December 4, 2024 · 2:14 pm

❅🎀Christmas is upon us. Have a loving one🎀❅

Quarter 4, October (Deireadh Fómhair), November (Samhain) agus December (Nollaig). This blog has many Hyperlinks which are tested and safe. Do click and explore these, as they compliment the blog content.

Alright, I have published a few more blogs in 2024, than I have in the past, but alas, not the monthly frequency I had vaugley hoped for in my “New Years Resolutions“. So just to compound things, here I am publishing a Quarterly blog to end what my softening brain perceived as the fastest most breathless year I have ever encountered. The year of my retirement from work has been as busy as I ever could have imagined. I’m not complaining, mind you, just gobsmacked at the pace of time as I get older. Just before you hopefully meander through these ramblings, I want to say a huge ‘Thank You’ to those of you who made this year another wonderful year in my life, Sure it had its ups and downs but for the most part, 2024 has been a super year. I have other “thank you’s” below so do read on please.

Facinating words from a facinating African-American writer, James Baldwin The longer I live, the more deeply I learn that love — whether we call it friendship or family or romance — is the work of mirroring and magnifying each other’s light. Gentle work. Steadfast work. Life-saving work in those moments when life and shame and sorrow occlude our own light from our view, but there is still a clear-eyed loving person to beam it back. In our best moments, we are that person for another. I am absolutely blessed with friends and family who constantly act as that ‘clear-eyed person’ for me. To you all I am eternally grateful and I will try very, very hard to pay it forward.

October

is our mystical transition to the beautiful Autumn/Winter season. With harvest celebrations, fruit preserving, apple tarts, Halloween celebrations and much much more. We’ve even had Northern lights in Carrigaline (and my first time seeing them). This time is a return to October Soups and fresh rolls, Kilkee goodbyes, frosty mornings, autumn colours and falling leaves, and in other parts of my world, there is October Lemonade and Horseriding. What a world. Below is a small collection of snaps for October 2024.

October arrived and, whoosh, it was over.

My October Playlist – Much as I know music, is so personal, individual and emotive, I tend to make playlists for different months of the year. A selection of my October Songs for 2024. A few of them were recalled while watching the new ‘Shrinking’ TV series which get to see if you can. It’s funny, quirky, left field and stars a sprightly 82 year old, Harrison Ford. There is hope for us all. Many others are songs that relate to October just for me. Feel free to listen and chop and change to your personal taste. 1hr.17m.

October, Deireadh Fómhair, End of Harvest

November, Samhain, Celebrating the end of the Harvesting season.

December, Nollaig,  Originating from the Latin for Christmas.

November

Jeepers, what can I say about November, apart from the fact it also went by in a blink. But, something wondeful did happen. I didn’t shave for the month, and jumped on the Movember crusade. I am so grateful to everyone for their patience and huge generousity.

Movember is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of Men’s Health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide.[1] It is a portmanteau of the Australian-English diminutive word for moustache, “mo”,[2] and “November”.[3] The Movember Foundation runs the Movember charity event, housed at Movember.com.[4] The goal of Movember is to “change the face of men’s health.”[5]

Let these words below live rent free in your brain

Fear doesn’t stop death, it stops life.

If it costs you your peace, it’s too expensive.

People only see the decisions you made, not the choices you had.

Never take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from.

“No.” is a complete sentence. You don’t have to justify yourself.

The magic you’re looking for is in the work you’re avoiding.

Ships are safe at harbour, but that’s not what they’re built for.

If you don’t sacrifice for what you want, what you want, becomes the sacrifice.

Ambition without action becomes anxiety.

“Obsessed” is what stuck people call ambitious people.

To live a life most people don’t live, you have to be willing to do what most people don’t do.

You really can do anything, but not everything. Focus

If you want to make the wrong decision, ask everyone.

Those who do not move do not notice their chains.

If you can be in a bad mood for no reason, you might as well be in a good mood for no reason.

It’s okay to live a life most don’t understand.

If someone could only see your actions and not hear your words, what would they say your priorities are?

We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.

