Midsummer Eve By Edward Robert Hughes 1908

Italian Palace at Dusk by Ferdinand Knab 1893

Here is a map showing the English translation of each European country’s name. Which is your favorite?

The Oreads By William-Adolphe Bougereau 1902

As one who has recently discovered the pagan roots of my people, the first thing that came to mind was “Wow, I know nothing about them.”
Needless to say, this was very unnerving and can be so for many who are feeling like they are in a cultural desert. Empty, with no life to be found.
People of European descent are quite literally the spice of the earth.
Our history and culture give flavor to an otherwise bland world that prefers “sameness” under a universalistic mindset that corrupts everything it touches.
I hope to share what I discover and hope others can do the same. Only by understanding our past, applying it to the present can we have hope for our future.

Winter Makes Us Strong: For many the cold brings horrors, bitter cold, fallow fields, barren trees, and slumbering sun. Yet it is this very season that in many ways defines us. The cold does not take as much as it gives. The land is rested, the blanket of winter spreads across the land coating everything in warmth beneath her icy embrace. The windows dance with wondrous patterns, the animals rest in comfort, as we do as well. The chill in our breath parts in the sky, as we build snow men and laugh in what others fear as certain death. It is not winter we must fear, for in her cruelty is a fairness and compassion. By the fire stories are told, crafts are made, and children play. In these long nights rest is found, the spirits dance in the sky and slumber beneath the mountain. In the end from long hibernation comes the new growth of spring, we are stronger for having rested, for having bested the cold and danced atop the ice, for we are the people of the north and winter is in our veins.

-Wylder Homes Project

A Response from Moi Toboi to Myo-TAO

Brigid, the hearth goddess of the Celts. She is also known as Brigantia and was synchronized with Minerva in Gaulo-Roman faith. They ancient celts kept an eternal fire for her and she was said to have invented keening (a kind of weeping-singing) after the death of her son. She was said to be married to the god Bres, though in CG"s stories where she is most like the hearth goddess she is married to the Smith. She is the mother of Ruadan the daughter of the Dagda and the sister of Aengus, Bodb derg, Cermait and Aed. She is associated with many things such as the hearth, the dawn, wisdom, smithing, poetry, and domestic animals to which she has the king of boars king of wethers (sheep), and two oxen named Fe and Men who graze on a plain that bears her name. Animals with red ears and white bodies are at times associated with her, she is highly associated with both high places (high flames, high levels of thought, the highlands, etc) and the festival of Imbolc whose version of Candlemas was highly associated with St. Brigid a clear Christianization of an important goddess. She was at times honored at wells where pieces of cloth were tied to trees to honor her. Her version of St. Brigid is the patron saint of Ireland. She is often considered a triple goddess due to her supposed sisters of Brigid the healer and Brigid the smith. Her name may mean strength or the high one and her name became the modern name of Bridgette. What is your favorite thing about Brigid?

This is a short write up on Brigid, I will be sure to revisit her in the future, but wanted to get something out on her pre-imbolc-TAO

Sainte Jeanne d'arc by Paul de la Boulaye 1909

Portrait of Henry Wentworth Monk by William Holman Hunt

The Parthenon by Frederic Edwin Church 1871

An impressive show in honor of the European bear cult-TAO https://vimeo.com/96173175

February by John Leighton

Groundhog Day is my 3rd favorite Holiday, I love Punxsutawney Phil. I love the emphasis on PA Dutch/German/American culture. I love just the whimsy and fun of the holiday-TAO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKQhYPcNhx0