Celtic Moment

Growing up in a large family of deep Scottish heritage, folklore and legends were and still are a large part of family conversations. I have always thought they were just that… stories. I have lived in Oklahoma most of my life, and am familiar with pretty much all the animals and other “creatures” believed to live around here. So… I saw something I could not identify and could not explain, it looked right at me then vanished into mist before my eyes, I am left in a quandary. I researched my family books and found this being… one of the Ce Sith hounds. How do I know if what I saw was REALLY what I saw, and not a figment of my imagination? I don’t drink as a rule, don’t do drugs and wasn’t thinking about anything in particular at the time, was just mowing my lawn.

Some really uplifting, fantasy-type music that really takes you elsewhere?

Richard Jones takes you on a journey through Mystical Scotland. The film is a relaxing journey through some of Scotland’s most ancient and atmospheric places and is made up of photographs that Richard took for his book Mystical Britain and Ireland. The film is accompanied by a lovely soundtrack composed by Bjorn Lynne.

Celebrated at the beginning of November, the Celtic Festival of Samhain marked the coming of the winter months, with their dimming light and heightening darkness. The root of the word “Samhain” comes from “samhradh”, meaning “summer” in Irish Gaelic. While the exact etymology has not been confirmed by scholars, in Celtic tradition, “Samhain” corresponds to “end of summer” (a combination of samh “summer” and fuin “ending, concealment”).  Samhain and Beltanne (May Day) stood in opposition as the beginning of the season of winter and summer, respectively, but Samhain was a much more prominent festival and may have marked the beginning of the Celtic New Year as Frazer has pointed out.

Samhain was, consequently, a festival of deepening darkness and budding light. It was a meeting place between two opposites – the winter and the summer, the dark and the light, death and life. As such, the festival contained both aspects of existence – although the darkness, increasing at this time, was more profuse and substantial.

In its ‘dark’ aspect, Samhain marked a period of destruction and chaos. Perhaps the most dramatic illustration of this was the ritual killing of the Irish kings of Tara. According to Dalton’s evidence and interpretation, the kings that had behaved unsuitably or unpiously in office would be killed on the day of Samhain. Ritual killing was also effected against animals: Samhain was the season when the cattle that would not be kept through the winter were slaughtered.

On Samhain, the forces of darkness or chaos returned to rule. According to Irish mythology, 1st of November marked the day that the demonic Fomorian race oppressed the people of Nemed. According to another legend, the divine Aillen the Burner puts everyone to sleep at Samhain and burns the palace of the Irish kings at Tara. During the festival, bands of men, women and children dressed in masks and costumes embodied the havoc-causing divinities and inflicted their own terror and chaos on the neighbourhood. As Dalton points out, the tyrannical Irish king Conn Cetcathach was killed by fifty warriors dressed as women. The habit of cross-dressing was popular in various parts of the Celtic world as expressions of the breakdown of rules on Samhain.

Samhain was also a time when the dead came back to roam the earth. This happened because the normal order no longer applied, and hence the boundaries of the otherworld were broken. Freed from the rules that clearly separate one world from the next, the dead returned to visit the living. They were welcomed at ritual feasts where, as Kondratiev has noted, they were “actually” present. It was this custom of honoring the dead that made the Catholic Church adopt the date of 1st and 2nd of November as the Day of the Saints and Day of the Departed.

If Samhain was a dreaded time when rules were broken and demons roamed the earth, it was also a time when light was re-born. Samhain, as Frazer has observed, was not a festival of the sun: the sun is in retreat in autumn. Instead, Samhain marked the birth of a mystical light – a light that may originate in the first ray of sun at dawn or the first lunar ray after the new moon. In Ireland, a bonfire was started on the royal hill of Tara accompanying, perhaps, the coronation of a new king after the killing of the old one. The custom of lighting fires on Samhain was also pervasive in Scotland and Wales. In line with this new light, Samhain was also a time when the forces of good eventually prevailed: the demon Fomorians were destroyed, Aillen the Burner was slain. Divination was also pervasive as a practical translation of the ‘light in the darkness’ motif: the diviner would try to shed a dim light into the dark future.

This combination of darkness and light, fear and hope, order and chaos gave Samhain its particular coloring of a merry time of misbehaving. It was a festival where rules were briefly abolished and tension – whether communal, social, political or even psychological – could be released. It was also a time when new order was born – hence the competitions and games of worth that were practiced during this period. Figures of power were abolished and others replaced them; rules were destroyed and recreated.

It is perhaps of interest to see what has remained of this festival time in today’s Halloween customs.

