Tap into the mythic power of the Celtic goddesses, gods, heroes, and heroines to aid your spiritual quests and magickal goals. Human and divine energies complement each other; when joined, they become a potent catalyst for true magick and change. Celtic Myth & Magick describes the energies of over 300 cross-referenced Celtic deities and heroic figures so you can quickly determine which one can best help you in attaining specific goals through magick—such as greater prosperity (Cernunnos), glowing health (Airmid), or a soul partner (Aengus MacOg). This guidebook explains how to use creative Pagan ritual and pathworking to align yourself with the energy of these powerful archetypes. Undertake three magickal quests to the inner plane—where you'll join forces with Cuchulain, Queen Maeve, and Merlin the Magician to bring their energies directly into your life. This inspiring, well-researched book is written especially for solitary Pagans who seek to expand the boundaries of their practice to form working partnerships with the divine.
"Celtic gods and goddesses are among the most popular of deities revered by today's neo-pagans, witches, wiccans, and druids. Among pagans, the gods and goddesses of Gaul, Ireland, Wales, and the other Celtic lands rank with the most popular and influential of the Greek, Roman, Norse, and Egyptian pantheons. This book provides an accessible guide for readers to learn about and connect spiritually with the Celtic gods and goddesses of the Celtic lands"--
Most people have heard of the Celts--the elusive, ancient tribal people who resided in present-day England, Ireland, Scotland and France. Paradoxically characterized as both barbaric and innocent, the Celts appeal to the modern world as a symbol of a bygone era, a world destroyed by the ambition of empire and the spread of Christianity throughout Western Europe. Despite the pervasive cultural and literary influence of the Celts, shockingly little is known of their way of life and beliefs, because very few records of their stories exist. In this book, for the first time, Philip Freeman brings together the best stories of Celtic mythology. Everyone today knows about the gods and heroes of the ancient Greeks, such as Zeus, Hera, and Hercules, but how many people have heard of the Gaulish god Lugus or the magical Welsh queen Rhiannon or the great Irish warrior Cú Chulainn? We still thrill to the story of the Trojan War, but the epic battles of the Irish Táin Bó Cuailgne are known only to a few. And yet those who have read the stories of Celtic myth and legend-among them writers like J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis-have been deeply moved and influenced by these amazing tales, for there is nothing in the world quite like them. In these stories a mysterious and invisible realm of gods and spirits exists alongside and sometimes crosses over into our own human world; fierce women warriors battle with kings and heroes, and even the rules of time and space can be suspended. Captured in vivid prose these shadowy figures-gods, goddesses, and heroes-come to life for the modern reader.
Delve into the depths of a magical current that spans over two thousand years. The Book of Celtic Magic provides the unsurpassed power of practical magic and the transformative forces of ancient Celtica. Druid priest Kristoffer Hughes invites you to explore the pantheon, myths, and magic of his native Wales. Discover the magical allies, the gods and goddesses, and the spirits of place that form the foundation of this vibrant tradition. Practice rituals that draw you closer to the divine energy of the trees, plants, and animals that surround you. Work with spells, conjurations, invocations, and magical tools that have been developed and refined from genuine Celtic sources. Complete with exercises and a glossary of terms, this step-by-step guide is a definitive source of authentic Celtic magic.
Brings the history of these gods and goddesses to life, along with visualizations, rituals, and exercises to help make them part of the reader’s spiritual practice. Figures like Brigid, Cernunnos, Rhiannon, and the Morrigan are honored for their magic, their bravery, and their mythical deeds. Among pagans, the gods and goddesses of Gaul, Ireland, Wales, and the other Celtic lands rank with the most popular and influential of the Greek, Roman, Norse, and Egyptian pantheons. This book provides an accessible guide for readers to learn about and connect spiritually with the gods and goddesses of the Celtic lands: Learn key features of each of the major Irish, Welsh, and continental Celtic deities Discover the major myths and lore associated with each deity Create rituals and magical work appropriate for each deity Understand the psychological archetypes of each god and goddess Forge true and meaningful relationships with the deities for our time Relate the various gods and goddesses to the sabbats and holy days
"The Morrigan is Pagan Ireland's dark goddess. Her name is translated as "phantom queen" or "great queen." The Morrigan is a goddess of war and sexuality, witchcraft and death, protection and retribution. This goddess of justice is classified among the Sidhe-Ireland's fairies-but she may have a mermaid incarnation, as well. The Morrigan dates back at least to Ireland's Iron Age, but she is as modern as she is ancient. With the possible exception of the witch goddess Hekate, the Morrigan is currently the most popular Pagan goddess. This book provides a guide to this complex, mysterious goddess that encompasses practical veneration with modern devotionals, entwined with traditional lore and Irish-Celtic history"--
Celtic magic. These words conjure up images of Druids and mystical oak groves, daring Irish warriors, fairies, elves, and ancient deities who took an active part in the lives of the people who worshipped them. Practical and easy to understand, Celtic Magic offers important features that distinguish it from other books written about the Celts: An in-depth discussion of Celtic culture and customs A complete listing of Celtic myths and deities Step-by-step instructions for spellwork, ritual, meditations, and divination to help you gain insight or make changes in your life This friendly Celtic magic book is designed for both beginners and those who possess intermediate-level magical skills--and anyone who simply has a great interest in Celtic history, lore, and magic.