No risk. No story

Christmas was the primary reason findmywhy.blog came into being. At its best, It’s a season of hope, reconnection, reflection, joy, smiles, laughter, reaching out, saying thanks, reminising and much much more. We all know, it is also a time of sadness, lonliness, heartbreak and a whole lot more, but the absolute beauty of Christmas is that it is all about connection. Stay connected, stay in touch, even if it is only in your heart. There are many, many Christmas publications if you care to deep dive. Have a loving one.

A hilarious funny Christmas Time Story from Paul Howard, AKA Ross O’Carroll Kelly I am very lucky to have had a few day’s with one of my best buddies in the absolutely amazing Spanish city of Malaga. Direct flights from Cork and Basel in Switzerland, so it suited our ‘meet-up’ plans. The Christmas lights of Malaga were a stroke of good fortune and timing, which we got to witness. Both me and Leon worked Pharmaceuticals / SAP projects together and we have remained the best of friends for the past two decades. Our beautiful Australian Fam were on the beach at 8am in the morning in 28deg. heat this weekend for some seasonal shots. Elaine and Rory celebrate Christmas in the scorching sun. While we brave the Christmas Day Swim but in our hearts ‘they are with us’.

Donna Ashworth (is one of my favourite modern day poets. Here are some of her beautiful words for the time that is in it.

Lastly, June 2025 is my aim to do a small bit of the Camino Santiago de Compostela. I’m planning on doing the (a difficult enough trek) St. Jean Pied de Porte to Pamplona, Camino Francés. In training ATM.

Camino de Santiago from St. Jean Pied de Port
Nice Video from ‘Days we Spend’ on the section of the Camino. St.Jean to Pamplona

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September 30, 2024 · 9:36 pm

Lúnasa agus Meán Fómhair 2024 (August/Sept)

August and September (Lúnasa agus Meán Fómhair, Meán meaning middle and Fómhair meaning harvest.) here in Ireland are a very special time for a myriad of reasons, not least, the fact it signals the harvesting season as the end of the summer season approaches, and returning to school, the return of the sporting season for all our sporting fans. It is a time of the year that is rich in mythology and foklore.

I’m going to bookend this blog with two very traditional and niche activities. Throughout summer we harvest ‘Dillisk’ here in this part of the world. Links on this post will help readers to research this incredibly interesting and healthy seaweed. Learning to harvest dillisk is probably best done on the shoreline with someone experienced but failing this I hope this small video will help.

A (sort of) David Bowie Story

Dedicated to my Dad. An extrordinary Man.

True story, a fouteen year old, mesmerised by the night sky, having witnessed a ‘perseids meteor shower’ while lying on the sea wall in Kilkee July/August 1972 and convinced we are definitely, not alone, when along came David Bowie and Starman, probably getting lots of airplay as it climbed the british charts, which blew my little mind. I spent what savings I had on a David Bowie poster, likely the first one in this collage and proudly played ‘Starman’ to death, believing the song (and David, of course) was talking directly to me. (See 1.36 of the original ‘Top of the Pops’ appearance). I now know he was, he changed my way of thinking, my way of seeing the world. I’m dedicating this little snippet to my dad, Cyril. Who calmly, disappeared the said poster in an effort to re-wall paper the boy’s bedroom. I did have long hair for a while, never the roaring red mop of David Bowie, never the ‘flash’ decal across my face but I’m still completely awestruck by this unique human being and his art. Saved from a life less ordinary by a new roll of wallpaper. Good man, Cyril.

What an Olympics. A 4.49 video produced by RTE to celebrate this extraordinary 2024 Olympics, especially for our little island, bravo to all , every participant, every olympian. The blood, sweat and tears over the decades culminating in an Olympic Dream. You will get a lump in throat, you will well up and like me shed a few tears. Go on, every participant deserves our emotional response. Sport can be so uplifting, while equally emotioanlly shattering and heartbreaking. With the incredible music of, Clair de Lune, La Vie En Rose, and Outro. Well done to all of our incredible Irish Olympians.

