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Sharing a little about my spiritual practices and perspective; growing up with a polytheistic faith, and worshipping my Gods as a warrior Old Gods, Modern Warriorship There are many rays of light leading to the fire from which all things emanate, and every soul is unique. Spirituality is a quest and we each experience it differently – how could we not? So, I’d like to take a moment to let you all get to know me a little better, and my own spiritual practice. Like many people of faith, when life gets difficult and uncertain, I turn to my Gods. The word faith likely originates with the proto-Indo-European root word bheidh- , meaning to trust  (1).  To me, this is the relationship I have with those I pray to, trust – perhaps you can relate. In my religion, we have many different Gods, and believe they (along with all other things in existence) are born from a singular divine truth, an ‘All God’ who encompasses all things, ever present and so ever concealed. We believe the Gods are our spiritual ancestors, that the only difference between the soul of a person and the soul of a God is one of power and wisdom.  In this way, we are the children of the Gods, and the human soul is akin to a child-God; each one of us unique, each one of us singular in the universe and yet part of a greater whole. We spend our lives learning, growing, and experiencing, ever reaching closer to our divine origins. That is, we spend our lives becoming who we truly are, seeking the truth of the self throughout many incarnations. We spend our lives becoming who we truly are... As a child my relationship with the Gods was simple and intimate. Polytheism was a normal feature of my household, practiced openly in the home and held tightly to the heart when in public. This was a necessity of where I grew up, done so that we might protect ourselves from a community whose members sometimes had trouble understanding the existence of alternate spiritual practices. This was normal to me; I knew nothing else, nor truly understood the danger of being discovered. So, I never begrudged keeping my faith private. I lived in a secret world apart, filled with Gods, spirits, magic and wonder. What more could a kid ask for? From my earliest ages, I was raised to see the Gods as part of the family. They were my spiritual parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts. My siblings and I were encouraged to speak to them freely. I never imagined it was a one-way conversation, the Gods were always present in the lives of the people. It was simply up to me to learn to listen better so I could hear what they were saying. And I did. Through the eyes of a child, I discovered that the language of the Gods is not always verbal – it’s bigger than that, and not limited the way our methods of communication are. Their words are whispered on the winds of inspiration, reflected in water, glimpsed in omens which pass by us. The Gods speak from above and below, within and without; they can be heard in the sun bathing our faces, the billowing wind at our back, and the gentle light of the moon that leads us through the dark places. Growing up I spoke to the Gods constantly, in the quiet of the night, and the bustle of the day. I shared my joys with them and turned to them to console my sorrows. Their gifts are many, but most notably have come in the forms of unconditional love and simple, endlessly deep glimpses of wisdom. In truth, I don’t think there is anything that can be held in the hand which will ever console the soul as much as the realizations of true wisdom can. As I grew older, I came to learn of the many other Gods in my traditions, and their many names and myths. While I grew up in the new world, my family comes from the U.K. More specifically, from Scotland, and the regions of Galloway and the Borders. These regions are a unique place, forming the center of the Isles. Galloway, for example, historically hosted many languages inclusive of Gaelic, Welsh, Norman-French and others. Photo by Chris Rhoads  on Unsplash The old ways are far from extinct, continuing in their own varied ways throughout quiet villages and rural communities, passed down as organic living traditions. Living traditions are most often replete with intangible culture and oral traditions and can differ from region to region. My religion is an ethnic faith which was passed down by my ancestors, preserved by my predecessors, and continues to be further revived in this new age of information. All the names, history, myths and knowledge can add to one’s practice, but for me, the simple and intimate relationship I developed with my Gods as a child still underpins my faith to this day. They are my family. They are the elders of my people, who I share my joys with, and who console my sorrows with their love and wisdom. My faith is not blind, my Gods have earned my trust, and so I know I could walk into the darkest parts of the unknown secure in their hands. In my religion, even the gentlest domestic deity is also a warrior, bearing a golden torc about their neck. When I took my oath of enlistment into the Marines, I stood in a room with my future brothers and sisters and we all swore an oath which ended with those famed words, ‘ so help me God.’  To me, this was ‘ so help me Gods’ . Like many service members, when I made my oath before the great Divine to which all spiritualities ascend, I did so in the terms I knew, before the deities I knew – and who know me so well. This is an oath which is as binding as it is lifelong.  After bootcamp, I went home on leave and was initiated into the warrior mysteries of my tradition, swearing yet another life-long warriors’ oath. When I left the Marines, I did so with a spiritual calling. I carried yet another oath from an initiation into the spiritual mysteries of my traditions and stepped onto the long journey of becoming a priest of my Gods. So, what happens when a warrior decides to become a priest? Well, the same thing that happens when they become a parent, a partner, or take on a new career. They become both. Warriorship is an initiation that reaches into the most inward parts of the spirit, it’s not a bridge one can uncross. And why would we want to? So, I am still a warrior, and pursue my spiritual vocation as a warrior. While the Gods will always be family, the oaths I have taken and the initiations I have undergone have changed my relationship with my Gods in many profound ways. When a person becomes a warrior, it seems to me, the Gods expect them to be a warrior. The standards change. When I underwent my initiation to begin the path of a priest of my Gods, it was made clear to me that my relationship with them had evolved yet again – I would be put to work! I try to the very best of my ability to live up to the oaths I have sworn to my Gods. I’ll continuously strive to earn the same level of trust as I have for them, just as I will serve both them and my people. Why? Because warriors are faithful. We keep our oaths, we stay true to truth, and we keep faith even in the longest nights. References 1.      “Faith | Search Online Etymology Dictionary,” n.d. https://www.etymonline.com/search?q=faith .

