Posted in ancestors, Celtic culture, tagged Archaeology on December 29, 2010| 3 Comments »
Someone shared this on the ADF e-lists. An intact, ancient Celtic tomb was discovered in Germany! It is believed that it belonged to a woman and you can see some of the beautiful jewelry. I can’t wait until further findings are released!
Posted in ADF, altars, An Dagda, ancestors, Brighid, Celtic culture, cosmology, Dedicant Program, Druidism, Earth Mother, Earth-Centered, Flame Keeping, growth, hearth and home, holidays, Irish Culture, Land Sea and SKy, magic, meditation, Muin Mound, mythology, Nature Spirits, Pagan culture, polytheism, prayer on December 27, 2010|
Ireland has captured my imagination, for better or for worse. A few years earlier, I never would have believed that I would be seriously studying Irish lore, Irish history, considering learning the Irish language, and worshiping the Irish Gods. A few years ago, the Irish Gods were “the strange Gods with even stranger names.” In a society that seems to idolize the Greeks and Romans, we’re just more familiar with their mythology and history. As a fledgling Pagan, I really tried to make those cultures central to my worship. In the end, Ireland finally got the attention I now realize it was trying to get all along.
It isn’t that I hated Ireland as a younger me. In fact, I was very much enamored with anything medieval, and Ireland started to attract me then. In middle school I went through a phase where I had to read about medieval castles, swords, history, and clothing. I was obsessed with the legend of King Arthur and Merlin. Above all, I was captivated by Irish music, especially harp music.
Upon finding ADF I felt like I was already feeling a call from the Tuatha de Danann. I wasn’t sure what to do with this calling, but ADF gave me helpful hints and I began to read voraciously about Ireland. My interest in medieval culture came back, along with an even greater interest in Ancient Ireland. At first, the books I read were confusing. Again, I was dealing with “those strange Gods with the even stranger names.” As I went along, I soon realized that I was growing more and more familiar, and thus comfortable, with the culture and the Gods.
I first realized how akin the old Irish ideas about the world were to my own. The Irish respected and even venerated nature as do I. They didn’t see a separation of the mundane and the magical/spiritual, and nor do I. The old Irish were polytheistic and so am I. They felt that art, knowledge, and truth were some of the most important and powerful things, and so do I. Yet there was more than that. Something just clicked.
Before I knew it, the ADF rituals started to make sense. When I first attended a grove, although it was a lovely experience, I was reminded of long, Catholic masses full of mystery. Through studying the lore and history, I realized that there was a pattern being followed. I started to understand Gatekeepers, the three realms, the three Kindreds, and so many other theological subjects within ADF through a Celtic, especially Irish, frame of mind. Somehow, during the voracious reading I was doing, I started to internalize the culture bit by bit. I found that I believed in the Otherworld, fairies, and even found myself a bit fearful of the Pooka around Samhain. I pray to the Gods and thank them often. Slowly but surely, Irish concepts are leaking into my art. I’ve been sewing dolls that resemble the Tuatha de Danann and incorporating spirals into my projects. The number three has become very important to me. I don’t feel like I forced myself to think in this way – I believe that it happened slowly and over time. I know I will never actually be Irish, but I think it’s important to have a good grasp of a pantheon’s culture, and through the study of said culture, I find myself adopting its ways, however small. I intend to continue my Irish cultural studies and I’m sure that, by doing so, my perception of the world will shift even more.
Academics aside, I do put a lot of effort into spiritual practice as well. I try to meditate as often as possible. It’s sometimes difficult to make the time, but when I do it is very relaxing and refreshing. I am hoping to study trance in the near future.