And one final tribute to the olympian effort that Celine Dion managed to open the 2024 Olympics with L’hymne á L’Amour (another Édith Piaf masterpiece). Celine, who is struggling with a life altering illness, Stiff Body Syndrome (SBS) made an extraordinary effort to get herself capable for a committment she made many years ago before the illness gripped her being. I am: Celine Dion. This short 2:18 video produced by Paris 2024 is … just have a watch

And to finish this August / September Blog, I did say I would bookend this blog with very traditional, niche, activities. Below is Mam’s recipe for the traditional Packet and Tripe dish we were reared on and continue to absolutely adore. I will let Wikipedia explain the origins of this delicasy, Packet (also known as ‘Drisheen’ ) and Tripe, suffice to say it is not to everyones tastes. I get my Packet and Tripe in the English Market in Cork now, but in my youth, the walk to Tracy’s, off Athlunkard Street, of a Saturday morning, was part of the fabric of my life. Later, it was Crohan’s in Killely. Only recently I got a gift of six ‘Eye bones’ from John Purcell that he got in ‘Jack Spratt’s’ Master Butchers in Janesboro, Limerick and I am reliably informed that he is still selling the ‘Packet and Tripe’

Cut tripe roughly in similar size pieces. Cover in cold, lightly salted water, bring to boil, then simmer for 20/30 minutes. If tripe, is still very firm, continue to simmer until you get a nice soft consistency (every body has differing textures tastes, so, please yourself)

Cut packet and place in pot, add boiling water, bring back to bubble and ONLY then add salt. Turn off and let sit for 10 minutes.

Chop a large yellow onion and add to a separate pot, add 3/4 Ltr. of milk, add butter and seasoning. Bring to simmer and add strained tripe and only then add salt to taste.

Thickening: Mix 1 tablespoon of corn flour / corn starch / thickening, with a tablespoon of milk in a cup and make a cornflower slurry. Add to Tripe and milk pot, and bring back to heat. Add strained Packet (Drisheen). Thicken further if required.

Fresh Batch loaf (called a Cottage loaf in Limerick) with lashings of salted butter and enjoy before any Rugby match and a second feed after coming back home full of stout and merriment.

Done

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July 18, 2024 · 11:12 am

Meitheamh agus Iúil, 2024 (June & July)

Summer 2024 has been a very mixed bag here in Ireland, suffice to say, a wet, cold, damp June has run well into July as I write this note on 15th. July. It is 14 deg, celcius here in Carrigaline this morning which is below normal ( this is below the Sydney mid-winter average). The rain is belting off the roof and it is surprisingly dull, grey and dark for 11am on a Monday morning. Luckily we managed a few weeks in Ondres, South West France, by ferry from Rosslare. Incredible part of France, warm temperatures, incredible beaches, sunsets, cycle paths, towns, food and wine. Picked up my Camino Passport in St. Jean Pied de Port, and it is hanging on the wall in front of me as a motivation for 2025. There are two passports, one for me and one for ????. If you dare to ‘YouTube‘ Camino Frances, you will enter a wormhole of content on the whole Camino movement. Enter at your peril.

Charlie’s Summer – The bugs, worms, butterflies, crabs, jellyfish, sand, the endless wonder of nature to a childs imagination, combined with a nuclear generation level of energy and appetite is truly epic, exhausting, joyous and heart filling. Donna Ashworths words put these days into perspective.

There will come a day
when you will glance
at your child
and be met by an adult.

And it will wipe the very floor
from under your feet
when you realise
in that moment
that you were only ever minding them
until they fly away.

Because back then
when you were so consumed
with the daily grind of parenting
you felt like this was forever.

Yet we know
nothing truly is forever.

Just a handful of years
you will know them as a child
and if you are blessed
many many more
you will know them as an adult.

Drink it in
if you can

drink them in.

Donna Ashworth
From Wild Hope

Small selection of images from May, Jun and July. Kilkee, Skellig Michael, Ondres, France, Fountainstown
Today’s, 18th. July 2024, heat map of Europe and Ireland remains in the relitively cooler side of the Jet Stream (17-19 degrees). As opposed to temperatures of 32 to 42 degrees across the rest of Europe. Now, I’m as much in favour of a sunny day as anyone, but I’m VERY greatful, I’m not melting and am getting relitively good night’s sleep. August will be just smashing, especially as the kids just return to school. 😦

Finally, I’m reposting a link to a previous blog, the 2020 ‘Covid’ Summer Solstice Blog as this June’s solstice passed in a drizzly, damp anti climax, and it is good to look back on a very tough time for so many of us.

https://wordpress.com/post/findmywhy.blog/912

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May 28, 2024 · 4:21 pm

Bealtaine ’24

Bealtaine (May) 2024 has all but passed. The speed of time can be VERY scary. May is the transitional month for most of us. Cold, rainy, chilly with sporadic ‘amazing’ summery days that hint of the June, July and August potential for our souls. I stress potential, as we all know, those potentially incredible ‘Summers’ are not always realised. A silent prayer is always welcome. :-). As with ALL my blogs, I have tested and checked all links and they are safe and, I think anyway, worth exploring.

