amildanachamildanach Journal of ◊ Caledonii Grande Tradition SS http://www.angelfire.com/sc/Caledonii/ Premiere Edition ◊ Five dollars Greetings from the Editorial Staff

It has been several years since the We are striving to present articles Sabbats, Gods and Goddesses of publication of the original Samildanach of worth to those of you who wish the and customs relating to was released. Now, with new to be enriched in your study of them. We invite you to submit your computers and a full Staff comprised Celtic life ways. We’ll also carry articles to our Editorial Staff at least of hard working Caledonii members, sections announcing upcoming six weeks before the release date we hope to bring you this magazine Gatherings around the South East, for each issue. Issues of the zine will of Celtic Studies. You’ll find a lot in and notable Gathers throughout number four a year to correspond this issue which we hope will be of the States; as well as, articles on the to the great Fire Festivals. interest to you. – Continued on page 2 The Caledonii Grande Tradition A Little Background Grande Tradition known as the Wiccans and Mystic Christians can Fellowship of Caledon. In its come together and affirm their By Lord Ariel Morgan meetings, the Druidh, the Elders interconnectedness as Creators Ard Druidh Chosen Chief of the Order and Third Degree, and the Episcopacy, children and as brothers and sisters Wisdom Keeper of the Tradition sit together and create the policies of the Caledonii family. Within the which govern the Caledonii. It is Family that is Caledon, truly Love The Grande Tradition is comprised truly wondrous that , is the Law! of three major branches; these are the Caledonii Druidic Order, the Caledonii Federation of Celtic Wicca, and the newest branch of the n this issue Tradition, the Culdee Church of I . The Grande Tradition of the Caledonii prides its From the Editor ...... 2 self on its diversity, providing a Sabbat Update place of fellowship for the many Irish Fire Festivals - Lughnassadh ...... 2 faces of Celtic religious life and Rituals for Hearth and Home culture. Together the Elders of the Nine Days: A Celebration of Celtic Values .... 6 three branches of the Caledonii How to bake Bannocks, the bread of Ritual ...... 12 form the ruling Council of the Month of Elembiuios Journal of Celtic Studies Samildanach Caledonii Grande Tradition Sabbat Update Continued from page 1.

As has been stated, we focus on Celtic studies and Irish Fire Festivals - Lughnassadh welcome submissions from all Celtic groups, Druidic, By: Kym ní Dhoireann Wiccan and Celtic Reconstructionist.

Our aim is to enrich ourselves with the well spring of Lughnassadh (loo-na-sa) is another holiday name knowledge available through research and which is often used for practices not originally development in the fast growing and important field associated with the Irish meaning. It is often difficult of study that is Celtic Studies. to separate its modern celebration from the Anglo- Saxon Lammas, although these holidays were – The Staff of the Samildanach probably very different in function and intent. These Ariel Morgan, Linda Mangum, & Alexandra Ceelie differences are likely the source of much confusion of practices evident in many NeoPagan celebrations of August festivals. Most NeoPagan working from a Wiccan angle tend to mark this as a day in which the From the Editor’s Desk Sun God (often referred to as ) who is also the Grain God dies. There is, however, absolutely no Greetings and Bright Blessings! evidence to indicate that the Irish Lugh was a Sun or Grain God — in fact, there is no good evidence for We are most excited to present this new release of any Sun God worship among the Celtic Irish. In most, the Samildanach, A Journal of Celtic Studies, for your if not all, Indo-European languages the word “Sun” enjoyment. The first issues of the magazine were a is feminine and Goddesses and women associated great success and we are really excited that we can with the Sun are found but no males. The universality get back into the publishing arena with the new of the Sun God and Moon Goddess seems a rather edition of Samildanach. modern myth and has no bearing on ancient Irish practices. Even if there were a Sun God, it would not Since its inception some seven years ago, the be Lugh who is a tribal God of many skills and whose Samildanach has been an avenue for our Tradition brightness may rival the sun but is not the sun; there to publish its research in Celtic Studies and to is some speculation that if He has a nature association disseminate correct information to the public it would be with lightening (the Spear He carries) concerning the ancient rites and philosophies of Celtic and storms. Religion as practiced today by Druids, Wiccans and Celtic Reconstructionists. Rather than being about sacrificing a God, this is a time to offer sacrifice to the Gods and Goddesses. It is a most challenging endeavor and one we do not This was a propitious holiday to pray for a good take lightly. We research thoroughly each article and harvest in the last remaining days before it, not a examine each ritual that we present to the public in thanksgiving holiday —the Irish Gods seem to prefer the hopes that they will become a positive force for to be given to first rather than waiting to see if They the enrichment of all individuals on these paths, and would get proper thanks after Their gifts were given. those who are seeking information about them. The most common interpretation of Lugh’s We hope you as well will send in your submissions connection was that these were the funeral games in the continuing effort to strengthen the web of life for His foster-mother who died clearing land and our Celtic community as a whole. so that Her people could grow food although this has been lightly denounced by Ronald Hutton as a Ariel Morgan, Medieval construction (The Pagan Religions of the Editor – Samildanach Ancient British Isles pg. 178). By honoring Her

