Author: Nidara

Thoughts on maintaining your practice when away from home.

(Image description: A trio of green-tinted ceramic dishes are placed inside a metallic cuff bracelet. A couple, light-skinned fingers are seen to the left side of the image, having arranged the dishes.) Credit: Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on Unsplash

Unless you are a part of a monastery, your spiritual center will be your monastic cell (whether that’s an entire home or a single room). However, there might be times when you have to leave your place, such as an emergency, a monastic retreat, a job, or a move, and you’ll need a travel altar.

I will use travel shrine and travel altar interchangeably here. I’m aware that an altar is meant more for doing spells, meditation, or other spiritual workings, but sometimes, your spiritual allies also reside there, which can be classified as a shrine.

The place I currently live in likely won’t be permanent, so the hermitage will have to accompany me wherever I go. I love my shrine setup, but it’s obviously far too bulky to pack into a couple bags. I would need to get the important items down to just the basics.

If you’re into minimalism (that’s not really my thing), this can also be a good experiment with that. Simplicity can take different forms, and having a simple shrine or altar can be part of that.

The central focus of a travel shrine would be a symbol or other representation of the beings involved in your practice. This can take the form of small statues, prayer cards, or known symbols related to the deities or spirits in question. If there is no specified image or symbol connected to them, then you can create one that suits your needs, as well as theirs.

If you have a method of cleansing or marking the space as holy, you’ll need to consider how you can accomplish this. It may be a small bell, an incense burner, or some combination of both. Keep in mind the place you’ll be staying in may not allow for things like burning candles and incense.

Many practices include the giving of offerings to show hospitality toward the deities, ancestors, or other spirits. A small bowl will work for this, since it can contain both food and liquid. I have even seen people use food miniatures in place of the actual thing. If space is limited, you could even opt for envisioned offerings. This is especially useful if you want to give elaborate items, but may not be able to afford them.

Prayer beads can serve a couple purposes in your travel shrine. They can be a focus for your deities, and they can even take the place of the representations I mentioned. If you want your sacred space to be especially streamlined, you could even have beads and charms function as substitutes for the other objects. It’s all a matter of how creative you want to be with it.

Lastly, divination is a common component in rituals, simple or complex. They may involve cartomancy, runes, a pendulum, or any other tool you like. Also, it’s worthwhile to consider using divination apps. This option may or may not be preferred as you may like the tactile nature of using the divination tool with your hands.

You’ll also should think of how you want to carry the objects with you. The container for these things can be a tin, a box, or a bag. The choice really depends on how much space and the privacy concerns you have.

I’m not sure what items I will include in my travel altar, so deciding which ones will be in there is something of a contemplative practice in itself. Evoking the same feelings I get from my regular shrine setup is important, and picking the objects with the most holy resonance needs to be done with care.

There may be other parts of a travel altar that I haven’t thought of, so that’s also worth further consideration. I will likely do a follow-up to this post in the future, so look forward to that!

A poem about the flow of time in Brighid’s routine.

(Image description: A photo of a clear hourglass. A thick antique book is to its left. A bouquet of purple flowers and a couple other small items are on top of the book. The area is mostly dark except for the objects highlighted in a soft light.) Credit: https://unsplash.com/@nate_dumlao

Brighid requested a poem this week, so I wrote one that focused somewhat on a topic I’ve been musing over for the past week.

Monastic Time

‘Tween the dark neither-then

and neither-now,

Brighid rises.

The creeping rays greet Her

as prayers are sung, and

the animals tended.

Tools mended,

and horses shodded,

the sun arcs as Brighid works.

A blessing hummed, as

food is relished

and ideas flow ‘neath the noon sun.

Herbs gathered,

with well water imbued,

Her healing is bestowed with afternoon beams.

As the sun sets,

Brighid passes Her oak,

bare branches among the vernal greenery.

The tree completes its task,

in its own way and time,

like a spiral on its course.

She smiles, sagely

as sure as prayers said,

life knows the way.