I now have a lovely altar in my room. Every day, usually at night, I perform a simple daily devotional in which I light candles for the Three Kindreds. I’ve started to form a relationship with the Goddess Brighid and her father The Dagda. I have representations of them on my altar, a doll of Brighid that I made and a large rock I found on a hike which I dedicated to The Dagda. I think about their influence in my life a lot and try to learn as much about them as I can. In Brighid’s case, I’ve joined a flame-keeping group and light a special candle for her each month. I also feel that practicing a form of art is a way to worship Brighid as she is a Goddess of creativity and crafts. I bought a small lap harp at an Irish Festival a year ago. It seemed appropriate because of my love of Irish harp playing and The Dagda’s relationship to harps. Every so often, I pick the instrument up and attempt to learn something new which I feel is a way to honor him. I pray a lot as well. In some ways that may be a carry-over from my Catholic upbringing, but I don’t see praying as a negative thing. I believe that talking to the Gods strengthens our bonds with them. Every morning, I have a prayer ritual in which I put on the Brighid talisman I have while saying:
I thank the Three Kindreds for their guidance, protection, blessings, and inspiration.
May they continue to bless myself, those I love, and the land,
And may I honor them with all I say and do.
Before meals, I say a prayer of thanks that was inspired by Isaac Bonewits’ book Pagan Man:
I thank the Earth Mother for the food before me,
I thank the men and women who toiled in field, farm, and kitchen to bring this meal to me,
And I thank the plants and animals that had to die so that I could live.
I also have a special prayer that I say to myself when I am on the road, taking a walk, or doing any sort of traveling. While I don’t necessarily focus on a Gaulish culture, Cernunos has always been very important to me as the Lord of Animals. And in my readings, I’ve learned that Lugh is a protector of travelers and merchants. Whenever I transport myself in any way I say, “May Lugh and Cernunos protect me while I travel.”
Aside from my bedroom altar, there are also a couple of shrines I’ve set up outside. One is right outside the door. Using a pot, soil, and a fairy statue, I created a shrine for the house spirit. I felt that it was important for her shrine to be situated in a threshold of sorts because I see her as both a protector of the indoors and the outdoors around my home. I always acknowledge her as I enter and exit my home. I sometimes leave offerings of flowers, petals, stones, or other such things. Further back, as you walk into the forest behind my home, there is another shrine I set up. I like to give offerings to the Kindreds there, and I feel that it is an especially sacred spot because once, while meditating under that tree, I opened my eyes to see a whole herd of deer standing around me. It was truly amazing and I felt that the ground was sacred because of that experience. However, due to the leafy and uneven consistency of the forest floor, I generally don’t do my full rituals there because a flame of any sort would seem dangerous. I tend to perform outside rituals by my garden under an oak tree using a candle to represent the fire.
Luckily, there are a few groves in Upstate NY. As of yet, there isn’t one in my hometown of Utica, but I started to visit Muin Mound in Syracuse. I felt immediately welcomed there. They tend to perform Celtic rituals for Samhain, Imbolc, Beltaine, and Lughnasadh, and Norse rituals for the Solstices and Equinoxes. This is interesting for me because I get to learn about another culture besides my own. The experiences with them have helped solidify a lot of my thoughts on ADF. Seeing an ADF ritual performed is more helpful to me than reading about one. It’s helped me to become more familiar and comfortable with the liturgy. So much so, in fact, that I’ve lead two Druidic rituals for the local Pagan alliance in Utica – one for Imbolc and one for Beltaine. While I was nervous about them, they were successful and well-received. I now feel a calling to become a clergy member within ADF and serve my local Pagan community. This calling has grown especially strong now that I know there are at least three other ADF members in Utica who would love to see a grove form.
In the meantime, I’ve helped to organize a study group with the other local ADF members. We are just starting out, but I hope to see it evolve. In the meantime, it is a place to discuss our spirituality with likeminded individuals. I hope that we can begin performing some rituals, but at the same time, I hope to continue visiting Muin Mound and other groves to keep things fresh and to help inspire me.
I feel very comfortable with my hearth culture. My world is now full of spirals, Gods, and hidden places of power, and I feel very connected to some of my ancestors. That is… some. While I feel very at home with the Tuatha de Dannan and my Irish hearth culture, my ancestry is not just Celtic but also Germanic. There are times when I feel little tugs from Norse Gods, like Thor, and I feel that it is because I’m ignoring a part of my genes. Here and there, I’ve picked up a book on Germanic culture and lore. I hope to one day figure out how to balance between these two hearth cultures. It will take some time, study, and practice, but I’m sure that I will be able to do it.
