Celtic History, Lore, Fact & Fun Discussions - Traveling within the World
2024-03-29T05:45:20Z
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Red Lion (ie Gryphon) Rampant...Standard of Scotland:
tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2014-02-17:2185477:Topic:198637
2014-02-17T15:29:53.085Z
Dept of PMM Artists & things
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<p></p>
<div class="imageStage" id="imagestage"><img alt="" class="fbPhotoImage img" id="fbPhotoImage" src="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1924756_665420690163588_1727305314_n.png"></img></div>
<p><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoPageCaption"><span class="hasCaption">(Pictured: Royal Standard of Scotland Lion Rampant of Scotland<br></br> Banner of the King of Scots;Red (Gules) lion rampant with blue (Azure) claws and tongue, within a red double border having a motif of alternating heraldic lilies, on a yellow (Or) field) <br></br> <span class="text_exposed_show"><br></br> The Royal Standard of Scotland, (Scottish…</span></span></span></p>
<p></p>
<div id="imagestage" class="imageStage"><img class="fbPhotoImage img" id="fbPhotoImage" src="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1924756_665420690163588_1727305314_n.png" alt=""/></div>
<p><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoPageCaption"><span class="hasCaption">(Pictured: Royal Standard of Scotland Lion Rampant of Scotland<br/> Banner of the King of Scots;Red (Gules) lion rampant with blue (Azure) claws and tongue, within a red double border having a motif of alternating heraldic lilies, on a yellow (Or) field) <br/> <span class="text_exposed_show"><br/> The Royal Standard of Scotland, (Scottish Gaelic: Bratach rìoghail na h-Alba, Scots: Ryal banner o Scotland), also known as the Banner of the King of Scots, or more commonly the Lion Rampant of Scotland,is the Scottish Royal Banner of Arms.Used historically by the King of Scots, the Royal Standard of Scotland differs from Scotland's national flag, the Saltire, in that its correct use is restricted by an Act of the Parliament of Scotland to only a few Great Officers of State who officially represent the Sovereign in Scotland. It is also used in an official capacity at royal residences in Scotland when the Sovereign is not present.<br/> <br/> The earliest recorded use of the Lion rampant as a royal emblem in Scotland was by Alexander II in 1222; with the additional embellishment of a double border set with lilies occurring during the reign of Alexander III (1249–1286). This emblem occupied the shield of the royal coat of arms of the ancient Kingdom of Scotland which, together with a royal banner displaying the same, was used by the King of Scots until the Union of the Crowns in 1603, when James VI acceded to the thrones of the Kingdom of England and Kingdom of Ireland. Since 1603, the Lion rampant of Scotland has been incorporated into both the royal arms and royal banners of successive Scottish then British monarchs in order to symbolise Scotland; as can be seen today in the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom. Although now officially restricted to use by representatives of the Sovereign and at royal residences, the Royal Standard of Scotland continues to be one of Scotland's most recognisable symbols. <br/> <br/> History<br/> <br/> The Lion rampant was legally used by William 1 of Scotland as the great grandson of King Malcolm III Canmore. The Lion Rampant has been used as a heraldic symbol by Royal descendants of Malcolm III beginning with King David 1 of Scotland The Great Seal was also used by his 2nd great grandson, Alexander II (1214–1249). Its use in Scotland originated during the reign of Malcolm III (1058–1093), The Lion rampant motif is also used as a badge by those Irish clans who has linage in common with Malcolm III. They are linked to the legendary Milesian genealogies. <br/> <br/> ***An earlier recorded Scottish royal standard featured a dragon, which was used at the Battle of the Standard in 1138 by David I (1124–1153).***<br/> <br/> Following the Union of the Crowns of England, Ireland and Scotland in 1603, the Royal Standard of Scotland was incorporated into the royal standards of successive Scottish then, following the Acts of Union in 1707, British monarchs; with all such royal standards being quartered to include the banner of the arms of each individual realm. Since 1603, the Royal Standard of Scotland has appeared in both the first and fourth quarters of the quartered royal standard used in Scotland, while appearing only in the second quarter of that version used elsewhere. <br/> <br/> ***Use by the Heir Apparent***<br/> <br/> A variation of the Royal Standard of Scotland is used by the heir apparent to the King of Scots, the Duke of Rothesay, whose standard is the Royal Standard of Scotland defaced with an Azure coloured plain label of three points. The personal banner of the current Duke, Prince Charles, also features the same, displayed upon an inner shield.<br/> <br/> Appearance in other Royal Standards<br/> <br/> As well as forming the basis of the standard of the Duke of Rothesay,the Royal Standard of Scotland has since 1603 been a component of what is now styled the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom; both that version used exclusively in Scotland and that used elsewhere. It similarly appears in the Royal Standard of Canada,with the arms of Canada reflecting the royal symbols of England, Scotland, Ireland and France.<br/> (credit Wiki)</span></span></span></p>
Pictish Carved Symbol Stones Reveal Iron Age Written Language by Val Williamson, PhD
tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2014-02-17:2185477:Topic:198564
2014-02-17T15:08:07.763Z
Dept of PMM Artists & things
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<p>The Picts were an Iron Age society that existed in Scotland from ca AD 300–843. Picts are recorded in the writings of their contemporaries, for instance the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons and the Irish but other than a copy of their King list they left no written records themselves. Pictish culture did leave hundreds of stones carved with highly stylized petroglyph symbols that still exist.…</p>
<div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_27869" style="width: 245px;"></div>
<p>The Picts were an Iron Age society that existed in Scotland from ca AD 300–843. Picts are recorded in the writings of their contemporaries, for instance the Romans, the Anglo-Saxons and the Irish but other than a copy of their King list they left no written records themselves. Pictish culture did leave hundreds of stones carved with highly stylized petroglyph symbols that still exist.</p>
<div id="attachment_27869" style="width: 245px;" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://d3k4erco76x75g.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pictish-Class-II-Shandwick-Stone-at-Easter-Ross-Cross-side.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-27869" alt="Class II Pictish carved stone, showing the cross side. Photo © Val Williamson" src="http://assets.decodedscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pictish-Class-II-Shandwick-Stone-at-Easter-Ross-Cross-side-562x1024.jpg" height="429" width="235"/></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Class II Pictish carved stone, showing the cross side. Photo © Val Williamson</p>
