Is that a weeping willow? Or perhaps a huge Oak? Based on Celtic Tree Astrology, find out what kind of tree you are!
Celtic Tree Astrology is based on the concept that the time of our birth has an impact on the development of our personalities and behaviors. The Celtic Tree Astrology system arose from the Druids’ understanding of earth cycles and their close relationship with trees. They believed that trees were receptacles for infinite wisdom and that different tree types may be associated with different human characters.
In This Article...
What is the Egyptian astrological sign?
The sculpted Dendera zodiac (or Denderah zodiac) is a well-known Egyptian bas-relief with figures of Taurus (the bull) and Libra from the ceiling of the pronaos (or portico) of a chapel dedicated to Osiris in the Hathor temple at Dendera (the scales). This chapel was built in the late Ptolemaic period, and Emperor Tiberius added the pronaos. The relief was dated to the Greco-Roman period by Jean-Francois Champollion, but most of his contemporaries thought it was from the New Kingdom. The relief, described by John H. Rogers as “the sole full chart that we have of an ancient sky,” has been speculated to constitute the foundation for later astronomical systems. It is currently on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris.
What is the meaning of a Celtic butterfly?
The stunning Celtic butterfly is a symbol of rebirth and regeneration. According to legend, the Celts’ rebirth philosophy is about the recycling of life in both the spiritual and physical realms. According to Celtic mythology, the butterfly is also a sign of the soul.
What is the meaning of my Celtic knot?
A Celtic Knot is a symbol for a looping knot with no beginning or end. The looped pattern continues indefinitely, symbolizing life’s eternal nature. The use of Celtic Knots in artwork and decorating may be traced all the way back to the 8th century.
What does it mean to be a female druid?
Druids appear in a variety of magical stories. In one, a Druid named Figol threatened to unleash a torrent of fire on his foes, preventing the soldiers and their mounts from going to the bathroom! Their bodies would be drenched in urine! Of course, we know this is impossible based on our current knowledge of the world, but so many druidic narratives are laced with mysticism, magic, and probable exaggeration.
The name ‘druid’ has no definite origin, although the most frequent theory is that it originates from ‘doire,’ an Irish-Gaelic word for oak tree (typically a symbol of knowledge), which also means ‘wise.’ Druids were obsessed with the natural world and its powers, and trees, particularly the oak, were regarded sacrosanct.
Druidism can be classified as a shamanic religion since it relied on a combination of spiritual contact and holistic medicine to alleviate (and sometimes cause) ailments. They were accused of inducing insanity in their victims and of being accurate fortune tellers. It’s possible that some of their knowledge of the earth and space dates back to megalithic periods.
The true history of the Druids is shrouded in mystery, as our knowledge is based on scant records. Druidism is thought to have been an element of Celtic and Gaulish civilization in Europe, with the first classical mention to it dating back to the 2nd century BC.
Their functions were comparable to those of priests today, linking people with the gods, but they also served as instructors, scientists, judges, and philosophers, among other things. They were extremely powerful and well-respected, with the ability to exclude people from society for breaking sacred laws and even intervene between opposing armies to prevent conflict! They were exempt from paying taxes or fighting in battle. In many ways, Druid women were regarded equal to men, which was remarkable for such an ancient civilization. They could fight in wars and even divorce their spouses if they wanted to!
There are said to have been subsections within the Druid class, each with their own color-coded robes. The Arch-druid was the eldest Druid, or the one thought to be the wisest, and wore gold robes. Ordinary Druids would dress in white and perform the duties of priests. The Sacrificers would fight while wearing red clothing. The blue Bards were artistic, while the new recruits to Druidism, who wore brown or black, did less work and were regarded in lower regard.
From the hierarchy of the Druid class to their daily pattern that mirrored nature’s cycles, everything about Druidism was carefully structured and ordered. On eight major holy days, they followed lunar, solar, and seasonal cycles and worshipped in accordance with them.
They would celebrate the New Year on Samhain, which is now known as Halloween (31st October). This was the day of the last harvest, and it was a day of mysticism and spirituality because the living and the dead were closer than on any other day to being disclosed to each other.
Yule was the winter solstice, when Druids would spend the night atop earthen mounds, such as in New Grange in Ireland, waiting for the sunrise, when they would be resurrected!
Imbolc (2nd February) was a celebration of motherhood that included the use of sheep’s milk. The spring equinox was Ostara, and Beltane, a fertility festival, was celebrated on April 30th. Litha was the summer solstice, when it was thought that the ‘holly king’ of Litha would succeed the ‘oak king’ of Yule. On the 2nd of August, Lughnasa was the first harvest, and Mabon was the autumnal equinox. Then, because the Druids believed in reincarnation, the cycle of holy days would repeat itself, reflecting the cycles of nature, planets, and even life itself. They also thought that past transgressions may be atoned for in the next life.
Their temples (‘Druid Temples’) were tranquil, secluded settings such as clearings in woods and forests, as well as stone circles. Stonehenge, an ancient megalithic monument dating back to around 2400 B.C., is probably the most famous stone circle in Britain. Most people’s first impressions of Druids are of them congregating around Stonehenge and performing mystical rituals. This is supposed to have been a place of worship for them, as it is for pagans and other neo-druids today. However, there is debate as to whether Stonehenge was created by the Druids or not. Although it is unclear when the Druids arrived in Britain, it is likely that they did so after Stonehenge was erected.
