Celtic Druid Temple Blog

Candlefield Community Forest

16/5/2019

Go Fund Me Fundraiser by Niamh Connor
We've planted a forest in the West of Ireland and now we are opening it up to the community. Trees give us so much. They are the foundation of our Culture. Co create and share the abundance of the Candlefield Community Forest. #celticforestnation

0 Comments

Choosing Freedom

16/4/2019

0 Comments

I reached the age of 16 without realising I had a choice. I questioned and resisted the common narrative with passion but it wasn’t until I was standing in the school line for 'catholic confession' when I thought to ask about choice. I directed the question to the teacher in charge of religious instruction and beyond all expectations she answered truthfully, that yes, I did have a choice. So I stepped out of the line and proceeded to tell each young woman that she too had a choice to go or not to go to confession with the priest in the mobile wooden confession box. I was the only one of 30 who stepped out and stayed out of that line.

When I was 18 I decided to leave Ireland for good, I felt that I could never be accepted in Ireland. My challenging questions and evolving concepts of the world seemed to confuse and bewilder the people around me. I was angry and I wanted change. So off I went in search of utopia. Some years later whilst sitting alone in a little apartment in South Korea I realised I still had a choice and that how I live and what I believe in will always be my choice.

So I came home to Ireland and embarked on an adventure into Freedom. When I actively peeled away the layers of preconditioned catholic guilt and shame I realised that the freedom to be me in every single breath is the most challenging and wonderful aspect of living. I still want change. I would love to share a life with people where creative passions are encouraged, where you keep the benefit of your own labour and share your abundance. I realise now that in order to create the loving world I wish for I cannot expect other people to make the changes to suit me. I create my own unique way of life.

On our 16 acres of Land in Éire, I watch trees grow, I help make space for them to grow and I make pathways between them. The birds and animals are moving in to this young forest. The bird song is loud and the evidence of wild animals throughout the forest is clear. Fungi have appeared. The foundation layers of abundance have been established. Our aim is to help reintroduce the human back into the forest by showing how valuable a resource it truly is.

Many people come to visit us and whilst I guide them through the young forest I am perplexed by their questioning. They ask me questions about being a Celtic Druí and as they question me they miss the features of the walk. I try to explain that being a Celt and a Druí is a way of life, but this is not sufficient. They want me to compare my way of life to other religions or they make comparisons to some idealised version of what a Druid should be. This idealised version appears to come from a mix of books and films. Many appear disappointed that I don’t want to explain my way of life with words. Although we are physically beside each other it feels as if the inquisitor is not walking with me in the spirit of growth but rather they ask questions for their own entertainment under the category of educational. For me, to define what a Celt or Druid is, is to limit that definition to my personal opinion, and a definition immediately establishes a set of criteria with judgement and comparison following. I really disappoint visitors when I cannot quote from the Labor Gabhala or recite the Táin Bo Cuailigne. I like the old stories, I like hearing people’s theories on decoding them but I am not an academic nor do I speak old Irish. I find my ancestors in the landscape that surrounds me.

I regularly visit a sacred site quite close to our farm in Castlerea. It is called Rathra or Rathbarna as well as Mullaghdooey Hill. There has never been an archaeological dig there, it was briefly surveyed and its measurements recorded. As I walk the site I wonder what happened there in the past, I wonder who stood there before me, and each time I ask these questions I feel the important answer is not what happened there in the past but what can happen here and now. I believe this perspective is very important for our growth as a Celtic family.

Most of the people in the Celtic Homelands of today are dependent on industrial food production and are trapped within a system of debt. The government systems in all our homelands put State before People. These systems of oppression which dictate a certain way of life cannot be changed overnight. People daily renew their choice to participate in these systems. We cannot force or impose change on others. We can however lead by example by being happy, by shining brightly and by growing a strong new vibrant culture rooted in the Land upon which we live.
I believe our wisdom traditions are born from our direct experience with the Land, Sea and Sky. They are evolving and changing with every moment of growth. The traditions of our ancestors are not ours to blindly repeat, we are awake and interacting consciously with the world around us today. It is the task of those of us awake to relentlessly focus on this present moment of expression. To write a history, to define a belief system and impose structure is to risk getting lost in the intellectual realm, to dress up eight times a year and perform ceremony and go to sleep for the rest of the year is to risk getting lost in romanticism. Our lineage and culture come from our way of life and that way of life is determined by where we live and our interaction with Nature. When our bellies are being filled from the harvest of the locality we have the potential for full health. When we create this harvest together we have a better opportunity for sharing from the heart. When we as a people share from the heart we have a foundation upon which to collectively shape our culture and generate new living traditions. The wisdom of the Celt runs deep, our connection to our past and to our ancestors is in our heart. We do not need to prove we are Celts. We cannot reconstruct what a Celt or a Druid was in the past. We are Celts and we can choose to live as Celts by presenting ourselves with dignity and truth with the intention of nurturing a way of life that supports us. We need to create space for new growth and this involves sharing a life together. This will naturally happen when individuals make conscious effort to change their way of life, each individual will express their way of life uniquely but the commonality will exist in the deep respect and connection for and with Nature.
The key, I suggest, lies first in accepting the reality we are in, a war torn world where those who express freedom are a small minority. We do not need to be taught or trained to live in harmony. When there is no threat of harm, when there is no threat of insufficiency humans will naturally work together for food, fuel and shelter. We have not forgotten how to do this, instead we are been prevented from doing this. Force has been consistently used in many different guises to ensure that we cannot live without dependence on an administration system which seeks to profit from our labour.
Freedom is not taught, it is lived. You know in your heart what it means to be free, to be truly free to live your life with passion. You cannot plead or petition others for this, you claim it and actively renew it with every breath. We each have a Celtic seed within us, our role is not to indoctrinate this seed but to nurture it and actively seek ways to express our passion. We have a choice to co create a way of life that can sustain us as a family. Our family needs to be nourished, sheltered and protected from all enemies of Truth and Light. I believe that in order to provide this fertile space for our Celtic family to evolve we need to stay focused on co-creating abundance.

