| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 1 | 53 | 105 | 158 | 210 |
|
y
y
Witchcraft Past and Present
study witchcraft today) were supervised by the Druids (the word
translates from the Celtic phrase for ‘knowing the oak tree’). It is
believed that it took twenty years of hard study to become a Druid.
Druids were regarded not just as priests: they were judges, teachers,
astrologers, healers, bards and ambassadors, passing from one warring
tribe to another to settle disputes.
Nature and the passing seasons governed the Celts’ religious year.At the
end of summer, they celebrated Samhain – the final harvest of the year,
which marked their New Year. This was the time when they honoured
their ancestors, their loved ones who were resting in Summerland. Many
of the customs that we now follow at Hallowe’en have come to us from
the Celts’ Samhain rites and rituals.
Celtic design
Samhain was followed by the Winter Solstice, the annual rebirth of the
sun, which the Celts celebrated as jovially as we celebrate Christmas
today, and in some respects in not dissimilar fashion!
The time when spring was just around the corner and when domestic
animals were about to drop their young was called Imbolg, followed
shortly afterwards by the Spring Equinox and Beltane – both of which
were regarded as fertility festivals.
Lughnassa, the Summer Solstice and another harvest festival, celebrated
the sun’s glory and the power of nature. It was now that the sacred
Animate Celtic circle
y
12
y
Page
Quick Jump
|