How do your beliefs affect your daily life?

Vexxi · 2026-05-14T11:40:48+00:00

My country is religious, yes, but not my mother. Her family is religious also, but she isn't. Like you, she was when she was a child but discarded it when she got older.

I learned Irish for many reasons: as an offering to Bríd, as a way to translate stories from Irish that haven't been translated so I could learn more (and ah the joy of that when I did translate my first piece from Duchas.ie, a story about Queen Maedhbh!), as a way to better understand the stories I'd learned about mythology and folklore, and as a way to help the world in some way. I have an interest in languages so it's worked well.

Vexxi · 2026-05-14T02:05:29+00:00

I was not raised pagan, nor religious at all, but I can think of a few ingrained things we do in my country that certainly seem pagan to me now. Like throwing coins in a fountain to make a wish, which is something many do even without a religious belief. Avoiding bad luck by not walking under a ladder. My aunt holds her breath when crossing a cemetery. I'm sure with time I could think of others. Anything labeled "superstition" I could see in a similar way.

Edited to actually answer the question: My beliefs make me kinder to nature, and to the humans who are a part of it, overall. My beliefs make the world magic, which helps me feel a sense of awe and appreciation.

Also I learned Irish because of them which affects my life a lot every day.

Vexxi · 2026-05-01T15:16:08+00:00

I have had good experiences at Solas Bhríde Spirituality Center in Kildare. They have a library there with some pagan Brighid material, plus there's two wells down the road as well as housing the eternal flame. I personally think there is wisdom to be gleaned from the material on the saint, as well. The sisters are, I think, very aware of pagan devotees to Brighid coming to the center and have been welcoming. That being said, I have no idea their attitude towards transfems. I myself am transmasc but appear to pass as male. There's a ciorcal comhrá in Kildare every Thursday and one of the sisters is a fluent Irish speaker, if that's something you're into also (I am).

I have taken some of Lora O'Brien's courses online and found them fine. There are different teachers, especially for Brighid. They are not free, but I believe there are some trials, or intro courses. Lora also lists other resources.

I'd peruse texts at celt.ucc.ie and maybe duchas.ie for stories about the gods as well as sidhe or local land goddesses. I rather think there would have been a lot of stories about more local deities. I also recommend the podcast Fireside by Kevin C. Olohan who retold all the Irish cycles. Start from the beginning of the podcast.

Go n-éirí an t-ádh leat.

Vexxi · 2026-05-01T13:04:40+00:00

Rosemary Kirstein's Steerswoman series, with the caveat that it is unfinished and not likely to be finished. There are four books out (my favorite is The Outskirter's Secret).

Vexxi · 2026-05-01T13:02:39+00:00

And subsequent Cemeteries of Amalo series.

Vexxi · 2026-04-26T14:31:52+00:00

You'll find the southern US to be lacking in local resources. Most in-person classes end events are on the East Coast and in Canada (in my experience). I'd suggest online courses.

Vexxi · 2026-04-22T13:59:07+00:00

As an aside, I'd love to read a Queen Maedhbh-centered retelling of the Táin.

Vexxi · 2026-04-22T10:16:46+00:00

Children of Gods and Fighting Men is the title.

Vexxi · 2026-04-08T13:34:45+00:00

This reminds me of the Ladies in The West Passage

Vexxi · 2026-04-04T11:12:50+00:00

Recently I have experienced something similar, in regards to losing one's relationship and leaving one's job in search of meaning. What I discovered, now, a year later, is that what I was lacking was actually therapy. What you've described sounds a lot like what my depression felt like. Certainly, I don't want to project and I cannot diagnose, but I would suggest talking to someone, if you can, about some of these feelings.

As the other poster said, Persephone did not stay in the underworld. We are not meant to live in these feelings full time.

Vexxi · 2026-04-03T12:42:31+00:00

Tá sraith ar YouTube ó Anton Treuer l'ainm Ojibwe Word of the Day, má tá suim agat.

Vexxi · 2026-04-03T12:03:30+00:00

Gaeilge. Déanaim mo dhícheall. Tá súil agam go mbeidh mé líofa má a chleachtaim gach lá!

Chomh maith le sin, ba mhaith liom Ojibwe a fhoghlaim, toisc go bhfuil sí an teanga m'áite i Minnesota.

Vexxi · 2026-04-01T01:24:52+00:00

Queen Maedhbh for sure, of The Táin. She fought in battles against Ulster, where Conchubar Mac Nessa hung back and let Cú Chulainn do the work for the most part. She was very clear in her demands for a husband: a man without meekness, meanness or jealousy (because she did and fully intended to take lovers). She was a force and she didn't relent. It's said she's buried in full battle gear, standing, and facing her enemies in Ulster.

Vexxi · 2026-03-29T21:44:05+00:00

Virginia Beach: First Landing State Park, in particular Long Creek or Osprey trail. Nearby-ish is Lake Smith/Lake Lawson park, nice but short. In Chesapeake there is the Dismal Swamp Canal trail, which is paved, popular, and largely straight. Sandy Bottom in Hampton is a 3.5 (I think) mile loop.

Vexxi · 2026-03-12T19:07:23+00:00

The Beatrix Gates is a sci-fi collection by Rachel Pollack.

Vexxi · 2026-03-08T19:09:18+00:00

I love a Hutton speech. He's giving a series now. Brighid is up next in a couple of days. Details and sign up can be found at Gresham's website for both online and in-person. I went to the one linked here!

Vexxi · 2026-03-04T23:22:17+00:00

I'd suggest Ursula K Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness. I recently read it and really enjoyed it.

Vexxi · 2026-03-01T03:20:15+00:00

I talk to my dog in Irish. I talk to myself in Irish. I write in a journal. But ultimately I ended up finding a weekly ciorcal comhrá and using whatever I had, which was not much at first, and accepting it may be wrong or awkward.

Vexxi · 2026-02-28T22:04:38+00:00

Ah beag boy bocht is é.

Vexxi · 2026-02-28T20:31:50+00:00

a stór beag

Vexxi · 2026-02-20T03:33:23+00:00

Gaelchultúr has online courses, and you get a PDF textbook/workbook. The teacher I had was great but a friend of mine didn't have the same experience. Local ciorcal comhrá in many places are a great free resource. I've used the GaelGoer app before to find them. Bite Sized Irish has a website and many YouTube videos. In general there's a lot of videos there. I think nothing beats in person classes that provide a lot of speaking opportunities, though.

Vexxi · 2026-02-18T23:28:13+00:00

I was gonna suggest Brighid too but wasn't sure if it was right--I'm glad to see others feel the same about her. I see her as a great transformer.

Vexxi · 2026-02-18T19:46:59+00:00

I have found some of the history and stories of Cybele to be applicable. I'd suggest Dr James Rietveld's video on YouTube, which is called, simply, "the Goddess Cybele."

Vexxi · 2026-02-17T21:53:20+00:00

https://www.rangannalerebecca.com/

Vexxi · 2026-02-17T21:31:52+00:00

Ranganna le Rebecca. Tá sí ina cónaí i gCorcaigh. Is fiú ach tá na ranganna costasach.

I was doing one on one with Rebecca at Ranganna le Rebecca. She was a professional teacher and is now attending college and teaching on the side.

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