For sure, this is science based blog, but I promise, is easy to understand ‘Science’ that will improve your life.

“BIG Fat Fluffy Brain” and “Why we got such a BIG BRAIN“, are just two takeaways from these 2 Podcasts. For the Month of May 2024, I’m going to offer you a glimpse of ‘Potential’. Truth be told, you will have heard ALL of this in so many ways, before reading this blog. The only thing I can offer is that the two Podcasts included in this May 2024 blog will probably make significant improvements across your life and ‘COULD’ likely extend your life significantly, but guaranteed it will make you feel better, enjoy better health, mood and provide a financial bonus with the reduced medical and pharmacological expenses.

For both of these Podcasts I am giving you both a Spotify Link and also a YouTube Link so hopefully you will have access to the Podcasts in one way or another. And, folks all I can say is they are truly worth the Listen. Daniel Lieberman’s Spotify Podcast, https://open.spotify.com/episode/4zx4McH7KfdjLke10HPDYv?si=e865f340ed474273 and Wendy Suzuki’s Spotify Podcast, https://open.spotify.com/episode/03rMVoXiRooF37nsaZRvy4?si=2366f3aa3e424d9f and YouTube follow.

Ignoring the ‘click bait’ headline, Dr. Daniel Lieberman, Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology is easy listening, I promise. Might be worth having a pen and paper for making notes.
Again, ignoring the ‘Click Bait’ headline for this YouTube video, Dr Wendy Suzuki is a Professor of Neural Science and Psychology at New York University, and helps you to get to a BIG FAT FLUFFY BRAIN.

Finally for this May 2024 Blog I want to report a startling fact, that I have just become aware of, the “Kingdom of Kerry” is stunning. Was very lucky to get a most incredible two days for a trip from Carrigaline to Portmagee in Co. Kerry to visit the ancient monastic settlement of Skellig Micheál, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 11km of the South West Coast of Ireland. What a trip, what a memory.

Skellig Micheál, Luke Skywalker and that Ring of Skellig and Kerry

This was a bucket list trip, a once in a lifetime experience that will live long in the memory. I will compile a ‘YouTube’ video of my experience and post in a later blog. I met some amazing people on this short journey, including Felix from ‘Sweden’, an avid Star Wars Super Fan, who was appropriately attired in an elaborate ‘Luke Skywalker’ costume, truly fitting for a Super Fan. And our incredible guide for our trip, Ken Casey of Casey’s Skellig Island Tours. If you get even the remotest chance of taking this trip, go for it. May the force be with you.

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May 2, 2024 · 2:45 pm

Aibreán ’24

Winter Closing Time?

“A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in” That’s all there is. It’s so amazing, it doesn’t matter if it’s your or not. It’s that lovely thing, a society grows great when old men plant trees, the shade of which they know, they will never sit. Good people do things for other people. That’s it. The END. And YOU are good, with so much to give. Go do something for someone else, now. Promise you, it will transform your life.

My lord, April (Aibreán) 2024 went by in a blink. As the days begin to stretch, and we close out the winter The return to evening walks are a welcome routine change, if only the weather would cooperate. Climate change has delivered the wettest, windiest and challenging of months and we await some spring settling. I understand the forecasters are optimistic of a move away from single digit temperatures with added windchill 🥶, to double digit temperatures very soon. (But please, don’t hold your breath)

Owenabue river walk at 2030, April Evening Joggers

Holding onto resentment, anger and hate is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Let go of your resentments. Life is too short. Buddha. Forgive, not forget, from the Therapy Room.

