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A New Take on April Fool’s Day
Traditionally, April 1 is “April Fool’s Day,” an opportunity to play harmless and fun jokes and tricks on others. Frankly, I’ve never been a fan.
Not much is known about the origin of this holiday. One popular origin tale is that when the Gregorian Calendar moved the first day of the year from April 1 to January 1, not everyone got the message, or simply chose to ignore it.
After all, there was no internet then to spread the word. Those who continued to view April 1 as the first day of the year were called “Fools”.
But this story doesn’t hold water because the history of pranking on April 1 started long before the Gregorian Calendar came along in 1582, and it also has traditions around the world.
Another theory is that the timing of a day of pranks is tied to the arrival of spring, when nature “fools” humankind with fickle weather. That explanation makes sense to me, particularly this year.
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Tobacco: Do you know how sacred it is?
Tobacco is an herb that has become a pariah in our society, yet is sacred to many native peoples. It wasn’t meant to be used and smoked the way we use it in our society.
My first teacher, Sun Bear, had a wonderful saying: “White people misused tobacco, the sacred medicine of the native people, and it made them sick. When native people misused white peoples’ medicine, the sacred wine of the mass, it became their undoing.”
We must respect one another’s medicines.
THE UNKNOWN SPIRITUAL LIFE OF TOBACCO
Tobacco has the quality of being able to absorb. When made into a poultice, it can absorb toxins out of a rash or bug bite. When you pray with it, it absorbs your prayers. And when smoked, the smoke carries your prayers up to the Creator.
Desiderata
The desiderata is a much loved poem written by American writer Max Ehrmann in 1927. Largly unknown during Ehrmann’s lifetime, It became well-known after being found at Adlai Stevenson’s deathbed in 1965.
In response to losing the majority in the Canadian Federal election in 1872, Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau quoted the Desiderata in reassuring the nation that “the universe is unfolding as it should.”
While the writing may seem stilted by today’s standards, the sentiments expressed are profound. And our lives will be better if we embrace them.
What does the first day of spring mean for us?
“I’m not interested in any philosophy unless it can help me grow corn.” Sun Bear
Meaning, “it gives me practical help in my life.” This post is about how celebrating the Spring Equinox can do just that.
This year the spring equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is March 20, 1:14 a.m. Eastern Time: a day of equal balance of the hours of light and dark before the sun continues its journey towards longer daylight hours and warming temperatures. The word equinox comes from the latin words meaning “equal night.”
The equinox energy is strong for four days before and after March 20th, giving you time to bask in the opportunities and lessons it brings.
Ancient cultures throughout history have celebrated this time of rebirth of Mother Earth. But what does it mean for us?
Irish Soda Bread recipe from my Irish Grandmother
This recipe comes from my Nana Sue, born in Larah, County Caven. A warm woman with a sharp wit, she raised six children and loved to cook. This recipe has been handed down to each generation.
Best served fresh from the oven, I swear men have asked me to marry them after tasting it.
Other than the marriage proposals, the best part is that it’s not a yeast bread, so it’s very easy to make. It’s the interaction of the baking soda and buttermilk that makes it rise.
The best Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe ever
This is standard fare at my house in March, and not just on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s divine!
Serve 6 -8
INGREDIENTS:
3 lb. corned beef brisket [if it comes with a spice packet I use that plus the spices below, so it’s double spiced]
3 bay leaves
4 sprigs thyme
12 peppercorns
3 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2” chunks
8 baby carrots, peeled
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How the Irish saved civilization and otherwise gifted us over and over again
“May the road rise to meet you; May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; The rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.” — Irish Blessing
History is written by conquerors, and, frankly, I don’t think their accounts are to be trusted.
Being 100% Irish-American, I’ve never felt good about the bad rap the Irish have gotten over the years. Most of the stereotypes are inaccurate and undoubtedly started by the English as a way to assuage their guilt for having decimated the country.
For example: Ireland used to be covered with forests, but the English cut down all the trees to use in their own empire building. During the Great Famine, there was more than enough food in Ireland to feed the entire country, but, again, the English exported it to feed themselves.
“We have always found the Irish a bit odd. They refuse to be English.” - Winston Churchill
But enough about the English, I’m here to celebrate the Irish.
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Brigid: Goddess, Saint and Keeper of the Flame
This is the first of four posts leading up to St. Patrick’s Day in celebration of all things Irish.
One of the ways Christianity wove its way into the hearts and minds of the original peoples was by adopting their ancient gods, goddesses and festivals in order to more easily convert them without bloodshed.
For example, the evidence is that Jesus Christ was born in the spring, but our pre-Christian ancestors were already celebrating the birth of a wondrous male child, born of a virgin, around the time of the Winter Solstice, so it made sense to decree this as the time of birth of Christ. It made for easy conversion.
Christianity also incorporated most of the significant aspects of Mithra, son of the Persian sun God, who died at the spring equinox, heralding the time of Easter.
So many Christian holidays parallel those of our ancestors that it can be hard to tell where one begins and the other ends. The same can be said of the saints.