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<p>Can a mathematical process define these symbols as a written language, and help translate them? Researchers led by Professor Rob Lee, reporting in journal articles in the Royal Society Proceedings, believe they have proved that the Pictish petroglyphs do in fact constitute elements of written language.</p>
<h2>Three Classes of Pictish Carved Symbol Stones</h2>
<p>Unlike much ‘rock art’, Pictish incised stones demonstrate intricacy and complexity of design and symbolism. Scotland’s Pictish stones are categorised in three classes according to the types of designs made on them.</p>
<ul>
<li> Class I stones, the earliest, have only Pictish symbols and may be found incised on fragments of rock or even carved into boulders.</li>
<li>Class II stones, often large prepared stone slabs, have a combination of Pictish symbols and (Christian) crosses with Pictish symbols, and other carved imagery.</li>
<li>Class III stones contain crosses and similar imagery to the class II stones but no Pictish symbols.</li>
</ul>
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<p> </p>
<div id="attachment_27878" style="width: 280px;" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://d3k4erco76x75g.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/hiltoncadboll02-Pictish.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-27878" alt="Detail of Hilton of Cadboll Pictish stone: National Museum of Scotland" src="http://d3k4erco76x75g.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/hiltoncadboll02-Pictish-300x227.jpg" height="204" width="270"/></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Detail of Hilton of Cadboll Pictish stone: National Museum of Scotland</p>
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<h2>Cultural Interpretations</h2>
<p>A cultural interpretation of the symbols, ‘reading’ the stories that the pictures seem to tell, would suggest that they are of a heraldic or illustrative nature. The new approach to understanding the stones is data based rather than interpretive, using drawn representations of the petroglyphs.</p>
<p>Lee et al particularly relied on two sets of sketches to provide the data set for their mathematical analysis. <em>The Field guide to the Pictish symbol stones</em> by Alastair Mack, 1997, which they refer to as ‘the Mack corpus’, and <em>The early Christian monuments of Scotland</em>, drawn by Allen and Anderson in 1903.</p>
<p></p>
<h2>Written Pictish Language or Heraldic Devices?</h2>
<div id="attachment_27875" style="width: 268px;" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://assets.decodedscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Rob-Lee-et-al-Pictish-symbol-stones-decoded.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-27875" alt="Pictish symbols mapped from stone to digrams for analysis. Image courtesy of Robe Lee et al. " src="http://assets.decodedscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Rob-Lee-et-al-Pictish-symbol-stones-decoded-708x1024.jpg" height="372" width="258"/></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Pictish symbols mapped from stone to digrams for analysis. Image courtesy of Robe Lee et al.</p>
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<p>That the Picts had a distinct spoken language is evidenced in the Christian monk Bede’s eighth century analyses of historical records that comprise his history of Britain, <em>Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum</em>. Bede says, <em>“There are in the island at present, [...] five languages of different nations, [...] to wit, English, British, Scottish, Pictish, and Latin.”</em></p>
<p>Latin was the imported language used by the Christian church, so Pictish was one of four native languages in Britain at that time. Writing comes in two basic forms, this paper suggests, lexigraphic writing that is based on speech, and semasiography which is not. <em>“Lexigraphic writing contains symbols that represent speech, such as words, or sounds like syllables or letters, and tends to be written in a linear or directional manner mimicking the flow of speech,”</em> Lee told Discovery News.</p>
<p>In semasiography, symbols are representations of person or place but do not represent speech and generally are not arranged in a linear manner. Heraldic symbols do have directionality but not necessarily linear.</p>
<p>According to Lee,</p>
<p><em>“Heraldic symbols are a useful non-lexigraphic comparator since their placement rules lead to an implied directionality. This implied directionality is one of the reasons why the Pictish symbols have been proposed as heraldic symbols. Heraldic symbols consist of the base symbols (e.g. lion), modified by detail (e.g. a lion rampant versus a lion passant) and colour.”</em></p>
<h2>Pictish Carved Symbols Compared With Egyptian Hieroglyphs and Chinese Ideograms</h2>
<div id="attachment_27881" style="width: 278px;" class="wp-caption alignleft"><a href="http://d3k4erco76x75g.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Lee-et-al-Shannon-entropy-tree-for-Pictish-symbols.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-27881" alt="Shannon entropy tree for Pictish symbol analysis: Diagram by Lee et al." src="http://assets.decodedscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Lee-et-al-Shannon-entropy-tree-for-Pictish-symbols-1024x647.jpg" height="169" width="268"/></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Shannon entropy decision tree for Pictish symbol analysis: Diagram by Lee et al.</p>
</div>
<p>Professor Lee and his colleagues applied a mathematical process called Shannon entropy to the Pictish symbol data and believe that their results demonstrate that the Pictish symbols exhibit elements of written language. The data was compared with data for several other small-corpus written language samples, such as Egyptian hieroglyphs, Chinese pottery marks, ancient Latin stone inscriptions, Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, Ancient Irish, Old Irish and Old Welsh.</p>
<p>Although assumed to convey information, many symbol sets are short (one to three symbols), small (less than 1000 symbols) and often fragmented. It has previously been impossible to conclude whether they represent encoded information like an inscribed form of a complex language.</p>
<p>There are short symbol scripts surviving from many cultures, but only a two-parameter decision-tree technique such as Shannon entropy is believed to distinguish between the different character sets when sample sizes are small, thus enabling the type of communication expressed by these small symbol corpuses to be determined. Shannon entropy examines the order, direction and randomness of images. Using the technique on the Pictish symbols has established that it is unlikely that they are random or heraldic characters.</p>
<h2>Pictish Carved Symbols Catalogue Required</h2>