Our farm here in Éire is where we, Con and I chose to start. Our forest already provides abundance for the wildlife that lives in it and as it grows there will be a great harvest for us too. I constantly remind myself of the reality that no matter what we call ourselves no matter what we identify as, it is our actions that will inspire, encourage or distract. It is each of our individual actions that will co-create our family and our community.

0 Comments

Almanac 2019

29/11/2018

0 Comments

STATE FUNDS BLACK MAGIC HATE CRIME Press Release

13/11/2018

0 Comments

The attached image is taken from “The Flame of Samhain Festival” fb pg and shows the actual size of the ground fire inside the monument on the 31st of October 2018.

On halloween 2018 a wiccan witch cult burned a large Celtic Sun Wheel on the ground inside an ancient monument that is under the Guardianship of the Irish State. This deliberate attack on our indigenous spiritual traditions at a temple sacred to the Goddess Tlachtga was a premeditated religious hate crime. The fire damage to the ground inside Teampall Tlachtga was funded with taxpayers money organised by Meath Cllr David Gilroy, Chairman of Boyne Valley Tourism. Over 200 wiccan witches including Healers Spiral graduates, Moon Mná facilitators and Sli an Chroi wearing xmas lights over gaudy costumes actively supported a black magic hate crime ritual led by Gemma McGowan, Karen Ward, Patsy Preston, retired Cllr Deirdre Wadding and John Cantwell. Cllr Gilroy has said that the event - "was never meant to have any spiritual content". The damaging of our ancient temples recalls the desecration by the roman church, the vikings, the normans and by cromwell who all attacked our indigenous temples with fire! The wiccan witch cult must not be allowed to continue with their hate crimes of grant aided vandalism by fire at Ireland’s Sacred Sites. The Celtic Druid Temple strongly condemns this carefully planned act of fire vandalism against our heritage, the attack on our indigenous spiritual traditions and our sacred symbols and is deeply concerned that taxpayers money was so easily used to support this religious hate crime.

Questions
a) Does the Taoiseach know how much taxpayers money was given in grant aid to those who fire damaged Tlachtga, a national monument that is under guardianship of the state? Costs must currently include; application for Ministerial Consent, the lease of the land, the application for and implementation of road closures, recording, editing and production of the video, photographic marketing of the event, the safety lighting, the fire tender, ambulance and stewards, presenter fees, make-up, costumes with xmas lights, pageantry, props and lighting, the willow-work, sound engineer and equipment etc., TG4 presentation. Will the Taoiseach show the full financial report from Boyne Valley Tourism for this event to the taxpayer?

b) Does he know how much taxpayers money is needed to scientifically investigate the true cost of the damage and the full costs for the restoration and preservation of this important monument that is under guardianship of the state?

c) Does he know if Meath Tourism applied for and received Ministerial Consent for the planned fire that would damage the ground inside the ancient monument that is known as Tlachtga, the Hill of Ward in Co Meath on Halloween on the 31st of October 2018? Will Meath Tourism be allowed to use and promote the video of the fire destruction of national monuments? Will Cllr David Gilroy be immediately sacked from serving as Chairperson of Boyne Valley Tourism?

d) Will the Taioseach instruct the DPP to investigate, identify and prosecute the perpetrators who deliberately planned to damage by fire the ground inside a National Monument under state care? Will the cost of this investigation and all other associated costs be demanded from convicted perpetrators?

e) Will the Taoiseach condemn the hate crime by the Wiccan Witch Cult against our Indigenous Celtic Spiritual Traditions, our sacred symbols and our temples?

f) Can the Taoiseach confirm that no more taxpayers money will be used to promote the hate crimes of the Wiccan Witch Cult.

/|\ Ard Drui Con Connor
Senior Ard Drui, Celtic Druid Temple
celticdruidtemple.com
Duty Guardian, Celtic Druid Alliance

Background Notes
1) The Celtic Sun Wheel is an ancient symbol of the Eightfold Sun Year that represents the Eight Sun Festivals of the European Celtic Pagan Tradition. The deliberate burning of our ancient symbols at our sacred sites by a wiccan witch cult is a public hate crime. Although Ireland has no ‘hate crime’ legislation and no ‘blasphemy law’ it does not mean that there are no victims of religious hatred. The Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission says Ireland has a responsibility to ensure that hate crime is not tolerated in society. The Chief Commissioner says “Hate Crime has a real-world, oppressive and damaging effect on those who fall victim to it. Hate Crime can cause people to withdraw from society and avoid expressing their identity.”
This hate crime vandalism was filmed and shown on TG4 on Sunday 4th November. Video on fb at ‘The Flame of Samhain Festival’.
2) The Celtic Druid Temple has honoured Samhain at Tlachtga since 2003 leaving ‘no trace’.
3) Teampall Tlachtga is officially known as Hill of Ward Earthworks Wardstown Meath National Monument Number 150 RMP NUMBER ME030-00. Formal guardianship by the state.
4) The Celtic Druid Temple is the state recognised Indigenous Spiritual Tradition of Ireland. RCN 20106003 CHY 20684 https://www.celticdruidtemple.com
5) Deliberate destruction of or damage to ancient monuments is prohibited by Section 14 of the National Monuments Act 1930 (as amended). Damage by fire inside national monuments destroys artifacts and archaeological dating techniques like Carbon 14(C) assays, Thermoluminescence because of refiring, Archeomagnetism confusing electron orientation and the Dendrochronology data reservoir by destroying ancient wood remains. Other damage is from multiple spikes for lighting and multiple poles for banners that were thrust into the ground inside the temple.
6) Dr Stephen Davis is the senior archaeologist for the recent excavations at the Tlachtga, Hill of Ward Project that is supported by the Heritage Council, Office of Public Works (OPW), Royal Irish Academy (RIA) and Meath County Council. 01 716 8534. stephen.davis@ucd.ie

