News & Views
We talk about what Midsummer means to us and why the time of the Solstice is so special. We discuss the varying date of the Festival, the other festivals and fetes occuring in the UK. On Midsummer, the faeries come out to dance - and we discuss this. We also discuss the varying number of festivals in the Celtic year.
The Religion of the Ancient Celts by J A MacCulloch
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We select a passage concerning the Midsummer rituals from the Religions of the Ancient Celts by J. A. MacCullogh. This book, which appears for the first time on the Internet at Sacred Texts, is one of the best scholarly treatments of the ancient Celtic religion. Written early in the 20th Century, Religion of the Ancient Celts includes extensive treatment of that perennially fascinating subject, the Druids.
MacCullough details the Celtic belief in reincarnation and a spectral otherworld; documents the enormous pantheon of now-obscure gods and goddesses, including many local deities; and describes totemistic and animistic beliefs. In addition, MacCulloch does not flinch (nor sensationalize) when describing the darker side of Celtic practices, including the famous 'Burning Man' human sacrifices, cannibalism and exogamous incest.
You can find this text at Sacred Texts. |
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Fairy Healing - The Lore and Legacy
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We then present a small section of a modern book about Fairy Healing: The Lore and Legacy written by Margie McArthur. The section we read is from Chapter 5: The Irish Traditions and tells us about the Fairy Doctor.
Thank you to Margie for allowing us to read this for you. She has her home on the web at Brigid's Hearth where you can find out about this and her other books. She also runs a fairy healing website. |
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| Find out more about Margie McArthur in our Contributor pages. |
Shimmering Wings by the Gaelic Wind Project
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They hail from Essen, Germany. Yet the repertoire of Gaelic Wind Project consists of Irish traditional songs and tunes, but they also perform their own material. This Irish folk band consists of two female lead vocalists who are accompanied by Irish wooden flute, accordion, guitar, Irish bouzouki and percussion. Gaelic Wind Project is a nice addition to any Celtic music collection.
"Our new song Shimmering Wings is inspired by Juliet Marillier´s novel Daughter of the Forest.
Here you´ll find more information about the author and her books." |
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| You can find the Gaelic Wind Project on the web at their homesite. You can also find them on Myspace. |
The First Silkie by Willie Meikle
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Willie Meikle is a Scottish Author who writes Fantasy and Horror Fiction and has eight books published. Many of his stories and books are set in Scotland and are weaved with Mythology and folklore. Willie has had 130 stories published in the genre press, both in paper and on-line magazines and his work has appeared in the UK, Ireland, the USA, India, Greece, Romania and Canada. He has graciously allowed us to present an except from his novel, The Midnight Eye Files: The Sirens and concerns the origins of the Silkie – a fey creature able to shift from seal to human form.
You can find out more about Willie and his work at his website or you can read more details about this fantastic author in our Contributor pages.
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The tale tells us of the origin of the Silkie which concerns Viking Gods, Bold Fishermen and a wager between Gods and Men. The Sirens is Book Two of the Midnight Eyes Files, soon available, and Willie tells us:
Derek Adams is a Glasgow PI with plenty of time on his hands. Until the weird cases walk in. The city's dark side soon takes hold of him.
And it doesn't want to let go! |
The Ladychant
With thanks to three young friends of ours, we present our version of the Chant of the Lady. A big Thank You to Stacey, Tania and Jessica. You can download this chant from us by clicking Ladychant.
Lyrics
Lady, spin your Circle bright,
Weave your web of dark and light.
Earth, Air, Fire and Water,
Bind us as one.
Maiden, spin your Circle white,
Weave a web of shinning light.
Stag and Hawk, Bear and Wolf,
Bind us as one.
Mother, spin your Circle red,
Weave a web of glowing thread.
Earth, Air, Fire and Water,
Bind us as one.
Wise one, spin your Circle black,
Weave the wisdom that we lack.
Moonlight, Sunlight, Starlight, Shimmer,
Bind us as one.
Lady, spin your Circle bright,
Weave your web of dark and light.
Earth, Air, Fire and Water,
Bind us as one.
Comments
We talk about the Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.
Special Thanks
For incidental music: Diane Arkenstone The Secret Garden. See the Contributor page for details.
Kim Robertson, Angels in Disguise. See the Contributor page for details.
Time Ticks Away by Jigger . See the Contributor page for details.
For our Theme music: Culann's Hounds, http://www.sfhounds.com. See the Contributor page for details.
Additional Sources
OBOD
And, of course, the Awen - inspiration and imagination!
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