Brighid

Brighid is the Celtic Triple Goddess of Smithcraft, Healing, and Poetry. She is connected to the elements water and fire. As a master smith, Brighid combines the awesome power of fire to forge metal and then quenches her creation in a basin of cool water. This same alchemical combination of fire water is practiced in

Origin of Ogham?

How did the Ogham script originate? In this post, I will put forward an origin theory for Ogham. Though controversial, this theory makes the most intuitive sense to me. In 1948, English poet Robert Graves published his landmark book The White Goddess, in which he linked the Welsh legend Cad Goddeu or Battle of the

Source Materials for Battle of the Trees

From the Book of Taliesin (1275 CE) & the Myrvian Archaeology (1370 CE) 1 I was in many forms before I became free… I was a narrow, blood-stained sword; I believe that when I was made 5 I was drops in the air looking up at the stars, a word in a letter. I was

The Battle of the Trees

Long before the arrival of the Celtic race on Albion’s fair shore, the children of Dôn, the Great Mother Goddess, and her consort Beli, the bright Sunlight, lived and prospered in the Kingdom of Cymru (Wales). The Goddess and the God had one daughter named Arianrhod, whose name means ‘Silver Wheel’, for her province is

What is Ogham?

Ogham, pronounced “Oh-um,” is a form of writing dating from the 4th century CE (and possibly earlier), which uses dashes or notches carved in a line into stone or wood, the number and position of which determining the letters. Each letter is representative of a native tree and is taken from the first letter of

Chamomile

Used as an herbal remedy for thousands of years, Chamomile is used to treat an extensive list of ailments, including fever, headaches, kidney, liver, and bladder problems, digestive upset, muscle spasms, anxiety, insomnia, skin irritations, bruises, gout, ulcers, rheumatic pain, hay fever, inflammation, hemorrhoids, colic, and menstrual disorders. The generic name, Matricaria, comes from the Latin matrix,

“Trapped in a Bottle” Banishing Spell

For removing an evil presence from your home. “Evil” here refers to anything intending malicious harm against you , your family, home, etc… Materials: A rose (either wild or cultivated) , sea salted water (This can be made with sea salt added to spring water), a glass jar or bottle (wine bottles work very well

Blue Vervain

Vervain (Verbena officinalis), also known as common vervain or common verbena, is a flowering perennial plant native to Europe, North America, and Asia. The plant is recognized by its jagged, tooth-shaped leaves and clusters of delicate, mauve or pale-purple blossoms. Rich in compounds known as flavonoids, vervain is a potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antispasmodic, anti-depressant, anxiolytic,

Wintergreen

Wintergreen is easy to identify by the small, shiny, almost waxy oblong green leaves that come to a point where it connects to the stem (these leaves can also sometimes be purple). The underside of the leaves often has black speckles or dots. It sprawls out to form a woody groundcover. When you break apart

White Cedar

The needles of the White Cedar (also called Arbor Vitae) may be dried and burned as an incense to purify an area from negative thoughts and energies, and to call in protector spirits, especially the spirits of one’s ancestors. The technique is known as smudging and involves wafting of the smoke about oneself and the

Longevity Spells

Longevity Spells ***Just a sampling from the Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells. There are many more.*** Aaron’s Rod Longevity spell Aaron’s rod is the botanical nickname given to golden rod and mullein. Use either plant in this spell. Create an infusion by pouring boiling water over Aaron’s rod. Add the strained liquid to a bath to

Celtic Home Blessing

Here is a Celtic home blessing rite from Mara Freeman’s book, Kindling the Celtic Spirit. Mara is a past presider of the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids. Celtic Home Blessing “O’ Great Goddess, I ask for your blessing on this my home, my hearth, my household.” Light a candle and place it at the

Thunderous Surf

Am fuaim mara (Irish Gaelic)Om foo-am mar-ah (Phonetic) “I am the thunderous surf.” ~Amergin This is the third line in Amergin’s epic spell-poem. Surf is the foam produced by waves crashing on the seashore. The ancient Celts were fascinated by things in between, the Time Between Time (the threshold between day and night that we

Wave Upon the Ocean

Am aigéan tond. (Irish Gaelic)Om eye-gone tawn. (Phonetic) “I am the tidal wave.” ~ Amergin This is the second line in Amergin’s song-spell. The contemporary Buddhist philosopher Thich Nhat Hanh said, “Enlightenment for a wave in the ocean is the moment the wave realizes it is water.” Our lives are like a wave in the

Wind on the Sea

Am gaeth i m-muir (Irish Gaelic)Om gwee ih-m mweer (Phonetic) I am wind on the sea ~ Amergin Above is the beginning of one of the most powerful spells ever cast, the Affirmation of Amergin. According to the Lebor Gabála Érenn, the Irish Book of Invasions, the Milesians invaded Ireland and fought against the Tuatha

Salmon ~ Gaelic: Bradan (Bray-dawn) / Norse: Lax (Laks)

Wisdom, Inspiration, Rejuvenation Revered as extremely sacred, Bradan is one of the oldest Celtic totem animals. Inhabiting the pools or wells of wisdom, the salmon is naturally imbued with Wisdom, Inspiration, Rejuvenation. Salmon, and indeed all fish, see clearly to the bottom of the pool, and are therefore held to be wisdom-keepers and teachers. The