By Kristin Olsen
Welcome the Way of the Celts, land of myth and fantasy. Most Cultures can trace their paths back to a time when creatures now considered strictly of fantasy and myth roamed the earth. For the ancient Celts, grand tales are steeped in legend of Fae folk dancing, singing and fluttering on gossamer wings throughout the lands while angry leprechauns guard their precious pots of gold from those stingy humans. The greatest of all tales involve the Gods and Goddesses, aw those beings of omnipotence guiding mere humans to do their bidding. Are these really the tales of Celtic Legend and myth or is there more to these immortal beings? Join me know as we explore the ancient ways of the Celtic Lands and explore some of the Gods and Goddesses that even today are renown and revered in the Emerald Isles and beyond. Come grand tales beckon us in the land of Shamrocks and Heather! Welcome to the Celtic Lands.
There are many Gods and Goddesses associated with the Celtic Lands. Each Celtic country seems to have its own version and name for these beings. We will look at just a few, as there are literally hundreds associated with the Celts and the surrounding lands. Let me now pose the question to you of immortality. Are these Gods and Goddesses supernatural beings separate from each other and we mere mortals or do they all join to serve a purpose? Is there one supreme almighty being above all else? Or are there many? The answer is a mystery and is the substance that dreams and legends are made of. These Gods and Goddesses also bring with them much controversy for every religion on this blue planet. I seek only to open your mind and hearts and heighten your senses to contemplate the possibilities of Fantasy and Reality and of Gods and Goddesses. Each person must answer their own question about Spirituality and I seek only to explore the ancient lands. If your heart is open, you will feel the almighty, singular or plural, in each and every breath you take. Now let me take your breath away by exploring these fantastic entities of the Celts.
The Celts being spiritual, most likely believed in some form of reincarnation and the journey of the soul to the after life. Research shows that they did not accept the belief of punishment after death such as a modern hell or purgatory. Female and males were on a much more even basis then in modern societies. The Priestesses were highly revered as were the Druid Priest. Each served a different purpose and walked a different path, but each led to the spirituality of the lands and the people that roamed the Celtic lands. As a Red head, I have to note here that Red-hair females were sacred to the war Goddesses, as their hair was the color of blood.
We will now briefly look at some of the Celtic Gods and Goddesses. I am just going to highlight a few and their associations. There are hundreds of books you can pickup to delve into each of these fantastic personalities. I encourage you to explore and delight your senses with their grand tales and explorations. Rhiannon is associated with Ireland. She is the Goddess of birds and horses and is seen riding a grand white horse. Brigid is also associated with Ireland. She is the Goddess of agriculture, fire, healing and inspiration. She might be one in the same with the Christian patron Saint of Ireland Brigit. Morrigan is associated with Ireland and Wales. She is the Goddess of lust, magic, prophecy, revenge and war. She is often seen in battle with tattoos and armed with sword, shield and cape. Epona is associated with Britain and continental Gaul. She is the Goddess of horse breeding, healing spring and prosperity. She is often pictured riding her valiant steed. Lugh – is associated with Ireland, and Wales. He is the God of all crafts and arts, healing, journeys and prophecy. He is associated with the Raven in Ireland and the White Stag in Wales. Manannan Mac Lir is associated with Ireland and Wales. He is the God of the sea, magic, navigators, commerce, storms, rebirth and weather.
Spirituality is about more than living life in a positive manner. It is about faith in yourself, the universe around you and that, which simply is. The ancient Celts were not Christian; after all Jesus hadn’t been born nor had Moses parted the Red Sea. The Celts were quite simply a spiritual people and they assigned each part of nature a name or attribute on a faith level. Gods and Goddesses… Faith is that little voice in your head that says “Do the right thing, trust that all will be OK”. Faith is unconditional acceptance that the universe is working exactly the way it should be. So if we can be guided by these principles, what is to say this did not start in the ancient lands? After all, those lands of mist, faith, mystery and wee fantasy creatures running freely throughout the highlands would have been the perfect venue for Spirit to begin.
Join me again for more tales of the Celtic Lands. We have much to discuss, The Book of Kells, Celtic Holidays, Runes, Gaelic, Poetry and Prose and perhaps even a way to see Fairies in your everyday world or how to obtain the pot of Gold from that dreaded Leprechaun. Magic and Adventure is all around you, just close your eyes, open your heart and listen to your soul. Celtic Magic is everywhere. Visit me at http://www.celticattic.com
