Anglo-CelticPeople “The true term for the population of these [British] islands, and for the typical and dominant part of the population of North America, is not Anglo-Saxon, but Anglo-Celtic. It is precisely in this blend of Germanic and Celtic elements that the British people are unique—it is precisely this blend which gives to this people…
Category: Celtic Mythology
The Tree of Life and the Cult of Sacred Trees in Irish Mythology and Other Mythologies
In a Norse tale, the god Odin went to Urda’s well to seek knowledge. The sacred water of Urda’s well was under the great root of Ygdrassil, and Ygdrassil was a sacred tree–the Tree of Life in Norse Mythology. The Tree of life. “Whatever may have been the site of the land of Eden or…
The Story of Connla’s Well – Sinend and the Well of Knowledge in Irish Mythology – Sacred Water Cult
Sinend and the Well of Knowledge “There is a singular myth which, while intended to account for the name of the river Shannon, expresses the Celtic veneration for poetry and science, combined with the warning that they may not be approached without danger. The goddess Sinend, it was said, daughter of Lodan son of Lir,…
A Cheat Sheet for People [Like Me] Who Cannot Keep Up with the HBO Series Game of Thrones
When The Game of Thrones first aired on HBO, I only watched a couple of episodes. I knew that I would come back later to this master production, but I also knew that when I watched this series, I would need time to totally engage. I have watched the HBO series The Sopranos several times,…
Who Was Patrick – An Ancient Irish Bishop and Patron Saint
THE CONFESSION OF ST. PATRICK. “They also found wild honey, and offered me some of it, and one of them said: “This is offered in sacrifice, thanks be to God”; after this, I tasted no more. But the same night, while I was sleeping, I was strongly tempted by Satan (of which I…
Was Glastonbury a Celtic Site? Looking at the Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor Image Credit: Wikipedia Tower of Avalon in The Winter King Image Credit: Film Bristol When I watched the MGM series The Winter King, I was struck by the tower that rises above the rest of the region of Avalon, and my mind immediately flashed to stories about the use of towers in Fairy…
What Is A Druid in Celtic Mythology?
“Druid, member of the learned class among the ancient Celts. They acted as priests, teachers, and judges. The earliest known records of the Druids come from the 3rd century bce. Their name may have come from a Celtic word meaning ‘knower of the oak tree.’ Britanica “The early Celts recognized an intimate relationship between man and nature:…
Who Was Morgan le Fay?
Coincidentally or by a happy accident, I stumbled into the series The Winter King on tv at the same time that I am researching ancient mythology and folklore. Valene Kane as Morgan. (Image credit: ITV) “In Arthurian legend, Morgan le Fay is usually shown to be Arthur’s sister. She’s a witch who tends to protect and…
Flowers and Flower Lore – Hilderic Friend – 1883
November 6th, 1883. Introduction “FLOWERS are the friends of all, and we look with amazement at the person who cannot find some amount of pleasure in their study. Children love to gather them as they take their country rambles or return from the village school ; the sick are always delighted when a bouquet is…
Who Was Lady Jane Wilde? Mother of Oscar WIlde – Eminent Irish Folklorist
Lady Jane Wilde Image Credit: Wikimedia I research almost every day, and I write almost every day. On most days, I write about what I have discovered in my resarch, and the past two days, I have been researching Celtic Folklore. Several times, writers have mentioned the name Lady Wilde as a source for this…