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#Celtic druids
howardia · 2 days
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“A triad of Elvin Beastettes menace with firm dugs and tightly wound erses. Thick hairs flow out in a tail’s whip from the small of their backs and fur amounts their brow and arms. These warrior women hail from an ancient Celtic Druid race—feral and deplorable; their rank musks discernible from hillocks away.”
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irishironclad · 6 months
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It’s that time of the year again so I am once again reminding everyone that Halloween is not a pagan holiday.
Samhain has nothing to do with Halloween. Anyone claiming it does doesn’t speak Irish and hasn’t read the original sources.
Samhain didn’t include costumes, giving out sweets, pumpkins, or anything of the sort. In fact Samhain wasn’t even always in October. When Samhain started depended entirely on the weather and when it started to get cold. For example for this year this early autumn has been pretty warm so the Druids would likely push it back into November.
Which is the other thing Samhain needs to be announced by and facilitated by a Druid. There are no more Druids, you cannot be a Druid anymore, Druids are all gone. No Druids means no communing with the otherworld which means no Samhain which means any supposed spiritual ritual that occurred cannot and will not occur again.
And finally even if there are some pagan roots to some of the traditions I’m the modern Halloween they have been spiritually baptized and are Christian now. They belong to us now.
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7000 · 5 months
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witches and pagans: there is so much we can do for Palestine
even if we don’t share the same faith- our prayer, rituals, and spells are powerful. our gods and spirits and ancestors have the power to intervene on our behalf, all we have to do is ask. they don’t take kindly to oppression, or politicians propping up genocidal regimes.
especially right now on Samhain, the veil is thin, and it’s the best time of the year to connect with the spiritual realm and the divine, and ask them for help. or take it into your hands- spells, hexes, prayers, and divinations, any and all of the above.
witches have done it before, we’ve helped to change the course of history. we can do it again.
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whats-a-human · 1 year
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music is underrated
Seriously, I've never seen anyone talk about music in modern witchcraft, and that's weird to me cuz I know most if not all of you pagans absolutely adore music. At least I do!
Plus, it has been like, primordial for witchcraft and religion in general since humans have been a thing. It connects people, helps achieve trance or specific emotions, gives you catharsis and is just perfect in every way.
So here's some help for implementing music in your practice if you're interested:
Listen to specific songs that will help you get in the right mood for the spell/ritual/sigil you wanna perform
Cast spells by dancing, create choreography-based spells
Meditate on a song that's important to you, ask why it's important, what emotions it gives you and why
Pay attention to the song you're listening, try to hear the instruments or beats in the back. I've noticed I can hear so many more "parts" of my songs after practicing Zen (not only after meditating, I mean as a permanent upgrade lol)
Compose magic songs/spells in song format
Compose spell lyrics for instrumental songs
Visualize an intention while singing with all your heart to a song that vibes with your intention
Put music in the background while doing your craft
I remember that I dreamt using a song for a spell, then I did and now every time I listen to it I get goosebumps and powerful feelings. I even feel that spell "activating" a bit even though I don't mean to (that's why we don't do hexes, kids! Jk, it was a good spell). I think I can even fully activate it again just by hearing the song if I want to, because it meant a lot to me even before I became pagan.
Seriously, mindfully using music and dance in your craft is really, really worth it.
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celtinka · 2 months
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Today’s Irish word of the day is GRÁ (graw). There is an online Irish dictionary where you can browse for translations and definitions at focloir. ie
Your interest will help keep Irish alive as it is the oldest living Celtic language that originated in Ireland over a thousand years ago!
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yoga-onion · 10 months
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Legends and myths about trees
Celtic beliefs in trees (16)
D for Duir (Royal Oak) - June 10th - July 17th
“June Tree - 7th month of the Celtic Tree Calendar (Ref)”
metal: gold; Gemstone: diamond; Gender: male; Patrons: Dagda, Esus, Taranis, Artemis, Zeus, Jupiter, Thor; Symbols: strength + patience, generosity + protection, justice + nobility, honesty + courage
The oak was the most revered tree of the Celts, with a tall, round, stout trunk that is thick and round, spreading out like a crown. They grew into huge, imposing trees and lived long lives, so they became objects of worship for the Celts, who wished to live forever. 
Another reason for their worship was their high level of usefulness. It was used for housing and furniture. The round table around which the knights of King Arthur's Round Table were surrounded was made of one solid piece of oak wood. Merlin the Wizard used magic in the oak forests and his magic wand was made from the finest oak branch. The ancients also believed that with the help of acorns, they could come into contact with the gods who ruled the natural world.
The bark was used for tanning, dyes and medicinal purposes and had a wide range of uses. Oak wood was also used for coffins to hold the remains of the dead and was associated with the afterlife. Oak acorns were a favourite food of pigs in ancient times and helped in the mass rearing of pigs. Oak trees, as well as the mistletoe that inhabits them, were a factor in oak worship. Because it was believed to have fertility and reproductive benefits, a ceremony was held on the sixth day of every month in the lunar calendar to reap the mistletoe by the druids (Ref2).