2 sacrifice the people may have been hoping to keep also claims has been refuted as we shall see. It is also Lugh from neglecting or even destroying the crop. a link to the tendency to seat kings at this time at least mythologically. The king becomes so by The dispute by Hutton, an author otherwise due a marrying the local Goddess. great deal of respect, is without any source material. Hutton argues that the trial weddings at Teltown (Tailtiu) associated with Lughnassadh is a construct of the 17th century and that any earlier connection was shot down in the 1950’s (pg. 178). Again he gives no sources for this and several reputable authors writing later do not seem to dismiss this entirely either. While trial marriages may be questioned (those that lasted a year-and-a-day) Lughnassadh is a prime time for commitment making for many practical and ritualistic reasons. This was a time when young men would be hiring themselves out for the harvest and would usually end up wintering where they worked so taking a local wife would be beneficial for many reasons. Just the fact that folks would be getting ready to settle in for some time, time which was fairly idle, made it a better time than any for a commitment — I actually have to question this as there seems a lot of once harvest started until there would be evidence that Tailtiu was long linked with August little time for courtship. As I noted in my Beltaine festivals in . This would be in Ulster, in other article, Lughnassadh babies would be born around locals the festival has ties to the burial places of other Beltaine, after the confines of smoke filled dwellings Goddesses or Otherworldly women, such as Carman could be escaped, and the greater cold and dampness in Lienster —their names at least appear to be old of earlier months could be avoided (I’m not indicating even if the stories are newer (that is Medieval). There that Irish summers are particularly warm, mind you). is also special honor given to Macha in Ulster at this This would undoubtedly be beneficial to the health time, most likely in relation to Her association with of the babies. This was also the time that the larger horses and horse racing along with the livestock and wildlife began rutting, so a metaphysical commemoration of Her curse following a horse race connection between the people and their food source She was forced to run when pregnant. My speculation could be seen. regarding Hutton’s remark is that the link between Tailtiu and Lugh may be a late concept, but that Her As for the trial period of marriage, it should be association with the August festival is remembered that under Brehon Law, the legal code perhaps even older in Ireland that Lugh’s is —Lugh in Pagan and early Christian Ireland, no marriage was being of Continental origin from most evidence. Even considered completely binding unless there was a in the mythology He is a “new arrival.” Tailtiu was a child. The popular concept of Beltaine divorces could member of the Fir Bolg, the “people” of Ireland prior be derived from this for if the couple were not to the arrival of the Tuatha de Danann. Considering expecting by then they were free to part. Therefore, these often neglected associations of Lughnassadh whether the wedding was performed with this trial with Goddesses this may be an appropriate time to period in mind or not, all marriages were subject to remember Earth Goddesses and Goddesses of the termination if the couple wished and there was no wild places that were sacrificed for human needs. child after nine months to a year. (To stay together with no children was a sure sign of a love match, not A link has also been made to the marriage of Lugh to the most honorable of unions in the eyes of a people the Goddesses Nas and Bu/i and perhaps to other with high child mortality rates although some of the local Goddesses in different areas. This is one of the greatest legendary Irish couples — CuChulainn and reasons that has been given to the connection of Emer for instance — were childless. Today, when weddings with this holiday, a connection that Hutton we have little to worry about in regards to breeding

