Celtic websites and general info

[Sidetracked]

Hi there everyone

I'm looking for a bit more info on Celtic traditions, gods, goddesses and as much other info as possible. I seem to be walking down the eclectic path, and feel drawn to the Celtic ways....

I've done a few searches on the net, but a lot of what I've found isn't very detailed. I'd like to get some storys, backround info and as much reading as possible on Cernunnos and Brighid. I want to know the gods I'm going to put on my altar, if that makes sense.

Any books I could add to my library would be great too

Thanks in advance

[Rhyshadow]

Hi there everyone

I'm looking for a bit more info on Celtic traditions, gods, goddesses and as much other info as possible. I seem to be walking down the eclectic path, and feel drawn to the Celtic ways....

I've done a few searches on the net, but a lot of what I've found isn't very detailed. I'd like to get some storys, backround info and as much reading as possible on Cernunnos and Brighid. I want to know the gods I'm going to put on my altar, if that makes sense.

Any books I could add to my library would be great too

Thanks in advance

 

 
I'd start with Mary Jones for the web

For books,

Dáithí Ó hÓgáin's - Myth, Legend & Romance
Miranda Green's - Encyclopedia of Celtic Myth and Legends

Both those might be available at a public library - depending on how well stocked you are down there - otherwise a University library might have them

[RandallS]

I'm looking for a bit more info on Celtic traditions, gods, goddesses and as much other info as possible. I seem to be walking down the eclectic path, and feel drawn to the Celtic ways....

Our Celtic SIG has a web site at http://hazelandoak.ecauldron.com/

[Aster Breo]

For resources on Brighid, check out the Cauldron Cill SIG.  There's a thread on Brighid resources that lists every relevant book and website we know of.

~ Aster

[Oíche]

Hi there everyone

I'm looking for a bit more info on Celtic traditions, gods, goddesses and as much other info as possible. I seem to be walking down the eclectic path, and feel drawn to the Celtic ways....

I've done a few searches on the net, but a lot of what I've found isn't very detailed. I'd like to get some storys, backround info and as much reading as possible on Cernunnos and Brighid. I want to know the gods I'm going to put on my altar, if that makes sense.

Any books I could add to my library would be great too

Thanks in advance

Hello!
 
Here's some book recommendations
-Celtic mythology / Proinsias Mac Cana (out of print but can be found secondhand).
-Early Irish myths and sagas / translated with an introduction and notes by Jeffrey Gantz.
-Irish myths and legends / Michael Scott.
-I'm also quite fond of Celtic rituals : a guide to ancient Celtic spirituality / Alexei Kondratiev.

I would know more about Irish mythology than say Welsh or Gaulish but feel free to shoot me a pm if you want to ask any questions (I'm in the middle of a degree in Celtic Civilisation and Archaeology so ask away! ).

Just a word of warning though, a lot of the material on the internet and in some of the 'New Age' (no offence to anyone when I say New Age ) books out there is not very good or indeed very accurate. There's quite a bit of rubbish out there so I recommend you try to stick to scholarly sources as best you can when it comes to researching Celtic gods, the archaeology, stories, etc.

[Sidetracked]

Hello!
 
Here's some book recommendations
-Celtic mythology / Proinsias Mac Cana (out of print but can be found secondhand).
-Early Irish myths and sagas / translated with an introduction and notes by Jeffrey Gantz.
-Irish myths and legends / Michael Scott.
-I'm also quite fond of Celtic rituals : a guide to ancient Celtic spirituality / Alexei Kondratiev.

I would know more about Irish mythology than say Welsh or Gaulish but feel free to shoot me a pm if you want to ask any questions (I'm in the middle of a degree in Celtic Civilisation and Archaeology so ask away! ).

Just a word of warning though, a lot of the material on the internet and in some of the 'New Age' (no offence to anyone when I say New Age ) books out there is not very good or indeed very accurate. There's quite a bit of rubbish out there so I recommend you try to stick to scholarly sources as best you can when it comes to researching Celtic gods, the archaeology, stories, etc.

 
Thanks to everyone for the links, I've got PLENTY to read now

I've noticed there is a section on scottish texts on the Mary Jones site, and one side of my family is scottish (probably explains why Celtic stood out to me) so I'm going to start my readings and such there.

A quick question though, what kind of differences are there between the scottish, irish, welsh and the other (tribes? localitys?). I realize there are probably more differences than could be listed here, but I'm trying to figure out how deep I'm going to have to research before I can make educated choices. Is there a subtle difference in the ritual because one locality has more emphasis on goddess than god, and that kind of thing.

[Oíche]

A quick question though, what kind of differences are there between the scottish, irish, welsh and the other (tribes? localitys?). I realize there are probably more differences than could be listed here, but I'm trying to figure out how deep I'm going to have to research before I can make educated choices. Is there a subtle difference in the ritual because one locality has more emphasis on goddess than god, and that kind of thing.

 
Well in terms of language there's a difference. Irish and Scots Gaelic (which is a form of Irish-Gaelic) are members of the Goidelic language branch along with Manx (the language of the Isle of Man). Welsh is a member of the Brythonic language branch along with Cornish and Breton.

In terms of mythology there's a fair bit of exchange. In the Arthurian tales of Wales for example, there's a few Irish characters and some stories that are thought to be just a regional variation. The gods in Irish mythology are part of the legendary race of the Tuatha Dé Danaan, as for the Welsh gods I'm not too sure but as far as I know there's quite a bit of information in the Mabinogi (the four branches of medieval Welsh storytelling). Someone else will hopefully be able to explain them better than I could

Different localities are more strongly associated with different gods. Also many of the same gods are seen across the regions. Ogmios of Gaul is thought to correspond to Ogma in Ireland for example.
Personally I would start with the Irish material (personal bias but there's a bit more of it and it seems a little more complete to me ).
Good tales to start with are the Ulster Cycle (which includes the Táin) and the Mythological Cycle (which includes the Battle of Moytura).

[dragonfaerie]

I would know more about Irish mythology than say Welsh or Gaulish but feel free to shoot me a pm if you want to ask any questions (I'm in the middle of a degree in Celtic Civilisation and Archaeology so ask away! ).

You and I really must chat...

For Celtic resources, I highly recommend reading Magic of the Celtic Gods and Goddesses (which isn't nearly as new agey as the title and cover art may suggest), and the Celtic Myth Podshow (which has done an EXCELLENT job at bringing Irish mythology to life and is now moving on the Welsh).

Karen

[Oíche]

You and I really must chat...
Karen

 
Haha! I think so