Fàilte oirbh don taigh-solais

For Gaelic people, the beliefs of the “old people” sit amongst us, alongside Christianity. My Grandmother was very much at peace with her declaration that the Banshee ( Bean Sídhe, Fairy woman mourning in Irish and Scottish folklore) was outside the window in the darkened night, yet reaching for her Rosary at bedtime and at dawn and attending Mass every week. There was no separation or need to choose one belief over the other.

These days we are told that we need to choose – we are not comfortable with things just “being”. We live in a world of absolutes where “right” and “wrong” dominate us both politically and personally. The idea of Spirit being in control is negated – we are supposed to decide what is right, rather than watching a spiritual value evolve into existence.

Try to write or find ways in which your life is divided between two things, or two opposites, how much do you feel the weight of those ideas pulling you in different directions. How do you think you could bring them together.

1. The Gaelic word for Unity is aonachd, what does the word unity mean to you?
2. How do you just “be” in the middle of different ideas coming to you?
3. Where do you get your news from – is it often conflicted?
4. How can you stay principled and loving at the same time?
5. Can you really say if something is good or bad? How does that equate to believing in some kind of Higher Power which might simply “be”.

Try to find what the words in Gaelic are for good and bad.