Nightly and morning rituals

The following is what I have so far for a morning and nightly ritual... I will be cross posting this in a few of my other blogs:

1. Nightly Ritual

• Circle of Stones

Prayer to the Ancestors - 6 repetitions
Prayer to the Nature Spirits - 6 repetitions
Prayer to the Deithe - 6 repetitions
Prayer to Brighid - 5 repetitions

2. Morning Ritual

• Purification

[Take a morning shower]

• Connecting with the three realms

May the sacred earth continue to lend life its support...
[touch the earth, then touch my abdomen]

May the eternal sea continue to supply its life giving waters to the world...
[touch some water, then touch my chest]

May the endless sky continue to supply the breath of life to the world...
[point to the sky, and then touch my forhead]

Through the power of the world tree, Bile, may I connect to the three realms through body, spirit, and soul. And may I always seek wisdom, be granted sight, and gifted with health.
[kiss and put on Brighid pendant]

the order and basic design for the morning ritual were inspired by the greeting of the three realms in the Warriors ritual that was a composite work of Lysana, Blackfyr, Alfrecht, Wire_Mother, Erin "Mint" Zelnio, and Erynn Laurie.

Flametending? Women only?

I have been researching the tending of Brighid's eternal flame. I have discovered that Gerald of Wales says something along the lines of the following:

At the time of Gerald of Wales, writing in the very end of the 12th century, there was a circular fence of hedges and twigs surrounding it that no male was allowed to enter. Gerald relates several tales in which errant men of the area or English knights tried to enter the hedge, or did so, and were punished with death, insanity and mutilation.
~~ Chapter 4 -- Brighid in the Early Medieval Irish Church

This reference seems to indicate that the men who were entering the flame grove were actually committing gross offenses, as they are trespassing on the land without proper invitation into the sanctuary. Additionally this entire passage refers specifically to the Christian nuns, and has no bearing on whether or not men were allowed to tend the flame prior to Christianities arrival in Ireland.

As near as I can tell, given the nature of hospitality laws and the importance of these laws, a violation of the hospitality laws as is demonstrated by a person trespassing on the property of the Goddess, would be just grounds for punishment by the Goddess who is protecting the property in question. So I would wager that had a man asked both one of the nuns / priestesses as well as the Goddess herself for permission to enter the grove and sanctuary, he would probably have been granted this permission.

This theory would seem to be panned out by the recent decision by the Kildare Nuns to open the rite of flametending to the public... and this includes allowing men near the flame. If the Kildare Nuns thought it sacrilege for a man to be anywhere near the flame, they would not have allowed men to participate in the ceremonies, however it seems that they have allowed just this. Granted I will admit that the Nuns are still an all women orginization. However I think that has more to do with how the Orthodox and Catholic Churches view the position of a Nun than it does with the tradition of a Nun being the only person who can tend the flame.

It is for these above reasons and more, that I feel it is okay for me to tend the flame of Brighid, so long as I do so in a respectful manner. Realizing of course that my flame is simply a proxy for the true flame of Brighid, which is the flame of inspiration, and healing that burns within all humans (even if it is dim in some and bright in others). By the logic that the flame of Brighid burns within all people, I see no reason why a guy cannot tend the outward symbol of that flame!

My 9 Virtue List, part 3

I think I am going to revise my virtue list... here is what I am going to be listing as my virtues from now on... and there are actually 10 of these as opposed to 9, but I think they cover the bases of what I was hoping to go with...

1. Moderation (something I desperately need to work on...)
2. Honesty
3. Honor (in word & in person)
4. Wisdom
5. Truthfulness
6. Hospitality (also need to work on this one)
7. Justice
8. Loyalty
9. Strength
10. Courage

Comparative Religion and other things

I have recently started my current Semester at my community College. The class I am taking is Comparative Religion. My Professor is claiming that all Religions need a Creed, Doctrines, and Dogma. I am not sure I am in agreement with him on this sentiment, especially based on what I know of the Aboriginal Religion of Australia, as well as the Native Religions of Africa, and various other regions of the world. None of these was very Creedal in nature, much less Orthodoxic.

I have recently ordered the book "A World Full of Gods: An Inquiry into Polytheism" which is a Philosophy book on the subject of modern Polytheism. I am hoping this book will be able to help me reach a definition of what I consider my Gods to be. I know so far only that I consider them to be wholly real, but above and beyond that I am not sure how I would go about defining them. So we will see what this book provides me.

I am also hoping that I am able to become more determined in performing morning and nightly rituals / devotions each day, so as to cement my connection with my Gods. This is something which has up until now really kind of eluded me. However I am working on a ritual structure, or will be tomorrow I suppose...

Gaol Naofa issues

due to some personal differences I have had with the founder of Gaol Naofa as well as the person who is currently holding the office of "Vice-President" of Gaol Naofa, I have decided to step down as the Brughaid (public Relations office) of Gaol Naofa. I have further decided that for the time being, that I do not have what it takes to be a member of Gaol Naofa. So for the moment I am going to have to say that I will not be a member of Gaol Naofa any longer.

Gaol Naofa newsletter

so Thomas has asked me to write an article for the Gaol Naofa newsletter. Unfortunately I am not entirely sure that I am up to the task. I hope that I am able to satisfy the newsletters needs. I am going to be writting on the topic of what people within Celtic Reconstructionism understand death to mean, so I am going to have to post a request for various ideas on the matter.

My Nine Virtues List - part 2

I think I have found the nine virtues that I am going to use for my Nine Noble Virtues list.... here the list is without further adeu:

1. Community
2. Courage
3. Honesty
4. Honor (in word, and in person)
5. Hospitality
6. Justice
7. Loyalty
8. Strength (physical, emotional, and psychological)
9. Wisdom

These are the traits that I think are most virtuous of the Celtic world. They are also the traits I think I need to work towards the most. So I will be working on these traits as much as possible.