Irish texts, magick, and other questions from a newbie [Archive] - MysticWicks Online Pagan Community and Spiritual Sanctuary

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scorpio7

March 3rd, 2010, 12:42 AM

Hello all! I'm still around, though I've been lurking on the forums a bit the last few months; I still read though. I've finally found my place honoring the Irish gods after all this time and have been on some sort of eclectic Celtic path for the past 6 months or so. I had always intended to look into CR but 6 months ago it felt overwhelming and was too much for me to make sense of while I was trying to come to terms with being a polytheist and letting go of the Christian God and my Christian guilt.

Yesterday I was reading the CR FAQs in the resources section and something just clicked; it made sense all of the sudden and maybe, just maybe I'm on my way to finally finding a path?

I'm very interested in researching CR and have been reading through the FAQs, and I have a very basic understanding of what CR is. I feel like the next step is to continue researching on the web and reading some of the Irish myths and historical texts. I'm really excited that most of them are available online, although I have print copies of The Tain by Thomas Kinsella and Early Irish Myths and Sagas by Jeffrey Gantz as well.

So a few questions...

Is there a certain order I should read myths or texts in? Will reading them in a particular order make more sense?

I also haven't been able to find much about magick/witchcraft and Celtic reconstructionism, although I know that witchcraft is a practice, not a religion, so there's no problem with the two of them going together.

Is there a particular type of witchcraft/magick that goes along well with CR or can this be somewhat eclectic? I draw a lot of magick and ritual elements from research I've done on Wicca and incorporate divination, psychic development, energy work, etc. I guess I'm asking how this all fits together with reconstructionism.

After I've read more, researched more, am more familiar with CR as a whole, what's my next step, if I'm not getting ahead of myself by asking?

Sorry for the long-winded post and all the newbie questions, but I finally feel like I might be onto something here!

Seren_

March 3rd, 2010, 05:01 AM

Is there a certain order I should read myths or texts in? Will reading them in a particular order make more sense?

I'm not really sure there's a particular order that's necessary, it would be putting a lot of pressure on yourself to do a lot of reading. I'd say just go with the flow and get comfortable with it all, and start with what interests you.

Of the two books you've mentioned, you might want to start with the Táin because it's more of a story than the tales in Gantz, so it kind of has a beginning, middle and end. You might find that easier to get into. Or you might find picking at a tale here and there is less overwhelming. It really depends on what you think will help you most.

You might want to look at the tales from the Mythological Cycle (http://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/index_irish.html#mythological) if you're specifcally wanting to start with tales that are more god-oriented.

I also haven't been able to find much about magick/witchcraft and Celtic reconstructionism, although I know that witchcraft is a practice, not a religion, so there's no problem with the two of them going together.

Is there a particular type of witchcraft/magick that goes along well with CR or can this be somewhat eclectic? I draw a lot of magick and ritual elements from research I've done on Wicca and incorporate divination, psychic development, energy work, etc. I guess I'm asking how this all fits together with reconstructionism.

CR draws from more traditional sources, so it will look to cunning folk practices (or insert appropriate local terminology here...) rather than Wicca, and the focus there is generally on making charms. There's less of a set, ritualised way of doing it (I guess it's more like kitchen witchery?), so you won't really find CRs casting a circle, calling the quarters and raising a cone of power and so on.

I'm more familiar with Scottish practices in this respect, and there are some things I do that might be seen as witchcraft, but wouldn't have been called so in Scotland (and I think the case is the same for Ireland). I make charms for protection that I hang around the house, I do rites of warding at each festival, and so on. Many families in Scotland had special charms - like pieces of jewellery - that were passed on through the generations, used for healing of people and livestock alike. In Ireland, you might want to look into the practice of using bullauns, (http://www.irishmegaliths.org.uk/crosspillars2.htm) which were often used for curing or cursing.

I'm not sure that's much help, but it's not really my area...

After I've read more, researched more, am more familiar with CR as a whole, what's my next step, if I'm not getting ahead of myself by asking?

Sorry for the long-winded post and all the newbie questions, but I finally feel like I might be onto something here!

