“The first step in a new direction doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be a step.”
– Cassie Nightingale, ‘The Good Witch’
As you might imagine if you’ve read my blog for any length of time, I’m not generally a Hallmark Channel sort of person. More like SyFy Channel or Chiller. There is one big exception to that however in the form of The Good Witch. For those unfamiliar, The Good…
There seems to have been a recent uptick in interest in the Morrigan again and I’m seeing a lot of misinformation floating around, so I thought it would be helpful to offer clarification on some things. These aren’t personal opinions so much as facts from the Irish language and mythology. Keep in mind, however, that everyone makes mistakes when it comes to things coming from other languages and…
Dreams – aislingí – are sometimes a way that I receive communication from spirits and the Good People, as are other more controlled means like journeywork. This would fall into the realm of what’s usually called ‘upg’ or unverified personal gnosis in modern paganism. I have found a lot of value in the lessons and messages I get this way, but generally I find these things are too personal too…
There is a lot of power in names and naming, so today I want to look at the way we see that played out in mythology and folklore. I thought this would be a good topic to discuss in particular because of the confusion I sometimes see around the idea of True Names and magical names within modern paganism. So let’s look at what True Names and magical names are, and the difference between them, with…
I haven’t done a book review in a long time, and as it happens I just read a new urban fantasy that I really liked, so it seemed like a good time to offer a review here. The book is ‘The Knowing’ by Kevan Manwaring and is available on ebook through amazon (there is no print edition at this point to my knowledge).
One of the better urban fantasies out there taking on the subject of traditional…
One of the most interesting and obscure figures in fairylore is Nicnevin. She appears in folklore from the 16th century onwards as a frightening figure that was used by mother’s to ensure children’s good behavior, a witch and queen of witches, and a Fairy Queen. In modern understanding she is often depicted as a queen of the Unseelie Court of Scotland. The truth of her nature and associations is…
The following excerpt from the Táin Bó Cuiligne is about an incident towards the end of the cattle raid, where Medb and her troops are retreating. Medb’s menstraul period begins and she has to stop to relieve herself; while doing this Cu Chulain comes upon her and will not attack her, because of the vulnerable position she is in. Because he spares her she asks that he grant her a favor, by…
Ectra Condla Chaim meic Cuind Chetchathaig inso.Cid día n-apar Art Óenfer. ni handsa. Lá ro boí Condla Rúad mac Cuind Chetchathaig for láim a athar i n-uachtor Usnig. Co n-acca in mnaí i n-étuch anetargnaid na dochum. Asbert Condla. Can dodeochad a ben or se. Dodeochadsa for in ben a tírib beó áit inna bí bás nó peccad na imorbus. Domelom fleda búana can rithgnom caíncomrac leind cen debaid….
This is a revised, updated edition of a blog I wrote 5 years ago now with added Jocelin of Furness.
One thing that modern paganism struggles with is history, both its context and accuracy. Many things that are taken as fact in paganism today are not actually supported by historic material, and many things that are believed to be ancient are really modern. This isn’t always a judgment on…
There are multiple passages in the Cath Maige Tuired which are not translated in the popular English version we have to work with, that is those by Stokes and Gray. One such passage is the prophecy given by Firgol mac Mámais, a druid of the Tuatha Dé Danann, before the battle. Stokes omits the passage entirely. Gray includes only the opening of: “Then Firgol mac Mámois, the druid, was prophesying…