0 Comments

Our Celtic New Year happens on the Dark Moon of Samhain

5/11/2018

1 Comment

This is on Wednesday 7th of November in 2018 because of the alignment of a star through the setting sun, through the dark moon and on to planet earth at Tlachtga in Co Meath. Our Celtic New Year on the Dark Moon of Samhain is the end of Summer and the start of Winter and Celtic Druí and Pagans honour Tlachtga, our Earth energy Goddess at her home Temple with multiple sacred ceremonies on this night.

The star we also call Tlachtga is better known as Antares. She is 550 light years away from earth in the Sign of Scorpius. It is one of the 4 brightest stars in the Zodiac and is 60,000 times more luminous than Gráinne (our Sun) because of its gigantic size! It is a reddish star that can be seen by the naked eye and it has an invisible partner star. These teachings are part of the Indigenous Wisdom Traditions of a distinctly Irish Celtic Druid Path as given at https://www.celticdruidtemple.com/druidschool.html

Gráinne, our Sun is a Goddess of life giving energy. We must give thanks for her gifts and nurture planet earth complimenting Nature. Celtic Druí and Pagans honour Gráinne as she moves through the sky with our Eightfold Sun ceremonies and every day at high noon when our shadows point North. When you work loving Nature you honour Gráinne.

An Gealach (the shining one) on the night of the Celtic New Year obscures the Light from the star and sun as he presents a dark face to earth. It is the night when we cannot see any Moon. It is the nights without any reflected sun light from the Moon to earth that we recognise as the Dark Moon nights. The Dark Moon is really there, it is not 'No Moon' and it is not the 'last' or the 'new' Moon either. Celtic Druí and Pagans also honour every Full Moon with ritual ceremony that is open and free to all seekers. https://www.celticdruidtemple.com/full-moon.html

Tlachtga, our Samhain Goddess has her main Temple in Co Meath, 7 miles west of Tara. Tlachtga's name can be understood as 'earth energy spear'. Every new year at Samhain since 2003, the Ard Druí of the Celtic Druid Temple in ritual ceremony create a new sacred fire spirit at Tlachtga. As a small dedicated group, we leave no trace and being mindful of safety, parking difficulties and in support of local group decisions we ask that people meet us only at Tara and not Tlachtga.

On Wednesday 7th of November a sacred flame is brought from Tlachtga to Tara to share with the Celtic men, women and children of Ireland. As it was the tradition of our Ancestors: so it is now with the free people of Ireland's Celtic Nation today. Our 2nd ceremony is held on Tara at 8pm ish and we welcome all seekers to join our sacred fire circle on Tara as is our tradition since Samhain, 2003. Bring a candle in a lantern and you can bring a sacred flame home, this is the tradition of our Ancestors – happy Celtic New Year to all.
Grá
Con
celticdruidtemple.com
graphic and script by /|\ Con

1 Comment

New standing stone circle at Rathniamh.

25/10/2018

0 Comments

On Saturday, September 22, 2018 five Celtic Druids and two friends met to build a new standing stone circle on Rathniamh, at Ireland's Celtic Druid Temple. At the chosen place - the "Novi Stone“ was erected in 2014 above the meeting of two underground streams, located by divining and the 'John and Andy' stone was erected in 2014 above a Y shape of two underground streams, again located by divining - we were about to change this.

Now it was planned to create a sacred place for ceremonies in this area. Two stones each should mark the entrances of the streams and accelerate the energy of the water by being set in slanted position. Opposite of these gates one big stone each was to keep the energy inside the circle.

The positions of the stones were exactly fixed by divining with pendulums; not only the courses of the streams were considered but also the average depth, that implicated the diameter of the circle. Now the pits were dug and the the stones laid beside them; although these stones were small compared to ancient monuments a kind of "Stonehenge feeling“ was coming up.

Two stones from the site were put in a new place: the mentioned "Novi Stone“ which had to be removed from the center for ceremonial reasons and "John and Andy Stone“ which was erected in 2012 above a Y-junction of two underground streams 80 meters from the new place and was now chosen as the blocking or bouncer stone at the end of the new circle above the east-west-stream coming down from the Y-junction. The two stones also mark the great relationship between John and Karl that exists since 2011. The new settings were additionally checked by divining.

The other four stones received the names of Niamh, Con, Ivan and Frank; Frank also called 'his' stone the "sheep stone“ because he found that one side looked like a sheep’s head.

Now a fire of wood and charcoal was lit in the center of the circle. Then the fire was brought from the central to the six pits in the circle.

The six pits were equally filled with wood and charcoal; animal’s bones, antler and some stones, feathers and similar things were added by the members. This was based on energetic thoughts as well as on the archeologically proved fact that beneath the old stone monuments there are always carbon remains.

These works lasted from late morning till afternoon; surprisingly the erecting and fixing of the stones took just a short time, and all of a sudden the work was done. At the end we proved that the new circle was keeping the energy as we expected. This was done by divining and a comparison of the energy intensity of 'before and after' showed enhanced energy / life force / Imbass.

We decided to name this new standing stone circle "Ciorcal Corra“, Circle of the Crane Bird, dedicated to Ireland's Ancient Fertility Goddess. As Crom dives into the underworld, Corra flies high overhead.

