Posts Tagged ‘celtic’

Posted on January 7, 2009 - by Andrew

A list of standing stones in Northern Ireland

Megaliths (or standing stones) can be complete circles, incomplete circles or single vertical stones. Northern Ireland has very many standing stones and this list is just a sample.

1. Aghalane standing stone
2. Aghtirourke
3. Altagore
4. Ballygilbert
5. Ballyloughin
6. Ballymacaldrack
7. Ballynahatty, The Giant’s Ring
8. Ballynoe
9. Ballyvennaght
10. Banagher
11. Beaghmore
12. Carnalridge, The White Wife
13. Carnanbane
14. Carnanmore
15. Carrick East
16. Castleward
17. Cloghastuckane
18. Coolnasillagh
19. Cregg
20. Creggandevesky
21. Crockalaghta
22. Cuilbane
23. Cushleake Mountain
24. Drumskinny
25. Goakstown
26. Gortcorbies NE
27. Killybeg, Bullaun Stone
28. Knockoneill
29. Lackagh
30. Legananny
31. Lisnamanny
32. Loughash Wedge Tomb
33. Magheramore
34. Moneydig
35. Moneyslane
36. Mount drum
37. Navan Site B
38. Saval Mor
39. Slieve Gullion
40. Tamnaharry
41. Ticloy
42. Tievebulliagh
43. Tireighter
44. Tirnony
45. Tullynafreave
46. Tureagh Stone Circle
47. Wateresk

In Pure Spirit

Have you been to any of these megalith sites? What was it like? Can you help us add more standing stones found in Northern Ireland to this list?

Posted on January 6, 2009 - by Andrew

Wookey Hole

Wookey Hole

Wookey Hole is a village in Somerset, England. It is most famous for the Wookey Hole Caves. Wookey Hole Caves are believed to been inhabited by early man some 50,000 years ago. Bones and pottery from Iron Age Celtic people have also been found.

Wookey Witch

The Wookey Hole Caves are known for the legend of the Wookey Witch. It is said that the villagers petitioned the Abbot of Glastonbury for help with dealing with a witch who lurked in the cave. The Benedictine exorcist Father Bernard was dispatched. Folklore tells that Father Bernard defeated the witch and that his power and faith turned her to stone.

Hauntings

Visitors to the cave frequently report hearing a strange echoing laughter and shadows moving suddenly. The ghost of the Wookey Witch is also said to linger on in the cave.

There are legends of a giant eel which was forced into the deep caves after local fishermen drove it up the River Axe after it had destroyed their nets.

In Pure Spirit

What do you think about Wookey Hole Caves and its attractions? Has it become too touristy or can you still feel the history of the place?

Posted on January 3, 2009 - by Andrew

Why is it unlucky to leave the Christmas decorations up after 5th January?

The 5th of January is the 12th night of Christmas. It is considered unlucky to leave the Christmas decorations up beyond the night of the 5th. If the decorations are still up after the 5th then superstition advices it is best to leave them up all year.

The 12th night of Christmas is Epiphany Eve. The Epiphany, on the 6th of January, is the day Christian’s record as the day Jesus Christ was revealed as God in human form. The day is also celebrated by some Christians to commemorate the Magi visiting the child Jesus.

The Epiphany has other names and other local customs. It is sometimes known as Little Christmas (or Women’s Christmas ‘Nollaig na mBan in Irish) or Dia dos Reis (Portuguese for the ‘day of the kings’). The Epiphany marks the start of the Mardi Gras season in Louisiana.

In many ways the 12th night marks the end of the Christmas season. The Christmas decorations need to be removed in time to mark the Epiphany.

Candlemas is also a significant event in this tradition. Candlemas, also known as the Meeting of the Lord or the Feast of Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, normally occurs around the 2nd of February although some Churches will have this feast on the Sunday between the 28th of January and the 3rd of February. Once again Churches would require Christmas decorations to be down in time for the new Candlemas decorations to be put up.

It is thought by many than Candlemas is a Christianization of the Celtic festival of Imbolc. Imbolc (or Là Fhèill Brìghde in Scotland) is the day halfway between the Spring Equinox and the Winter Solstice and originally dedicated to the healing and smith-craft goddess Brigid. Imbolc is also the day the hag goddess Ceilleach gathers her firewood. Households would be ill-advised to still be decorated with greenery and while Ceilleach is out gathering.

In Pure Spirit

If you celebrate Christmas or Yule do you make sure all the decorations are down before the end of the 12th night?

Posted on December 25, 2008 - by Andrew

Yule

The tradition of Yule pre-dates Christianity. It is now celebrated on December the 25th by many but on December 21st or 22nd on the solstice by some Wicca.

Yule is a celebration and a feast which marks the darkest point of the winter and the returning of the light.

The word Yule may come from the word Yoole which, in turn, derives from the Old English geōla. It may also come from the Old Norse word Jōl for a 12 day feast which Christian missionaries later turned into Christmas.

Yule on the solstice heralds the rebirth of the Oak King on the longest night. It represents not just rebirth but planning for the future.

