Tag Archives: spell

The Cat in Celtic Lore: Demon, Witch, or Lover?

Posted on June 20, 2012 by Shanon Sinn

The Cat in Celtic lore is a beast both loved and abhorred. Those in pursuit of Otherworldly powers coveted him, but not in a way that lacked cruelty. For those who despised powers said to exist outside of the church, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bestiary, Ghosts | Tagged Apparition, Arthur, Cat, Cat Eyes, Cat Head, Cat Ritual, Cuchulainn, Demon, Devil, Dog Head, Evil Spirit, Ghost, Phantom Cat, Poltergeist, spell, Succubus, Witch | 7 Comments

The Banshee: Ghost of the Celts

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Shanon Sinn

The Banshee’s arguably the most famous ghost of them all, and probably the least understood. “When the Banshee calls she sings the spirit home. In some houses still a soft low music is heard at death.” – George Henderson 1911 … Continue reading →

Posted in Ghosts | Tagged Apparition, Banshee, Banshee Howl, Banshee Meaning, Banshee Wail, Canada, Death, Eleanor Hull, Fairy, Fairytale, Folklore, Ghost, Ghost Servant, Haunting, Irish, James MacKillop, Katherine Briggs, Lady Wilde, Myth, Omen, Poltergeist, Scottish, spell, United States, W.Y. Evans-Wentz, Watcher at Ford | 16 Comments

The Celtic Werewolf

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Shanon Sinn

The Celtic Wolf is a complex and Otherworldly creature. Wolves, it would seem, have always had varied personalities as diverse as their human counterparts. Where one shapeshifting wolf could be seen as evil, for example, the next might very well … Continue reading →

Posted in Bestiary | Tagged Apple, Arthur, Blackthorn, Cuchulainn, Gwydion, Morigan, Shapeshifter, spell, Werewolf, werewolves, Wolf | 22 Comments

Ohn (Gorse or Broom) II

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Shanon Sinn

“When the broom and the whin were rich in blossom it was looked upon as an indication of a good crop.” – Waltor Gregor (Notes on the Folk-Lore of the North-East of Scotland. 1881) 1) The Roots: Background information 2) … Continue reading →

Posted in Tree Ogham | Tagged Broom, Celtic, Gorse, Ogam, Ogham, Ohn, Omen, spell, Witchcraft | Leave a comment

Ruis (Elder) II

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Shanon Sinn

“The soul of the dead was believed to pass into the tree. Herbs and flowers were fabled to grow from the blood of the dead and so to re-embody his spirit.” – George Henderson (Survivals in Belief Amongst Celts. 1911) … Continue reading →

Posted in Tree Ogham | Tagged Celtic, Elder, Folklore, Myth, Ogam, Ogham, Omen, Ruis, spell | Leave a comment

Straif (Blackthorn) II

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Shanon Sinn

“If the Hawthorn and Blackthorn have many berries, the ensuing winter is expected to be severe.” – A.W. Moore (Folk-Lore of the Isle of Man. 1891) The Roots: The fourteenth letter of the Ogham, in its tree form, is Straif. … Continue reading →