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Post by ~¤LilacSky¤~ on Apr 26, 2005 7:32:46 GMT -5
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Post by ~¤LilacSky¤~ on Apr 26, 2005 7:33:12 GMT -5
Symbols in druidism- Druidism probably did not have one universal symbol to represent itself, since it was differentiated between seven different Celtic nations, and divided further into many tribes within these nations. Some of the most commonly used symbols are:
The Triskele: a rounded spiral with three arms radiating from a central point, turning counter-clockwise. It stands for any one of hundreds of Triads in Celtic literature, but typically is understood as standing for the land, sea, and sky, which composed the foundation of the Celtic cosmology.
The Spiral: Neo-lithic monuments typically have spiral patterns carved into the stones. Being pre-celtic, we have no clear idea what the Spiral meant to the people who carved them, although it is reasonable to believe they stood for the cycles of seasons, of day and night, and of life and death. If one stands facing south, the sun appears to trace a clockwise spiral (deosil) as it rises in the east and sets in the west; also, the stars turn in a counter-clockwise (tuathail) as they rotate around Polaris, the pole star. It is possible that spirals carved on to pre-celtic monuments such as Newgrange represent these astronomical movements.
The Awen: Three upright bars, with the tops of the outer two bars leaning toward the top of the center bar. Its first appearance in Druidism appears to be in the Bardass, but its use by modern Druids is widespread. Sometimes the Awen is draw with three stars above it, and the whole enclosed in three circles. The word "Awen" is Welsh for "inspiration".
The Circle: As with many indo-european sun symbols, the Circle is the simple geometric shape we all know and love. It makes up the pagan part of the Celtic Cross. Circles are also the shape that many megalithic monuments are constructed in, which is why we call them "stone circles" and "round barrows". The circle is a natural shape for religious symbols across the world, for it is the shape of the sun, the moon, the horizon, the bird's nest, and the human eye.
The Celtic Cross: A Christian Cross with a circle surrounding the middle point where the vertical and horizontal lines of the Cross intersect. It is the essential symbol of Celtic Christianity, and is commonly used as monuments, grave markers, and landmarks indicating holy sites. The largest Celtic Crosses are carved from stone blocks and stand at monastaries, such as at Iona and Aberlemno. (see Christianity)
The Druid Sigil: A circle intersected by two vertical lines. In Stuart Piggot's book "The Druids", there is a photo of a Romano-British building, possibly a temple, located at Black Holmes, Thistleton, Leicestershire (England) in which this symbol forms the foundation; other than that, this author knows of no ancient origin for this symbol. The Henge of Keltria, a large Druid organisation in the United States, uses this symbol for itself.
The God with the Horns: An image of a male God with horns on his head, usually stag antlers but sometimes small bull horns. Though this symbol probably represents the God in the image and not Druidism as a whole, it is used quite commonly by modern pagans. The stag antlers represent tree branches, and thus stand for fertility; the bull horns stand for power-- in a culture where the measure of one's economic affluence was the size of one's cattle herds, bull horns clearly symbolises power. Goat horns were not used, nor introduced into Horned God images until the Christian period, and at this time the probably stood for subservience, domesticity, and also sin & evil (hence "Scapegoat").
The Crescent Moon: A symbol probably introduced into Druidism by the Romantics, it stands for the divine Feminine principle of fertility, corresponding by opposition to the God with the Horns.
The Tree: A primary symbol of Druidism, however, each species of tree known to the Druids had a meaning of its own. There probably was no one symbolic meaning applied to all trees. Trees are important because they are bridges between the realms of Land and Sky,they communicate Water between these realms; the Irish God Bile is said to make this possible. The Realms of Land, Sea and Sky unite within a tree, as also at a seashore for example; great power could manifest there, and such places were best for poetic composition or spellcasting.
The Head: Heads definitely had mystical significance. To the Celts, it was the seat of the soul. Mythologies report many heroes beheading their enemies to ensure they stay dead (not an unreasonable precaution in this time period) and numerous excavations of Celtic buildings have niche holes carved to hold human heads.
Long White Beards: Romantic period depictions of Druids in art and in caricature typically showed them with long white beards, long white hair, and long white robes. Your author thinks they look ridiculous
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Post by ~¤LilacSky¤~ on Apr 26, 2005 7:33:56 GMT -5
The Elements and Druidism-
Ancient Celtic cosmology does not use nor require elabourate correspondences of numbers, directions, elements, colours, and the like as is found in Western occultism. Some forms of modern Druidism do make use of some such correspondences, as well as others that are clearly not Celtic in origin, such as the four Heavenly Archangels (a idea from Cabbala and the Western magical tradition). Among the few magical numbers the ancient Druids did use, Three was usually more significant, for Celtic cosmology tended to organise the world in triads, and not even numbers or mutually-opposite dualities. It is three Goddesses whom the first mortal settlers of Ireland encounter, three Realms of land, sea, and sky that comprise the mortal world, three spirals that make the arms of the triskele. The Druid's elements may have been eight or nine in number, of environmental rather than abstract nature, such as clouds, stars, oceans, and so forth. The Four Element cosmology comes from certain pre-Socratic philosophers in ancient Greece, including Pythagoras, (father of western occult numerology, among other things) and Anaxagoras. Adventurous Greeks and Romans may have compared this thought with the Celtic metaphysics they encountered. It is known, however, that Pythagoras was aware of Druidic thought, and may have travelled to the Celtic nations. Rather than four elements the Druids may have used three Realms, being the Land, the Sea, and the Sky, for it is on these Realms that the ancient Celts used to make oaths.
