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Now, the alert among you will notice that I’ve written about joy not once, but twice before. And yeah, there is still lots to write about here. And you know – ideally, you’ll pop straight over to the Collective info page and sign up after this, but also, realistically, I know a lot of people can’t afford that. But I don’t think you can afford to skip the joy step on Brigid’s Path either. Joy is too important on Brigid’s path.

So, let’s talk about why!

Joy on Brigid’s Path isn’t always easy to find. I am always ready to point out that this path isn’t easy. I mean, you’re investigating the depths of yourself, your soul, your beliefs, your life…

Ease isn’t what I promise at all. Transformation is. And honestly, anyone claiming transformation is easy is lying to you. The journey on Brigid’s path calls you to discover joy.

Joy is simple…

Or it can be. Even on Brigid’s Path, joy can be found relatively easily at times. And I highly recommend making finding joy a habit. It’s so easy to parade through life and not pay attention to the smaller things that bring joy. A new crop of daffodils in the spring. A cup of coffee that, miracle of miracles, is just exactly right. The sight of a child exploring the world head first.

Joy can be found in so many places. And we overlook it as a means to improve our lives, including when following Brigid’s path. Think about it.

Think about a recent really shit day you had. I can tell you mine – exhausting day at work, loads of pointless meetings, loads of just small fires that only I could put out (not true but other people thought so), plenty of aggro and hassle. I came home exhausted to an emotional 18 yr old and an exhausted husband.

Now, there’s nothing particularly bad on this day. It was just… one of those days. But I had a choice. I could write the day off and just say “fuck it, I’m done.” (Ahem – which I did for an hour or so) Brigid’s Path demands joy, but also allows for the days when “fuck it” really is the only possible answer you can give!

I had to do something different though. So I got a bar of chocolate. And I really fucking enjoyed the hell out of it. I mean, I took my time. I tasted. Sensed. Smelled it. (It was a bar of Cadbury’s, so y’know, nothing special, but I needed the joy.)

It worked. I felt better. And it worked better and felt better because I deliberately took the decision to feel joy. This I have learned: I have to take the time to feel the joy that aligns with Brigid’s path.

Brigid’s Path and Joy

But I could talk about Brigid’s Path and feeling joy and never the twain shall meet. So why make such a fuss about it?

Well, there’s health benefits to regularly feeling joy. Seriously – go ahead and look it up. And while Brigid might not always be the best at looking after her tools, she expects us to look after ourselves. As adults tend to do, y’know?

And Brigid demands pretty well-rounded individuals. Now, I’m not claiming there’s one path for all of us. I won’t do that, because I know it’s not true. But Brigid herself is an all-rounder. And she understands the benefits of a well-rounded human experience.

And let’s face it – there are loads of spiritual paths out there that focus on misery. I mean, the Catholic Church is a wonderful example of this. “Suffer in this life so you don’t in the next.” Except it doesn’t usually to the church leaders, does it?

And ok, even the Catholic Church has veered away from that particular rhetoric in recent years. It still pops up from time to time.

The fact of the matter is that miserable people are easier to control than joyful people. Miserable people are beaten down, controlled, easy to manipulate. They don’t have the energy or wherewithal to better themselves and they have a tendency to lash out at others.

The power in Brigid’s Path extolling joy as a necessity is that it gives you the leeway to change. Change yourself, change the world, it doesn’t matter.

But it starts with joy…

Don’t forget to check out the Collective here and go and find some joy for yourself today!

I talk a lot about rigid, restrictive religions, and really what I’m talking about are high control religions. So this week, I want to explore what I mean by this and why I talk so much about them.

What is a high control religion?

There are many different ways to define or nail down in some way these sorts of organisations. Here are some common traits that are included in most of the definitions:

• demands obedience
• discourages or outlaws questioning… well anything, really
• expects subservience and loyalty
• discourages serious relationships (romantic or otherwise) outside the group
• insists that leadership within the group is always right
• there is an element of thought control
• group conformity is vital
• there is an element of emotional control/ only certain “positive” emotions are acceptable

We’ll look at them in a bit more detail as we go, but I’d say a few people reading this are thinking, “wow, that kinda sounds familiar from a mainstream religion”. Well, yes, that’s the thing.

Many of our so-called mainstream religions could be described as high control. Now, those of you who have been reading the blog for a while, know I was born Catholic in Ireland. And honestly, I didn’t realise just how much the church controlled my behaviour, my thoughts, my morals until I started unpacking them. Things that I had thought were normal and widespread, were just… not.

So, yes, learning about high control religions can be a bit interesting…

Obedience

Now, I know a lot of ye are thinking, “surely obedience is necessary in any religion or religious setting”. Well yes and no. Y’see, a high control religion tends to really focus on obedience to hierarchy, or to those deemed “better” or “higher” than the individual in the group.

Think of the priest in the Catholic religion. First off – obedience to the bishop is an essential part of the vows that the priest takes. Place in the hierarchy. Their role includes leading the local religious activity, teaching others how to pray, supporting those through difficult times. But seriously? The priest appears to be the one interpreting the Word of God for the normal lay congregation member.

But given the priest’s vow of obedience to his bishop (because in the Catholic Church they are all male…) you can see how “interpreting the word of God” can be “passing on the message from the Church hierarchy”.

This leads to things like bishops in the US telling their congregations how to vote for example. (Does a religion get more high control than that? Well yes, but still…) Doesn’t happen so much in Ireland any more. Even during the 2018 #Repealthe8th referendum, the Church was fairly quiet on the whole thing. They left it to organisations like the Iona Institute (no I’m not linking, horrific people) to lead that charge. But I notice a different approach in the States. And indeed from other religious organisations over there as well. But that’s a different post…

No questions?

Those who have worked with me, whether through full on teaching or spiritual coaching, will know I strongly encourage questioning everything. There’s a reason for this! I firmly believe that there is no One True Way^TM

But there are plenty of religious organisations that have it hard baked into their doctrine. (Ahem… Catholic Church again and indeed Christianity in general!) And questioning that doctrine, or questioning why things are the way they are can lead to negative consequences from a high control religion.

Now to be fair, there are priests in the Catholic Church that allow and even sometimes encourage questioning, but it’s not widespread. And not being allowed to ask questions is a major red flag in any environment. Outside of emergencies anyway. If the house is on fire, maybe don’t stop to ask what started the fire on the way out, y’know?

But aside from that, particularly with spiritual matters, where the journey is so personal, questions should be encouraged not prevented.

Subservience/ loyalty

Here’s the thing, in high control religions, the term “loyalty” takes on a whole new meaning. It usually means unquestioning, immediate obedience. No thinking of your own. Do, don’t think.

Actually, sounds kinda like I imagine initial military training to be…

But religion isn’t (usually) military in nature. Although that right there could be another sign of a high control religion… But in reality, are you expected to make obvious shows of respect to those in spiritual authority over you? Are you expected to only follow orders with no autonomy of your own?