<div id="attachment_27880" style="width: 332px;" class="wp-caption alignright"><a href="http://d3k4erco76x75g.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Lee-et-al-2011-Pictish-symbols-analysis.jpg"><img class=" wp-image-27880" alt="Possible effect of using a larger corpus on Shannon entropy results. Image by Lee et al. " src="http://d3k4erco76x75g.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Lee-et-al-2011-Pictish-symbols-analysis-1024x621.jpg" height="195" width="322"/></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Possible effect of using a larger corpus on Shannon entropy results. Image by Lee et al.</p>
</div>
<p>This research does not actually decipher any Pictish words. In order to answer the question of whether the symbols are words or syllables, and thus define a system which will allow researchers to decipher the symbols, they need to create a complete visual catalogue of the stones and the symbols and investigate the effect (on the performance of the method) of widening the symbol set. So far, the team demonstrate that it does.</p>
<p>Demonstrating that the Pictish Ancient Scottish symbols are writing, with the symbols probably corresponding to words, opens a unique line of further research for historians and linguists investigating the Picts and how they viewed themselves, the paper concludes.</p>
<p><strong>Sources</strong></p>
<p>Rob Lee, Philip Johnathon, and Pauline Ziman. <em><a href="http://rspa.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2010/03/26/rspa.2010.0041.full" target="_blank">Pictish symbols revealed as a written language through application of Shannon entropy</a></em>. (2010). Proceedings A of the Royal Society of Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences<em>. Accessed April 1, 2013.</em></p>
<p>Rob Lee, Philip Johnathon, and Pauline Ziman. <em><a href="http://rspa.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/467/2126/309.full" target="_blank">Reply to Fournet: ‘Pictish symbols revealed as a written language through application of Shannon entropy’</a></em>. (2011). Proceedings A of the Royal Society of Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences vol. 467 no. 2126<em>.</em> Accessed April 1, 2013.</p>
<p>A. M. Sellar (translator). <em>Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of England.</em> (1907). George Bell and Sons. </p>
<p>Ian W. G. Forbes. <em>The Last of the Druids: The Mystery of the Pictish Symbol Stones.</em> (2012). Amberley Publishing.</p>
<p>Jennifer Viegas. <em><a href="http://news.discovery.com/history/ancient-scotland-written-language.htm" target="_blank">New Written Language of Ancient Scotland Discovered</a>.</em> (2010). Discovery News. Accessed April 1, 2013. </p>
<p>Education Scotland, Scotland’s History. <a href="http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/scotlandshistory/caledonianspictsromans/pictishsymbolstones/index.asp" target="_blank">Pictish Symbol Stones</a>. Accessed April 1, 2013.</p>
<p>Strathclyde University. <a href="http://www.mathstat.strath.ac.uk/outreach/pictish/database.php" target="_blank">Database of Pictish stones in Scotland</a>. Accessed April 1, 2013.</p>
<p><em><em>© Copyright 2013 Val Williamson, PhD, All rights Reserved. Written For: <a href="http://www.decodedscience.com/">Decoded Science</a></em></em></p>
<p class="pages">Pages: <a href="http://www.decodedscience.com/pictish-carved-symbol-stones-reveal-iron-age-written-language/27852">1</a> 2</p>
Aonghus.
tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2014-02-10:2185477:Topic:198597
2014-02-10T23:29:45.291Z
Dept of PMM Artists & things
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<p><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoPageCaption"><span class="hasCaption">Aonghus. (I) Of the six prominent characters in Irish myth who bear the name Aonghus, it is the love god, Aonghus O'g, who first comes to mind. He was son of the Dagda and Boann and his palace was Brugh na Boinne at New Grange by the River Boyne. He was of beautiful appearance, and four birds, representing his kisses, always hovered around his head. In the story "The Dream of Aonghus," Aonghus Og…</span></span></p>
<p><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoPageCaption"><span class="hasCaption">Aonghus. (I) Of the six prominent characters in Irish myth who bear the name Aonghus, it is the love god, Aonghus O'g, who first comes to mind. He was son of the Dagda and Boann and his palace was Brugh na Boinne at New Grange by the River Boyne. He was of beautiful appearance, and four birds, representing his kisses, always hovered around his head. In the story "The Dream of Aonghus," Aonghus Og <span class="text_exposed_show">saw a beautiful maiden in a dream and fell sick for the love of her. He asked his mother for help, and she enlisted the help of the Bodb Dearg, her brother. The girl was identified as Caer Ibormeith, daughter of Ethal Anubhail of the De Danaan of Connacht. Aonghus Og asked Ailill and Medb, rulers of Connacht, to persuade Ethal Anubhail to give him his daughter. But Ethal Anubhail said it was not in his power to do this because Caer lived in the shape of a swan and on the Feast of Samhain would be found with 150 other swans swimming on Loch Bel Dragon (Lake of the Dragon's Mouth). If Aonghus Og could identify her, it would be up to Caer to decide if she wanted to go with him. Aonghus Og identified Caer; they went to his palace by the Boyne and lived together. Aonghus Og was also foster father to Diarmuid Ua Duibhne (Of the Love Spot) and tried to save him and his lover Grainne from the vengeance of Fionn Mac Cumhail by the use of magical devices. When Diarmuid was slain by a magic boar (actu- ally the son of Aonghus Og's steward, Roc, by Diarmuid's own mother), it was Aonghus Og who placed his body on a gilded bier and transported it to his palace, where he was able to breathe a soul into it whenever he wanted a conversation with Diarmuid.<br/></span></span></span></p>
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<p><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoPageCaption"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="text_exposed_show">The second Aonghus, Aonghus of the Terrible Spear, was a chieftain of the Desi who killed Cellach, son of the High King Cormac Mac Art, with a spear and knocked out the eye of Cormac with its butt. This is the incident that results in "The Expulsion of the Desi."<br/> <br/> Among the other characters bearing the name Aonghus are Aonghus Bolg, an ancestor of the Firbolg, also regarded as an ancestor of the Desi; a son of the Bodb Dearg; Aonghus Mac Aedh Abrat, brother of the goddess Fand, who sang to Cuchulainn on his sickbed and cured him from his sickness; and, lastly, Aonghus Mac Lamh Gabuid, a warrior who challenged Cet of Connacht during the bragging contest in the tale of Mac Da Tho's boar. He is described as tall and fair-haired. Cet cut off his father's hand and this is why Aonghus challenged him. <br/> <br/> References: Ellis, Peter Berresford. Dictionary of Celtic Mythology Oxford Paperback Reference, Oxford University Press, 1994. <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Dictionary-Celtic-Mythology-Peter-Berresford-Ellis/9780195089615?&a_aid=branwen&a_bid=b7d3496f" rel="nofollow nofollow" target="_blank"><span>http://</span><span>www.bookdepository.com/</span><span>Dictionary-Celtic-Mythology</span><span>-Peter-Berresford-Ellis/</span><span>9780195089615?&a_aid=branwe</span>n&a_bid=b7d3496f</a></span></span></span></p>
St. Michael and Belanus (Belanos)...The Celtic Sun-God:
tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2014-02-08:2185477:Topic:197992
2014-02-08T16:34:19.130Z
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<p><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoPageCaption"><span class="hasCaption">Belenos<br></br> alias Beli Mawr<br></br> Celtic God of the Sun</span></span></p>
<div class="imageStage" id="imagestage"><img alt="" class="fbPhotoImage img" id="fbPhotoImage" src="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1622683_660963110609346_1009246477_n.jpg"></img></div>
<p><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoPageCaption"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br></br> Belenos, later known as Beli Mawr (the Great), was the Celtic God of the Sun, representing the curative powers of the Sun’s heat. His festival of Beltane,…</span></span></span></p>
<p><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoPageCaption"><span class="hasCaption">Belenos<br/> alias Beli Mawr<br/> Celtic God of the Sun</span></span></p>
<div id="imagestage" class="imageStage"><img class="fbPhotoImage img" id="fbPhotoImage" src="https://scontent-a-iad.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/t1/1622683_660963110609346_1009246477_n.jpg" alt=""/></div>
<p><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoPageCaption"><span class="hasCaption"><span class="text_exposed_show"><br/> Belenos, later known as Beli Mawr (the Great), was the Celtic God of the Sun, representing the curative powers of the Sun’s heat. His festival of Beltane, when bonfires were lit to welcome in the Summer and encourage the Sun’s warmth, was held on May 1st, and is remembered in today's May Day festivities. His symbols were the horse (as shown, for example, by the clay horse figurine offerings at Belenos’ Sainte-Sabine shrine in Burgundy), and also the Wheel (as illustrated on the famous Gundestrup Cauldron). <br/> <br/> ***Perhaps, like Apollo, whom he became identified with, Belenos was thought to ride the Sun across the sky in a horse-drawn chariot. Indeed, a Celtic model horse and wagon, carrying a gilded sun-disc, has been found at Trundholm in Denmark.***<br/> <br/> Sometimes he is illustrated riding a single horse, throwing thunder-bolts (hence an occasional identification with Jupiter) and using his symbolic radiating wheel as a shield, as he tramples the chthonic forces of a snake-limbed giant. <br/> <br/> ***This personification is similar to the classic depiction of the Archangel St. Michael defeating the Devil. Sacred pagan hills associated with Belenos, are thought to have had their dedications transferred to this saint (or sometimes St. George) by the the early Roman Catholic church.***<br/> <br/> Well known examples include St. Michael’s Mount (Cornwall) and the churches of St. Michael on Brent Tor (Devon), and Burrow Mump and Glastonbury Tor (Somerset): All on a supposed ley line that faces the Rising Sun at Beltane. He may also have been worshipped on Dragon Hill below the great Uffington White Horse in Berkshire. It has been suggested the Welsh form of his name, Beli Mawr, lived on into Arthurian romance as King Pellinore of Listinoire.<br/> (credit britannia.com)</span></span></span></p>
Something for our Druids :) by Betuel-Lilith Sairalindë Elanessë
tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2014-01-29:2185477:Topic:196600
2014-01-29T23:04:23.193Z
Dept of PMM Artists & things
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<p><br></br> Stanway / England - English archaeologists have for the first time archaeological evidence for the existence of the legendary Celtic priests found in a gravel quarry at Stanway near Colchester in Essex.<br></br> <br></br> As the reports the journal British Archaeology , discovered by archaeologist Mike Pitts tombs date from the period between 40 and 60 BC, and at least one harboring well be the remains of a druid .<br></br> <br></br> The most detailed historical description of the Druids comes from…</p>
<p><br/> Stanway / England - English archaeologists have for the first time archaeological evidence for the existence of the legendary Celtic priests found in a gravel quarry at Stanway near Colchester in Essex.<br/> <br/> As the reports the journal British Archaeology , discovered by archaeologist Mike Pitts tombs date from the period between 40 and 60 BC, and at least one harboring well be the remains of a druid .<br/> <br/> The most detailed historical description of the Druids comes from Julis Caesar , who in his military report " The Gallic War " as members of the Celtic nobility that the study of philosophy and religion devoted themselves and in society took over the role of the priesthood . In addition to these Vaten they were responsible for the sacrificial rituals and they also practised mantically tradition . In addition, they were intellectuals and were regarded as astrologers , lawyers and doctors , as well as a magician ( Liaigis ) . The Druids were also politically active and served as adviser to the princes.<br/> <br/> In the wood chamber grave , the archaeologists found various items that can be interpreted on a Druidic use , including but not one pans warmer , burned human remains , a cloak with brooches, a stone chain , dowsing , an infusion - shell , a kind of board game , from the the researchers believe that it was used for divination and surgical instruments . The medical cutlery set consists of a scalpel , a surgical saw , hooks, needles , probes and forceps .</p>
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<p><br/> "This person was undoubtedly a kind of specialist, also rich and powerful. This is also indicated the special position of the tomb over the other graves of the plant. It is the first fund of its kind from the Roman period in the British Isles ," says Pitt compared to alternative science .<br/> <br/> Compared with the Discovery Channel also told Philip Crummy of Colchester Archaeological Trust the view that it could be around the grave of a druid . However, he was not sure whether it is even actually RELATES a Celts at the dead man. At least the surgical cutlery show in its execution clearly Roman influences . It could therefore have acted also a Roman healers . They too had practiced , among other means of divining the future and interpretation.<br/> <br/> Because of the location and age of the plant , however, Mike Pitt believes that it constitutes a Celtic Druids and believed that they could be assigned to the tribe of the Catuvellauni .</p>
Celtic Christianity and Divination by Bre Geier
tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2014-01-26:2185477:Topic:196279
2014-01-26T19:29:49.643Z
Dept of PMM Artists & things
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<p>The most extraordinary example of divination among Celtic people is found in the writing of Alexander Carmichael. Traveling throughout the Outer Hebrides and the Highlands of Scotland as a civil servant in the late nineteenth century, he lovingly recorded the prayers, songs, and practices of the cotters and crofters. Carmichael notes that divination or augury was commonly practiced among the people, though hidden from the clergy, who were fiercely opposed to the practice. Divination…</p>
