Spirituality - The Blog - The Celtic Order of the Féth Fíada ~ Mystery School

Celebrating Lugnasad

July 30, 2023 No Comments

Although named for the Irish God Lugh (aka Lleu, Lugos, Lugus), Lugnasad (aka Gŵyl Awst) almost certainly ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root word for his name: *leu-g- (black, dark, dim; swamp) or *leug- (bend, bow, twist) + Old Irish násad (assembly, gathering — especially one of a festive or commemorative nature; death, put to death). It most likely means the “Gathering of the Black or Bent One,” but it could also mean “Black Death” or any other such combinations thereof. However, an enormous amount of weight must be given to the first interpretation, simply because Lugnasad is still today often referred to as Black Stoop Sunday, and largely connected with an Irish deity called Crom Dubh (Black Bent One or Dark Bowed One, etc.). This figure is associated, as well, with the Irish God Crom Cruach (Bent or Bowed One of the Mound or Stack [of Grain]), to whom the people made sacrifices in exchange for milk and grain.

Dig Deeper

July 23, 2023 No Comments

In these days of mindless, meaningless, quick, simplistic “See Spot run” rituals that require little to no reading or thought, it is a joy to engage in work that exhibits depth, complexity, and genuine meaning, knowledge, and understanding. It’s just so sad that so many pagan practitioners these days are really only interested in talking the talk — not in walking the walk, in doing the hard work of the Mysteries.

The Sound of Wind Chimes

June 21, 2023 No Comments

Several years ago while heading to an appointment, I passed a home with a large tree in the front yard. A portion of the tree hung over into the street — not a significant amount, just enough for a cool effect. The homeowners had a wonderful idea for giving their home some whimsy. They took metal pieces like those hanging-produce baskets, old cast-iron hanging planters, and the like, and hung them all over the tree. Some people felt that it was gaudy. I didn’t. I thought it was a fun idea, as did my husband.

Sacred Space of Altars

June 14, 2023 No Comments

Altars are a very personal thing, being everything from very formal to unrecognizable as an altar. Regardless of what they look like, they are the powerhouse of our magicks. This is where we hold our rituals, and everything we do at them holds a little residual energy from our workings. No matter what our altar looks like, it is a place we can go to reconnect to our magickal selves.

Good Vibrations

May 28, 2023 No Comments

If, like me, you grew up during the decade (circa 1965–1975) of hippies, Haight-Ashbury, head shops, Flower Power, peace, making love – not war, psychedelic art and music, Mary Quant’s (at the time) daring miniskirts and revolutionary cosmetics, and the Beach Boys picking up good vibrations, then congratulations! You’re already way ahead when it comes to grasping the concepts of universal energy, vibrations, and frequencies.

Here Comes the Sun

May 14, 2023 No Comments

Originally, as it was for many other cultures, the sun of the Celts was female, and in Ireland and Scotland, at least, it remained so. We know this because all the Irish and Scottish Gaelic words for the Sun are feminine. That is why you see the Sun referred to as “Mother” herein this lovely song, which I think makes a wonderful way to greet the Sun each morning:

Celebrating Beltaine

April 30, 2023 No Comments

For those who don’t know, here at COFF, we follow astrological timing for our Wheel of the Year. That means that for us, Beltaine falls on May 5, at 15 degrees Taurus. Beltaine (pronounced “bee-all-tin-uh” < Proto-Celtic *Belo-Te(p)niâ Bright Fire) is the first day of summer. In Wales, it is known as Calan Haf (Calends of Summer).

Becoming a Pagan Warrior

April 23, 2023 No Comments

In ancient times, it was often very difficult to tell the Celtic and the Germanic tribes apart. They frequently intermingled, adopted the customs, clothing, weapons, and deities, etc., of the other, and so on. The Germanic/Norse God Wodan/Óðinn, for example, is believed by scholars to have evolved from the Gaulish God Lugos (the Irish Lugh, the Welsh Lleu). Sometimes, Germanic tribes even had Celtic Kings. Perhaps this was the result of marriages between the tribes. Regardless, all were fierce warriors.

Prosperity Lamp

April 19, 2023 No Comments

Several years ago in a group I was in, we studied Hoodoo. Hoodoo is not a religion; rather, it is a magical practice, a way of life. It originally derived from African spiritual beliefs and throughout history was influenced and modified by Christianity, Pow Wow, Native American spirituality, Irish and Scots spirituality, and other practices and traditions.

COFF’s Wheel of the Year

March 26, 2023 No Comments

Here at COFF, we celebrate an eight-spoked Wheel of the Year, and we employ Old Irish names for all our Solar/Earth Festivals. A few of the reasons why we don’t use the “standard” Wiccan Wheel of the Year at COFF is because: (1) Féth Fíadans aren’t Wiccans; (2) the names of the Wiccan Sabbats are an admixture of Irish (Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain), Welsh (Mabon), and Anglo-Saxon (Ostara, Litha, Yule); and (3) the God Mabon has no genuine historical claim to any Autumn Equinox tradition whatsoever. Rather, he is usually seen by Celtic scholars as being associated with either one or both of the solstices.

Category: Spirituality