Stars then shine above,

a call for the next prayers,

Brighid rests as the cycle starts anew.

A beholding with mushrooms and moss.

(Image description: A photo of three, tiny, and red-orange mushrooms poking out of green moss, which is partially hidden by fallen brown leaves.) Credit: My work.

With the arrival of Imbolc and spring in some areas, the most obvious signs are new flowers growing among the returning grass.

For me, I found something just as telling as the wildflowers in my yard. I recently took this photo, and I thought it seemed like a good subject for a beholding session. 

Mushrooms and moss certainly have their fans, but many people still ignore them. This is especially so if they don’t have the immediate purpose of being edible. 

However, I thoroughly enjoy seeing this small patch of moss. Its softness contrasts with the sharp blades of grass, and the mushrooms provide a striking bit of color (most like saying they’re not for eating,  like some brightly-colored animals can indicate) against the green and brown. 

I even missed the moss during a drought that occurred in 2022. Instead of a vibrant green, it was brown and crunchy. 

With the life-giving rains of winter and spring, it makes it seem as though there were never any issues. 

Obviously, that wasn’t the case, and there’s always a significant likelihood that it will be that dry again.

Now, looking at the moss, I see the continuous and reciprocal relationships between the moss, mushrooms, and the fallen leaves. 

The leaves will break down and decay more to provide nutrients for the moss, mushrooms, and even the nearby ash tree.

In turn, the mushrooms have a place to grow before eventually returning to the Earth. At the time that the photo was taken, they were smaller than one of my thumbnails.

For all of Imbolc’s emphasis on new life, death is still very present within nature. In this season, life overshadows its opposite, but it’s always there.

February is nearly over, and time feels fleeting yet slow because the start of the secular year was only at the beginning of last month. 

The moment the photo was taken in is fleeting as well.

Within a few days, strong winds have repositioned the leaves. I have even noticed that the mushrooms are ever so slightly taller.

Time within human perception is strange.

Without paying close attention to small changes in something like a growth of moss and a few mushrooms, a bystander might think that this small detail in nature hadn’t changed at all.

On the other hand, I understand that the moment depicted in the photo was a minute fraction within the  lifespan of both the moss and the mushrooms. 

I can appreciate the beauty of the still image, but it’s worth observing the little changes in the environment for that beauty as well. 

For the time being, I will continue to watch how the mushrooms grow, the moss develops, and the leaves shift until they finally disappear from my sight. 

With the turning of the seasons, it’s easy to notice the large changes in animals, trees, and the flowers. 

However, the smaller, less obvious occurrences are also important to pay attention to, as they can show that joy can be found in watching the subtleties play out. Meanwhile, they can display the ever-present cycles of nature happening right by the paths we walk upon.

An organization of ideas for a monastic Rule.

(Image description: A photo of a white quill in a small, dark inkpot with a rolled up piece of parchment next to it. They are positioned in a softly lit black background.) Credit: Mushki Brichta – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=59282797

With this entry, I’m circling back to the topic of making a monastic Rule. My initial efforts had fallen to the wayside, and I would like to return to creating one. However, I think that writing an outline of sorts (or you could consider it a questionnaire) could help with fleshing out what I want out of a Rule. Additionally, it could also serve as an example for other monastics who want to make their own.

I still plan to take inspiration from Clann Bhríde’s nine Touchstones and other available Rules. You can create your own Rules based on what’s suitable to your life and the relationships you have with your deities, ancestors, or other Holy Powers.

As always, Polytheistic Monasticism is in its early days, and there are only a few path-specific Rules out there. Do your own thing.

Beliefs (if applicable)

What are the important beliefs within your practice? Are they flexible enough to evolve as your practice does?

Daily

How many prayer sets are done and when?

If applicable, when are offerings given? What kind of offerings are appropriate?

What other activities besides prayer and work are done? These can include meditation, projects, and physical recreation.

Weekly/Monthly

What tasks need to be handled on a weekly or monthly basis? As a personal example, flamekeeping would fall under this category.