3 our numbers up, many Celtic Reconstructionists would be hired now, debts paid as per usual for the choose to emulate such love matched couples.) Fire Festivals, and contracts drawn up (another reason to consider this a time of marriage as the contract The festival takes place before the harvest and does was central to Irish weddings even if never written). mark the end of the yearly bread famine during Treaties between tribes would also be made at this summer — if the harvest looks promising there was time along with fealty oaths to the leaders. probably a great deal of feasting on the last of the stored grain from the previous one provided any is The celebrants would often walk out to the hills, left. There may have been a great deal of drinking woods, or shore area. There seems less connection for this reason too, beer being the easiest way to with the blessing of the villages and households now preserve grain. The first grain might be cut and offered than at the other Fire Festivals. There are no tales of to the Gods (again not as a God, but to Them). The the processions going through the village or to the first wild berries would be found at this time, again houses. This may be because this seems to have been marking an end to hunger. the time of the largest assemblies, so few people may have been home during this time. Bonfires would be A bull would often be sacrificed and this seems the lit, but unlike all the other festivals there seems no proper time for the tarbh feis a feast upon the connection to the relighting of hearth fires. sacrificed bull followed by a divination method involving wrapping a seer in the bull’s hide until The rituals held in these large assemblies appear to visions came. This seems to be a divination method have included grand ritual dramas incorporating the employed primarily for the finding of a new chieftain. myths involved with the season — the battle of an While there is no indication of the same focus on old bull and a young one — Crom Dubh and Lugh sacrifice of a king as seen in other cultures, there is for instance. If the harvest looked like it was to be some consideration given to the replacement of an good, this would be the closest to easy living as it old king with a new one on a ritualistic viewpoint. would get — although winters were quiet they were The young king may have to kill the older one, with a bit precarious. Still, some of the hardest work was the idea that the older one — some times seen as ahead if the people were going to bring in enough Crom Dubh, the “Dark One,” —has become corrupt food to make it through the next year. and must be removed for the sake of the people. It also seems that this may be when Nuada Silverhand Our disconnection with the Earth and the season stepped down from the kingship and turned it over makes us see the summer as a time of ease. We forget to Lugh prior to the battle with the Fomoire at the toil involved in bringing our food sources to full Samhain. Even though in some instances there is a and bring the harvest in —we seem to have an death of a male figure, possibly a God but often more especially difficult time remembering that summer of an Outsider (one who is not worshiped by the was even more a time of hunger than winter was. I people celebrating), it is never Lugh and there is no am again offering some suggestions for both ritual substantiated connection between Him and the grain and practical consideration to try to get back in touch. or the sun. If you can you may choose to mark the celebration Like all the Fire Festivals, but more so with this one to coincide with the ripening of wildberries in your and , it was a time to divine for weather — a area. Go out berrying, preferably in the wild but a crucial consideration just before and during harvest. “pick-your-own” place is an option if you don’t know Horse racing and other games of skill, strength and anywhere you can go without trespassing (but try to intellect were played. The purpose of this was both find an organic place). You may wish to use the ritualistic and practical. The games entertained the berries as a central part of a feast, make berry laden grieving God. It was also a way to show off the horses breads for your “cakes,” or use the berries as your you were trying to sell, show the strength of the “blessing” of the season. warriors (according to the tales of the Fianna they would be looking for places to winter come Brian (Austin, editor of THiNK!) reminded me to Samhain offering their protection in return for mention that homebrewers may choose to hospitality) as well as the strength of the laborers incorporate the berries they harvested into their looking for work. Those needed to harvest the fields brews. 4 Try to hold your ritual on a hill if you can. Organize and have a place to live. Also focus healing energies games as an after ritual activity. Foot races, rock towards that which was just slaughtered rather than throws (cabers if you have the space), boffer sword truly honored in sacrifice, which has included most fights, wrestling, and tug-of-war are common modern of Nature for centuries now. This may also be an competitions. Horse races would be most traditional, appropriate time to think about female ancestors often but few of us have access to horses. I’ve been forgotten in our patrilineal world — perhaps they involved with several games where we did hobby need special honor now as well as being remembered horse races — this started as an activity for the kids, with all ancestors at Samhain. but after about five years old they tend to look down on this. We also decided to do it with the adults, If you haven’t been taking part in your favorite however, and the “grown-ups” had a blast! The final summer activities this time is a reminder that summer winner of the competition can be marked the is coming