Chances are…

No relationships outside the group

This one is a big one. And I want you to think about what serious relationships might mean:

• Close friendships
• Romantic relationships
• Family relationships
• Memberships of professional organisations
• Work friends

There are a lot of relationships in modern life that are fairly close in nature. I mean, my work colleagues usually know more about what goes on in my daily life than my husband – purely cos I spend so much more of my time with them! Imagine if I wasn’t allowed to develop those relationships? Not only would it severely limit my earning potential, my career progression, it would also severely limit my mental health.

And let’s face it, when it comes to mental health, high control religions are not really at the forefront…

Leadership is always right/ thought control

OK I’m smashing these together, because I think even the idea of leadership always being right is a form of thought control as well. Demanding that you always accept leadership is right means squashing your own thoughts and opinions. Subsuming them into the leadership thoughts and opinions.

Now thought control in general is very interesting, but in the context of a high control religion it becomes a bit easier. If your religious leaders dictate what TV you can watch, what books and magazines you can read, what information you have access to… well, it’s a lot easier to control the direction your thoughts take anyway.

Think about how the media presents information to us anyway. Then think about the limitations of perspective you get if you always get your information from, example, one particular news program. And this works both ways – both right leaning and left leaning organisations put a spin on the news and information they present, despite best efforts to be neutral in some way.

Then you consider the ones that make no pretense at balanced views or neutrality, but if they’re the only media you have access to, it definitely will influence your thinking.

Now, look, it can be difficult to find a balanced viewpoint in the word even when you’re not in a high control religion. So if you do come across someone trying to recover from a situation like this, have a bit of patience ok?

Group conformity

Oh this is a big one. This might be as simple as imposing a standard of clothing (think some of the “modest dress” that you see on documentaries of extremely fundamentalist cults) or it could be as strict as having everyone wear the same clothes, sleep in the same buildings, follow the same schedule, eating the same food… basically no individuality at all.

And when you’re in that sort of high control situation, even if it’s not a religion, individual thought gets really difficult. If you never see so much as someone dressed in a different colour… it’s hard to maintain that individuality of thought.

If everyone around you is doing the same thing, at the same time, day in, day out… the higher thought functions kinda fade away a bit. (I’m paraphrasing some fairly intense psychological stuff here here obviously) And there are benefits to having similarity of dress and routine – makes organising groups much easier. Look at schools for example – classes tend to be in units of the same time length. Because it makes it easier to match time tables if nothing else!

Emotional control

I know. You’re thinking how in hell does someone else control someone’s emotions? Well, ridiculously easily actually. There’s a book called “Discovering Psychology” that includes three distinct components to an emotion:

• a subjective experience
• a physiological response
• a behavioural or expressive response

Now, an outsider might not be able to control your physiological response – that’s hormones, heart beat, breathing, that sort of thing. But they can control your behavioural response. And that in turn will change your emotions and your emotional experience. Think of all the religions that maintain people should always present a pleasant face, be happy all the time, that sort of thing. But, y’know, not too happy. Cos that would be bad. For some reason.

Think of yourself, growing up. I’m assuming there were probably emotions that were more welcome than others in most households. I know growing up showing anger was not acceptable. So I learned that I didn’t even feel anger. That lead to a great mental health state as you might imagine. (That would be sarcasm, there…)

But from an organisational point of view, from a control point of view, it’s a lot easier to control people who are constantly working to control their thoughts, their emotions and their expressions. It takes so much energy!!

What to do?

Well ok, after escaping from a high control religious organisation, I’m going to suggest, you’re gonna need therapy of some kind. Just to help you realise what’s been going on, what has been imposed on you and what’s really not considered normal in the outside world.

Unfortunately, for many escaping these situations, money and resources are a real problem. And, pretty much no matter where you are, therapy costs money! So this can take time.

For me, once you have food and shelter sorted, spend some time getting to know yourself if you have the energy to do so. If you don’t, and food and shelter take up all available resources, that’s ok. Well, it’s really not ok and I hate to think of anyone living like that, but from a getting to know yourself point of view, it’s ok to postpone!

I have a huge interest in this area because of the work I do with helping folks find a spiritual path that supports and nourishes them. I talk about it a lot! But I think educating people about what high control religions are and the signs to look out for is hugely important. Critical thinking skills are our most important skills in the modern world.

And if you are recovering from a high control religion, but are also looking to engage in a spiritual path, but have no clue where or how to start, get in touch!

Privilege might be a tough subject to start the year on, but let’s go. Because this is the time of year when I am really ramping up my preparations for Imbolc. And part of that is reflecting on the last year, what I’m happy with, what I want to ring some changes with.

And some of that relates to my privilege. I’ve written before about privilege on the blog. And there are so many think pieces about the topic on line. Seriously… just google “privilege“.

So, today, I’m going to take you through my pretty much annual stock take of my privilege. You may find it useful, you may not, but I hope it provokes some thinking anyway.

What is privilege?

A reasonably common definition is something along the lines of:

unearned advantage that an individual or a group experiences because they have more valued positionalities. Aspects of positionalities can include things like race, or gender, sexual orientation, social class, and there are many other examples,

Now, I know, it can seem like using words like “unearned” or “advantage” can seem off-putting but bear with me. I’ll give some examples as I work through my own list. OK?

My background advantages

I was born into a country where I look like most people.

My first (and second) language(s) is/are the official language(s) of my country.

The religion I was reared in is the main religion of this country.

My family look like most families around us.

Both my parents are professionals. Or were before they retired.

I come from a 2-parent family. With 2 incomes.

I grew up in a food secure household. Or at least, it appeared as a child we had food.

I’m (mostly) able bodied and the issues I do have with my body are manageable within the “normal” range.

I appear neurotypical.

Situational stuff

I’m intelligent in a way that helped me do well at school.

I had an excellent education and was taught in ways that suited the way I learn.

Because of this, I easily got a place in 3rd level education in a reputable establishment.

I had familial support when I went to college – food, money, transport, moral support, an understanding of what’s needed in 3rd level.

I’ve always had a place to fall back to, so I’ve never been homeless.

Because of my degree, I have always had a professional role that paid reasonably, if not well all the time.

My entire childhood and young adulthood has led me to believe that I can tackle whatever like throws at me.

I have the resources I need (now) to deal with mental health and physical health issues.

My jobs have provided me with private health care.

I live in a country with a social security net, so a day sick doesn’t ruin my finances for months on end.

I have reliable transport and the means to fund replacements.

I have stable housing.

I have a professional role that allows me to be flexible to deal with life’s hiccups. (Like a weather-mandated week working from home unexpectedly).

I married someone who supports me and is willing to do the background work so I can push forward in my career.

I have the ability to fund things like good internet access, and other business requirements to run a website like this and associated tech.

Why is this important?

Well, it’s part of my mechanism for replacing gratitude with other things. The word gratitude is problematic for me, because it carries with it a feeling of obligation.

But I do think it’s important to recognise in this world where I have advantages over other people. All the above is a list of advantages that I’m aware other people don’t have. And it’s part of me making sure that I recognise that.

I still had to work in school – just not as hard as a lot of other people, to get the same results. I still have to put in effort at my career, but my background gives me skills and abilities that make that easier. My colour and professional experience don’t hurt either.

