Crescent Shadows On-Line Newsletter of the Hudson Valley Pagan Network, Inc.

As “in between” times were considered sacred opportunities when the Otherworld was open to us, these times became some of the traditional times for working magick. Examples of such times were, in the yearly cycle, at Samhain and at Beltane, the times thought to stand apart from summer and winter. Other such examples on a daily basis were seen at sunrise and sunset during the twilight time of neither daylight nor darkness.

The Celts had a variety of places that magick could be performed, usually designated as sacred places because they acted as bridges again “in between” this world and the Otherworld. Sacred hills, stones, shafts, trees, pools, and wells often had the role of being such bridges Similarly, the threshold of the home was another sacred “in between” place as was the fireplace.
 

The forms of magick practiced were many. Written spells were written upon lead or bronze sheets and deposited into the sacred well of the deity whose aid was sought. Sulis was a popular Goddess to invoked this way for revenge against theft. Spoken spells in the form of enchantments were also used, sometimes invoking the assistance of Ogmios who reigned over eloquence and the power of the poetic word, charm, or incantation. Image healing spells were practiced at the headwaters of the Seine at a shrine dedicated to Sequanna, a Goddess of healing. Devotees would carve images of their afflicted body parts or of their whole selves and set them afloat on the water with a prayer to Sequanna for healing.

“The Celts were particularly adept at magickal work with the Gods...”

It was always customary and just good manners to make an offering to the God or Goddess invoked as a means of giving thanks for their assistance. Whether this takes the form of a physical gift of food, drink, incense a candle, etc. or it is in the form of a prayer or energy gift is up to the practitioner and the deity. Though history tells us that many ancient Celtic deities were appeased with blood sacrifice and gold I find that oatmeal cookies and wine, or mead keeps them happy in the modern day.
          —Allan Patnode

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Last Updated: January 30, 2002
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