As I near completing my Dedicant Program I look forward to the future and what it brings to my soul. I can see myself serving my community, growing as an artist through spirituality, learning more and more about the world around me, growing more adept at meditation, and learning Irish. I hope that I am one day able to help lead a nemeton and provide guidance for future Druids. ADF has given me reason to want to serve the Pagan community at large rather than just myself.
Posted in ADF, altars, An Dagda, ancestors, animals, Brighid, Celtic culture, cosmology, Dedicant Program, Druidism, Earth Mother, Earth-Centered, environmentalism, folklore, Gods, growth, Irish Culture, Land Sea and SKy, mythology, Nature Spirits, offerings, Paganism, polytheism, practice, prayer, study programs, three realms, writing on December 27, 2010|
In my early days of Pagan study and worship, it was easiest for me to connect with and understand the Nature Spirits. I was raised to respect them and even taught by my mother to believe in fairies and unicorns, even if they were part of a different reality than our own. As time went by, I forged some bonds with deities, but it wasn’t until taking up the Dedicant Program that I was truly able to feel connected to and understand the Three Kindreds of Nature Spirits, Ancestors, and Gods.
While I very much believed in the unseen Nature Spirits as a child, I was more aware and interested in the visible and tangible. I have always cared deeply for plants and animals and have been an environmentalist from an early age. As I grew, my animism developed and I came to the realization that there really was more to the natural world than met the eye. As a child, I was bombarded with the modern myth of fairies – little, beautiful creatures with wings and fairy dust. I am still very much attracted to this image and often incorporate such creatures into my artwork, but I’ve come to realize that the Spirits of Nature are as varied as people and that they can be perceived by humans as beautiful, silent, loud, mischievous, disgusting, and, perhaps, aggressive. While some are weaker than humans, others are much, much stronger. Studying Irish folklore and mythology has given me a more mature frame of perception in regards to the Nature Spirits. They are, indeed, the unseen forces of nature that can be creative, like a spirit attached to a garden, or destructive, like the Pooka of Irish lore, and they can come in any guise. In my own spiritual work, I’ve found that I believe that all beings, even the rocks and trees, have souls, and so I feel that they are also Nature Spirits worthy of respect and, in some cases, veneration.
So how do I perceive the Nature Spirits? They are the birds and the song that they sing. They are the rocks in the earth. They are the drops of rain. They are the wind rustling the trees. They are the sequins of sunlight that splash through the forest canopy. They are the trees, alive and decaying. They are the dandelions poking up through cement sidewalks. They are the ferrets cohabiting with me in my bedroom. They are the unseen creatures that move my things without any explanation. They are the rotting corpses of animals on the streets. They are the diseases that we get. They are the unseen forces in the dark. They are at work outside making the flowers and vegetables grow. They are present within the upper, middle, and lower worlds and represent all the elements. I believe that my existence is inextricably linked to theirs and so they deserve to be honored and treated with respect, like brothers and sisters who have their own wants, needs, and motivations. I may not always like what the Nature Spirits have in store, but I’m sure they don’t always agree with me either! As with human siblings, we have to give and take equally and learn to live in harmony with each other.
I am always trying to stay connected with my brothers and sisters or nature, as well as the Earth Mother, whom I see as a Goddess and mother of all life. I try to learn about the seen and unseen Nature Spirits, and I try to live in harmony with them through environmentalism and vegetarianism. I thank them before eating. I remember them in my rituals and make offerings to them. I’ve kept in mind that some offerings may be harmful to nature spirits, and so I avoid chocolate and sharp objects left out in the open. My favorite offerings to give are flowers and birdseed.