<p>The most extraordinary example of divination among Celtic people is found in the writing of Alexander Carmichael. Traveling throughout the Outer Hebrides and the Highlands of Scotland as a civil servant in the late nineteenth century, he lovingly recorded the prayers, songs, and practices of the cotters and crofters. Carmichael notes that divination or augury was commonly practiced among the people, though hidden from the clergy, who were fiercely opposed to the practice. Divination concerned revealing the whereabouts and condition of people and animals who were absent and could not be seen or known about by ordinary means. The gift of augury, like second sight or seeing into the faery realms, was inherited, though often was known to skip a generation and pass to one family member and not another. Carmichael wrote:<br/> <br/> The augury was made on the first Monday of the quarter and immediately before sunrise. The augurer, fasting, and with bare feet, bare head, and closed eyes went to the doorstep and placed a hand on each jamb. Mentally beseeching the God of the unseen to show him his quest and to grant him his augury, the augurer opened his eyes and looked steadfastly straight in front of him. From the nature and position of the objects within his sight, he drew his conclusions.3<br/> <br/> The signs are many and varied. [For Example,] A man standing or a beast rising, indicates that the person who is the object of the quest is casting off the sickness from which he had been suffering�A man lying down indicates sickness�A beast lying down indicates death. A woman, in particular a fair, brown, or black woman, is fortunate, and a woman standing is very good. .. A cock coming or looking towards the seer is excellent. A bird approaching indicates news�Fowls without a cock�especially if approaching�are harmful. Still worse is the raven, especially if approaching: it is a sign of death. 4<br/> <br/> According to the traditions recorded by Alexander Carmichael, auguries were dedicated to either the Virgin Mary or St. Brigit (also known as the Bride). When the young Jesus was nowhere to be found, Mary made an augury by making a tube with the palms of her hands and looking through them saw Jesus in the temple disputing with the elders. 5 when Jesus was again absent, Mary asked Brigit to make an augury in order to find him. As Mary did earlier, she made a tube with her hands and looking through them saw Jesus sitting beside a well. 6 Therefore, divination was known in old Scotland as the Augury of Mary or the Augury of Brigit. Along with the augurers of Outer Hebrides, you might like to say this simple prayer of invocation before casting your oracle:<br/> <br/> Augury of Mary<br/> <br/> God over me, God under me,<br/> <br/> God before me, God behind me,<br/> <br/> I on Thy path, O God<br/> <br/> Thou, O God, in my steps.<br/> <br/> The augury made of Mary to her Son,<br/> <br/> The offering made of Bride through her palm, <br/> <br/> Savest Thou it, King of Life? �<br/> <br/> Said the King of Life that He saw.<br/> <br/> The augury made by Mary for her own off spring,<br/> <br/> When He was for a space amissing, <br/> <br/> Knowledge of truth, not knowledge of falsehood,<br/> <br/> That I shall truly see all my quest <br/> <br/> Son of beauteous Mary, King of Life<br/> <br/> Give Thou me eyes to see all my quest,<br/> <br/> With grace that shall never fail, before me, <br/> <br/> That shall never quench nor dim. 7</p>
Celtic Folklore Regarding Plants & Herbs by Bre Geier
tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2014-01-25:2185477:Topic:196313
2014-01-25T18:23:04.030Z
Dept of PMM Artists & things
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<p>Until fairly recently, in Irish and Scottish rural society it was believed <br></br> that sickness and disease were caused by the fairies. A remedy could only be <br></br> given by a 'fairy doctor', a person gifted with some natural skill in <br></br> combating fairy magic. The most common herbs used in Gaelic fairy medicine <br></br> were VERVAIN, EYE BRIGHT & YARROW over which secret words would be uttered <br></br> and a ritual performed. A potion made of herbs by a fairy doctor must be <br></br> paid for in…</p>
<p>Until fairly recently, in Irish and Scottish rural society it was believed <br/> that sickness and disease were caused by the fairies. A remedy could only be <br/> given by a 'fairy doctor', a person gifted with some natural skill in <br/> combating fairy magic. The most common herbs used in Gaelic fairy medicine <br/> were VERVAIN, EYE BRIGHT & YARROW over which secret words would be uttered <br/> and a ritual performed. A potion made of herbs by a fairy doctor must be <br/> paid for in silver. However, a charm is never paid for; a gift may be given <br/> instead. Herbs had to be gathered in a special manner, at the correct phase <br/> of the moon, while reciting incantations. Herbs found by the side of sacred <br/> streams were particularly effective, and used to cure wounds, bruises and so <br/> on.<br/> <br/> YARROW: A sacred herb and a very potent healer, it intensifies the medicinal <br/> action of other herbs taken with it. Helps eliminate toxins (good for <br/> colds). It was most useful in its ability to staunch blood flow. Also <br/> associated with weather divination.<br/> <br/> VERVAIN: 'crubh-an-leoghain'(dragon's claw) A sacred herb in many different <br/> cultures; associated with visions and prophecy; flowers used on Druidic <br/> altars. Good for eye compresses and hair tonics. Sedative, anticoagulant.<br/> <br/> EYEBRIGHT: 'lus-nan-leac' for all manner of eye ailments; also hay fever, <br/> colds, coughs, sore throats.<br/> <br/> PLANTAIN: ("slanlus" - herb of health) a very common remedy, used for many <br/> ills. Antiseptic; expectorant. If hung around the neck of a child, would <br/> prevent abduction by the sidhe.<br/> <br/> TANSY: boiled, good for the heart. As a compress for bruises and strains.<br/> <br/> CHAMOMILE: ("athair talamh" - father of the ground) One of the finest <br/> healing herbs, has been used for centuries. Good for stomach disorders, <br/> anti-inflammatory for wounds, sedative for nervous disorders.<br/> <br/> LOOSESTRIFE: ("camal buidhe") keeps all bad things away<br/> <br/> WATER BUTTERCUP: ("fearaban") good for bones and joints<br/> <br/> LICHEN: ("dubh cosac") good for the heart<br/> <br/> DANDELION: ("garbh lus" - rough herb) used for many ills, especially good <br/> for the heart, for hypertension, also a good diuretic.<br/> <br/> RIBGRASS: ("slanugad") will purge the body of all lumps.<br/> <br/> MULLEIN: ("lus mor" - great herb) used alot in folk magic/medicine; can <br/> bring 'back' children abducted. If a small piece taken regularly, will <br/> ensure long life.<br/> <br/> WOOD ANEMONE: ("bainne bo bliatain") put leaves in a poultice on the head <br/> for headaches.<br/> <br/> TRAILING PEARLWORT: ("mothan") very effective as a protective herb when <br/> carried on the person. When placed below the right knee of a woman in labor, <br/> it brought relief. Given to a cow to eat, it protected both the milk and the <br/> calf. When placed above the door lintel, prevented the fairy host from <br/> 'spiriting away' any member of the household. Also used by women as a love <br/> charm - pluck nine roots, knot into a ring, and place in the mouth. Then <br/> seek a kiss from the man you desire.