, and the sheer intensity of the animosity between Protestantism and Catholicism. My family were all Catholic. There was no need to mention protestants.

I spent all of last year participating in a Spirituality program that centered on earth-centered, goddess worshipping systems of belief from all over the world. It validated the feelings I had secretly nurtured all my life. I grew up in a very conservative Christian part of the country. Those people would call me a witch. I'm not one - but they don't know any better. Out here, I am simply a Pagan Unitarian Universalist of Irish-Italian-German descent.

I did not plan to wear a black sweater over my white shirt and green pants today, but I find it appropriate that I am. There is an aspect of discomfort this year that I have never felt before, due to my studies. It is appropriate to mourn a bit. Sort of like dressing in Native American garb on Columbus Day. Which, having as much Italian blood in me as Irish, could be another whole post.

However, those rich pagan earth-loving and woman-revering traditions are still alive and well. I will be meeting this Sunday evening to celebrate the Spring Full Moon with a group of women, thanking the Goddess for guiding us through another winter, looking forward to a spring of hopeful plantings and a year of bountiful spiritual and material harvest.

Cead Mile Failte, and Blessed Be.