This isn’t a “look at how awesome I am” post. This is a “recognise the privilege and advantages I had that others didn’t” post. It’s a prompt to do the same for yourself.

There have been hard times in my life. I fed myself and my husband for £10 a month for nearly 6months at one point. (Long story!!) But I did so, starting off with a full freezer, and full baking press. So, we weren’t starting from scratch. We were fairly sick of rice and porridge by the end of it though!

Those hard times don’t negate the privilege I hold though. And my privilege helped cushion me from some of the effects of the hard times.

I suppose, this is a means for me to recognise the necessity to stay humble in this world. And I think that’s important for all of us!

Democracy is the worst form of government. (I know, it’s Churchill, but even a stopped clock is right twice a day). I have written before on Brigid and politics. Or indeed politics in general. But I want to talk about democracy in specific today.

First off, let’s look at the full Churchill quote:

[I]t has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time; but there is the broad feeling in our country that the people should rule, and that public opinion expressed by all constitutional means, should shape, guide, and control the actions of Ministers who are their servants and not their masters.

It’s at the same link as above and it opens up another few approaches of exploration, even if you include just the few words after the usual quote. There are, of course, different forms of this system, but mainly, it can be described as: a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.

What is democracy?

It’s actually quite hard to come across an exact definition. Seriously – I’ve looked. Yes, we’re got the dictionary definition above, but have you seen the loopholes with that?

Even just the phrase “eligible members of a state” is open to so much interpretation…

So let’s look at the commonly accepted factors that feed into a democracy.

• The rule of the people
• The people’s right to rule
• Legal equality
• Political freedom
• Rule of law

Now, I’m not going to question too much the people’s right to rule. I believe in personal sovereignty and I’ve discussed it before. And something being legal or illegal isn’t necessarily a go or no-go sign to me. Slavery used to be legal. Non-heterosexual relationships used to be illegal. Hell, women wearing trousers used to be illegal. So, y’know – legality is not always the best guide of right and wrong.

But it can offer a guide as to what’s considered acceptable and what not in terms of the society you live in. Or visit.

Legal equality

Legal equality can be an interesting concept. The Proclamation of the Irish Republic was fairly advanced for it’s time:

The Irish Republic is entitled to, and hereby claims, the allegiance of every Irishman and Irishwoman. The Republic guarantees religious and civil liberty, equal rights and equal opportunities to all its citizens, and declares its resolve to pursue the happiness and prosperity of the whole nation and of all its parts, cherishing all the children of the nation equally, and oblivious of the differences carefully fostered by an alien Government, which have divided a minority from the majority in the past.

– Proclamation of the Irish Republic – Wikipedia

(Yes, it’s wikipedia, but look, it’s a handy resource to grab that wording from and it’s accurate)

The later Constitution didn’t exactly support all the proclamation promised, of course. Democracy, when it eventually arrived in Ireland, was very heavily influenced by the conservative forces left after the leaders of the 1916 Rising were murdered by the British. (Yup, don’t care if it was legal – it was legal by the oppressive forces of a foreign government.) I was sure I had written before on the differences between the Proclamation and the 1937 Constitution, but maybe it wasn’t on the blog. I’ll cover it in a later post.

But really – the Proclamation was very open to the nation, the citizens and equality rights and opportunities. Much of this was because many of the writers of said Proclamation were the “radical” people: Thomas J. Clarke, Seán Mac Diarmada, Thomas MacDonagh, P. H. Pearse, Éamonn Ceannt, James Connolly,
Joseph Plunkett.

James Connolly in particular I remember as being very firmly egalitarian. In fact, his were the only forces in the Rising where women were stationed and commanded. Just as an FYI.

Legal equality in a democracy

But “legal equality” means different things to different people. And while most modern democracies make some effort to make sure everyone is “equal before the law”, I think we all know that there are plenty of forces at play so that an oppressed minority has a very different experience of the law than a rich, privileged member of society.

Just take the difference between rich and poor in most legal systems. The difference between pro bono work by a lawyer fitting in a case between other obligations and a well-paid, well-supported one focusing on one case to the exclusion of all others. That’s not saying the pro bono work is useless – it’s very often all some people have available to them. But having more money, means you can navigate most legal systems with ease.

Very often, legal equality means that you don’t get special treatment due to your position in society, although the recent events in the US might suggest otherwise. And look, to me, neither event is really that surprising.

Local TD’s in Ireland have been instrumental in planning decisions, water supplies, phone lines, road routes… all sorts of local questions that sometimes need a bit of a push through the county council. I don’t like it, but it’s one of the ways to get things done here.

That doesn’t mean those decisions don’t have to stand up to scrutiny though. And it certainly isn’t a free for all in terms of what might go on in an area.

A TD caught drink driving faces the same consequences as the rest of us – albeit, with probably more resources to offset the inconvenience. So there are levels of equality here, and I think the most important element is the one where we are all equal before the law.

Something demonstrably not the case in certain areas of the world.

Political Freedom

If you Google “political freedom”, you get all sorts of nice explanations and theories. For me, this means I have the right and ability to vote for whomever I wish, without my vote being made public (unless I choose to make it public) and without any consequences for voting how I choose. From the government anyway.

There might always be disagreements within friends groups and family regarding politics. That’s different. But there shouldn’t be coercion, control or other means to affect someone’s vote other than the considerations they deem important.

Now, there’s always a bit of nuance here. Making it considerably more difficult for folks in certain areas or certain demographics to vote is obviously wrong. I do like what I’ve read about India’s approach to voting for example. They include assistance for those who are not able to vote via postal ballots or at polling stations. Although I’m sure there are many ways to improve this process (There always are!) Even this consideration is an improvement over many countries. To be fair to my own country, Ireland also has assistance for those who have disabilities, infirmities or other issues, as well as those who are of no fixed abode.

Now, while there are many in Ireland might outline the complete lack of actual difference between candidates in many areas, we do have a multi-party system. Traditionally, the country has been dominated by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, and some might say that freedom to vote was controlled by various entities… but technically speaking, we’ve always had at least three parties to vote for since the inception of the State. But traditionally, either Fianna Fáil or Fine Gael, or in recent years, both, have been in power.

Plus, there would be a tradition in many families until very recently of voting one way or another and changing that could lead to some very… interesting… conversations round the dinner table.

However, there is very little to stop the Irish people – legally speaking – sharing their opinions on politics, writing/ talking/ discussing politics, engaging in politics… (aside from the usual economic issues, anyway).

Rule of Law

Rule of law denotes a concrete system of self-government grounded in a stable and accessible legal process. It features a system based on clear, objective and publicly disclosed laws; and a diverse, competent and independent legal profession. Effectively, the ideal ensures that the government exercises its authority in accordance with a legal framework that assures individual liberty and national development. This is the definition of the rule of law.

– The Rule of Law – Irish Rule of Law International

The rule of law is a foundational aspect of democracy as I understand it. If there are no laws, if it is just anarchy, well, first off, what’s the point of a law? And secondly, how does one enforce the rights and responsibilities of a democracy without the rule of law?

