Feral vs. Eclectic

[Maps]

Okay, so I've seen the term "feral" pop up here and there, and I'm wondering what exactly that means... and how it's different from eclectic? My impression is that it's more tradition non-specific than simple borrowing and syncretism?

I ask because my interest is piqued...

[spoOk]

Okay, so I've seen the term "feral" pop up here and there, and I'm wondering what exactly that means... and how it's different from eclectic? My impression is that it's more tradition non-specific than simple borrowing and syncretism?

I ask because my interest is piqued...

I'm assuming the feral you want is not the traditional
meaning of the word....

[RandallS]

Okay, so I've seen the term "feral" pop up here and there, and I'm wondering what exactly that means... and how it's different from eclectic? My impression is that it's more tradition non-specific than simple borrowing and syncretism?

I've never heard the term "feral" used as a type of Paganism. The only definition I know of are "exists in a wild state", usually used to mean something that was domesticated bytr is no longer (e.g. a feral cat).

[monsnoleedra]

Okay, so I've seen the term "feral" pop up here and there, and I'm wondering what exactly that means... and how it's different from eclectic? My impression is that it's more tradition non-specific than simple borrowing and syncretism?

I ask because my interest is piqued...

Just an assumption on my part but I suppose it could be equated to "Wild Crafting". But in that capacity that is more a manner of gathering herbs and other plants than an actual tradition or pathway. Though in concept it is probably closer to Hedge or Green Witchary type practices, possibly even Hearth / Kitchen Witch type practices.

All of those practices being pretty eclectic in the sense they are many times Family Traditions vice more structured practices such as Wicca.

Of course as I stated this is just assumption on my part based upon my own family traditions and practices.

[Marilyn/Absentminded]

Okay, so I've seen the term "feral" pop up here and there, and I'm wondering what exactly that means... and how it's different from eclectic? My impression is that it's more tradition non-specific than simple borrowing and syncretism?

I ask because my interest is piqued...

Hopefully Aster will see this next time she's on. She has been calling her path 'Feral Brigideach' for a while now. (Hope I spelled that right, Aster) There have been a few discussions as to why she uses this term, but I can't really point you to any specific ones.

Her path is very focused and leans more towards CR than eclecticism, and her definition of feral in that context is interesting. Her health isn't the greatest and she isn't on as often as she would like to be, but she does look in as often as she can.

Absent

[Maps]

Hopefully Aster will see this next time she's on. She has been calling her path 'Feral Brigideach' for a while now. (Hope I spelled that right, Aster) There have been a few discussions as to why she uses this term, but I can't really point you to any specific ones.

Her path is very focused and leans more towards CR than eclecticism, and her definition of feral in that context is interesting. Her health isn't the greatest and she isn't on as often as she would like to be, but she does look in as often as she can.

Absent

Oh, that's right, that's for reminding me. I hope that she can find the time to explain.

[Aster Breo]

Oh, that's right, that's for reminding me. I hope that she can find the time to explain.

Yes, as Marilyn mentioned I called my path Feral Brighideach for a while. She's also correct that my path is extremely focused specifically on Brighid, and that I do work from a foundation of historical accuracy (with all the standard caveats about the lack of source material on ancient Celtic religion).

The definition of "feral" that I was using is basically what Randall said -- something (like an animal) that was domesticated but has reverted to wildness -- but with the added dimension of having been wild to start with, then domesticated, then wild again. That said, the most important thing to understand is that I used the phrase "Feral Brighideach" as a metaphor, not a factual descriptor.

It made sense to me because I believe that the worship of Brighid (Who I strongly believe is a goddess who was/is known to groups besides and predating the Celts, but by different names) originated as a very fundamental and natural practice -- IOW, a "wild" worship -- which likely didn't anthropomorphize Her, instead, probably conceptualized Her more as a *force* than as a super-human. As cultures evolved, worship of Her became a bit more "cultivated", although I believe the Celts probably maintained a strong sense of the original wildness and didn't make the kind of distinctions we do between "religion" and "everything else". When Ireland was Christianized, the worship of Brighid apparently shifted to the veneration of Saint Brigit, which I see as being sort of analogous to a kind of domestication. More recently, as the worship of the Goddess Brighid has reasserted itself, I see many of those who honor Her reaching back to how She was understood and worshiped prior to Christianization.

My approach to my own spirituality is to try to find Brighid in the basics of life -- in the sun, in fire, in water, in rainbows... I'm interested in learning to understand Her in Her original, wild form, rather than with cultural "baggage" that people have imposed on Her.

Hence, "Feral Brighideach."

As you can see, I recently changed my "religion" label in my profile here to "Bealach Bhríde" -- Brighid's Path. I have not changed my fundamental approach to Brighid or to my beliefs. However, I have been working with a partner to develop a very basic structure of a Brighid-centric spiritual practice. We made a decision to officially begin practicing Bealach Bhríde at Imbolc, so I updated my profile.

The ongoing project of developing a structure is a bit of a stroll along the knife-edge, though. I don't want to lose the wildness, but I do feel the need for a bit of shared structure in order to continue developing my personal experience of Brighid and expanding it to encompass new ways of understanding Her.

Please note that everything I've said here is based on my *beliefs*, much of which can't be proven. Historical accuracy is my *starting* point. But my path is more about my interpretation of Brighid, along with a lot of UPG and SPG.

Hope this helps.

~ Aster

[Maps]

Hope this helps.

~ Aster

It does, thank you!

Your idea of what Brigid is resonates with me and where I think I may be headed in the years to come. Interest in the term comes from some other factors, though, and is a means to differentiate my path with the tradition and cosmology that I use as a base. (I am not and will never be an official member of that group, etc.) I feel the distinction is important so as to try and avoid stepping on toes. I also suspect that I'll eventually get to the point where I'll be using a heaping dose of my own personal system of ritual, invented languages included, and that my path is going to be heavily influenced by my location. For instance, I feel quite spiritually neutered here in NYC. :P

Again, thank you. I use labels somewhat prescriptively, but more in the sense that I use them to entertain possibilities and points of exploration. Let's see what "feral" can do for me. :]

[Owl]

~ Aster

Interesting! With some/most Celtic deities it is difficult to find anything concrete and so we are always digging. My path would qualify as feral by your definition as I continue to dig past the cultural mores and beliefs laid on top of the original. Thank you!

[Aster Breo]

Thank you!

Sure!

I'm glad my rambling makes sense to someone else.

Sometimes the lack of concrete answers about Celtic religion is very frustrating, but, overall, it can really help us look inside ourselves for answers and inspire creativity. I know it's impossible for me to ever know whether anything I believe or do has any similarity to what the ancients believed or did, and I'm OK with that. It works for me.