Celtic Reconstructionist forum

I've decided that I'd like to dedicate some time to writing my own version of a Irish pagan-inspired theogony. I plan on dedicating some time to researching some Hellenic and Indian theogonies in order to gain a broader understanding of Indo-European beliefs, as well as more thoroughly engaging with the Book of Invasions in order to determine which elements seem vital and which might not be necessary (like perhaps Noah's flood). I'm interested in making a story that best reflects my own religious understanding of beginnings, endings, and the nature of the universe. I'm not necessarily trying to make an incredibly detailed myth, but at least something that covers the broader strokes. And I'm not trying to retell the Book of Invasions or necessarily expand on it. I'm just trying to make something that is "True" to me.

That said: does anyone have any advice about things I might want to check out? Like anyone else who may have tried something similar (I had a book of Celtic myths once where somebody tried something like this, but after reading more source material, I'm not very satisfied with it)? Or other sources that might help me refine my philosophy? If anyone has any other Celtic sources (perhaps from the Welsh) or artifacts (like from the continental Celts) that shine any light on these issues, I'd be interested in those too. Or any published articles that might shine some light on the issue would be interesting as well.

Thanks, all

So, it's that time of the year again.

Green beer, puking students, and awkward interactions on social media.

This year some of us decided to get proactive, with two videos and an article:



More about our YouTube channel and articles, about the season and Gaelic Polytheism (GP) in general: http://www.gaolnaofa.com/website-updates/new-stuff-article-and-youtube-channel/

GP is a subset of CR, and Gaol Naofa is the organisation a number of us belong to. The founders of Gaol Naofa met here on cr_r and LJ. While most of us have migrated to Facebook, blogspot, twitter and tumblr, we figured folks here might find this work of interest, and perhaps an aid to educating the people who insist on spreading misinformation or harmful stereotypes at this time of year.

Slán!

I've always been interested in mead, since the Celts hold it in such high esteem, but my only experience was regrettably Chaucer's (which is known for being average to poor, and I thought it tasted like flat, sweet cardboard). I wanted to start a gallon of Joe's Ancient Orange recipe in January for my birthday since it's March 20, which is Ostara, but I ended up really busy with school hassles until a couple of weeks ago. Blech.

Technically I could just buy mead online, but that would take about two weeks and more money due to shipping costs, and I don't have money because I'm a student. Luckily enough, I found this short-mead recipe!

Yesterday I bought half a gallon of spring water with a couple pounds of wildflower honey, and I mixed it up with my sister's Red Star bread yeast. Right now the mead's sitting in my bedroom, because it's pretty dark. I don't have an airlock, which flies in the face of a LOT of mead-makers, but apparently just tying a double-layer of muslin around the top is fine if you're going REALLY medieval.

My mead took a few hours to start fermenting due to the cold weather, but now it's fizzing pretty well. It smells like fresh orange juice with a hint of yeast.

The Tuatha De are awaiting results as anxiously as I am, which isn't helping with the whole "be patient" adage for mead. They'll probably understand if my first batch of mead doesn't work out, but I really hope it does because I don't just want to get buzzed. What better Ostara offering than wildflower mead that I made myself?

Any more mead-makers or drinkers around? It seems a very common drink among the SCA and the European pagans.

Hey all,

I was reading through this old thread (http://cr-r.livejournal.com/301593.html), and I had a little spark of inspiration that I thought I'd run by you. Is it possible that the loss of Nuada's arm would bee seen as a type of sacrifice in service to the Tuatha De? If so, could we interpret Miach's crime as undoing an act of sacrifice similar to eating sacrificial food or stealing from votive deposits? This is just an idea I had, and I want to see how it sets with others. Thanks.

I've been doing some light research on the subject of votive deposits and ritual shafts in Britain and Gaul, and it seems like a pretty obvious way to prevent animals/pets/small children from consuming food offerings. (Well, assuming the dogs aren't feeling especially determined. But it seems that votive pits were often sheltered with stones, like a well.) Do any of you bury your gifts to the gods?

Does anyone have Patricia Lysaght's The Banshee? My copy is in storage, and I can't get to it at present, but am writing something that may benefit from it...and, my advanced age is preventing me from remembering all of its contents in detail, since I read it about 15 years ago.

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Also, if anyone has any suggestions for good resources on the Irish keening tradition, I'd also appreciate that--I know I have something on this somewhere, but I've got limited access to my own possessions at present.

I asked these questions in another group, but I think I may have a bit more luck fielding them here.

1. Anybody know where I might be able to read about Connacht lore regarding Medb? Is there anything outside of the Ulster tradition on her? (I ask this because I remember reading in Evans-Wentz that pilots flying over Rath Crogan claimed that Medb would show herself to them. And I wondered why I hadn't come across more local anecdotes like that.)
2. Other than Lady With A Mead Cup, is there anything else to read on the subject of mead/ale? I've already started in on Enright, but I had to take a breather.

Hey everyone,

I am interested in the process whereby Celtic Recon creates its traditions and meanings and I am particularly interested in which aspects of traditional Irish culture are brought to bear on this.

As such I wonder if anybody would be willing to share their views on Ireland from 5th Century onwards. This period shows the acknowledgement by the European church of some Christians living in Ireland, bishops being sent there or appointing themselves there, the founding of churches, monasteries, etc., production of written texts, a learned culture that certainly by 7th century had confidently incorporated many aspects of Christian and Classical teaching and was attempting to emphasize the importance of monastic spiritual authority over secular political authority.

Without a doubt it is a period seeing many **new ideas being incorporated into the bedrock of Irish culture** as it emerges into history by way of its own writings and my question is this: what specifically do you think **disappeared from Irish culture** during this period especially in terms of pre-Christian religious thought and/or practice?

I am very grateful for anybody willing to share their views on this, and also what specifically is seen to be in need of being reconstructed in general.

Many thanks

Once upon a time I had bookmarked a post in this community where someone posted some material about weddings from I think probably either Lady With the Mead Cup or Cattle Lords and Clansmen. I can't find it anywhere and I even tried google searching within community. Have I lost my mind? Does anyone have any resources for Celtic Recon weddings??

So I'm in the middle of an interesting conversation with someone who works primarily in Tom Cowan's tradition. Upon finding out I work recon-inflected Romano-British/Gaulish ADF, he dropped the "Neo-Druidry sits badly with me because it's not historical."

Look, this is not news to anyone, even me with my not-quite recon path. I pretty much gave him the "Yeah, I don't really work with crazy uncle Iolo's stuff either," line, but then asked him about why he works Cowan's stuff if he's concerned about historicity.

I haven't heard back from him yet, but given that I haven't read any Cowan (because of his rep), I was wondering if anyone could share with me some of the criticism about his work? I'll obviously be doing some of my own research as well, but this community is such an excellent resource I figured asking would be a good way to jump-start my process of actually knowing what I'm talking about a bit more effectively.