The Three Cauldrons: Celtic Myth and Spiritual Wisdom
Academic and historically based study and exploration of authentic Celtic religion, mythology, druidism, folklore, literature, languages, wisdom texts, archaeology, ethnography, ritual, poetry and visionary practices, as well as the anthropologically supported identification of shamanic elements in Celtic contexts.
Walking our Talk: Native Wisdom and Respect
This blog has taken many hours - and no small measure of courage - to write, and is written from the heart. It discusses some potentially uncomfortable aspects of modern Celtic Paganism. I encourage you to read and contemplate. Note: Flaming will be deleted, and protection is already set in place, as well as spirit assistance to return anything harmful to sender. The ultimate message here is awareness and respect. If that doesn’t resonate for you, please pass on by.
I want to say some things on the topic of showing respect for our fellow/sister/trans Celtic/Druidic pagans. Many - if not most - pagans believe that nature is sacred, as well as all of its beings.
That includes human beings, who have complex lives and experiences, struggles or situations, as well as strengths and insights, the extent of which we may not be aware (especially if our only ‘knowledge’ of them is through Facebook or the internet).Why would we have compassion for a wounded or struggling plant or animal, but not for another human being?
“Cultural appropriation, at times also phrased cultural misappropriation,is the adoption of elements of a minority culture by members of the dominant culture. Because of the presence of power imbalances that are a byproduct of colonialism and oppression, cultural appropriation is distinct from equal cultural exchange.
Particularly in the 21st century, cultural appropriation is often considered harmful, and to be a violation of the collective intellectual property rights of the originating, minority cultures, notably indigenouscultures and those living under colonial rule.
Often unavoidable when multiple cultures come together, cultural appropriation can include using other cultures' cultural and religious traditions, fashion, symbols, language, and songs.
According to critics of the practice, cultural appropriation differs from acculturation, assimilation, or cultural exchange in that this appropriation is a form of colonialism: cultural elements are copied from a minority culture by members of a dominant culture, and these elements are used outside of their original cultural context—sometimes even against the expressly stated wishes of members of the originating culture.
Often, the original meaning of these cultural elements is lost or distorted, and such displays are often viewed as disrespectful, or even as a form of desecration, by members of the originating culture.”
It’s easy to think of examples of how this may take place in the 21st-century. We have all seen non-indigenous people paying alot of money for New Age workshops led by people who claim to have access to indigenous wisdom.
When scrutinized, it doesn’t take long to see that the information provided often comes from a variety of eclectic sources (including Buddhism, Christianity, Wicca, and the personal path of the facilitator) mixed together in a feel-good blend that seems to provide instant access to ancient knowledge.
In addition, the credentials of the facilitator may be mixed and opaque... self-describing as a High priest/ess, shaman, witch, storyteller etc... one who may have studied psychology, explored Egyptian or Hawaiian traditions, and so forth. Few are actually from the culture they claim to represent, nor have they been trained by (or approved by) those tradition bearers. They have not learned the languages, nor given up significant aspects of the modern non-indigenous lifestyle (money, job security, family, car, buying a home, etc) to do so.
With all of this in mind, what are some reasons why cultural appropriation may have become such an important buzzword at this time?
As economically or militarily powerful countries or cultures who have engaged in the cultural oppression of others slowly begin to take responsibility for past wrongs, the suffering and loss experienced by those cultures has come into the limelight, and rightly so.
There have been some efforts to recognize what has happened, ceremonially make apologies, and in some cases, concrete steps and efforts to restore land and sovereignty to the cultures in question. This is a good start, but clearly there is a long way to go.
So how does this concern practitioners of modern pagan Celtic spiritual paths? On one hand, it gives us an opportunity to step back and think about what we are doing, to see if what we are saying or claiming to be practicing is free from cultural appropriation, and if there are ways in which we can be more aware or mindful.
On the other hand, it has also lead some pagans to publicly judge and try to discredit or humiliate others based on a knee-jerk reaction or assessment of what they think others may be doing.