Celtic mysticism also includes at least one case of elemental dualism: fire and water. These are the opposing forces out of which are born the three realms, and all life. But as both fire and water have constructive and destructive qualities, it would be wrong to say that the fire and water represent good and evil, male or female, or some other pair of human qualities. They simply are two different kinds of divine force.
There is a strong case to be made that the Druids made use of four directions. The Well of Healing constructed by the Irish god Diancecht, to aid the gods in their battle against the Fomorians, required four operators (himself and his three children) and it is reasonable to presume that they stood in the four cardinal directions of north, east, south, and west, with the well in the middle. Ireland itself is divided into four territories, called provinces: Ulster in the north, Lenster in the east, Munster in the south, and Connaught in the west. At some point there was also a fifth province in the centre, called Meath, and it is in this province that the hill of Tara, seat of the high kings, was located. Many European ritual sanctuaries, such as Gournay-sur-Aronde in northern France (ancient Gaul), are constructed with solar and astronomical alignments that correspond to the same four cardinal directions, anchored by votive offering pits in the centre. So it would seem that the ritual "centre" "middle" or "between" place is central to old Druid magic, no matter what other number symbolism is being employed
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Post by ~¤LilacSky¤~ on Apr 26, 2005 7:35:43 GMT -5
Druid magic is the result of a strong and healthy awareness of nature, and the spirits and gods who live in nature. A Druid must understand the language that Nature uses to speak its wisdom. All else follows from that. Druid magic has a votive quality; magic is performed by appealing to the gods to perform a service in return for an offering. Mythic Druids often used trance-ecstacy to achieve their purpose as well. But in the myths very little attention is paid to summoning or controlling spirits and gods, instead, the Druids sought communication and communion.
Aisling A dream or a vision (from the sky, perhaps). Possibly, Aisling referrs to altered states of consciousness. Immram A journey to the realms where the Gods live, possibly by shaman flight. Literally, Immram means "sea journey", for it is in the western ocean that the islands of otherworldly paradices were located. Imbas Inspiration, poetic frenzy, the "fire in the head" that Amergin speaks of. Possibly, Imbas referrs to altered states of consciousness. Echtra "Adventure", expeditions and journeys on holy ground. This way of magic often happens "accidentally" to heroes, warriors, and hunters. Dra/iocht The word for magic. Literally translated, it means "what Druids do". Fi/rinne "Truth", or "Justice". The binding force of nature, the way of nature. Note the signifigance of Truth and Justice being in the same word.
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Post by nani on May 10, 2005 11:52:38 GMT -5
thank you Ronni, I do appreciate this very much. all the best Nani
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Neshumah
Conjurer
moderator
You don't choose the things you believe in, they choose you!
Posts: 107
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Post by Neshumah on May 13, 2005 2:57:31 GMT -5
This is absolutely great! So much information and i can't stop reading it, he he.
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Post by ~¤LilacSky¤~ on May 22, 2005 8:53:03 GMT -5
thanks nesh and Nani, yeah I will be adding more to this later..I find it very interesting myself..
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Post by vhaeraun on May 27, 2005 19:16:49 GMT -5
it would be very interesting to be able to turn into your favorite animals. to view the world as they do.
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Post by ~¤LilacSky¤~ on May 27, 2005 21:14:23 GMT -5
yeah V that would be sweet, Im tired of humans oops being human lol.. I would be probably a dolphin if I could..
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Post by vhaeraun on May 27, 2005 21:15:56 GMT -5
panther or raven..i would like to try out.
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Post by ~¤LilacSky¤~ on May 27, 2005 21:25:40 GMT -5
ooo yeah a raven would be pretty cool, I wish I could fly away right now..
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Post by vhaeraun on May 28, 2005 5:50:08 GMT -5
or become a manta ray and swim around the ocean.
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Post by ~¤LilacSky¤~ on May 28, 2005 6:46:37 GMT -5
I think it would be cool, but I would be a dolphin since they stick to gether, I wouldn't want to be alone in the ocean..lol, oh I like whales too..
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Post by vhaeraun on May 28, 2005 6:48:13 GMT -5
or one of those giant squids...like a kraken.
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Post by ~¤LilacSky¤~ on May 29, 2005 10:01:56 GMT -5
v, may I ask what your avatar monstor is doing?? it kind of looks like words in the blue part of his mouth..is that right??lol
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Post by vhaeraun on May 29, 2005 10:13:25 GMT -5
v, may I ask what your avatar monstor is doing?? it kind of looks like words in the blue part of his mouth..is that right??lol it looks like he is chewing on something and it explodes in his mouth.
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Post by ~¤LilacSky¤~ on May 29, 2005 13:37:09 GMT -5
yeah I see that, what the heck is it..lol and if you look closely it kind of looks like letters are in the white part, or Im just crazy..
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