I will speak of the Gods next, not because they are less important than the Ancestors, but because my relationship and familiarity with them was the easiest for me to experience next. Despite my Roman Catholic upbringing, I always had a fascination with mythology from a very early age. One of my favorite Saturday morning cartoons was a series of animated Greek and Roman myths. The exploits of Herakles, Castor, Pollox, and Jason mesmerized me and the Gods captivated my imagination. Visiting museums and seeing statues from Egypt amazed me. Who were these mysterious beings? The statues exuded a power. For me, this power was a calling and made me want to dance. I continually felt the pull of the Old Gods. The more I read about them and devoted time to them, the more they seemed to “talk” to me. At first, it was difficult to go from monotheism to the duotheism of Wicca. There was a certain taboo about it and, with it, a certain fear of the unknown. Gradually, I started to form a relationship with Gods and Goddesses. First it was the Greek and Egyptian Gods, probably because I was most familiar with them. I had dreams of Dionysus and Bast. It was easy as an eclectic Wiccan to worship both at the same time, but it wouldn’t satisfy me for long.
Here I am, a few years later, worshiping the Tuatha de Danann of the Irish. I don’t know how it happened, and it was probably through my love of Irish music and Arthurian myth, but I was called by the Old Gods of the Green Isle, the home of my ancestors. As with the Nature Spirits, studying Irish myth and legend has helped me to understand the Tuatha de Danann immensely. Studying the myths and legends of other cultures has deepened my awareness of many other deities. My Roman Catholicism and its veneration of various saints helped ease me into polytheism, and I now consider myself a hard polytheist. I believe that, for the most part, the Gods can reside in any of the three realms and often interact with and interbreed with the Nature Spirits. Because the Gods are so tied to the land and various natural phenomena, they further sanctify the environment. Some of the Gods, like the Tuatha de Danann, are local deities and so I’ve come to believe that they mostly live in Ireland. The same is probably true for other deities as well, such as Aphrodite dwelling primarily on the island of Cyprus. However, as the Gods are more powerful than humans, I believe that they can interact with humans who are far from their sanctuaries. While I don’t believe that you have to be Irish to love and worship the Tuatha de Danann, I can’t help but feel that my connection to them is partially due to my blood ties to Ireland. I feel that it enables an easier connection. I also feel that repeated ritual and interaction with certain deities at an altar or through a talisman can, in some way, create a home away from home for them and that their energy becomes imbibed in foreign places where they are frequently made welcome (such as the powerful seeming statues in museums). I also think that Gods associated with certain energies, such as arts, can manifest while a person is tapping into those energies. I believe that the Gods are the most powerful and wise of the Three Kindreds and that they know how to use magic in ways that humans can only dream of. Like the Nature Spirits, and like human beings, I believe that the Gods are all individual and have their own personalities, faults, and motivations. Many, like Brighid, Odin, Thor, or Prometheus, have given us different arts and protect humanity. Others, like the Morrigan or Loki, are a bit harder for me to understand and seem more interested in protecting the land or chaos rather than the tribe. I don’t consider them evil – they have their place, but they can be hard for humans to relate to. As a former Catholic, it is hard for me not to subjugate myself to the Gods. I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing to do, but I think the Tuatha de Danann, or the Gods of any other Pagan culture, prefer that their followers view them more as kin – incredibly powerful and wise kin – but kin all the same. I envision them to be a bit like parents, teachers, or tribal leaders.
I try to connect to the Gods in many ways. The first is through study. My fascination with mythology and ancient history has eclipsed all other academic interests. Not only am I learning about other cultures and world history, but I am having fun as it is intrinsically satisfying. Perhaps it is because through study that I am able to get to know the Gods and the other Kindreds and so my soul becomes happy. I also connect to the Gods through ritual, meditation, prayer, art, and dance. In ritual, I am able to express my love for the Gods and honor them for their many blessings. In meditation, I am able to contemplate and maybe even receive a message from them. In prayer, I talk to them. I mostly thank them for any number of things, but there are times when I ask for help as well. I always ask that Lugh, protector of travelers, and Cernunos, the Gaulish God of animals, protect me or those I love while on the road. I also pray in thanks before each meal. I feel that I’m able to connect to the Gods through art and dance because those activities connect me to a very spiritual part of my brain and soul and allow me to open up to the inspiration of the Gods, especially to Brighid. Dance is especially helpful because it can put me into a trance and open me up in ways similar to meditation. Another way I show the Gods I care is through service to them and the other Kindreds. By leading rituals and keeping to my oaths, I am building lifelong relationships with allies who deserve to be honored due to their many positive influences in my life. I no longer consider myself an eclectic Wiccan duotheist but a hard polytheist, a priestess to the Tuatha de Danann, and a Druid in training with Celtic Reconstructionist tendencies. I feel that the Tuatha de Danann called me to this.
