(no subject)

Wheeee?
Planning on going to the Seagoth Beltane beach party tonight. Unfortunately, it's pretty grey out now. Hope it burns off.
There's supposed to be a big bonfire and some fire spinners at the party. I brought my cameras with me today, and hope I can run out and grab some infrared film. I've wanted to get back to shooting for a while, but just haven't motivated myself to do so. Well, shooting IR is always fun, just to see what sort of results you get out of it, and shooting something like people working with fire should produce some spectacular results, especially when printed contrasty. Hopefully i'll be able to get to one of the camera stores and grab some.
One way or another, i'm going to try to meet some more people. I still have entirely too few acquaintance class friends, and really few family class ones.

Eternal Flame

Beltane is more generally associated with the kindling of the flame at Tara, and the spreading of this flame through Ireland; the various cycles of invasion from the Lebor Gabala Erren, including Amergin's arrival in the land, and other events. The following is probably more a simple song of praise to Brighid, and would probably be a bit more appropriate around Imbolc, but for some reason it felt right to share it today.
There are some traditional pieces in Leabhar 1 of the Carmina Gadelica which relate to the holiday, but they are so Christianized as to feel alien to my spirit. Accordingly, i've made the attempt to try and capture some of the essence- dare i say the magic- of Gaelic verse, in this, and probably failed at doing so, but nevertheless, it's an expression of my spirituality and my understanding of one of the Divine Ones. It is an original piece- i'd ask that it not be reproduced without my permission.

Cill Dara's eternal flame
Brightly burns;
If not enshrined on that hill
Then within the hearts of those who love her Lady still.

Many-faced Brighid,
Lady of fires bright,
Fiery arrow throughout long night,
Voice of mourning for ones lost in flight.

Goddess of the hearth,
Protectress of the Gael-
Battle-maiden in time of war;
Benevolent in her aid to the poor.

She who breathes words of magic
Into the harp's strings,
Or into the poet's word
Bardcraft's voice of inspiration heard.

A gentle, never tiring hand at the forge
Purifying, strengthening fire-
Bringing warmth, protection, light;
Vigilant over the sleeping child at night.

Midwife to the birthing mother,
Nursemaid to her child-
She who wraps the newbom
In her mantle to keep warm.

Her's the love flowing
Like the waters of the Boyne-
A river never tame
Fitting match for her eternal flame.

Perhaps in the none too distant future i'll be able to write proper Gaelic verse, but for the present, this will have to suffice.