Downpatrick and nearby Saul are associated with Saint Patrick because the area is said to be the location where he first founded churches. That is why the claim that he also visited and bathed and blessed the wells at Struell in County Down is not far fetched, even if not proven. What is known is…
Author: Cindy Thomson
Celtic Tree/Tree of Life
From The Roots of Irish Wisdom:(on St. Ciaran of Clonmacnoise) “Once, when he visited St. Enda on Aran, he had a vision of a great tree growing in the middle of Ireland with branches spreading to all four corners of the land. Enda believed that this meant that Ciaran would be that tree of great influence,…
Nature and the Celts
Celtic scholar Oliver Davies, writing in his book, Celtic Christianity in Early Medieval Wales, explains the Celtic reverence for nature this way: “Far from worshipping stones and rivers…the early Celts…were acknowledging the life force as it is manifested in these and other phenomena.” Stand at the bank of a rushing mountain stream and watch and listen….
Why St. Patrick Matters
‘Tis a grand day, to be sure. Are you wearing green? Are you going to a parade, or have you already been? Have you had your green beer, green frosted cupcakes, soda bread, Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage? Fine then. Let’s talk about this celebration a moment. Why is it important? (And let there…
Happy St. David’s Day!
St. David is the patron saint of Wales. Wales is a Celtic country that gets little recognition. I remember listening to a baseball broadcast where the announcers were talking about one of their colleagues, Chris Welsh. They said, “He’s Irish, isn’t he?” “No, I think he’s Scottish.” His name is Welsh, for heaven’s sake! Admittedly, I’ve given…
Finding Brigid in Kildare
Kildare is the site where Brigid built her church. The current one is likely on or near the original spot. The area was already sacred, however. It was the site of an ancient sacred oak. Druids often worshipped beneath an oak. She built her church very near a fire that the local women tended for…
St. Brigid and Groundhog’s Day
In my January newsletter I asked what U.S. observance had ties to St. Brigid’s Day. If you didn’t know, now you do, Groundhog’s Day. St. Brigid’s Day is Feb. 1, the traditional start of spring in Ireland. Brigid was a woman who obscured boundaries. It began with her birth. She was prophetzied to be born…
Happy St. Brigid’s Day!
Now a national holiday in Ireland, St. Brigid’s Day is celebrated not like most saints on the day she died, but on the day of her birth, traditionally the first day of spring in Ireland. It’s said that you can tell when spring will arrive by watching the hedgehog. If he’s out and about, spring…
Make a St. Brigid Cross
It’s the eve of St. Brigid’s Day and the day for making crosses. Traditionally the crosses were woven every year and a new one was placed over the door of the house or the barn for good luck and protection. In some areas the old ones were not taken down and you could find several…
My One Word in 2024
If you’ve followed me for a while, you no doubt know I choose a word each year (based on where I believe God is directing me) instead of making a New Year’s resolution. For me, it’s much more meaningful. I got a text from cousin Susan asking what my word was (I didn’t yet know)….