The oak woodland was revered as a sanctuary by the Celts and was called Nemeton. Druidic rituals were held under the oak trees of this Nemeton. There is evidence of the presence of many Nemetons in continental Gallia (the ancient name for the ancient Celtic settlements).
The oak tree, imbued with energy, power and vitality, represents divinity in nature as a gateway to the inner world, a passage to the Kingdom of God, and communicates its divine will to us in the company of the gods.
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木にまつわる伝説・神話
ケルト人の樹木の信仰 (16)
D for Duir (Royal Oak) - 6月10日~7月17日
『6月の木〜 ケルトの木の暦(参照)の第7月』
金属: 金; 宝石: ダイヤモンド; 性: 男性; 守護神: ダクダ、エスス、タラニス、アルテミス、ゼウス、ユピテル、トール; シンボル: 力+忍耐、寛容+保護、正義+高貴さ、正直+勇気
オークはケルト人が最も崇拝した樹木で、背が高く,丸々としてどっしりとした幹は太くて丸く、冠のようにこんもり広がっている。堂々とした巨木に成長し、長生きすることから、永遠に生きたいと願うケルト人の信仰の対象となった。
崇拝されたもう一つの理由は、その有用性が高かったことである。住居や家具などに使われた。アーサー王の円卓の騎士たちが囲んだ丸テーブルは、1枚のがっしりとしたオークの木でできていた。英国では、アーサー王とともに、オークは魔法の守護者とされていた。魔法使いのマーリンはオークの森で魔法を使い、魔法の杖はオークの最上の枝でつくられていた。また、昔の人々はどんぐりの力を借りれば、自然界を支配する神々と接触できると信じていた。
樹皮は皮なめし、染料、薬用などに用いられ、用途は広かった。オーク材は死者の遺骸を入れる棺桶にも使用され、死後の世界とも関わりがあった。オークの実、どんぐりは古代には豚の好物で、豚の大量飼育にも役立った。オークの木だけでなく、オークの木に宿るヤドリギも、オーク崇拝の一因であった。多産と繁殖をもたらす効果があると信じられたことから、ドルイド(参照2)の手でヤドリギを刈り取る儀式が陰暦で毎月6日に行われた。
オークの森林はケルト人にとって聖域として崇められ、ネメートンと呼ばれた。ドルイドの祭式はこのネメートンのオークの木の下で行われた。大陸のガリア(古代ケルト人の居住地の古称)にはネメートンが多く存在した証拠が残っている。
エネルギーと、力と、活力をそなえるオークの木は、内なる世界への入り口、神の国への通り道として、自然界における神性を表し、神々との間にあって私たちに神意を伝えている。
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nmnmrsz · 2 years
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larkle00 · 5 months
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speaking as someone who is of various european descent (though thats not to say that european pagan traditions are only for people of european descent) i feel that especially in online spaces theres an expectation to commit yourself to a single pantheon and cultural tradition- and while i understand the damage that poorly researched eclecticism can have i find it impossible to choose a single practice- i am incredibly fortunate that my family makes an effort to preserve our traditions (irish on my dads side, german and belgian on my moms) and so i feel like eclectic paganism is just inherent within me. that being said i am constantly working to remain as informed as possible and appreciate any corrections of misinformation or misconceptions. i love the gods and practices of my ancestors and i love to see them intermingle, just as i have been raised with a combined immersion in irish, german, and belgian culture and customs.
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palkiapng · 2 years
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something something love knows no boundaries etc.
hey it’s been a while here’s some art
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oldschoolfrp · 1 year
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Eveyd, a 315 year-old half-elf druid, blocks your path. (Keith Parkinson cover for AD&D adventure To Find a King by Bob Blake, including four first round tournament adventures run at Gen Con XVI, TSR, 1985)
"Two centuries ago, the last king of the celtic kingdom of Pelham was deposed in favor of a High Council. Now, however, things are going badly, and a restless populace longs for the days of the ancient kingship. The High Council is floundering -- and the political situation is turning ugly." This teaser text from the back cover has an unusual use of lower case "celtic" as a thematic description of one realm in a fantasy world without Celts.
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djlechat · 2 years
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‘The Druids’ by Julia Tar
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fallbabylon · 2 years
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Rocky Vale Labyrinth carvings- Rocky Vale, Cornwall
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chrissy-kaos · 12 days
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I hope everyone has a blessed all snakes day!
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littlegaydruid · 1 year
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@crunadh regarding this post here. This is a long post so hold on to your hat.
Thank you for your question! I honestly felt much the same way starting out. It's kind of a hard practice to get into if you don't join a group for it.
I’ll point out first that my practice is solitary, so what I do likely looks a fair bit different than those who belong to a grove or order. I'm also in no way an expert. If anyone else wants to reblog or comment with their own resources, please do.
