Blogtrotter

Ag guím ar Lá Bealtaine

Is é muinteoir "Bo." Tá sé i gconaí Áth na Damh. Tá céim dhoctúir na Léinn Ceilteach air ansin. Beidh sé ag dul go dtí an Ollscoil Dhroichead Caim go luath. Tá sé mac leinn na litreacht mhean-aois ann. Tá Bhreatnais, Manannais, Gaeilge Albanach, agus Sean-Gaeilge agam, agus ar ndóigh Laidin freisin.

Scríobh séisean ar a bhlog "The Expvlsion of the Blatant Beast" go hiontach scéal aice faoi Beltane anseo. Is í na féile tine agus athnuachan na h-iarraidh sin. Nuair léigh mé seo, shíl mé faoi leabhair eile go raibh ag léite le gairid liom. Dúirt Risteard Dawkins, Criostoir Hitchens, Dónal Dennett, Seán Marks agus Sheamh Harris uile orainn go bhfuil ag cur i gcontúirt na reiligiún stáit muidsan féin ionainn. Tá aithne agam ann.

Bheul, ní creid "Bo" im i nDia seisean. Mar sin féin, creid sé féin san urnaí. Insíonn "Bo" im sin go raibh ag déanta an turas beag seisean agus a chairde Suistín. Chuaigh siad go abhainn go halainn ar oiche Bhealtaine. D'inis "Bo" agus Suistín smaionte acusan. Molaidh a thabhairt do dhéithe adhartha. Deir siad rainn go raibh an ócáid a cheiliúradh.

Is maith liom seo. Faigheann mé ar an idirlion go deireanach duine eile go leor chomh "Bo" agus Suistín. Mar shampla, téigh ansin: Tre Gwernin: "Beltane". Tá Páganachd Bhandia le Caithríonn ap Rhys nic Dhána aice fós. Rinne siadsan deasghnáthaí Athchumaim Ceiltigh go bhfuil ag fréamhaoinn ina géilleadh do rhéamh-Chríostaí.

Anois, cloiseann muid faoi chreideamh a bheith agat i nDia go dona go minic. Ach, níor caithfeadh muid ag déanamh dearmad. Gheobhaidh muid a bheith dóchasach go heagnai as i Día nó déithe nó nádúr sísean féin. Go hiondúil, tá siad duine go bhreá ann. Déarfidh muid seo ar feadh ár thuaraimí machnaimhaí beatha an anama againn, chomh fada le ár bharúlachaí go raibh go déanta go curumach.

Praying at Beltane (May Day)

"Bo" is a teacher. He lives in Oxford. He has a doctoral degree in Celtic Studies from there. He will go to Cambridge University soon. He is a student of medieval literature. He knows Welsh, Manx, Scots Gaelic, and Old Irish, and of course Latin.

He himself writes on his blog "The Expvlsion of the Blatant Beast" his lovely story about Beltane here. That's the fire and renewal festival of spring. When I read this, I thought about other books that were recently read by me. Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett, John Marks, and Sam Harris all tell us about an established religion putting us in danger ourselves. I know this.

Well, "Bo" does not believe in God Himself. Nevertheless, he himself believes in prayers. "Bo" tells that about himself and his friend Justine making a little pilgrimage. They went to a beautiful river on the eve of Beltane. "Bo" and Justine spoke out their own thoughts. They gave praise to the "gods of [pagan, so my dictionary implies!] worship."

I like this. I encounter lately on the Internet many other people like "Bo" and Justine. For instance, go there to: Tre Gwernin, Beltane. There's also Kathryn Price NicDhána with her Páganachd Bhandia. They themselves made Celtic Reconstructionist rituals that are rooted in pre-Christian acceptances.

Now, we hear about believers in God often poorly. But, we must not make a mistake. We will find wise believers in God or gods or nature Herself. Usually, they are fine people. We should speak about our thoughtful opinions on our spiritual life, as long as our judgments have been made carefully.

Grianghraf/Photo: Belatane Festival on Calton Hill, Edinburgh, 2001

Ceannteideal/Caption:

This week saw the ancient Celtic Festival of Beltane being celebrated, once again, with a large gathering on Calton Hill, Edinburgh. The 21st Century Fire Spectacle was a vivid reminder that our ancestors used Beltane as a symbol of rebirth and the coming growing season. The fires kindled on 1st may have very ancient origins, leading back to early Sun worshiping. Beltane was marked until Victorian times, particularly by hill shepherds, who would meet in a secret place, on some high hillside, to remember a festival which stretched back into the mist of history.At Beltane shepherds cut a circular trench and lit a fire of sacred wood. They made a caudle of eggs, butter, oatmeal and milk, spilling some on the ground to ensure the safety of their flock in the coming season and to placate the old Gods. They drank it with beer and whisky. Often an oatcake was baked with nine knobs dedicated to various deities and each shepherd broke off a piece and said, "This to thee, preserve my sheep." (Scots Independent)