A while back, I was interviewed by a student named Hannah for their college research, and I thought others might be interested in the Irish Paganism Q&A that resulted from the interview.
What would you say is the overall conception of the world and the place of humans in Irish Paganism?
Overall, I believe native Irish spirituality/Irish Paganism views us all as connected, and by ‘us all’ I do mean everything, in this world and the Otherworld. Even the worlds are strongly connected. Nature’s inhabitants and cycles are still integral to our survival in many areas of this island, and of course would have been even more so in times gone by.
Past and present are close here too, we have a long reaching sense of time, so beliefs and practises are very deep rooted. We have a well developed sense of community in Ireland, which definitely stems from our social history with clann (family) and tuath (community/tribe) groupings. This connected community extends to the world around us, our personal and family traditions are securely tied into this land and landscape, our ancestors walked here, worked here, worshipped here, were buried here. We still tend the graves of those who passed many centuries ago. Everything is connected, and all of this permeates our sense of self, which of course informs our spirituality.
What would you say is your concept of divinity?
Irish Gods and Goddesses are autonomous entities who exist independently of us, but are also (again) connected to our culture, and even individuals within our culture specifically. They can influence us and we can influence them, but that happens over time and through Right Relationship.
Are there different roles for men and women or non-binary individuals in the act of worship or rituals?
In modern Irish Paganism, everyone is treated equally. Irish society has had quite rigid roles for men and women in the past, much of which was influenced or enforced by our colonisers (the catholic church, and the English invaders). There is no place for that in our modern spiritual practice, and our current Tuath ethos and activities exemplify this commitment to inclusivity beautifully.
Are there any specific rituals that are just particular to Irish Paganism?
Many of our native traditions and practices have been appropriated and cannibalised by NeoPaganism, unfortunately, such as the beliefs about directions, walking the rounds, and various other aspects. Some of our cursing methods weren’t deemed suitable fodder, I guess, so they remain largely unknown outside of native practice.
What would you say are the different rites of passage in order to be, in your case a High Priestess of the Morrigan, if you can share, or to just be a simple follower?
I don’t refer to myself as a High Priestess of the Mórrígan, and never have. For the record.
Priest work is complicated, and there are many ways to be a Priest – it is a job description, ultimately, not a title. In other traditions, another Priest would often initiate you into service, but there is no recognised authority for Irish Paganism, so this is not available to anyone. It will take somebody starting a ‘church’ or formal organisation here in Ireland with suitable credentials in place, before that is a possibility. Currently, people are recognised as Priests by the community they serve, as they do the work of a Priest. It’s an organic process.
Anybody can dedicate to the Gods, and begin to work with them or for them, however. I have detailed some of the methodology for this in a blog post here – https://loraobrien.ie/irish-deity/ – and in my book, A Practical Guide to Pagan Priesthood.
Are there any rules on marriage and kinship for example, marriage rites in Irish Paganism or who people consider to be kin?
The concept of Clann and Tuath as mentioned above has a long history, and still shows through in our society and culture today. Fosterage was a well established kin bond, for example, often without any blood ties. The Brehon Law System had multiple different types of marriage, as well as different rules and responsibilities in each. All of that was wiped out in society with colonisation, and we are lucky we still have enough records to form a patchwork of what it may have been like in full.
What is your view on death dying and the afterlife in Irish Paganism?
The Irish have a very practical view of dying and death, and again, we see the dead person as still very much connected in spirit and memory. Our mourning process is communal, even today not-Irish people are surprised by how involved everyone gets through the whole process, it encompasses people who were connected through the dead person’s (and their family’s) entire life.
What are the different beliefs of a possible afterlife? Is there an afterlife for Irish Pagans?
I believe, as my distant ancestors did, in transmigration of the soul (what is commonly called reincarnation, but we don’t use that appropriated term). The Otherworld has a realm within it where the dead can rest, before re-creation or re-birth.
Finally, How do you approach people who believe different things?
Openly. My beliefs and thoughts are my own, and I’m happy to compare notes, but I don’t think my way is right or wrong for anyone else. Even my own children were taught about many belief systems, and grew up to make their own choices at an appropriate age.
I would like to know & learn more about the Pagan Basics in your Pagan School.
I want to learn Irish Witchcraft Sincerely yours, Ronnie Weeks
Why do you state that the word reincarnation is an appropriated term? I am an American in this journey, but I have lived many lives and I remember several… including remembering that I volunteered for this one and chose my parents… I remember so much… raised Roman Catholic i grew up during the 60s it was an era of change from the mass presented in Latin and facing the cross to presenting in English and taking communion in one’s hand… but Catholics do not preach reincarnation… I was an oddity in my household… I was near 15 when I came across a book entitled The Reincarnation of Peter Proud… I suddenly felt understood… the word also came to me through learning that Vietnamese Buddhist Priests believed in reincarnation too… .. we do incarnate… many times for many reasons… so please explain to me where I am wrong in using a word that has real meaning to me. Thank you ❤️
I have some real concerns about cultural appropriation. I grew up in an indigenous community in the Canadian Arctic, but my father was Irish and he ordered many books from Ireland to teach us about Irish mythology and culture. While you claim that Irish lore about the directions has been appropriated from Ireland, there is also a strong indigenous tradition about the four, or sometimes five directions, and even the Sacred Tree that also exists in North America among indigenous people. In fact many pagan traditions of animistic people have many similarities. It is unfortunate that uneducated North Americans have appropriated actual Irish traditions and passed them off as historical fact. I get that you have studied actual Irish traditions in Irish in Ireland. Great work. But it must also be stated that there are unscrupulous people from Ireland who have appropriated indigenous lore from native people here, claimed not only that information about shamanism is their own property, but also claim that information is from their own tradition, namely Irish. So there are people selling appropriated information from indigenous people here in New Age Circles. It is offensive to me that the same people are trying to pass off aboriginal lore from North America as their own property are also trying to pass off the same appropriated information as traditional Celtic lore in Europe. indigenous people here in Canada never give their sacred information to outsiders, especially non natives who do not have a context for First Nations sacred wisdom. I am fascinated with your information about ancient traditions I am wondering how you determine what sources in Irish are authentic and which are not. I have heard a lot lately about how a lot of information from the so called Celtic Twilight was fraudulent. This question is not an attack on your credibility. I am also a pagan/animist. As a non Irish speaker I want to know where to find accurate information about what is actually known about pre christian spirituality. I would appreciate a serious response.
Search for my name and ‘cultural appropriation’ and you’ll find all the information I can give you.
I see that you teach classes about thi Irish pagan tradition and Although I would like to learn from you, my eyesight is not good enough. My last comment is meant as a respectful question. Neither of us is a fan of misappropriation.