Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism
Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism (CR) is a polytheistic, animistic, religious and cultural movement. It is an effort to reconstruct and revive, in a modern Celtic cultural context, Origins Many of the people who went on to establish CR were involved in Pagan groups in the seventies and eighties. Often these groups contained many Celtic elements that eventually found their way into core CR practice. Much of the dialogue in the 1980s took place at workshops and discussions at Neopagan festivals and gatherings, as well as in the pages of Neopagan publications.cite web | last =Laurie | first =Erynn | authorlink = | coauthors = Kathryn NicDhàna, Aedh Rua Ó Mórríghan, Kym ní Dhoireann, John Machate | title = "Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism" | work = | publisher = WitchVox |month=August | year=2003 | url = http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usma&c=trads&id=6645 | format = HTML | doi = | accessdate = 2007-11-05 ] This period, and these groups, are often referred to in retrospect as "Proto-CR".cite web | last = Varn | first =C. Derick | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = "An Interview with Kathryn Price NicDhàna: Celtic Reconstructionism" | work = | publisher = The Green Triangle | month = December | year = 2006 | url = http://www.thegreentriangle.com/Dec%2006/Interview%20with%20Kathryn%20Price%20NicDhana.htm | format = HTML | doi = | accessdate = 2006-12-09 ] Later, with the establishment of the Internet in the late eighties and early nineties, many of these Proto-CR, or early CR, groups and individuals came together online. This began a fruitful period of sharing of information and experiences, and led to a rapid growth of the movement.Bonewits (2006) p.131, "The Celtic Reconstructionist (CR) movement among Pagans began in the 1980s, with discussions among amateur scholars in the pages of Pagan publications or on the computer bulletin boards of the pre-Internet days. In the early 1990s, the term began to be used for those interested in seriously researching and recreating authentic Celtic beliefs and practices for modern Pagans."] The first appearance in print of the term "Celtic Reconstructionist", used to describe a specific religious movement and not just a style of Initially only a few dozen people were involved on the Proto-CR and CR listserves. These included the PODS:CELTIC Echo on PODnet (a Practices Though some CRs do have survivals of Irish or Scottish folkloric customs in their families of origin, CR does not make any claim to being a linear or direct descendant of any intact, completely polytheistic, ancient Celtic religion. The polytheistic religions of the ancient Celts were lost or subsumed by CRs openly acknowledge that some aspects of their religious practice are, by necessity, modern creations. However, they state that, as much as possible, these practices are based on and inspired by early Celtic beliefs found in early texts and the work of scholars and archaeologists, and are rooted in an understanding of, and participation in, the living Celtic cultures. Any innovations or elaborations are based upon sound historical precedents. Feedback from other scholars and experienced practitioners is sought before a new practice is accepted as part of the tradition.Bonewits, Isaac (2006) "Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism". New York, Kensington Publishing Group ISBN 0-8065-2710-2. p.132] CRs believe it is important to lay aside elements of some ancient Celtic cultures which would be clearly inappropriate practices for a modern society. It is clear that some of those early Celtic societies practiced CR is not only about scholarly research. The founders and elders of CR believe that mystical, ecstatic practices are a necessary balance to scholarship, and that this balance is a vital component in determining whether a tradition is CR. Erynn Rowan Laurie, Aedh Rua O'Morrighu, John Machate, Kathryn Price Theatana, Kym Lambert ní Dhoireann, "Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism", in: Telesco, Patricia [editor] (2005) "Which Witch is Which?" Franklin Lakes, NJ, New