I don't see anything wrong with starting off with a few practices as you find your feet. It's easy to think that you need to know more and more and more before you start actually doing anything, and suddenly you realise it's been three years and all you've done is study! But everybody has to start somewhere.

I'd suggest starting off with some offerings - the CR FAQ goes into that, which might help. There are some online places and groups that you might want to join, because a lot of people tend to feel more comfortable talking about their practices in a more private setting. There's a list here (http://www.mysticwicks.com/showpost.php?p=3756399&postcount=7) with some of them on.

odubhain

March 5th, 2010, 06:18 AM

Is there a certain order I should read myths or texts in? Will reading them in a particular order make more sense?

That's a very good question and a very important one as well. How you read and study the myths will lay down a foundation for you that should be second nature concerning traditions and customs.

The Druids and Filidh certainly had an order to how the tales were told, how they were studied and even how they were classified (according to theme or subject matter). One of my theories which I've placed into practice is that the Ogham and the tales were related through order, seasons, cosmology and years.

My list of tales that follows is by no means complete nor is it absolutely and undeniably the way things were done in the past, but it is none-the-less *a way* to understanding. The tales included come from many sources. Some are folktales. Others are more literary. Some are of early Christian provenance while others come from later Pagan flavored sources. To that effect, the study of the Ogham and the tales are tied together in my teachings so that one aids the other in memory, divination and understanding. I ask that anyone who knows a tale or understands a quality or value, that would improve this approach to learning the traditions and practices of our ancestors, please share them.

The classes I teach on this subject try to delve into the meanings of the tales as well as a discussion of the qualities and values they exemplify in the Ogham.

Here's my list of Ogham, Dúile and tales:

From The Cauldron of Vocation by Searles O'Dubhain

The North
B
Beith (BEH) - Birch “The Lady of the Woods”

The Nine Dúile of Beith:

Fasting
Cleansing
Baptism
Initiation
Being
Manifestation
Beginnings
Consciousness
Will
Tales to Read and Study:

The Beauty of the Eyebrow
The Tales of Bóann and the Well of Segais
Boand I
Boand II
The Gods in Exile
The Conception of Lugh
The Birth of Cú Chulainn
The Story of Taliesin
L
Luis (LWEESH) - Rowan “Elm in the Forests”
The Nine Dúile of Luis:
Beliefs
Lessons
Increase
Quickening
Animation
Intuition
Instinct
Viewpoint
Perspective
Tales to Read and Study:

Mogh Roith’s Rowan Fire and Magical Wind
The House of the Quicken Trees
The Wood Of Dubhros
F
Fearn (FAIR-n) - Alder ”Shield of Bran”
The Nine Dúile of Fearn:
Guarding
Alliances
Protection
Sheltering
Rescuing
Preservation
Defending
Assertions
Contentions
Tales to Read and Study:

The Shield of Corc
The Sickbed of Cú Chulainn
The Dream of Angus Mac n’Og
The Fair Giantess
The Reign of Bres
S
Saile (SAHL) - Willow ”Tree of Enchantment”
The Nine Dúile of Saile:
Shape
Image
Awakening
Feelings
Touching
Awareness
Alertness
Wariness
Resistance
Tales to Read and Study:

Cliodna’s Wave
Fergus mac Leda and the Wee Folk
Donn, Son of Midhir
Labraidh’s Ears
N
Nuin (NEE-uhn) - Ash “Weavers Beam”
The Nine Dúile of Nuin:
Examination
Testing
Challenge
Defiance
Aggression
Assaults
Attacks
Contests
Hardihood
Tales to Read and Study:

The Horned Women
The Destruction of Da Derga’s Hostel
Da Derga’s Hostel and the Three Reds
Gathering of the Hosts
The Morrigan
Conary and his Retinue
Champions at the House
Death of Conary
Mac Cecht’s Wound
Ket and the Boar of mac Datho
The War of Words of the Women of Ulster

The East
H
Huath (OO-ah) - Hawthorne “Horror, Son of Terror”
The Nine Dúile of Huath:
Likeness
Similarity
Compatibility
Agreement
Acceptance
Encompassing
Containing
Fortunes
Opportunity
Tales to Read and Study:

The Chase of the Hard Gilly
Dermot at the Well
The Rescue of Fairyland
The Champion’s Portion
Cael And Credhe
D
Duir (DAH-r) - Oak “King of the Grove”
The Nine Dúile of Duir:
Generosity
Abundance
Bounty
Reward
Dedication
Strength
Clarity
Distinction
Preeminence
Tales to Read and Study:

The Dagda’s Harp
The Tale of The Dagda’s harp
The Master of Knowledge
The Dagda
Bodb Dearg
The Ever-Living Ones
The Well of D’Yerree-in-Dowan
“The Story of Blodeuwedd” in the Mabinogion
T
Tinne (CHIN-yuh) - Holly “The Sons of Tuirenn”
The Nine Dúile of Tinne:
Tradition
Custom
Energy
Potency
Purity
Essence
Elements
Fundamentals
Principles
Tales to Read and Study:

The Green Champions
The Sons of Tuirenn
The Enchanted Cave
C
Coll (CULL) - Hazel “Wattles of Wonder”
The Nine Dúile of Coll:
History
Tales
Survival
Inheritance
Heritage
Creativity
Revelation
Inspiration
Wonder
Tales to Read and Study:

The Coming of Finn
The Birth of Oisin
Cat-Heads And Dog-Heads
Q
Quert (KAIRT) - Apple “The Silver Bough”
The Nine Dúile of Quert:
Unions
Encirclings
Arousals
Excitement
Ecstasy
Passions
Radiance
Warmth
Harmony
Tales to Read and Study:

The Voyage of Teigue, Son of Cian
Cormac’s Adventure In The Land Of Promise
Connla and the Fairy Maiden

The South
M
Muin (MUHN) -Vine “The Tie that Binds”
The Nine Dúile of Muin:
Obstacles
Desires
Bindings
Oaths
Vehemence
Fierceness
Intensity
Power
Law
Tales to Read and Study:

Conan mac Morna
The Tale of Etain in Fairyland
Eochy and Etain
The Love-Story of Ailill
Midir the Proud
The Land of Youth
A Game of Chess
Midir and Etain
War with Fairyland
The Wooing of Etain
How Osgar met with his Wife
G
Gort (GORT) - Ivy “Hallowed Walls”
The Nine Dúile of Gort:
Values
Appreciation
Fulfillment
Satisfaction
Control
Ambition
Attainment
Information
Knowledge
Tales to Read and Study:

The Recovery of the Tain
Tradition of the Fairy-Wren of Manxland
NG
nGétal (NYEH-dl) - Reed “Pathways of Life”
The Nine Dúile of nGétal:
Solidarity
Communion
Peace
Stability
Wholeness
Health
Soundness
Sanity
Modesty
Tales to Read and Study:

Grania and Dermot
The Pursuit
Dermot and Finn Make Peace
The Vengeance of Finn
Death of Dermot
The End of Grania
Mannanan at Play
March’s Ears

ST
Straif (STRAHF) - Blackthorn “I See it Crimson, I See it Red!”
The Nine Dúile of Straif:
Instability
Deception
Turmoil
Upset
Despair
Mistrust
Dilemma
Accuracy
Clarity
Tales to Read and Study:

The Blackthorn Pin
The Dindshenchas about Ceilbe, Daughter of Cearbhall, Son of Muiregen
Fedelm Prophecizes to Medb
The High King of Ireland
R
Ruis (RWEESH) - Elder “The Lady’s Tree”
The Nine Dúile of Ruis:
Blemish
Distortion
Conflict
Disturbance
Curses
Argument
Discussion
Determination
Balance
Tales to Read and Study:

How Dermot Got the Love Spot
Find and the Phantoms

The West
A
Ailm (AHL-m) - Silver Fir, also Elm “The First and the Last”
The Nine Dúile of Ailm:
Lessons
Study
Learning
Sacrifice
Dedication
Science
Logic
Observations
Teachings
Tales to Read and Study:

Vortigern's Tower
The Adventures of Art, the Son of Conn
THE ADVENTURES OF ART, SON OF CONN
Amirgen and Athirne
The Colloquy of the Two Sages
The First Utterance of Aí Son of Ollamh
O
Ohn (UHN) - Furse or Gorse “Nectar of Light”
The Nine Dúile of Ohn:
Support
Maintaining
Sustaining
Determination
Focusing
Shaping
Persuasion
Expression
Eloquence
Tales to Read and Study:

“The Cloth” in the Metrical Dindshenchas
“Áine and the Herdsman”
“The Tale of Athenae the Poet”
Aililiú na Gamhna
“Rent-Day”
The Goddess Ainé
U
Ur (OOR) - Heather “The Mantle of the Earth”
The Nine Dúile of Ur:
Burial
Decompose
Humus
Seeds
Blessings
Germination
Illumination
Consideration
Reflection
Tales to Read and Study:

The Song of Finn
The Wanderers
“Celtic Wonder Tales”
“The Burial of Odran”
E
Edad (EH-wah) - White Poplar, Aspen “Voice of the Winds”
The Nine Dúile of Edad:
Veneration
Respect
Achievements
Intensity
Exaltation
Guidance
Deductions
Rulings
Judgement
Tales to Read and Study:

The Story of Deidre
Fate of the Sons of Usnach
I
Idad, Ioho, Iubar (EE-wah) -Yew “Tree of Eternity”
The Nine Dúile of Idad:
Collapse
Release
Surrender
Freedom
Liberty
Service
Meditation
Insight
Mastery
Tales to Read and Study:

The Re-Birth Story Concerning King Mongan
The Chase of Slievegallion
The Fairy Palace of the Yew Trees

The Center, The Forfedha
EA/Imbolc
Eabha, Ebadh, Koad (EH-vah) – Grove “Gatherings”
The Nine Dúile of Ebad:
Assembly
Weaving
Community
Family
Fosterings
Blessings
Attunement
Alignment
Centering
Tales to Read and Study:

Oisin’s Children
How Angus won the Brugh
The Reign of Bres
OI/Bealtain
Oir (EE-r) - Spindle Tree “Pathways”
The Nine Dúile of Oir:
Purpose
Joining
Making
Healing
Chanting
Wishing
Delight
Pleasure
Primacy
Tales to Read and Study:

The Tale of Arawn and Hafgan
The Dream of Angus mac n’Og
The Courtship of Emer
The Tales of Benn Etair
Bend Etair I
Bend Etair II
IO/Lunasadh
Ifin, Iphin, Phagos (EF-in) - Pine, Beech) “Trials”
The Nine Dúile of Ifin:
Requests
Protocol
Testing
Fitness
Quality
Excellence
Validity
Rightness
Initiation
Tales to Read and Study:

The Hidden House of Lugh
Cormac’s Cup of Truth
The Coming of Lugh to Tara
UI/Feast of Age
Uilleand (OOEL-en) - Honeysuckle “Journeys of the Spirit”
The Nine Dúile of Uileand:
Study
Research
Discovery
Well Being
Ordering
Direction
Spiraling
Transforming
Completeness
Tales to Read and Study:

Oisin and Niam
The Journey to Fairyland
The Muster of The Men of Erin
The Pigs of Angus
AE/Samhain
Emancoll, Mor (EHVAN-cul) - Witch Hazel, The Sea “Rewards”
The Nine Dúile of Emancoll:
Honoring
Ancestors
Mysteries
Lifeforce
Offerings
Cycles
Ages
Existence
Destiny
Tales to Read and Study:

Teeval, Princess of the Ocean
The Voyage of Mael Duin’s Boat
The Voyage of Bran, Son of Febal
The Adventures of Nera

Here's what I hope to achieve when the Cauldron of Vocation work is finished:

What follows is a part of the introduction to the Cauldron of Vocation
volume of my class in Ogham Divination. I am including it here for
discussion with you in hopes that we can perfect ourselves through
sharing wisdom and discussing points of view. I offer this here with the
expectation that any criticisms will improve my own understanding and work:

The Ogham are the products of the minds of the Druids. As such, they
are organized in a logical and almost geometrically placed order in
terms of how they are written and grouped. No other language is as
mathematically orthogonal in terms of number and shape as the Ogham.
It is ordered in 5 x 5 groups or aicme. Each character is a straight
lined stroke that is made relative to a central line or druim (with
the exception of the Forfedha which is separated into a last aicme).
The consonants and vowels are grouped into separate aicme. The
Forfedha is a last aicme that seems to have a place representing
summation of form and function for the other aicme. It represents
diphthongs and combined letters in its forms and contained the Dúile
or functions of the letter meanings in its own correspondences and
kennings.

