#celticpolytheism

you are going to make mistakes. it's a given, as a human being it's bound to happen. i've certainly had my fair share!

the first spell i ever did involved blood. blood. four years later i shiver at the thought of it!! i've knocked over candles and spilt offerings. i've fumbled my words in spells. i've thanked the fae.

i guess what i'm trying to say is this - accept the fact that you're going to make mistakes, and move on. is there anything you can do to make up for it? do you need any protectionin case of ramifications? if both no - then move on.

you're not a bad witch. you're not terrible at your craft. i guarantee you that every single one of us has made these same mistakes. i still make mistakes because i'm still human.

it's that time of year: calan gaeaf, or samhain, has passed, and we make our way towards the winter soltice - the festival of rebirth.

this is in no way all encompassing, but contains the information i have gathered through my four years of practice.

the Otherworld, in a celtic context, can mean either the world of the dead, the world of the Other People, or in most cases both. the worlds are the same yet different, inexplicably intertwined.

in irish lore, when one dies, they go to the house of Donn (Tech Duinn) which is located in Saol Eile (the Otherworld - literally meaning the "other life"). Donn is considered to be the god of the dead, the original ancestor. rather than being a permanent residence, Tech Duinn is a liminal place where the dead stay until they move on: this is why Donn is generally regarded as a psychopomp - a guide between worlds.

in wales, things aren't that much different. the land of the dead and the land of the Tylweth Teg (Fair Family) are both Annwn: they are and aren't the same place. Arawn and Gwyn ap Nudd are both kings of Annwn, yet the former rules over the dead, the latter over the Verry Volk. there isn't a clear distinction between these two worlds - the dead and the Folk are both the same and not.

there is a belief throughout the celtic lands that those who die in our world are reborn as one of the Good People, and vice versa, explaining why the Aos Sí (people of the hills) are often known to cry at births and laugh at funerals. however, this doesn't apply to all: think of it as a venn diagram - humans, the Folk, and those in between.

another widespread belief is that of reincarnation. the romans reported that the celts were so fierce in battle due to their unwavering belief in reincarnation making them not fear death. it went so far that they'd make IOU deals for the next life.

contacting entities is not for beginner’s. the gods, fae, spirits, etc. are all so incredibly exciting (trust me, i know) but they can also be dangerous, especially when you’re still working out what you’re doing. however, i do recommend getting in contact with your guides as soon as possible - i am four years into my practice and am only just starting to build a relationship, please listen to me when i say that that is a  m i s t a k e. in my opinion divination is the easiest way to communicate. i will do a post on guides soon, so please let me know if you have any questions and i’ll make sure to answer them!

lord Arawn (pronounced ah-ra-oon) appears in the first branch of Y Mabinogi (you can read His story here) - a book of welsh mythos.

He is king of Annwn, the Underworld and Otherworld, though He is king only of the dead. in the myths He appears as a hunter with considerable control over glamour (an Otherworldly power) and through His story you can see His great sense of justice.

in some beliefs He leads the Wild Hunt with his Cwn Annwn (Otherworldly dogs), entirely white with red tipped ears, to collect the souls of the dead and hunting down those who have broken oaths.

He has a great relationship with Pwyll and His son, Pryderi; in my beliefs (considering the events of the Fourth Branch where Gwydion steals Arawn's gift to their family) He is less inclined to like Gwydion, Math, or Gilfaethwy.

in my experience with Him, He is kind and gentle and incredibly regal. my shrine for Him includes a brown candle with his name inscribed in Ogham, a bird skull, fossils, prayer beeds, carnelian, and a painted stone of His hounds. seek Him out as a hunter, a seeker of justice, a king of the dead.

correspondences

brown, grey, black, red

earth

doorways, hounds, stags, Cwn Annwn

obsidian, onyx, tiger's eye, smoky quartz

woodland

the beginning and the end of the celtic year

samhain has many names - oidche shamhna, halloween, third harvest, day of the dead, félie na marbh, shadow fest, felie moingfinne, and old hallowmass. i personally will be calling it calan gaeaf.

