The Organisers
I am an artist, a painter, a woodworker, a sculptor, a poet, a dreamer, a facilitator, a hundred different things to as many different people and in that no more or less than you I reckon.
In trying though to let you understand more of who I am spiritually, I find much in common with those on shamanic or druidic paths. I think my reluctance to identify in name to a 'tradition' in part is due to the many varying definitions attributed to the same thing. I don't think it is always necessary to box ourselves with definitions but if it is of help for you to know how I perceive myself…
I hear ancestral voice and work through the dreaming and the land. I work with deities (those who know me well know who), I respect my guides, guardians, animal spirits, nature's entities - others. If this sounds at all pretentious I know that by phrasing belief in simple terms I lose the essence of what spirit incorporated conveys.
I live in truth, choose knowing over faith, choose to connect and use and be useful, believe there is inherent truths in all traditions, religions, belief systems… and truth can be traced through common threads. I know the value of true friends equally dedicated to their beliefs and the benefit of having others who understand being 'told to' or being 'made to'.
I think ego can often be that which interferes most with our spiritual lives. I figure those who have been refused onto sacred site or turned back occasionally are more honest and hear with an open heart. The challenge is to stop and sometimes to accept, intention is personal, and being guided is spirit speaking from within.
Mahatma Gandhi once said "to believe in something, and not to live it, is dishonest!"
I've always thought everyone has a sacred duty, and part of that is to understand their spirituality instead of it being hand-fed through their life. It should be a priority in life to understand ourselves (and consequently each other) as unique & divine and explore the divine in all its aspects I perceive my spiritual path as uniquely mine but everyone does differ in his or her path; as determined by the connections they have inherently or acquire. I do believe spirituality to be a private aspect of life though I do value the role of groups and therefore I now run the An Fáinne monthly meetings in Dublin.
Sincere thanks to Maura who has been involved with An Fáinne since it began in 1997. Over the years the monthly gatherings gave me the opportunity to meet like-minded people and make lasting friendships. In order that An Fáinne continue to be a forum where people can meet and learn something of other earth-based spiritualities, I endeavour to facilitate the meetings in the same fashion as Maura had before me.
You can contact me via email if you have any queries about the meetings.
Dublin born and bred, I've always been drawn to nature and spirituality despite, or maybe because of the urban surrounding I've grown up in. Although a devout Catholic in my teenage years I was eventually led away from Christianity towards Paganism. As I tried to reconcile my Spiritual and Ethical beliefs with the beliefs I was raised in I found the two becoming less and less compatible. So after a long period of soul-searching I eventually found my way to paganism. Although I am now an official card-carrying member of the broomstick buying community I have to say I am thankful for the strong sense of faith I developed during my teenage years as I explored my spirituality through my Catholic upbringing.
What am I now when I call myself Pagan? I consider myself a student in all aspects of my life, partly because I believe we are always learning and partly because I'm a bit of a nerd. With respect to my beliefs this is still true as I feel I am constantly learning more about myself and my connection with Spirit and the Earth. I work with the Gods of my ancestors. I also work with animal guides and the incarnate elemental forces around me; the essence of the elements and the feeling of Spirits around me in my home.
As someone who started off using a solitary Wiccan system, I still identify closest with that way of working. Although I have never in the past and do not plan to in the future work in a coven based group system. I do sometimes do small groups workings with one or two friends but for the most part feel a solitary path works better for me. But I have to admit I do at times envy those who are lucky to work in an established group and have all the extra resources that it brings. I also like to at times incorporate some more shamanistic approaches to my work and also find myself using a less structured system and going more off-the-cuff at times as the mood takes me. This is something that I know will continue the more I explore my Pagan Path.
When not talking to rocks or hugging trees I consider myself a scientist. With a background in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I have a very detailed knowledge of how the biological world works and especially how we work as chemical machines. But instead of weakening my faith or making me question the validity or necessity of a sense of Spirit I am strengthened by it.
As I already said I see myself as a student and I believe we are here to learn. I view each day as a learning experience. So I apply the same approach to all aspects of my life (inside the lab and outside) and as I learn in all areas of my life) my connection to and understanding of Spirit grows.
It is for this reason that I first started attending An Fáinne and is why I have continued to go. Whilst there I have learned much and I hope by sharing my perspective helped others learn too. No matter how experienced you are you'll never know everything and An Fainne is a great place to remind us of that as we share paths, experiences and sometimes chocolate!
I'd like to thank to Marion for inviting me to co-chair these moots (although I can't promise that down the road I won't be taking out the red-haired doll and needles! . . . just kidding Marion). I look forward to continuing to learn and explore my Spirituality with others who follow an Earth-based Path. Hope to see you there sometime.
Blessed Be, Neil Byrne.