Ogham has several uses for the Filidh and the Druids. It is an
alphabet known as Bethluisnin. It is a series of lists that are
associated with most of the elements of life within Irish Celtic
society. It is a group of 93 forms of writing that seem to serve a
cryptographic function for its inventors and users. It is also a
shorthand for three series of kennings known as Briatharogam. These
are words and phrases that conjure up images and links to the tales of
the Coimgne. Ogham is an alphabet, a language of kennings, lists of
associations, images and memory linkages for the many tales that a
File or Druid is expected to know, a means of composing poetry through
links, associations and images, and, as such, also a powerful tool for
use in divination and interpreting esoteric messages and occurrences.
Beyond and through hall these uses and characteristics of Ogham it is
also the way in which music can be scored for the poetry that it
produces.

The schools of the Druids and the Filidh are documented to have
included a study of the Ogham that was concurrent with memorizing the
initial tales that were introduced to the students in their first
three years. A linkage between the Ogham and memorizing the tales is
to be expected. The lists of the Ogham can be considered to be a
'memory grove' for remembering the essence of each tale. Later work in
memorizing hundreds of additional tales was also linked to these
memory groves and lists by the Druid teachers.

No written versions of any of the ancient tales survive to us from the
original tale lists without having been filtered by the intentions of
the scribes that recorded them. Similarly, the folktales that have
been preserved in the oral traditions have been changed as the Irish
culture has also changed. The folklore itself has been influenced by
politics, religion, individual intentions as well as a cross-
pollination with other tales and traditions. Be all that as it may, we
are still left with a large corpus of tales and traditions that give
us a window into the tales of the ancient Druids and Filidh. The tales
we have today can be organized through Ogham to help us in our own
modern workings in much the same ways that our ancestors used them.

Ideally, at least 8 or 9 tales each should be associated with the 25
Ogham characters for use in divining values and intentions as well as
for forming our own Celtic and Druidic worldview. This would give
every modern Druid or Poet a repertoire of 150 tales. As matches or
synchronicities occur in daily life, one will integrate the values of
these tales through modern associations that marry old to new ways of
seeing the world and living within it. By learning the tales along
with Ogham linkages we will be recreating and discovering the wisdom
that was lost to us through the vagarities of history, misfortune and
warfare.

Tables and lists of the tales have been compiled by a variety of
scholars over the years. I've borrowed from these lists to compile a
table of the 150 tales most likely to be useful in the approach to
using Ogham in divination that is a part of this course and work. The
table is organized with the English name first, with the Irish or
Welsh name of the tale being provided next. The dating of the tale is
also provided along with keywords, persons involved, authors and
associate values that are contained within them. These tales will also
be provided in each chapter for its associated Ogham along with
several of the Ogham lists that apply to every Ogham. The three
Briatharogam kennings will be provided along with a translation and
brief discussion of their possible meanings.

The values of the Dúile for each Ogham will also become a part of the
corpus of associations and memory elements in our vocation of
divination. Through working with these elemental meanings for the
Ogham we will come to know and understand them as we do people with
all of their quirks and colorings in life and action. This direct
experience of the Ogham Dúile through workings will increase our
knowledge base and orient our Coire Érma. When we see the Ogham symbol
or the tree outline of the associated tree, we will instantly have
access to lists and realms of meaning. In doing this work of study in
the Ogham we will be following in the footsteps of other Druidic
students along the Druid way. As we perfect our work on this way we
are also perfecting ourselves.

It's still a ways away from being finished as the tale lists are included, reworked, commented and noted. There are also discussions regarding the values and qualities of the Dúile for each Ogham to be expanded and explored. Somewhere around here I have a list of the categories and the tales in the traditional tale lists that were detailed by Proinsias MacCana. I'll post it if I find it, but it may well be on my desk top computer at home.

