Eight Keys to Celtic Magic

by Edred Thorsson

Every folk group has special traditions with regard to magical practice. To the contrary of trends in modern occultism, these traditions are not merely window dressing on a universal pattern – the differences reflect real and often profound variations between and among traditions. In studying the Celtic traditions of magic, certain unique themes occur that are worth pointing out. These themes help distinguish the Celtic traditions from others. If these themes are found inspiring, then the Celtic tradition is a place to explore them further in the environment of ideas that will lead the seeker to deeper findings along the same path.

1. Magic of the Head

NO other tradition, with the possible exception of the Slavic, is more focused on the human head (and brain) as the seat of magical powers. When one reads the ancient Irish tales, one becomes aware of the degree to which the Celts were headhunters. The reason for this is that their magical physiology holds that the head is the seat of power- an honour. This a warrior attempts to steal from an enemy, and assume himself. Hence the ancient Irish were known to eat a portion of a slain enemy's brain. The headhunting practices of Irish fighters continued until the mid-19th century, when early Irish immigrants to North America fighting for the Confederacy were known to have hunted the heads of Union soldiers. (See Professor Grady McWhiney's book, Attack and Die). Also, however, the heads of one's own ancestors were to be preserved, and displayed at certain holy times. This "cult of the head" is conspicuous at the Celtic temple at Roquepertuse, which contains stone pillars with niches into which the heads of ancestral heroes were placed. This is without doubt also the ultimate origin of the "jack-o-lantern” – the carved cephalomorphic gourd familiar in Halloween customs. It is thought by many that the myth of the head of Mimir, which informs the God Odin, is ultimately a Celtic influence.

2. Memory

Mimir means memory – and the exercise of memory in and of itself seems to have a magical importance for the Celts. This is a trait they share with the Aryans of the East. The Druidic training program is said to have consisted of twenty years of learning lore by memory. The exercise of this faculty for its own sake, beyond the ready access to information it provides to the subject is something the Celts seem to have especially appreciated. The Ogham system was most certainly one of the practical tools used in this exercise. Poems and stories were among the things memorized.

3. Story-Telling

The stories recited by Celtic tellers of tales were not merely for entertainment – they were also not merely mythic tales in which the traditions of the people were encoded. Stories are actually said to have operative magical effects. It might be said that the hearing of a certain story would bring a number of years of good fortune, but the telling of a story would bring even more. (See Rees and Rees, The Celtic Heritage).

4. Language and Music

No people seem more Iyrical than the Celts. The linkage between music (harmonics) and language (meaning) is strong. In the lore of magic this reaches its apex in operative techniques by which changes in the environment, or in the human mind, can actually be effected by means of musical strains alone. This is a theory explored by the Pythagoreans, but in the lore of the Celts it appears to have been an ancient traditional operative technique.

5. Inter-Dimensionality

No other traditional lore seems to have a better or more realistic understanding of the magical experience of inter-dimensionality. The regular interaction with the "Otherworld" or the "Underworld" is a common feature of Irish and Welsh mythic tales as well as folktales from the Celtic cultures. It is from these that the Arthurian legends inherit their "inter-dimensional" features- such as the Grail Castle appearing and disappearing from various "places" at various "times." This mutual effect of one "world" upon another is reflected in the very grammar of the Celtic languages wherein one word, when juxtaposed to another for a specific grammatical, syntactic and semantic purpose, will cause the latter word to change its shape (sound). For example the Irish word for "cow" is bo, and the word for "white" is ban, but to say "a white cow," one must say, or write, bo bhan [pron. boh-vawn].

6. "Satirizing"

By the use of words – of poetry – the Fili ("master poets") were able to cause physical changes in the bodies of other individuals. This was done with "satire." The fact that satirical verse has a patently humorous aspect is the essentially Celtic dimension here. Because Celtic kings could not rule if they suffered any physical defect or blemish, all the satirists had to do in order to depose a king was to, by means of a satirical verse, raise boils on his face. All would see the blemish, and his rule would be at an end.

7. Operative Fasting

Fasting for "spiritual" reasons is familiar throughout the world. To fast – really to starve the body – in order to make subjective changes is obvious. Celtic magicians could, however, "fast on" their enemies as an operative curse formula. By starving himself to near death the sorcerer can actually cause the death of his enemy. This technique is something entirely different from, though apparently related to, the use of fasting as a way to "protest" supposed injustices. This latter technique works only through the medium of information in the context of public morality, whereas the operative fasting of the ancient Celtic magicians worked in a mysterious way.

