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Litha - Summer Solstice: 23.5 Degrees of Separation Summer Solstice. One out of 365 days yet so many universal connections.  Summer solstice, midsummer, St. John’s Day, Litha.... No matter what you call it, the Earth’s tilted axis brings us together in solar celebration. As humans, we understandably venerate that big ball of plasma in the sky. It provides us with the warmth and energy needed to sustain life on this planet. We rely on it to tell us when to plant, when to rest, when to harvest and when to shed layers.  We schedule our civil and social methodologies by how long...

As the creator of Ogham Art, I think about Ireland...a lot. During this time of year, my thoughts manifest images of the Easter Rising, Irish freedom and the fight to preserve Ireland’s Celtic identity.

March is Irish-American Heritage Month here in the States and right in the middle of it all is the wonderful celebration of St. Patrick's Day.  I have enjoyed this holiday for as long as I can remember but I recently asked myself….just how much do I know about St. Patrick?? After a long day (or two) of reading and research, I discovered that there was a whole lot I didn’t know. And while this blog isn’t intended to tell you everything about St. Patrick, (his Wikipedia page alone is over 7,000 words), I want to share with you what I...

  The Claddagh is one of Ireland’s most recognized and precious images. Two hands embracing a heart adorned with a crown symbolize the purity of a cherished relationship – friendship (cairdeas), love (grá) and loyalty (dílseacht). Here we explore the origins of the design and how it is still honored more than 300 years after its creation.   Between the River Corrib & Galway Bay     When we hear “Claddagh”, we think ring. But Claddagh is actually a place in County Galway where a fisherman-turned-goldsmith transformed his undying commitment to the woman he loved into the renowned band of...

Second only to the shamrock, the harp is one of the most recognized symbols of Ireland. Referred to as the Celtic harp, Gaelic harp or cláirseach in Gaeilge, the native Irish tongue, the emblem of the nation is found on flags, coats of arms, passports, currency and even the packaging of various forms of libation.  What is the history behind this stringed instrument holding such significance for a people revered around the world for their rich traditions of music, literature and eloquence? Like most things Irish, there is disagreement on how the harp found its way to the Emerald Isle....