Searles O'Dubhain

Nuadu

March 5th, 2010, 07:18 AM

Im not a recon like Seren or a Druid like Searles but I recommend beginning with the mythological cycle and getting to know that part of mythology inside and out. Once youve read that Id go for the associated stuff like the place name lore/dindshenchas, cormacs glossary and the topography of Ireland by gerald of wales so you have internallised the contemporary understanding of that scheme of myth. All of them are online and if you cant find something pagan in them that you can apply in your life then go no further.

If you do like what youve read Id start in on books on the history of early Irish lit. lots of people claiming to be hard polytheists make the very silly mistake of looking at forms of Celtic Paganism and assuming that what they accept as deities are traditional deities. The mythological cycle is very valuable because it contains fragments of original myths but it is also the birth place of a pseudo history created by the early Irish church to fit Ireland into the esteem of Christianity as a whole. Cos of that some things seemingly pagan in the mythological cycle were never a part of paganism in Ireland.

I think internalising that part of mythology and forming beliefs based on it, then challenging those beliefs with a scourging of historical fact is a great way of teaching you to teach yourself. I dont think many people manage to learn the skill in life but imo its something massively valuable in any religion but most especially valuable in neopaganism.

Only 10% of any neopagan group will have a full understanding of the what the path is intended to be and where it is headed and the other 90% are influenced by them even when they arent wholely reliant on their work. Out of those influential 10% in Celtic Paganism not even a twentieth of a percent of them will come from a 'celtic country' or have studied celtic civ. or a 'celtic language' to third level... IMO after a while it begins to show in a reliance on dated theories.

For the proof of it go over to the CR FAQ which represents a form of neopaganism that should be cutting edge and look at how many of the books on their reading list were published 50 or more years ago. (Im not critcising CR there just using the FAQ as an example of how valuable learning to teach yourself is) If you consider that the FAQ is the work of the most well grounded and experianced of CR's imo it illustrates how dangerous a game celtic paganism can be if you dont learn to educate yourself at the beginning.

odubhain

March 5th, 2010, 08:02 AM

Im not a recon like Seren or a Druid like Searles but I recommend beginning with the mythological cycle and getting to know that part of mythology inside and out. Once youve read that Id go for the associated stuff like the place name lore/dindshenchas, cormacs glossary and the topography of Ireland by gerald of wales so you have internallised the contemporary understanding of that scheme of myth. All of them are online and if you cant find something pagan in them that you can apply in your life then go no further.

If you do like what youve read Id start in on books on the history of early Irish lit. lots of people claiming to be hard polytheists make the very silly mistake of looking at forms of Celtic Paganism and assuming that what they accept as deities are traditional deities. The mythological cycle is very valuable because it contains fragments of original myths but it is also the birth place of a pseudo history created by the early Irish church to fit Ireland into the esteem of Christianity as a whole. Cos of that some things seemingly pagan in the mythological cycle were never a part of paganism in Ireland.

I think internalising that part of mythology and forming beliefs based on it, then challenging those beliefs with a scourging of historical fact is a great way of teaching you to teach yourself. I dont think many people manage to learn the skill in life but imo its something massively valuable in any religion but most especially valuable in neopaganism.

This is excellent advice and it is also what I hope I'm doing in my tale lists, discussions and Ogham work. I love how you have a gut feeling and sense of what is traditionally Pagan and what has been synchronized by Church supporters into the traditional tales. That is a gift that can only be had through immersion in the Pagan culture of a Celtic (read Irish here, but that's a completely different discussion) land.

I think one reason older works are included in my own lists as well as those of the CR FAQ is because these are freely available as *out of copyright* works to anyone with Internet Access.

There are newer anthologies and analyses of the tales but these are usually found in expensive reference works or scholarly journals. They can however be found in some university libraries (or more likely through inter-library loan). Here's a link to a very complete list of the tales and the works in which they are found:

http://www.ucc.ie/celt/MS-OMIT/index.htm

(Click on the link for Texts found at the left)

The above list will provide one with the titles, types, sources and editions for many of the traditional Irish texts. The editions given are often times older because the original author was considered an authority on the tale. Modern scholarship is slowly catching up with updates on these works.