Ivan, John, Sam, Niamh, Con, Karl, Frank

We brought Crom down from the Bog Oak outer temple to sit a while looking into his new circle and now for the winter Crom sits inside his Temple Crom In the pic below you see Red John, Karl, Con, Niamh, Sam and Ivan with Crom in the center - Frank had gone home to Meath but was represented by the Quartz rock on top of the 'sheep stone'...

On Sunday we celebrated the first ceremony inside the new circle, this year‘s autumn equinox ceremony.

Ciorcal Corra in the light of the Sunday morning sun.

0 Comments

Celtic Druid Temple - Press Release 13/06/2018

13/6/2018

1 Comment

It is my honour to share today's news of further recognition of the Celtic Druid Temple by the Charities Regulator as a religion with Nature as the Supreme Being.

Our application to the Charities Regulator on behalf of Celtic Druid Temple for charitable status as a Religion with Nature as the Supreme Being under Section 39 of the Charities Act 2009, has been approved on 13/06/2018 after just 9 months. The Celtic Druid Temple's 'Registered Charity Number' as issued by the Charities Regulator (established by the Minister for Justice and Equality on a statutory basis on 16 October, 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act, 2009) is RCN 20106003

The Celtic Druid Temple was recognised by the Revenue Commissioner as a Religion with Nature as the Supreme Being after two and a half years of negotiations on 20/06/2015. The Celtic Druid Temple has legal and formal recognition in Ireland as a religious charity from the Revenue Commissioner with a CHY number 20684 issued by the Dept of Finance.

The Celtic Druid Temple became a Registered Religious Body for Solemnising Pagan handfastings as announced by the Office of the Registrar General of the Dept of Social Protection on 03/02/16. Our Celtic Pagan weddings are performed "according to the Rites of Passage of the Indigenous Wisdom Tradition of Celtic Druid Temple" – this is on your marriage certificate when we facilitate on your special day!

Nature based spirituality has now achieved full recognition in Ireland after a lapse of many centuries. Men and women, young and old seeking to express their Celtic Spirit can openly declare their own direct link to Nature as Supreme Being and seek guidance from the Spirits of the Ancestors. Ritual ceremonies are being held at the ancient temples on the Full Moon and for the Eightfolds of the Sun year across Ireland. This tradition of ceremony at our sacred sites helps us all to re-connect to the cycles of Nature and to our Celtic Spirit so that each of us can make and develop our own unique direct connection to the Gods and Goddesses.

Our Druí have jury service exemption status from the Dept. of Justice and An Garda Siochana have on four occasions provided protection for our public ritual ceremonies at Tara and at Newgrange. BUNREACHT NA hÉIREANN secures our freedom to practice our religion, the HSE also recognises Druidry as a religion and recent European legislation further protects the rights of Druids and Pagans. The European Convention on Human Rights provides a right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and to manifest a religion or belief in worship, teaching, practice and observance. The Irish Educational System recognised Ard Druí Con Connor hosting a spiritual Imbolg ceremony at Tara in their 2004 school book “Religion: The Irish Experience”. Many thousands of people have joined in and contributed at the Celtic Druid Temple’s public ritual Sun and Moon ceremonies since 2003. Celtic Pagans from Ireland and overseas have availed of our private Rites of Passage ceremonies at Temple Crom and at their own chosen locations all over Ireland.

“All Irish men, women and children can now choose to openly practice the indigenous spiritual traditions of this island. We can all now openly honour Nature as Supreme Being and acknowledge the Spirit of our Celtic Ancestors without fear of censure. These rights are protected by the Irish government and the dignity and inherent divinity of all men and all women can be honoured and nurtured to its fullest expression.’ said /|\ Ard Druí Con Connor.

The Celtic Druid Temple has continuously hosted public Full Moon ceremonies on Tara in Co Meath since the Spring Equinox 2003. At Temple Crom, near Castlerea in north Roscommon, ritual ceremonies to honour the Full Moon and the Eightfold Sun Year have been held since 2008. These ceremonies are free of charge and open to all who choose Earth based spirituality. This is an opportunity to stand equal in circle connecting to the fullness of the Moon just as our Ancestors did. Celtic Pagan 'Rites of Passage' such as Welcoming and Naming, Coming of Age, Legal Weddings and Pagan Handfasting, Life Path Guidance and Last Rites are offered at Temple Crom and by request at your chosen location. Training courses are available for those who seek to offer service to the growing Celtic Pagan community. People wishing to join in a ceremony at Temple Crom or at Tara can join us at 8pm on the night of the Full Moon. There are no special requirements to join us in ceremony, children are welcome with adult supervision and we recommend you arrive early, dress in layers and bring an open heart and a smile.

Our sincerity, integrity and clarity around who we are and what we do and have been doing publicly since the Spring Equinox 2003 with open and free Full Moon ceremonies on Tara and here at Temple Crom in north Roscommon since Autumn 2008 is fully acknowledged by the state. We would prefer to be seen as a spiritual tradition that connects us all to Nature and to the Ancestors as we are non hierarchical and do not have a book of rules, but the government in Ireland seems unable to officially recognise 'spirituality'. We will continue to walk our talk and to live life as we have done in the past, but we will live in the now and have an eye to the future too.

On behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Celtic Druid Temple, I want to acknowledge the work done and give thanks to /|\ Ard Druí Niamh Connor for her focused efforts to secure this Registered Charity Number as issued today by the Charities Regulator.

We, as a group feel we have achieved much but realise too that this is simply another step...

Grá, Solas agus Gáire (Love, Light and Laughter)
/|\ Con
celticdruidtemple.com

Celtic Druid Temple - Registered Charity,13/06/2018 - RCN number 20106003.
Celtic Druid Temple - Registered Solemnisers, 03/02/16 – numbers 5863 5863 5864
Celtic Druid Temple - Charitable Status, 20/06/2015 - CHY number 20684.