One type of Yule log would be a large log given or harvested but never bought that was taken into the house, decorated and lit. Decorations would traditionally be greenery, reds and gold colours with a dusting of flour. The log is then doused in cider and lit from the smouldering remains of last year’s yule log. After 12 days the log would be ceremonially doused.

Today, a more common form of Yule log is one which holds three candles. The first candle should be green, red or white to represent the season. The second candle should be green, gold or black to represent the Sun God and the third candle should be white, red or black to represent the Great Goddess.

Dagda and Brighid are deities most suited to Yule. Dagda’s cauldron is symbolic of provision and warmth. Brighid’s work to teach the smiths the techniques of metal work and fire tending is associated with the light returning from the darkness and the rebirth.

In Pure Spirit

We would like to wish every visitor a happy Yule for this year and the next. Please share your thoughts; what does Yule mean to you?

Posted on December 17, 2008 - by Andrew

A list of standing stones in Wales

Megaliths (or standing stones) can be single vertical stones, complete or incomplete circles. Many of the standing stones in Wales date from the Neolithic period (circa 4000 BC) and this is fairly common for megaliths in Europe.

1. Barclodiad y Gawres Burial Chamber
2. Bodowyr Burial Chamber
3. Bron Y Foel Isaf Burial Chamber
4. Bryn Cader Faner Stone Circle and Cairns
5. Bryn Celli Ddu Burial Chamber
6. Bryn Seward Stones Cadair Idris
7. Bwlch y Ddeufaen Standing Stones
8. Capel Garmon Burial Chamber
9. Carreg Samson. Burial Chamber
10. Druids’ Circle Penmaenmawr
11. Dyffryn Ardudwy Burial Chambers
12. Great Orme Bronze Age copper mine
13. Hendre Waelod Burial Chamber
14. Llanllyfni Standing Stone
15. Llanbedr Standing Stones
16. Llech Idris Standing Stone
17. Lligwy Burial Chamber
18. Maen y Bardd Burial Chamber (Stone of the Bard)
19. Mynydd Cefn Burial Chamber
20. Mynydd Hiraethog sites
21. Parc Cwm long barrow
22. Penbedw Stone Circle
23. Penrhos Feilw Standing Stones
24. Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber
25. Plas Newydd Burial Chamber
26. Presaddfed Bodedern Burial Chamber
27. St. Lythan’s Burial Chamber
28. Tinkinswood Burial Chamber
29. Trefignath Burial Chamber
30. Ty Mawr Hut Circles South Stack Holyhead

In Pure Spirit

Have you visited any standing stones in Wales? We’d love to hear your experiences in the comment section below? Can you help us grow or enhance this list? Please get in touch!

Posted on December 15, 2008 - by Andrew

The Celtic Zodiac – tree zodiac

It is thought that the ancient Celtic Druids may have used a Zodiac. This Zodiac was rediscovered by Robert Graves and publisied in his popular book The White Goddess* (USA*) .

Graves used the work of Duald MacFirbis (1585 – 1670) the scholar and bard of clan O’Brien and bard Roderick O’Flaherty (1629 – 1718). There is doubt among modern scholars as to whether these sources are enough as there is evidence that some of the terminology used has Latin rather than Celtic roots and it is unlikely Christian bards would have sought to preserve ancient Druid knowledge.

Helena Peterson has provided an alternative Celtic Zodiac. It uses the planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto which the Druids where unlikely to have discovered but her book The Handbook of Celtic Astrology* (USA *) remains popular.

Due to the competing versions of the Celtic Zodiac and the on-going debate around accruacy it is easy to find tables with differing dates.

Celtic Zodiac

December 24 to January 20: Birch – The Achiever

January 21 to February 17: Rowan – The Thinker

February 18 to March 17: Ash – The Enchanter

March 18 to April 14: Alder – The Trailblazer

April 15 to May 12: Willow – The Observer

May 13 to June 9: Hawthorn – The Illusionist

June 10 to July 7: Oak – The Stabilizer

July 8 to August 4: Holly – The Ruler

August 5 to September 1: Hazel – The Knower

September 2 to September 29: Vine – The Equalizer

September 30 to October 27: Ivy – The Survivor

October 28 to November 24: Reed – The Inquisitor

November 25 to December 25: Elder – The Seeker

In Pure Spirit

Are you a follower of the Celtic Zodiac? Do you think we can ever fully recover the wisdom of the Druids?

Disclaimer: Links marked with a star* are revenue links.

Posted on November 11, 2008 - by Andrew

A Celtic creation myth – hoarfrost

We all have to find a beginning somewhere and this is where it begins for In Pure Spirit.

A Celtic creation myth

During the first winter a colossal and powerful giant rose from the hoarfrost. Next came the fire and the fire melted the giant.

As the ice giant melted so the world was born. His blood became the seas and oceans. His bones became the mountains. The giant’s hair became the forets and trees. The sky was forged from his skull.

It is thought that some of the ancient Celtics placed their gods at the very heart of the Earth in a realm of mountains and valleys. Beneath, in the Underworld, the dead lived on.

In Pure Spirit

In some ways this Celtic creation myth is similar to the Norse stories of Niflheim the land of ice and Muspelheim the land of fire beginning to mix.

And what of you? What type of beginning would you hope to discover at In Pure Spirit?