Finally, ADF has helped me form a closer bond with my ancestors. When I began to study and practice Paganism, I didn’t consider my ancestors as part of my belief system. I knew that Native Americans and Shintos highly honored their dead and, in some instances, created altars for them. The only real emphasis on the ancestors in Wicca was to remember them on Samhain. There were a few Samhains where, indeed, I felt their presence strongly. Some books recommended that special altars be made, or that places be set aside for the ancestors at a Samhain meal. I never really did that – at most I threw some bread out for the souls of the dead as an afterthought. As a whole, it felt that Wicca only honored the ancestors on a certain holiday and forgot about them for the rest of the year. Because of this, my connection with the ancestors was not considered and not developed until I began my Druidic studies.
A year or so before my calling to Druidry, my Aunt Debbie died of cancer and I felt that I should do something special for her on Samhain. I made her a bouquet of evergreens as I felt they symbolized never ending life. I wasn’t sure where her grave stone was (indeed, she had yet to have a stone installed), so I tossed the bouquet into the air and did not look back at where it landed, content to believe she caught it. I did not even think that throwing it meant the bouquet was trash rather than a gift. To me, it was the easiest way to make an offering to her.
As I’ve progressed through ADF, I’ve felt a stronger pull to my ancestors. It feels as if they are happy to be part of my daily practice. I light a candle for my ancestors as part of my daily ritual. At larger holidays, more is offered. I feel like the ancestors really do watch over us. Whether they are right with us or watching from a distance when they feel it necessary, I do not know. Celtic lore says that the dead go to the Otherworld, and I do believe in such a place, but I can’t help but feel that they are able to communicate with us in some way, especially around Samhain and Beltaine. I believe that care and concern do not end at death. I also believe that some of the dead can get trapped in the world of the living as ghosts.
I would like to honor more of my ancestors on Samhain such as my Grandmother and Grandfather. Truly, I think of my ancestors every day now, but I feel that the entire day of Samhain should be planned around visiting the graves of relatives. Honoring ancestors needn’t only be about immediate relatives or even recent friends and relations. When I visited England a few years ago, I felt very connected to the land. I was very much aware of a presence linked to my own blood. As I toured historical landmarks like White Tower, Westminster Abbey, or even Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris or St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall, I felt as if I was connecting with people from long ago. I was so aware of the feet that had walked where I was walking, wearing down the stone steps until they were smooth with time.
Today I do my best to honor and remember my ancestors. I make offerings, verbally thank the ancestors, read their stories, research their land, and anticipate visiting my ancestral homelands. We are here because of our ancestors and we should not limit our celebration of them to one day in the year.
Because the ancestors are human, it seems that they would have been the easiest for me to connect to. It may have something to do with my grandfather’s obsessive interest in genealogy. I’ve had my ancestors pounded into my head since a very young age, so I may have been resistant to thinking any more about them. I’ve also considered their humanity to be a deterrent, possibly because I’ve viewed them as just mundane humans who died a long time ago. To a younger me, otherworldly beings were infinitely more fascinating. Having matured, I’ve realized the importance of family and heritage. I am proud of where I come from. I often ponder my Irish and Germanic background. I worship the Tuatha de Danann, but I sometimes feel the pull of my Germanic ancestors. I sometimes wonder if there is an easy way to integrate the two hearth cultures together to satisfy my gene pool.
