The Heart Knows

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One of the blogs I subscribe to is Druid Journal, written by Jeff Lilly. Jeff always manages to make me think and his recent post, Musings on Wild and Goose, is no different. He was inspired to write after attending the Wild Goose Festival - a Christian festival with a difference. To find out more I highly recommend you read Jeff's post and follow his links to the Wild Goose Festival website.

It's very refreshing to have a Pagan recommend a Christian festival, but then that's just an example of the open-mindedness I enjoy about Jeff's blog. :-) The part that struck me the most in his post was about the symbolism of the Wild Goose in ancient Celtic Christianity:

Among the Catholics, the Holy Spirit is often represented by a dove; but the Celtic Christians preferred to think of it like a “wild goose”. Why? For them, the Holy Spirit was not a quiet, demure bird, but a loud one, and uncontrollable one, which arrives unexpectedly and wakes the neighbors. It does not submit to human authority. When this spirit calls, you have no choice but to listen, and your life may never be the same. I think many pagans can relate to this aspect of the spiritual world.

Regardless of your religious background, or belief system, I think nearly everyone can relate to those moments when your heart soars up and tells you, "NOW is the time to fly."

It reminded me of one of my mom's favourite songs:

“Cry of the Wild Goose” by Frankie Laine



My heart knows what the wild goose knows,
I must go where the wild goose goes.
Wild goose, brother goose, which is best?
A wanderin' fool or a heart at rest?

Tonight I heard the wild goose cry,
Wingin' north in the lonely sky.
Tried to sleep, it weren't no use,
'Cause I am a brother to the old wild goose,

Oh, my heart knows what the wild goose knows,
And I must go where the wild goose goes.
Wild goose, brother goose, which is best?
A wanderin' fool or a heart at rest?



May your heart always find wings to fly.
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