Other places to find good info in the US on modern understandings and interpretations of the tales are at university coloquays (places like Harvard or UCLA where admission is free with limited seating) and at CSANA annual meetings (this year at Notre Dame University in April I think, but admission is not free). One can hear and discuss the tales with authorities on them in a fairly informal environment.

Searles O'Dubhain

IvyWitch

March 5th, 2010, 09:54 AM

The closest thing I can think of to a text on magic associated with the Celtic Tradtion as it relates to CR would be some books written by an ADF member. ADF is a more modern Druid organization, but puts a heavy emphasis on traditon, so I'll link you the books. =D

Draiocht - A Book of Celtic Sorcery (http://www.lulu.com/product/hardcover/draiocht---a-book-of-celtic-sorcery/6434526?productTrackingContext=center_search_results)

The Fire and Well Spellbook (http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/the-fire-well-spellbook/6430156?productTrackingContext=center_search_results)(goes along with the Sacred Fire Holy Well text, more ADF centered but still good as a resource to cherry pick)

I'm personally not a true CR, but I tend to use hearth, kitchen, cottage and more "green" witchery as the magic side of my practice.

-Sky-

March 5th, 2010, 11:03 AM

Great thread!scorpio7 i am also very drawn to this subject so i am glad you brought it up and all the information given seems insightful!I only skimmed through it but i saved it for more in depth reading.

For now i will make some quick suggestions. If you are interested in Ireland in general and its lore i would definately recommend the works of Lady Augusta Gregory which you can also find online for free.

The author that touches me deeply and talks with such love about the irish mythology,lore and spirituality is Patricia Monaghan. I recommend her book "A red-haired girl from the bog" which was my companion when i travelled to Ireland but also all her other books.

And two other books i have are "Irish Witchcraft from an Irish witch" by Lora O-Brien and "The Mist-Filled Path" by M.A. Frank MacEowen.

skilly-nilly

March 5th, 2010, 11:07 AM

1 Is there a certain order I should read myths or texts in? Will reading them in a particular order make more sense?

2 I also haven't been able to find much about magick/witchcraft and Celtic reconstructionism, although I know that witchcraft is a practice, not a religion, so there's no problem with the two of them going together.

3 After I've read more, researched more, am more familiar with CR as a whole, what's my next step, if I'm not getting ahead of myself by asking?

Sorry for the long-winded post and all the newbie questions, but I finally feel like I might be onto something here!

I think doing is the most important thing. I'm not Druidic like odubhain-- as I see it, his Path is a kind of seminary and will end up with a Priestly Druid. Great undertaking, if that's what you want.

I'm a kind of C-R (like Seren) but far more oriented towards present-day and just-past folklore than verrrrry old texts. Rather than perceiving myself as a Druid like odubhain, I see myself as a Wort-Crafter, a WiseWoman, a Fairy (gods between us and harm) Doctor.

Google up 'Biddy Early' and you'll see what I mean.

1 So I would recommend reading the 'classics' (sacred Texts is a great resource) but I would also recommend 'folk-lore' as well. I also recommend reading several versions of the greats-- there's a bunch of translations of the Táin and you can also read books about the Táin
http://www.amazon.com/Womans-Words-Female-Speech-Ulster/dp/0802008658/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1267802941&sr=8-1

But folk-lore!!! Eddie Lenihan is a fabulous resource.

About folk-lore-- Kevin Danaher and E Estyn Evans.

I'm not comfortable reading long stuff off a computer screen so I would recommend inter-library loan.

2 I read Ogham for divination (there's reams of stuff and many many books) and use what happens around me as augury. Look at 'folk-ways' and 'superstition' rather than 'magic'.

As well, I believe that Magic is a part of religion (I believe I am negotiating with the Gods and Spirits and Beings, not enacting my will on a non-living world) but all peoples, the Irish included, have a culturally-created means of doing Magic. Skilly-People, like Biddy et al.

