Time Flies When in the Otherworld

Bluebells and ferns on the Bog Trail in Knockvicar Ireland, May 2019.

I can't believe that it is June already! It definitely does not feel like a month ago that I was in the midst of such an amazing experience in Ireland. My time there was even more fleeting than since I have been back. Just like when in the Otherworld, time went by in a blink. But, to be fair, we were quite on an Otherworldly journey, those of us on that pilgrimage.

This had been my first time in Ireland, one of which I hope to be of many. It feels much thinner there than where I reside, more so than anywhere I have ever been I think. Although, I suppose the time of year and the company and purpose of being there all had something to do with that as well. Hard to say.

When asked about my time there, it has been difficult to describe most of it, as I still have so much processing to do. There were countless amazing and very weird experiences that happened, and to recount all of them, I really wouldn't know where to begin at this point.

I've said it more than once on here, but I have felt much more private over the last while about my spiritual practice. Although I think that sharing my impressions and how I remember certain things will perhaps help me process what happened to me there. I will say this much, I am sure forever changed. I know that sounds cliché, but at this point, that is the best way I can describe it.

I met really wonderful folks who shared this pilgrimage journey with me, and I also had quite a bit of time to myself. There were so many sacred places visited, of which I will share a bit about each one in individual posts, as well as other topics as they come to me.

Almost certainly there will be changes, at the very least finetuning to my spiritual practice. As well as a project that I feel called to do, once I finally figure out what that is to look like.

Fair to say that Ireland is one fucking strange and beautiful place.

***********

Some links of note related to folks who helped make this pilgrimage amazing <3

Wolves, Witches and Warbands {the actual pilgrimage}

Land Sea Sky Travel

Coru Cathubodua Priesthood

Lora O'Brien 

Jon O'Sullivan

Gemma McGowan

One Month and Counting...{Pilgrimage Advent Vigil Candle}

Today marks exactly one month before I fly off to my pilgrimage to Ireland. In anticipation for this I had created an advent candle of sorts, to be burnt starting nine weeks prior to when I leave. Each week is marked with a different layer, each separated by botanicals that I felt were relevant to what I was wishing to bring in.  

At the start of each new week offerings are made, prayers are said {I have been using an altered version of Charm of Grace as one of those prayers}, along with divination and meditation. Each week is dedicated to researching and trying to connect with one of the sacred sites we are to be visiting, along with other work that might need to be done, mundane or spiritual. While doing anything in regards to the pilgrimage, I make sure to light the candle each time. If nothing else, it is a good way for me to stay focused. 

Creating a candle like this is super easy. I just used an old jar that once belonged to a seven day candle, but one could easily do a pillar candle, or even a votive candle for smaller advents, or if less time can be dedicated to keeping vigil. And an advent candle like this could easily be used to observe a season, a particular working, or whatever else your imagination can come up with. 

Thanks to the lovely fellow Brighidine flamekeeper for the original inspiration, you know who you are. <3

Imbolc Blessings

As the serpent stirs, as the sap rises, as the land awakes, may you feel Brigid's quickening flame in your hearts, in your minds, and in your spirits.

Beannachtaí na Féile Bríde agus Imbolc oraibh/ Brigid's Day & Imbolc blessings to you all!

Recently Hoarded Gael Pol Pretties {more artwork by Sean Fitzgerald & Tales of the Taibhsear}

From a series done on Irish witch trials, Alice Kyteler & Petronilla de Meath}

Not too long ago I had gotten some more artwork by Sean Fitzgerald {you can see previous ones that I had gotten here}. If you are into the history, folklore and myths of Ireland, or love really great Celtic knotwork, go check out his online store. He is easily one of my favourite artists, and the photos I took of the prints sent to me do them no justice.

{Another from the Irish witch trials series Florence Goody Newton}

{portrait of a scene of from Irish myth, of Medb}

Currently Sean is working with Amanda Healy on an Irish mythology tarot deck and is also working on a Celtic knotwork book. Go check out his Instagram account to stay up to date on those projects and see what else he is working on. 

Something else that recently came to me in the post was Tales of the Taibhsear, a fantastic chapbook written by Scott Richardson-Read and an equally amazing c.d. accompanying it. A collection of Scottish folk magic, music and tales, this was a must have for me. I also got a lovely print of the cover art too {by Julia Jeffrey}, which hangs on my wall now beside the two witch trial prints from Sean Fitzgerald. 

Scott Richardson-Read is the one behind one of my favourite blogs Cailleach's Herbarium, Amanda Edmiston is a wonderful storyteller, and Debbie Armour who has such a beautiful voice. 

Daily Purification {and some updates/happy 2019!}

It has been quite a while since I have added a proper post here. I've found myself in a place where I'm feeling more private with all areas of my life the last couple of years, more so than I have in the past, including my spiritual practice. This hasn't really changed all whole lot, but I am hoping the periods of silences this year will become smaller here. Thanks for those who have stuck around to take a peek at what I do post. Hope 2019 will treat you all well!