The Three Kindreds have many differences, and yet they have many similarities too. This essay could extend for pages as I contemplate the many ways that they overlap. Their main similarity, as far as I’m concerned, is that they have made my spiritual path seem whole and balanced. Honoring the Three Kindreds not only helps me to form bonds with the Gods, but it keeps me connected to the Nature Spirits with whom I cohabit, and helps me to remember my very large, very extended family. I am grateful to have grown closer to the Nature Spirits, Ancestors, and Gods and hope that my ability to honor, love, and worship them deepens and matures with the years.
Posted in ADF, Celtic culture, Celtic Reconstructionism, cosmology, CR, culture, Dedicant Program, divination, DP, Druidism, Earth-Centered, folklore, Fomoire, Gods, history, Ireland, Irish Culture, magic, mythology, Nature, Nature Spirits, ogham, Pagan culture, Paganism, polytheism, Reconstructionism, research, ritual tools, rituals, sacrifice, study programs, symbols, Welsh Culture on December 27, 2010|
Ellis, Peter Berresford. A Brief History of the Druids. New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers,
2003.
Each Summer Solstice the news media releases a handful of articles on a modern group of Druids worshipping near Stonehenge. The photos are of regular looking people wearing long white robes and sometimes white head coverings that look more akin to Egyptian head dresses. They stand in a circle and perform their ritual to the Gods. One has to ask whether what they are doing is historically accurate or not. To answer such questions, Peter Berresford Ellis’ book, A Brief History of the Druids, is an excellent starting point.
Ellis’ book is earnest in admitting that he does not know everything about the Druids. In fact, there is very little in which he could possibly know in our modern times. Relying on archaeology, linguistics, history, and lore, Ellis explains what is and isn’t known about this mysterious group of people while debunking several myths at the same time. The book is organized in such a way that he starts with a generalized introduction and then narrows the topic down chapter by chapter.
He begins by describing what is generally thought about the Druids. Most of our perceptions are shaped by the reports of foreigners such as Caesar and Pliny and are therefore often full of anti-Celtic propaganda (11). Much of the remaining evidence comes from Christianized Celts. Everything else must be surmised through linguistics and archaeology for the Druids left no literature of their own due to a taboo against writing (13). It is therefore difficult to fully understand the Druids. Everything examined must be taken with a proverbial grain of salt.
Having provided a few disclaimers, Ellis explores the world of the Celts beginning with what little is known of their origins. These people lived “north of the Alps … from Ireland and Britain in the west, as far east as the central plains of what is now Turkey” (23). They are defined as Celts based on the similarities of the languages they used which survive today as modern Irish, Manx, Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, Cornish, and Breton (25). The Celts, Ellis explains, lived in a society divided by classes: workers, artisans, warriors, and the Druids who represented the highest level of academia in Celtic society (29).
So what of the Druids themselves and where do they come from? Ellis first delves into the etymology of the word Druid to come to various possibilities. The first is that the word Druid means “oak knowledge” as drus is Greek for “an oak” and wid means “to know” (37). Another meaning could be “immersed in knowledge” due to the similarities found between old Celtic and Sanskrit words for water and dew. Either way, the Druids are already connected with knowledge, trees, and water – three very important things in both ancient and modern Druidry. However the Druids evolved, they came to be the priestly class who oversaw religious, judicial, medical, political, scientific, and educational matters of the Celtic people. According to the Greeks and Romans, the Druids were divided into three subclasses: Druids, Vates, and Bards. The Druids were basically the teachers, philosophers, and scientists. Meanwhile, the Vates focused more on nature and divination and the Bards were historians, musicians, and poets (51). This special class of intellectuals, which was made up of both men and women (91) held a lot of power – so much so that not even a king was allowed to speak before a Druid (75).
No discussion of the Druids would be complete without a chapter or two dedicated to their religion and rituals. So many of the ancient texts refer to them as performing mysterious rites and worshipping various deities that we know religion played a large role in the life of a Druid. Ellis explains that the Celts were polytheists although several modern men have tried to mold the Druids into proto-Christians who worshiped a single God (114). There are actually over three hundred known Celtic deities, and several are localized meaning that they are associated with only one place (114). There are a few Gods who were known in many places. Ellis provides brief descriptions of some of the better known deities such as Danu, Dagda, Bel, Cernunos, Nuada, Lugh, Taranis, Ogma, and the Mórrígán. Although the explanations are short, they are fitting for a work dedicated to the Druids rather than the Gods. There is the possibility that the sudden deluge of Celtic Gods and mythology could confuse and overwhelm a novice, but I’ve found that further reading will help to better familiarize the curious mind.
