A geis is a traditional Gaelic term defined as “an idiosyncratic taboo whether of obligation or prohibition, similar to being under a vow or spell”

When I first started on my path I made a vow that I would keep sacred secrets, and as asked to do so by true friends through my life. I have kept my geis sacred to this day. I have only had the geis invoked 2 times in my life, both prohibitions laid upon me by people I considered true friends. Both friends have now walked out of my life, in very different ways… and yet I will have not let go of the geis.

Do you let go of a sacred promise, when a friendship ends? I can’t let go. I have let go of the friends, when the friendships past through the veil, and yet there are these things, these sacred ties that bind me. I have promised. I will not break that. No matter what.

And through these promises I have kept silent portions of my life, memories that Only I hold. I have (and will never) speak of them or write of them. I have never recorded them in pictures or words, never written in a diary, not even a paper journal. These things are too precious, too raw for that kind of examination.

Why do I keep the promises, after they no longer hold meaning for anyone but me?

I suppose it is because I feel the mystery of the situation. Someone cared enough about this, to ask me to promise to keep their trust in this way. And as long as the knowledge is not that of harm to them or another person, as long as there is no threat against me, I will not speak or write in any way until such a time that my geis is lifted.

And I know it never will be.

There is no way.

And so I keep my words safe and my memories of my dear friends close, and I silently bless the trusts that I hold so dear.

I think on these promises, every year at this time. I take time to think on things of the past year and make sure that I have done everything to protect my trust. It hurts no one to keep the silence, and yet it connects me to a more sacred duty.

And so I hold my silence ever more…