The World Justice Project has developed a working definition of the rule of law based on four universal principles:

• Government officials and agents must be accountable under the law;
• Laws are clear, publicised, stable and fair, and protect fundamental rights, including the security of persons and property;
• The process by which laws are enacted, administered and enforced is accessible, fair and efficient;
• Access to justice is provided by competent, independent, and ethical adjudicators, attorneys, or representatives and judicial officers who are sufficient in number, have adequate resources, and reflect the makeup of the communities they serve.

Fairly simple right? Except… those who work in the legal system, i.e. adjudicators, attorneys and judicial officers, tend to be those who come from wealthy backgrounds, ruling out many areas of the communities they serve. This is something the legal profession in Ireland recognises and is working towards correcting. The Irish Government has also taken steps towards improving diversity within its members. (Not always brilliant steps, but steps nonetheless)

Ireland has a policing by consent system of implementing said rule of law. And as a nation, we are proud of that fact. As well as the fact that most of our Gardaí don’t carry firearms. People are sometimes surprised on seeing the TV ads in Ireland – we have very hard hitting road safety campaigns, and recently, the sharing of personal pictures on line, as well as coercive control and less-obvious forms of domestic abuse are being publicised, as well as the routes to get help.

What else to consider

Now, this isn’t to say that democracy is perfect. The different ways of reckoning numbers in ballot counts can lead to significant differences in election results. Just comparing the UK’s “first past the post” options versus Ireland’s “Proportional representation” can lead to endless fun and games. (For info, I prefer Ireland’s way of doing things. No way to “waste your vote” then. )

But democracy covers a wide array of arrangements.

Nice to see that Ireland is down as a full democracy and showing higher on the scale than the UK. (Although understandable when they still have a monarchy). But that’s just national pride.

While the majority of countries in the world at least pretend to some degree of democratic activities, the variation in the types and levels of democracy are interesting to see.

Now another interesting map to view is below. This is from the V-Dem Democracy Index and shows the countries currently showing strong movements towards or away from democracy. I provide this with no comment, but invite you to check out the website.

However, the US, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Mali, Benin, Botswana, Benin, Tanzania, Burundi, Serbia, Hungary, Slovenia, Poland, Turkey, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Thailand, and the Phillipines are listed as moving towards autocracy. Madagascar, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Uzbekhistan, Georgia, Armenia, Niger and Ecuador are moving more towards democracy.

Responsibilities in a democracy

That’s right. If we want to keep our democratic rights, then we need to engage with our responsibilities as well. Particularly for those living in the countries identified as changing above.

So, first off, participate in your democracy. For most of us, this means voting at a minimum. But realistically, it also means engaging with the politics in your area. Learn about the issues. Concern yourself with who’s making what decisions and if these are the people you want making those decisions. Maintain vigilance against restriction of rights and privileges. Remember, the fascists across the world love a good restrictive law. It helps them immensely!

Be informed about your duties. Are you required to serve on juries? Military service? Paying taxes? Accepting the laws as they are? (Even if you are working to change them?)

Actively participate in your democracy, in fear you might lose it!

I have written before on how the power in Irish magic, and indeed Brigid’s power, comes from words. But as I was recently browsing Wikipedia, as one does, I came across two entries. One on Ethnic slurs and one on Religious slurs. So, of course I dived in!

Term	Where used	Aimed at	Explanation
Bog / Bogtrotter / Bog-trotter	United Kingdom, Ireland, United States	Irish people	A person of common or low-class Irish ancestry.
Culchie	Ireland	Rural Irish people	Applied by townspeople or city folk as a condescending or pejorative reference to people from rural areas.
Dogan, dogun	Canada	Irish Catholics	19th century on; origin uncertain: perhaps from Dugan, an Irish surname.
Fenian	Northern Ireland, Scotland	Irish Catholics	Derived from the Fenian Brotherhood.
Jackeen	Ireland	Dublin people	Believed to be in reference to the Union Jack, the flag of the United Kingdom. By adding the Irish diminutive suffix -een meaning little to Jack thereby ¨meaning "Little Jack" and implying "little Englishmen". It was more commonly used to separate those of Anglo-Irish heritage from those of Gaelic heritage. While the term is applied to Dublin people alone; today, it was applied in the past as a pejorative term against all city dwellers and not just those in Dublin.
Knacker	Ireland	Irish Travelers
Lundy	Northern Ireland	Irish People	A unionist that sympathies with Nationalists in Northern Ireland. The name emanates from Robert Lundy, a former Governor of Londonderry during the Siege of Derry in 1688, who is reviled as being a traitor to protestants and as such, an effigy of him is burned each year.
Mick		Irish people
Paddy	United Kingdom	Irish people	Derived from Pádraig/Patrick. Often derogatory; however, the sister of Lord Edward FitzGerald, a major leader of the United Irishmen of 1798, proclaimed that he was "a Paddy and no more" and that "he desired no other title than this".
Paddy wagons		Irish people
Pikey / piky / piker	United Kingdom	Irish Travellers, Romani people, and vagrant lower-class/poor people	19th century on; derived from "turnpike".
Plastic Paddy	Ireland	Estranged Irish People	Someone who knows little of Irish culture, but asserts their 'Irish' identity. Can refer to foreign nationals who claim Irishness based solely on having Irish relatives. Often used in the same sense as poseur and wannabe.
Prod	Northern Ireland	Northern Irish Protestants
Shelta	Ireland	Irish Travellers	Derived from siúilta, which means "The Walkers" in Irish.
Shoneen	Ireland	Irish People	Irish Person who imitates English Customs. It means "Little John" in Irish language, referring to John Bull, a national personification of the British Empire in general and more specifically of England.
Smoked Irish/Smoked Irishman	United States	Black people	A 19th-century term intended to insult both blacks and Irish but used primarily for black people.
Taig (also Teague, Teg and Teig)	United Kingdom (primarily Northern Ireland)	Irish nationalists	Used by loyalists in Northern Ireland for members of the nationalist/Catholic/Gaelic community. Derived from the Irish name Tadhg, often mistransliterated as Timothy.
Tinker / tynekere / tinkere / tynkere, -are / tynker / tenker / tinkar / tyncar / tinkard / tynkard / tincker	Britain and Ireland	Lower-class people	An inconsequential person (typically lower-class) (note that in Britain, the term "Irish Tinker" may be used, giving it the same meaning as example as directly below).
	Scotland and Ireland	Romani people	Origin unknown – possibly relating to one of the "traditional" occupations of Romanis as traveling "tinkerers" or repairers of common household objects.
	Scotland	Native Scottish people	A member of the native community; previously itinerant (but mainly now settled); who were reputed for their production of domestic implements from basic materials and for repair of the same items, being also known in the past as "travelling tinsmiths", possibly derived from a reputation for rowdy and alcoholic recreation. Often confused with Romani people.
West Brit	Ireland	Irish people	Directed at Irish people perceived as being insufficiently Irish or too Anglophilic.
Wigger / Whigger / Wigga (meaning white nigger)	United States	Irish people	Used in 19th-century United States to refer to the Irish. Sometimes used today in reference to white people in a manner similar to white trash or redneck. Also refers to white youth that imitate urban black youth by means of clothing style, mannerisms, and slang speech. Also used by radical Québécois in self-reference, as in the seminal 1968 book White Niggers of America.
Hun	United Kingdom, Ireland	Christian Protestants, especially Glasgow Rangers supporters	Used by Irish republicans against Protestant unionists, especially by Glasgow Celtic supporters against those of Glasgow Rangers
Left-footer	United Kingdom	Roman Catholics	An informal phrase for a Roman Catholic, particularly in the armed forces. Derived from a belief that Irish laborers kick their shovels into the ground with their left foot.
Papist	Northern Ireland, North America, U.K. in general	Roman Catholic	Usually Irish Catholic; online often used generically for any Catholic

I’m experimenting with the table above to see how it works. But if it doesn’t, I’ll see about getting it as an attachment or something.