It's also my opinion that, much like with being a witch, there’s no ���wrong” way to practice druidry exactly. The fact is modern druidry (or "druidism") is really just an inspiration of what we think the historical druids did because we have so little information on them. The information we do have almost entirely comes from roman sources, and that was usually in the context of like, conquest. So if anyone tells you they know the one true way to be a druid, side-eye them because they either don't know what they're talking about or they're being highly disingenuous. With that out of the way…
I personally try to do three things (and feel free to try any of them to see if they work for you):
On a spiritual level, I go out into nature when I can. I believe humans are very much a part of nature and unfortunately, we've become disconnected as a society because of greed, capitalism, and the mindset that we are somehow better than nature. For this reason, rebuilding and maintaining a connection is very important. (This was easier when I lived in the mountains instead of the city but I make do with what's around, whether that's in a park or with the birds who come visit the trees outside my apartment.) At most I’ll bring a sketchbook, and I’ll walk among the trees or wherever I am, perhaps sit with them a while. And I’ll just observe, and meditate. I like to take notice of the sounds around me- the leaves rustling, the birds, the squirrels, the deer, the stream. Sometimes I talk to the trees. They don't literally talk back, but very occasionally I notice a subtle shift in their presence if that makes sense. (If there are any gods/goddesses you believe in, this is where I might suggest you could incorporate them or leave plant/animal-safe offerings in some way, but you don't have to.)
While I'm doing these things I try to maintain an awareness and respect for the fact that I was not the first one here. Both in the sense of "hey, this is not my house, but my grandparents' house," and in the sense that, "hey, Indigenous folks were here before me," because I'm from the US. Imo it all goes hand in hand and is a simple step but a necessary precursor to physical action.
On a mental level, I study. I like to research herbalism and how to identify the different types of plants and animals. Not necessarily to forage (though I do enjoy that, too), but I found it's a good way to get to know the plants and wildlife in an area, especially if it's hard to get outside sometimes. I also like to research both local folklore, and "Celtic" histories and mythologies (I'm a bit of a reconstructionist). This includes researching what we do think we know about the historical druids and the history of the modern druidic practice and spiritual concepts like Awen. I also like to study philosophy, ethics, and morals because I've found that it ties in quite well.
Then finally on a physical level, whenever I go out, I try to give back to nature. To me, picking up trash is a perfect offering to nature/land spirits. If I can, I try to find a new use for it so it doesn't end up in a landfill (recycling is a bit of a lie, so to me "reuse" takes priority). If I see an animal that was hit by a car, I try to see if there's any way to (safely) move it from the road. Little things like that can go a long way.
I also take action at a voter level and monetarily where I can. I mentioned in my other post that I greatly enjoy the concept of solarpunk. The mentality behind it (one of hope) is one that I like to embody, and I like to use it to help spread awareness about the environment and potential solutions to many of the climate problems we face, especially in the areas that I'm most knowledgeable (for me that's the construction and housing industries).
I do small things as well in observance of the solstices and equinoxes. I don't exactly follow the wheel of the year, but I want to mention druids do have one that is similar to the Wiccan wheel of the year but with different names for the festivals.
Resources
For getting into it yourself, I can point you to a few places.
OBOD (druidry.org) - You might have found this one already because its one of the first to show up when you search for druidry on google. The Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids was founded in the 1960's by Ross Nichols and currently lead by Philip Carr-Gomm. They have distance learning kits that you can buy if thats your cup of tea. You can also join their order. If not, they still have a fair bit of resources and information on their website for free. They also host lives on their facebook and youtube. Philip Carr-Gomm has his own youtube as well.
The Druid Network - A resource founded by Emma Restall Orr after she left OBOD. It has information you can read about regarding practices, events, and has a whole list of books that you can read to get yourself started.
Living with Honour, A Pagan Ethics by Emma Restall Orr - She has quite a few books actually and you'll find some of them recommended on TDN, but I wanted to mention this one because it's not listed there and I think it's still relevant.
What do Druids Believe by Philip Carr-Gomm - This one IS mentioned on TDN, but I wanted to highlight it in particular as a kind of supplement to the info you can find with OBOD.
If you're interested in incorporating Celtic reconstructionism into your druidry, I recommend you check out Alexei Kondratiev's Lorekeeper Course as a potential place to start. Its an entirely free online resource.
Mhara Starling has a nice little video here talking about the differences between witchcraft and druidry with a friend of hers so I'd recommend giving it a watch.
Unfortunately, there aren't really set rules on how to do druidry like there are with organized religions, but hopefully what I've mentioned here will help point you in the right direction and get started. <3
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rrougarou · 2 months
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Old painting I did of the Celtic god Cernunnos or Herne. I’m a big fan of Celtic mythology and Cernunnos is one of my favorite gods. This is more of a gas lamp fantasy version of the god, a “what if people new stopped worshiping him” kinda deal.
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