Seasonal

What festivals and holidays are celebrated?

Are there any vow renewals during a festival? What does this entail?

Attire

What sort of garments are required or feel appropriate during devotions?

Spiritual Tenets

What sort of morals, ethics, or virtues are important in your path and devotion? To name a few, simplicity, joy, justice, compassion, and creativity.

Monastic Work

What does this monastic job relate to and how does it relate back to the spiritual tenets? Some examples could include academic research, financial support, and land tending (these can overlap).

These aspects are ones that initially came to mind. There could possibly be more, and I can add them on as needed. For now, they will work as more concrete concepts through which I can shape my Rule.

If you have any thoughts or suggestions about the subject, please feel free to add them in the comments.

Best wishes with creating your own Rules!

Thoughts on a couple ways of experiencing joy in a monastic practice.

(Image description: A photo of a lantern with a tealight candle inside, lighting up a dark area. A couple golden lights and a white light are seen shining in the distance.) Credit: Photo by De an Sun on Unsplash

Work, prayer, and study are the common tasks someone might think of within a monk, nun, or votary’s daily routine. However, these practices should be balanced with joy or whimsy to breathe life into that routine. How a monastic person chooses to find this balance is up to them, and these are two applications of doing that in a simple manner.

In a recent ogam reading done by a friend, joy is an important part of my bond with Brighid. One example of joy within the relationship is through poetry. Much of the time, I feel joy when I write a poem, even when I have to silence my inner critic. As far as I can tell, Brighid enjoys what I write.

Now, finding joy in my practice can extend to other activities. In a previous post, I discussed the practice of imbas forosnai. I likely won’t have a liminal place to go to, but I think a blanket fort could serve for this purpose.

Blanket forts are easily customizable and are temporary. For those in an interfatih living situation, I feel this could provide a space to recline and meditate in. It would also work in a space you’re renting and would need to take it down on occasion.

For myself, I could see having one or two lanterns inside for lighting when needed, and the sheets and blankets could be in grays, blues, and blacks to give it something of a cave-like feel. Including items like a Brighid’s cross or objects related to the spiritual task would be appropriate to have there, too.

While this would be a temporary structure, it also retains a sort of comforting presence, a bit of quiet joy that you might feel when you’re curled up in your bedcovers. It isolates you and causes you to feel like you’re in another space away from everything else.

In a previous post, I’ve mentioned how I would like to approach monastic clothing through everyday garments. The joy enters by thinking symbolically and considering what colors or accessories could apply to different facets of a deity.

In Brighid’s case, there are a few themes and colors I would associate with Her.

Celestial patterns or jewelry could link to Her aspect as the Lady of the Stars. This epithet isn’t traditional and is more hinted at with phrases like “sun among stars” or “the guiding star of Bride” than Her well-known ties to poetry, healing, and smithcraft. Flowers could relate to Imbolc and springtime.

Colors are also useful. Green would refer to Her mantle, while blue could be linked with the water in Her holy wells. Purple isn’t typically a color (apart from some stained glass windows I’ve seen depicting the saint) tied to Brighid, but the combination of red and blue could easily represent the union of fire and water (imbas). Gray is reminiscent of iron and the stones that make up a holy well.

Thinking of colors and motifs for clothing is somewhat like designing altars or shrines. Aside from my mainstay of wearing a Brighid’s cross, I can have a lot of fun by thinking of what to wear to honor Brighid on a particular day or a festival.

The makeshift incubation space and the garment considerations are only a couple of ways of integrating simple joy into my practice. As time goes by, I’m sure I’ll think of other methods of finding joy within different aspects of monasticism.

An account of how Imbolc went and thoughts for the future.

(Image description: A photo of my Imbolc altar. From left to right, there is a black LED lantern and three of icons of Brighid as Smith, Poet, and Healer. In front of the pictures are some pine cones, a copper sun disk, a Brighid doll in a bed, a couple Brighid’s crosses, a large acorn and smaller ones, a spiral labyrinth, a large pillar candle in a cauldron, a small glass candleholder, wooden incense burner, a bell branch, and an altar cloth with blue Celtic knotwork on top of a wooden chest. An LED tree stands behind the pillar candle.) Credit: My own work.