There were a few interesting things I noticed as part of this exploration so I’m going to explore them here.

Brigid and words

Now, we know that Irish magic comes from the use of words. Brigid was a magic user and a poet. Claiming things by naming them, the power of your word, that sort of thing. So it should be no surprise that words play a large part in the Irish understanding of the world.

And while the majority of these terms are historical, they still have power today. Hence the need to investigate.

Now, the old phrase “an image speaks a thousand words” is apt here. But equally, someone has spoken the words “the Irish are no better than apes” for this image to mean something to someone.

Please understand, this is a historical picture. I’m not saying this is the way of the world today. There is certainly some anti-Irish sentiment in certain parts of the world alright, but honestly, later arrivals to the racism game (and earlier arrivals to the racism game) have top billing. Not us.

Are these words offensive?

I doubt anyone who is Catholic ever really found the term “Papist” offensive. Seriously, it’s an accurate description. It’s only a term of derision if you disdain the religion and someone calls you something you’re not. And honestly, I get it. But it was a way of marking someone as “other” and therefor open to ridicule, bad treatment, violence or death. Usually with little to no repercussions.

“Culchie” is a word I wear with pride as a country dweller of Ireland; yet Jackeen or West Brit are deeply offensive in most circles in Ireland. Particularly if you consider the historical roots of the terms. “Bogger” is less affectionate than culchie, but not really offensive… to most people. You do get some people living in rural towns that would be most offended at being referred to as a “bogger”. That’s more notions that Brigid and words though. Well, in my opinion.

Paddywagons is an interesting one. Linked to the police vans apparently. The vans were used primarily for picking up drunk Irish people (of all genders and none discernible,). The idea being that Irish men were all called Paddy of course. I mean Patrick or Padraig are very popular names in Ireland. Even now. But people get very lazy about things like this. But coming back to Brigid and words – this is how stereotypes build. Consistent reinforcement using language. People used Mick in the same way as Paddy, again through the vigorous use of Michael as names for men in Ireland. They didn’t manage to linked the name to anything else though.

Aimed at specific types of Irish people

“Knacker” is offensive. The Irish Travellers had (and have) a lot to do with horses, but this is the idea they’d try to swindle people by selling old worn out horses as new and fresh. (Please note: I said idea there. Not that this was common practice at all! Ok? Don’t go tarring an entire people with a casual sentence in a blog that you’re taking out of context etc. The whole point of this article is words have power. And Brigid cares what words we use. So pay attention.) Horses were slaughtered in the “knacker’s yard” and the bodies “processed for use” as one website put it. (I’m not linking it, it’s not a nice site! And even linking to it might give power to it. Which Brigid would not approve of.)

I’m less familiar with “pikey”, seeing as it’s mostly in use in England, but I think it’s as offensive at least as “knacker”. Comes from the habits of Travellers of camping on turnpikes, as best I can make out? But really. The people involved prefer the word Travellers to be used, so why not use it?

A couple of really offensive ones

Now, there are two terms on the list that come from the US and are used for black people. It’s no wonder certain elements of the Irish linked their plight with the black people – at least before the Irish became white anyway. The 19th and early 20th century really proved that particularly brand of racism had nothing to do with skin colour. Not really…

But here we go. And no, I’m not typing out the really offensive word. I don’t care, your brain can fill in the missing letters very easily, unfortunately.

“Smoke Irish/ Smoked Irishman”. Seriously. They used this as an insult for both black people and the Irish. As in, the only difference between the black people and the Irish was colour. And so, both should be equally insulted. Not to mention the violence inherent in the word smoked. I’m not sure if that was intentional or not, but it certainly comes across loud and clear to me. Think of the power in words, the magic in words, Brigid’s magic.

A really horrible one now.

“Wi**er”. The two letters missing are “g”‘s. Honestly I can’t even type it. White n-word. And look, I’m not being coy here, but that word is not for me to use. Even in the context of this discussion. So I’m not going to. Again, used in the US. Linking Irish people and black people.

Ones to have a laugh at

Laughing is an important part of spirituality, with Brigid and her words no less than anywhere else. So here’s a few to have a giggle about.

“Plastic Paddy” has come to mean, in recent enough years, someone who is acting out Irish culture, but doesn’t really get it. Think giant leprechauns on Paddy’s Day. Going on the piss on Paddy’s Day. Wearing of the green. The Irish in Boston are more Irish than the Irish in Ireland.

Yup, have heard all of these in my life time. It’s laughable. Now there’s nothing wrong in going on the piss on a bank holiday. I did it myself when I was young and had the money and the energy. But saying getting drunk is an inherent part of Irishness? Well now, that would be problematic. We have had enough troubles in the country with alcohol, without adding more power to those words. And yes, Brigid did brew ale. Wine is mentioned all over the place in the old tales. But alcoholism is a major problem in this country. So, don’t be joking about it ok?

“Left-footers” comes from the British Army I think. I also thought it was because Catholics genuflect on the other foot than Protestants. But apparently not. It’s more because the Irish dug with the left foot on the shovel? Who knew these things. Again though – not something I’d be overly worried about in modern times.

Why to use or not use these words?

Well, it comes back to Brigid, words and power. By using these words, we give power to the imagery and ideas behind the words. It’s not great to be connecting an entire people to the death of animals or horses (knackers). Linking police vans to one nationality is downright dangerous. Although the Irish in the US are more likely to be in the police force, if I understand correctly, these days.

I’ve tried to bring across during this post that while some of these terms can seem delightfully antiquated in modern times, it’s not always the case. Call someone a Fenian or a Taig in the wrong parts of the North of Ireland and I don’t fancy your chances.

And spread it out. I used the terms linked to Irish people here, because I feel more confident talking about those terms. But what other terms enter general usage that maybe we should be re-considering because of the power behind the words?

The notion of Brigid bringing power to art is one that doesn’t hit me often. I have, of course, written about Brigid the Poet before. But I don’t think I’ve covered the aspect of power and art. At least, if I have, I can’t remember it, so here we go.