to an end so get out there. Spend as much “champion” and if a member of your group might be time outdoors as possible, especially in the wilder assigned “tylering” duty —protecting the circle from places. Try to do as little damage to land when you potentially harmful energy (if the winner is a member go and don’t forget garbage bags so you can take out of your own group). Don’t forget that more “cerebral” what others have thoughtlessly left. If you don’t competitions can be held as well —chess, poetry, already participate in environmental activities this is storytelling (festival time appears to have been a a time to start, honoring the sacrifice of the Nature reprieve from the ban on storytelling during summer Goddesses by working for Their healing. as this was an out-of-time occasion). Along with picking the berries for your Lughnassadh As this was a time of assembly, consider holding an celebration, remember to continue picking fruit as it open ritual, if you normally keep them closed. becomes ripe and harvest your garden if you have Perhaps you could get-together with other groups in one. This is a good time to start preserving food and your area to do this. This is also a time of treaty and try to maintain some of the preserves through the I know of a few New England groups who have entire year to get a feeling of what it might be like if attempted to sign peace treaties between local groves, you had to depend on this activity. It’s important that covens, and circles in an attempt to curb the “Witch you get all your chances to get your own fresh fruit wars.” I do not know how successful this has been and vegetables now, after Samhain all fruit and but it might be worth the effort to try, especially if vegetables not picked belong to the Fair Folk and such bickering is common in your area. can not be touched even if it is still “good.” (it also belongs to the wild animals who may need it to Hunger during the summer months is a foreign sustain their winter weight, if you need a more thought to us — hunger is pretty vague for most of practical reason to not take it. For this reason you us, actually. While I don’t tend to see much spiritual should remember never to completely strip all the or physical benefits in fasting (as a personal trainer I fruit from a tree or bush —try to leave at least half of must warn that starving oneself will cause you to store what is there for the wildlife, more if you know other more fat afterward and can cause great damage to humans will pick from that place after you.) the internal organs) taking a few days to limit certain foods and the amount you get can bring you in touch Despite the question as to the antiquity of the practice, with what it might be like. Consider fasting from just if you’re considering making a commitment to bread products for a few weeks before Lughnassadh, someone this is a good time to do it. Even now when eating primarily summer vegetables during this time. we are not trapped by winter in an isolated location You may also consider a short (no more than three with our partner, winter is often hard on relationships. days) incomplete fast (in other words you maintain A lover who seems perfect in the heat and light of some carbohydrate intake —complex, not sugars) summer can seem an annoying idiot in the cold and and donating the money normally spent on food for dark of winter. However, if you make a commitment that time to an anti-hunger campaign. (and yes, the to your lover to tough it out from now until Beltaine usual recommendation for volunteer work stands.) then you may find that facing these problems will pull you together when you can’t just run from the Consider focusing on the sacrifice of the Land relationship. (Hey, I’m partial to Lughnassadh Goddesses and Nature Spirits so that you may eat weddings —my husband and I did our trial marriage 5 at Lughnassadh two years ago and surviving that we did our “while love lasts” one last year and will Rituals for Hearth probably do more informal pledges to mark this anniversary while it does.) and Home While for most of us there is little change in work loads due to season, the following three months were filled with hard work crucial to the survival of the Nine Days: A Lughnasadh Celebration community. Think of extra things you can do now of Celtic Values that might make your or someone else’s winter easier. Start any winterization of your house now, or your By: Alix Morgan MacAnTsaoir mother’s, or a neighbor’s.... If there are tasks that you’ve been putting off, get to them before Samhain Celtic peoples put a high value on honor, character —one this will give you a deadline to motivate you and family. Our synergism as a people comes from to actually do it, and also, winter brings Seasonal our love of the Gaelic Celtic ways, our love of our Affective Disorder and a need for more rest, so you ancestors and our very high regard for each other. probably won’t get to it then. Get things out of the The Tuathanada holds the Traditional Triads to be way before the last party of the year so that you might one of the keys to the value system of our ancestors be able to face the Hag of winter feeling prepared and we celebrate those values as we attempt to make and well armed. them a reality in our everyday lives. In an effort to put the values by which we seek to live into ritual as a way of not only remembering and celebrating Bibliography them, but also as a way of sharing them with Celts and non-Celts alike, we have taken a page from the Kevin Danaher. “Irish Folk Tradition and the Celtic book of Maulana Karenga, the originator of the Calendar.” The Celtic Consciousness Robert African-American Holiday, Kwanzaa, and have set this O’Driscoll, ed. New York: George Braziller, Inc., 1981 nine day celebration of Lughnasadh to honor our ancestors and our heritage and to