Brighid’s Day has turned out to be a chilly and damp festival, as the area I live in has been hit by rain, and much the U.S. is also on the receiving end of a winter storm. On one hand, it’s proving troublesome for many, but perhaps it might mean that spring isn’t far off.

I began Imbolc Eve with a flamekeeping shift, and I placed the handful of Brighid’s mantles outside to be blessed when She passed by. Since I knew there was a chance of rain, I secured them to a hanger and hung them from a hook on the porch.

It’s not traditional in the least, but it kept the mantles from becoming damaged. Also, traditions should be adapted as needed, based on your living situation and the environment around you.

Later in the evening, I incorporated my nightly routine into my Imbolc observations. I offered Brighid cream with honey, vanilla incense, and a poem. It doesn’t have a particular rhyme or rhythm and functions as more of a conversation.

It was inspired by a part of Lucy Valunos’ book, One Heart, Many Gods: The Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Devotional Polytheism, proposing that the reader consider this question from time to time. Given that poem is more of a stream of thought, I imagine you’ll find it somewhat rough around edges, but it didn’t feel right to clean it up.

Why?

It’s easy to go through

the motions of praising

and offering to You.

But why is my heart

drawn to You, O Brighid

through good and ill.

It’s easy to bless Your name,

when the flow is smooth and steady

but when the stream is rocky

and obstacle-filled,

I must continue,

lest I lose course and my light.

You are there for me,

even though I might miss

the Clue-by-Fours You send me.

You are the Coach, praising

and critiquing me, as

I strike the punching bag of Life.

You have healed me,

You have inspired me,

Word by word,

line by line,

joy flows ‘tween us.

I ask myself why,

“Why do I turn to

Your sacred flame,

each day and every day

each night and every night?”

A threefold litany

or none at all

could not encompass

all that I feel,

the reasons too numerous to utter.

You are the Sublime,

the truth-ringing knell

of Your hammer against my heart.

The cool waters

cleansing my sorrows

the blazing fire igniting

my fingers to write.

May I continue to

to listen and ask why,

so that I may understand and

see You more and more.

Lastly, I did a three stave ogam reading on subjects I should contemplate over the time period from Imbolc to Bealtaine in May.

I received nGétal, Idad, and Beith. With a cursory look at these three letters, I get the sense that it might be time to do some ancestor work, along with healing and purification. It’ll take time to fully interpret what I need to contemplate on and what significance they have to the current events in my life and with Brighid.

Have a happy and blessed Imbolc!

Thoughts on the meaning of spectacle during Imbolc.

(Image description: A photo of white flowers poking through the underbrush. The flowers are closed with brown leaves in the foreground and more debris beyond.) Credit: Photo by Valentin Salja on Unsplash

In an era of instant gratification and never-ending trends, the concept of spectacle came to mind in an offhand conversation. Some people seem like they’re on a constant hamster wheel of viewing, interacting, and following. In the season of Imbolc, there is another form of spectacle afoot.

I’m as guilty of focusing on social media as the next person. However, the start of Imbolc occurred with the recent new moon. I haven’t done my celebrations for it yet, but I made a mental note of it to aid in remembering that I’m in Brighid’s time right now.

Taking time to observe and recognize the subtle changes of deities and nature is seen in the practice of custodia oculorum, Latin for custody of the eyes. The practice is detailed through a Polytheist lens by Rebecca Korvo in Polytheistic Monasticism: Voices from Pagan Cloisters.

It is the time of recognizing the small details of Her arrival, a spectacle in its own right.

The days are still cold and dreary, but they oscillate to warmer temperatures as well. Already, a couple of small, white flowers have bloomed in the front yard. I’ve seen these kinds of flowers since childhood and always looked forward to seeing them.

