Author Topic: Cill Project: Cross/Brat Exchange (Read 5539 times)

Juni · « **on:** July 02, 2011, 01:43:09 pm »

We've done cross/brat exchanges the past two Imbolcs, and as we're approaching Lughnasadh, I thought I would bring up an idea that's been rolling around in my brain for a while: would anyone be interested in doing exchanges on the other three Celtic feasts, pertaining to Brighid's connections to poetry, smithcraft and healing?

Personally, I parse the connections as Beltane/healing, Lughnasadh/smithcraft, and Samhain/poetry, but that doesn't have to be the way we do it.

Anyone interested?

AlisonLeighLilly · « **Reply #1 on:** July 03, 2011, 04:03:02 pm »

Quote from: Juni;279

We've done cross/brat exchanges the past two Imbolcs, and as we're approaching Lughnasadh, I thought I would bring up an idea that's been rolling around in my brain for a while: would anyone be interested in doing exchanges on the other three Celtic feasts, pertaining to Brighid's connections to poetry, smithcraft and healing?

Personally, I parse the connections as Beltane/healing, Lughnasadh/smithcraft, and Samhain/poetry, but that doesn't have to be the way we do it.

Anyone interested?

I haven't participated in any of the Imbolc Exchanges before (sadly - mostly due to time constraints and embarrassing lack of crafty-skillz), but I really like this idea of trying to do something for all of the Celtic festivals. That said - I doubt I'd have time to participate in a Lughnasadh exchange this year, but maybe the Samhain one...

--Ali

Juni · « **Reply #2 on:** July 03, 2011, 04:08:15 pm »

Quote from: AlisonLeighLilly;442

I think it's probably too close to Lughnasadh to get anything done anyway, but if we get discussion rolling with regard to a Samhain swap, we should have just enough time.

And you don't have to be crafty to participate! You could write some poetry, or take an appropriate photo, or lots of other things!

Do you like the holiday/attribute parsing I did, or would you arrange them differently?

AlisonLeighLilly · « **Reply #3 on:** July 03, 2011, 04:20:40 pm »

Quote from: Juni;445

Do you like the holiday/attribute parsing I did, or would you arrange them differently?

I was thinking about that - but then realized I don't really have any strong opinion on it.

I think the way you have it arranged works really well, and I'd like to hear thoughts from other people, too. Just based on my personal associations, I might arrange them this way:

Samhain - Smithcraft - for associations with transformation, the "dark light" of the forge
Beltainne - Poetry - for associations with love poetry/song
Lughnasadh - Healing - because it's what's left

But those are just somewhat passing thoughts, and I don't really feel strongly about them one way or the other.

--Ali

Juni · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2011, 04:25:22 pm »

Quote from: AlisonLeighLilly;449

I was thinking about that - but then realized I don't really have any strong opinion on it. I think the way you have it arranged works really well, and I'd like to hear thoughts from other people, too. Just based on my personal associations, I might arrange them this way:

Heh, explaining my reasoning would probably be useful, huh? My thoughts were:

Beltane/healing- for associations of growth and life

Lughnasadh/smithcraft- largely for associations of heat! But also craftmanship, which is very Lugh.

Samhain/poetry- for associations of the coming cold and indoor activities

I'd definitely like input from others too! I'm not deeply attached to my arrangement, it's just what naturally aligned in my head.

Sage · « **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2011, 07:26:50 pm »

Quote from: Juni;279

Anyone interested?

Definitely! I'd love to participate, since I wasn't around for previous exchanges.

I might just write some poetry this go-round since Lughnasadh is so close, and make something bigger for Samhain.

Finn · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2011, 01:14:59 pm »

Quote from: Juni;453

Heh, explaining my reasoning would probably be useful, huh? My thoughts were:

Beltane/healing- for associations of growth and life

Lughnasadh/smithcraft- largely for associations of heat! But also craftmanship, which is very Lugh.

Samhain/poetry- for associations of the coming cold and indoor activities

I'd definitely like input from others too! I'm not deeply attached to my arrangement, it's just what naturally aligned in my head.

This is what naturally aligns in my head too.