In dissecting the wisdom of the Druids, Ellis breaks the chapter down topic by topic so that we are given an in-depth look at what we know of their skill in various areas such as magic, astrology, and medicine. I found this section of the book to be the driest, possibly because I am most interested in the Druids’ function as priests rather than judges and astronomers. However the section should not be overlooked as it truly shows the rich knowledge of the Druids. They were not simply a barbarian people as the Romans were so fond of thinking. The Celts and their Druids were very well versed in science and enjoyed many accomplishments. Anyone of Celtic background should feel a sense of pride when reading about such feats.
A Brief History of the Druids should be essential reading material for anyone aspiring to the knowledge of the Druids. It first provides a good historical background of the people we in ADF are hoping to emulate and also grounds us in our practice by providing the context for our rituals. Ellis’ discussions of holy wells, trees, divination, and fire in connection to the landscape, festivals, and mythology help to make sense of our liturgical practices. A good understanding of why a person practices what he or she does is essential for a truly spiritual, intelligent, and introspective human being. Aspiring Druids should hope to be all three of those things.
The book ends with a discussion on the Druidic revival that has been going on for a few hundred years. It is an interesting although lacking explanation of modern Druidry. I say that because Ellis focuses on the romantic Druidic groups and only briefly mentions the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, one of the largest Druidic groups today. There is no reference to Ár nDraíocht Féin or even Celtic Reconstructionists. This is too bad because he leaves the unknowing reader under the impression that many modern Druidic groups rely on poor research to create their traditions. He ends the book by reminding the reader that many Celtic countries are forgetting their language and losing their social customs which is truly sad. He bemoans the fact that many modern Druids are more concerned with the esoteric aspects of Druidry and not the cultural. I believe that this is a legitimate concern, however, once more, by failing to explore Ár nDraíocht Féin or Celtic Reconstructionism he is overlooking groups who do require learning about the cultures and at least a minimal amount of language study. Although students of Druidry must be aware of the historical realities of their Druidic homelands, I feel that the pessimistic ending spoiled what was otherwise a very well-written, informative book.
Posted in ancestors, Canada, Celtic culture, travel on October 18, 2010| 3 Comments »
I’ve returned from Canada, dear readers! Ottawa, to be specific. Yes, Weretoad and I finally got our passports in order and took advantage of our extreme proximity to our northern neighbors. Ottawa was an absolutely beautiful city. I could compare it to other cities I’ve been to, but that wouldn’t be fair. It would be easy to say how similar it is to London due to the Parliament, references to Victoria, and red-coated guards, but that overlooks the obvious influence of France, Ireland, the Netherlands, America, and many other countries. I felt really at home in Ottawa. There was so much culture! The city was surprisingly very bilingual. I’ve never been to an urban area that was so, so friendly to pedestrians and bikers. Weretoad and I stayed in a beautiful bed and breakfast owned by a Swiss couple. It was in an excellent area near the Byward Market – a place similar to Boston’s Quincy Market. We were close to organic/fair trade/local groceries, cafes, restaurants, and boutiques. I was in heaven. I want to live there. Oh if only immigration weren’t so daunting…
Some of the ancestors on my father’s side, including the woman whose grave I recently visited, came to Ottawa from England and Ireland. Some of them moved to NY State, but others undoubtedly stayed there and worked on the Rideau Canal. As we toured the various historical sites, we learned that many Irish immigrants came to Ottawa for work – hundreds died there and were buried in mass graves. They were honored with the beautiful statue pictured above near the Bytown Museum – a building that many insist is haunted by Irish ghosts (myself included after a frightening incident Friday evening!).
