Today is March 17th.
Also known as St. Patrick’s Day,
an annual holiday celebrating Ireland’s favorite patron saint.

While it’s a big event in Ireland
(I’ve been there for the many day event), in America it’s mostly a green-dyed bacchanal where everyone is “Irish for a day”.
For some modern Pagans (whether Irish or not), St. Patrick’s Day isn’t a day of celebrations, as they see Patrick, famously attributed with converting Ireland to Christianity, as committing something akin to cultural genocide.
But I’m not going to get into that here.

We understand that
both “Paganism” (or ancient, pre-Christian beliefs & practices) and Christianity are major parts of the Celtic heritage and still matter today.
Neither can be removed without distorting the whole.

The popular myth may be that snakes were pagans, and that Patrick drove them out, but that doesn’t mean we are obligated to honor it (or believe it).

Instead, today – March 17th,
I like to make the day one about honoring Irish culture and Irish (/Celtic) ancestry – of which I personally have quite a bit,
instead of an insulting metaphor.

With that, here are a few Irish blessings.
Sláinte!

~ Jill ???
of Co. Cork, Co. Kerry, Co. Cavan, Co. Clare