celebrate core Celtic Ronald Hutton. The Pagan Religions of the Ancient values. Ritual celebration serves to focus our minds British Isles: Their Nature and Legacy Cambridge, MA: on what is important and serves as a teaching tool Blackwell Publishers, 1993 for our children and those who are new to our cultural heritage and norms. We have chosen Lughnasadh as Anne Ross. The Folklore of the Scottish Highlands the time for this celebration as it is the time of harvest. London: B.T. Batsford Ltd., 1990 We celebrate the richness of the harvest of our culture and heritage and the values and traditions our The Pagan Celts London: B.T. Batsford Ltd., 1986 ancestors held dear and passed down through time “Material Culture, Myth and Folk Memory” The Celtic to us. Consciousness Our celebration is nine days long and each day will T.G.E. Powell. The Celts New York: Thames and highlight and celebrate one value. Because the Celtic Hudson, 1980 day starts at sunset, our celebration begins at sunset the first day. A useful tool to focus our attention on Patrick C. Power. Sex and Marriage in Ancient Ireland the meaning of our celebration is a special altar set Dublin: Mercier Press, 1993 up for the occasion. The altar cloth can be any special cloth that brings to mind our tribal heritage. This may Copyright © 1997 Kym ní Dhoireann. THiNK! Vol. be the Tuatha or a cloth woven or embroidered 2, Issue 3 Summer/Lughnassadh. For permission to by a family member or beloved ancestor. Nine reprint contact [email protected] candles, representative of the nine values we celebrate, grace the altar, one to be lit each day of celebration as we talk about the value it symbolizes, until the flames on all nine candles blaze symbolizing the fire of IMBAS (IMBAS is inspiration) that inspires 6 us as we seek to rekindle in our hearts and the hearts or pictures of family members are added to the altar, of Celts everywhere a love for the old ways and the their significance can be discussed. At this time, beauties and values of our cultural heritage. A ancestors spiritual and familial are remembered and backdrop of a Celtic or a triskele reminds us of their stories told. The first candle is lit. the fact that we do not stand alone in isolation, but rather are a tribal people who thrive as parts of the Ionracas interwoven threads of the lives and realities of our kin, of the land, and of the Gods in our lives. Pictures The second day we celebrate integrity as we reclaim or remembrances of our beloved ancestors add to the right to determine the ways we are perceived as our altar and remind us again that we are a proud a people, reclaim the heritage and culture of our people who come from a proud people. ancestors and renew our determination to stand with Representations of the Gods of our people or tokens loyalty and honor for the values that have been sacred to them belong on this altar reminding us that bequeathed to us by our forebears. our oaths to the Gods should never be forsaken. Votive offerings to the Gods can rest temporarily on The three highest causes of the upright human: this altar before they are cast into the well or votive Honor, Duty, Truth. This day the Celtic knot or triskele pit as a part of this celebration of our heritage. that is the backdrop of our altar can be especially Traditional food of Lughnasadh can be placed on this focused on. The meaning of our cultural heritage and altar as well. Bannock (barley or oat cake) and curds our sense of ourselves as a tribal people can be or cheese come to mind from the folklore. discussed. This might be a fitting time for the family and gathered Tuatha to wear their finest National During each day of the festival, the candle should Dress. The second candle is lit. remain lit on the altar within the bounds of safety and reasonable practice. The day should be devoted by each family member to thinking and talking about the virtue of the day, remembering that each value Freagracht celebrated is a year long and life long ideal not merely a one day remembrance. At the end of the nine day The third day we celebrate responsibility, individual festival, the special altar can be taken down with and collective as we work together to reclaim that reverence, perhaps by the children with an adult there which is ours by right, to recreate our families and to remind them what each part of the altar celebrates Tuathas and to build a tribe that will support each and to recap during the time the teaching of the nine other in need, work with each other for our own preceding days. betterment and provide for our people in all ways. Aontacht Three chief obligations of a person to their country and family: to gain possessions by diligence and integrity, to profit their country and their kindred in The first day we celebrate our family, Tuatha and all that they do, and to seek lawful learning wherever Tribe as the source of our unity. they go. Three duties of the excellent person: to cherish their This day we can discuss the ongoing projects in our mate and children, to love their country, and to obey community and how we are anticipating in those the laws of their people. projects. Our community service and our service to the Tribe and Tuatha should be emphasized. The third We suggest that this celebration center on the hearth candle is lit. and the home. The members of the family might use this time to set up the altar. When the special altar cloth is placed, the story of its significance should be Feile told. If the cloth is a Tuatha tartan, the Tuatha history can be relayed at this time. If it is a special gift from a The fourth day we celebrate hospitality as we honor family member, the life and accomplishments of that the laws of old. Our generosity and hospitality family member can be celebrated. When momentos extends to the world at large as we work together to