I trance, so I perceive trancing as necessary. Other people do other things, you have to find what works for you-- again, doing.

3 Do!!

Celebrate holidays (I do 8, some do 4).
Pray/Meditate/Be Aware as often as possible.
Perform Ritual Activity-- I'm not a morning person so I don't do a 'waking' ritual but I do a 'smooring' at night as I turn out the lights and lock the doors.

You may find that what modern people do is meaningful to you--
Erynn Rowan Laurie has a book 'Circle of Stones' which is about making a rosary-like device for meditation.

Caitlin Matthews has written 'Celtic Devotional'

Patricia Monaghan's 'The Red-Haired Girl from the Bog' is an inspiring journey-story

Or go to an older source and look at the Carmina Gadelica

Community can be helpful-- if you live near Philadelphia consider this group:
http://www.delawarevalleyceltic.org/

I think you can look on WitchVox as well to find practitioners local to you.

Grain of Salt-- there is no received right answer to any of your questions.

Everything anyone says is their opinion. It may not work for you, they may be delusional, they might have an agenda that is odds with your goals.

Try stuff out (but be careful what you put in your mouth and what promises you make) and see what happens.

What Squirrel-Spirit says:

Do what's Right,
Say what's True,
But have fun,
Whatever you do!

scorpio7

March 23rd, 2010, 10:24 PM

Sorry for replying so late to this, but I really do appreciate all the advice given here! It gives me a lot of different views and approaches to consider. I'm going to read through this thread a few more times and pick out where to start. I think the mythological cycle will be my best bet as a beginning point, but I like that there are so many resources out there. Thank yo uall!

Ailyn

March 25th, 2010, 12:49 PM

Nuadu

March 25th, 2010, 02:05 PM

I'm like you, just trying to find my footing. Right now I think I've got every book on Ireland out of the college's library, and though none of them are really on the religious aspects of the Early Irish, I seem to be finding some interesting stuff. Read a book yesterday on the Aran Islands and the folklore associated with them, and now I'm working through a book on hospitality in Ireland from 900-1500 CE. Also am trying to get through all the book list on the CR FAQs site, and I think I'll have them all done by the end of summer.

I also starting studying and practicing hedgecraft about 6 months ago, and I find that its pretty complimentary to CR.

Jaze youre a stormer of a reader Ailyn, I usually read a book and its two weeks before a theory from the book filters through the bedrock of ignorance that surrounds my noggin. :idea2:

Mentioning the Aran Islands, have you read The Irish Tradition by Robin Flower? Its short but good and the lad who wrote it was big into the islands

Ailyn

March 25th, 2010, 03:51 PM

Nuadu

March 25th, 2010, 07:15 PM

No I haven't. I've actually never even heard of them until the other day, when I picked up that book. I liked some parts of it, but the author was definitely trying to present everything from a Christian POV, especially with "Ollathair" being translated as "all-father". But she did give a good backing on some of the folklore of the islands.

Lol, yeah, I'm a book-whore. I don't have class or work 2 days a week, so I usually am cooped up in the library.

Thanks for the book recommendation! :hahugh:

Ah youll like that book its actually a couple of lectures from the deputy keeper of manuscripts in the british museum. Its a stroke of luck that he loved the arran islands and Irish culture. Its dated cos they are old lectures but they have an insight into the mythology and folklore that people just didnt have in his day. With the possible exception of Marie Louise Sjoestedt but since she was female and french which back then was like being a dog from mars as far as the english speaking academic world goes its not surprising that her ideas werent recignised until much later.

*caugh* sorry for the ramble, dinner party, a bit sloshed.

Ailyn

March 28th, 2010, 09:21 AM

Nuadu

March 28th, 2010, 09:52 PM

Yeah, she's on my list of people who's books I can't find for free and will be buying over the summer. Eh, dated's ok, I think people just throw things out the door when something new comes along, but that new thing usually builds on whatever that old info was coming from, so I feel its integral to understand where you are coming from in a historical sense.

Ah you have me there thats very true.

I think its good to have copies of older books to hand even if theyre out of date incase someone is referencing them badly leads me astray. I just take copies out and photocopy them, I know youre not supposed to but if theyre old...