The Celts used a 9-day week based on lunar phases. Thus, nine was an important number in the Celtic Worldview. To them, the 9th wave was the mystic interaction of sea and wind…that is the boundary between this world and the Otherworld.
Tag: celtic beliefs (page 2 of 2)
The Celts believed that certain numbers were associated with various aspects of existence. Three is one of those numbers. Consequently, sets of 3 can be found throughout Celtic culture. For instance, the interrelationship of land, water, and air was considered to be essential to existence. Not surprisingly then, the earth/sky/water were considered to be a three layered marriage.
Three appears in many other contexts….harvesting, planting, and fallowing….mother, maiden, crone (grandmother)….father, son, grandson. The significance of the “three” at issue depends upon the context in which it is found. For instance, a three fold symbol found in a smithy’s workshop most likely represents the interconnectedness of harvesting, planting, and fallowing.
Snakes were thought to be useful totems to help keep warriors safe/strong. Because snakes shed their skin they also were considered to be signs of renewal/new beginnings. Celts believe/believed that if you saw a snake when you were in a trance like state that you were about to embark on a new phase of your life
The boar was accorded considerable respect in pre Christian and Christian times. It was hunted extensively and considered to be a worthy foe. Its ferocity when cornered was particularly admired. Given these traits, it is not too surprisingly that the image of a boar decorated warriors’ weapons and other objects.
Boars (boar heads) were used as charges on many Coats of Arms. Interestingly, a Boar’s Head on a Coat of Arms refers to hospitality. If the complete Boar is depicted, it carries qualities of the boar described in the opening paragraph.
Butterflies are beautiful and transformative (egg, larvae, pupae, butterfly). The Celts were very close to nature and its ever changing, regenerative patterns. They believe/believed strongly that humans beings are transformed at death, that they move on to another phase of life (not all that different from this life). The butterfly embodies that transformative belief. Thus, the butterfly symbol is/was integrated into the very fabric of Celtic existence.
As everyone knows, cats are fascinating creatures. They are independent, affectionate, mysterious, and so forth. Various ancient cultures have revered cats. The Celts were no different. In fact, cats were thought to guard the entrance to the otherworld and were able to easily pass from this world to the “otherworld”. Images of cats are found at religious and magical sites. Such images often appear with images of gods and goddesses.
Samhain is celebrated by Celts at the end of summer. It marks the end of summer and the beginning of the new year. It is/was a time to wrap up summer activities and get ready for winter. Samhain is celebrated by the entire group (versus Imbolog which is celebrated in family groups), out of doors, and lasts the entire night.
It is a time for inner reflection and a time to square yourself away. This festival has been adopted by other western cultures and is generally called Halloween. There is minimal connection between Samhain and Halloween these days. Halloween is somewhat frivolous while Samhain is serious and not to be taken lightly…though all involved enjoy themselves. Most importantly, Halloween has come to rest on the premise of a devil or evil. Celts do/did not believe in devils and/or evil spirits. Thus, Samhain is at once more and less serious than Halloween. For Celts, it is/was the time of the “in-between”. That is, a change from the time of light to the time of dark. It was/is thought that spirits could move easily from one realm to the other. These were/are not evil spirits but ancestors returning to visit loved ones.
Druids were held in high regard by the Celts. They held a position in society just below that of Kings/Queens. However, there is considerable discord over the role of the Druids in Celtic society. Some argue they served primarily religious purposes but others suggest their roles involved broader intellectual pursuits.
Unfortunately, the Druids did not detail their role in written form until well after the Christianity had become the religious doctrine of the Celts. Thus, what is said about the Druids in those texts is colored by the adoption of Christian values and beliefs. It can be safely claimed that the Druids played an important role in Celtic life. They most certainly led the religious aspects of the culture and were used to arbitrate disputes…. beyond that it is difficult to determine how far their influence went.
The meaning of the term “Druid” supports the view that they were intellectual leaders as well as religious leaders. Dru is related to “oak” and uid related to “knowledge” (i.e., oak knowledge). A more general interpretation would be “one whose knowledge is great”.
It can be said that the current Druid movements are not based on surviving Druid texts because none exist (the Druids passed on their beliefs orally and refused to put their beliefs in written form to safeguard them from outsiders).
The Tree of Life with its roots and branches woven together by surrounding knot work is a particularly attractive/meaningful design. The tree of life represents the interconnectedness between this world and the netherworld. It represents a central belief from Celtic times and relates to today’s world as well.