Aibreán (April) also brings the added opportunity of travels to the Co.Clare town of Kilkee on the Wild Atlantic Way. Even with an icy chill to the breeze, a dip into the sea in Moore Bay, Kilkee will re-set your brain fog after a challenging winter. Gratitude, Fresh Air, Breathing and Mindfulness. (April ’24, Snaps)

FINALLY, we all sense that the use of mobile phones (while driving) has reached epidemic proportions. We now have a population of drivers, who have grown up with a mobile phone, near permanently, in their hands. It is part of the fabric of their lives. In every aspect of their lives, and that is extending to DRIVING. Not using Bluetooth while driving or texting while driving beggars belief. PUT THE PHONE DOWN while driving. The embedded video (hyperlinked) happened very close to Carrigaline a few weeks back, with catastrophic consequences. Drive safe and have a great summer.

All links / hyperlinks have been checked and validated.

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March 14, 2024 · 4:11 pm

Márta ’24

Márta (March) 24, a blog of few words and a selection of pictures and videos. A celebration of the cycle of life, the cycle of our year. March, see’s a pod of Harbour Seals take up residence in the Owenabue Estuary. This is a first for me, but it is a river teeming with wildlife, otters, kingfishers and cormorants, to mention just a few species I see regularly on my daily walks with my companion, Robin Redbreast. March also brings a significant change as, #58 O’Dwyer’s Villas, Thomondgate has new family ownership, a lifetime ahead of it, while our memories of love, blessings, mayhem and sometimes madness in a family home will live long in the stories of the clan, that called it ‘Home’. Trying hard lately to recreate my childhood recipes. Hence, the pictures of Packet and Tripe above. The recipe for the most amazing packet and tripe is available to anyone, just drop me a comment below and I’ll send you both the ‘Benson’ recipe (there are as many variations in the cooking, as there are families in Limerick) and a YouTube video tutorial for this pre or post-Rugby match favourite. The daffodils are nearing the end of their spectacular display of sunshine for February and March. The Spring Equinox, March 20th. will see the Sun headed higher in the Northern Hemisphere and to hopefully warmer, brighter and comforting months of the year. Another feature of my daily walking mediation is a lovely seat at Drake’s Pool on the Owenabue River, dedicated to my friend Kevin who passed away, too early, on 24-Feb-2005. His life touched so many people and those he touched dedicated this special spot to Kevin, a truly well deserved tribute. The years move scarily fast, twenty years, next February. I stop here and occasionally ask a favour, when I have a weight on my mind or just to say, Hi Kev, and let him know all is well. It is just so perfect that both our grandsons are buddies in Play School (Kevin and Charlie)

Kevin and Charlie on way to Playschool together

We spring forward on the 31st. March to the stretching days, early morning sunrises and late evening sunsets. The journeys to the Wild Atlantic coastline, to friends, familiar faces, to Fitzy’s, cold sea swims and the warmth of a special community. Folks, summer is on it’s way, Here Comes The Sun 🙂

‘Here Comes the Sun’, George Harrison celebrating the arrival of Spring. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_Comes_the_Sun

Finally, I’ll close out this blog with a really cool Video I came across this week. Us humans are capable of such incredible creativity, movement and sheer magic. Enjoy. I’ll reach out again at the end of Q2 with April (Aibreán), May (Bealtaine) and June’s (Meitheamh) blogs. Feel free to follow this blog if you want to get notified of new publications earlier. And comments are always welcome.

Move, whenever you possible can. Exercise is life. Every, and I mean every, move counts. See PDF below.
Every Move Counts.pdf
Every Move Counts.pdf

Ireland is not very conducive to getting out in the fresh air and moving, but your life, health and overall wellbeing, critically depends on it. just do it.

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February 8, 2024 · 12:56 pm

Feabhra 2024.