calan (meaning the start of the month you're referring to) gaeaf (winter) is a time that lies between times and is a time that is not a time - it's completely liminal. it is the end of summer and marks the time just before we enter the dark half of the year. now is the time to remember and honour the dead. historically, deceased relatives would come and visit the home and doors were left unlocked so that they could enter. some use the tradition of a "dumb supper", where food and places are laid out for the dead alongside the family's and the meal is eaten in silence. hollowing out turnips, sugar beets, or later pumpkins and placing a candle inside was a tradition to provide light so that the dead could find their way.

modern day trick-or-treating is said to come from the ancient buachaillí tui, disguised people who characterised the dead and led a white mare called láir bhán.

on this day, the veils between our world and annwn (the welsh otherworld) are thin. the wild hunt starts.

to lift the veil between worlds, a deep state of meditation is required

general information

before we incarnate, we set goals, tasks, and lessons for ourselves that we must learn and complete in our evolution as spirits and in our journey to enlightenment. each person generally has a team of seven guides - our guides will help us achieve our goals, but most will not interfere with our lives unless given permission or by specific request. it is important to remember that these guides are our equals, so do not pray or beg. they are here to help, not to donate gifts or bestow favours. never assume a guide will know what you need from them.

types of guides

ascended masters are the big boys - they’ve usually led many reincarnated existences, evolving to a higher state of consciousness and a state of enlightenment. they are ready to move on to higher states of existence, but have decided to stay behind and help us on earth. they normally don’t work with just one soul, as their goal is to help humanity as a whole. in early stages it’s unlikely you’ll encounter them.

in many cases you’ll encounter an ancestor guide first - this could be an ancestor from this life or a past one, as many souls decide to watch over their loved ones in the next life. seeing a stranger who looks like them repeatedly, sensing something that reminds you of them, or a strong feeling of nostalgia when you communicate could signify an ancestor watching over you.

archetype guides are also kind of the big boys - in a christian viewpoint they may appear as angels - they have a specific role and often appear at certain times to help with a specific obstacle and should not be ignored as they generally only appear when you’re in real need.

and lastly, animal guides - their focus is generally more teaching than guiding. feeling a strong connection to an animal or seeing one regularly may signify them being your guide.

making contact

in my opinion, tarot or oracle readings are the easiest way to make contact. you can talk aloud or in your head (though maybe just address them first, a ‘yo spirit guides’ is all you really need) and draw as many cards as you feel appropriate. pendulums or other forms of divination can give you a more direct yes/no answer.

meditation is another route. depending on where your psychic abilities lie, you’ll receive information in different ways. you may see images in front of you or in your mind, you may hear certain things, you may feel something, or you may just know. i’m one of those who just know - this is called claircognisance, and it’s both wonderful and frustrating. because this information comes from your mind rather than your heart, it feels like these are just your thoughts. skepticism is completely normal! i soothe these worries by assuring myself this - whether from my mind or my guides, this advice will aid me. often your guides will guide (hence the name lol) you to a thought pattern.

a more advanced way to make contact is astral projection, but for beginner’s i don’t feel this should be your focus.

extra notes

daily practice is integral to improval. this in NO way means daily spells or extensive ritual - this will only drain you completely and will not be enjoyable.

how you practice should be tailored to you and what you like. a small tarot pull, using herbs in cooking for their correspondences, stirring sunwise to bring in positive energy, veiling, drawing sigils in makeup, prayer, meditation, grounding, etc etc. are all things you can incorporate into your lifestyle.

this is not to shame those who don't or can't practice everyday. i myself am disabled, and feel great compassion towards those who struggle with feeling validated (like a "real" witch) in their practice.

whether you cast a spell once every two months, or not at all, if you are a witch you are a witch. you don't stop being a witch, a pagan, an occultist in the days when you aren't actively practicing.