I have held off from heading in a Hellenistic direction for a long time, at least a year, even though I knew even then I would end up going there anyway. Besides the fact that heading in a Reconstruction direction is a very different way of worship and I wasn't sure I was ready for that, there was another huge reason I didn't feel comfortable committing to Hellenismos; Brighid, one of my patron Goddesses.
I love Brighid with all my heart. She has been with me since I was a little girl and really, really needed someone to hold me. She's been with me through it all and she's never expected much in return. Yet now I move away from Her. I still honor Her but in all fairness, I have never done Her worship justice in the first place.
So now I'm on the threshold of Hellenismos, I have Her hand in one of mine and one hand reaching out to the Hellenic pantheon. And I don't know if I should let go or not. Perhaps I can combine my Hellenistic worship with Her worship. I intend to create a separate shrine to Her when I move to a house with a bit more space to practice. For now all I can offer her is a place on an altar dedicated to the Theoi.... and that seems sort of disrespectful.
So these words are my ode to Brighid, the Goddess whom I honor by publishing Little Witch magazine. The Goddess whom I turn to when I need to be comforted or when I'm really scared. Without Her influence in my life, I probably would have ended up at a very different place. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
Taken from: Celtic Lady
I love Brighid with all my heart. She has been with me since I was a little girl and really, really needed someone to hold me. She's been with me through it all and she's never expected much in return. Yet now I move away from Her. I still honor Her but in all fairness, I have never done Her worship justice in the first place.
So now I'm on the threshold of Hellenismos, I have Her hand in one of mine and one hand reaching out to the Hellenic pantheon. And I don't know if I should let go or not. Perhaps I can combine my Hellenistic worship with Her worship. I intend to create a separate shrine to Her when I move to a house with a bit more space to practice. For now all I can offer her is a place on an altar dedicated to the Theoi.... and that seems sort of disrespectful.
So these words are my ode to Brighid, the Goddess whom I honor by publishing Little Witch magazine. The Goddess whom I turn to when I need to be comforted or when I'm really scared. Without Her influence in my life, I probably would have ended up at a very different place. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
2 comments:
A lot of Brighid followers find She works well with Hellenic deities -- such as Athena, for example, because They have very similar areas of influence. I also know some Brighid followers also work with Hecate, and feel the two Goddesses...tag team, a bit, sort of how Morrigan and Brighid will for others.
So relax. ;) Brighid and the Hellenic deities are a lot more compatible than people think.
As for finding shrine or altar space for Her...are you able to put a candle or some sort of representation of Her on your stove? That way you can have the altar to the Hellenic deities and a spot for Her; and She's in charge of the hearth, too, so the stove is appropriate.
(I worship a Sacred Triad of Morrigan, Brighid, and Manannan -- They have Their own altar on my bedroom windowsill, but the stove is Hestia's place, and the altar below the windowsill is for the other Hellenic deities I work with. I follow at least two different paths -- one for the Triad and the other for the Hellenic deities -- but I find that the gods work rather well together regardless. The only conflict I've had is between Manannan and Poseidon, which I'm able to work around.)
Morag, thank you for your kind reply. I have written a follow up to this post myself, published here: http://baringtheaegis.blogspot.nl/2012/06/d-is-for-divine-intervention.html
I've been combining the two for a long, long while now but it seemed I had reached a breaking point. and I have, quite literally. Still, it's good to know that I will not have to abandon Brighid in favor of my new found Hellenistic Reconstruction.
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