Introduction (To Me...and Flidais!)

 Hello! I'm Zoe, at the time of writing I'm 24 and have been a Gaelic polytheist for around 2 years or so. I am a devotee of Flidais, though have not undergone any sort of formal oath to Her. I have relationships with other deities, mostly Brigid and Manannán mac Lir right now. My personal passions include nature (of course), but animals mostly. I have a bachelor's in biology with a minor in environmental studies, but sadly not much other experience. I did volunteer at a wildlife rehabilitation center for a little while, and I loved it. I would love to work in a related field, when the world allows. 

 The purpose of this blog is to be a space to put my thoughts into the world. Expect musings, informal book reviews, and experiences. Maybe more, who knows, I'll see where the wind takes me. This blog is named after Flidais (Foltchaoin is her epithet), but don't expect content only about Her. Speaking of Flidais...

 As a devotee to Flidais, I notice that hardly anybody seems to have heard of Her. Flidais, to many of the people who have heard of her, is a patroness of the forests. A deer maiden akin to Artemis. This is not how I see Her, at least, not fully. To me, She is that yes, but She is not just that. It's always a faux-paux to equate a Celtic deity 1:1 to a Greco-Roman one, anyway. They don't fit into neatly defined boxes like the Greco-Roman ones do. Flidais is a Goddess both domestic and wild, of cattle and deer. She is a deity of sustenance, not of hunting, but of milking. She is deeply connected to milking animals (both cattle and deer) through her mythology, and this milk sustains all who rely on Her. She herself has many children, Her name may mean "wet one".

 So, what does this mean in practice, then? For me, since I am extremely passionate about animals, I tend to focus on that. Since She is a deity of both domestic and wild animals, even just taking care of my pets can be a way to honor Her. I pray to Her for their health and safety (not as a replacement for veterinary care of course!). These are not the only ways to connect to Her by a long shot! Just the ones that have worked for me so far. She has put Herself into a guiding role in my life. She presents Herself to me as a gentle, motherly figure, but one that demands respect. This isn't everything about Her, but it's enough to serve as a very short summary of Her and how I personally view/worship Her.

 Bennacht Dé ocus ainde fort! The blessings of the Gods and Un-Gods upon you!

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