For those of you who don’t know, I’m headed off to Wales, UK, in just two short weeks. Ever since I was a child, I’ve wanted to visit this land of Merlin and Arthur, of castles and coracles, of monasteries and pilgrimages, of paganism and Christianity. My last name is Thomas (rather Welsh, wouldn’t you say?) and, if the…
Evangelicalism taught me how to pray using my own words; agnosticism taught me to pray using community; paganism taught me to pray in and through nature; and Lutheranism taught me how to pray using a liturgy. So many traditions all woven together to form a rather spectacular tapestry within me. And even with all of these colourful prayer rugs hooked…
In the busyness of this day grant me a stillness of seeing, O God. In the conflicting voices of my heart grant me a calmness of hearing. Let my seeing and hearing my words and my actions be rooted in a silent certainty of your presence. Let my passions for life and the longings for justice that stir within me…
It’s time again for the summer solstice — Litha, Alban Heruin, Midsummer. The axial tilt of our earth is the nearest to the sun as it will ever be during the entire year. In Celtic lore, the four albans mark the two solstices as well as the two equinox days. Alban Heruin marks the celebration of the peak of summer…
1. Aoibhinn dom bheith air cnoc oileáin Ar barr carraige Go bhféacha mé minic ar an fharraige ciúin. Delightful to me to be on an island hill, on the crest of a rock, that I might often watch the quiet sea. 2. Go bhféacha mé na dtonnta troma Os cionn an t-uisce geal mar canann siad Ceol chig a n-Athair…
A GHEALACH UR [54] An ainm Spiorad Naomh nan gras An ainm Athar na Cathrach aigh, An ainm Iosa thug dhinn am bas, O! an ainm na Tri tha d’ ar dion’s gach cas, Ma’s math a fhuair thu sinn an nochd, Seachd fearr gum fag thu sinn gun lochd, A Ghealach gheal nan trath, A Ghealach gheal nan…
Long ago I relinquished the fear-based religion that taught me that everything outside literal, inerrant Bible interpretations was to be avoided and branded as evil. Everything was a threat: culture, music, dancing, other religions, LGBTQ+ people. And Halloween. To be honest, I have my own reasons to abstain from 21st century North American’s Halloween: our sheer consumption of fabric, sugar,…
Choosing to intentionally and slowly celebrate Advent has been a godsend for me in reclaiming the Mystery of Christmas. In the face of overwhelming consumerism, fake displays, fake snow, fake angels, fake light, quiet darkness has been the healing candle guiding my tired footsteps towards a new, hushed morning.
Have I mentioned how much I’m enjoying sharing Tadhg Talks these days? Wander on over and check out Jonathan’s blog! Tomorrow is the start of the new month. Ancient Celts, prior to Roman occupation, operated a calendar consisting of thirteen months, named after trees. Tomorrow, 5 august is the first day of the month of the Hazel, and that will…
Another great post from Jonathan Tadhg. Today we give thanks for the harvest being brought in — wherever we are in the world & whatever our crops may be. And we choose once again to see God in all things, all seasons, & cycles, interacting, creating, calling, responding, nurturing, and even yielding. Read on… In gratitude, do we come to…