The Bardic Race
THE magi, the Sephoe, the gymnosophists, and the Irish adepts, held much the same creed and the same dogmas with regard to the conduct of life necessary to heighten the spiritual power. They all...
View ArticleThe People of the Kingdom of Dál Riata – Dalriada
he people of the Kingdom of Dál Riata spoke a Q-Celtic Goidelic language. They lived in Argyll on the West Coast of what is now Scotland from around AD 400. The Gaels of Dál Riata are often called ‘the...
View ArticleHurling, Love and Fairies
THE fairies, with their true artistic love of all the gentle graces of life, greatly dislike coarse and violent gestures, and all athletic sports, such as hurling and wrestling; and they often try to...
View ArticleThe Irish Shee or Fairies and their Dwellings
Shee or Fairies and their Dwellings.—The pagan Irish worshipped the side [shee], i.e. the earth-gods, or fairies, or elves. These side are closely mixed up with the mythical race called Dedannans, to...
View ArticleMerlin – Mystical Enchanter, Prophet and Advisor to King Arthur
Merlin, enchanter and wise man in Arthurian legend and romance of the Middle Ages, linked with personages in ancient Celtic mythology (especially with Myrddin in Welsh tradition). The post Merlin –...
View ArticleExcalibur – The Enchanted Sword of Arthurian legend
The Name "Excalibur" was first used for King Arthur's sword by the French Romancers. It was not the famous "Sword in the Stone" (which broke in battle), but a second sword acquired by the King through...
View ArticleThe Tuatha de Danann, the people of the Goddess Danu
The Tuatha de Danann, the people of the Goddess Danu, were one of the great ancient tribes of Ireland. The important manuscript 'The Annals of the Four Masters', records that they ruled Ireland from...
View ArticleThe Legend of Lucky White Heather
Here is his tale about why white heather is considered lucky: The Celtic bard Ossian had a beautiful daughter, Malvina, who was as good as she was lovely. She was betrothed to Oscar, bravest of all the...
View ArticleThe Island of Hy Brasil
Ireland lay on the edge of the world until Columbus proved otherwise in 1492. The mysterious Atlantic was explored by sailors such as Saint. Brendan (†577) and one of islands he came across on his...
View ArticleWaulking the Cloth – An Ancient Tradition
Fulling, milling, or Waulking (in Gaelic luadh) is the technique of finishing the newly-woven cloth by soaking it and thumping it rhythmically to shrink and soften it – all done by hand in the old...
View ArticleThe Fairy Flag Of Clan MacLeod
Many, many years ago, the Chief of Clan MacLeod was a handsome, intelligent man, and all the young ladies in the area were very attracted to him, but none suited his fancy. One day, he met a fairy...
View ArticleNature’s Child: The New Album from Cernunnos Rising
Nature’s Child: The New Album from Cernunnos Rising Following their two fabulous albums Wild soul and Urban Druid, Cernunnos Rising have done it again with their soon to be released album Nature’s...
View ArticleThe Wild Hunt
In Orkney, indeed, across most of northern Europe, belief in the Wild Hunt was once widespread. In the islands, little remains of the belief today. The form of the Wild Hunt, or Raging Host, varied...
View ArticleCreatures of Scottish Folklore: The Shellycoat
THIS is a freakish spirit, who delights rather to perplex and frighten mankind than either to serve or seriously to hurt them. Shellycoat, a spirit who resides in the waters, and has given his name to...
View ArticleThe Lady of the Lake
HIGH up in a hollow of the Black Mountains of South Wales is a lonely sheet of water called Llyn y Fan Fach. In a farm not far from this lake there lived in the olden time a widow, with an only son...
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