Celtic Magic: The Druid’s legacy
Magic may be defined as the energetic undercurrent of the universe that is accessible from the edges of the human psyche as a force that is used to cause or create change.
Swyn: Understanding Celtic Magic.
Natural forces are inherent within everything that exists in our universe, and that includes you; what you do, think, say, and feel has a direct and sympathetic effect on the world around you. It affects the underlying motion of the universe, if you like. Imagine a spider’s web of glistening silver that stretches beyond this world and connects all other worlds to it. This web permeates the visible and invisible worlds, existing everywhere simultaneously, and is a metaphor for the underlying current, or energy matrix, of the universe; everything is connected. The magician knows this wisdom and consequently manipulates the web at will. Using magic, we tug at one strand of the web, causing vibrations to ripple from its source to affect the whole. The will of the magician travels along that conduit, or path, and initiates change to occur in accordance with his or her will.
The common people and the Druids practiced what we would identify today as Witchcraft, this being the practical aspect of natural manipulation and transformation by supernatural means; being religious was not required for this magic to be effective. Today, Druidry continues to be a magical tradition in some communities around the world.
The Druid is one that embraces and practices swyn, an ancient Welsh word that can be translated to mean “charm or incantation; magic.” However, the practice of swyn is not defined by a religious affiliation. Swyn is the functional aspect of magical practice. This magic is rich in heritage and ancestry, but it does not denote the survival of an intact system of Witchcraft or Paganism; it simply denotes a practice that utilized a conduit of supernatural power to activate it. Celts and their ancient priests, the Druids, were practitioners of this natural magic.
Swyn exists despite the believe systems; it is the way to interact with natural forces, like magic, is neutral, and yet its practice can be incorporated into any religious system.
Magic is the art of connecting with the forces of the invisible world inside and outside of us. To connect with Source, an alignment is necessary on the physical plane and its form (Rituals), on the mental plane and its ideas (Example, Celtic Magick) and the Spirit and its frequency that translates to your resonance between your being and the chosen tradition.
Englynion: The Power of Words
An englyn (plural englynion), or song-spell, is the strict metering of poetic verse with acts with magic.
Elements of this continue to be perpetuated in the construction of rhyming verses in modern spellcraft. Bards of the Celtic nations were magicians in their own rights who used words to transform, inspire, satirize, create, and also destroy. Creating englynion for our own ceremonies and acts of magic are powerful methods of accessing the subtle realms while simultaneously connecting to the Celtic spirit.
The casting of spells (which can be defined as the utilization of words that have power to transform its target) and the use of incantations that, when used with due ritual, produced magical results were attributes of ancient Druidic practice. An element of this can be seen in the numerous englynion that are recorded within the Mabinogi collection and other tales. These rhyme verses are replete with occult symbology and mystery and seem to be the outward expression of
the magician’s intent. The vocal repetition of an englyn effectively acts as a mantra, stilling the noise of the mind and focusing the magician’s intent on the act at hand.
As custodians of ancient Celtic knowledge, wisdom and history, the druid roamed from clan to clan to perform religious ceremonial duties. They were guardians of Celtic beliefs and spiritual conduits for the vast pantheon of Gods worshiped by the Celts. Druids also served as ancient judges, counselors and mediators.
Defining Celtic Magic
Celtic magic is the practice of a cultural strand of magic without the necessity for a religious framework. Druidry is a religious practice which arises from the Celtic culture which connects us to the tribal spirit of the ancient Celts of ancient Europe and the British Isles.
Its roots sink deep into the soft green earth, and its voice sings from the heights of mountains. Woods and forests, streams and rivers carry the whispers of magic from one place to another. Blood is thicker than water, but ancestry is thicker still. It is this connection by means of culture and heritage that connects practitioners to the magic of the Celts.
Celtic magic can be defined as what connects the practitioner to the streams of the Celtic cultural continuum.
The Celtic cultural continuum is not a bloodline, the ethereal quality of the Celtic spirit has enabled people the world over to feel Celtic; something within their being sings out to that culture and calls them to it.
The Celtic cultural continuum can be perceived as a stream that runs from the past, through the present, and into the future. At any point along its course you may step into its current; by doing so, you are participating in something immensely sacred and magical. You are immersing yourself in the memory of the Celtic culture, myths and magic. It survives for your survival; its current flows by means of the rivers of your life.
The Celts' mystical vision, magic and traditions are part of your legacy as an immortal being of the continuous river of life. All that is necessary is to feel a special calling from deep within you.
The Rules of Celtic Magic
The rules of Celtic magic are painfully simple: do not take advantage, and be careful of your intent.
When we practice magic, we must be perfectly clear of what we are doing, why we are doing it, to whom we are doing it, and what the consequences will be. Whatever you cast into the ocean will always return, transformed, on the tide. You may not like what comes back, but it’s yours and you are going to have to put up with it. So the best way is to make sure that whatever you do cast into the tides of magic has enough integrity and stamina to survive its tumultuous journey across the vastness of the universe and return altered but not hideously so, and not to anyone’s detriment.