(I mean, let’s face it, I’ve been writing this blog for five years now, so, remembering everything is going to be difficult. Also, five years????)

Illuminating Social Issues through Theatre

Art has always been a powerful medium for reflecting and challenging societal norms. The current production of Grania by Augusta Gregory at the Abbey Theatre is a testament to this power. Directed by Caitríona McLaughlin, this play brings to life the legendary Irish figures Gráinne, Diarmuid, and Fionn Mac Cumhaill. The play is said to explore themes of love, lust, power, and desire. This production not only entertains but also provokes thought and discussion about contemporary social issues, embodying the essence of “Brigid, Art, and Power.”

The Role of Brigid, Goddess of Poets

Brigid, symbolizes the transformative power of art. As the goddess of poets, Brigid inspires creativity and expression, encouraging artists to use their talents to address and reflect on societal issues. In the context of the Abbey Theatre’s production of Grania, Brigid’s influence is evident in the way the play uses storytelling to delve into complex human emotions and social dynamics. The play’s narrative challenges the audience to reconsider their perspectives on love, loyalty, and societal expectations. Now, I have to say that while love, loyalty, and societal expectations is repeated ad nauseum when talking about this play in general, I have other thoughts.

Because of course I do!

Grania: A Reflection of Contemporary Issues

In case you don’t know the story, the basics are this:

Gráinne (Gregory uses the Latin spelling, but honestly, I just can’t!) is promised to marry Fionn. (Again, she spells it “Finn” but really…) The night before the wedding, she persuades Diarmuid to run away with her. To save her from marriage to the old man. (Finn is meant to be in his 60’s at this point!) They spend 7 years on the run. Eventually Finn catches up to them, and through treachery, Diarmuid dies.

Now, this is the high level overview. Some aspects of this production differ from the versions I have read and learned as a kid in school. This is the nature of story telling though.

Where the contemporary issues come in? Well. There are two actors/ vocalists in the play. (Laura Sheeran and Seán Boylan). This choice adds such power to the piece. The two vocalists portray modern homeless people, in clothing, way of moving and tents. Well, possibly one tent. I honestly wasn’t paying too much attention to the tent(s). This is the essence of Brigid, Art, and Power—using art to mirror and critique the society we live in.

The idea of Diarmuid and Gráinne living on the run, homeless for seven years is an important element of the story. Homelessness is such a huge topic in this country. And the play showed this in a really subtle way.

The Power of Art in Social Commentary

Art has the unique ability to influence public opinion and inspire change. The Abbey Theatre’s production of Grania exemplifies this by bringing historical and mythical narratives into the modern era. It makes them relevant to today’s social issues. The play’s exploration of power dynamics and personal agency encourages the audience to think critically about their own lives and the world around them. This is a powerful demonstration of Brigid, Art, and Power, showing how art can be a catalyst for social awareness and transformation.

What power dynamics? Well, Finn is an old, white, rich, powerful man. Diarmuid is like a son to him, but bound by honour. Gráinne is a young girl, who has no understanding of love. No understanding of life, really. Honestly, how could such a young woman face into a marriage with an unknown old man? (And how often does this still happen in the world today?)

The power differentials – and how art can display them

Equally, Fionn, in the play, originally reckons this to be a marriage of convenience. Then he sees Gráinne, hears her talking, sees her innocence and apparently falls in love with her. The old lecher.

Diarmuid on the other hand makes a promise to Fionn that he will not marry (i.e.shag) Gráinne but keep her safe til she gets her mind straight. He lasts seven years. Which, to be fair, was a fair accounting.

Gráinne exercises her autonomy by (in some cases, but not this exploration) bewitching the entire company to allow her to escape with Diarmuid. Diarmuid is seen as helpless to refuse her because of his honour. (Bloody honour, always being used for excuses for men’s actions to women.)

As modern audiences, we may see this as perfectly normal and right of Gráinne, to be expressing some want or need of her own. But for most of Irish history (yes, including the Brehon laws!) this was not the case. A daughter was a father’s property, to be disposed of as he wished. And yes, of course. There were fathers who took their daughters’ wishes into account. But there equally many who didn’t. As artists, as Brigid followers, it is as important to highlight where the power lay as when this power was circumvented or adjusted.

Different Productions, Different Perspectives

Each production of a play like Grania can bring forward different aspects of the story, depending on the social issues prevalent at the time. A fantastic example of Brigid the Poet, Art and Power. For instance, a production during a time of political upheaval might emphasize themes of rebellion and resistance, while a production in a more stable period might focus on personal relationships and moral dilemmas. This flexibility is a testament to the enduring power of art and its ability to adapt and remain relevant. The current production at the Abbey Theatre highlights the timeless nature of the story while also making it pertinent to contemporary audiences³.

It certainly prompted some conversations in my family over the weekend. Now, I haven’t seen Grania before. Although, surprising no one, I’ve read it. But this production brought out to me just how strong Gráinne has to be in this story. She comes from a wealthy background. She’s promised to a life of relative ease and comfort. She is unlikely to know much hardship or hunger in life. (Other than when famine strikes).

And yet, she went willingly into exile with a man of her choice, rather than look at continuing that easy life but marrying Fionn.

Conclusion – Brigid, Art and Power

Versions differ as to Gráinne’s subsequent actions. In some Aengus takes Diarmuid’s body to his home at Brú na Bóinne. In some Gráinne swears her children to avenge their father’s death upon Fionn, while in others she grieves until she dies herself. In some she is reconciled with Fionn, and negotiates peace between him and her sons; or goes so far as to marry Fionn at last.

The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne – Wikipedia

The ending in this version is that Finn sends Diarmuid off to die by fighting the “King of Foreign”. (I mean, for most of us in Ireland, depending on the time period, the “King of Foreign” would be Vikings, Normans or English. Time period dependent. ) And then, with his last breath, Diarmuid is more concerned with making things right with Finn than by taking any care of Gráinne.

So she essentially says, “screw him so” and goes and puts on her fancy clothes again and goes back to her life of luxury.

Gregory plays into the “marry Fionn at last” version of the story.

With so much going on around the world today, with so many areas where women either don’t have rights or are having those rights curtailed, rolled back or otherwise impaired, this examination of one woman’s expression of freedom is important. Gráinne always exercises autonomy in this story, no matter the version of it you hear. But, in this version, she is prepared to take account of what she thought was love from Diarmuid. She is prepared to make the hard choices. Most of all, she is prepared to leave behind a life she thought was full and happy, in the light of new information.

The Abbey Theatre’s production of Grania is a powerful example of how art can be used to reflect and challenge societal norms. By reimagining a classic tale through the lens of contemporary issues, the play demonstrates the enduring relevance of Brigid, Art, and Power. As the goddess of poets, Brigid inspires artists to use their creativity to address and reflect on the world around them, making art a powerful tool for social commentary and change. This production of Grania not only entertains but also provokes thought and discussion, embodying the true power of art in society.

I’ve written before about the importance of music in my spiritual practice, but what about Brigid and music? Is music important to herself?