Up until recently, I had no idea what the name of the flower was. It’s known as crow poison or false garlic. The former makes me wince, as I’m fond of corvids. Despite the name, I can still appreciate its presence when it blooms. It grows in the spring and the fall, so the flower indicates the change of seasons twice a year.

This flower somewhat reminds me of the snowdrop because of its early vernal growth and its color. The false garlic is a generally hardy plant that’s mostly able to endure the remaining chilly weather.

Coming back to the idea of a spectacle, I sense that Brighid’s return is less of a grand entrance than it is more of a gradual waking up. Power doesn’t need flash to display its potency. Her life-giving power can be subtle but no less significant.

Similarly, snow drops and false garlic are beautiful to look at, but they are both toxic plants. Nature has a way of creating beauty but also defense mechanisms for plants, in order to prevent them from being eaten. It reminds me of nature’s elements of life and death intermingling in each living thing.

Imbolc is a strangely fragile, yet dangerous time. In times past, it was a bit of hope after hard winters, a liminal point in time that warmer days were ahead. With the advent of modern electricity, we can take the relative safety for granted, as we’re mostly able to trust that we’ll be able to remain warm. However, there’s always a risk of that power going out; there’s still the need for being prepared for harsh weather.

With Imbolc Eve about a week away, continuing to watch nature shift toward the next season is important. Weather divination has always had its place during Imbolc, so that farmers would know when to sow the seeds for harvest in the autumn. While I don’t think I will be able to predict what the weather will be like later this year, it’s worth noting the environment around me.

As always, I plan to make a bed for the Brighid doll, lay out the various brats (Brighid’s mantles I’ve been given) for blessing, and give offerings to Her to show hospitality during Her visit. There are other festivities I want to do, but I’ll discuss that more in the next post.

Happy Imbolc Season!

Some thoughts about gnosis in my practice.

(Image description: A photo of a path going over a hill. The path is smooth and surrounded by growing crops and wooden fencing. Wispy clouds are lit up by the rising sun in soft pinks and purples.) Credit: Photo by Karsten Würth on Unsplash

This post was initially inspired by Seo Helrune’s article Why Not Both? Bridging Reconstructionism and Gnosis and some recent understandings of my relationship with Brighid. The author’s focus is mainly focused on the US Heathen community, but I felt like there were some useful parts within it that pertain to Polytheistic Monasticism, regardless of whether your interest is with Brighid or any other deity, ancestor, or other spirit.

Now, there is no concrete evidence that ancient polytheistic cultures had some form of monasticism that we’d recognize. However, there is the likelihood that they did.

Barring any social benefits that might’ve been gained, there have always been types of people who are probably more inclined toward a monastic path; these could introverts, neurodivergent types, and even the gender and sexuality diverse, just to name a few groups.

With the Polytheistic Monasticism movement still in its early days, gnosis is a key part in finding what will work. Seo Helrune discusses the importance of discernment with regard to how reconstruction and gnosis can complement and balance each other out. In the case of monastic practice, gnosis is the guiding light while research can be a map that leads off to parts unknown. In many ways, this is both freeing and daunting.

I imagine that both monastic groups and individuals are having to find this balance between reconstruction and gnosis, especially if they’re based around ancient cultures. I’m certainly a lover of research and learning, but I know that only serves as a jumping off point. I believe that was also why I was drawn to Polytheistic Monasticism, since it has somewhat of a do-it-yourself element to it in its current form.

As of now, I largely follow my gut and joy when it comes to the practices I’m developing for my path. From what I’ve learned, I believe Brighid appreciates this way of approaching things. I’m experimenting and seeing what works. Some of this will involve listening to Her for when She gives an affirmation that I’m headed the right way or when She might give me some constructive criticism when needed.

Back when I started setting up this online cell of sorts, I was slightly stumped as to what name I should give it. I was inspired partially by the concept of imbas forosnai, seeking imbas or divine inspiration in liminal, typically darkened areas. The image of a glowing spark or ember within that darkness came to mind and gave me a name for the newsletter. I haven’t yet attempted the practice myself, but I hope to continue learning from Brighid in many different ways through Her illumination.

