|
Post by lorna on Feb 4, 2018 11:03:59 GMT -1
Due to the lack of interest in contributing to the blog and this year's meet-ups I'm feeling like the Brython project is dying a bit of a death. To be honest since I came to this forum it's always been very quiet with a very small 'core' group of people keeping things moving and others occasionally dropping by. A few of us have put quite a bit of time and energy into Brython, particularly over the last two or three years, and produced some good research and devotional material. Yet it now feels like the wells of inspiration are running a dry - maybe as we've completed writing on most of the suggested topics and there's only so much you can say about the same festivals and deities at the same times every year.
I'm wondering how others are feeling about Brython right now. Has this run of inspiration reached its end? Is this a permanent dead end or do you think things might pick up in the future?
For a while I had a hope that Brython would develop from a few people researching and writing into more of a devotional community but I'm not sure if that will ever be possible because even those of us who are devoted to the same gods and goddesses approach them in different ways and in different places.
I'm also pondering why Brython hasn't succeeded. Is it because we're too academic? Is it because we don't produce 101 material telling people what do such as set rituals, meditations, 'practical exercises' (I personally don't write this kind of stuff because my path is very spontaneous and as a general rule I don't find following other people's instructions leads me to my gods as I experience them - I don't think experience of deity(s) can be taught).
On the whole I'm finding quite a lot of stagnancy in Paganism in general. The only place that seems quite lively is Gods & Radicals - probably because folk are tying their Paganism/Polytheism in with social and political issues in the modern world, which we've failed to write much about here.
Right now I'm feeling like I don't want to pour any more time and energy into a project only a couple of other people are committed to that isn't growing and developing.
|
|
|
Post by Lee on Feb 5, 2018 11:19:43 GMT -1
I am flat out out of inspiration too. I think to be honest we should put it on hiatus...maybe do a final blogpost stating as such, direct people here and leave it at that. Brython has been on life-support for a few years now; none of the original people really contribute in discussion, let alone the blog or website. It is just yourself, Greg and to a lesser extent recently, me, who have kept it alive these past couple of years. I cant see me doing much with it in the next couple of years; I am going to busy with my own big impending 'project' (Myself and friend from the coven are hiving off and setting up our own Coven with a BIG Gwyn influence). I dont know why this hasnt taken off in a bigger way, maybe the website and blog are good resources, but beyond that people just arent getting involved online like they used to. it is a shame we still have blogs and email we can keep in touch by of course, i will still be following yours the website will stay as it is, maybe i will do the odd bit of editting and addition from the blog to keep it looking nice and prevent it getting too stale. Lee
|
|
|
Post by wolfgrin on Feb 5, 2018 13:40:26 GMT -1
Hi y'all. As a new member, I wanted to offer a little feedback from my perspective. But, before I get to that, I wanted to thank you both for all of the hard work and love you've put into Dun Brython. You both have been an inspiration to me in my search for a relationship with Gwyn. I hope to continue to follow you in your own endeavors to benefit from your wealth of knowledge and experience.
Regarding Dun Brython, I think there are a few issues. Obviously, the inactivity of some of the founding members is problematic. Plus, the relatively small community of Brythonic Polytheists already reduces the potential number of readers/contributors. But I think the use of the forums in lieu of a more recent form of technology (Reddit, Facebook, Discord, etc.) is part of what is hindering the group. It's one more website to have to go to in addition to the social media websites most people already visit.
For the actual website, obviously I have no idea of the actual traffic numbers, but I think you're more concerned about lack of content from other contributors. I think issues like a of lack of experience, introversion, and feelings about privacy of personal practices are probably limiting you there. I, personally, am extremely new to Polytheism in general and even moreso to Brythonic Polytheism. There's no way I'd even attempt to write an article at this point because I literally have no idea what I'm talking about, at least not enough to contribute in a meaningful way.
Anyway, I hope that offers you some insight (if that's even what you wanted) into what I perceive to be some of the issues. I hope each of you do continue to publish online work so that folks like myself can benefit. Thank you again for going public with such personal and keeping meaningful experiences to you both.