While some queries may be sincerely motivated by curiosity or concern, the words and actions of others seem to be fueled by internal feelings or struggles that may have little to do with the people who are the target of their words. These feelings can include anger, inner wounding, frustration, jealousy, disconnection, unhappiness, insecurity, or excessive ego.
Since it would be inappropriate for me to speak on behalf of the experiences of others without their consent, I will speak about my own experiences with these types of situations. In particular I would like to address the aggressive words, judgments and public shaming enacted by certain people or groups towards those who talk about (or even inquire about) topics such as shamanism and First Nations beliefs and practices.
I’ll try and keep this narrative as on topic as possible, as this is not about me, but about people painting others with a very broad brush, without taking the time to investigate properly or consider different angles of complex situations. In short, it is about intolerance, shaming and ego.
I’m Canadian, and my grandparents were from Scotland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. I have no American ancestors, and my great grandfather from Dundee, who was extremely poor, was the first in our family to cross the ocean. He lived in a barn and worked on a turnip farm in order to earn money so his wife and child could escape poverty in Scotland.
We have relatives from Scotland, Ireland and Wales, and that was a huge influence on me as I was growing up. As my grandparents got older, I began to explore my heritage more deeply. I read a lot of history, which seemed to be very different from what was being claimed in New Age and NeoPagan books and groups.
I wanted to separate fact from fiction as I began to build a foundation for my spiritual practice. The gods and spirits brought several people into my life who knew the languages and cultures, and understood which sources were reliable and which were not.
I started voraciously reading based on their guidance, and worked on learning Scottish Gaelic which my mother had heard her grandmother speak well into the twentieth century. I was strongly (re)directed by Spirit towards historical cultural and practice, rather than modern eclectic earth religion, and so I primarily practiced as a solitary.
At the time, I was working as a professional singer and musician, and had a rich and full life... not much money but a lot of friends and interesting experiences....And then I got sick. Debilitating nerve pain, extreme fatigue, severe insomnia, and more. No one could diagnose it, and no one could treat it. I had to stop working, and my life begin to fall apart.
In order to put food in my stomach, I began to teach music and Celtic paganism. The teaching went well, but my health and life continued to deteriorate. I had previously bought many books on Celtic topics, some related to neopaganism and some related to history. I became so sick that I could not read for several years. I learned yoga and meditation to help me survive my situation.I was invited to come and hear a talk, and though I did not feel I was drawn to this culture (even though my father was born in Peru), out of respect for my friends, I attended. I was very pleasantly surprised by the depth of the teachings, and the humility of the Paqo’s.
I was later invited (actually strongly urged) to participate in Vision Quest at Pine Ridge, but as it is a four year commitment, my health and finances have not permitted me to do so. Instead, I have participated in other ways, assisting the lodge leader, helping to teach beginners about lodge etiquette, dispelling misinformation, and several times completing the Wopila ceremony.
These narratives are meant to illustrate the inaccuracies and inappropriateness involved when (as an example) people who know little about me... and who are probably upset about something else... publicly proclaim that I am engaging in cultural appropriation. This is especially ludicrous as anyone who does knows me is aware that I have been a vocal supporter of native cultures and helped raise money on their behalf.
This is something that you do not have to take my personal word for.
Or you could consult with actual tradition bearers in Celtic language speaking communities... seanchaidh, healers, singers, poets... but as with most tradition bearers, *they do not advertise * (I can’t stress that point enough). This is something I learned while traveling in Ireland and Scotland on a research grant.
As in other native cultures, one needs to spend time in the environment and community, understand the languages, and the culture, and gain its trust. It’s a long term commitment, not something you’re going to find a website about to quickly provide you with the information.
In the right setting, we would see that the very cultures we love and wish to embody or emulate, are every day being misrepresented and projected upon, which only further obscures and destroys another little piece of what we hope to learn and preserve.
I think one of the most important things I have learned from all of this is the role of humility. Not some kind of feeble Judeo-Christian fear-driven faith, but the humility that comes from Awe... from being in the presence of the Gods and Spirits, under the watchful eye of the Ancestors, and in relationship with the spirits of the land. By opening ourselves to their wisdom, our pettiness and egos are set aside, and true learning and embodiment can come through.