8. Magical Taboos

Again "taboos" – negative prohibitions against certain behaviours – and other behavioural sanctions are familiar in most religious traditions. The Irish gess [pron. gaysh] (plural gessa) is most often translated something like "taboo." It is, however, something quite different from what is usually meant by this word. A gess, although usually a prohibition against behaviour, actually provides power to the individual. The more gessa that have been "put on" a person (usually by a sorcerer) the more danger recipients live with – but also the more power recipients have at their disposal. To have a gess is both a curse and a boon simultaneously.

Honoring Yourself

by Artemisia

For many, especially in my native New England, the long winter months are difficult. We don’t get to see much sunshine because we are in the office all day, and even if we have free time, often it’s too cold to go outdoors. This is the time of year when we naturally want to hibernate by staying home, resting and relaxing. Unfortunately, we do not always have the opportunity to stay in and rest like Mother Nature would like, so many of us end up with colds, flus or otherwise feel fatigued. Why not honor yourself at Imbolc with a special retreat designed to rekindle your energy for the coming spring?

Just as the moon cycles through its phases thirteen times a year, from waxing to full to waning to dark again, so do the sun and earth cycle through their phases together in one year. Beginning at Yule, for us here in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun enters the waxing phase, but the increase in daylight is gradual. The days begin to get longer and the nights slowly become shorter. There is still a lot of darkness (and cold depending on where you live). Imbolc marks the point when the light really seems like it’s returning, and if you look and listen carefully, you can sense the humming of the Earth as she makes her preparations for the Spring.

What does this waxing phase mean to us and how can we use this time to honor ourselves?

Well, consider the waxing moon time of the month. This energetically corresponds to the end of a woman’s bleeding and detoxing time. During this period, we usually have a lot of energy because we have finished a natural detox of our bodies and we are renewed. The waxing moon energy is about beginnings, optimism and the energy to make anything possible. The waxing moon corresponds to the Amazon archetype - a young woman/warrior with her whole life ahead of her. She is full of possibilities, and she has the energy, the self-esteem, the power, the confidence and the belief to make her dreams come true.

In the solar picture, during this waxing time of the year, we can honor ourselves by invoking the Amazon within. Set aside some time just for you to do the things you love and enjoy. Access your inner spontaneity and do something you haven’t done in years, that makes you feel free and youthful! Visualize yourself as a warrior - someone with the confidence, power, and energy to accomplish your heart’s desire. Even if you don’t feel like a warrior, spend some time daydreaming or fantasizing to help bring your passionate, energetic self into focus. Consider this meditation, from the Book of Shadows of the Griffin Grove Inn, to rekindle your connection with your inner power:

I am the cup, the chalice of life
Ever filled, ever flowing
Molded by what I hold, shaping what I pour
I am the waters of creation

I am the sword, giver of death and spring
Ever sharp, ever piercing
Edged by what is true, cutting what is not
I am the fires of rebirth

I am the salt, purifier of the earth
Ever seasoned, ever healing
Birthed by what is rock, growing with the world
I am the spice of mother

I am the censor, keeper of the air
Ever fresh, ever blowing
Scented by what I touch, moving with my will
I am the winds of change.

While I’ve got your attention, I also encourage you to honor yourself during the drudgery of the middle of winter, by tending to your body. Although there are not a lot of fresh, seasonal foods in the colder climates, we are lucky in that we can usually find imported items from the warmer parts of the country or the world. Try giving yourself a bit of a nourishing cleanse to help your body release some of the excesses that we all tend to take in over the winter holiday season.

Eat fresh fruit daily, dig into those hardy greens, cooking them lightly, and fill up on all the hardy vegetables you can find in your market. Try taking this time to eliminate - for good or for a period of time - a few of the foods, drinks, or habits that keep you from achieving wellness: sugar, coffee or fried foods. But, don’t forget at this time of year to keep warm; we need building foods like whole grains and legumes. Get creative and try a few new recipes to spice up the doldrums of winter - using spices like curry, cinnamon, ginger, garlic, and thyme.

Rekindle your energy by going to the gym, and going for hikes or walks when the weather permits. Make time to rekindle your inner fire by stretching, dancing, and moving around joyfully! Now is the time to add some tai chi, yoga, martial arts, or pilates into your life - whatever makes you feel youthful, strong and well!

Whatever you do, make sure that it FEELS GOOD to you. The easiest way to honor yourself is to live a joyful life.

Many Blessings to you! May your inner Fire burn brightly!

About The Author: Artemisia is studying to become a Priestess of the Order of the White Moon. She is a graduate student in Natural Health and practices Holistic Rites. She now officiates all Rituals and Rites of Passage at The Griffin Grove Inn.