<br/> <br/> ST. JOHN'S WORT: to ward off fever; sedative, pain reducing; also used on <br/> St. John's Eve (midsummer) in divination.<br/> <br/> PURPLE ORCHIDS: A magical plant ("lus an Talaidh" - herb of enticement). <br/> Used in love charms. It has two roots, one larger than the other, <br/> representing a man and a woman. The plant is to be pulled by the roots <br/> before sunrise, facing South. Which-ever root is used is to be immediately <br/> placed in spring water; if it sinks the person in question will be the <br/> future husband or wife. The root can also be ground up and placed under the <br/> pillow to bring dreams of your future partner.<br/> <br/> ROWAN: Tree of high magic, from which potent charms are procured. Normally <br/> planted at the door of the house for protection. Also twigs placed over the <br/> byre door. Necklaces of rowan berries with red thread worn for protection by <br/> Highland women.<br/> <br/> ELDER: Another highly protective tree, beloved of the Sidhe. It is extremely <br/> unlucky to cut down or harm an elder (bourtree). The green sap of the bark <br/> applied to the eyelids gives the "Second Sight". Elder is also often planted <br/> outside the house for protection. Elder is the medicine chest of the country <br/> folk. Elder flower water used for eye and skin complaints, burns, bruises <br/> and sprains; as an infusion both flowers and berries are used in cold <br/> remedies.<br/> <br/> HAZEL: Used in the sacred need fires at Beltaine. Also used in water <br/> divination. Hazel nuts associated with wisdom of the Otherworld. Children <br/> were given 'the milk of the nut' to make them strong.<br/> <br/> APPLES: The fruit of life of the Sidhe, and passport to the Otherworld. <br/> Apples and hazelnuts used in divination rites at Samhain.<br/> <br/> JUNIPER: Berries have protective properties. Burnt by Highlanders in the <br/> house and byre at New Year for purification.<br/> <br/> IVY: Used for the protection of flocks, of milk and milk products. Ivy, <br/> woodbine and rowan woven together in a wreath and placed under the milk <br/> vessels. Other "magic hoops" consisted of milkwort, butterwort, dandelion, <br/> marigold; or trefoil, vervain, St. John's wort, dill.</p>
The Druid Alphabet by Christine Narducci
tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2014-01-23:2185477:Topic:196072
2014-01-23T21:27:04.063Z
Dept of PMM Artists & things
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<div style="width: 458px; word-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 7px; color: #000000; font-size: 13px;">The Druid Alphabet was used for communication, sacred purposes and divination. Each consonant of the Alphabet represented a moon cycle; therefore, the Druid year was comprised of thirteen months. The extra day was a "non-calendar" day of ritual, used to "renew" the year.<br></br> <br></br> First Month - "Beth" - (Birch): December 24 - January 20<br></br> <br></br> Birchwood was used by the Druids to whip…</div>
<div style="width: 458px; word-wrap: break-word; padding-bottom: 7px; color: #000000; font-size: 13px;">The Druid Alphabet was used for communication, sacred purposes and divination. Each consonant of the Alphabet represented a moon cycle; therefore, the Druid year was comprised of thirteen months. The extra day was a "non-calendar" day of ritual, used to "renew" the year.<br/> <br/> First Month - "Beth" - (Birch): December 24 - January 20<br/> <br/> Birchwood was used by the Druids to whip evil spirits an influences from the human body. Known as Lady of the Woods, Paper Birch and White Birch. The bark was often used in love spells. The Inspiring One, Vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly, unpretentious, modest, does not like anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.<br/> <br/> Second Month - "Luis" - (Rowan): January 21 - February 17<br/> <br/> Rowan was burned to summon spirits to fight for the Druid's causes. Its berries were magickally cast upon to produce sustenance of nine meals. It was used to heal the wounded, and could add a year to a man's life. It was also used in the great oracles. Also known as Mountain Ash, Witchwood and Sorb Apple, it has long known as an aid and protection against enchantment. Sticks of the Rowan were used to carve Runes on. Rowan spays and crosses were placed over cattle in pens and over homes for protection. Its lovely red berries feed the birds in winter. The berries have a tiny pentagram on them and are especially poisonous. The pentagram is the ancient symbol of protection. The Rowan tree indicates protection and control of the senses from enchantment and beguiling. The Rowan was sacred to the Druids and the Goddess Brighid. It is a very magical tree used for wands, rods, amulets and spells. A forked Rowan branch can help find water. Wands are for knowledge, locating metal and general divination. Sensitivity; Full of charm, cheerful, gifted, without egoism, likes to draw attention, loves life, motion, unrest and even complications, is both dependent and independent, good taste, artistic, passionate, motional, good company, does not forgive.<br/> <br/> Third Month - "Nion" - (Ash): February 18 - March 17<br/> <br/> The Sacred Tree Of Rebirth, three of the Magic Trees of Ireland (The Tree of Tortu, the Tree of Dathi, The Branching Tree of Usnech) were Ash trees. There were a total of five Magic Trees in Ireland. These three were felled in A.D. 665 to symbolize the Christian victory over Paganism. A footnote here, the Sacred Tree of Creevna, in Killura, stood until the nineteenth century, when migrating victims of the Great Potato Famine carried it piecemeal to America. All of these trees dated from the Druids. A Druid sacred tree. Druid wands were often made of ash because of its straight grain. Ash wands are good for healing, general and solar magic. Put fresh ash leaves under your pillow to stimulate psychic dreams. The Ambitious One, Uncommonly attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with its fate, can be egoistic, very reliable and trustworthy, faithful and prudent lover, sometimes brains rule over heart, but takes partnership very serious.<br/> <br/> Fourth Month - "Fearn" - (Alder): March 18 - April 14<br/> <br/> The Alder was the holy tree of Bran. In The Battle of the Trees, it fought in the front-line. It is the Battle Witch of all woods, and is hottest in a fight. Though it burns poorly, it was used by the Druids to make their sacred charcoal. Its green branches were used to make whistles to conjure up the North Winds. Milk pails were made of this wood to protect the milk. This tree was sacred to the Druids. The pith is easily pushed out of green shoots to make whistles. Several shoots bound together by cordage, can be trimmed to the desired length for producing the note you want and used to entice Air elementals. The old superstition of "whistling up the wind" began with this custom.