Hughes - The book of celtic magic : transformative teachings from the cauldron of awen

Llewellyn Publications

Woodbury, Minnesota

Copyright Information

The Book of Celtic Magic: Transformative Teachings from the Cauldron of Awen 2014 by Kristoffer Hughes.

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First e-book edition 2014

E-book ISBN: 9780738740508

Book design and edit by Rebecca Zins
Cover design by Kevin R. Brown
Cover illustration by John Blumen

Interior bird illustration from 1167 Decorative Cuts
CD-ROM and Book (Dover Publications, 2007);
page 283 glyph illustration Taryn Shrigley;
all other illustrations by the Llewellyn Art Department

Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

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Llewellyn Publications

Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

2143 Wooddale Drive

Woodbury, MN 55125

www.llewellyn.com

Manufactured in the United States of America

for
Barrie and Kristal Jenks
and
Christopher and Susan Hickman

in honor of your friendship

Contents

Part 1 Weaving the Web of Celtic Magic

. Understanding Celtic Magic

. Awen: The Spirit of Celtic Magic

. Celtic Magic Ritual

. Constructing Celtic Rituals

. The Triskelion Ritual

Part 2 The Companions of Celtic Magic

. Magical Allies

. Celtic Gods and Goddesses

. Mabon and Modron

. Rhiannon: The Mare of Sovereignty

. Cerridwen: The Witch Goddess

. Llr: The Mighty God of the Sea

. Braint/Brig/Briganti: The Spring Goddess of Healing

. Gwyn ap Nudd: Leader of the Wild Hunt

. The Celtic Demigods and Demigoddesses

. Pwyll: Hearing the Call of the Land

. Efnysien and Nisien: I Would Know My Light and Shadow

. The Children of Llr: Brn, Branwen, and Manawydan

. Gwydion: The Flawed Magicians Lessons in Magic

. Genius Loci (Spirits of Place) and the Ancestors

Part 3 By Oak, Ash, and Thorn: Celtic Tree Magic

. The Magic of Trees

. A Yard of Magic: The Wonder of Wands

. Kat Godeu (The Battle of the Trees)

. Tree Divination: The Ogam

Part 4 By Oakflower, Broom, and Meadowsweet: Celtic Plant Magic

. The Magic of Plants

. The Physicians of Myddvai

. Practical Plant Magic

Part 5 By Bone, Tooth, and Claw: Celtic Animal Magic

. The Magic of Animals

. The Celtic Bone Oracle

Part 6 The Islands of Annwn: A Celtic Divination System

. The Forts of Truth

. Preiddeu Annwn (The Spoils of Annwn) from the Book of Taliesin

Acknowledgments

I am indebted to so many kind, wise, and patient folk who helped in the writing of this book, whether through advice, information, or just as long-suffering ears to my woes. Ian Gibbs for his constant support and help even at times when his patience must be stretched to the limits. Penny Billington for her wit, sharp intellect, and the wonderful long telephone calls. Barrie Jenks who constantly surprises me with his knowledge, sagacity, and inspiration; you are a ray of Awen. Christopher Hickman, who rushes to my aid whenever I am in fear of a melodramatic breakdown: you are a joy and a font of advice and wisdom; I praise the gods for your friendship. All the other members of the Anglesey Druid Order, you are all rather fabulous. Jonathan Holland and Michael Howell, who endured hours of my ramblings without (seemingly) losing the plot and were of immense help with the properties of herbs. To all the Pagans out there who devote themselves and their practice in honor of the spirit of Celtica. Last but by no means least, to my ever-patient editorial team at Llewellyn Worldwide, Elysia Gallo and Rebecca Zins, thank you.

Introduction

This is primarily a book about sacred relationshipsof connecting and aligning oneself to the archetypes, trees, plants, and animals of the Celtic traditions. Celtic magic may be intimately linked with your own sense of ancestry as an ethereal web connecting you to a culture that continues to thrive to this day. Your reasons for choosing to purchase this book may well mirror my reasons for wanting to write it: to connect to the powerful undercurrent of the Celtic spirit.

Celtic magic transforms the magician; I was transformed by the process of aligning myself with this magical currenta current that spans 3,000 years, from the dawning of the Iron Age through the coming of the Romans and to the height of the Medieval renaissance. It is this current of magic that I present to you in the pages that followtrue magic experienced by a magician of the Celtic tradition. The magic is tried and tested. I do not offer a random series of magical practices but true practical magic born from the cauldron of the Celts. It has worked for me and for a number of others over the years, and it will work for you.

The magical discourse presented in this book has not arisen from the need to pad out a book, and I hope that you will sense that as you read. In a manner, this is my own Book of Shadows or grimoire; a collection of magic that I have used over the years, it is a reflection of my understanding of what magic is and how and why we use it. But there is more to this book than a presentation of magical actions. My hope is that this book and the magic it contains will transform youwill move you closer to the continuum of the Celts and cause you to become a practical Celtic magician. My hope is to offer you insights into my practice so that you may glean the importance of being in close relationship with the powerful forces of Celtica.