Celts, like all other nations, engaged in magical practices, many of which could be used by anyone.However, in general, these practices have been in the hands of the druids, who, in many aspects, were higher shamans barbarian tribes.
Each clan or tribe had their Druids, who during the war helped his army with the help of the magical arts.This is reflected in the stories of the mythological cycle, each of which contains the Druids.
Their strength is largely implemented as the power over the elements.Druids, for example, generates blinding snowstorm or turn day into night - a feat attributed to them, even in the lives of the saints.Or they discharged "fiery clouds" in the opposing armies, as is the case with Meg Ruythom druid who created the magical fire and sent it to the enemy, whose Druid tried in vain to deflect the cloud.
When druids Cormac dry all the water in the country, another Druid released the arrow and where it fell, began to leave the water flow.Druid Mathgen boast the ability to throw the enemy mountains.Most druids turned wood or stone in the armed people, the horrors so hostile army.They could also fill the air clang of battle cries and terrible supernatural beings.
ability to become invisible by the spell, called Fath APPhI that make a person invisible or hide it in a magical fog has also been used by the Druids as Christian saints.JAC hymn of St. Patrick, called "Faedo APPhI" was sung to them when he was waiting in ambush enemies, and charmed them.Needless to spell fith-fath, is still remembered in the valleys of the Highlands.
Druids also created a "barrier" ayrbe druad around the troops, the ability to bypass him and uttering spells to attack the army could not break through this barrier.If someone is able to jump over this "barrier", the spell was broken, but he lost his life at the same time.This was done in the battle Dremne Kul, which was attended by Saint Columba and help the hero to jump over obstacles with your prayers.
curious charm associated with the Druids, became famous in Roman times and was described by historian Pliny.It was a "snake egg", formed from the foam, which was created by the snake wriggled together.Snake threw "egg" in the air, and the one who sees it, had to catch him in his cloak before it falls, and run to the torrent, which was the snake could not pursue it.It was believed that this "egg" gives its owner access to the rulers or litigation, and in the reign of Claudius Roman citizen put to death for bringing such an amulet to court.Pliny claimed that he saw this "egg".It was about the size of an apple, with a cartilaginous skin-covered discs.It was probably fossilized sea urchin, which, for example, is found in the Gallic graves.
Pliny also wrote of the Celtic belief in the magical powers of coral, which is either worn as an amulet, or take a powder of it as a medicine.It was also proved that the Celts for a limited period of their history embed it into weapons and utensils, no doubt as an amulet.
other charms - white marbles, quartz pebbles, wild boar teeth samples or pieces of amber - was found buried with the dead.Also worn by small figures of wild boar, horses and a bull with a ring for hanging the necklace as amulets or image of these divine animals, and phallic amulets, may have served as a protection against the evil eye.
Cult of stones was probably connected with the belief in the magical power of certain stones such as Lia Fail, who shouted loudly, when it pounded.Stones may have been the subject of a cult or possess magical properties, used by the Druids in the selection of leaders, who became to them and swore that they will follow in the footsteps of their predecessors, and the outline of a pair of legs, carved in stone, symbolizing the first steps of the leader.
with the cult of the stones have been linked to magic rituals still rocks or boulders that are considered likely as the abode of the spirit.The girls rolled a stone to get a lover, pregnant women - to get easy delivery.Touching these stones led to the fact that infertile women had babies, and it gave a weak vitality.Usually on a stone left a small donation.Similar rites were carried out in megalithic monuments - this custom was obviously pre-Celtic in origin, but was taken over by the Druids.
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Articles Source: white-society.org