Lessons from the ancient Celts on Warrior Spirituality, and the power of authenticity. You’ve likely heard the dramatic and near romanticized stories of ancient Celts, painted in swirling blue woad, charging the Roman legions as nude as the day they were born. In truth, this was neither constant nor all celts, however the phenomenon did occur and was considered a testimony to the courage of Celtic warriors. As Diodorus Siculus, a Greek historian (1st century, BCE) writes, "Some of them have iron chain-mail, but others are satisfied with the armour which Nature has given them and go into battle naked.” (1) One of the most famed warrior bands amongst the Celts to fight naked were the indominable Gaesatae, who not only displayed their courage by fighting “in the armour which Nature has given them”, but by stalwartly refusing to retreat. In fact, it’s said that were a Gaesatae to attempt to flee the fray, their junior members would be there waiting with spears to kill them for their betrayal and cowardice. Photo by Flash Dantz on Unsplash Consider the daring commitment it took to step onto the battlefield in such a way, completely exposed, vulnerable, your entire being firmly rooted to the tip of your spear. It might bring to mind the ‘skyclad’ rites which some religions adhere to in Britain and much of Europe today, in which one strips themselves of all worldly possessions and stands before their God/s as honest and exposed as they came into this world – expressing not the affectations of society or worldly life, but the honest and naked soul - the body an instrument for one's own inner purpose. This is a practice which is not only born of Gardnerian Wicca and their more recent religious descendants, as some might suppose, but has been historically employed in certain other living traditions across the continent. Such practices are so ancient in fact, that we simply cannot put a date on their origin. And from these two practices, we can extract a deep and profoundly applicable principle of warrior spirituality. Now, I don’t mean to say that you should strip off your clothes and take to the streets to prove your courage. Depending on where you live that would probably result in hyperthermia or arrest, maybe even both. No, no – like many things in spirituality, the lesson is transmitted in the symbolism. Namely, the courage to be vulnerable. What is vulnerability, after all, but exposure? It’s neither a small nor easy thing to lay the inner soul bare, embracing and expressing our truest and most sincere self. Our clothes in many ways, symbolize the way we want to be seen, and the way the world sees us. How we dress for work, for comfort, for romance, and for a Saturday night out on the town all offer up an image of perception. Many spend hours laboriously cultivating the perfect outfit to highlight their best physical features, and to express their personality. So too do clothes resemble social status; their make, cut and materials denoting some subjectively perceived sense of wealth and class. Yet we are much more than the clothes we wear, the job we do, or the neighborhood we live in. That’s not to say there is anything wrong with taking pride in one’s appearance, and indeed there is a great deal of merit in cultivating an outfit which expresses ourselves. Yet it’s equally far too easy to forget who we are beneath the affectations and perceptions we carry with us from place to place. It gives us somewhere to shelter, hiding from the incredibly natural insecurities that every human being faces. From the outer appearance to the inner personality, we all too easily offer up the power of acceptance up to others. Ironically, it’s often ourselves who are our own staunchest and most judgmental critics. But how much can one do in the world when we hide ourselves away? How much of life do we miss when we only express a portion of who we really are? Are we truly the resolute champions of our own meaning, which every warrior aspires to, if we continuously sabotage and denounce our own sincere truth? This is what makes the courage to accept, and then to express, our sincere inner truth such an essential part of warrior spirituality – because there is strength in vulnerability, and there is courage in baring the soul into the light, so all may see the strength of her illumination. Warriors such as those found amongst the Gaesatae remind us of the power of sincerity – to accept all that we are, to resolutely live at the tip of our own spear and cast our truest and most sincere self upon the world. Whichever God/s you pray to, and whatever name you use in that sacred and destined meeting at the end of this life, they will surely know you for your soul – just as you know yourself by what is inside, and not by what is perceived from without. References “Diodorus Siculus, Library of History | Exploring Celtic Civilizations,” n.d. https://exploringcelticciv.web.unc.edu/diodorus-siculus-library-of-history/ .