The symbolic kindling of fires in the lit pumpkin;
Games of worth in the popular ‘bobbing for apples’ – a water ordeal.
The havoc wreaked by deities and the dead in modern movies like Halloween, Scream, Dracula and vampire stories, American Werewolf in London and other horror classics;
The identification of the living with deities and the dead in Halloween trick-or-treating and costume-wearing
The sacral fear surrounding the Samhain celebration survives in urban legends of ‘razors hidden in apples’ to harm children.
The tradition of Samhain feasts in Halloween parties, trick-or-treating and Halloween candy;
Mischief survives in the mild “tricks” played on those that do not propitiate the costumed revelers
Abolition of traditional hierarchy is still present in the ascendance of children over adults during the Halloween season.

Perhaps more investigations should be carried out in this aspect, yet what is certain is that Samhain has evolved into Halloween in subtle, but yet powerful ways, maintaining in the process its fundamental character of an out-of-the-ordinary time when rules become more relaxed and identities more fluid behind the mask. It is unfortunate that its spiritual core has taken second place to ‘ordered chaos’, yet the enduring power of the Samhain is witnessed by its innovative ways to survive and adapt in the modern world.

Kondratiev, A. (1997). Samhain: Season of Death and Renewal. Online. Accessed 29 October 2008.
Frazer, J.G. (1922). The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion. London : Macmillan
Dalton, G.F. (1970). The Ritual Killing of the Irish Kings. Folklore 81(1), pp.1-22
Kondratiev, A. (1997). Samhain: Season of Death and Renewal. Online.  Accessed 29 October 2008.
Walsh, M.J. (1947). Notes on Fire-Lighting Ceremonies I. Folklore 58(2), pp. 277-284.
Wikipedia. (2008). Samhain. Online. Accessed 30 October 2008
Dalton, G.F. (1970). The Ritual Killing of the Irish Kings. Folklore 81(1), pp.1-22.
Kondratiev, A. (1997). Samhain: Season of Death and Renewal. Online.  Accessed 29 October 2008.
Frazer, J.G. (1922). The Golden Bough: A Study of Magic and Religion. London : Macmillan.
Kondratiev, A. (1997). Samhain: Season of Death and Renewal. Online.  Accessed 29 October 2008.
Best, J. & Horiuchi, G.T. The Razor Blade in the Apple: The Social Construction of Urban Legends. Social Problems, 32(5), pp. 488-499.
Dell Clark, C. (2005). Tricks of Festival: Children, Enculturation and American Halloween. Ethos 33(2), pp.180-205.

Ayurveda is a name given to traditional Indian medicine which is also practiced in many other countries as alternative healing. As a word it means the ‘science of life’ and incorporates many treatments including gemstone therapy, massage, and aromatherapy. This alternative medicine is known to cure serious illnesses like diabetes, seizures, abscesses, and tumors as well as psychological problems like sleeplessness, depression, anxiety and panic attacks. Ayurvedic Astrology is composed of different birthstones known to have magical powers associated with them. These stones include Garnet, Amethyst, Bloodstone, Diamond, Agate, Pearl, Ruby, Sapphire, Moonstone, Opal, and Topaz.

Many people who believe in the mystical powers of these gemstones wear them on a regular basis. Some of these stones are combined in jewelry articles to cure physical and psychological diseases. These stones are believed to invalidate the effects of bad karma or bad luck. Some people wear birthstone jewelry as ornaments, while others use them as hidden jewelry articles such as pendants concealed under the shirt. These gemstones are used in a specific manner in order to make a relationship work or succeed in an interview.

Navaratna (a planetary talisman) is a Sanskrit word which means ‘nine gems’ and it is a name given to a jewelry article which is composed of nine gemstones. In Hindu and Ayurvedic Astrology, navaratnas are believed to cure various illnesses. They may be composed of certain gemstones associated with 12 months including ruby, diamond, sapphire, cat’s eye, red coral and some others. The nine gemstones are associated with nine planets of the solar system. Nine-gem bangles and bracelets are very popular in India, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.

Garnet is the Ayurvedic gemstone of the month January. This stone is used to bring power and good health. It’s a lovely precious stone which comes in hues of dark red. The gemstone for the month of June in Ayurvedic Astrology is the beautiful pearl. In ancient folklore pearls were regarded as tears of God. This stone is used for personal development and to recognize one’s true worth. Among other Ayurvedic birthstones, topaz is the stone of November and ruby is considered a gemstone of July and December. Topaz comes in yellow, white and pink colors and is commonly used in contemporary jewelry designs.

Ruby is associated with love, romance and loyalty. It is known to cure emotional injuries. Some people also wear birthstones to improve their attitude towards life and to get rid of negative feelings. Since naturally occurring stones come in a variety of exciting colors like yellow, black, red, green and blue, they are also used to enhance one’s mood and to clear away hesitation and suspicion. Colors are also used to rouse sensations and therefore some of these gemstones are used to open the path of love and physical pleasure in one’s life.

