Tag: celtic mythology
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Reading the Reeds
The Celtic tree for October 28 to November 24 is the reed. Represented by the letter N, ngetal (pronounced nyettle) is the 13th letter of the Ogham alphabet. It symbolizes wisdom, adaptability, and protection. Following the lunar cycle of 28 days, the Celtic Tree Calendar tracks the year in terms of trees, not months, and…
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The Vine that Grows on You
Correction: The Ogham symbol associated with the period from September 2 – 29 is Muin, the eleventh letter of the Ogham alphabet. Gort is associated with the Ivy Month, September 30 through October 27. Muin represents the vine, which produces grapes, and in turn, wine. The vine is connected to prophecy and truthful speaking–because typically,…
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Pump Up Your Life Force with Hazel
With the apex of summer comes Coll, the Irish name of the ninth letter of the Ogham alphabet. Represented by the rune ᚉ, which means “hazel tree” or “inner life force,” Coll spans August 5 to September 1 in the Celtic Tree Calendar. Known as “The Knowledge Keeper,” the hazel was associated with inspiration, wisdom,…
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Blackberry Pie
Come to think of it,wouldn’t you like some blackberry pie?Right now? Hi!Can I come byand make blackberry pie with you? Top it with creamand pack it with dreamsof succulence, decadence, merry?Your crust or mine,either is fine,As long as it’s filled with berries. Berries are fun.They soak in the sun.They ripen when we are not looking.Theirs…
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All Hail the Oak!
In the Celtic Tree Calendar, the oak rules from June 10 through July 7, the longest days of the year. The peak of this period is the summer solstice. This year, it occurs on Friday, June 20, at 10:41 p.m., EDT. Although days grow warmer, light decreases, signaling the inevitable winter. Especially in ancient times, the…
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HOUNDED Wins Gold in 2025 FAPA Contest
The 2025 Annual Florida Authors and Publishers Association (FAPA) President’s Book Awards recognized Hounded as a gold medal winner in the Middle-Grade (Children/Young Adult) Fiction Category. Hounded, a contemporary coming-of-age novel inspired by the legendary Irish warrior Cú Chulainn, is illustrated by William E. Green III. The FAPA President’s Book Awards Program recognizes book publishing…
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Willowy Mysteries of Regeneration and Inspiration
With supple branches and silvery-green leaves that dance in the wind, the willow evokes femininity, magic, and healing. While there are more than 300 species of willow (Salix), the most common image is the weeping willow (Salix babylonica). The one represented by Saille, however, is the white willow (Salix alba), so named because its pale…
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Strong and Mysterious, the Alder Facilitates Transition
In the Celtic Tree Calendar, the Alder (or Fearn) Moon spans mid-March to mid-April. Coinciding with the spring equinox, the Alder Moon symbolizes balance and transition. The Alder month, called fairin by the Celts and fearnóg in Modern Irish, is represented by the third consonant in the ogham alphabet and comes from the Proto-Celtic **wernā.…
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Hounded into a Story
As published in the Gazette, a publication of the Gulf Coast Writers Association, January 2025 Imagine a Celtic Karate Kid in a Percy Jackson adventure. The result is Hounded, a contemporary coming-of-age novel inspired by the legendary Irish warrior, hero, and demigod Cú Chulainn [koo KULL-an]. Written for a middle-grade audience, Hounded tells the story…