Contact Details -
Celtic Druid Temple, Rathniamh, Candlefield, Trien, Castlerea, Co Roscommon. celticdruidtemple@gmail.com
celticdruidtemple.com Facebook at 'Celtic Druid Temple - Ireland's Druidschool'.

Please note - the Celtic Druid Temple is not a neo-druid group, we are not wiccan either - we are Celtic Pagans and Druí honouring Nature, the Ancestors of this land at the sacred temples of this land and as such we are the modern expression of the indigenous spiritual tradition of Ireland. Further information on our activities, services and courses can be found online.

1 Comment

The True Story of St. Patrick

16/3/2018

0 Comments

The True Story of St. Patrick

Image above of 5th century man in 18th century bishop costume...

Saint Patrick's Day is an Irish bank and public holiday held on March 17th every year, relating to Saint Patrick who made all the Irish become Catholic CE 400 by using shamrocks... so we are told… but historians agree that the man who did this great conversion by bringing the Catholic religion to Ireland was called Palladius (who was married with children), he was most definitely not named Patrick, nor was he Irish and there were no snakes in Ireland for either he or Patrick to eradicate and neither he or Patrick ever mentions shamrocks. As the current calendar is less than 250 years in use it cannot be used to establish dates in the early medieval period so it is highly unlikely that he died on March 17th 460ad. So, what is his true story?

The saint called Paddy/Pat/Patrick was not Irish. Historians agree that Patrick was born in 373 CE giving two possible locations – Dumbarton in Scotland or on the west coast of Roman Britain i.e. Wales. The Romans are said to have exited Britain by 410 CE. Patrick eventually retired to Glastonbury, England, where he died at the age of one hundred and eleven on the 17 March, 460 A.D. These dates do not add up; 460 – 373 = only 87 years of age, so was he 87 or 111 years old when he died? It depends on which spin you read… The man who is so well known to us as St Patrick was originally called - Maewyn Succat or Magonus Saccatus Patricius. His father Calpurnius, had been a deacon and a decurion and his grandfather was a priest, his mother was called Conchessa.

Pope Celestine gave Maewyn Succat or Magonus Saccatus the name of Patrick. The Pope gave him the mission of bringing the Catholic Faith to Ireland. He gave him many relics and other spiritual gifts, and gave him the name "Patercius" or "Patritius". This name is derived from two Latin words pater civium meaning the father of his people. The designation is like Patricus, a Latin / Roman upper class name similar to Patrician. Rome had three classes – Patrician, Plebeian and Paganus. Patrician was the ruling class, while Plebeian was the working and middle class leaving Paganus to be the name / rank for all those who did not obey the rule of Rome.

We are told that he was taken into slavery at 16 years of age and sold in Ireland where he worked as a sheepherder for 6 years but sheep did not exist back then – so he would have been a goatherder... It was during his time as a slave sheep / goat minder that he began to have religious visions. These visions re-enforced (so we are told) his Catholic Faith. During one of these visions he heard voices that told him where he could find a getaway ship. He escaped, went to France where he became a priest and later on he returned to France to become a bishop.

He also burned many Druid books if his confessions are to be believed. 150 Druid Books were burned and on Tara he caused a competition with a Druid Book and the Bible to be thrown into a barrel of water – needless to say the Druid Book sank proving that the Bible was a better book. But hang on, we are repeatedly told that the Druids did not have books!

He also prayed for an old Druid to die – we are told that Arch-Druid Lochru was lifted up high in the air but Patrick knelt in prayer and the Druid fell and was dashed to pieces upon a rock. St Patrick is said to have caused the murders of almost eight hundred Druids. The folk tale of a she-beast called Caoranach that he banished to an island in the middle of Lough Derg in Donegal is accompanied by the tale of a woman who followed him very closely and that after he had banished the she-beast, this woman was never seen again... The pilgrimage today to the retreat centre on Lough Derg is a trick for the followers of this St Patrick religion because it is on the wrong island… the Pagan cave temple on the island that the Catholic Church tried to use was not hospitable to them so them moved their Purgatory to another island in the same lake and achieved some commercial success for a while.

There is a story about Patrick and two Pagan Celtic Princesses – “He also caused two young princesses to die at the Ogulla Well, aka Cliabach Well. Here he baptised Eithne and Fidelma, daughters of King Laoghaire of Tara. They were attending the great Druid school of Cashel Manannáin at Rathcroghan. The two sisters were washing when St. Patrick came upon them. He told them that the only way to see God is after death. St. Patrick then baptized them after which they both died. Not a good plan – this seems to be a cover story for something else.” We are led to believe that Eithne and Fidelma died so they could enter heaven. A church in Tulsk nearby is named after them. Hang on a bit! Two young high-status female Druí Daltaí (student druids) suddenly died after a ‘blessing’ by a christian priest… only a few miles from their Druid school?

We are told – https://sites.google.com/site/catholictopics/s_patrick_and_ireland/eithne-and-fidelma “And so there, within sight of the palace of Cuachan, Patrick baptised them with the waters of the Well of Cliabach. Eithne and Fidelma remained for a while on their knees, deep in prayer. A rough stone altar was made ready and Patrick prepared to say Mass. Before the Mass began the two girls came forward again, saying, "We wish to consecrate ourselves as Spouses of Christ". Patrick received their vows and placed over them the Veil – the first consecrated virgins in Ireland. Then they wished to see the Face of Christ. But Patrick replied, “You cannot do that, until you have tasted the Sacrifice and passed through the Door of Death”. “We desire these things” they replied. Patrick offered the Sacrifice and gave them the Holy Eucharist. Then they closed their eyes, and then they died.”