The Celtic spirit was not buried beneath the streets with the bodies. Although the English and French fusion is often most noticeable, the Irish influence on Ottawa is still alive and well. Walk towards any destination and you’re likely to run into a pub. I was thrilled to stumble across this lovely little place in the Byward Market area – The Druid Pub. The photo is a bit small on the blog, but if you look you can make out the awen on the sign. Weretoad and I visited The Druid after dinner on Saturday night. I had a pint of Harp beer* while Weretoad sipped some coke – we watched a hockey game and listened to a band play – mostly contemporary stuff. I wish there had been some traditional Irish music – but I suppose we’ll have to go back for that another day. The closest we got to Irish ditties were U2 covers.
Follow Rue Elgin towards the Museum of Nature, and you’ll come across The Manx Pub. Clearly the Irish aren’t the only Celts with a hold on Ottawa! Although we weren’t able to visit the pub this visit, I had Weretoad take a photo of their amazing signs. Look at the Manx cats and the beautiful Manx triskelion! I definitely want to check this place out next time.
* Guinness isn’t vegetarian…
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Posted in Autumn Equinox, Celtic culture, CR, Druidism on September 23, 2010|
I’m trying to be more mindful of the moon’s cycles. The past few months have found me more observant than ever before, and I thank my friend Imagickat for inspiring that. While checking the calendar a few weeks ago, I noticed that there was to be a full moon on the Autumnal Equinox. It seemed like a very auspicious occurrence! While there is little evidence that the equinox specifically was very important to the ancient Irish, there are numerous harvest traditions that anyone following a Celtic-inspired/Celtic Reconstructionist/or Druidic path can incorporate into their rituals, such as the sacrifice of corn to harvest deities. While Samhain was viewed as the beginning of the winter season and the dark half of the year, the equinox could be viewed as a last hurrah for the light half. I find it interesting that the full moon should occur on this day. It seems symbolic of the coming waning of the earth’s green, productive period.
There’s a lot of change in the air. The trees are changing, the mosquito population has decreased a bit, and the nights are chilly. I’ve heard the travel songs of the geese on their way to warmer places. Some of the plants on my patio have begun to die (I took several others inside ). It is easy to observe the Nature Spirits change. But what about us?
My vacation was over a few weeks ago, but it is only now that I’m getting back into the routine. I’m busier and will only get more so as we approach Samhain and Winter Solstice. I also notice myself being more social, especially with new people, in my new home of Northern NY. The summer days of wide-spread, outdoor fun in the sun and day trips is over; here come the days of hearth fires, warm dinners, movie nights, and storytelling. Here come the days of cold and, eventually, ice. In other words, here come the times when we stay closer to home more often.
I always welcome Autumn. It’s my favorite season. I can sense the energy – the magic – in the air. The world is dying and yet there is so much potential for rebirth. The veil is thinning and the Otherworld calls.
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
Posted in Asatru, Celtic culture, Gods, Pagan culture, Pagan Pride Day, shopping, wildcrafting on September 19, 2010|
Yesterday Weretoad and I went to Central NY’s Pagan Pride Day located at Long Branch Park in Liverpool, NY. We had a lovely time. In many ways, PPD has becoming a homecoming of sorts now that I’m living in Northern NY. I love seeing so many of my old Pagan friends from Utica as well as my grovies who I only see for High Days.
I was really happy with the presentations by Patricia Lafayllve. She gave an introductory lecture on Asatru and another on Freyja. I learned a lot and later thanked her for her presentations. The non-Pagan workshops were refreshing – especially since they focused on reconstructionist principals. When I try to explain such things to most people, they look at me like I have three heads, so the education that was offered at this event was the best it’s ever been. Lafayllve’s discussions on hard polytheism, blood magic/sacrifice, and UPG were a welcomed step in the right direction. Her humor, honesty, and open-mindedness made her approachable and fun to listen to.
Part of what I love about PPD is the shopping. Having just got paid, I went to town. Check it out!
( For My LJ Friends: http://adfcatprints.blogspot.com/ )