AlisonLeighLilly · « **Reply #7 on:** July 04, 2011, 02:57:57 pm »

Quote from: Juni;453

Heh, explaining my reasoning would probably be useful, huh? My thoughts were:

Beltane/healing- for associations of growth and life

Lughnasadh/smithcraft- largely for associations of heat! But also craftmanship, which is very Lugh.

Samhain/poetry- for associations of the coming cold and indoor activities

Quote from: Finn;718

This is what naturally aligns in my head too.

Okay, Ali is starting to realize she has issues with romance.

Because when I first read Juni's connection between Beltainne and healing, my knee-jerk reaction was to scoff cynically. :cool: I tend to focus on Beltainne's association in Celtic mythology with a lot of really tragic love stories (especially those involving love triangles) where the hero, heroine or both end up meeting an untimely demise due to their love transcending/transgressing social ties. This is why poetry naturally jumps to my mind as a good association with Beltainne, because so much of what makes truly great art is the subversion of social expectation and pushing the boundaries of society for the sake of beauty and meaning-making.

But that said, I totally get the Beltainne/healing association, too. And when I read the connection between smithcraft and Lugh for Lughnasadh, I had a forehead-slap "duh!" moment.

--Ali

Morag · « **Reply #8 on:** July 04, 2011, 04:12:48 pm »

Quote from: Juni;279

We've done cross/brat exchanges the past two Imbolcs, and as we're approaching Lughnasadh, I thought I would bring up an idea that's been rolling around in my brain for a while: would anyone be interested in doing exchanges on the other three Celtic feasts, pertaining to Brighid's connections to poetry, smithcraft and healing?

Personally, I parse the connections as Beltane/healing, Lughnasadh/smithcraft, and Samhain/poetry, but that doesn't have to be the way we do it.

Anyone interested?

I am interested!

Personally, I see Lughnasadh/smithcraft just fine, but I see healing and poetry as interchangeable for Samhain and Beltaine.

Healing for Samhain because it's a time to release the dead and move on, poetry for Beltaine because Beltaine = sex energy to me, and that is liquid fire, living poetry.

However your reasons work well too.

So either way works for me.

rocquelaire · « **Reply #9 on:** July 04, 2011, 04:13:45 pm »

Quote from: Juni;279

Anyone interested?

That sounds great!

Your associations sound good to me. I'm looking forward to hearing everyone's ideas.

Micheál · « **Reply #10 on:** July 04, 2011, 05:10:19 pm »

Quote from: Juni;279

Anyone interested?

I'd definitely be interested as well :cool: Since I've never participated before, if anyone can give just a few short simple examples of how it has been done in the past, it would really help give me a clearer picture in how the Exchange operates.

Aster Breo · « **Reply #11 on:** July 05, 2011, 01:45:29 am »

Quote from: Juni;279

Anyone interested?

Count me as interested. And I don't think I have a strong preference for which holidays are linked to which themes.

In the past, we've done a "Secret Santa" sort of thing, where everyone who wanted to participate PMd me (and told me if they were OK with shipping internationally or not), and I did a random draw to assign partners. It seems to have worked pretty well.

Did you have the same sort of thing in mind?

(If so, I'm happy to continue to be the "organizer", if that's needed.)

Juni · « **Reply #12 on:** July 05, 2011, 11:49:33 am »

Quote from: Aster Breo;1191

In the past, we've done a "Secret Santa" sort of thing, where everyone who wanted to participate PMd me (and told me if they were OK with shipping internationally or not), and I did a random draw to assign partners. It seems to have worked pretty well.

Yes, that's exactly what I had in mind. Just like our Imbolc cross/brat exchange, only not necessarily crosses and brati this time.

Since we've got some interest, maybe I'll make a poll after Lughnasadh to try to pin down the theme/holidays arrangements? And everyone can officially note their interest for the Samhain swap.

Finn · « **Reply #13 on:** July 05, 2011, 02:31:34 pm »

Quote from: Juni;279

Anyone interested?

Er, I just realized I didn't actually say so, but you know I'm interested!

Garnet · « **Reply #14 on:** July 05, 2011, 04:38:59 pm »

Quote from: Juni;279

Anyone interested?

I'm definitely interested - I've had ideas for some alternate exchange-type items I'd love to make. Both sets of associations with holidays make sense to me. I don't have time to get something ready for Lughnasadh, but I'm definitely on for Samhain.