Ah come on – why would two Pagan princesses - Eithne the Red and Fidelma the Fair, studying at a Druid school (under royal patronage) suddenly want to be spouses / wives of Christ? Why are we told that these two female Druids became Nuns who were automatically brides of Christ in a polygamous marriage that could never be consummated? Why were Virgins marrying a dead man? How come they died after eating Patrick’s sacrament?

Maybe the story needs an outside perspective – two young Princesses: Eithne and Fidelma who were being fostered (living with high status as guests) with Druids Mael and Coplait were attending the great Druid school of Cashel Manannáin at Rathcroghan attended by their armed guards were at the Cliabach Well washing themselves. They are claimed by the church as being among the first converts by Patrick to his tradition. The druid school they were attending is named after the Gaelic version of the sea god that is best known today as Neptune. The school is still visible as raised banks on the west side of Glenballythomas at Cruachan / Rath Croghan near Tulsk in Co Roscommon.

At that time of Eithne and Fidelma, daughters of King Laoghaire of Tara death by baptism the native laws aka Fenechus / Gael Law (aka Brehon law) would have demanded King Laoghaire of Tara seek recompense from who ever was responsible because under Celtic Laws 'whether by accident or by design' his two daughter were dead! But shush! the story was written long after it was supposed to have taken place and really it is just more fake church history.

The designation or title of ‘saint’ for this Patrick has never been acknowledged by any of the Roman Catholic Popes. The Irish church tells us that it was by public acclimation that Patrick got this title. Yet this is just spin. He was called Naomh, which means holy, just as Brigid was holy (ie Naomh) but by being in control of the native language the church changed the meaning of many words and Naomh changed from being holy to being saint. When this happened, no one could say anything because the church wielded the power of life and death and social ostracisation / excommunication against its detractors. Today, we are told that the head of Patrick, like that of Columcille and Brigid rest in a Jesuit Church in Portugal. Their 3 bodies are buried in Downpatrick in the North of Ireland.

Stories claim that when he was 60 years old, St. Patrick choose to go back to Ireland, the land of his slave years - to give the Gael the Catholic word. This was a very advanced age for the time and today the equivalent age may be near 90. His charisma converted many people and in the written records the church scribes tell us that he used the three-leafed shamrock to share the idea of father, son and holy spirit make God. In Ireland, we have five types of 3-leaf-clovers - trifolium dubium (lesser trefoil), trifolium repens (white clover), medicap lupulina (black medick), oxalis acetosella (wood sorrel) and trifolium pratense (red clover). These 5 trefoils have easy to spot differences and most could be found anywhere on the Island but St Patrick never even mentions one of them. Think about this – Patrick never mentions Shamrocks or Seamrogs once, never.

The Irish word for Shamrock is “seamrog” and it means “summer plant”. It grows in the wild all over the northern hemisphere, at high altitudes in the tropics and even in Africa and believe it or not even in South America. Many of these countries have snakes, some of which are huge, others deadly. The type of shamrock given by our Taoiseach to the US president is originally from Morocco, but don’t tell either of them.

Because there is no mention of the three-leaf clover / shamrock in Patrick’s writings we can conclude that this claimed association is quite simply modern propaganda by his promoters. The first written reference to shamrocks in conjunction with St Patrick was made in 1571; over a thousand years after St. Patrick had passed over. The Seamróg became the badge of St Patrick’s Day in 1681 in America. The first written record of the shamrock being a symbol of the Catholic Trinity appears in 1727. So it can be easily understood that the myth of St Patrick had a shamrock symbol added to it only a few hundred years ago – it may be obvious to some that this was a commercialisation tactic as well as displacement of native practices honouring the Spring Equinox.

The shamrock is not the official symbol of Ireland – this honour is reserved for the Celtic Harp. The shamrock now represents the culture of the Catholic Church hero of St Patrick. The shamrock became a symbol of rebellion against the oppression of Queen Victoria, who made it a capital crime (punishable by death) to wear the shamrock. This was probably the most influential reason for the worldwide adoption by Irish people and their sympathisers of the Shamrock as a symbol of Irishness.

Legend has it that Saint Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland -- that they all went into the sea and drowned. There is no reason to believe there were actually any snakes in Ireland ever. There is no archaeological proof of snakes anywhere in Ireland at any time in the past. As this knowledge becomes more available we got fed the notion in to our mainstream consciousness that “this is probably an allegory for the driving out of paganism (snakes were a revered pagan symbol in some places)”. But this is just not so for Ireland, there were not and are not any snakes in Ireland so adding in bits of foreign snake lore is just disinformation.

The famous mountain of Croagh Patrick or as its more commonly known in Ireland “The Reek” was a place of Pagan Pilgrimage long before the Christians became Catholic in 325ad. It is a round cone shaped mountain that looks like a pyramid from a distance. This holy mountain is quartzite with seams of gold throughout, it sits on the western seaboard overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the setting Sun.

Croagh Patrick aka the Reek was once know as Cruchan Aigli or in English; Eagle Mountain, it is 2510 feet above sea level. It has always been a holy place with pilgrimage on the last Sunday of July (during Catholic times), which is of course the wrong day as the Sun magic happens later in the month but the plan was to disconnect the people from the Sun and connect them to a foreign religion. This last Sunday of the month of July is now used because of traditional connection to Lughnasa, the harvest festival of Lugh, a bright god of the Tuatha De Dannan and in his day it may have been called Cnoc Lugh. Archaeological investigations backed up by excavations show that a hill fort with stone ramparts and dwellings and 30 hut sites are to be found on the top of the Reek. There are ancient cooking sites, megalithic tombs, standing stones, burial mounds, ringforts and today’s’ modern Catholic Church. I doubt that many Catholic Pilgrims know that this holy mountain was sacred to Lugh or before that to the great fertility god Crom. Its old name of Eagle Mountain may refer to the practice of excarnation, de-fleshing of the dead by carrion birds before burning of the remains and finally – internment of the remaining bones in an earthen mound. This practice was not uncommon in prehistoric times.

