Living the Irish Wheel of the Year: A Guide for Practicing Pagans by Donald Quill
Many thanks to Forgotten Rites Publishing and NetGalley for
sharing an advanced copy of Donald Quill’s thoughtful book Living the Irish Wheel of the Year: A Guide for Practicing Pagans. I’m not a practicing pagan, but
I found the title eye-catching. I am of Irish ancestry, and I loved reading
about Irish mythology, history, and culture, so I was intrigued by this book
since it sounded like it took a look at a sometimes overlooked aspect of Irish
culture- the pre-Christian traditions of the land that shaped a lot of the
mythology and beliefs, and in some ways helped to for a syncretic version of Catholicism
that still persists today. Quill’s has written a detailed and considerate guide
and reference that navigates readers and those curious to reconnect with their
surroundings. Quill refers to the Wheel of the Year as a “rhythm that pulses
through the land, the aur, and the blood of those who remember.” As I was
reading this guide, I could better understand that to engage with this wheel of
the year is to think about time differently, not quite linearly, but rather as
more cyclical, or as Quill says, like a “sacred spiral.” While reading this
guide, I was thinking a lot about Chelsey Luger and Thosh Collins’ book The Seven Circles: Indigenous Teaching for Living Well. Both books re-examine
traditional and indigenous ways as a means of reconnecting with the land and as
a result bringing greater peace and understanding to ourselves. After reading
this book and considering Quill’s notions about time, I was reminded of Jenny Odell’s
Saving Time, in which she considers the different ways that people have
considered time outside of capitalist systems that ask us to work for our time.
For Quill, Luger and Collins, and Odell, time can move in different ways than
linearly. In many cultures, activities, chores, tasks, and even our menus are
determined by seasonal changes. And much like Luger and Collins’ book, Quill’s
guide also offers important reminders of offering thanks and gratitude to those
responsible for the change of the seasons, the bountiful harvests, the warmth
of the hearth and many other necessities of everyday life that we often take
for granted. It was this call for a kind of pause to think and thank for all
that we have that I really appreciated from Quill’s guide. Although I haven’t
implemented these practices, I could see how taking the time to stop, reflect,
and realize how much we have and how we are connected to nature and our environment
can lead to deeper feelings of gratitude and empathy for all.
While Quill’s book presents a practical guide for engaging
in traditional Irish practices, it also serves as a kind of reference book for
both the mythical gods and goddesses and the festivals for these gods and
goddesses that mark important seasonal transitions in the Irish Wheel of the
Year. This was my favorite part of the book. Quill’s research and organization
of these prominent mythical figures and their holidays reveals much about the
traditional Irish practices and beliefs but also sheds some light in more
modern traditions and holidays that have been adapted and incorporated by other
cultures and belief systems. Quill not only provides background details about
these figures and holidays but also presents ways to honor them and hold their
festivals. I also loved that Quill recognizes that for many of us, especially
those of us in America or who live in large cities, reconnecting with these
traditional ways might present some challenges, whether it is accessing green
space or even procuring the plants, herbs, and other natural elements that can
be essential to honoring these traditional Irish ways. As a result, he not only
shares the traditional methods but also makes suggestions about how American
and city-dwelling individuals can adapt their practice to engage with these
traditions and connect with the Irish Wheel of the Year. This was a fascinating
book that provides many different practical applications to reconnect to the
environment and develop a deeper appreciation for the world and others. Quill
takes a considerate approach, acknowledging that for those who are new to
traditional Irish practices, they may not want or be able to implement all of
the practices at once. Furthermore, he also shares strategies and substitutions
that will allow practitioners to use alternative methods and materials to
practice this thoughtful and contemplative way of life. If anything, it seems
like adopting the Irish Wheel of the Year allows readers to experience a
greater sense of awe and appreciation for the world, especially in being grateful
for all that we have. Even though I have not adopted the specific practices
recommended in this book, I can see how taking the time, even if it is a few
minutes each day, to reflect and be thankful can change someone’s outlook on
the world, especially now when it seems like there is always bad news lurking behind
each headline or screen that we view. Living the Irish Wheel of the Year
will enable readers to reconnect with their environment, feel more gratitude,
and experience time in a different manner. Highly recommended!
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