Merry Meet

What Is A Maenad?

Maenads are female mythological beings who worship the Greek god Dionysus (or Bacchus in the Roman pantheon). Dionysus and his maenad followers remain popular cultural and spiritual reference points because they are associated with partying and raucous behavior. Many have recently become curious about maenads due to HBO’s True Blood series, which outed supporting character Maryann as a maenad.

Maenads are connected to drinking, dancing, and overall intoxication. They are female figures and appear as a maternal, protective figure to mortals. (more…)

Thor is almost hard to type without using all caps. He’s just one of those omnipotent, timeless figures, transgressing culture and time. Thor’s popularity among modern neo-pagans remains a point of curiosity for many non-pagans (or for pagans who choose non-Norse paths).

Many pagans honor Thor because he became a symbol of cultural identity and resistance as Christianity began to move through Scandinavia. Even today, it’s fairly common to see an individual with Thor’s hammer (or mjollnir) around his or her neck, just as one would wear a cross, Star of David, or pentacle to represent a set of spiritual beliefs.

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Expectant parents wishing to choose something different, ethnic, or spiritual in nature may want to consider naming their daughter after a goddess or other such entity. Many common names, such as Bridget, have ancient and pagan origins. A girl can have such a name without being made fun of, as others perceive it as “normal,” yet it still conveys its own ancient meaning and power.

As I have discussed before in this blog, I do believe in the paranormal, but consider myself a bit more skeptic about matters of the otherworld, magic, and other related topics. Sometimes when I think about my own birth and name (Tara),  I realize that my mother selected the perfect name to describe me, including my spiritual beliefs and my American Irish heritage. Sure, it could be coincidence, but this Pisces feels as though it was meant to be.

Here is a short list to get you started on your baby-naming adventure. (This list may also prove useful to writers looking to find a female name with meaning.)

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On March 17th, many Irish and people of Irish descent celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Like anything both religious and Irish, there’s bound to be controversy surrounding the holiday, and talk about St. Patrick’s day in pagan communities is no exception.

In my opinion, Irish heritage is rich for several reasons. Primary among those reasons is that Irish culture is a true blend of politics, religion, the arts, history, spirituality, and mythology all blended together. I believe it’s a fact that religions in Ireland have blended together, and that Irish Catholicism is very distinct. (more…)

It’s easy to see that Stevie Nicks is a powerful woman. I’ve seen her in concert both as a solo act and with Fleetwood Mac. Her stage presence is extremely different than that of her band mates; she exudes a sense of mystery, but still comes across as approachable. Nicks is a rare, confessional soul: her lyrics tell her story in a clear and reminiscent way. Her costumes catch the wind in a witch-gypsy dance.

Her voice is far from typically feminine–it’s rough and bold. She expressive and open, exploring the vicissitudes of her own life and her career choices right before the hearts of her audience.

Inspired by a novel which included elements of Welsh mythology, Nicks wrote Rhiannon, a haunting and immensely popular tune inspired by a Welsh goddess bearing many similarities to Epona, including an association with horses. Possibly due to a negative perception of paganism, Rhiannon is often thought to be a witch or nymph, though in fact she is a far more regal deity, her name more likely translated as “queen.”

Nicks wrote the song in ten minutes. Just as soothing and spiritual author Paulo Coelho draws parallels to the Greek goddess Athena in The Witch of Portobello, Nicks creates a strong connection between a pagan deity and her own identity by masterfully creating and performing this song.

Fleetwood Mac just announced some Unleashed tour dates, including an April tour date in Philadelphia. Check out their official website for more information.

Athena has always been one of the most inspiring elements of history and spirituality for me. Revered in Greek culture for her wisdom and prudence, I began to see the importance of confidence in femininity because of Athena. The most wonderful detail about this long-lasting Goddess involves her evolution. As times changed, so did the culture’s myths and stories about Athena, making her truly timeless.

Therefore, it is no surprise that a goddess such as Athena speaks to many of us today. Because she is an ancient Greek deity, people of many religions feel that it is “safe” to study her in a historical and mythological context. From a pagan perspective, radiant Athena is revered as a wise face of the divine Goddess. Some pagans, females in particular, devote themselves to the worship of Athena.

In contemporary times, Catholic author Paulo Coelho takes a very tolerant and universal perspective on spirituality.  In his book The Witch of Portobello, Coelho describes the journey of a young woman, aptly named Athena. After the book’s publication, Coelho approved an interactive film project known as The Experimental Witch, asking his readers to make their own version of Athena’s story. In the final project, clips from numerous films are used, and protagonist Athena therefore looks intentionally like a different woman in every scene.

The point is so: Athena is the everywoman, and from a universalist perspective, a part of every woman.

Coelho also addresses the manner in which others perceive Athena. Athena is not really a witch by any normal standards, but she communicates with the divine through dance and inspires others around her to do so, causing fear against her in her London community. Coelho reminds us that others are often drawn to or fear empowered individuals, especially those who have realized their dreams.

Below is a particularly relevant piece of this story, which deals with others’ perceptions of “witches” (and real witches) as well as discussion about outcasts. This excerpt also deals with the relationships between empowered women and family. This also demonstrates Athena’s maternal, intuitive nature.

 ”…I became a better person by witnessing your journey.”

The dear Saint Bridget known and loved by Catholics today (especially in Ireland and in Irish America) has very ancient and extremely pagan origins. Imbolc celebrates the beginning of spring, hope, renewal, regrowth, and fertility.

This is embodied by the pagan goddess Brighid, who is forever tied to this holiday. Today in the contemporary Republic of Ireland, people still celebrate Imbolc or at least lift a glass to the day, and still devote the holiday to Brighid in Christianized form–as a Catholic saint.

Many pagans in general celebrate Imbolc, though it is specifically important to those following a Celtic path and/or calendar. Most people celebrate Imbolc on the date of February 2nd, but some pagans, particularly Celtic Reconstructionists, may opt to celebrate on the 1st instead as it was the original date of Imbolc before Christianity.

Many choose to celebrate renewal and welcome spring by using symbols associated with Brighid, such as fire (she was a blacksmith). Irish fishermen traditionally see Imbolc (or St. Bridget’s Day) as a sign to resume fishing after a harsh winter. Because Brighid is also the goddess of poetry and healing, one may consider honor her by writing or reciting poetry or volunteering time in a hospital.

One of my very favorite goddesses is from the Celtic pantheon. Her name is Epona, which comes from a Gaulish word meaning “horse.” Much of what we know of Epona has actually trickled through Roman writings and histories. Technically speaking, various groups of ancient people actually worshiped or recognized Epona, but in present use and cultural acceptance, she remains associated with a Celtic tradition and its culture.

Always a protector in the eyes of her people, Epona was eventually embraced by the Romans as overseer of the Roman cavalry. In various ancient cultures, fertility was associated with horses, so this is a somewhat organic role for Epona. Epona is usually depicted with fair skin and dark hair, often presenting the harvest. She is usually somewhat voluptuous, further representing fertility. Like many female deities, she was at some point in history associated with devil or demon-like creatures, and worship of her was frowned upon.

In modern Ireland and the neo-pagan world, Epona is frequently represented in the below Celtic design, incorporating three horses in a female trinity fertility symbol.