\nand customs have survived unadulterated by Christianity in the British
\nIsles and Ireland. The truth is that these countries have been Christianized
\nfor over 2000 years, and, as we all know, history was written by
\nthe winners! Added to which, the Celtic Druids had an oral culture \u2013 they
\nconsidered their sacred knowledge too important to write down \u2013 and
\nso when the Romans destroyed the Druid colleges and massacred the
\npriests, very little pre-Christian wisdom remained to be handed down.
\nYet the truth is that pagan and Christian threads have been interwoven
\ninto magical traditions throughout the centuries \u2013 yes, even
\ntraditional witchcraft practices are full of Christian references.<\/i>\u201d<\/p>\n
For me its not the Christian influence that bothers me much, but more the fact that things like Tarot and Crystals were not used. I have been struggling to figure out their place in my practice. It was last night that I was reading and saw a reference to a crystal being used in Celtic times. So I do what I always do and pull out a stack of books, and arm myself with a pen and paper for notes. First lets address the Tarot question. If you are a true Celtic reconstrucionist, you aren\u2019t going to find the Tarot cards any where, but if you are a bit looser like me and allow the Medieval period in there as well then you will find a perfect place for the Tarot. Many dont know that we have evidence of the Tarot being used in a 16 card system in the early to mid 1400s.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Crystals are a different matter. The Egyptians and Greeks used beautiful stones to adorn their jewelry and art. They used stones like Agate, Carnelian, Lapis Lazuil and Quartz. It is quite possible that many of these stones were brought over in trade to the Celtic lands. There are many other examples from antiquity, but we know that specifically the Celts and ancient Britons were using Quartz mostly clear quartz, but considering the sacredness of \u201cSmokey Quartz\u201d at the time it is quite possible they used it as well. I have personally found crystals on the banks of Llyn y Fan Fach (above) and have seen them use a mixture of Quartz and Mica in their burial Cairns. Other historical and archeological accounts have found Quartz and Marble pebbles and marbles as well as chunks of Amber. It is no coincidence that the Ancients treasured these gems for their beauty and healing properties. I am quite sure they were picking up on the energies of the stones, and using them as offerings, surrounding their dead and as the foundation for many of their sacred sites, and wells.<\/p>\n
So we have evidence of some stones being used in ancient practices, but not all. Some newer stones like Larimar which have recently been discovered in a region not even close to the Uk would not be appropriate to work with in Celtic\/Medieval Reconstruction. Below is a list of Ancient stones with modern properites that you can use in your practices<\/p>\n
Diamond<\/b>\u2013 Energy amplifier, provides a link between the intellect and the higher mind.
\nOpal<\/b> \u2013 Used by the Greeks and Romans the Opal enhances psychic and mystical visions
\nAmber<\/b> \u2013 Connects to our Ancestors, absorbs pain, and negative energy
\nLapis Lazuli <\/b>\u2013 Used by the Sumerians, Egyptians and Greeks, sacred to the Goddess Nuit, Lapis alleviates pain, and migraines, it amplifies thought, and stimulates the 3rd eye
\nQuartz<\/b>\u2013 Most powerful healing and amplifier, it absorbs, and release energy, holds information, and heals
\nSmokey Quartz<\/b>\u2013 Used by all the ancient civilizations it is used for grounding,and to raise vibrations in meditation, lifts fear, and brings emotional calmness
\nMarble<\/b> \u2013 Strength, Self-control, master of thought
\nCarnelian<\/b>\u2013 Used by the Egyptians and Romans and believe it assist in the transition to the afterlife it also stimulates the metabolism, used in fertility, and heals depression
\nAgate<\/b>\u2013 Used bye the Byzantine and Persian magicians it transforms negative energy, used to treat the emotional levels, and digestion
\nOnyx <\/b>\u2013 Sacred to Aphrodite (formed from her fingernails) provides strength, and centers your energy, promotes vigor, and stamina
\nCitrine<\/b>\u2013 Used by the Romans the Citrine is associated with the sun and is used for cleansing and regeneration. Enhances creativity.
\nAmethyst<\/b> \u2013 Used since antiquity to guard against drunkenness, many goblets were made of this, and some even say the holy grail is made of \u201cAmethyst\u201d It protects, and guards against psychic attacks, healing and cleansing<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lately I have found myself to be more of a Celtic Reconstructionist. This is not a solid thing, I have decided, but a part of this organic path. I have been really drawn to the more \u201cauthentic\u201d and \u201chistorical\u201d practices of the Celts, Roman occupied Britton and the Brittons and their religious practices in general […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2917,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[197,194,195,196,198],"class_list":["post-172","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-ancients","tag-celtic-reconstructionist","tag-crystals","tag-stones","tag-tarot"],"yoast_head":"\n