In light of some of the recent comments about Celtic Reconstructionism that have surfaced elsewhere (apparently in the wake of some controversy in heathen circles), Gaol Naofa would like to make it clear that we take a strong stance against racism, oppression, discrimination, sexism, and bigotry in all its forms.
In Gaol Naofa our community is about culture and connection, mutual respect and accountability to one another, not blood quantum. While we honour our ancestors, we also highly value our interfaith work, and our relatives and loved ones from all racial and ethnic backgrounds who form the fabric of our living communities. We are not a “folkish” organisation and we do not believe that racist, “folkish” views have any place in Gaelic Polytheism or CR as a whole. Those who know the history of Celtic Reconstructionism (and its subset, Gaelic Polytheism) know that any insistence that members be “white” goes against the very founding principles of CR in general. The same goes for the ridiculous belief that the nuclear, straight family or modern, conformist gender roles (or gender expressions) are in any way necessary or relevant to our lives. Our ancestors, and our communities now, are more suited to diverse, extended families of choice as well as blood. Those who claim otherwise are either ignorant of our history and living cultures, or simply racist, and bigoted.
It cannot be stressed enough that we believe that Gaelic Polytheism is not something that is or should be dictated by race or ethnicity, sex or sexual orientation, ability or disability, gender or gender expression, blood line, marital status, nationality, or political party. If this is something you don’t agree with, then please look elsewhere.
Original photo by Kyle Brown – Dawn on the Mississippi River
Although Gaol Naofa as an organisation is generally neutral when it comes to politics, as a council we have decided this is too important and vital an issue to stay silent. In addition to our avowed stance on Indigenous Solidarity, we believe that as Gaelic Polytheists we have a duty to honour and respect the land spirits of wherever we reside, and advocate for the protection of the environment and sacred sites that will be affected by things like this proposed pipeline.
In that spirit, a number of our members, along with those in our related organisation, CAORANN, have been joining in prayer with our friends and relatives who are at the demonstrations and prayer vigils in Washington DC, at sacred sites all along the proposed route of the Dakota Access/Bakken Pipeline, and at the sacred waters all over the world. Some of the people on the front lines of this struggle have been instrumental as advisors to our organisation, and without them, we probably would not exist.
The young people from Standing Rock reservation have run all the way from the Dakotas to Washington, DC to bring awareness to the danger facing our water supply. We are so proud of them.
We have been praying at the water, making offerings, singing and praying for protection. We are sending love, strength and gratitude to the runners and the land/water defenders who are carrying this forward for all of us. Slàinte Mhath.
Prayer
From the Center of the Land A Shail-Spioradain,
The spirits are guarding the water
The spirits are guarding the land
Who speaks for the waters?
Who speaks for the land?
Sacred waters of Turtle Island
Watershed of Oceti Sakowin
Ogalala Aquifer, sacred
Rivers Mnišoše, Mníšošethaka,Iowa, Illinois
and every tributary and well and stream
feeding spreading flowing
into us all.
The water is in us all.
Every time you feel the thirst
Every time you reach for water
you hear us. The spirits of the land and waters
The ancestors upon whose bones you stand.
Hear us.
Sacred waters from which we are born
flowing from the lands of our ancestors, Abhainn Chluaidh, Uisge Dhè, An Life, An Bhóinn,
Flowing to the ocean, dancing across
to the shores of Turtle Island
merging and twining as one.
Who speaks for the water?
Who speaks for the land?
From sacred Standing Rock, reaching out worldwide,
to the all the sacred rivers, flowing, and circling back
to the center again. As one.
Land defenders crying, praying, “Come, Protect the water!”
Land defenders rising, singing, “We Protect the Water!”
The waters flow free. Clear. Strong. As one.
Pure. Sacred. Forever. As one.
Slàinte Mhath.
With love and gratitude to the youth, Elders and allies of Standing Rock and all the water runners, in Solidarity. – An Chomairle Ghaol Naofa
Notes:
A Shail-Spioradain – Gaelic for “Oh Guardian Spirits”
Turtle Island – name used by many Indigenous North American Peoples for the North American continent
Oceti Sakowin – The Seven Fires Council aka The Great Sioux Nation or the Lakota and Dakota people
Mnišoše – Lakota (Lak?ótiyapi) name for the Missouri River
Mníšošethaka – Dakota (Dakhótiyapi) name for the Mississipi River [please note, the second-last “a” is supposed to be a
Abhainn Chluaidh, Uisge Dhè, An Life, An Bhóinn, – In both Gaelic and Irish, “River Clyde, River Dee, Liffy and Boyne”
Standing Rock – The Lakota reservation where they are blocking the proposed pipeline, and where the runners began their journey on foot to Washington D.C.
Slàinte Mhath – Gaelic for “Good Health/Strength/Wholeness”
Since we started our Youtube channel in 2014 we’ve received a great response to the videos we’ve made so far, and after a wee break since our last video (a good six months ago now) we figured it’s high time for another one. Our last video took a look at Offerings in Gaelic Polytheism, so this time around we’ve decided to carry on with the introductory theme with our latest effort, Daily Rites in Gaelic Polytheism:
The video offers a brief overview of the kinds of rites and practices Gaelic Polytheists can incorporate into their daily lives – and we want to stress that these are things that can be done, not that they have to be done. To go hand in hand with this new video, we’ve decided to update our Daily Rites page here on the website. This new version has been substantially revised and updated by Kathryn Price NicDhàna, and the prayers we outline are now offered in both Gaelic and English. The prayers included in our updated article are completely different from the original article, which were written by Gaol Naofa’s founder Tomás Flannabhra; for those of you who would prefer to stick with them, we’ve moved the original version of the article to an archive page here. Whichever version of our Daily Rites article you prefer, we consider the video to be a companion piece to it. You might also find the Daily Practices section over on Tairis useful, along with our Offerings article and video, and our Children and Family in Gaelic Polytheism piece.
As always we hope you enjoy the new video and article, and please feel free to share them wherever you like. Slàinte mhath!
25 January — Burns Night 31 January — Gealach Ùr 1 February — Lá Fhéile Bríde 1 March — Gealach Ùr 17 March — Lá Fhéile Pádraig 18 March — Sheelah's Day 25 March — Là na Caillich 29 April — Gealach Ùr 1 May — Lá Bealtaine 28 May — Gealach Ùr 21 June — Grianstad an tSamhraidh 27 June — Gealach Ùr 5 July — Laa Tinvaal 26 July — Gealach Ùr 1 August — Lá Lúnasa 24 August — Gealach Ùr 23 September — Gealach Ùr 29 September — Là Fhèill Mìcheil 22 October — Gealach Ùr 31 October — Oíche Shamhna 21 November — Gealach Ùr 30 November — Latha Naomh Anndra 21 December — Gealach Ùr 21 December — Grianstad an Gheimhridh 26 December — Lá an Dreoilín 31 December — Hogmanay
In light of some of the recent comments about Celtic Reconstructionism that have surfaced elsewhere (apparently in the wake of some controversy in heathen circles), Gaol Naofa would like to make it clear that we take a strong stance against racism, oppression, discrimination, sexism, and bigotry in all its forms.
Original photo by 