‘Survivor Self’ to ‘Wise Adult’

If you can set aside some time this February for YOU. The following blog is really just two very important podcasts from Niall Breslin and his incredible contributors. (Remember, as I have said in the past, I have checked and tested all ‘Hyperlinks‘ in my blogs). Take your time with this blog, pause and reflect, make a journal, and talk to someone if needed. As the image above deeply hopes that some readers and listeners may get some significant meaning and relevance in the words of Niall, Louize, Tony and Britt. (and my sincere apologies for updating this ‘live’ blog)

Guy Sebastian – Standing With You

Folks, I love the whole field of therapy. This may come as a surprise to some. Many will say, I should get a lot more therapy. In reality we should all try to understand our psychological make-up, to put meaning and understanding on our behaviours and in our lives. It goes back to ‘FindMyWhy’, where my quest for understanding, meaning and peace began, decades ago. Of course, this is always a personal choice. Now that I have arrived at a ‘significant’ milestone age, and 2024 is the year to ‘Do More’, I’m doing all I can to move to a better, comfortable, and wiser place. I actively seek out the people who can explain this to me in the simplest of language and stories. In this months blog, I again introduce you to the amazing ‘Bressie’ (aka Niall Breslin) and his incredible community of contributors on his journey, through his various Podcasts, articles and live shows.

The Therapy Room

This Picture links you to an amazing Podcast called the ‘Therapy Room’ and this episode is called ‘The Survivor Self’. The amazing, plain talking, Niall Breslin is joined by the equally amazing, and plain talking, Louize Carroll and Dr.Tony Bates (Also Link Here)

Stuck as fuck – The Science of Stuck

This Picture links you to another amazing Podcast called the ‘Where is my mind‘ and this episode is called ‘The Science of Stuck’. The amazing, Niall is joined by the equally amazing, and straight talking and insightful, Neuropsychotherapist, Britt Frank (Also Link Here)

Sometimes, stop and smell the flowers. I’m very fortunate to have an incredibly beautiful river walk close to my home. I walk it nearly every day. It grounds me, it gives me peace, it immerses me in nature. It is my mindful walk where I escape the noisy mind for an hour every day. Mind you, it can be cold, wet, rainy, windy, warm, but I luckily see the different seasons come and go. Walking in nature has such huge benefits. Here is one article, ‘Why 30 Minutes of Nature a Day Is So Good for Your Health‘ from Andreas R Edwards, it is just an 8 minute read. Just now, February 2024, the cherry blossom is starting to bloom. The perfume of this simple and gentle flower is incredible.

The first blossoms are appearing. Natures perfumes are quiet amazing. Stop, smell and ground yourself.
Niall Breslin on Spotify

https://www.patreon.com/niallbreslin/posts – This is Niall’s Patreon Page where you can support and find lots more content.

See you in March folks, and PLEASE A. Leave comments at any time or B. Let me know if these blogs are not for you and I’ll make sure you are never circulated again. Garry

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January 23, 2024 · 2:33 pm

Eanáir 24

It’s 2024, do a bit more. Well, here goes, with my attempt to blog a wee bit more this year. This time of year in Ireland is a very mixed bag of weather. From very frosty and cold, which I adore, to severe stormy weather. The cold, I love but storms literally, put the wind up me.

January 2024 (or Eanáir, as gailge) is a first, as we mark Mam’s first anniversary. So it was a chilly, frosty drive to Limerick from Cork, on a Sunday morning 7th. January. I’ve driven this road a thousand times and always admired the views of the Galtee mountains between Mitchelstown and Ballylanders, but never stopped to take a photograph. I just had to stop this morning. It was stunning.

Onwards to Limerick, for a typical Benson family gathering of smiles, laughter, noisy, beyond belief, warmth and love. (see gallery). But first we had the mass in a freezing St.Munchin’s Church. January 7th. is ‘The Epiphany‘, also known as ‘Little Christmas’, and ‘The Baptism of the Lord’. Our lovely priest, Fr.Pat Seaver, gave us a beautiful sermon on the history of early christian practice of converting to catholicism. It is a significant journey for any individual to undertake especially in early Christian times. The multi-year journey of study, examination and ceremony was reformed during the papacy of Pope Pius XII, 1939-58. Fr.Pat Seaver, then went on to engage the whole congretation in a renewal of our ‘Baptismal Vows’. The mass was a long one, much to the ‘WTF’1 expressions on the faces of my young ‘frozen’ nephews and nieces.

In truth I was chuckling away to myself and thinking how much fun ‘Mam’ was having with this very extended 1st. anniversary mass. Mam’s famous words over the recent years as mass attendance has dwindled, is that we had all become (jokingly) a bunch of ‘Heathens’, so for us to be stuck in a freezing church, with a very long sermon and repeating our Baptismal vows (and not a lot of us ‘strong’ believers) must have been hilarious to Helen. Thanks a mill, Mam. Thereafter, we had a quick bite to eat before we all went our ways.