It was on this holy mountain that St Patrick supposedly did his greatest magic – when he summoned a great host of loathsome and venomous creatures and then commanded them to cast themselves over the edge of the mountain, thus freeing the Irish countryside from all kinds of reptiles. This included dragons, snakes and all types of reptiles, none of which ever existed in Ireland. We are told that St Patrick did this by verbal command. The actual truth is that there were no snakes in Ireland and long after he was dead and his head was gone into Jesuit care somebody just added this trick to St Patrick’s name. It was as if the Pagan traditions were still so strong with the Lughnasa pilgrimage to the Reek in August that something had to be done to displace the old ways and such a fantastic story as dragon/snake banishing fitted the bill. It had to be long after St Patrick’s death or else everyone would know it was just made up fantasy.

So, St Patrick’s famous mountain was the most revered place of pilgrimage to the Pagan God Lugh. Hang on a minute – there were no snakes to be banished and he never mentions shamrocks in his writings, no Pope would call him saint and his most famous site is a place of ancient Pagan Pilgrimage! Maybe there was something else that was being occulted from our view by those who would impose a foreign religion on the indigenous practices of our people. The Catholic Church displaced the Pagan Pilgrimage for Lugh with their last Sunday in July, but the holy mountain was seen as holy before they came and will be seen as holy when they are gone too.

The conclusion offered is that this legend of Patrick was fabricated because he did not bring the Catholic faith or Christian beliefs to Ireland, he wasn’t Irish, it is highly unlikely that he could live to be 111 years of age when the usual life expectancy was maybe 40/50ish, he was given immense powers of travelling the entire country building churches and digging wells, killing dragons, snakes and reptiles that did not exist, burning 150 Druid books that did not exist, praying for old Arch Druids to die, killing or causing 800 Druids to be killed, having a female follower who was close to him disappear linked to a she-beast story, causing two princesses to die by his baptism, he never mentions shamrocks in his writings and he was given the totem of a shamrock long after he was dead, his title is not recognized by the leader of his own religion because no Pope would call him a saint and his fabricated importance was set up to displace a Pagan God. His most famous place was and is sacred to the Pagan God Lugh where we can still see incredible Sun and Landscape magic as our ancestors did. The reality today is that on the 17th of March many rivers are dyed green and people wear funny green hats and drink far too much alcohol especially green beer and pretend to be Irish. Do people make drunken fools of themselves on this day because they reckon that is what St Patrick did? He has out lived his usefulness to the Church that fabricated him and has become an alcoholic embarrassment for them – he is now a champion golem to excess commercialism, this is today’s true story of St Patrick.

/|\ Con
an old essay refined Earrach 2018

From Irish Medieval History at https://www.facebook.com/Medieval.Ireland/posts/897375146972947:0

Saintly misconceptions - St. Patrick was not Irish, St George was not English and St Andrew was not Scottish. St. David of Wales is the only patron saint who is a native. Every so often one comes across articles which erroneously claim that St. Patrick’s nationality was Welsh, English or British in spite of the fact that Wales and England did not exist in St. Patrick’s time. He was a Romano-Briton meaning he came from a Roman family living in Roman colonial Britain.

Similar maladroitness has led some to claim that St. Patrick did not bring Christianity to Ireland that this honour was achieved by Palladius. Therefore we should be celebrating St. Palladius Day on March 17th. In reality there were two St. Patricks and neither of them brought Christianity to Ireland! Here is the evidence.

The great Irish historian T. F. O'Rahilly's "Two Patricks" theory was first posited in a lecture in 1942 where he playfully stoked controversy in order the initiate academic debate. O'Rahilly like many scholars before noted that a contemporary continental chronicler named Prosper of Aquitaine wrote that Palladius was sent as the first bishop of the Irish by the pope to Ireland in 431AD. Yet tradition tells us that Patrick was ordained bishop and sent to Ireland to convert the Irish in 432AD. O'Rahilly was intimating that the histories of two men had been confused and folded together. The Irish writers of the lives of St. Patrick say, that St. Palladius had preached in Ireland a little before St. Patrick, but that he was soon banished by the king of Leinster and returned to North Britain.

Scottish church tradition holds that he presided over a Christian community there for around 20 years but the Irish Vita Tripartita (The Tripartite Life of Saint Patrick) states that he died at Cell Fine (thought to be modern-day Killeen Cormac, County Kildare), where he left his books, together with a writing tablet and relics of Peter and Paul. Alban Butler, citing Hector Boethius and Camden, says that he died at Fordun, fifteen miles south of Aberdeen about the year 450.

Neither Palladius nor his mission is mentioned in official Roman sources and references to Palladius in later Irish documents derive either from the Chronicle Prosper of Aquitaine or from Book I of Bede’s Ecclesiastical History of the English People dating from 731AD, who also used Prosper as the source of his information. In another entry, written in the later 430s, Prosper appears to allude again to the mission of Palladius in his polemical tract known as Contra Collatorem. He refers to Pope Celestine as having made Britain ("the Roman island") Catholic, while making Ireland ("the barbarous island") Christian. This was in reference, in the first instance, to an earlier episode, in 429, when Pope Celestine dispatched Germanus, bishop of Auxerre, to Britain in order to combat a recent recrudescence of the heresy known as Pelagianism. That mission (again according to Prosper) had been undertaken at the instigation of a deacon named Palladius, who is undoubtedly identical with the man of that name sent to Ireland in 431. It is generally assumed that the mission to Ireland in 431 followed on from the one to Britain in 429, on the basis that the ecclesiastical authorities in Rome would probably have feared for the orthodoxy of any fledgling Christian community in Ireland because of its geographical proximity to the compromised Christians of Britain. It is assumed also that Palladius was, by whatever means, familiar with the situation in Ireland.