Look through the eyes of one of the ancient forms of learning to discover and define your own warrior code. What makes a Warrior? Warriorship has been defined countless ways across innumerable cultures. Its stories and examples stretch from mythology through history to the modern age. The truth is warriorship is timeless. Conflict is a part of the world. People form loyalties and allegiances, and human beings are naturally predisposed to sacrifice for those they love. What then is the truth of warriorship? Is there a definition for this defiantly powerful expression of the human spirit? I'm not certain that just one will ever suffice, for the necessities that bid a warrior to act are only constant in that in some form or another, they will always be there. And just as conflict and obstacles should rise against us, from within us, and weigh upon those we care for, the world will always need warriors who espouse an ethos befitting the name. None of us need to be told that love requires sacrifice, that strength requires courage, or that success requires conviction. What we could all benefit from however, especially warriors, is a reminder that this venerable path - even as it teaches us how to embrace conflict - is ultimately a pursuit of a worthy and just peace both within ourselves, and for our loved ones. This is the value of the warrior ethos; in whatever form it is transmitted. It is our ethos, internalized and bound to our intrinsic values, which allows us to maintain our principles even in the milieu and everyday grind of whatever struggles we may face. Photo by Andreas Brunn on Unsplash The Warrior Ethos as a Bardic Triad One ancient form of learning, once popular amongst Celtic peoples (and more specifically, the Bards) is the Bardic triad. A Bardic triad takes a concept and breaks it down into three essential principles. The virtue of a principal is that if the principle is sound, it remains true even when the circumstances around it change. Like many cultures, the Celts see three as a sacred number. Here is an example of a triad, which I believe encompasses three of the most vital principles of warriorship. Please feel free to examine it, adapt it, or change it in accordance with your own warrior path. ‘There are three things which make a warrior: The wisdom to know what is right, the courage to do what is right, and the commitment to see it through to the end.’ Wisdom A warrior without wisdom is like a ship without a rudder. We know what we feel, we may even know what we think victory and success look like, but without wisdom we are walking blindly to our objective without any surety that the path we have taken is true. They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. If that's true, then the road to heaven is surely paved with wisdom - because it is wisdom which turns good intentions into good results. Wisdom is neither experience nor knowledge, rather it is distilled from the two. We are always seeking knowledge, and we are always gaining more experience, but it is our understanding that will ultimately light the way forward - not just for us, but for those who may depend on us. The wisdom to know what is right, perhaps, is the first step on the path of honor. Courage Courage is famously said not to be the absence of fear, but the willingness to do what is right in spite of that fear. But what does that truly mean? To be afraid is to be human, because none of us ever have true certainty about much of anything. We are almost always feeling, facing, or even denying some fear within us. It's really a fantastic alarm system. Fear tells us that we perceive a danger, it gives us necessary intelligence as we move toward our objective. The trouble with fear is that it is only a reaction; it is not wise, it does not love, it has no sense of duty; it cannot tell us what we should do or when we should do it. In short, fear is absolutely clueless. So, heed the alarm, but do not let fear ever be the cause of any choice you make. As creatures endowed with love, it is only natural that many of us take upon ourselves some sense of duty. Duty is born from loyalty, and loyalty is born from love. This is the only place from which courage may be drawn up and summoned at any time. Courage born from anger will expire like a fire, dwindling as it consumes its source. Courage from ego will dissipate the moment something you value more than your ego is at risk. But courage from love will never fail you. Put what you love in the center of your being, and from there draw your strength. Commitment Perhaps commitment should rather be called ‘pre-commitment’, in that it’s a decision which you must make before you even begin your endeavor. After all, there is no sense in doing anything if on some level you are prepared to quit. I truly believe that the will is one of the most formidable and capable forces in this world. We never know what we're going to face when we wake up in the morning. We never know what obstacles lay before us, in our personal or professional lives, nor do we know how extensive and rigorous the trials we must endure and overcome will be. When we decide on any objective, the only decision available at that moment is ‘will I win?’. Trust in the power of your own will, and remember that whatever your goal, whatever the obstacles you may face, the key to success is pre-committing to victory before you even begin the fight. Principle based learning is an incredibly edifying process, particularly in philosophy. Breaking down your own warrior ethos into principles, or even creating Bardic triads, can help you develop and cultivate your own warrior’s code.