<br/> <br/> Fifth Month - "Saille" - (Willow): April 15 - May 12<br/> <br/> Willow is derived from wicker, as were the words witch, and wicked, and it is the preferred wood to construct wands from. The Druids made wicker baskets to hold their sacrifices during the full moon and certain festivals of the year. Also known as White Willow, Tree of Enchantment and Witches' Asprin. Once of the seven sacred trees of the Irish, a Druid sacred Tree. The willow is a Moon tree sacred to the White Lady, Its groves were considered so magickal that priests, priestesses and all types of artisans sat among these trees to gain eloquence, inspiration, skills and prophecies. For a wish to be granted, ask permission of the willow, explaining your desire. Select a pliable shoot and tie a loose knot in it while expressing what you want. When the wish is fulfilled. return and untie the knot. Remember to thank the willow and leave a gift. Melancholy, beautiful but full of melancholy, attractive, very empathic, loves anything beautiful and tasteful, loves to travel, dreamer, restless, capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to live with, demanding, good intuition, suffers in love but finds sometimes an anchoring partner.<br/> <br/> Sixth Month - "Uath" - (Hawthorn): May 13 - June 9<br/> <br/> Whitethorn or Hawthorn was considered unlucky, and was used to cast harmful spells. Hawthorn was used to abstain from sexual activity, as it was believed that a child conceived during this month would come to no good. Five torches of Hawthorn were burned the night before the month began, to help survive the month, and marriages were banned. The custom of May being an unlucky month for marriage came from this. Also known as May Tree and White Thorn. Wands made of this wood are of great power. The blossoms are highly erotic to men. Hawthorn can be used for protection, love and marriage spells.<br/> <br/> Seventh Month - "Duir" - (Oak): June 10 - July 7<br/> <br/> Duir is derived from the word Door, and the Oak was considered a dimension door of sorts to the Druids. The Head of the their pantheon, the Royal Oak, king of all trees, was used to pass through the forest, to other oaks within the woods. Its wood was used exclusively to stoke the Midsummer fires. Oak has been considered sacred by just about every culture that has encountered the tree, but it was held in particular esteem by the Celts because of its size, longevity, and nutritious acorns. The oak was the "King of Trees" in a grove. Magick wands were made of its wood. Oak galls, known as Serpent Eggs, were used in magickal charms. Acorns gathered at night held the greatest fertility powers. The Druids and Priestesses listened to the rustling oak leaves and the wrens in the trees for divinatory messages. Burning oak leaves purifies the atmosphere. It can be used in spells for protection, strength, success and stability; the different varieties will lend their own special 'flavor' to the magic. The Robust One, Courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not love changes, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.<br/> <br/> Eighth Month - "Tinne" - (Holly): July 8 - August 4<br/> <br/> Holy was second only to the Oak in sacredness. Not the traditional holy native to the British Isles today, this tree was the Scarlet Oak, which is infested with a scarlet, berry shaped insect that was used to make a red dye, and aphrodisiac elixirs. It is also the sacred tree of the Furies. A beautiful white wood with an almost invisible grain; looks very much like ivory. Holly is associated with the death and rebirth symbolism of winter in both Pagan and Christian lore and is important to the Winter Solstice. In Arthurian legend, Gawain (representing the Oak King of summer) fought the Green Knight, who was armed with a holly club to represent winter. It is one of the three timbers used in the construction of chariot wheel shafts. It was used in spear shafts also. The qualities of a spear shaft are balance and directness, as the spear must be hefted to be thrown the holly indicates directed balance and vigour to fight if the cause is just. Holly may be used in spells having to do with sleep or rest, and to ease the passage of death. A bag of leaves and berries carried by a man is said to increase his ability to attract women.<br/> <br/> Ninth Month - "Coll" - (Hazel): August 5 - September 1<br/> <br/> The nut of the Hazel was consumed by the Druids for wisdom, and it was believed to be the source of all knowledge of the Arts and Sciences. A forked Hazel stick was used for divining the identity of murderers and thieves. It was used to find water, and buried treasure as well, a practice still used by water witches today. Druidic heralds carried White Hazel wands as a symbol of their station. Wands made of this wood symbolize white magick and healing. Forked sticks are used to find water or buried treasure. If outside and in need of magickal protection quickly draw a circle around yourself with a hazel branch. To enlist the aid of plant fairies, string hazelnuts on a cord and hang up in your house or ritual room. Magically, hazel wood is used to gain knowledge, wisdom and poetic inspiration. Extraordinary, Charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make an impression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody and capricious lover, honest and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgment.<br/> <br/> Tenth Month - "Muin" - (Vine): September 2 - September 29<br/> <br/> The Vine was not native to the British Isles and was brought there by the Tuatha de Danann, where it did well in southern areas of the Isles. It was used by the Druids to make their sacred wines, Blackberry being the most sacred. The Danaan taught the Druids the fine art of winemaking, insuring the vine's sacred status.<br/> <br/> Eleventh Month - "Gort" - (Ivy): September 30 - October 27<br/> <br/> Ivy was consumed by the Druids to stimulate dreaming, a true insight to the future. Dreaming was a very important oracle, revered nearly to the level of human sacrifice.<br/> <br/> Twelfth Month - "Pethboc" - (Reed): October 28 - November 24<br/> <br/> Peith stood for NG originally, or Ngetal, the Reed. Only later did it signify Peith, the Guelder Rose, or water Elder. The reed was carried by Egyptian Pharaohs who used to form it into a scepter. It was holy to the Druids for making sacred darts and arrows.<br/> <br/> Thirteenth Month - "Ruis" - (Elder): November 25 - December 22<br/> <br/> Elder was used by witches as magic horses. Its flowers and bark were used as medicine. It was also associated with death. Also known as Ellhorn, Elderberry, Lady Elder. Sacred to the White Lady and Midsummer Solstice. The Druids used it to both bless and curse. Standing under an elder tree at Midsummer, like standing in a Fairy Ring of mushrooms, will help you see the "little people." Elder wands can be used to drive out evil spirits or thought forms. Music on panpipes or flutes of elder have the same power as the wand. Remember the words of the Rede. Elder is the Lady's Tree, burn it not or cursed ye be!</div>
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Brighid - Hearth Goddess of Ireland By Patti Wigington
tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2014-01-19:2185477:Topic:195640
2014-01-19T19:26:36.596Z
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<p>Origins of Brighid:<br></br> <br></br> In Irish mythological cycles, Brighid (or Brighit), whose name is derived from the Celtic brig or "exalted one", is the daughter of the Dagda, and therefore one of the Tuatha de Dannan. Her two sisters were also called Brighid, and were associated with healing and crafts. The three Brighids were typically treated as three aspects of a single deity, making her a classic Celtic triple goddess.<br></br> <br></br> Patron and Protector:<br></br> <br></br> Brighid was the patron of…</p>
