Dear [Recipient's Name], I hope this note finds you well and in good spirits. I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest affection for you. Your presence in my life has brought me immense joy and happiness, and I am truly grateful for the love and support you have given me. You are the Ralfi Pagan of my life, filling it with beautiful melodies and captivating verses. Your smile lights up the room, and your laughter is like a sweet melody that resonates in my heart. Whenever we are together, I feel like I am living in a love song, with you as the lead singer and me as your biggest fan.
Inevitably, the accused women were each outcasts in their own way: they were visually unappealing, drinkers, smokers and with various disabilities. On March 31st, 1711, the eight women were found guilty of bewitching Mary Dunbar – but the precise nature of the sentences and the punishments was not recorded.
Florence Goody Newton was a beggar whose crime was to call to the house of John Pyne, a Youghal nobleman, during Christmas 1660 to ask for a piece of beef out of the powdering tub. She confessed, was flogged through six parishes and burnt at the stake in Kilkenny on November 3rd, 1324 the first person to be burnt for heresy, as witchcraft was not yet on the statute books.
Whenever we are together, I feel like I am living in a love song, with you as the lead singer and me as your biggest fan. Your love has been a constant source of inspiration for me. It has pushed me to become a better person, to embrace my true self, and to pursue my dreams with unwavering determination.
Irish-American Witchcraft: ‘Celtic’ Paganism and Ancestry
I’ve seen a noticeable uptick in the last several months among US-based Celtic* pagans (in particular) of the idea that ancestry is in some way essential to a Celtic pagan spirituality. I’m going to be honest: I find that idea concerning, so I decided that I’d write about it today and try to dig into the concept. I feel strongly that this is an issue we, as a community, must face head on, now, to avoid much more significant issues later. In this case it is too easy for things to slide – slowly or quickly – into a place of white supremacy and that is not a place I will stand by and watch my spirituality go to.
Near Aasleagh Falls, Connemara, Ireland. Public Domain photo by Finn Terman Frederiksen via Wikimedia.
Caveat Lector
I’ve never been subtle with my opinion on this, and anyone who has ever read my other writings should be aware that I’m very strongly against racism or xenophobia in spirituality. I believe that Celtic language-speaking cultures are not genetic but learned, meaning that anyone with enough effort and acceptance from the culture can belong. Modern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland (for some examples) are diverse places and that diversity needs to be appreciated and respected; the idea that a person having a different ethnicity or skin colour being disallowed from so-called Celtic spirituality is, in my opinion, nonsense.
Finding Spirituality Through Ancestry
What I see more and more often is people who clearly establish their ancestry or ancestral connection to a Celtic language culture in order to justify or explain why they are choosing that path. And to be clear there is nothing wrong with seeking spirituality by looking to where you or your family has come from. However, I encourage people to really think about why they are doing this. Are you seeking to connect to spirituality through the guidance of ancestors? Or are you using ancestry as a way to feel entitled to a spirituality? Is that ancestral connection a stepping stone forward for you, or is a shortcut to a sense of belonging?
Most importantly, do you think that people with no ancestral connection can still follow a Celtic language-speaking paganism?
People ignore 90% of their ancestors in order to focus on a single one, often many generations back. Image by suju, Pixabay.
I have seen people ignore 90% of their ancestors in order to focus on a single one, often many generations back, as if having that one ancestor was a key to accessing a spiritual path. and I always wonder, what about the other 90%?
For myself, I think that in the United States we need to – and I mean need to – acknowledge and integrate all of our ancestry and our wider cultural history even if we don’t choose to incorporate all of it into our spirituality. This can be a painful and messy process especially as it inevitably means acknowledging the mistakes and pain inflicted by various groups on each other. But we cannot pick and choose here because ignoring one group that we find distasteful to focus on one we like inevitably creates problems for us on deep levels. My own ancestry comes from various groups which killed or oppressed each other over the last several hundred years, but I can only heal that within myself by acknowledging it.
If we do decide to focus in on one specific aspect of our heritage then it’s important not to see that genetic connection as a free pass. What makes you a Celtic pagan, of any flavour, isn’t who your great-grandmother was but how much you work to understand that culture and its Gods & spirits. Connection to these cultures takes effort and a willingness to be open minded and to learn.
It’s about how much you work to understand that culture and its Gods & spirits. Image by PDPhotos, Pixabay.
