fuffybaby18 just sent me this link in an IM and I'm excited so I'm passing it on (and yes, US [and I assume Canadian] residents can listen to it, there shouldn't be any restrictions):


Sadly, fuffybaby18 learned about this after all the pre-Christian episodes were over *sad face* but you can listen from the Vikings on up. The episode "A Land of Many Kings/Poets, Judges, Nobles, the Free and the Un-free" is only available for the next 16 hours, so hurry and listen!

We're talking about doing another sacred fire ritual this Samhain.

Details: http://nicdhana.blogspot.com/2010/07/samhain-at-tara-2007-2010.html

 I have been trying to think of a name for Celtic Reconstructionism for the local community I have started, such as others have done with names like Pàganachd or Fálachus. I have been thinking that Aes Tuath would be a good name, it means "tribal people" or "rural people". What do you think of the name?

I have found no evidence of one, some claim that the Fómhoir Elatha is a god of the moon. Others say that Caer Ibormeith or Niamh are lunar goddesses, but I have found no evidence of these. I have found very little information about Laír Báln, which was supposed to be the moon, translating into "white mare". I can't find any info or even a wiki on Láir Báln though and don't even know the mare's gender. Any thoughts?

<input ... ></input><input ... >Hello!

      I wanted to post some sort of greeting before I came in asking questions. I'm currently  university student in New Jersey (Double majored in Anthropology/ Religious Studies, and Minoring in Archaeology). I'm almost finished with my undergrad and am applying for graduate schools for Celtic Archaeology (specifically evidence for religious ritual in mortuary context, and I'd like to possibly help with the excavations of an "oppidum" if i wind up in a gaulish focused program.) as well as Religious Anthropology. I'm originally from texas but have lived in the Czech Republic (briefly) and in Virginia for the past few summers.  
    
     All that said I've been interested in CR for the past few years. I've had way to much education on the topic to be able to stand most of what the ADF had to offer in the areas I was around in and I never went through an awkward Wicca stage thank the gods. I started my live journal to help keep track of my attempts to be more focused on the religious aspects of my life.

   But yeah I wanted to ask folks who may have had more experience with CR if they might be able to direct me to any organized groups out there whom I could possibly get in touch with to help with learning more traditional ways of ritual practice etc. I know that sounds like a strange question but I really feel like I'm not meant to be practicing this as a solitary and would love to chat with people of like mind.

PS. Thanks for all your help in advance!

 Bíle sounds a lot  like bile, as in bodily fluid, and I know it's ridiculous but it makes it hard to feel close to him. Partly because I'm confused about the pronunciation of the name (is it Bel, Beelya, Belya,  Bilya, or Bili?) Is there an alternative spelling of the name that's still Irish? What are your thoughts?

Hope everyone is well and enjoying the spring. Here the hags were most active during A’ Chailleach, at the beginning of the month. We had some very high windstorms, resulting in multiple days of song, prayer and offerings. And more than a bit of exhilaration tinged with fear. But we came through it safely!

I know a few people who had trees come down during those storms (some of you are reading this), but thankfully no damage to people or structures.

As my daily practice has become such a solid part of my life over the years, I really think that the set, calendar days for festivals have more to do with being able to plan for community gatherings than with deep, personal religious practice. Both are important, but they are different. With daily practice, and household practice, we tend to respond to windstorms, flowers blooming, first fruits or first frost with spontaneous offerings, songs and prayers. As the years go by I find myself caring less and less about organizing big, heavily-structured rites for strangers and thriving more on these deep, ongoing ways of life.

I saw something odd on a listserve recently, where someone was trying to compare "CR Ritual" to that of ADF and other polytheistic groups. Odd. I think she was using the Tara ritual from a few years ago as a model. Thing is, that was *one* ritual. For *one* purpose. And it was a public one at that: purposely patterned on materials that are already public, both to make it accessible and so as to not violate any private materials. But that is not what all of our, or all of my, rituals and ceremonies are like.

Anyway, hope all are well. How is the season going for you?

I was thinking about hospitality and both its importance in Irish culture and its centrality in GRP today. As such, I was interested if anyone has found any articles or could recommend any books which discusses hospitality.

I did find an article from the 1999 Celtica Journal, "Old Irish briugu `hospitaller' and connected words" by Gearóid Mac Eoin, and while interesting its main focus is on the etymological development of the term. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Gorm.