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Post by Tegernacus on Jan 5, 2009 9:14:54 GMT -1
thing is, to celebrate the solstice today, without the ancient context, tradition and ritual for doing so, is quite an empty experience. Our modern context, like it or not, is the Roman/Christian/Victorian tradition. As you say, remove the commercialism (and Christianity) from it and it is still a very emotive and inspiring tradition, one that does make a perfect backdrop to the solstice we aim to celebrate. No shame in being a pagan and celebrating "Christmas".
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Post by jez on Jan 5, 2009 9:16:43 GMT -1
OK, time has passed since our ritual, may I ask, what were your impressions? My over-riding lasting impression was a very strong feeling of focussed intent when reciting our ritual. This was a very positive feeling and the whole period was very stimulating, brain seemed to go into overdrive, so to speak. Does anyone else wish to share their experiences? RR I hold up my hand here - I did not take part in this ritual. I have been feeling for a while now that the focus of this group is not for me. I am a heathen, I honour this land, its wights and its gods, in ways that I believe have roots in the way thousands of years of people have done in this land and in close-lands to here. I honour the Mothers on the Night of the Mothers, the Children and the Elders on other nights, the darkness and the cold, the returning light, the land and the crops, I sing to the King of the Birds on what is now St. Stephen's Day, I dig the earth on the Promise Dawn at the end of the Twelve Days and wassail my fruit trees on the Twelfth Eve. And at no time would I fast during this time of trust and promise, pledge and feasting. So, no, I did not do what you did. And I think it is unlikely I ever would. -- <shrugs> I have already withdrawn from the main planning part of your group, mainly due to my feeling of the group's underlying rejection of anything 'heathen', despite occasional 'pats on the back' given to the surviving traditions of the inter-Christian era. And now, I think, it is time to leave here as well. -- I will keep a watching brief, as I have been asked to do, in case anything 'heathen' becomes relevant to any of you, or in case anyone has questions. But you will have to email me, as I will no longer leave either site on automatic update. -- Be well. Brython. I hope you find what you are seeking. But I already have a relationship with this land, and this land's gods, and I don't find what is happening here any more relevant to me or to my ancestors than what I have already, nor any more fulfilling in either a religious or spiritual way. The gods who surround me in these lands are, perhaps, the same wights who have always spoken to the people of these lands, and they seem perfectly happy to listen to me, and to speak with me, in languages and ways I learned decades ago at kitchen tables, hearth fires and on long walks with my feet in the mud of the Trent Valley. And I am perfectly happy to join any ritual to those wights, with any kin-member of any religious persuasion or none, as I always have, knowing that I will never find, nor do I need to find, another person who interacts with their land in exactly the same way as I do. -- Fare you well. -- Jez
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Post by Adam on Jan 5, 2009 9:23:05 GMT -1
thing is, to celebrate the solstice today, without the ancient context, tradition and ritual for doing so, is quite an empty experience. Our modern context, like it or not, is the Roman/Christian/Victorian tradition. As you say, remove the commercialism (and Christianity) from it and it is still a very emotive and inspiring tradition, one that does make a perfect backdrop to the solstice we aim to celebrate. No shame in being a pagan and celebrating "Christmas". ;D I don't think I would remove the religious structure/process, only the content... somehow, the process of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany works in a process sense... may just be that generations behind me followed it and I grew up with it. And is the Solstice itself something to be celebrated, at least without anticipation of the growing light to come?
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Post by Adam on Jan 5, 2009 9:29:49 GMT -1
Personally, in terms of the experience I have of this forum and how it contributes to my thinking, I will experience this as a loss... heathenism, paganism, shmaganism... not labels I always fully understand in terms of distinction and similarity... but your thoughts have always demonstrated an ability to see a bigger picture and to share it... something of wisdom in there I think. Sorry to see you go...
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Post by arth_frown on Jan 5, 2009 12:23:10 GMT -1
It would be a shame to see you go. You gave Brython a jump start at Flag Fen and I will always remember you for doing so. Hopefully I will see you again, soon. TTFN
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Post by redraven on Jan 5, 2009 17:52:08 GMT -1
Assuming that you will read this, Jez, go well. You seem confident in your relationship with deity, choosing the solitary path, which resonates here, I'm sure, with many at some stage of their life. I would be honoured if I was to be considered a friend, and hope our paths will cross again (which they may well do on 24/01 if you are in Sheffield!).
RR
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Post by Midori on Jan 5, 2009 21:43:08 GMT -1
I for one will miss your input, Jez. I liked the way you could curb some of our wilder flights of fancy here.
Cheers, Midori
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Post by Heron on Jan 6, 2009 22:16:11 GMT -1
I didn't fast either Jez, nor can I conceive of having done so.
No doubt our paths will cross elseewhere, as they have already done in the past.
Until then, Fare Thee Well
G
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Post by dreamguardian on Jan 7, 2009 12:33:41 GMT -1
I for one will miss your input, Jez. I liked the way you could curb some of our wilder flights of fancy here. Cheers, Midori Me too. Take care, mate.
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Post by dreamguardian on Jan 7, 2009 12:38:39 GMT -1
A bit slow to reply on this original thread but we did celebrate & toast. In fact, I was working nights & finished in the morning of 25th. We concluded our celebration on a iron age hill fort very close to us. It was cold & bloody windy but when we finished, the wind stopped and the cloud cleared for a brief moment to highlight the hill range about us.
It was very special and personally significant.
Peace
Rob
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Post by potia on Jan 7, 2009 14:06:09 GMT -1
I toasted and it felt good to do so and somehow right. I enjoyed knowing that across the land were others doing more or less the same thing at about the same time. It increased my sense of connection to members of this community. I wasn't able to do the dawn observance on the 25th for a few reasons including children waking early but I did hold thoughts of the returning sun in my mind and that made the day feel more special to me. In fact during my family lunch on the 25th we did toast the returning sun
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