03/17/2026
Thereās something about Saint Patrickās Day that has always felt a little⦠incomplete to me.
Weāre taught growing up to celebrate a man who ādrove the snakes out of Ireland.ā
But Ireland never had snakes.
So what does that really mean?
Saint Patrick, in short, was a missionary who helped spread Christianity across Ireland. Over time, stories about him became more symbolic with the idea of āsnakes,ā which many historians believe represented the existing spiritual traditions Ireland.
Before Christianity, Ireland was deeply rooted in Celtic Paganism, a way of life that honored the earth, the seasons, sacred wells, trees, and the unseen world.
That spirituality didnāt vanish overnight. It was slowly pushed aside, blended, and in some cases erased.
And thatās the part we donāt often talk about.
This doesnāt mean today has to feel heavy or conflicted. It just means we get to choose how we show up.
For me, this day isnāt about celebrating the loss of old ways⦠itās about remembering them.
Itās about honoring the land, the ancestors, and the cycles that were sacred long before they were renamed.
Itās about reconnecting to the energy of early spring⦠growth, renewal, and quiet awakening, much like what is honored during Ostara,
If youāre pagan, witchy, or simply someone who feels more connected to the earth than to organized religion, youāre not āleft outā of today.
You can celebrate by:
šæ Spending time outside and noticing what is beginning to grow
šæ Working with herbs or cooking something nourishing
šæ Lighting a candle and setting intentions for the season ahead
šæ Offering gratitude to the land you live on
You donāt have to wear green and drink beer to belong here.
You can root into something older.
Today, Iām choosing to honor what came before, and what still lives on beneath the surface.
And that feels like its own kind of magic.