If you are going to be the cause of change in the universe, it’s rather sensible to think about it long and hard first. What will the consequences be, not just to yourself but to anyone else who could possibly be smacked in the face, however inadvertently, by your magical endeavors? Cause and effect, a standard rule; energy always come back. on the tide.
Manifestation swims at the heart of Celtic magic. The creation of something that previously was not there is potential and the materialization of that potential. When we take something from nothing and give it shape and form and meaning, we partake of the sacred ritual of creation; we become creators.
Liminality—from the Greek limen, meaning “threshold”—brings a subtle power to magic by utilizing the subtle forces that linger between the seen and unseen, apparent and unapparent. Liminal places, times, and spaces are effective tools that ready the mind for magic and serve as a conduit for the projection of will and desire. When we move into liminal space or time, the world may feel slightly different—and, most importantly, so will the magician.
Using liminal time is essential for practical, effective magic, for it utilizes the natural energies of the world around us.
Living the Magical Vision
Service is essential to the living of a magical life and the ability to listen intently to the wonders and mysteries of our universe. It is by serving the gods of tradition and mystery and lending our ear to those who may need us to listen that we inspire the world.
Through our magic we cause change, and the primary change must be what occurs to the magician. And this occurs because of servitude, by working our magic for the benefit of our communities, our tribes, be these family and friends, work colleagues, or far-flung people on distant shores.
Magic teaches us to listen to the subtle forces of the universe. And it is by listening to our communities and reaching out when people are in need that we swim with deep honor and integrity.
Living a magical life is a frame of mind; it is seeing the potential in all things and being able to act on that. It is the subtle yet powerful ability to observe the natural world and see signs and omens in places that few others do. It is taking responsibility for your own actions and having the ability to respond to that when things do not go quite as planned. A magician is, above all else, humble and wonderfully inspirational.
A magical life is a life that lives with magic, seeing it in all places, not just in times of great need.
Awen: The Spirit of Celtic Magic
By aligning oneself to the power of Awen, we move into the energetic stream of Celtic and its wisdom, moving you closer to a relationship with the subtle forces that activate Celtic magic.
Awen is the underlying current of the universe that is available to us right now. The magic of Awen can be seen emulated in quantum science as the vacuum state also known as the Zero Point Field. It is the bridge that connects all things; it is the web of existence and experience that knots the wisdom of the universe together. Nothing is separate; everything is connected by the river of Awen. When we consider this, we can sense how our magic works and actually observe its workings through Awen’s flowing streams. We step into these streams to activate the will and bring about change—magic.
Awen is symbolized by three columns, or rays. Known as “the three Rays of Light” or “the three Pillars of Wisdom,”
Awen is a feminine noun, and although it cannot truly be translated into English, it can be taken to mean “flowing spirit.” However, Awen is not to be confused with divinity or deity.
Awen represents the universe becoming aware of itself, when the universe became aware of itself, an explosion occurred that caused the springing forth of light and vitality and all the living things in the universe. All things burst forth in praise of the universe’s conscious awareness of itself. From one came two, the universe’s consciousness and matter; from the two came a third, which is the relationship between the two; this is the essential component for the activation of magic. This is the realm of Awen, the betweenness. The universe burst into the song of creation, each aspect carrying the spark of the initial explosion of awareness.
The magic of Awen lies in the fact that it has transcended time and change. It has twisted and shaped its form to be relevant for any time and for any group of people.
Awen in the depth of vision, believing it to be some amorphous silver stream of energy that is somehow out there—untouchable, distant, and mysterious—whereas in truth it is the complete opposite. Awen is everywhere at all times, and we are never separate from it; it is only our awareness of it that causes us to feel that it is “other.” We swim within its currents, and it can be seen everywhere, for everything is a reflection of the universe’s ability to create, and it does so for one reason: to express, to be, to experience.
Awen activates the magic of Celtica. It is its driving force, the singular spark from the dawn of creation that flows through the known and unknown universe. It is by means of Awen and swimming in its flow that we are effectively able to sense the course of our magic and also its consequences, and we do this by being aware of its flow and our direction within it. Guides and allies exist that help us connect to the power of Awen—gods and goddesses, prophets and magicians who claim to know it, who summoned it from the depths of the cauldron of existence.
Guardians of the Cauldron
Numerous guardians and protectors of the Celtic cauldron challenge the seeker and teach us that those who seek Awen and the mysteries of the cauldron must be in possession of certain qualities. Bravery, courage, and stamina are among the most essential. We are continuously informed through the myths of the Celts that the cauldron will not tolerate cowardice, indifference, or foolhardiness. The seeker who quests for the magical arts must be strong of will, determined, disciplined, and, above all, of good intent. This does not imply that the cauldron punishes or reprimands; it just will not reciprocate. “It will not boil the food of a coward,” 7 we are told; its function is useless, pointless to those who approach with cowardice or ulterior motives.
