I'm so glad to have found your wonderful writing. I have worked in public service for 27 years but I now find the noise, pace, technology and not least the anger and abuse overwhelming. I have loved history since childhood and like you wanted to be a freelance journalist. As you can tell that didn't work out. Since lockdown (when I continued to go to work) I have been more deeply drawn to our history, folklore and nature than ever. I would value your recommendation for good books on traditions and folklore as well as our seasonal customs.
I have also just signed up to learn to teach online (at 60!!) so that I can work at home and connect on a one to one basis. By this time next year I hope to be free of the rat race. Thank You for your fascinating posts.
Hello Tracey and thank you so much for connecting and sharing a little about yourself as well, it means a lot. You are definitely in good company. It's wonderful to hear that you are reconnecting to your roots as this can only be a positive in your life in so many ways. How fantastic to have taken the leap to learn to teach online. Your confidence will grow and just think of all of the life experience that you are going to be bringing to your new career that a younger person just won't have. You are going to make a great teacher. I would be more than happy to recommend you good books on history. Just let me know specifically what it is you are looking for. Is it generally the British Isles or were you wanting to start in a certain place like Ireland? What historical time periods interest you? As for folklore and seasonal practices in the British Isles I would suggest that you go back and read through all of my seasonal posts here on Substack this past year. Each article is so extensive that you do not need anything else. At the end of each of these articles I have a bibliography of all of the folklore/seasonal books I used. These would be my folklore/seasonal recommendations. Thank you for being a part of Our Merry Folk! Brightest blessings, Elissa
Hi Elissa - it's so lovely to "meet" you in more depth and learn more about the roots of your passionate journey! I'm always thankful for your thorough posts...I'm one of those who finds longer, researched posts to be a breath of fresh air among all the reels and tiktoks and whatever else is out there these days!
Hi Kristin, I am thrilled to hear that! I absolutely agree with you. I have had to become extremely mindful of the way that I 'consume' content as I began noticing that I was struggling to finish reading books. Not ideal for research! To actually be able to sit down and enjoy one piece of long content in an unhurried way has become a rarity nowadays. So sad. It's always lovely to connect with you :)
I also found my attention span being affected by all the media! I've had to walk away (mostly) from Instagram because of that...I just can't sustain that pace. So glad to get to enjoy your work in this space!
I'm relieved to know that I am not the only one trying to fight back, but saddened that this is where we find ourselves. Glad that my writing is giving you a reprieve from all of the pointless noise.
Oh I love this! I’m in Australia and love you Gen-Xers! I have two GenX children. I’m 65 so apparently a baby boomer, blamed by the millennials for destroying the earth 🤷🏻♀️ anyhoo - the mention of DNA. I’ve never felt I belonged here in the land I was born. But my ancestors were sent as convicts and here I am. I searched my tree and found links to all the Celtic countries, had my DNA done like you and yes, Cornish, Scottish, Irish and welsh. Thanks for sharing about you!
Hi Robyn, thank you so much for sharing a little about yourself. I have always wondered how difficult it must be for those like yourself who are living in the southern hemisphere especially when you are trying to connect with your ancestry. Particularly with the seasons being the opposite. That sense of not fitting in is very hard and I am sorry to hear that you have struggled with it too. I hope that you will find a sense of belonging somehow now that you have your DNA/family tree. How wonderful that you now have so many Celtic lands and traditions to explore!
The thing that comes to mind is to allow the land that you are a part of to lead the way for you. To be in the moment as best as you can and to build a relationship with it, which I am sure that you are already doing. Flow instead of resistance; as frustrating as it is to have Christmas in summer :(
I'm so glad to have found your wonderful writing. I have worked in public service for 27 years but I now find the noise, pace, technology and not least the anger and abuse overwhelming. I have loved history since childhood and like you wanted to be a freelance journalist. As you can tell that didn't work out. Since lockdown (when I continued to go to work) I have been more deeply drawn to our history, folklore and nature than ever. I would value your recommendation for good books on traditions and folklore as well as our seasonal customs.
I have also just signed up to learn to teach online (at 60!!) so that I can work at home and connect on a one to one basis. By this time next year I hope to be free of the rat race. Thank You for your fascinating posts.
Hello Tracey and thank you so much for connecting and sharing a little about yourself as well, it means a lot. You are definitely in good company. It's wonderful to hear that you are reconnecting to your roots as this can only be a positive in your life in so many ways. How fantastic to have taken the leap to learn to teach online. Your confidence will grow and just think of all of the life experience that you are going to be bringing to your new career that a younger person just won't have. You are going to make a great teacher. I would be more than happy to recommend you good books on history. Just let me know specifically what it is you are looking for. Is it generally the British Isles or were you wanting to start in a certain place like Ireland? What historical time periods interest you? As for folklore and seasonal practices in the British Isles I would suggest that you go back and read through all of my seasonal posts here on Substack this past year. Each article is so extensive that you do not need anything else. At the end of each of these articles I have a bibliography of all of the folklore/seasonal books I used. These would be my folklore/seasonal recommendations. Thank you for being a part of Our Merry Folk! Brightest blessings, Elissa
That's absolutely brilliant, thank You 😊
Hi Elissa - it's so lovely to "meet" you in more depth and learn more about the roots of your passionate journey! I'm always thankful for your thorough posts...I'm one of those who finds longer, researched posts to be a breath of fresh air among all the reels and tiktoks and whatever else is out there these days!
Hi Kristin, I am thrilled to hear that! I absolutely agree with you. I have had to become extremely mindful of the way that I 'consume' content as I began noticing that I was struggling to finish reading books. Not ideal for research! To actually be able to sit down and enjoy one piece of long content in an unhurried way has become a rarity nowadays. So sad. It's always lovely to connect with you :)
I also found my attention span being affected by all the media! I've had to walk away (mostly) from Instagram because of that...I just can't sustain that pace. So glad to get to enjoy your work in this space!
I'm relieved to know that I am not the only one trying to fight back, but saddened that this is where we find ourselves. Glad that my writing is giving you a reprieve from all of the pointless noise.
Oh I love this! I’m in Australia and love you Gen-Xers! I have two GenX children. I’m 65 so apparently a baby boomer, blamed by the millennials for destroying the earth 🤷🏻♀️ anyhoo - the mention of DNA. I’ve never felt I belonged here in the land I was born. But my ancestors were sent as convicts and here I am. I searched my tree and found links to all the Celtic countries, had my DNA done like you and yes, Cornish, Scottish, Irish and welsh. Thanks for sharing about you!
Hi Robyn, thank you so much for sharing a little about yourself. I have always wondered how difficult it must be for those like yourself who are living in the southern hemisphere especially when you are trying to connect with your ancestry. Particularly with the seasons being the opposite. That sense of not fitting in is very hard and I am sorry to hear that you have struggled with it too. I hope that you will find a sense of belonging somehow now that you have your DNA/family tree. How wonderful that you now have so many Celtic lands and traditions to explore!
Don’t get me started on the seasons ! 😬 Christmas in summer to begin with!!
The thing that comes to mind is to allow the land that you are a part of to lead the way for you. To be in the moment as best as you can and to build a relationship with it, which I am sure that you are already doing. Flow instead of resistance; as frustrating as it is to have Christmas in summer :(