Mystical powers of Ayurvedic healing gemstones are recognized all over the world and they are known to have various effects on our behavior, mood and attitude towards life. Because of this reason, gemstone jewelry is commonly used in many parts of the world.

Beautiful celtic song about a mystical red flower

Modern jewelry has lost much of its charm due to minimalist trends and mass manufactured products. If you are wearing a pearl strand to a party, chances are you will meet many women who would be wearing pearl strands as well. To bring soul back into jewelry, many jewelers have started retailing historical jewelry. Historical pendants, especially, are much in demand because of low cost, unique designs, quaint symbolism, and as an easy to wear option for any occasion.

Antique pendants, manufactured decades, even centuries, back can be found through online stores and estate sales. Many antique pendants are former heirlooms, and their value depends on their condition. If the pendant is very old, a little chipping and discoloration will not decrease its value significantly. Newer historical pendants (say, dating back to the 1920s or later) do need to be in a good condition for their value to appreciate after a while. Think of your antique pendants as an investment – the older they become, the more they will appreciate in price, if you can manage to maintain their original shine and good condition.

Art And History

Historical jewelry has a lot to do with art. Many jewelers who design historical pendants carry certificates from art galleries and museums testifying to the authenticity of their designs. Some jewelers are inspired by the jewelry worn by women depicted in old portraits – Jean Auguste Ingres’ Madame Moitessier, Boucher’s Madame Bergeret, even van Rijn’s Lucretia.

How do you know if the pendants have really been copied out of old patterns? Look for a certificate from a museum. For example, the Smithsonian provides a certificate of authenticity to a Danish jeweler specializing in Viking jewelry and historical pendants. Visit museums if you can find time – the displays will give you an idea of popular fashions and styles in medieval or older times. You don’t need to do in-depth research in historical pendants and their history, but it helps to know your Egyptian cartouches from Viking Thor symbols.

Every culture, every age has its own concept of beauty and flamboyance. Through historical pendants, you may gain an insight into the culture of your ancestors, or find out something new about people who exist solely in the pages of history now.

Mystical Symbolism with Intricate Designs and Beauty

A Celtic bracelet is a bit of ancient symbolism arfully crafted into an intricate design based upon the Celtic knot or a variation. The Celtic design is intriguing and mysterious as it incorporates twisting and interlocking knots that seem to be endless, often in the vein of the moebius strip. These pieces of jewelry are interesting in that they often blend a kind of coarse appearance (knots and the like) into an artful creation that is unique from tamer forms of jewelry. In other words, Celtic jewelry seems to capture the essense of an earlier, more mytical time of human history and connects you with a more elemental past than modern jewelry.

The triskele knot is sometimes the principle design of a Celtic bracelet. This beautiful knot symbolizes the celtic elementals of land, sea and sky and is one of the several tritities of the Celtic belief system. You don’t have to adopt ancient beliefs to appreciate the symbolic homage paid to ancient peoples and other times.

One of the most popular forms of Celtic jewelry is a wedding ring. Many brides and grooms choose an infinity ring with Celtic knots that form an endless pattern around the ring. Another design is the morvan pierced wave knot. The word “morvan” means sea and the ring suggests the movement of waves around the endless surface of the ring.

Historical References

A popular Irish myth tells how Saint Patrick created the Celtic cross to aid in conversion of the Celts to Christianity. The Celtic cross blended the symbolism of the Celtic religion with the traditional cross of Christianity. As early as the 7th century stone Celtic crosses began to appear first across Ireland and then throughout Great Britain. The Celtic Revival in the middle of the 19th century added more interest in the use and display of Celtic crosses and jewelry. Even today, Celtic crosses and variations are popular designs for gravestones and statuary and Celtic jewelry offers some of the most unique and beautiful jewelry designs available.

Use

Celtic design has many attractions that include:

bracelets, charms and pendents wedding rings with symbols of eternity tattoos mugs and coffee cups T-shirts athletic logos and advertising

What to Look For

Look for fine silver with either artificial or real gemstones. Some silver bracelets are silver overlaid over a lead-free pewter while other, more expensive bracelets may be of pure silver or yellow gold.

Pay close attention to the links and to the clasps. look for a good finish, sturdy design, and a positive action on the clasp.

Summary

A Celtic bracelet or other Celtic jewelry can be a thoughtful gift for someone who would enjoy jewelry that is unique and different from the standard fare. Of course, Celtic jewelry can also be an ideal way to celebrate Irishness in a grand way!

Dr. Richard Porr (richporr)

Richard has been writing and teaching in areas of success and leadership for over 30 years. The author is also interested in ancient peoples and their traditions and artifacts. Check out his site on Celtic bracelets.