This year I am taking a pilgrimage to Ireland, which is being hosted by Land Sea Sky Travel and the Coru Cathubodua Priesthood. No surprise, I am really looking forward to going, not only to take a pilgrimage to the land of my own heart, but also to be able to meet fellow polytheists as we take this journey together. Being a pilgrimage, there has been, and will be a lot of preparation, both of the mundane kind and the spiritual. For most Gaelic polytheists, I think that line is blurred anyways. As I make these preparations, I am hoping to share some of my thoughts, practices, and so on. First up is the idea of daily purification. 

Recently the Coru Cathubodua Priesthood hosted an online talk covering base practices within Celtic polytheism, and one of the topics covered was spiritual hygiene{cleansing and purification of self and space}. Daily purification was talked about, which inspired me to become less lax in this department. I wanted to create a special saining water that I could use at least once a day when doing my kindling prayers in the morning, and ideally at night as well when doing my smooring prayers.

Botanical Infused Alcohol for Saining Water

Given that plants and trees play a central role in my practice, it only made sense to incorporate them into making this water. To keep things from going rancid, I decided to start off with making an alcoholic base, with nine botanicals associated with blessing, protection, and of course purification. 

To 80 proof vodka I added the following {all previously dried}:

Rowan
Juniper
Yarrow
Rose
Meadowsweet
Thyme
Birch
Oak
Heather

Stored in a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid, I let everything steep for nine days, under a thick red fabric to keep the light out {red is associated with protection}, wrapped in a rowan berry and hagstone charm {again for protection}. Shaking once each day, while saying a little prayer for its intended purpose. After the steeping period, I strained the botanicals from the liquid. Now I have a base to work with, which I think should keep alright for at least a year, should I not use it all beforehand. Probably something nice to make again for each Imbolc.

Making Saining Water

I thought that the perfect time to make the saining water would be during a water blessing ritual that we do on the 20th shift of every cycle in a polytheist Brighidine flamekeeping sisterhood that I belong to. I made one bottle, with a back up mason jar just in case I needed more, before it is replenished, which would be every 20 days.

To the blessed water I added 20 drops of the alcoholic base, one for each day, and nine drops of rose essential oil and 18 drops of lavender essential oil. It smells very nice. Stored in an old whiskey bottle, it sits on the hearth shrine, ready for use every day.

Daily Saining Prayer

When doing my daily purification I pour some water into a little vessel, before saying the following prayer. While dipping fingers in water each time...

"May the Three bless my hands {rub water over hands}

May the Three bless my mind {touching brow}

May the Three bless my sight {touching *around* eyes}

May the Three bless my words {touching *around* mouth}

May the Three bless my voice {touching throat}

May the Three bless my heart {touching left side of chest}

May the Three bless my center {touching navel area}

May the Three bless my whole being {sprinkling water over self three times}

May the Three bless this space and any place I may be {sprinkling around shrine}"

***Please feel free to use this prayer, adapt it as needed. This is very much inspired by various prayers that one would find in Carmina Gadelica.***

Afterwards I like to leave the remaining poured water in the vessel on the shrine until the following day, to use as needed throughout the day. Plus it makes the room smell nice. :)

Da Day Dawn

"Da Day Dawn" performed by John Fleagle. A traditional Shetland song that would be played first thing on Christmas morning. To find out more about the song, listen to this little clip by Tom Anderson explaining. 

I hope that you all have a wonderful holiday season. Warm hearts and hearths!

Brewing Wormwood Bitters {Absinthe Inspired} for Ritual Use

{***Please be sure to do your own research, find out if it is safe for you to use plants such as wormwood, and that you use proper dosages. There are several health conditions and situations where wormwood and related plants are not safe for folks to use. And please, for the love of all that is sacred, dilute before using and use responsibly.***}

This morning I started a brew of absinthe-inspired wormwood bitters, which I am looking forward to using to aid in travelling and divination during the upcoming dark half of the year. This is my first time making absinthe, so it is a bit of an experiment. In my own brew I added the following herbs, after giving them a good going over with a stone mortar and pestle:

wormwood

fennel

anise

hyssop

peppermint

lemon balm

coriander seed

dandelion root

I then added in some 80 proof vodka, enough to cover the herbs and then some. Most of the ingredients are traditionally found in absinthe recipes, and many have the delightful associations of what I plan to use it for. I added dandelion root as a extra, for it's association with seeing, ancestor work and the Otherworlds. 

I will brew it for at least a week, shaking it every day, saying a little charm as I do so. While it sits, I will have it covered in black, with a pendant that I wear during some rituals, to inform the brew of its intended use. 

It will then be strained and bottled, and use diluted. Below is the video I got inspiration from to make this, which I encourage people to check out.