Comments
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Monday, 03 December 2018
Searles, I can’t thank you enough for your wise words and caring response... Sometimes all we need is to know that there are others out there who see and understand... In a time of so much potential divisiveness, its so important to respect and support each other. Go raibh maith agat - I will read this again in the future when the path gets steep or rocky
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Sunday, 02 December 2018Sharon, I applaud your bravery and openness in writing this. We (and sometimes me) are too quick to judge people's specific experiences, as well as their lack of experience.
We cannot go back, we can only go forward. On a crowded planet full of displaced people it would be very strange if some people did not have experiences like yours. We do need to be vigilant for fraudsters. As for appropriation, too many who throw out these accusations don't really understand what it means to be part of a cohesive indigenous culture, or that those cultures are not static. They also don't understand that membership in those cultures is rarely defined solely by any one factor like bloodlines or language ability.
Thank you for also touching on the question of appropriation from Celtic culture. People need to realise that a culture can be colonised by people who have the same approximate skin colour as those they colonise, and that it is still a painful wound which echoes down the centuries, when it happens. I am not denying by this statement that white privilege exists, because it undoubtedly does. Merely that skin colour does not define the concept of colonisation and therefore cultural appropriation. -
Monday, 03 December 2018
Kris I’m so relieved that the true intention and message could be heard and appreciated. It was hard to say and probably even harder to hear. We all assess and use our own methods to navigate all the information we see online. Sometimes Facebook as a place of so much fun enjoy and support. And other times, in this fast-paced world, we have to choose how we use our discernment. Scrolling until we finally find something that resonates what makes us feel connected to others. Some days we find no connection or support. Other days it is they are in spades. I’m so appreciative of your wisdom and understanding - many thanks and blessings!
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Monday, 03 December 2018
Oops, typos! And joy, not enjoy. And that makes us, not what. There, not they are. One must be ever vigilant with voice recognition technology!
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Sunday, 02 December 2018Thank you for sharing. My own practice is based on book learning and dream inspiration. I am a solitary practitioner.
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Monday, 03 December 2018
I’m so pleased if any of this was of service or inspiration! Wishing you every blessing on your path!
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All important things are a gift. Life is a gift. Knowledge is a gift, Love is a gift. Creation is a gift. Even the gods are gifts. The fact that these things (and more) are given to us does not mean that each of them also requires us to do the work of receiving and honoring these gifts. To stay alive is a struggle. Learning often brings hardships of financial stress and sacrifice. Love is a heartbreaking experience at times. Creating anything requires that we give a part of ourselves to the work. To know the gods we must literally die within our shells.
It is not safe to take risks, yet we would not have been born without taking such a risk. Life is a series of risks. Life is dangerous for everything and is food for something. Death is also a risk because the doorways are hard to find and the ways to walk them are razor blades. Ever the eagle will devour life's lesson if we are not wary and have no allies. Our strongest allies should be ourselves, yet often we treat them as dangerous enemies.
Fear perhaps causes us to make bad choices, though fear is itself the first doorway we must pass in order to ride the eagle. Some can be admired for their courage in attempting these tasks. I admire your skill and your successes. I also admire your survival in the face of adversity. Please continue your work for it makes the work of others possible. Every work is food for the work of others. A lesson might be that food creates food, as knowledge creates knowledge, as work is rewarded by the work of others.
You are not alone even when you alone must act. You are a nation of selves and feats by which you are marked. The pieces of yourself that you give to others creates an aura of safe harbor for many. For from many are powerful beings formed, even when each is an individual. The garment of fate is stronger than a stone of destiny, yet the two together come to a new world that is melded from their union.
Here is power for your work and hope for your success. I am humbled by the strength of your spirit and the courage of your will. For nothing great ever came to be without sacrifice and daring to be great. Those along the way salute you in your quest for the lesson to be learned has been awakened. A thing that can be, will be and has always been, gain and again. Thank you for your gifts.