tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836664455022539794.post5957025027687998267..comments2022-03-26T17:12:42.162-07:00Comments on Three Shouts on a Hilltop: A "Warriors path" and not being on one...Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836664455022539794.post-87568745461067582562011-10-12T19:20:22.314-07:002011-10-12T19:20:22.314-07:00Well, since I was directed this way I will put my ...Well, since I was directed this way I will put my two cents worth in -<br /><br />1) Nicely written article whether regardless of whether I agree with everything in it so kudos to you. <br /><br />2) I don't believe all those on the warrior path have to work in "warring" occupations to still be (at least) on the path though those who identify as such tend to have a proclivity toward them by nature. <br /><br />3) I believe "being on the warrior path" is not necessarily "being a warrior." This is something I'm still debating with and something Saigh & I have discussed before. If one spends their life in preparation for physical confrontation in defense of self AND others, then I believe they are (at the very least) on the warrior path.<br /><br />There is always gray area. For example -<br /><br />There are troops that have never seen war. My father spent 24 years in and my hubby's father spent 20 - neither seeing a day of action. My grandfather only served his required time of 4 years and stormed the beach at Normandy. There are also those who have seen plenty of "war" in their life and never worked any paying job that could be deemed "warring." <br /><br />Being on the warrior path does not have to mean one is a "warrior." Figuring out what dictates the actual title (one event, an occupation with experience "warring", a lifetime of preparation or something else) is something I don't know if I'll completely reconcile. Perhaps that is part of the path, itself? :)Blackbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09709082018527390156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836664455022539794.post-44181173454977537522011-05-01T23:58:43.097-07:002011-05-01T23:58:43.097-07:00Hi, I wandered back to let you know I did update t...Hi, I wandered back to let you know I did update the Warrior's Path bit on our website to version 4. ~;) I realized that half of the blog post I was doing was a rewrite of it and not anything particularly new, so I really just cleared up bits that I felt were not as clear as I'd like. I will probably fix it up to a version 5 at some point, when I go through to try to clean up the whole website.Saighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08330045789400336110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836664455022539794.post-35151940235324496492011-03-29T22:42:06.735-07:002011-03-29T22:42:06.735-07:00That essay does need updating, but mostly because ...That essay does need updating, but mostly because of conversations like this as well as work on a project I'm doing which make me aware of things I'd like to address differently now. But the over all view has not changed, I just think I could do better at conveying it. I don't seem to update the site much since I started blogging, though.<br /><br />I totally agree that training is essential, and I do train even if I may never see combat in any way. I also hang out with some people, on occasion, who are totally convinced we will, as I am a prepper and, well, those who use the term survivalist more than I'm comfortable with are an interesting bunch. My blog Championing Ourselves occasionally includes reports of our training. I'm very public about the physical stuff in there as one of the purposes of that blog is to get more women training in various ways. But it also includes discussion of pop culture inspirations and, increasingly, Gaelic inspirations. <br /><br />There is a spirituality aspect as well and it's due to that that I started on this path. The Goddess I serve does expect this of me. But I never got the "spiritual warrior" thing that is so popular, the "it's all the inner work/fighting inner demons" thing. If you're not training physically as well as spiritually, then you're not on the warrior path, to me it's that simple. The path, really, is the training. The spiritual part may or may not be a factor for not all warriors are religious, but as a Polytheist serving a War Goddess for me it is. But it's not the only part.<br /><br />And it's not a part I'm yet good about discussing, but I'm working on that. She seems to expect that too.Saighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08330045789400336110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836664455022539794.post-12252129308960882012011-03-29T10:18:15.202-07:002011-03-29T10:18:15.202-07:00Actually, I just poked around your site, and had a...Actually, I just poked around your site, and had a gander at some of your essays, particularly "Warriors path v. 3.1", and your definition of warrior and warrior path do make a great deal of sense; especially the "no peaceful warrior" bits.<br /><br />I feel I may simply be too hung up on the functional aspect, as opposed to elements of character/spirit.<br /><br />I realize the essay was published some time ago, does it still reflect your views or have they changed to a great degree?Sionnach Gormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03090586993140769946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836664455022539794.post-63110643553343337022011-03-29T09:53:46.298-07:002011-03-29T09:53:46.298-07:00Well I appreciate the feedback.
I suppose the bes...Well I appreciate the feedback.<br /><br />I suppose the best answer I have as to why I included the proviso about "not telling anyone what to call themselves" v. why I cared enough to write about it, is that I'll start with a topic, and just write where my thoughts lead me. Has a lot more to do with the implications such definitions have for me as opposed to other individuals.<br /><br />I suppose if you wanted to boil down my view, it is that one ought to be "warring" (or in lieu of actual combat, training for it) if they want to be on a "warrior path"?<br /><br />Or do you consider something else as being central to the path you are on? Do you think it has more to do with attitude or character than with function?<br /><br />I'll keep an eye out for your post.<br /><br />Gorm.Sionnach Gormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03090586993140769946noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7836664455022539794.post-88304972741254394432011-03-29T05:46:00.771-07:002011-03-29T05:46:00.771-07:00It seems that while my comment was not longer than...It seems that while my comment was not longer than 4,096 characters, in fact, almost 1,000 short, Blogger insists that it is. I hate to break it up so...<br /><br />The thing is, we do not live in the same society, so I feel that the only professional LEO/military/whatever=warriors doesn't really work. the original láech that likely meant specifically any adult male (in other words, landowning and married) of the proper class, who would be expected to act as a warrior when need be. But obviously had other duties to home, king and family as well. (Proinsias MacCana "On the word láech ‘warrior’." in Celtica 11 and Richard Sharpe "Hiberno-Latin laicus, Irish láech and the devil's men" in Ériu 30) It's probably not surprising that the only folk I know of who use the term "laoch" are the ones who want to form their own túath society. <br /><br />This is probably why so many of us who identify as on the warrior path today identify as "fénnid" or, in my case, "banfénnid." We're sort of as far outside from early Irish society as we can get now, anyway. ~;)<br /><br />So, there was more, but I may be running out of room again. I'm not going to tell anyone how to define themselves. I don't get why you care enough, if you say you don't feel you can tell anyone how to define themselves, to make this post.<br /><br />But I do find it interesting, I was hoping to find other Gaelic Polytheistic warrior path blogs but this is what I found. I really do not think that this is as common a path as some think, it seems only those not on it feel that it is. <br /><br />I think I'll see about doing a post on the subject soon, come on by if you want what I couldn't post here. ~;)Saighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08330045789400336110noreply@blogger.com