In the early centuries, Celtic mythology survived as a primarily oral tradition, influenced significantly by the geography of its lands. Sagas and legends were passed down from one generation to the next through storytelling; only after the Roman conquest were some of these myths recorded in writing. This was often done by Christian monks closer to the 11th century, who recorded the stories themselves but stripped away the original beliefs and earlier religious overtones. The ancient Celts were neither a race nor a nation. They were a varied people bound together by language, customs, and religion rather than any centralized government. We are talking about a vast and variegated culture that made its presence felt from the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and Ireland to the frontiers of Liguria in Italy and the upper Danube. Suffice it to say, their mythology instead mirrored this multifarious scope, with various tribes, chiefdoms, and even later kingdoms having their own set of folklore and pantheons. Basically, that means that 'the Celts' doesn't describe a single cohesive group of people. The existence of the Celts was first documented in the seventh or eighth century B.C. The Roman Empire, which ruled much of southern Europe at that time, referred to the Celts as "Galli," meaning barbarians. However, the Celts were anything but barbarians, and many aspects of their culture and language have survived through the centuries. The ancient Celts had rich mythology made up of hundreds of tales. Adventure, heroism, romance, and magic are a few of the elements that make Celtic mythology one of the most fascinating mythologies of Europe. Celtic mythology comes from several regions and different tribes. The bulk of them are from Ireland and also Wales. Early Irish myths blend mythology and history by describing how Ireland was settled by different Celtic deities and humans. Filled with magic and excitement, the tales tell of battles between forces of light and darkness. They described a time when gods lived not in the heavens but on earth, using their powers to create a civilization in Ireland and bring fertility to the land. There are four cycles, or groups, of connected stories. The Mythological Cycle focuses on the activities of the Celtic gods, describing how five races of supernatural beings battled to gain control of Ireland. The chief god was Dagda, whose magic cauldron could bring the dead back to life. The Ulster Cycle recounts the deeds of warriors and heroes, especially Cuchulain, the warrior and champion of Ireland. The Historical Cycle tells of the adventures and battles of legendary Irish kings. The Fenian Cycle deals with the heroic Finn Mac Cumhail, or Finn Mac Cool, leader of a band of bold warriors known as the Fianna. This cycle is filled with exciting adventures and tales of hand-to-hand combat. Welsh mythology is found in the Mabinogion, a collection of 11 tales. In the Welsh myths, as in Ireland, the heroes often are half human and half divine and may have magical powers. Many of the stories in the Mabinogion deal with Arthurian legends, accounts of the deeds of Britain's heroic King Arthur and his knights.
Everything You Need to Know to Start Connecting with the God and Goddess Perhaps the biggest difference between Wicca and other religions is the belief that individuals can do more than simply pray to a supreme, all-powerful deity and hope that things will work out to their benefit. Wiccans understand that individuals can actually co-create with the forces of nature by linking their own personal energy with the divine through ritual and magic. But what is "the divine" when it comes to Wicca? Who are the Goddess and the God, and where did they come from? Why do they have different names in different Wiccan traditions, and how do you begin to work with them in your personal practice? Magical Deities, by best-selling author Lisa Chamberlain, answers these questions and more. Going beyond the usual brief introduction to the God and Goddess found in many beginner guides to Wicca, Lisa covers the origins of the Wiccan deities, as well as their varying manifestations among different Wiccan traditions. What's more, she explains the difference between traditional duotheism and more eclectic polytheistic practices, both of which are found among the diversity of forms within this dynamic religion. You'll find advice for learning to forge your own spiritual connection with the divine masculine and feminine, and introductions to sixteen ancient deities who often function as "aspects" of the God and Goddess within Wiccan practices. Finally, you'll find ideas for honoring and working with these deities in your magical practice-and make no mistake, having the assistance of the gods and goddesses of the Universe is an enormous boon in the magic department! Foundations in Wiccan Concepts of Divinity and Magic For many practitioners who keep to the traditional duotheistic concept of Wicca, the ancient deities are "aspects" of the "supreme" Goddess and God and don't have a role to play on their own. For those who fall into the category of "eclectic" Wiccans, the inclusion of ancient deities is more polytheistic. Eclectics often have personal relationships with "patron" gods and/or goddesses, who may be included in ritual practice alongside the God and Goddess. In both approaches, deities may be called upon for assistance with specific magical aims. But it's not simply a matter of speaking a god's or goddess' name in your spellwork-you need to develop an understanding and personal relationship with your chosen deities. Magical Deities will help you to do just that, with valuable information including: - The history of the Wiccan Goddess and God and their evolution through various traditions - An introduction to the Triple Goddess and her three aspects: Maiden, Mother and Crone - Introductions to the Sun God, the Horned God, the Green Man, and the Holly and Oak Kings - How to represent the God and Goddess on the Wiccan altar - The mythology, cosmology, and magical practices of the ancient cultures that gave rise to Wicca - The most popular deities of the Egyptian, Roman, Greek, and Celtic pantheons - Advice for choosing deities to work with, and magical goals and methods specific to each one The paths to connection with the God and Goddess, or to any of the deities "borrowed" from other cultures are as multiple and varied as the people who worship them. Ultimately, your intuition and your heart are your best guides along your journey. But the more you know about the gods and goddesses you seek to work with, the more authentic and astounding your connection with them has the potential to be. As you make your way deeper into the realm of Wicca, Magical Deities will be a trusted travel guide! Scroll to the top of the page, hit the buy button, and you'll receive an exclusive free gift!