7 build an economic base for our tribe and then share what we have with those around us.

The three manifestations of humanity are: Civility, Generosity and Hospitality.

This day we can focus on the offerings of cheese and bannock that are on our altar as we invite others to share our feast. Perhaps a lonely community member or someone who has no where else to go can be included in our celebration.

There is an old custom that is particularly appropriate for this night. The custom dictates that the head of the table be left empty, with a full setting and full plate and glass, in reserve for the “King under the water who shall come to lead the people back to freedom and glory”. Some of our people incorporate this custom on the High Days, and if an unexpected guest has come during the meal, they sit at the reserved place.

If the family so desires, the incantation found in the Lughnasadh Festival article by Ian MacAnTsaoir (properly rewritten to reflect the expression of the individual gathering) may be recited as the father shares the Bannock with the family. Ian writes: “It is not very difficult to back-engineer this verse to regain a wholly pre-Christian expression. I shall, however, leave that for the reader. In this rite the father of the “ ...the ‘King under the household breaks the bannock, giving a piece to his water who shall come to wife and his children in order of age, then the whole family walks sunwise round the fire singing the rune lead the people back to (incantation) of Mother Mary, after which, the fourth freedom and glory.’ ” candle is lit:

‘Iolach Mhoire Mhathair’

On the feast day of Mary the fragrant, I toasted it to a fire of rowan Mother of the Shepherd of the flocks, And I shared it round my people. I cut me a handful of the new corn, I went sunways round my dwelling I dried it gently in the sun, In the name of Mary Mother I rubbed it sharply from the husk Who promised to preserve me With mine own palms. Who did preserve I ground it in a quern of Friday And who will preserve me... I baked it on a fan of sheepskin

(Translated from the Gaelic by the Dal Riadh Celtic Trust)

8 Inspioraid the truths of our tribe and Tuathan. We celebrate the truths of the Gods of our people. We celebrate these truths be it painful or joyful and The fifth day we celebrate the creativity of our people, we stand by them with every breath that we take, the IMBAS (IMBAS is poetic inspiration) that fires our every drop of blood that is within us and every imaginations and brings us closer to the Gods. muscle and sinew of our flesh. Three things which the good poet preserves for Three things constantly increase: light, life and truth. posterity: memory of the praiseworthy, delight in thought, and instruction in knowledge. This day the gathered Tuatha can formulate their own ritual to renew their personal and collective vows to All who have creative skills and talents should be the truths of our tribe and Tuathan, our heritage and encouraged to display their work that is of the our people. A bonfire might be particularly traditional crafts and skills. The children should appropriate at this time—or a small cauldron fire if a especially be encouraged to prepare some special bonfire is not feasible. In the flames of this fire, our creative moment to share with the gathered Tuatha vows can be sealed. The seventh candle is lit. as a means of encouraging them to develop their creativity and add to the richness of our people. The lights of the candles symbolize the fire of IMBAS and Coir the fifth candle is lit. The eighth day we celebrate justice . Justice is the Fios foundation of our law and in justice we find last refuge of the poor, disadvantaged, innocent and helpless. Being a just people makes us a strong people because The sixth day we celebrate knowledge as did the we know where we stand in the scheme of things Druids of old. It is the search for knowledge and and we cannot be shaken from what is right. sound scholarship that has enabled us thus far to rebuild our culture and heritage. It is knowledge There are three foundations of law and custom; order, freely shared and never sold that enables us to present justice and peace. ourselves to the world at large as a responsible community. It is knowledge firmly implanted in mind This day the law can be discussed. A Brehon in the and heart that unites us with the truth of the cosmos, midst can elaborate on the law and what it means to the values of our people and the Gods of our tribe. us. Triads can be read and discussed. If there are any outstanding issues of justice between family Three teachers of humankind: one is event and that members, great or small, these can be addressed at is from seeing and hearing; the second is intelligence this time if all parties are willing to address them in and that comes from reflection and meditation: and love, so that the unity of the family will not be broken. the third is genius and that is individual, a gift from The eighth candle is lit. the Mighty Ones.