This desire to learn from Her also reflects in the name of my hermitage. It’s both a nod to Her holy place in Kildare, Ireland and the manner in which oak roots extend and wind through the Earth. I hope to continue learning from Her and from others in shaping my practice. However, in the end, I will likely be following a path less traveled that doesn’t fit with the usual expectations. Joy and creating are a couple of the guiding aids in my hermit’s pack. I feel Brighid has my back, as She’s the hearer of my tale. I will always refer back to folklore and mythology surrounding Her, but I also must follow my heart to Her.

A seasonal poem about Brighid’s time before Imbolc.

(Image description: A black tea kettle has steam rising from its spout. Light from a stove’s fire reflects off its surface.) Credit: Photo by Jacob Capener on Unsplash

Sounds of the Season

Mist hanging heavily,

like a veil,

crystalline beads falling

keeping time on tree limbs

Drip, drip, drip

a slow drumbeat

against the ground

keeping time with the Earth

The soft thwip

of thread through wool,

patching and mending

more fields on Her mantle

Sharp crinkle of paper,

gilded edges curling

as the designs are readied, with

hammer and anvil to make manifest.

In each thrice-blessed smooring,

the sacred flame is steadily watched

the crackle and hiss a melody

as She prepares for the spring.

Prayers alight to Her ears

as tea brews in the kettle,

each whisper and word

like the steam from its spout.

Her response is a poem,

winding words and lilting laughter

like a pilgrimage path,

a promise of Her approach.

Hopes for the new year and a prayer.

(Image description: A photo of group of white taper candles shining their light in a darkened area.) Credit: Photo by Faith Crabtree on Unsplash

2023 has arrived, and so far, the weather feels like spring is already here. Imbolc is still a few weeks away, and I have a feeling the vernal conditions will only last so long. Nowadays, nature has a roller coaster schedule, but it hopefully won’t veer to one extreme or another.

Resolutions are a common practice to do at the start of a new year, but I won’t be doing that tradition for the foreseeable future. Too often, resolutions don’t last very long before being discarded.

Instead, I’d rather set overarching intentions of what I hope to accomplish on this blog throughout the year. This method provides for leniency in the case of obstacles of different types that may happen and prevents me from over-stressing about what might not get completed.

My first intention is to continue to develop my monastic practice. This goes without saying, but I feel like there’s always new ways of contemplation and seeking the Divine. For instance, I would like to find more of Brighid within nature and write poetry about Her in these facets.

The second intention is to return to working on my breviary. It fell by the wayside, and it’s something I feel is an important item in my path. Part of my practice is creating beauty in my life and for Brighid. I feel as though many forms of art are sacred to Her, even if they don’t fall within an Irish or a Gaelic context. Part of this creative focus will also be doing ogam art. I’m still not sure how that will manifest, but it’s definitely something I want to do.

In a previous post, I discussed ideas for possible monastic attire, but I want to revise it somewhat. Garments like robes, veils, and habits have their place within Polytheistic Monasticism, but I feel everyday clothes can be just as holy as the former.

As for my reasoning, I began looking at the monastics who run Solas Bhríde in Kildare, Ireland. They wear everyday attire and don’t wear veils (I will continue to veil in some capacity). At least for the time being, I want to follow their example while also incorporating my personal tastes into my clothing. Clothes can be a form of art through self-expression, so I think this point of view could be a devotional act for Brighid.

For the next twelve months, these will be my intentions, and I hope to follow through with them.

New Year Prayer

Brighid of Slumber,

bless us with the deep rest we need.

Brighid of Poetry,

inspire us as a Flame within the holy dark.

Brighid of Smithcraft,

aid us in shaping dreams into forms.

Brighid of Healing,

shield us from illness in the three-fold of mind, body, and spirit.

As it was,

as it is,

as it shall ever be.