Anglesey’s Isle of Ynys Mon and Dartmoor’s Wistman’s Wood are both thought to be Druidic places. Anglesey was said to be a place where Druids were educated. The lore took around 20 years to acquire because it was intricate and had to be memorized because they didn’t utilize a written language. One of the reasons we know so little about them is because of this. The Gauls possessed a restricted written language based on Greek symbols, which became Latin under Caesar’s dominion, and ancient documents were lost. Some legends must also be viewed with caution since they may have been influenced or exaggerated by Christian influence.
Druids were oppressed by the Romans in the first century AD. Because of the alleged human sacrifices, Tiberius outlawed Druidism. Druidism appeared to come to an end after this in the 2nd century. There are a few hypotheses that have been proposed to explain this. The first is that, like many ancient communities, they may have been wiped off by disease, hunger, or warfare. The second theory links the fall to the emergence of Christianity. Is it possible that they were converted? However, in the 1700s, England and Wales had a Druid rebirth. Even the legendary William Blake (an Arch-druid) was present.
Druidry has inspired several religions today, such as Christianity and Wicca. The number three was very important in Druid lore, as well as in these religions. The Triscale, for example, was a symbol that consisted of three lines coming together to form a circle. Many Druid beliefs revolved around circles: the circle of life, the seasons, light and darkness.
Many people would be surprised to find that Winston Churchill was a Druid!
What does it mean to be a Celtic Fox?
The photo for this month’s calendar was taken in Ottawa, ON, and features a Red Fox. The Red Fox is one of the most common Canids, and foxes have appeared in folklore and tales all throughout the world.
They are frequently shown as crafty tricksters, although they can also be wise magical spirits or seductive enchantresses. Here are a few examples of foxes in popular culture and mythology!
The Native American fox
Foxes figure in Native American tradition in a variety of roles, although Fox is frequently shown as a trickster partner to Coyote, a male anthropomorphized Coyote spirit.
Foxes are knowledgeable and benevolent in certain stories. Others associate them with fire and the sun. Fox can be a small and cunning spirit who helps humans and animals in need or punishes pompous people. Fox can also be a bad omen, a thief who is greedy and malicious.
Celtic fox
The fox is a smart and cunning creature in Celtic mythology. The fox, a cunning trickster who knows the woodland better than anybody, represents the necessity to think quickly and strategically. They are highly adaptable creatures who also represent the necessity to adapt to changing circumstances.
The Celtic fox is a shapeshifter capable of transforming between canine and human forms at will. Because of this remarkable capacity, the fox may simply slip in and out of locations that are deadly to others. Foxes are also seducers, using their charm and beautiful appearance to seduce unsuspecting people.
The Asian fox
The various interpretations of the fox in Asian mythology share a common philosophy of the fox as a magical being, yet it differs between being a good or bad omen. The Chinese Huli Jing is a naughty trickster who blends into human society. The Japanese Kitsune is a highly deified creature with mixed feelings about humanity. The Korean kumiho is thought to be a bad omen, a seductress who literally eats men.
While academics are unknown where any of the myths originated, some similar motifs have emerged as a result of cross-pollination of fox spirit myths. The Asian fox spirit is typically shown as a mystical shapeshifter with up to nine tails, depending on its age and knowledge.
Foxes in Popular Culture
In popular culture, foxes and references to fox mythology can be found everywhere.
In North America, for example, children’s television, which is typically enjoyed and adored by both children and adults, frequently contains a plethora of foxes. With Tod and Vixey from The Fox and the Hound, or Robin Hood himself in the film of the same name, Disney is no exception to the cliche. Not to mention the new film Zootopia, in which a fox named Nick Wilde plays a smart and misunderstood secondary protagonist.
And it would be negligent of me to discuss foxes in popular culture without mentioning, at least once, the charming fox from the 1990s or those still addicted to Pokemon GO.
What kind of god is Pisces?
Ishtar is sometimes referred to be the fertility goddess. She grew into a more complicated figure over time, and she is now known as a goddess of opposing implications and energies. This complex goddess is the epitome of Pisces. The energy of Ishtar is ephemeral and conflicting. She is complex, universal, and esoteric, just like Pisces.
Virgo is an Egyptian god, but who is he?
Consider the constellation Virgo, which represents the Virgin. In the star-strewn sky, there are three legendary women to be found. Cassiopeia and Andromeda, the other two, are members of the same family. Virgo has been identified with many of the legendary mythological heroines of ancient times, as it represents innocence, morality, fertility, and feminine majesty. She is frequently represented clutching a sheaf of grain in her right hand, which is indicated by the bright star Spica, but she can also be seen holding a palm branch. Some believe that Virgo first appeared in Egypt 15,000 years ago, when the spring equinox was among the stars that the sun passed through during the Egyptian harvest. Perhaps this is how Virgo earned the nickname “Maiden of the Wheat Field,” as she is depicted with a sickle and sheaves of grain in her arms. She was also identified with the Egyptian deity Isis, who was depicted holding wheat in her hand. When the monster Typhon followed her, legend has it that she dropped the sheaf, scattering wheat across the sky and forming the beautiful Milky Way. The brightest star in Virgo, Spica, was worshipped by Egyptians as a symbol of the wheat she held. They built temples to the star, which symbolized prosperity to them. Indeed, it is reported that when Greeks travelled to Egypt to get wheat during a famine, they returned with more than just food: the Egyptians shared a bit of their religion with the advice that if the Greeks paid devotion to Spica, they would never go hungry again. Another Egyptian depiction of Virgo shows her holding the child sun deity Horus, the last of the celestial Egyptian rulers. The Virgin Mary bearing the infant Jesus was later altered from this effigy.
The Sphinx, some experts claim, is a composite of the constellations the sun passed through during the inundation of the Nile during ancient Egyptian times: the stately figure lying in the desert, they say, has the body of Leo the Lion and the head of the female Virgo.