The Bards and the Filidh and the storytellers of Creideamh the gathered family share their work this day. Scholars and researchers can bring new findings The ninth day we celebrate faith . We swear by the to the attention of the gathered Tuatha. Academic Gods our people have been swearing by down accomplishments of family members can be through the ages. Our spiritual values are not especially celebrated at this time. The sixth determined by popular cliché s nor are we blown candle is lit. about by every faddish wind that blows our way. We stand as a proud people with a spiritual heritage that Firinne is a sacred gift to us from our ancestors and the Gods and which we are reclaiming step by step in this modern time. The seventh day we celebrate truth . We celebrate the truths of our heritage and people. We celebrate

9 Three things from which never to be moved: one’s Resources: Gods, one’s Oaths and the Truth. FAQ Tuathanada na Gadelica The ninth day, the Gods are celebrated and we as a Introductory Page to the Web Site of the Tuathanada spiritual people reaffirm our commitment in faith. This na Gadelica day those who care to can share their own Bunreacht - Tuathanada na Gadelica experiences with the Gods. The ninth candle is lit. A Compilation of Triads by John F. Wright The votive offerings that have been resting on the Festivals Part 5 - Lughnasadh by Ian MacAnTsaoir altar may now be taken with proper ceremony to the Sacred Precincts, The Nemeds by Ian MacAnTsaoir family votive pit or well and with proper ceremony The African American Holiday of Kwanzaa by offered to the Gods. In his article on the Sacred Maulana Karenga Precincts, Ian MacAnTsaoir used the following words. “We, as a family, walk about the pit or the shaft three times clockwise singing hymns, once for each of the Suggestions: Realms (Sky, Sea, Land). A communal libation is poured to venerate the Shining Ones. Then the cup Novena candles can be used. You can get them at is passed around to each person in attendance and the local supermarket if you have a large hispanic the Sacred Waters partaken of, in a very real way community. If not, I’ve found them at the $2.00 store. taking Danu and Her offspring the Tuatha de Danaan They are tall candles poured into tall glasses, and into ourselves. Then as individuals we approach the come in all colors. They are made to last nine days. pit and make our prayers, then cast in our offerings When mine burned down, I refilled them. to the Gods. We then feast.” Copyright 1997 Tuathanada na Gadelica, internet and Each day of this festival should be celebrated keeping other uses allowed so long as text is used in full, for in mind the value of the day. There are no right or educational purposes without profit, with all credits wrong ways to celebrate if the central focus remains given, and this copyright tag and the paragragh below on celebrating and teaching the value. This festival attached. can be adapted to celebrate these Nine Days within the context of a family gathering, a Tuatha gathering Nine Days—a Lughnasadh Festival Celebrating Celtic or the gathering of the entire Tribe such as at a Dail Values was written by Alix Morgan MacAnTsaoir with or other meeting. The children of the Tribe or Tuatha the urging and suggestions of the Comhairle de are encouraged to contribute and participate because Tuathanada na Gadelica in particular Iain acAnTsaoir, we know that our children are the key to our future Tara NicScothach bean MacAnTsaoir and LadyBran and continuance as a people. Just as our ancestors OhOgain. The Copyright is held by Tuathanada na passed down to us the folklore, the stories and the Gadelica, but this festival, this celebration and these knowledge that make up our cultural heritage, it is values are truly the property of the Celtic people and our duty and joy to pass down to our children and so we declare that it is free forever to be used as a our children’s children that which has been given to way of not only remembering and celebrating our us as a sacred trust and to add to that sacred trust our cultural heritage in all of its richness, but also as a own scholarship, research and knowledge, for we way of sharing this treasure with Celts and non- know that our culture is a living jewel to be cherished. alike.