Page Books / The Career Press ISBN 1-56414-754-1, p. 85-9.] They also believe that participation in, and respect for, the living Celtic cultures is a vital part of the tradition. Language study and preservation, and participation in other cultural activities such as Celtic Reconstructionists focus their religious reconstruction efforts on a particular Celtic culture, such as the Gaelic, Welsh or Many CRs view each act of daily life as a form of ritual, accompanying daily acts of purification and protection with traditional, or slightly re-Paganized, prayers, chants and songs from sources such as the Terminology NicDhàna and ní Dhoireann have stated that they coined the term "Celtic Reconstructionist / Celtic Reconstructionism (CR)" specifically to distinguish their practices and beliefs from those of eclectic traditions like While Celtic Reconstructionism was the earliest term in use, and still remains the most widespread, as the movement progressed other names for a Celtic Reconstructionist approach were also popularized, with varying degrees of success. Pàganachd / Págánacht Some CR groups have looked to Celtic languages for a more culturally specific name for the tradition, or for their branch of the tradition. There are groups who now described their traditions as "Pàganachd" ("Paganism, Heathenism" in Gaelic Traditionalism Some groups that take a Celtic Reconstructionist approach to Gaelic polytheism call themselves "Gaelic Traditionalists". While there is agreement that a priority of Celtic Reconstructionism is to preserve the living traditions in Gaelic (and other Modern Celtic) communities, there has been some controversy around the use of the term "Gaelic Traditionalists" by groups outside of the enistrognata / Sinnsreachd In the late 1990s, members of Imbas, a Celtic Reconstructionist organisation based in Seattle, began promoting the name "Senistrognata",Bonewits, Isaac (2006) "Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism". New York, Kensington Publishing Group ISBN 0-8065-2710-2. p.137] which they say means "the ancestral customs of the Celtic peoples" in reconstructed Old Celtic.cite web | title = "Imbas" | publisher = imbas.org | year = 2000 | url = http://www.imbas.org/imbas/index.html | format = HTML | accessdate = 2007-10-26 ] In 2006, "An Cónaidhm na dTuath Gaelach", an American group that does not call themselves CR, began promoting the name "Sinnsreachd" (Scottish Gaelic) or "Sinsearacht" (Irish), which they say is the modern Gaelic equivalent of the term. However, "Sinnsreachd" and "Sinsearacht" actually mean "ancestry",cite book |last= Robertson |first= Boyd |authorlink= |coauthors= Ian McDonald |title= Gaelic Dictionary |origyear= 2004 | publisher= Hodder Education, Teach Yourself Series |isbn= 0-07-142667-1 |page= p.106] cite book |last= MacLennan |first= Malcolm |authorlink= |title= A Pronouncing and Etymological Dictionary of the Gaelic Language |origyear= 1991 | publisher= Edinburgh: Acair/Aberdeen University Press |isbn= 0-08-025712-7 |page= p.300] cite book |last= MacBain |first= Alexander |authorlink= |title= Etymological Dictionary of Scottish-Gaelic |origyear= 1998 | publisher= Hippocrene Books, Inc. New York, NY |isbn= 0-7818-0632-1 |page= p.323] "seniority",cite book |last= Ó Dónaill |first= Niall |authorlink= |title= Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla |origyear= 1992 | publisher= Éireann: Mount Salus Press |isbn= 1-85791-037-0 |page= p.1096] or "genealogy". Other *The Irish word for “polytheism”, "Ildiachas", is in use by at least one group on the West Coast of the US as "Ildiachas Atógtha" (“reconstructed polytheism”).NicDhàna "et al." [August 2007] p.177] Celtic Reconstructionism and Neo-druidism Though there has been quite a bit of cross-pollination between Neo-druid and Celtic Reconstructionist groups, and there is significant crossover of membership between the two movements, the two have somewhat distinct methodologies and goals in their approach to Celtic religious forms. CR practitioners tend to look to the whole cultural matrix in which the religious ideas were formed, while Neo-druids tend to prefer to focus on the specifically This is not to say that there is no connection