Celtic Neo-paganism

Celtic neo-paganism encompasses may different orders which may be of interest to those
of Celtic heritage. Some of the main spiritual paths hereunder are "The Druidic
Order", "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn", "Celtic Wicca", "Celtic
Reconstruction" and "Celtic Neo-shamanism".

Celtic Wicca
A standard form of Wicca in which the Celtic Gods and Fairies are featured most
prominently. The ancient Celtic Gods most worshiped are: The Morrigan, a triple
Goddess who's aspects include Badb, Macha and Nemain. She is called Terror Queen
and often appears as a raven or crow.
Brigit, also a triple Goddess. She has two sisters who are named Brigit. They are
the daughters of the Dagda of the Tuatha De Dannan. They are deities of poetry,
healing and the smithy.
The Dagda, called "The Good God" as he was good at everything he tried. He has a
club of power and a cauldron. The club could kill as well as resurrect. He is a
father God and protector of the Clan.
Lugh, Spear God, lightening God and trickster of the Tuatha De Dannan. Worshiped
at the harvest festival Lughnasadh.
Cernunos is the horned God of male animals, fertility and the land below (underworld).
A God of the cycles of birth, life, death and rebirth.
The Tuatha De Dannan are a race of Gods who lived in Tara. They are the people of
the Goddess Danu. The Dagda was their High King. They invaded Ireland and took it
over from the Fir Bolg. Also revered in Celtic Wicca are the Sidhe, the Fairies who
live underground in mounds called Hollow Hills.


Druids
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Druids were, in ancient Gaul, Britain and Ireland, the Priestly class before
the common era. Their secret training was conducted in secluded groves and in
caves and it is no longer known exactly what they learned. It is known however,
that the Druids practiced human sacrifice of what kind and to what end is still
uncertain.

Noted for their worship of the Moon and Nature and especially trees, there is an
account written by a Roman Pliny the Elder which tells of the ritual of the Oak and
the Mistletoe wherein the Druids, dressed in white cloaks climbed an oak tree with
a golden scythe and cut down the mistletoe letting it fall into a white cloth. Two white
bulls with gilded horns were then sacrificed and a feast was held. This was said to be done
so that the Mistletoe could impart fertility on any animal who was given a drink
containing it.

Though what the Druids did exactly remains unknown some claiming to have connections
to those of the old Druid Order who have passed have amassed and interesting amount
of UPG (Unsubstantiated Personal Gnosis) with a mind toward reconstruction.
There are modern day practitioners who make pilgrimages to Stone Henge at the Summer
Solstice June 21st and Winter Solstice of each year.