Our Lughnasadh celebration of Gaelic values helps us to reaffirm these values as we seek to practice them in our everyday lives and to bind them into the fabric of the life of our Tribe and People as long as the Land remains firm beneath our feet, and as long as the Sky covers us and as long as the Sea surrounds us.

10 Crom should become a well of inspiration deep within us, a pool which will not run dry. Touching the energies of Crom Cruagh can open a conduit to our Ancient Wisdom, a place where the old ways are practiced and the Gods live. A Ritual to Honor Crom Cruagh

If you live near a mountain, the best place to honor Crom Cruagh is an isolated place at the mountain's foot. Choose a quiet spot at twilight. Create a cairn, a pile of stones which will act as a focal alter. Bring wine or mead and barley cakes. A strip of white calves hide from a leather shop and holy oil.

STEPS

1) Set up the cairn. Energize the cairn by placing your hands on it and filling it up with power.

Focus on Deity 2) Call on Crom.

Crom Cruagh, holy Ancient Sleeper, Father of Crom Cruagh primal energy who was worshipped by my blood kin. Hear my call and listen to the whispers of The fall festival of Lammas has links with our ancient my heart, oh Ancient Wisdom. past that are powerful tools for the awakening of the primal forces within us. The Legends of the Crom, 3) Place the hide on the stones. the Bowed or Bent One of the Mound, are stories of the old God . . . the Father image, the sage who resides Crom, you have been honored with the in the Sidhe, the earthen mound dispensing wisdom unblemished bull. I do honor thee. to those who find their way to him. 4) Place the barley cakes on the hide and pour a Crom Cruagh was the old God, the ancient titan little mead on them and the rest on the ground. whose worship was superceded by the Tuatha De Danann, the Shining Ones, Children of the Great Crom, I honor you as did my fathers, with bull Goddesss Dana. and barley and mead, and I ask that as I forget you not, always remember me that the land may The Crom was worshipped with offerings of grain, profit from your presence and from your wisdom. wine, oil and bulls. Later in our history, the worship of this Celtic God devolved into the leaving of cakes If possible, leave everything there; if not, roll up the and ale on the sacred mounds. hide and leave the barley cakes on the stones. Use the hide when calling on Crom. For the Celtic Practitioner today, the worship of the Crom can be an empowering experience. Let us Say when leaving . . . examine the Bowed One as a symbol of the sleeping archetype within us . . . the tremendous force of Ancient One, rest again and dream of us who primal nature which awaits our call to awaken and honor thee energize us as the God himself energizes the earth. Bless us with abundance as we bless thee now To awaken the old force withinn will cause our in thy rest. creative energies to rise and flood our senses. The Blessed Be. Hail and farewell.

11 Recipe for Bannocks Or Oatcakes

4 oz. (2/3 cups) medium oatmeal 2 tsp. melted fat or shortening 1 pinch baking soda In Closing... 1 pinch salt small amount of oatmeal for kneading 1/4 cup of hot water Please send all submissions to: Samildanach Mix in basin: oatmeal, salt and soda. Make a well in Or E-mail articles (text format only) to: the center of the bowl for the melted fat. Stir this [email protected] mixture into a stiff paste. Cover a board with oatmeal Be sure to visit our web site at: and empty mixture onto board to knead into a ball. http://www.angelfire.com/sc/Caledonii/ Covering your hand with oats, knead this paste into ©1998 The Samildanach Magazine. All rights reserved. The Samildanach is published quarterly and carries a cover a ball and then roll it out to 1/4-inch thickness. Flatten price of $5.00. For information regarding distribution, it onto a plate. Sprinkle with oatmeal and cook this resale, or subscriptions, please contact the Editor in care of this magazine. Copyrights remain the property of their on a griddle on flat sheet until the edges begin to respective owners and all articles are used or reprinted curl and toast lightly. It is ready to cool and be cut with permission. into quarters. amildanach SS Journal of Celtic Studies ◊ Caledonii Grande Tradition