|
|
Post by luthien on Oct 22, 2008 15:24:20 GMT -1
I tend to think of myself as a reconnectionist. Finding my connection with the land, my ancestors, my culture and language. That's why I don't tend to give it a name, it's not a "spiritual framework" or fashion, it is tied to my very psyche and identity. Just how I see and feel about it. I find that people need to define themselves with trying to look too far back rather than working and reconnecting with the now. Its good to draw similarities and learn from old stories and tradition, but there is more to being here than religiously slaving over text and olds ways. We need communities that build better environments for future generations that have learnt the ways of land and the social and spiritual sides of our nature. BB Luthien |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2008 15:21:57 GMT -1
I used to identify with CR too, mostly because it was the only thing I'd found which was closer to what I was doing than the typical neo-druidry. I fell out of love with it due to it's US-ness too. Nothing against USAnians at all, but I think for them, having to start completely from scratch has led to problems. I remember one occasion, many year ago, on the Imbas board when an Irish girl was lambasted for not being properly CR - when all the lass was doing was following the practices she'd been brought up with. Because the Americans have no living tradition, they are too quick to discount anything not found in a book. And that's understandable, because they are starting from scratch. But here, and in Ireland, we are not, and that's what makes the difference. I am a member of the CR community in the US and I agree with the criticisms that have been leveled towards us. Recently there have been many productive conversations about courtesy as a spiritual virtue, and the need to loosen some of the rigidly held, almost dogmatic beliefs. We have the disadvantage, in many regards, of being separated from our ancestral homelands. This is compounded by the fact that many of our forebears were less than friendly in their initial contacts with the native people of this land. There are many places where there is almost a "spiritual grudge" held against us by the deities of those places. I live in the desert southwest and the wounds from many of the atrocities that were committed against the native people are still very fresh. As individuals, I think that it is incumbent upon us to live in a manner that reaffirms our intentions, helps heal the wrongs and expresses our desire to re-connect with this land...it is certainly not an automatic. Not implying that it is an automatic anywhere, just that I believe that when one is inhabiting a region that one's ancestors also inhabited, the land might recognize you as belonging a little more easily. I think that the relative new-ness of CR in the US makes us rather adolescent in our interactions--adherence to dogma and intellectual bullying are typical of people and movements that have yet to mature. Some of our elders are seeing the error of their ways and are attempting to become better role models--some of the most dogmatic and bullying members of the community have drifted away to bully elsewhere. Slowly but surely we are figuring it out. One of my fascinations with Caer Feddwyd is to see how you are reconnecting with your heritage, ancestors and deities. So far I am impressed by your level-headed approach and I find that refreshing  I would also like to say that I am not here to "mine" your process, but, am hoping to engage in a mutually beneficial interaction, I think that we have alot that we can learn from one another. If you don't mind a guy from across the herring pond, who doesn't know a thing about cricket, chiming in once in a while.  Have a wonderful day!! Kenneth |
|
|
|
Post by Tegernacus on Oct 24, 2008 15:57:05 GMT -1
If you don't mind a guy from across the herring pond, who doesn't know a thing about cricket, chiming in once in a while. well, I don't know a thing about cricket either |
|
|
|
Post by littleraven on Oct 24, 2008 16:08:25 GMT -1
If you don't mind a guy from across the herring pond, who doesn't know a thing about cricket, chiming in once in a while. Have a wonderful day!! Kenneth Did you know that cricket is actually an ancient Celtic game, where originally the bat was the enemy trophy wariors shield, the ball was the enemies head, and the stumps the gate of the hillfort. The idea being that the passage of the head into the hillfort was representative of the assimilation of the warriors strength into the tribe. ;D I once had an argument on the Whiteoak board many years ago now, because I had the audacity to suggest that 'Carmina Gadelica' might not have been the remnants of original Celtic tradition. It was not pretty, I can tell you ... |
|
|
|
Post by arth_frown on Oct 24, 2008 17:06:25 GMT -1
Did you know that cricket is actually an ancient Celtic game, where originally the bat was the enemy trophy wariors shield, the ball was the enemies head, and the stumps the gate of the hillfort. The idea being that the passage of the head into the hillfort was representative of the assimilation of the warriors strength into the tribe. ;D Next your be saying that footballs origins was two towns kicking a pigs gut about. ;D |
|
|
|
Post by littleraven on Oct 24, 2008 17:08:00 GMT -1
Did you know that cricket is actually an ancient Celtic game, where originally the bat was the enemy trophy wariors shield, the ball was the enemies head, and the stumps the gate of the hillfort. The idea being that the passage of the head into the hillfort was representative of the assimilation of the warriors strength into the tribe. ;D Next your be saying that footballs origins was two towns kicking a pigs gut about. ;D That's just silly. It was actually this ancient Celtic game ..... |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2008 20:06:01 GMT -1
Did you know that cricket is actually an ancient Celtic game, where originally the bat was the enemy trophy wariors shield, the ball was the enemies head, and the stumps the gate of the hillfort. The idea being that the passage of the head into the hillfort was representative of the assimilation of the warriors strength into the tribe. That brings a whole new meaning to the old "The bowler's Holding ..." anecdote |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 25, 2008 13:11:15 GMT -1
littleraven wrote: "I once had an argument on the Whiteoak board many years ago now, because I had the audacity to suggest that 'Carmina Gadelica' might not have been the remnants of original Celtic tradition. It was not pretty, I can tell you ..." I am sure that it wasn't, people tend to get a little put off when you start shooting at their sacred cows I think that you would find a greater degree of maturity now, maybe....  It is unfortunate that such debate gets squashed, it is exactly those kinds of conversations, when done in an atmosphere of mutual respect and courtesy, that allow us to deepen our understanding of what we find inspirational and why. There is an interesting need to establish the authenticity of inspirational material, I don't know if this is peculiar to the US or not. Damn the poor fool who finds inspiration in "inauthentic" material or anyone who questions the "authenticity" of recognized foundational texts. It is almost that the legitimacy of a person's belief system hinges on the authenticity of their source material. What about reading something, pondering it, and then deciding on its value for one's self, regardless of how old it might be? Now, in all honesty, I am not the biggest fan of the Carmina Gadelica, so it is easy for me to adopt this stance...if you were shooting down Fergus Kelly, well that would be a whole different story ;D Have a wonderful day! Kenneth |
|
I would also like to say that I am not here to "mine" your process, but, am hoping to engage in a mutually beneficial interaction, I think that we have alot that we can learn from one another. If you don't mind a guy from across the herring pond, who doesn't know a thing about cricket, chiming in once in a while. 