T he best advice I ever received came from my great grandfather. My great grandfather, like so many from that time, was a veteran of the Second World War. Perhaps this helped him gain a keener insight into human nature; because he had a saying so profound, so practical, and so wise that it has been passed down to every one of his descendants. Ready? “Philosophy f***ing philosophy.” I'm sure you can fill in the blanks. Now, I never got to meet my great grandfather, though I certainly wish I had. But I have heard this saying all my life. When as a child, I asked why people do cruel things, or what made the difference between a good and bad person, or why some triumphed so successfully and others failed so tragically; I always got the same answer. Philosophy f***ing philosophy. My great grandfather's point, and why this little proverb has remained so enduring in my family, is because even though it’s easily underestimated – philosophy is everything . Our philosophy directly relates to how we prioritize, how we act, how we think, how we navigate relationships, how we face setbacks, and how we survive. Mind over matter is a very real thing, especially in warriorship. Of course, no one’s philosophy will be quite like anyone else’s. We all have different beliefs and experiences, and we are all unique in this world. Yet some things are essential to all human beings. The Love of a Warrior The modern term ‘philosophy’ descends from the Greek Phil- , meaning love, and Sophia, who is a Greek goddess that personifies wisdom. It’s fitting, perhaps, in that all practical Warrior philosophies are founded on a single and timeless motive: Love. It can seem something of a cliché today. Yet it is also the staple of humanity. Love is the best thing we do. It’s where we come from, what we long for, live for, fight for, and die for. Love makes death worthy and life worth living. It is love which gives purpose to wisdom, compassion, justice, innovation and even conflict. Warriorship is the most empowering, and ironically most selfless path a person can take – because what would you not do for those you love? What darkness can you not face, and what trial can you not surmount when what you love is on the line? Is there ever a good reason to give up, to accept defeat? Can you honestly settle for anything less than truth and wisdom? To be a warrior is to be the very best of humanity, because it’s the essence of love which animates the warrior spirit in each of us. Love needs to be championed, and yet for love to achieve its greatest potential, it needs to be tempered with wisdom. This is why warriorship requires a philosophy, a Love of Wisdom , because it is through wisdom we may achieve victory – and victory is no less than a Just Peace, within and without. Every warrior needs a philosophy, and it's no small thing. As we discover our own understanding of truth, we cultivate the code we live by, and when they time comes, will die by. Yours will be unique to you, and that is as it should be – because it can come from nowhere else than your own heart and be championed by none other than you. So, whatever you live by, let love be at its core. And remember; Philosophy f***ing philosophy.

Discovering the love that transcends life's tallest mountain. Grief is a funny thing. Some might argue it is the worst of all human experiences. After all, what pain or sufferance would you not rather endure than the loss of a loved one? It’s the very nature of love to care more for their well-being than for yourself, and in principle this is hardly a bad thing. The fact is nearly all of us face grief at some point in our lives. We may not want to, and not one of us experiences it the same as another, but we all do. Contrary to some popular belief, grief may not only occur after a death – but always after a loss. Therein lay the key to understanding our grief; at the end of the day, grief is just love. It’s the hard side of love, the part where you cannot live without them but must anyway. It’s the heartache, the inconsolable sorrow, the anger – after all, how could it ever be right? People who share a bond of love can’t be parted; we know in the very depth of our soul that's not how it should be. And we are right, in the grand scheme of things. Anyone who knows anything will always tell you to accept your grief. Whether you are angry, sad, or even numb, give yourself time. Grief is a process, and that is ok. It’s normal – and the fact that you grieve a little differently to everyone else is also entirely normal. Once, in the midst of grief, someone gave me a life changing piece of advice - and I want to share it with all of you: Lean into it. Grief is love - so love . Loss and heartbreak don’t mean you need to limit your love. Love until it hurts and then love a little more. You will face the loss, the pain, the sorrow, the anger. You will live through the injustice and the sufferance, that is part of the process. You don’t have to be ok. But remember grief is only one side of love. It’s the longing – and you only have it because you already have the other powerfully resounding in your heart, the love that swells and cries out across every boundary. Not time, distance, circumstance or even the shadowy veil of death can limit love. Love transcends them all. So, love, love until you cry, love until you laugh, keep loving until grief simmers and all that’s left is love. There is room in your heart for all that is and ever will be, and that unbearable, beautiful love as well. So, love. Just love, and know that there is no one you have known and loved whom you will not meet again.