{"id":23348,"date":"2020-12-01T01:10:09","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T05:10:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/?p=23348"},"modified":"2020-11-24T18:59:45","modified_gmt":"2020-11-24T22:59:45","slug":"celebrating-the-old-ways-in-new-times-second-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/paganpages.org\/emagazine\/2020\/12\/01\/celebrating-the-old-ways-in-new-times-second-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times Second Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

Celebrating the Old Ways in New Times for December 2020<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/h1>\n

\n

Bright Blessings!<\/span><\/p>\n

We have had an unusually warm November this year, and I have taken full advantage of it to sit and visit outdoors as much as possible with people who I know I am not going to see again until March or April.<\/span><\/p>\n

Covid-19 has hit us hard this month. I am in Franklin County, Ohio, and our county hit purple warning level of public emergency in regards to the levels of Covid19. For the first time, shops and even our Metro Parks are enforcing mask use, and we are back on a curfew again. Next, they may shut down restaurants, movie theaters, and all indoor gathering places again. I can\u2019t wait to hear people complaining that they want to party and holiday shop\u2026.and if you have read my past December articles, you know I am over it all.<\/span><\/p>\n

In my household, all Sabbats with friends have been canceled this year, and all visiting is outdoors only, and distanced. Usually a hugger, I am not hugging or touching people, and I\u2019m not even letting people hold my cats. We are now going to do curbside pickup of groceries. We are doing all we can to be safe. Life in Covid19 times has been very different for my husband and I, and we have no idea when it\u2019s going to change. <\/span><\/p>\n

With the cold months setting in, most people are going to refuse to go outdoors, and are going to get lonely or bored, and will insist on gathering indoors with other people. <\/span><\/p>\n

We are afraid for everybody, and we have no idea what to do except to implore people to mask, isolate, and wait this out. It can\u2019t last forever, and the more of us taking precautions ensure this is over with faster.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

Dear Old Winter<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

(Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Wintertime has always been a time of more sickness, injuries, and death for people, and this Winter is no exception. Winter has been characterized as a mean old man, or a hideous old woman for as long as human beings can remember. As somebody who has arthritis in my back, and feet, as well as bone spurs, I know good and well how cranky I get when my pain is worse. I also know the older I get, the worse the pain is, and the lower tolerance I have for BS. I can be short, harsh, cutting, and downright mean when I feel somebody deserves it. The older I get, the more I have in common with Winter. When it first started happening, I got called down by people who easily intimidate. I was shocked by this newfound reaction. I wanted everybody to like me. Then I got to thinking. That sharp side does not come out of me until I have been pushed too far, and it\u2019s time to tell people to back off- or even to FUCK off. I decided not to stop being this way when it was called for, but to embrace it. <\/span><\/p>\n

OH NO!!!!! I realized what happened! I had graduated out of my age of being a Maiden, to being a Mother, to starting my path to being a Crone!<\/span><\/p>\n

Wrinkles, gray hair, spider veins, aches and pains were just some of the things I don\u2019t like that came along with this. <\/span><\/p>\n

Also, wisdom, compassion for things I previously had no tolerance for, a calmness and slowing down, acceptance that I cannot control everything, learning how to ask for help and delegate, and giving up pipe dreams are just some of the wonderful things that came along with aging. <\/span><\/p>\n

The myth of the three ages of woman are very familiar to Wiccans, and goddess worshipers in general. While not all women become a mom, we are mother figures to those we mentor and guide.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s the Crone phase that is the life phase many dread. Having worked in Nursing Homes, and on skilled nursing units for the elderly, and aging, myself, I fully understand why. <\/span><\/p>\n

For one thing, society spits at our elders. They are considered to be slow, and in the way of younger people who want to go fast and fancy themselves as VERY important. They are considered an inconvenience because we have to speak up for them to hear us. When they start developing dementia, they are a called a pain because they need taken care of. When they cannot earn a full-time income, and need financial support from society and family, they are called a burden. They are expected to LOOK young all the days of their lives, and take a plethora of pills and do a lot of beauty treatments to stay that way for as long as possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

The way they are viewed and treated is not the worst part of it. <\/span><\/p>\n

The body changes. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some can\u2019t eat what they prefer due to health and\/or digestive issues anymore. The very cost of being retired in addition to the rising cost of health care is too expensive for some. Failing hearing and vision means people cannot communicate as well, and giving up driving and conversation can be isolating. The body itself breaking down is very painful, and sometimes, there is no way to help.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aging is the path to death. Now, as Pagans, we say death is just stepping out one door and into another- but it can be very painful, and terrifying. Especially if one does so alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeing the way our culture views aging and death, knowing Winter is equated with an elderly person tells us how society views deities associated with Winter.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

<\/a> The Cailleach<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

(<\/i><\/span>image<\/i><\/span>: Cailleach<\/a> by <\/i><\/span>artist<\/i><\/span> Baraka Robin Berger<\/a> <\/i><\/span>of ArtoftheGoddess<\/a> on etsy.)<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/a> To some of us, especially those who respect our elders, the woman who embodies Winter is not a mean old ugly hag. She is the goddess! Known by many names, she is the Cailleach, Beira, Milucra, Birog, and different spellings of these names. Cailleach means veiled one in old Gaelic. Bior(ach) and bior(ach) refer to Winter and the wilderness. The wintertime land!<\/span><\/p>\n

Like the woman as a crone starts dying back, and can no longer \u201cproduce fruit\u201d or children, the Mother goddess in Winter, in her form of the land does as well. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some believe she and Brigid are the same goddess, only in different forms. Brigid rules over Summer, and the Cailleach rules over Winter. Some say they are different goddesses and they fight for power. The early spring snows are considered to be the Cailleach attempting to stay in power, but Brigid always wins! The Cailleach rules from Samhain to Beltaine, and at Beltaine, Brigid rules until the following Samhain. <\/span><\/p>\n

Scottish lore tells us she is the mother of all the gods and goddesses. She also made the hills and mountains. Some formed when stones fell from her basket, and some she built on purpose, to use as stairs. <\/span><\/p>\n

Like the land and human beings, the goddess does not stay young forever. Summer and youth passes, and Winter sets in. All of these times, parts of life, and seasons are sacred and should be honored.<\/span><\/p>\n

When it\u2019s time, the Cailleach touches the earth with her staff, and everyplace it touches freezes. She, who has made all goddesses and gods, and shaped the very earth we live upon does this.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some say Winter coming is a three day process, instead of one including her staff. She brings winter by washing her plaid off the coast of Corryvrecken- where a legendary whirlpool is. For three days, she washes her plaid, and the roar of the waters are said to be heard as many as 20 miles away! When she has finished, her plaid is pure white, and snow covers the earth. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here is a video of that water body. It is considered an extremely dangerous and powerful whirlpool. A great personification of \u201chell hath no fury!\u201d This excellent video explains how the whirlpool works, why it is what it is, and shows beautiful footage.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n