#Celtic culture

[gawrkin]

With the importance of Cattle as a measure of wealth in Celtic, and especially, Welsh society, can you imagine the Knights of the Round Table being obsessed with cows? Raiding for cows, exchanging cows, questing for cows, King Arthur and Morgan le Fay showing how powerful and influential they are by having a whole load of cows at their strongholds, etc.

[modark]

The Bardic Tradition

I made a long thread explaining in detail all the symbolism in this piece when I first posted it. That's lost to time now, thanks Elon. I'll try to rewrite it to the best of my ability in an abridged form.

The basic gist is that its a visual representation of the ancient Gaelic bardic tradition. Seated in the center is St. Colmcille, composing an old Irish hymn to St. Brigid, "Brigit bé bithmaith". He is holding hazel nuts, symbols of knowledge / inspiration in Irish legend. On the two pillars on either side of him are King David (left) and Orpheus (right), two famous poets from antiquity. Two legendary poets from Irish legend, Oisín and Amergin, are situated above each pillar respectively. The two fish are seen swimming "upstream" (as in the legend of the Salmon of Knowledge) toward a sheela na gig, a architectural feature / grotesque of early Irish churches which some consider to be symbols of femininity, meant to ward off evil. At the top of the image, hands from a cloud (representing God) release a white dove (representing the Holy Spirit) down to St. Brigid. She owes her angelic appearance to her being considered both a pagan goddess and Christian saint. She is guarding a flame, which symbolises poetic inspiration, and which can be seen floating above the heads of all the other figures.

[arwendeluhtiene]

Happy Ostara/Easter/belated Spring Equinox 😊🌸🌿 🐰🥚🍫! . ✨Valar and Valier series (late 2000s)✨ - 🌳🌿Yavanna Kementári🌿🌳 Initial practice sketch, the final painting and a couple of details. . I now prefer to headcanon Yavanna as dark-skinned, but I quite like how this watercolour turned out - especially the gradation of the different greens in the dress and mantle, and the trees in the background. I also love Alan Lee's original drawing on which this painting is based 🌿💚 (swipe for the comparison! Original is black and white, coloured by me as a guide for the painting). . Some years ago I started a 'Valar and Valier' project in which I took an existing painting/drawing as reference/inspiration to draw/paint one of the Valar. So far, I've done Varda, Yavanna, Nienna, Mandos and Aulë, and I also have some sketches of Nessa, Vána and Estë. Hope to get back to this project sometime! . . 🎨Media: Graphite, watercolours, inks, ink wash . 🌱References: Alan Lee's drawing of the Celtic fae Ladies of the Land of the Young, for the book Faeries.

🎨ArtStation

🎨Instagram

🎨 DeviantArt

[overwatchfanskinarchive]

St. Docherty Hazard by buzzk1ll (cara)

[village-witch-coco]

A Question About Celtic Heritage

Hello, I wanted to introduce myself and ask a question. 

My name is Coco. I am a trans woman, and a practicing witch. 

I am white, my parents are white, and their parents are white. 

I'm deep south American, as are my parents and all four grandparents. 

However, there is clearly some Celtic nation blood in me. I see traits in my family that hint as much. I see names in my family common to anglicized versions of names from the Celtic nations. 

Being a white American, my culture has been stripped from me and replaced with consumerism and colonialism. I want to undo this. 

My witchcraft has brought me near the Celtic nations history and culture and I want to be a part of it. 

However, being white this could be a problem. I want to avoid being colonialist, especially since my family does have a large amount of anglo white colonial blood on both sides. I want my journey with Celtic culture to be authentic, and not just something I take because I feel like it's mine. 

So one thing I was hoping to find was some sort of mentor or teacher. Someone that can guide me in what is acceptable and help keep me from being harmful to the culture and the people. 

Does this community have any guidance for me? I'm honestly not sure where to start besides sending this message. Any help is welcome, even if it's to tell me to go away. 

[sonyaheaneyauthor]

Neopagans in Ireland celebrating Samhain

[raffaellopalandri]

Happy Samhain

Samhain (pronounced sow-win or sow-ween) is one of the most ancient and revered festivals on the Celtic wheel of the year, celebrated from October 31 through November 1. Image taken on Internet Known as the Celtic New Year, Samhain marks the final harvest and the descent into winter. It signifies the end of the lighter half of the year and the beginning of the darker half, symbolizing death,…

[beatrack92]

Celtic Iron Mask

[zsorosebudphoto]

Santa Tegra, Galiza, 03-09-23

[ultra-phthalo]

- Cinnabar Moth - 'Frequent in open grassy habitats including waste ground, railway banks, gardens and woodland rides but perhaps most frequent on well drained rabbit-grazed grassland, mature sand-dunes and heathland.' A moth with bright colours that act as warning signs displaying their toxicity. They are seldom eaten by predators. And can afford to live life as a day-flying moth, living life in the sunshine, because of this.

In symbology - 'This creature is seen as a symbol of hope during difficult times. The cinnabar moth has the power to help us let go of our old ways and embrace the new.'

[gawrkin]

Addendum: On the topic of Cattle-as-Measure-of-Wealth in Welsh society, a certain someone graciously reminded me that other livestock are also on the table and up for grabs, as shown by this rather humorous anecdote from the Welsh Triads:

*(Poor Mark. Not even he can get some bacon - from his own livestock - when Tristan's around)

[makairodonx]

Gaelic huntresses springing with their Wolves

[interact-if]

Hello, do you have a list of IF about Celtic culture or mythology? I don't have a strong preference as to which country (can be Irish, Welsh, Scottish, etc), and it can be fantasy or historical, whatever you have. Thanks!

Hi Anon,

We have not found many Celtic inspired titles aside from:

Myrk Mire by @catt-nuevenor

Sacred Fire (VN) by Iceberg Interactive

The Good People (Na Daoine Maithe) (VN) by @moiraimyths

[universalambients]

Ireland, 1870

[overwatchfanskinarchive]

Kilt Moira by leesam_23