<p>Origins of Brighid:<br/> <br/> In Irish mythological cycles, Brighid (or Brighit), whose name is derived from the Celtic brig or "exalted one", is the daughter of the Dagda, and therefore one of the Tuatha de Dannan. Her two sisters were also called Brighid, and were associated with healing and crafts. The three Brighids were typically treated as three aspects of a single deity, making her a classic Celtic triple goddess.<br/> <br/> Patron and Protector:<br/> <br/> Brighid was the patron of poets and bards, as well as healers and magicians. She was especially honored when it came to matters of prophecy and divination. She was honored with a sacred flame maintained by a group of priestesses, and her sanctuary at Kildare, Ireland, later became the home of the Christian variant of Brighid, St. Brigid of Kildare. Kildare is also the location of one of several sacred wells in the Celtic regions, many of which are connected to Brighid. Even today, it's not uncommon to see ribbons and other offerings tied to trees near a well as a petition to this healing goddess.<br/> <br/> Celebrating Brighid:<br/> <br/> There are a variety of ways to celebrate the many aspects of Brighid at Imbolc. If you're part of a group practice or a coven, why not try Honoring Brighid With a Group Ceremony? You can also incorporate prayers to Brighid into your rites and rituals for the season. Having trouble figuring out what direction you're headed? Ask Brighid for assistance and guidance with a Brighid's Crossroads Divination Ritual.<br/> <br/> Brighid's Many Forms:<br/> <br/> In Britain, Brighid's counterpart was Brigantia, a warlike figure of the Brigantes tribe near Yorkshire, England. She is similar to the Greek goddess Athena and the Roman Minerva. Later, as Christianity moved into the Celtic lands, St. Brigid was the daughter of a Pictish slave who was baptised by St. Patrick, and founded a community of nuns at Kildare. <br/> <br/> In addition to her position as a goddess of magic, Brighid was known to watch over women in childbirth, and thus evolved into a goddess of hearth and home. Today, many Pagans and Wiccans honor her on February 2, which has become known as Imbolc or Candlemas. <br/> <br/> Crafts to Honor Brighid:<br/> <br/> In many Pagan traditions today, Brighid is celebrated with crafts that honor her role as the protector of the hearth. You can make a Brighid corn doll, as well as a Bride's Bed for her to sleep in. Perhaps the best known decoration is the Brighid's Cross, whose arms represent the place where a crossroads comes together, the space between light and dark.<br/> <br/> Brighid and Imbolc:<br/> <br/> Like many Pagan holidays, Imbolc has a Celtic connection, although it wasn’t celebrated in non-Gaelic Celtic societies. The early Celts celebrated a purification festival by honoring Brighid. In some parts of the Scottish Highlands, Brighid was viewed as a sister of Cailleach Bheur, a woman with mystical powers who was older than the land itself. In modern Wicca and Paganism, Brighid is sometimes viewed as the maiden aspect of the maiden/mother/crone cycle, although it might be more accurate for her to be the mother, given her connection with home and childbirth.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/n/?photo.php&fbid=420251018107119&set=gm.636155593088123&type=1&relevant_count=1&aref=199916215&medium=email&mid=943&n_m=travelerinbdfsm%40hotmail.com" style="color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none; display: block; line-height: 0; border: 1px #CCCCCC solid; padding: 3px;" class="ecxthumb" target="_blank"><img class="img" src="https://fbcdn-photos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/t1/1517470_420251018107119_1056069225_s.jpg" style="width: 80px;" alt="" width="80"/></a></p>
The Keltoi...the Druidic Legacy:
tag:travelingwithintheworld.ning.com,2014-01-17:2185477:Topic:195329
2014-01-17T17:50:52.240Z
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<div class="imageStage"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoPageCaption"><span class="hasCaption"><br></br> In the Celtic religion, the modern words Druidry or Druidism denote the practices of the ancient druids, the priestly class in ancient Celtic societies through much of Western Europe north of the Alps and in the British Isles. Druidic practices were part of the culture of all the tribal peoples called Keltoi and Galatai by…</span></span></div>
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<div class="imageStage"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" id="fbPhotoPageCaption"><span class="hasCaption"><br/> In the Celtic religion, the modern words Druidry or Druidism denote the practices of the ancient druids, the priestly class in ancient Celtic societies through much of Western Europe north of the Alps and in the British Isles. Druidic practices were part of the culture of all the tribal peoples called Keltoi and Galatai by Greeks and Celtae and Galli by Romans, w<span class="text_exposed_show">hich evolved into modern English “Celtic” and “Gaulish”. Modern attempts at reconstructing practicing Druidism are called Neo-druidism.<br/> <br/> ***From what little we know of late druidic practice it appears deeply traditional, and conservative in the sense that the druids were conserving repositories of culture and lore. It is impossible now to judge whether this continuity had deep historical roots and originated in the social transformations of late La Tene time, or whether there had been a discontinuity and a druidic religious innovation. The etymological origins of the word druid are varied and doubtful enough that the word may be pre-Indo-European. The most widespread view is that “druid” derives from the Celtic word for an oak tree (doire in Irish Gaelic), a word whose root also meant “wisdom.”***<br/> <br/> <br/> ***Their influence was as much social as religious. Druids used not only to take the part that modern priests would, but were often the philosophers, scientists, lore-masters, teachers, judges and councillors to the kings. The Druids linked the Celtic peoples with their numerous gods, the lunar calendar and the sacred natural order. With the arrival of Christianity in each area, all these roles were assumed by the bishop and the abbot, who were never the same individual, however, and might find themselves in direct competition.***<br/> <br/> Our historical knowledge of the druids is very limited. Druidic lore consisted of a large number of verses learned by heart, and we are told that sometimes twenty years were required to complete the course of study. There may have been a Druidic teaching center on Anglesey (Ynys Mon) centered on magical lakes, but what was taught, whether poetry, astronomy or whether possibly even the Greek language, is conjecture. Of their oral literature of sacred songs, formulas for prayers and incantations, rules of divination and magic, not one verse has survived, even in translation, nor is there even a legend that we can call purely druidic....<br/> (credit eaglesnest1488)</span></span></span></div>
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