What the Mythology Has to Say
I generally don’t like to lean on mythology or textual references for these topics because so often they are twisted to support agendas. However in this case I do want to point out that in Irish mythology – the Lebor Gabala Erenn specifically – when humans first came to Ireland in the form of the Milesians they acknowledged and respected the Irish sovereignty Goddesses despite having their own deities beforehand. There is a scene where the sons of Mil meet each of three sovereignty Goddesses in turn and make deals with them to secure Ireland for themselves. When one of the Milesians, Donn, argues that they should not do this because they have their own Gods already, the elements turn against him and he is drowned. After this battle, when the Milesians have secured Ireland, they must make a pact with the Dagda in order for their crops and cows to flourish. All of this says to me that it isn’t where you come from or what Gods you worshipped before that matters, but whether a person is willing to enter into a relationship with the Gods of Ireland.
Seeing the Bigger Picture
Many people seek spirituality by looking to their own heritage and there is nothing wrong with that, but that heritage is not in any way a prerequisite to Celtic paganism. There is, and should be, no proof of ancestry required, no judgment based on appearance, no need to justify your interest. The world is an ever-changing place and diversity is a strength, not a weakness. If your ancestral connection does matter to you then seek to nourish and expand that, certainly, but never fall into the trap of seeing it as necessary to who and what you worship in a Celtic context.
You don’t need a DNA test to be a Celtic pagan. You just need a willingness to learn and connect to the specific culture.
*I personally do not like the term Celtic, which is often misused in paganism, but in this instance I am using it because it is the term that the community itself uses. My own usage would lean more towards Celtic language-speaking with an understanding that each individual culture within that is unique, rather than the widespread use of the word as an umbrella term for one unified culture that never really existed as such.
Whenever I am faced with challenges or hardships, I draw strength from the love we share, knowing that together we can conquer anything that comes our way. You have an extraordinary ability to see the beauty in the world, even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty. Your optimistic outlook on life is infectious, and it has taught me to appreciate the simple pleasures and find joy in the little things. With you by my side, every day is filled with love, laughter, and a sense of wonder that I never want to lose. Being with you is like listening to a Ralfi Pagan song - it evokes a myriad of emotions, from pure happiness to soulful longing. Every moment spent with you is a treasure, and I cherish each memory we create together. Whether we are dancing in the rain or sharing a quiet moment under the stars, every experience is enriched by your presence. I am truly lucky to have you in my life, and I will never take your love for granted. You are my Ralfi Pagan, my muse, and my soulmate. I look forward to many more beautiful moments with you, and I promise to love you with all my heart and cherish you for eternity. With all my love, [Your Name].
Reviews for "Exploring the Diverse Love Songs of Ralfi Pagan"
1. John - 2/5
I was really disappointed with "Ralfi Pagan to Express My Affection for You." I had heard such great things about Ralfi Pagan's music and was excited to give it a listen. However, the album fell short of my expectations. The songs lacked variety and sounded too similar to each other. Pagan's voice, although smooth, became monotonous after a few tracks. I was hoping for more diversity in terms of musical styles, but the album lacked experimentation. Overall, it felt like a repetitive and uninteresting collection of songs.
2. Emily - 3/5
I had mixed feelings about "Ralfi Pagan to Express My Affection for You." While there were a few standout songs that I really enjoyed, the album as a whole didn't captivate me. Pagan's voice is undeniably beautiful, and he has a way of expressing emotions through his singing. However, the production and instrumentation felt dated and didn't bring anything new to the table. It lacked the freshness and innovation that I was expecting. Although I appreciate Pagan's talent, I found myself losing interest as I listened to the album.
3. Sarah - 2/5
"Ralfi Pagan to Express My Affection for You" was a forgettable experience for me. The songs were forgettable and didn't leave a lasting impact. Pagan's voice is pleasant, but it couldn't save the lackluster songwriting. The lyrics were cliché and lacked depth. The whole album felt like a generic love letter without anything unique or memorable. I was hoping for more creativity and originality from Pagan, but unfortunately, I didn't find it in this album.
4. Alex - 2/5
I found "Ralfi Pagan to Express My Affection for You" to be a rather uninspiring album. Pagan's voice is undeniably beautiful, but the songs failed to leave a lasting impression. The melodies were forgettable, and the lyrics lacked depth. It felt like a collection of generic love songs that didn't bring anything new to the table. I was hoping for more passion and emotion, but the album felt lukewarm and lacked the intensity I was expecting. Overall, it was a disappointing listening experience.
5. Jessica - 3/5
While "Ralfi Pagan to Express My Affection for You" had a few enjoyable moments, I found the majority of the album to be average at best. Pagan has a smooth and soothing voice, but the songs lacked originality and excitement. It felt like a safe and predictable album with repetitive themes. I enjoyed a few of the slower ballads, but overall, the album failed to make a lasting impression on me. I would recommend it if you're a fan of Pagan's voice, but don't expect anything groundbreaking.