I mean, I could just as easily have made this post about Brigid the poet, but I specifically wanted to talk about music today. Because, there is legitimate, proper, peer-reviewed research out there on how music can change moods. A quote from the abstract of the paper:

The iso principle comprises listening to music that matches the current mood of patients at first, and then to gradually shift to music that represents a desired mood

So, music is important for us as humans, but is music important to Brigid?

What is a poet?

Well, we know that poets in Gaelic Ireland were a lot more than musicians, although in later years, there was a lot more specialisation, as far as I can see. But music forms huge parts of the poet’s repertoire. If you want to see how the power of music was held in Gaelic Ireland, pop over to Jon O’Sullivan’s blog, DagdaBard.com, and check out this story. (I mean, check out all his stories, but this one resonates with the power of music for me right now)

Music was an important part of the poet’s arsenal. And yes, I do mean, arsenal. Did you pay attention to that story above? Or indeed to the satire laid by Coirpre son of Étain on Bres in Caith Maighe Tuireadh?

‘Bres’s prosperity no longer exists,’ he said, and that was true. There was only blight on him from that hour; and that is the first satire that was made in Ireland.

– Cath Maige Tuired: The Second Battle of Mag Tuired (ucc.ie)

Now, technically speaking, there is no mention of Coirpre singing for his satire, in fact, the text specifically uses the word “says”. But I believe that Brigid sees music in words as well…

At the same time, there is a music to his words:

Without food quickly on a dish,
Without cow’s milk on which a calf grows,
Without a man’s habitation after darkness remains,
Without paying a company of storytellers—let that be Bres’s condition.

– Cath Maige Tuired: The Second Battle of Mag Tuired (ucc.ie)

Brigid as goddess of poets

Brigid is specifically called out in Cormac’s Glossary as “goddess of poets” and not just “goddess of poetry”. It’s a bit of a difference, when you think about it. But in my experience, as a deity of poets, she welcomes a bit of praise poetry and song. And Brigid definitely includes music in her poetry in my experience!

I mean, I’ve yet to come across a deity that doesn’t like a bit of praise. Or indeed, a lot of praise. Seriously. Think of all the “official” prayers in most of the religions world-wide. There’s a lot of praise in there. And gratitude, thanks etc.

Brigid is no different. So if you fancy dedicating your version of Shania Twain’s Feel Like a Woman at top volume to Brigid, fire ahead. Although, I will say, she may not count it if it’s 2am and you’re plastered. #justsayin.

And there is value in training your voice as well – I haven’t done this, but it is something I’m considering to help me when I’m speaking in public. If there’s one thing voice training will help with, it’s breath control!

What is music?

Now, I did say above that Coirpre’s words have a musical quality to them. It’s not something I chase in my words usually, although people have said I can sound lyrical when talking. That’s probably due to the accent though. An Irish accent is a great asset in life! Something Brigid would appreciate.

“espression of emotion”, or something along those lines, is listed against any of the definitions of music I can find in the various dictionaries I have. I’ve spoken about self-care and emotional self-care before. (And you can join the self-care community over on teachable if you wish!) Music might not always be the means, but Brigid is big on expression of emotion as well!

Music can help us feel emotions, process emotion and deal with emotions. It’s sound and noise to some people, but those same sounds and noises can sound like pure heaven to others! Anyone listening to Heart Shaped Box and not getting a tug at the auld heartstrings… well I don’t know what to say to ye! (Yes, I’m biased, yes I’m showing my age, yes, I was a teenage grunger…)

Brigid, music and spiritual practice

Now, Brigid takes a firm interest in our emotional health as well as our physical health. We all know this. And, from the second section above, we know that music can play a role in helping us manage out emotions. So the idea that Brigid and music are linked is kinda a fall out for that. But it’s also tied in to her role in poetry. Not to mention the role of music in healing.

And if you want to push the point to the furthest extent, there is music in a smith’s forge as well. Any profession will sing to its practitioners.

Bringing music into your spiritual practice can deepen and enrich that practice. Seriously. I record most of my meditations without background music, because it’s easy enough to add some in, if you want it, but it’s harder to remove it if it’s already there. This is an area to suit yourself.

And of course, you may choose to include music intended to be spiritual in nature in your Brigid practice. Rather than my own choices of more mundane songs. You do you!

I know we’re hitting some heavy topics right now, but really freedom is so important in spirituality. And when you’re coming from a strict religious background, re-learning how to be free can be difficult, messy, painful… less than pleasant basically.

And honestly, if you know anything about the Irish pantheon, and Brigid in particular – you know they value people making free choices. I mean, they don’t always agree with the choices, but free will is important.

As I said in the caption – Braveheart is a film about Scottish attempts at independence from England. It’s not historically accurate, at all from what I can see, other than William Wallace existed. But it was at least partly filmed in Trim Castle, so feck it.

Freedom

But freedom is an important concept to consider in spirituality. And fundamentally, if your spiritual choices aren’t free, then are they real choices? So let’s have a chat about freedom. And how we can learn to be free.

Because freedom isn’t always a choice. When we talk about spiritual freedom, if you have never had spiritual freedom, you need to learn how to be free. Let’s explore.

There’s a basic one in that a state of freedom means you are not imprisone. Or have your movements restricted in any way. Or indeed, that you are not enslaved. Now, while you might think that this is pretty straightforward, have a think about it.

Do you have to power to change your life? To make fundamental decisions about the food you eat, the way you spend any money you have, where you live, who you socialise with, your education? Do you have the freedom to explore new experiences?

Many people will be reading this and objecting. What about the cost of these things? What about family? Friends? Social pressure?

All fair. And all affect freedom. But if it’s cost causing you not to explore alternative spiritual routes, then it’s not spiritual freedom that you lack. It’s money. And yes, there are people, even in developed nations, that don’t have internet access. Other than air, there’s very little in this world that doesn’t cost.

Types of freedom

So let’s look at the types of freedom. And how you can learn to be free.

You know the way they say “money doesn’t buy happiness”? I mean, it’s true. But only to a point! Money can buy freedom. Money can buy a lot in this world. This is why I talk about abundance sometimes. And not having money restricts more than you’d think. It affects the way you talk, plan, engage and live your life.

If you’re worrying about where your next meal is coming from, you’re not worrying about freedom of expression. Or indeed your spiritual life.

So, be wary of people who say money doesn’t buy happiness. It’s sort of true, but only after a certain point.

But spiritual freedom is something different. I mean, just cos you’re poor, doesn’t mean someone’s controlling your thoughts, right? Well…

Here’s where a type of freedom inherent in critical thinking comes in. Propaganda is all around us. Hell, there are people who will claim that this post is propaganda of a sort. I haven’t been hiding that I’m a Brigid follower and my politics and my spirituality are inextricably interlinked. So, consider this propaganda if you wish. And explore critical thinking skills to learn to be free from propaganda and how to deal with it!

Critical thinking is the intellectually disciplined process of actively and skillfuly conceptualizing, applying, analysing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.