Finally as I sit here awaiting the arrival of Storm Jocelyn just 24 hours after the country was bruised and battered by Storm Isha, I hope you are all safe and sound. My ‘New Years’ resolutions are about to begin (most of you, who know me, are aware I never start my ‘New Years’ resolutions until 25th. January. So, in a couple of day’s I plan to fall off the horse (fail) gracefully, as I do every year. There is a difference this year as I offically retire from the working life on the 25th. January. More about that in Feabhra 24, Márta 24, Aibreán 24, etc.

Finally, finally, ‘Feabhra’ brings the best competition in the world. The Guiness Six Nations Championship. If you have 30 minutes to spare, there is a good YouTube Podcast embedded in Peter’s picture that will get you fully up to speed, on what, for me is simply the best annual sports TV event, bar none. Here comes couch potato time. But a pint of Beamish first…. see banner below, It is very fine print.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjFWmqQq33Y
  1. ‘WTF’ Link ↩︎

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December 31, 2023 · 3:21 pm

A sincere “Happy New Year” to you.

My daughter gave me a beautiful framed ‘Robin’ for Christmas. (See my previous post).

Things That Bring me Joy. ‘Happy New Year’

Blessings to you for the New Year ahead. Harry Baker’s poem attached sums up 2023 for me, especially the last line. So, I wish you and all your families many Joy’s in 2024. Now, it’s time to write your own poem. X

So, 2024, opens a door,

to health, peace and light.

Choose the strength to make that step,

Go forth with a newfound might.

Push that door, for 2024.

Fill your life with so much more.

And finally this beautiful piece of Music from the Scottish folk group Capercaillie. It is a haunting piece of music performed so magnificantially by Capercaillie with the backing of the Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Spellbinding. (Inspired by the poet Sorley MacLean). One of the most powerful lines in this song, “Well, it’s nature’s way of saying, Our backs are up against the wall”

Let’s go up the hillside
To the highest ridge of Storr
Where the lapwing sings a eulogy
At the wonder of it all
As the evening shadows plunder
The cloak around the world
We remember all the mornings
At the heart of it all
 
At the heart of it all
Is a calling to this land
In the words of our salvation
Is a song for the common man
At the heart of it all
Is a story to be told
For the sake of our salvation
And the troubles we behold
 
You can see the river rising
Its banks will creak and slide
There’s a silence in the evergreens
And a surging of the tide
Well, it’s nature’s way of saying
Our backs are up against the wall
By the hush of the world
In the lull before the storm
 
At the heart of it all
Is a calling to this land
In the words of our salvation
Is a song for the common man
At the heart of it all
Is a story to be told
For the sake of our salvation
And the troubles we behold
 
The poems and the musings
Of Sorley MacLean
They tumble and cascade across
The page of every man
They will rise and spring to life again
In a song for the good of all
Where the people and their land are at
The heart of it all
 
At the heart of it all
Is a calling to this land
In the words of our salvation
Is a song for the common man
At the heart of it all
Is a story to be told
For the sake of our salvation
And the troubles we behold

Read about Sorley MacLean. His poetry readings were described as deeply moving even by listeners who did not speak Gaelic;[8]: 17  according to Seamus Heaney, “MacLean’s voice had a certain bardic weirdness that sounded both stricken and enraptured”.

It is 2024, Go Ahead and Open that Door. Happy New Year, Garry B.

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December 21, 2023 · 3:04 pm

Winter Solstice 2023

(Merry Christmas ⛄ everyone 🎅🏻)

Fri, Dec 22, 2023, 3:27 AM, While the Northern Hemisphere observes its Winter Solstice on December 21/22, the Southern Hemisphere, where my brave eldest daughter Elaine and Grandson, Rory live, is in the midst of its Summer Solstice, marking the longest day and the beginning of summer. Winter continues here in Ireland, until the vernal equinox in March in the Northern Hemisphere.