between Neo-druid groups and CR. Some Neo-druid groups (notably, Some philosophical differences exist as well, especially in terms of what "druid" means. Some Neo-druidic groups call anyone with an interest in Celtic Spirituality a "druid", and refer to the practice of Celtic spirituality as "druidry", while CR groups usually use the older definition, seeing it as an office that requires decades of training and experience, which is only attained by a small number of practitioners, and which must be conferred and confirmed by the community the druid serves. [Bonewits (2006) p.135: "But because the word druid is used by so many people for so many different purposes, Celtic Recons, even those who get called druids by their own communities, are reluctant to use the title for fear that others will equate them with folks they consider flakes, frauds or fools."] Greer, John Michael (2003) "The New Encyclopedia of the Occult". St. Paul, Llewellyn Worldwide. ISBN 1-5671-8336-0. pp.139,140,410.] Despite these differences, there are generally good relations between Neo-druid and CR groups, with, as noted previously, a great deal of sharing of ideas and even memberships.Bonewits, Isaac (2006) "Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism". New York, Kensington Publishing Group ISBN 0-8065-2710-2. pp.118,120,125,130,131] Failed verification|date=September 2008 ee also * References Further reading Celtic Reconstructionism *Adler, Margot (1979) "Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America Today" Celtic polytheism and folklore Celtic Reconstructionists rely on primary mythological texts, as well as surviving folklore, for the basis of their religious practices. No list can completely cover all the recommended works, but this is a small sample of sources used. ;Gaelic (Irish and Scottish) ;Comparative European External links * [http://www.paganachd.com/faq/ The CR FAQ - An Introduction to Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism] : Written by a collective of long-term members of the CR community and representatives of diverse CR sub-traditions - including some of the founders of the tradition - the FAQ is only the second document to present a consensus view that speaks for more than one group's vision. ;Organisations ;Online portals
*"Aurrad", which came into use among members of the Nemeton mailing list in the mid 1990s,cite web | last = Machate | first =John | title = Aurrad: Old Faith in a Modern World | publisher = thunderpaw.com | year = 1995 | url = http://www.thunderpaw.com/neocelt/aurrad.htm | format = HTML | accessdate = 2007-10-26 ] means "person of legal standing in the "
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*Bonewits, Isaac (2006) "Bonewits's Essential Guide to Druidism". New York, Kensington Publishing Group ISBN 0-8065-2710-2 Chapter 9: "Celtic Reconstructionists and other Nondruidic Druids"
*Fairgrove, Rowan (1994) "What we don't know about the ancient Celts". Originally printed in "The Pomegranate", 2. Now [http://www.conjure.com/whocelts.html available online]
*Kondratiev, Alexei (1998) "The Apple Branch: A Path to Celtic Ritual". San Francisco, Collins. ISBN 1-898256-42-X (1st edition), ISBN 0-806-52502-9 (2nd edition) [also reprinted without revision under the title Celtic Rituals]
*Laurie, Erynn Rowan (1995) "A Circle of Stones: Journeys and Meditations for Modern Celts". Chicago, Eschaton. ISBN 1-57353-106-5
*Laurie, Erynn Rowan (2007) "Ogam: Weaving Word Wisdom". Megalithica Books. ISBN 1905713029
*McColman, Carl (2003) "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Celtic Wisdom." Alpha Press ISBN 0-02-864417-4
*NicDhàna, Kathryn Price; Erynn Rowan Laurie, C. Lee Vermeers, Kym Lambert ní Dhoireann, "et al." (2007) "The CR FAQ - An Introduction to Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism". River House Publishing. ISBN 978-0-6151-5800-6
*Telesco, Patricia [editor] (2005) "Which Witch is Which?" Franklin Lakes, NJ, New Page Books / The Career Press ISBN 1-56414-754-1, p. 85-9: "Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism"
*Evans Wentz, W. Y. (1966, 1990) "The Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries". Gerrards Cross, Colin Smythe Humanities Press ISBN 0-901072-51-6