What is Critical Thinking? — University of Louisville Ideas To Action

I’m not describing anyone as sheeple though. Anyone who has sat down with me over a pint or a cuppa will tell you I love a good debate. If someone is preaching, or claiming to be a spiritual leader yet doesn’t allow questioning… well, that’s not promoting spiritual freedom. In fact, that’s one of the hallmarks of a cult.

Spiritual freedom

For me, spiritual freedom is the ability to explore and express your spirituality in safety. That means you are not in danger of losing your job, your income, your social life, your family, your children, your life as a result of exploring said spiritual freedom.

I read fairly often of pagans in the US that are extremely private about their spirituality because they don’t feel safe to express it. Now, of course, it’s not just the US. There are plenty of places where all sorts of religions are not safe to express. Judaism, Christianity, Islam… all the majors have been, and still are, oppressed in certain areas of the world. I will say in most of Western Europe and North America, Christianity is most certainly not oppressed. So don’t start, ok?

If you have access to a library for the first time in your life but are afraid to look at alternative spiritualities – that’s not freedom.

Maybe you’ve just escaped from a rigid spiritual upbringing but find yourself still adhering to certain elements of the framework out of habit.

Or, like me, you might find that things you thought were perfectly normal ways of living, are actually restrictions imposed by religion and you don’t want to do that any more.

These are all examples of lack of freedom. These are all examples of ways we can learn to be free again.

What does spiritual freedom look like?

For me, spiritual freedom means a number of things:

1. I am free to explore spiritualities that I was not brought up in.
2. I have the means to explore these spiritualities.
3. I am responsible for my own actions.
4. My conscience is my guide to right relationship, ethical behaviour and general living.
5. I can take in knowledge, information and guidance from other sources, but the final decision on anything rests with me.
6. There is no one else who can force or instruct me on how to behave. The choice is mine.

Now, I get it, this sounds wonderful. But it took a lot of work to get here. For example, one of the steps in AA is “Let go and let God”. If I’m responsible for all of my decisions and behaviours, how could I incorporate divine actions into this? This was all part of my 2learn to be free” plan.

That bits easy for me: there are things that I can control (my responses, actions, behaviours etc). there are things I can’t control:

1. The weather.
2. Other people. (I mean, I could, but it’s not ethical to do so…)
3. Major corporations.
4. The sea.
5. Religious rules.

Do you get the idea?

How to differentiate and what can you do?

One of the first steps I took was to figure out what was important to me and what I could control. There are those that would say I don’t always control my behaviour very well… well that’s their opinion. But, figuring out that there are things in this world that I can’t be held responsible for, was BIG for me.

I couldn’t be held responsible for other people’s behaviour.

I am not responsible for how major corporations, news outlets, newpapers, etc, etc, etc handle information.

In reality, I am a very small fish in this world and my arena of control is – relatively speaking – very small.

Learn to be free

This is all hugely liberating, but also hugely terrifying.

How do you be a good person, if there is no list of rules to adhere to? (Think 10 Commandments or something like that)

Well, you have to figure out a) what standards you’ll hold yourself to and b) how you will hold yourself to them.

Like I said, not easy. But worthwhile work. Now, if you want some support and guidance on this path, then, possible my new course, First Steps on Brigid’s Path is for you. And I do want people to engage with that, obviously.

But you can do this alone. There is nothing stopping you.

There are all sorts of resources on the internet to help with defining what’s important to you. How to develop critical thinking skills. Ways to divine for yourself the standards you will hold yourself to.

For me, there is a fundamental requirement in “freedom” that we take responsibility for ourselves. And it might be, that in the end, you find the standards you hold yourself to are in close alignment to one of the major religions. Maybe even the religious structure you grew up in and wanted to break free from.

Excellent.

Because religious structure and spiritual practices that you have come to after self exploration and study and contemplation will always be more valuable that just slavishly following someone else’s standards, rules and limitations.

It’s something many artists have attacked in their art: what would Brigid look like? Last week, we explored what language she might have spoken. This week, let’s explore what our darling deity might look like.

Modern inclinations – hair

There is a tendency in the modern world to assume that Brigid was red haired. She is described as fiery headed, and this ties into the stereotype of the green-eyed, red-haired Irish woman. Even 23andme explicitly links the red-hair mutation with Ireland and our distinct issues with Vitamin D.

But even in Ireland, the real percentage of people with red hair is comparatively small. I mean, ok, outside of Ireland, we’re looking at 1-2% of the population having red hair. In Ireland, it’s something like 10%. So, between 5 and 10 times the rate of the global population?

It’s possible Brigid had red hair. But she’s not known as Brig Rua. Brigid Rua, which would be common if she had red hair. None of the hagiographies or our tales mention any red hair.

But it’s there in the zeitgeist now. So this is one version of what Brigid looks like.

Clothing

With clothing, we’re on more solid ground. Kinda.

We have a fair idea of what St. Brigid would have worn. OK, again, we have the idea of the green mantle. Now, there is the text where she gains the land for her monastery in Kildare by spreading her cloack over the land and having 4 nuns each take 1 corner and start walking. No mention of colour though.

I don’t really have an issue with the idea of the green. I mean, green is so heavily associated with Ireland, it seems reasonable that it be linked to how Brigid looks.

Poet, Smith, Healer

We might all have ideas of how a poet, a smith or a healer might look like.

We also need to take into account that possibly, maybe, our tales might have exaggerated how tall the heroes were. Or indeed, their manes of hair (although fair and dark are the most commonly mentioned. Rare is red mentioned)

I mean, I find it unlikely that there were so many 7foot+ tall people wandering around the island as some of our tales might suggest…

There’s no mention of height with Brigid. But we might need to put aside modern images of what a poet, smith or healer might look like. For a start, poets had to survive travelling from place to place. In wilderness. With dangers and trials and perils aplenty. So, they might have been a bit better built than we imagine. And Brigid is a poet. So, Brigid the Poet, she might look a bit more sturdy than the scholarly build we might imagine.

Similarly, with Brigid the Smith. We imagine a smith as big, burly, muscular. But that doesn’t mean that Brigid looks like the Dagda… I mean, for a start, she’s female and has certain attributes the Dagda, as far as I’m aware, lacks…

And honestly, any good healer I’ve ever known has never lived up to the stereotype of gentle and mild. They can be fierce, strong, vicious when their patients are threatened. Even if said patients are threatened by themselves… Can you imagine Brigid appearing to confront a patient who wasn’t taking care of themselves?

Even the saint un-cured the leper who didn’t follow through on her instructions….

Essentially

Brigid is a saint and a deity. What she looks like, is entirely up to her. She can appear as young or old, short or tall, square or round. She has appeared to me in all sorts of guises. Including as a flame. As in not appearing in human shape at all.

We all have ideas of how Brigid should appear. But we can’t let ourselves be limited by this. Be realistic. Our modern romantic notions don’t always match up to the reality.

Just because she chooses to appear in a way you don’t expect, don’t be disappointed, or doubt whether it’s Brigid you’re dealing with. There’s few enough beings willing to impersonate her. Trust me on this one.

We can’t bind a deity into our notions of what they should look like. We have to accept them as they appear to us. No matter how strange it might appear to us!