Those of you who are regulars to my blog will know that the Winter Solstice has always been very important to me, as it strikes deep within me, to mark this time of the year. Probably, part of our pagan and celtic DNA coursing our veins, though, it also marks the beginning of our winter and the cold, sleepy hibernation time of renewal. It does also represent the climb away from the shortest days here in the Northern hemisphere to the explosion of life in spring.

My Typical solstice blog from 2016: https://findmywhy.blog/2016/12/21/shortest-day-of-the-year/

Just as it was for our ancestors, the winter solstice is a time for rituals and reflections. The Winter Solstice is an astronomical phenomenon marking the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It occurs when one of the earth’s poles has its maximum slant away from the sun and it happens twice in each hemisphere at the peak of winter and summer. The solstices, the seasons and the changing length of daylight hours throughout the year are all due to one fact: the earth spins on a tilted axis.

When the sun is 23.5° south in latitude and directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, which occurs on and around December 21st, the Winter Solstice takes place. At its farthest southerly point, having moved slowly since last June, the sun “stops” for approximately three days before it starts to slowly creep back north again. During this time, there is a peak moment of the Solstice. In 2023, this will actually occur at 3.27am on Fri December 22nd.

In our Celtic landscapes, the Winter Solstice is an ancient seasonal rite of passage that is ageless. We do know not when our ancestors first stood together and paused in harmony at midwinter. Our sacred sites such as the world famous Newgrange Cairn, aligned to the morning’s rising sun, tell us that Winter Solstice was important enough over 5,000 years ago to build a temple to this poignant solar event.

In Irish, the Winter Solstice is “An Grianstad”, literally translating as “the sun stop”. This accuracy in describing the sun’s intercourse with the earth helps us to momentarily stop also and integrate our fast moving modern lives with the plateau of maximum darkness and minimum light. These days of Winter Solstice time are precious, the pinnacle of a darkening that calls us to rest, be still, recover and dream. The minutes of sunlight in our days will eventually begin to increase towards that other great day of the season, Christmas Day.

The experience of darkness is such a different condition to light and is often sadly stigmatised. We are so accustomed to beginning things when the light is turned on, when the sun rises and when we open our eyes and adjust. Yet nature says the beginnings are in the dark. Life first is dreamed and vibrates in the absence of light. The seeds sown in autumn germinate underground through winter before appearing as shoots in spring. Each one of us reading this lived our first nine months or thereabouts in our mother’s dark womb.

Our ancestors intuitively understood this phenomenon, acknowledging the new day at dusk and the New Year at Samhain (Hallow’een). They regarded the time between Samhain and the climax of the seasonal darkness of Winter Solstice as the treasured dreamtime of new life. Nature invites us to stir ourselves as courageous and passionate dreamers and to be in synchronicity with the great natural hibernation about us. Our invitation is to birth new prayers, new wishes, new intentions and new manifestations for ourselves and for our world.

In many traditions, Winter Solstice, also known as Midwinter and/or the Festival of Yule, is a time for rituals and celebrations. In a sense, this was a turning point in the battle of dark versus light in the world. On the island of Ireland, our ancestors who constructed Newgrange did not see Winter Solstice as an adversarial event, but a turning point in which reverence of the vital energies of darkness and lightness are understood, honoured and celebrated. When we embrace this perspective in our personal lives, we can claim reward and peace in our lives too.

Many still gather at Newgrange on Winter Solstice morning. While the chosen few who have won the lottery will be inside at sunrise, hundreds more will sing and dance or simply stand in awe. If skies are clear, the golden orb of the Sun peaks above Red Hill. If lucky, those in the Cairn may witness the sunlight snaking its way through the lightbox up the ancient path to penetrate the centre of this stunning architectural monument to a magnificent feat of nature. That this still occurs 5,000 years after Newgrange was built is itself a enthralling phenomenon.

In a sense, Winter Solstice was a turning point in the battle of dark versus light in the world. This evening dusk will have an added auspiciousness. As the shortest day of the year, we will only have nine hours and 15 minutes of daylight and so today will be spent mostly in darkness. This year, the Solstice arrives one day before the Full Moon, so Seanmhathair Gealach, Grandmother Moon as our foremothers and fathers called her, will be waxing gibbous lighting the dark sky. Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, stop like the sun and celebrate the hope in your heart as we now know the summer is on its way.

Dr. KarenWard, DCU

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