Winter Amongst Giants

by Kevin Panton

I might be the least likely Druid Bard -- a rapper turned poet from London England -- who followed his intuition to Druidry. I belong to the Order of The Loyal Arthurian Warband, which has a few titles. A Bard has all the musical, storytelling, poetic attributes associated with it, and a Battle Chieftain bestows authority and is usually a recognition of participation of a road protest (many members of the Warband protest against the unnecessary building of motorways, the English equivalent of a highway, often living among the trees that are due to be cut down and paved over.) A Shield Knight is bestowed upon one who is believed to be an incarnation of an original Knight of the Table.

As a result of good fortune, good deeds, and good intentions, I was knighted a Shield Knight and Bard by the man currently accepted by three Druid Orders as the current representation of King Arthur. 'The Once and Future King' took Her Majesty's Government to the European Court of Human Rights to allow us Druids to celebrate in Stonehenge on ceremonial days without paying. The ONLY days you are allowed within the stones for free are on ceremonial days, and the only reason we are allowed is because Arthur took the government to court to allow religious ceremony in there on those days. The court papers read King Arthur versus Her Majesty the Queen. (And we won!) But this is not my story, nor his - this is merely one Bard's account of the Druidic ceremonies in Stonehenge and Avebury during the Winter Solstice of 2006.

If it wasn't for the fact that I was already acquainted with the Druids, and count myself among their number, it is hard to imagine what I would be doing in the English countryside in the middle of the night on the eve of the Winter Solstice! I was there the night before - I was staying in the car-park nearby with around 60 other people, staying up throughout the longest night round bonfires with guitars and mead, indeed all a Bard could need. (Mead, fermented honey, is sacred to us Druids, and there is an old saying - "ask the wild bee what the old Druids knew.") And layers, it was extremely cold so this bard needed layers! But it was worth it for A LOT more people turned up while it was dark for the sunrise ceremony in the stones. Fifteen-hundred people apparently.

Stonehenge itself is owned and managed by English Heritage and despite many years of battling to have use of it on ceremonial days, English Heritage people are very compliant and allegedly a joy to work with. Stonehenge appears to pre-date the era most associated with the Druids although it is widely accepted that the Druids used it for ceremony. It is widely suspected that the Druids of old had more of an idea what it's use was than we do now. This is made more confusing by the fact that most archaeologists refuse to accept the work of Graham Hancock and countless others who have indicated that what we refer to as civilisation may have existed thousands of years before what was previously believed. The precise astrological alignments and the unique resonance of sound within the stones indicate that it was both a giant, extremely accurate calendar and a sound chamber of sorts. It was certainly built for ceremonial purposes.

This Winter Solstice, there was beautiful ceremony in which Arch Druid Rollo had us all chant for peace. The Druids entered the stones to the sound of Drums. We did the traditional Druidic chant of IAO, the sacred syllable, we chanted in the four directions and finally we turned to the centre of the circle and chanted for peace throughout Earth. The ceremony was very quick but very heartfelt. Rollo is also a Merlin, however Merlin is this case is not considered an individual but a rank and a title. (In this lifetime at least there is more than one Merlin, and I've met more than one Merlin myself.) There were affirmations for peace in Iraq and other ceremonies.

I felt strangely disconnected, but perhaps it's because I am an oxymoron - a loner with alot of friends. I would have been more comfortable doing a ritual on my own or conversely one that was more inclusive. I just didn't feel like chanting IAO only when told to. But I was to have my moment of personal reflection in the sacred stone circle of Avebury a few days later in another Solstice Ceremony.

This Winter Solstice I also witnessed four handfastings in Stonehenge. A handfasting is a Celtic Wedding that lasts for a year and a day, and if you want you can renew your vows a year and a day later (the marriage lasts for a year and a day, not the wedding ceremony!) These were beautiful and added a romantic hue to a magical day. I saw friends that I had made all over the country, many had little or no knowledge of Druidry but felt compelled to attend Stonehenge on the Solstice morning due to their own spiritual beliefs and intuitions. It felt like I had stepped out of time, characters from different areas of my life within these huge imposing stones, surrounded by Druids in robes making dramatic exultations! (It did not feel like I was walking through the streets of modern day London the day before, and it felt like had dreamed the entire experience when I was walking through London later that same day!)

There were huge crystal singing bowls and drums, lots of drums. And fifteen-hundred people! All these people turned up in the freezing cold and the thickest fog. It was a magic morning, the frost was gorgeous, spiders-webs were dripping with white and looked almost cliche. Unfortunately, I felt like the drums took away some of the reverence, they felt too loud and boisterous for heartfelt ceremony. But most of the English Druids I have met love the theatrics of it all, they like a bit of drama, and the drums definitely had that effect. But I felt like we were being led into battle, or to party, not to pray. I wanted to pray, and by pray I mean only to set positive intentions but with resolve.