*MacCana, Proinsias (1970) "Celtic Mythology". Middlesex, Hamlyn. ISBN 0-600-00647-6
*MacKillop, James (1998) "A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology". Oxford, Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280120-1
*Rees, Alwyn and Brinley (1961) "Celtic Heritage: Ancient Tradition in Ireland and Wales". New York, Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0-500-27039-2
*Sjoestedt, Marie-Louise (1982) "Gods and Heroes of the Celts". Translated by Myles Dillon, Berkeley, CA, Turtle Island Foundation. ISBN 0-913666-52-1
*Campbell, John Gregorson (1900, 1902, 2005) "The Gaelic Otherworld". Edited by Ronald Black. Edinburgh, Birlinn Ltd. ISBN 1-84158-207-7
*Carmichael, Alexander (1992) "Carmina Gadelica: Hymns and Incantations (with illustrative notes on wards, rites, and customs dying and obsolete/ orally collected in the highlands and islands of Scotland by Alexander Carmichael)". Hudson, NY, Lindisfarne. ISBN 0-940262-50-9
*Clark, Rosalind (1991) "The Great Queens: Irish Goddesses from the Morrigan to Cathleen ni Houlihan". Savage, MD, Barnes and Noble Books. ISBN 0-389-20928-7
*Danaher, Kevin (1972) "The Year in Ireland". Dublin, Mercier. ISBN 1-85635-093-2
*Dillon, Myles (1994) "Early Irish Literature". Dublin, Four Courts Press. ISBN 1-85182-117-5
*Gray, Elizabeth A (1982) "Cath Maige Tuired: The 2nd Battle of Mag Tuired". Dublin, Irish Texts Society
*McNeill, F. Marian (1959). "The Silver Bough, Vol. 1-4". Glasgow, William MacLellan
*Nagy, Joseph Falaky (1985) "The Wisdom of the Outlaw: The Boyhood Deeds of Finn in Gaelic Narrative Tradition". Berkely, University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-05284-6
*Patterson, Nerys Thomas (1994) "Cattle Lords and Clansmen: The Social Structure of Early Ireland". Notre Dame, IN, University of Notre Dame Press (2nd edition) ISBN 0-268-00800-0
*Power, Patrick C. (1976) "Sex and Marriage in Ancient Ireland". Dublin, Mercier
*Smyth, Daragh (1988, 1996) "A Guide to Irish Mythology". Dublin, Irish Academic Press
*Walsh, Brian (2002) "The Secret Commonwealth and the Fairy Belief Complex". USA, Xlibris ISBN 1-4010-5545-1
*Davidson, H.R. Ellis (1988) "Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions". Syracuse, Syracuse University Press. ISBN 0-8156-2441-7
*Epstein, Angelique Gulermovich (1998) "War Goddess: The Morrígan and Her Germano-Celtic Counterparts". Los Angeles, University of California
*Lincoln, Bruce (1991) "Death, War, and Sacrifice: Studies in Ideology and Practice". Chicago, University of Chicago Press. ISBN 0-226-48200-6
* [http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usma&c=trads&id=6645 Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism] : The much-briefer consensus tradition statement from 2003. Contains unclear bits that were later cleared up in the FAQ, but a much quicker read than the FAQ.
* [http://www.imbas.org/imbas/what_we_mean.html What we mean by Celtic Reconstructionism] : Statement from Imbas
* [http://www.clannada.org/ Clannada na Gadelica] : Gaelic Polytheism Organisation (Tennessee)
* [http://cyberpict.net/ Dùn Sgàthan] (New Hampshire)
* [http://www.gaolnaofa.org/index.html Gaol Naofa] : Gaelic Polytheism Organisation (Florida)
* [http://www.imbas.org/imbas/index.html IMBAS] (Seattle, Washington)
* [http://www.newtara.org/ New Tara] : Diverse Celtic group which includes Reconstructionists (Toronto)
* [http://macalla.bravehost.com/ Macalla] : Núcleo de Estudos e Pesquisas Celtas (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
* [http://www.delawarevalleyceltic.org Celtic Reconstructionists of the Delaware Valley] : Celtic Reconstructionists of the Delaware Valley and greater Philadelphia area (Pennsylvania)
* [http://www.bandia.net/caorann/ CAORANN] : Celts Against Oppression, Racism and Neo-Nazism
* [http://www.paganachd.com/ Pàganachd / Págánacht] : Home of the CR FAQ and other CR resources.
* [http://www.cyberpict.net/mph/ Multicultural Polytheistic Hearth] : Discussion board for Reconstructionists, with a large CR presence
* [http://br.geocities.com/sitetresmundos/ Tres Mundos] : Paganismo Reconstrucionista Celta (Portuguese)
* [http://www.celtoi.net/ Celtoi Net] (German)