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…
Category Archives: By Land Sea and Sky
Book Review – The Knowing
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…
Nicnevin, Queen of Fairies, Queen of Witches
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…
Medb and Menstruation in the Tain Bo Cuiligne, a translation
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…
Translating the Echtra Condla
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….
Saint Patrick, Druids, and Snakes
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…
Translating the Untranslated part 5 – Firgol's Prophecy
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…
Fairies, Invisibility, and Old Irish Mythology
It is generally understood in modern folklore that the Fair Folk cannot be seen unless they choose to be or unless a person has some special ability or power to see them. The idea of the Good People being able to go unseen by mortal eyes is well accepted but not necessarily well understood and can often lead to discussion of the related subject of whether or not the fairies have physical forms….
The Reality of Dreams
For many people dreaming can be an important aspect of spirituality. We dream, and after waking we seek meaning in our dreams. We look for interpretations, we try to decode symbols, we puzzle out each incident and occurrence, every word and conversation, seeking deeper meanings either from our subconscious or from higher powers using our sleeping mind to speak to us. And yet at least from a…
Aided Óenfir Aífe
Aided Óenfir Aífe
Cía fochann araro marb Cú Chulainn a mac? Ní hansae. Luid Cú Chulainn do forcetul gaiscid la Scáthaig n-Úanaind ingin Airdgeme i l-Letha co ndergéni súithi cles lea & luid Aífe ingen Airdgeme cuici & ba torrach forácaib & asbert fria no bérad mac.‘Bíd ind ordnasc n-órdae so acut’, ol sé, ‘corop coimse don mac. In tan bas coimse dó, táet dom chuindchidsea i n-Ére & nacham berad…