The Saturday afterward I was in Avebury, where the ceremony was smaller the numbers were a lot smaller but the vibe was all there. I love Avebury. Stonehenge is widely accepted as the having masculine energy and Avebury is regarded as feminine, my intuition is that this is correct. Stonehenge sits directly on the Michael ley-line and Avebury directly on the Mary line, Avebury feels more nurturing whereas Stonehenge is more imposing. Avebury is apparently older and the stone circle is about four times the size of Stonehenge, not including the various sacred sites within its immediate vicinity. I met the Bard of Avebury and caught up with quite a few of my Druid brethren. The Bard of Avebury is a guitar playing singer-songwriter who lives in Avebury and attends all the relevant ceremonies. I attended the ceremony with the friend who introduced me to Druidy, Susanna, and I became her de-facto paige for the day, carrying her staff and watching her dog when her hands or eyes were otherwise occupied. Susanna is the only person who holds the post of both Warrior Priestess and Battle Chieftain. (If it wasn't for a random conversation with this elder a few years ago I would know nothing of modern day Druidry.)

I went for a walk, and my intention was to return to the vision-chamber/burial chamber West Kennet Long Barrow. Ever since I slept in West Kennet Long Barrow on the eve of the Winter Solstice in 2005, my intuition has never felt or been this strong. Indeed it was only after I told Susanna the events that led to me sleeping there that she decided I I had to meet Arthur and the Druids. Despite our conversations always touching the subject of spirituality she had never mentioned them before. But in the knowledge that there were people waiting for me and our bus was on it's way I only made it to Silbury Hill.

I had a bit of a moment on my own at the foot of Silbury Hill. It is the largest man-made mound in Europe, it is roughly the size and volume of the Egyptian pyramids. Part of the Avebury landscape, archaeologists claim it contained no burial or shrine, and was therefore likely important in itself: but its purpose and significance remain enigmatic. I had a vision that it looked like a Mayan temple when it was built. I recited a poem, to myself or to the hill, I'm not sure which... then I departed. I was buzzing, as Avebury is a spot of power and if you know what sort of power there are ways to harness it intuitively. I felt chi coursing through my body.

Afterwards, I reveled in my solitude and yelled a 'crow-call' across the hillsides to celebrate. The crow is one of my power animals - I have a collection of crow's feathers and I have amassed quite a few unexplainable experiences concerning crows. About twenty cows in an adjacent field looked up at me after I 'cawed' like a crow, with a look of surprise on their faces. They came bounding toward me - despite the fence between us, it actually scared me quite a bit! They might be docile and even a little bit cute, but the fence was flimsy and they're big, fat and heavy to quote Buju! I'd never seen cows run before! Anyway, they got next to the fence and just stared at me as if they were waiting for me to do something. On my way to Silbury Hill I walked right past them on the other side of the fence in their field but as they stared at me on the way back I was glad there was at least a flimsy fence between us. Goodness only knows what the cows were waiting for, but I know fear is never the answer (especially fear of cows!) and perhaps I should have stuck around and delivered a poem for the cows. I can't believe I just wrote that, but I meant it. Next time maybe.

For my brethren across the seas and the trees. Love, gratitude and appreciation /|\

Your Hip-Hop Bard and Shield Knight, Kev the Poet
Kevin Panton is the author of 'Silent Screams of Intense Bliss' and the THC Society Website:
http://www.belowthebelt.bravehost.com
He is also a Shield Knight and the 'Hip-Hop Bard' of The Loyal Arthurian Warband:
http://www.warband.org/

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND:
REFORMED DRUIDISM 101 - THE ONLINE COURSE

Yes it's back, and the Samhain session of RD 101 is winding down, and another session will begin on April 30th.

This class is unique in that it introduces the student to the Reformed Druids of Gaia - and most of the references to Stranger in a Strange Land, and to the OMS, have been eliminated.

To enroll online in the April session, go to http://rdg.mithrilstar.org/d101.htm
There is a $3 fee for enrollment, applicable to your initiation fee should you decide to join the RDG later on.

THE STATE OF THE REFORM
1 Earrach Y.G.R. 01

As of today 315 Druids have registered with the RDG:

12 members are initiated Second Degree Druids
11 members are eligible for initiation into the Second Degree
3 members are eligible for ordination into the Third Degree
13 members are ordained Third Degree Druids

During the season of Geimredh, we experienced a net membership gain of 20

Total Groves chartered: 2 (+ 4 Proto-Groves)
Total US Members: 286
Total Canadian Members: 9
Total UK Members: 7
Total International Members: 29
Total Countries represented: 9
Total US States represented: 37
Total Canadian Provinces represented: 7
Top 5 US States: CA=27, OR=19, WA=13, FL=11, NY=7