Regardless of the various assertions, made because the Second World Conflict, that by no means once more might we see struggle on European soil, the previous a number of months have proved in any other case. Ukrainian refugees have arrived throughout Europe, largely girls and youngsters, or aged male family. They arrive with solely the garments on their backs, exhausted, traumatised, harassed over the attainable destiny of these they’ve needed to go away behind.
As a impartial nation, Eire doesn’t provide navy help. Nevertheless, thirty thousand refugees have been welcomed, in homes, sports activities golf equipment, lodges, mattress and breakfasts, and once they first arrive, till extra appropriate lodging will be discovered, they’re provided campsites.
The place do we start to handle, not to mention heal, such brokenness? What sort of language would we converse from our widespread humanity? English, Irish or Ukrainian? Or perhaps we’ve got different languages: the language of symbols, songs, poems and tales?
Girl Spirit Eire, established in 1995 as an academic charity, has for the previous a number of years celebrated the 4 quarterly festivals: Bealtaine (Might 1st); Lughnasadh (August 1st); Samhain (Nov. 1st, and Imbolc (February 1st). Over many centuries many generations are stated to have arrived in Eire on Bealtaine: local weather change refugees, adventurers, and political asylum seekers. Amongst them might have been many immigrants from Slavic international locations.
A number of commentators, Marija Gimbutas, Mary Kelly, and Elizabeth Barber have identified similarities between Irish and different OId European traditions, particularly evident within the rituals and materials artefacts. This yr, Girl Spirit Eire determined that we might discover our Irish and Ukrainian widespread origins. We’re lucky to have a number of cultural specialists keen to supply their companies.
Laura Shannon will converse on the gorgeous Ukrainian embroidered ritual cloths (rushnyky) and finely adorned Easter eggs (pysanky), with consideration to symbols of wheat and grain, the wheel of the yr, ancestral relationships and spirit of place, and the theme of safety. These themes have equivalents in Irish people tradition as nicely, underlining the widespread floor of shared considerations amongst all members of the human household.
After all, our Ukrainian guests won’t be within the temper for celebration. They arrive to Eire, not by selection, however from the horrific brokenness they’ve skilled of their homeland. For that cause, Nadia Tarnawsky has provided us a poignant rendering of the music The Damaged Pot, signifying their brokenness.
Nevertheless, we want to provide another views on that brokenness, and Ruth Marshall will recount the age-old story of the girl with two pots, one intact; the opposite damaged, and the way the damaged pot served to fertilise the sphere as she took the water from the nicely again to her house.
We may also provide a possibility for meditation on brokenness with the gorgeous craftwork of artist, Mary Wallace, and her damaged pot collection.
Medical herbalist, Rosari Kingston, will discover the medical significance of the nice Ukrainian emblem, the sunflower, and its therapeutic properties.
Rosari may also replicate on the theme of Mild and Darkness, Heat and Chilly, the 2 components of the outdated yr within the WISE Island (Wales, Eire, Scotland and England). Within the Residing Tradiitons of Eire and Scotland, the Cailleach, or Outdated Girl, represents the Chilly Half of the yr, whereas her daughter, the Inion Buí (Daughter of the Hag), pronounced In-yeen Bwee, now often called (Bride, or Brigit), presides over the Heat Half.
Some traditions say that on the turning of the seasons, the Cailleach met her daughter who handed her a bunch of primroses. The Cailleach then took off her black cloak, turned it round to disclose a yellow lining, and positioned it on the shoulders of her daughter.
In one other custom, it’s stated Father Winter handed Bride a bunch of snowdrops, saying If the Cailleach scolds you, hand her these flowers and if she asks the place you discovered them, inform her that they got here from the inexperienced rustling fir-woods. Inform her additionally that the cress is arising on the banks of streams, and that the brand new grass has begun to shoot up within the fields.
The theme of moms and youngsters continues with a wonderful Bealtaine music, sung by Pádraigín Ní Uallachain: Thugamar Féin an Samhradh Linn. (We carry the summer time with us). In her fabulous guide, Hidden Ulster, Pádraigín means that the music might characterize a ritualised symbolic playful battle between two opposing teams, (Cailleach and Bride) with the winner taking the spoils –the suitable to parade by means of the city or village holding both a Maybush, a Might doll, or perhaps a department, every symbolising fertility.
Mary Condren and Laura Shannon may also replicate on the deep bonds between moms and youngsters, signified by picture of daughters within the skirts of their moms in Ukrainian embroideries; within the tales of the saint and goddess, Brigit, and within the cow and calf photographs all around the Irish panorama. Mary will proceed exploring how the picture of the Ukrainian Virgin Mary (recreated for this yr’s Venice Biennale) represents photographs of feminine divinity and the way such photographs signify safety, and inclusion, no matter color or creed. The cloak, whether or not it represents Brigit, the Cailleach or the Virgin Mary, can be used to gather the dew of mercy from the earth, a therapeutic fluid that contrasts sharply with the ever-flowing sacrificial blood shed in struggle.
Our occasion will come to an finish with long-time anti-war activist Peggy Seeger’s stunning music: Oh How I lengthy for Peace.
If ever they had been wanted, the occasions in Ukraine cry out for our work in recuperating religions of the fireplace, versus religions of empire. On this sense, the poem of Eva Gore Sales space the early 20th century Irish activist and mystic speaks volumes:
The Poet’s God
“What’s God? ‘males stated within the West, / The Lord of Good and Unwell, / Rewarders of the blest, /Decide of the evil will.
“What’s God?” males stated within the East, / The Common soul / In man, and chicken, and beast / The self of the nice entire.
I noticed a primrose flower / Rise out of the inexperienced sod, / In majesty and energy, / And I stated, “There may be Love, there may be God.”
On-line occasion, Might 22nd Symbols of Hope: Ukrainian and Irish Traditions at Maytime.
All contributors are providing their companies free of charge within the hope of elevating cash to assist the humanitarian wants of Ukrainian refugees and people nonetheless in Ukraine. Simultaneous translations can be found in Ukrainian, Russian, French, German and Spanish.
Register at this hyperlink: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/symbols-of-hope-ukrainian-irish-traditions-at-maytime-tickets-339148431087
Ukrainian Refugees are free. Moderately than registering for the occasion, they need to ship their electronic mail to this deal with: womanspiritireland@gmail.com
For Kathryn Holmquist……. Ms.Mary Condron creator of ‘The Serpent and the Goddess’.
BIO Mary Condren, Th.D, feminist thealogian, theorist and Brigit researcher, is director of Girl Spirit Eire and teaches on the Centre for Gender and Girls’s Research, Trinity Faculty Dublin. https://tcd.academia.edu/MaryCondren
Classes: Basic, Ukraine, Conflict and Peace