Paying the Rent to Manannán and Other Festivals
A number of local festivals have historically been celebrated in parts of Ireland, Scotland, or the Isle of Man, which include:
• Sheelah’s Day • Là na Caillich • The Seaware Rite to Shony • Paying the Rent to Manannán on Midsummer’s Eve • Tynwald Day • The Processions for Áine on Midsummer’s Eve • Michaelmas • Harvest Home • Midwinter •
But who is Sheelah, and what exactly does she have to do with St. Patrick? Why does the Cailleach seem to lurk in the background of so many festive occasions in Scotland? Did people ever actually ‘pay the rent’ to Manannán in the Isle of Man?
With other volumes in this series concentrating on the four main quarter days that may be celebrated by Gaelic Polytheists and other historically-informed pagan, this final volume takes a look at the lesser-known festivals in the ritual year — exploring their history and origins before taking a look at how they could be celebrated today.
Including a detailed glossary and pronunciation guide, as well as liturgy offered in Irish, Scottish Gaelic, or Manx (as applicable), with English translations.
Samain for Gaelic Polytheists
Celebrating the start of winter, Samain is a festival with ancient origins.
Taking a look at the literature and lore that underpins the occasion, we’ll get to grips with what these sources can also tell us about Samain and the deities that are traditionally associated with the festival, exploring what their stories really mean so we can get a better understanding of how they could be honoured as part of our own celebrations today.
This volume also touches on Samain’s complex relationship with Hallowe’en, the origins of turnip lanterns, and the question of whether or not Samain can be thought of as the “Celtic” new year, as well as whether it really can be called a “festival of the dead.”
With detailed outlines of rituals and recipes, this guide to Samain aims to give Gaelic Polytheists and other historically-minded pagans a comprehensive idea of what the festival really means, delving into how it’s been celebrated throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man as we explore how the past can help inform present practice.
Lugnasad for Gaelic Polytheists
Celebrating the start of autumn, Lugnasad – also known as Brón Trogain – is a festival with ancient origins.
With detailed outlines of rituals and recipes, this guide to Lugnasad aims to give Gaelic Polytheists and other historically-minded pagans a comprehensive idea of what the festival really means, delving into how it’s been celebrated throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man as we explore how the past can help inform present practice.
Taking a look at the literature and lore that may be relevant to the occasion, we’ll get to grips with what these sources can also tell us about Lugnasad and the deities that are traditionally associated with the festival, exploring what their stories really mean so we can get a better understanding of how they could be honoured as part of our own celebrations today.
Beltaine for Gaelic Polytheists
Celebrating the start of summer, Beltaine – also known as May Day in English – is a Gaelic festival with ancient origins.
This guide to Beltaine aims to give Gaelic Polytheists and other historically-minded pagans a comprehensive idea of what the festival really means and how it’s been celebrated throughout Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man over the centuries, as we explore how the past can help inform present practice.
Taking a look at the myths, literature, and lore we’ll delve into the question of which deities are traditionally associated with Beltaine, and how they could be honoured as part of our own celebrations today.
With detailed outlines of recipes and rituals for the day, we’ll also learn about what ‘bringing home summer’ means, why matters of protection form such a major focus of festival, and how to make your own ‘stirabout’ or bannocks and caudle.
Available to purchase from Amazon in paperback or eBook formats now.
Imbolc for Gaelic Polytheists
Imbolc, or Óimelc as it may otherwise be known, is a Gaelic festival with pre-Christian roots.
This comprehensive guide delves into how Imbolc has been observed in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man throughout the centuries, exploring its history and evolution from the very earliest evidence right up to the present day.
Giving Gaelic Polytheists and historically-minded pagans a practical idea of how Imbolc could be celebrated, this book includes ritual outlines as well as instructions (with illustrations) on how to make a number of different types of Brigit’s crosses, and how to hang them up.
Available to purchase from Amazon in paperback or eBook formats now.
Saining for Gaelic Polytheists
Saining is a word that neatly encapsulates matters of protection, blessing, and purification, referring to a range of rites and observances that can be found in almost every aspect of Gaelic Polytheist practice.
Split into four parts, this book will delve into the basics of saining in part one, detailing the historical and archaeological evidence that tells us how people approached the subject in the past, and why they believed it was necessary to do so.
Part two covers various everyday prayers and practices that can form part of a regular routine, while part three takes a look at how different kinds of plants form such a huge part of saining practices.
In part four, we then turn our attention to the more occasional, formal saining rites that might involve the use of water, fire, or smoke, with examples of ritual outlines offered for each step of the way.
All liturgy is offered in Scottish Gaelic with English translation.
Available to purchase from Amazon in paperback or eBook formats.
An Introduction to Gaelic Polytheism
Gaelic Polytheism is a religious tradition that aims to bring what we know of the ancient beliefs and practices of the people of Ireland, Scotland and the Isle of Man into the present day — in as much as we can.
This book offers an introduction to Gaelic Polytheism, exploring the different kinds of evidence that are available to us, their strengths and weaknesses, and how they can all be woven together to create a meaningful ‘everyday’ practice.
Take a look at the fundamentals of prayer, offerings, and learn about how our knowledge of pre-Christian cosmology can influence a Gaelic Polytheist approach to shrines and altars as much as ritual and ceremony — including the kinds of gestures or actions we might incorporate into our religious expressions.
Examples of prayers and liturgy are outlined, ranging from the informal, day-to-day ways of reaching out to the gods, spirits, and ancestors, through to the more formal, meditative, and contemplative end of the scale. These are all given in Scottish Gaelic and English, and a detailed commentary accompanies each prayer or ritual format to explain the choices that have been made in adapting or composing them from scratch (as applicable). This is intended to offer some necessary background information, but should also help the reader tailor them to their own personal focus or needs.
An extensive glossary and pronunciation guide is included to help the beginner as they get to grips with the language and terminology that’s used in this volume, while comprehensive references are given throughout to allow the reader to delve deeper into their own research.
Available to purchase from Amazon in paperback or eBook formats.
A Guide to Ogam Divination
Is the idea of ogam divination purely a modern invention or does it have more ancient roots?
Explore the origins and evolution of the ogam alphabet and learn about its practical, magical, and mantic uses throughout myth and history.
Covering just about everything the historically-minded pagan, polytheist, or seeker needs to know about ogam divination, this illustrated guide aims to separate fact from fiction while offering a comprehensive outline of how ogam could be used in divination, and how each ogam letter may be interpreted in a reading, including the five additional letters or ‘forfeda.’
Available to purchase from Amazon in paperback or eBook formats.
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