Celtic Cricket Lore

THE crickets are believed to be enchanted. People do not like to express an exact opinion about them, so they are spoken of with great mystery and awe, and no one would venture to kill them for the whole world. But they are by no means evil; on the contrary, the presence of the cricket is considered lucky...

.... I am so sorry, but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, The Powers That Be. It can be found here: Cricket Magick and Lore

God To Enfold Me

God to enfold me,

God to surround me,

God in my speaking,

God in my thinking....

...I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Widdershins, and can be found in its entirety here: God to Enfold Me

Beannacht - A Prayer For Peace

On the day when

the weight deadens

on your shoulders

and you stumble,

may the clay dance

to balance you....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Widdershins, and can be found in its entirety here: Beannacht - A Prayer For Peace

Sacred Thorn Tree Day

Sacred Thorn Tree Day and the Hawthorn Moon Month begins annually each year on this date,  It goes from May 13 - June 9. This is a great time for magic concerning peace, prosperity, protection, fertility and marriage.

The Hawthorn is a prickly sort of plant with beautiful blossoms. Called Huath by the ancient Celts, and pronounced Hoh-uh, the Hawthorn month is a time of fertility, masculine energy, and fire...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Sacred Thorn Tree Day

Festival of Belenus

Belenus, whose name means "Bright One," was one of the most ancient of Celtic gods. The Celtic fire festival, held on the eve of the first of May, known as Beltane, (the fires of Bel) is probably derived from the name of this deity. Beltane fires were lit to encourage the sun's warmth. These fires also had restorative properties and cattle were herded between them before being loosed on the new spring pastures....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Festival of Belenus

Mistletoe Lore

According to the Celtic mythology of trees, Mistletoe is the tree of the day after the Winter Solstice (Aprox. December 23).

• Latin name: Viscum Album
• Celtic name: It is said that Mistletoe is too sacred to have a written word.
• Latin name :Loranthaceae Phoradendron flavescens
• Folk or Common names: Mistletoe, Birdlime, All Heal, Golden Bough, 
• Parts Used: leaves, berries, twigs

Magical History and Associations: Mistletoe is one of the Druid's most sacred trees - as Ovid said, "Ad viscum Druidae cantare solebant. (The Druids are wont to sing to the Mistletoe.)." In Druidic lore Mistletoe is an herb of the Winter Solstice and is the special plant for the day after Yule. The Druids gathered their Mistletoe at Midsummer or at the 6th day of the moon....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: More Mistletoe Magick and Lore

Silver Fir Lore

According to Celtic tree mythology, the Silver Fir is the tree of the day of the Winter Solstice. The Winter Solstice. This usually takes place on December 20th or 21st, although it does sometimes occur on the 22nd or 23rd (check your calendar as it changes from year to year).

• Latin name: Abies alba.
• Celtic name: Ailim (pronounced: Ahl' em).
• Folk or Common names: Common Silver Fir, Balm of Gilead Fir, Balsam Fir, American Silver Fir.
• Parts Used: Needles, wood, sap.

Magical History and Associations: The Silver Fir is associated with the moon and with the planet of Jupiter. Its colors are piebald and light or pale blue....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Silver Fir Magick and Lore

Yew Lore

According to Celtic tree mythology, the Yew is the tree of the day before the Winter Solstice (Approx. December 21).

• Latin name: Taxus baccata.
• Celtic name: Idho (pronounced: Ih' huh).
• Folk or Common names: English Yew.
• Parts Used: Needles, wood, berries.

Magical History and Associations: The name "Yew" is a corruption of the Anglo-Saxon word 'eow'. The word 'Taxus' is from the Greek word 'Taxon', meaning 'bow'. The 5000 year old "Ice Man", discovered in the Alps, had a bow and axe handle made of Yew....

...I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Yew Magick and Lore

Furze Tree Lore

Furze (also known as Gorse) is a druid Sacred tree, whose flowers are associated with the Vernal Equinox (Aprox. March 20).

• Latin name: ulex europaeus
• Celtic name: 'O' - Onn
• Folk or Common names: Broom, Frey, Furze, Fyrs, Gorst, Goss, Prickly Broom, Ruffet, and Whin.
• Parts Used: Flowers

Magical History and Associations:

Furze is a thorny shrub with bright yellow flowers that is associated with the Spring Equinox. This herb is a symbol of the young sun at the spring equinox and royalty....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Furze Tree Magick and Lore

Poplar and Aspen Tree Lore

The Poplar or Aspen is the sacred Tree of the Fall Equinox - (Aprox. September 22)

Magical History and Associations:

In Gaelic tongue the tree was called Peble and Pophuil in the celtic way. Poplar is generally a plant of Jupiter, Saturn and the Sun and is associated with the element of water. Its color is rufous (red) and the bird associated with Poplar is the Whistling Swan. The stones associated with Poplar are Amber, Citrine Quartz, Sapphire and Swan Fluorite. The Anglo-Saxon rune poem seems to refer to the Poplar as being associated with the rune "berkano"...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Poplar Tree Magick and Lore

Holly Tree Lore

Each month of the Celtic Lunar calendar bears the name of a tree. Holly is the 8th Moon of the Celtic Year - (July 8 - Aug 4).

• Latin name: English Holly - ilex aquilfolium; American holly - ilex opaca.
• Celtic name: Tinne (pronounced: chihn' uh)
• Known as:  Tree of Sacrifice
• Folk or Common names: Holly, Aquifolius, Bat's Wings, Christ's Thorn, Holm Chaste, Hulm, Hulver Bush, Scarlet Oak, Kerm-Oak, Holy Tree.
• Meanings: Holly actually means "holy".
• Powers: Protection, Anti-Lightning, Luck, Dream Magick
• Ruling Planet: Mars and Saturn
• Element: Fire
• Stone: Ruby, Bloodstone
• Birds: Cardinal, Starling
• Color: Red
• Deity: Lugh, Tannus, Thor, Danu 
• Parts Used: Leaf, berry, wood.
• Other: The Holly is an evergreen tree.
• NOTE: Holly berries are poisonous!

The Holly tree (of which there are well over 150 species) can grow (albeit very slowly) to be as high as fifty feet and is native to most of Central and Southern Europe. Its white, star-shaped flowers bloom in the Spring and it bears shiny red berries in Autumn which last throughout the Winter season. The leaves of the Holly are shiny, dark green in color, elliptical in shape and have spiny points. In order to produce berries, both a male and a female tree are required. Only the female tree produces berries which, although lovely to look at, are poisonous....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients. It can be found here: Holly Magick and Lore

Heather Lore

Heather is sacred to the Summer Solstice  (Aprox. June 20).

• Latin name: Calluna vulgaris
• Celtic name: Ura (pronounced: Oor' uh)
• Folk or Common names: Common Heather, Ling, Scottish Heather
• Parts Used: herb, flowering shoots.

Magical History and Associations:

Heather is associated with the sun, and with the planet of Venus. Its color is resin colored and its element is water. Heather's bird is the lark, and its animal association is the honey bee....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Heather Magick and Lore