Edit: I forgot to mention the fact that while Polytheism is growing steadily in the U.S., I think location matters. There's no way us Americans can connect with the sacred sites and land of our spirituality/religion unless we take a trip. I honestly think that does have some impact, despite the benefits and possibility of Otherworld journeying. But that's mostly UPG, so take it or leave it.
|
|
|
Post by Heron on Feb 5, 2018 14:25:32 GMT -1
Yes as far as the blog is concerned I think it might have been an ambition too far and we should face the fact that we don't have the resources to keep it going given that we are also involved in other projects. I do think we should endeavour to keep the Brython website going as an archive and update it from time to time. There is plenty on the blog that could be transferred to the website and it may be that we can move appropriate stuff from our personal blogs to that site too in the future. I agree with Lorna that the presence of a devotional site, rather than a place claiming to teach a system or 'exercises' , is too important for it to be abandoned completely. As far as this forum is concerned , it has been moribund before and picked up a bit for a time, so there's no reason why it can't remain as a place where conversations may develop and which we can resort to for discussion about updating the website.
|
|
|
Post by Heron on Feb 6, 2018 15:39:29 GMT -1
I'm also pondering why Brython hasn't succeeded. Is it because we're too academic? Is it because we don't produce 101 material telling people what do such as set rituals, meditations, 'practical exercises' (I personally don't write this kind of stuff because my path is very spontaneous and as a general rule I don't find following other people's instructions leads me to my gods as I experience them - I don't think experience of deity(s) can be taught). It may be that we are too academic. But if we are also following our own intuitions and experiences of deities then this seems to take us to the other end of the spectrum. My own feelings are that the only way I can share and verify my experiental religious life is to balance it against things I can verify through research and interpret by literary analysis and/or creative response. That is a balance I have always tried to maintain whether or not it fits with the practices of others concentrating on one or the other end of the spectrum. Certainly experience of deities cannot be taught. People have to find their own paths, but I have always hoped to be able to provide a signpost or two for those who are searching.
|
|
|
Post by potia on Feb 10, 2018 17:25:29 GMT -1
I felt that much of the life in Brython died out about six of seven years ago in terms of the community feeling. Part of that is the lack of numbers, part is probably the academic side and part that the few that are interested are so spread out. I haven't been a major contributor partially because of other life stuff and partially because I haven't really known what I can offer. I'm not solely Brythonic even, I don't think I ever was with An Cailleach involved. Will Brython recover again? I honestly don't know. I can say that being involved in Brython has literally been life changing for me
|
|
|
Post by lorna on Feb 13, 2018 10:56:18 GMT -1
Thanks for your comments everyone. Having read what everyone has said it seems Brython works as a source of information on Brythonic Polytheism, but there's little chance of it building up any more involvement either from additional contributors or in relation to building a devotional community. As others have stated this seems to be due to there being so few Brythonic Polytheists, not all being writers, some being introverts or not feeling competent,some being put off by the academic side, others not having time. Plus FB and other social media channels have killed forums such as this. As it stands I think Brython remains a valuable resource as the only site entirely dedicated to Brythonic Polytheism so we shouldn't give up on it completely. Lee, as offered, if you could handle some of the updating from the blog that would be great. If you need any help give Heron and myself a shout. No rush with that. In agreement with Heron we could continue to update the site with material from our own blogs or anything else we can beg or borrow as and when we see fit - just not see as an ongoing project we're committed to writing for several times a year. I think that once we've uploaded the blog posts to the site we should close the blog to avoid confusion. We could also do to make some small edits to the Brython front page - remove the words I've highlighted in bold. We are currently an on-line community coming together to honour our gods and ancestors and develop relationships with the land we live upon. We place equal value upon experiential and academic work, recognising that each depends on the other. In the future we aim to co-ordinate meetings, events, rituals and visits to sacred sites bringing Brythonic Polytheists together face-to-face.@lee - exciting to hear about your new Gwyn influenced coven. Good look with that Soooo wish I lived in the vicinity! Oh and one small thing does anyone mind if I move my Last Witch of Pennant Gofid story to the Awenydd site? The Awenydd site hadn't been created when I wrote it and it's more an Awenydd than Brythonic polytheist piece.
|
|
|
Post by Heron on Feb 14, 2018 14:45:24 GMT -1
.... Oh and one small thing does anyone mind if I move my Last Witch of Pennant Gofid story to the Awenydd site? The Awenydd site hadn't been created when I wrote it and it's more an Awenydd than Brythonic polytheist piece. I - obviously - don't mind at all Lorna. Though I don't see any problem if you want it to appear on both sites.
|
|