The opposite qualities of cowardice are demanded by the cauldron and its guardians. Magicians train their minds and bodies; they are learned folk who study hard and work harder, honing their skills to become the most adept practitioners they can be. They are ready to face responsibility and the consequences of their actions. This strength of spirit comes from knowing one’s craft; when one approaches the cauldron and its guardians, one does so with a brave and courageous heart, determined and strong of will. With these qualities come humility, honor, and a positive morality, attributes that swim in the deep belly of the cauldron and in the flowing streams of Awen.
In Celtic myth the cauldron is guarded, protected, or owned by female priestesses who challenge those who approach it, as if readying the querent for the experience of Awen. To know it conceptually is one thing; to experience it is quite another.
Celtic Magic Rituals: The Portal to connect with Celtic Wisdom and energy
Ritual is a system of transitory symbols and gestures formed in a liminal space to transition a person from an ordinary to an extraordinary state. This chapter will offer you a ritual system that is rooted in Celtic mythology and thought. Its function is not to replace your current ritualistic practice but to offer you a system that is not wholly reliant on the common Gardnerian-influenced rituals of modern Paganism. The function of this type of ritual is to offer you a portal that accesses the storehouse of Celtic wisdom by utilizing words, symbols, and energies that are indicative of Celtica. By performing these rituals you will be aligning yourself with a system that is rooted in the Celtic tradition. They will serve to enhance your practice and deepen your connection and relationship with the spirit of Celtica.
Ritual is essential for effective magic in that it provides a space wherein we straddle the worlds—we leave behind the humdrum of ordinary reality and
assume a magical reality. The symbols and gestures that we use take on many forms: they can be the particular use of language and words that may be presented in verse, the use of various tools and clothing, and the utilization of liminality—all of these things tell the mind that something extraordinary is about to happen.
Ritual is about preparation, and its focus is to cause the magician to enter a state that is betwixt and between the worlds, without preferring one over the other. Ritual induces a state that is conducive for magic, and that is why we use it.
Our reality is dense and material, and we are products of this reality, stuck within the solidity of our bodies and the world upon which we live. When we practice magic, the restrictions of the physical dimension become irrelevant; it is by the effective use of ritual that we learn to leave the limitations of the physical world and access the storehouse of magic that is just beyond the edge of reason.
Ritual acts as a bridge that connects the finite mind to the infinite mind; it serves to inform us that we are about to participate in something extraordinary. Effective magicians see, sense, and feel more than is apparent in the visible world, and it is ritual that is utilized as a conduit for this to happen. In order to sense the magical world, the ordinary senses must be temporarily disabled to allow for the subtle senses to be given voice, but they are normally overwhelmed by our tremendously sensory, vivid world. So we must quieten the noise of the ordinary to enable the subtle senses to rise and do their work.
Without preparation, magic is ineffective. Ritual is the classroom of the magician, the place where the subtle senses are nurtured and the spirit is given a voice.
Final words:
If you feel an inexplicable attraction to Celtic culture, then this is one tradition where the magic will be powerful in you.
The Celts were a people who spread throughout Europe around 1200 BC. They were the bearers of ancestral wisdom that placed the human being as part of a great unity. Their gods and mythology were closely related to the Sumerian pantheon which many peoples adapted to their own worldview.
In the Iberian Peninsula, the Celts arrived in 400 BC, bringing their culture and ancestral wisdom.
The Celts had no writing as such, their teachings were transmitted orally and organically.
The Druids were the shamans, sages, astrologers and magicians of the Celtic people. They were the bearers of spirituality in their communities.
The Celtic worldview was based on the primordial forces of nature and its cycles. At the time of the ancient Celts, their communities were not yet corrupted by the logical thinking imposed by the Romans. It was the imposition of the Roman mind in the conversion of the Celtic peoples that, over time, weakened the religious and sacred connection the Celts had with the universe.
The remnants of Celtic paganism, including their religion, mystical vision, traditions and culture, were persecuted and destroyed centuries later by the Roman church through the Inquisition, with the intention of erasing from the map and history the vestiges of the legacy of the Celts and other ancient cultures.
On a spiritual level, Celtic shamanism, druidism, is a path to devotion in which prayer in its rituals and ceremonies are the devices and situations to create a connection with the spiritual and invisible world.
Magic can be defined as the set of beliefs, practices and traditions to create states of expansion of consciousness and thus facilitate the practitioner to connect with the primordial force of the universe. This force, God, was called Awen by the Druids and Celtic mystics.
Celtic magick is as effective as any other magick that is performed with integrity, devotion and emotion.
If you feel in your being a call, a special resonance with the Celtic culture, its gods, its music and traditions, then I invite you to explore its magic, for it is resonance that is the main component for magic to take effect and manifest.
All Europeans carry Celtic blood, it is part of our legacy and roots. They were among the last cultures that carried the wisdom of the ancestors, which were swept away and diluted by the Roman machinery and the current of logical thinking, the main destroyer of all that is sacred.
In the last decades there has been a resurgence of paganism and wisdom of ancestral peoples, primal wisdoms that connect us with all that is sacred.