When knowledge is absent we fill the gaps with assumptions but the reality is that outside of the references of Prosper of Aquitaine the information is not reliable. Historians consider Prosper of Aquitaine to be a more reliable source of information than the traditional views of the Irish or British because Prosper is neutral. He has nothing to gain and no national cause to promote in relation to these two individuals.

So what exactly did Prosper write? He states in his chronicle entry for the year 431AD “Ad Scotum in Christum credentes ordinatur a Papa Celestino Palladius et primus episcopus mittitur”.

Translated as “To the Irish believing in Christ, Pope Celestine sends Palladius as the first Bishop”.

In plain language Prosper tells us that there were Christians in Ireland before the arrival of Palladius and Patrick, so neither of them were first to bring Christianity to Ireland!

Patrick himself would be allowed to judge all the Irish people on the Last Day...

Patrick, Patron of Ireland

The work of a missionary from somewhere in the west of Britain was crucial to the conversion of Ireland to the Christian faith in the 5th centuryAD. He was a Romanised Celt called Patricius, son of a deacon and grandson of a priest. At the age of sixteen he was seized by an Irish raiding party near his home and brought across the sea to this country, where he was sold as a slave. After several years herding animals in lonely places, he managed to escape, and made his way to the Continent, where he studied for the priesthood. One night in his sleep he dreamed that a voice called to him to return to Ireland and to 'walk once more amongst us'. The compassionate and determined way in which he answered that mystical request has caused him to be known and loved ever since as Naomh Padraig, or Saint Patrick, patron of Ireland.

We know this much of his life-story from one of the few documents written by Patrick himself, his Confessio. But, unfortunately, we know little else of the precise details of his actual mission, for he gives but very scant detail of either time or place. To him his work was principally a spiritual task, the gaining of souls for God, and thus he wrote in a private rather than an annalistic mode. Traditionally the dates 432 AD to 461 AD have been given for his mission in Ireland, and there is little doubt but that his feast-day, March 17, was the date of his death. Although there were some scattered Christian communities in Ireland before his arrival, it is clear that the impetus for the general change to Christianity throughout the land was due to him personally and to his work.

Almost two hundred years after his time, two biographies of him were written, by monks called Muirchú and Tíreachán. Both of these were acquainted with the writings of the saint himself and also with some traditions concerning him. But they invented much, and borrowed material from the Bible and other early Christian literature in order to portray him as a special prophet sent by God to the Irish people. As a result, modern scholars regard these and later mediaeval biographies of the saint as having no historical value, except for the study of how legends develop around the name of a famous person.

These fanciful texts do, however, have some curious accounts which seem to echo the preaching of Patrick himself. For instance, in the Confessio he contrasted the idols of the pagan Irish to the true 'light' of Christianity. He criticised in particular the belief in the divinity of the sun, claiming that 'its brilliance will not endure', and that those who worship it will be punished; and insisted instead on the worship of Christ, 'the true sun who will never perish, nor will anyone who does His will'. It is interesting to note that both Muirchú and Tíreachán tell a story of a fire-ordeal by which the saint showed the superior power of Christianity over that of a pagan druid. According to the story, a servant of Patrick emerged unscathed from the ordeal, being untouched by the fires of paganism, whereas his opponent was totally consumed by the fire of the Christian faith.

In the Confessio, Patrick repeatedly refers to the great 'gift' he has received - meaning the conversion of the Irish people - and remarks that 'whether I receive good or ill, I return thanks equally to God'. Curiously, Muirchú relates a story of how a powerful pagan called Dáire sent a cauldron to Patrick as a gift, but the saint uttered no more than a single word of thanks. The pagan was incensed at this, and had the cauldron taken back, but Patrick expressed the same word of gratitude again. This caused the pagan to reconsider his position, and he gave the cauldron to Patrick to keep, as well as a site on which to build a church at Armagh. It is interesting to note that Dáire was an alternate name for the Celtic father-deity who was more usually referred to as the 'Daghdha', the bountiful god who gave to all from his great cauldron. Since Patrick preached that the Christian God was the true giver of good fortune, it may well be that this story sprang from a confused memory of such teaching.

The most striking story from these early biographies describes Patrick as lighting the first Paschal fire in Ireland. As an account, it is full of high drama. We are told that the High-King Laoghaire had the custom of lighting a fire at the royal centre of Tara on a certain night and that nobody else should kindle theirs before he did so. Patrick had come to the hill of Slane nearby, however, and when Laoghaire saw a fire lighting there he was outraged and ordered that the transgressor appear before him. Then Patrick came to Tara as a great Christian hero, and the High-King and all the royal forces were confounded by his miraculous power.

Several great contests between Patrick and the pagan druids are described, contests in which dramatic changes of climate and environment are brought about by magic and miracles. The saint, of course, triumphs in all of these tussles, which occur in the presence of the High-King at Tara and of all the royal court. The substance of these narratives was borrowed from passages in Christian literature, and it is clear that Patrick was being portrayed as a kind of new Moses triumphing over the Irish potentates, who have all the marks of the Pharaoh and other Biblical tyrants. Indeed, just as Moses caused water to spring from rock at a stroke of his staff, so Patrick is said to have caused holy wells to spring up at different places so as to facilitate the baptism of his converts.

The earliest biographies described the mission of Patrick as taking place in the northern half of the country, but around the 9th century a third account of him was written which extended his mission to the south. As well as the bishopric at Armagh, it was further claimed that he founded the bishopric at Cashel, which rivalled the former in prestige. There is little doubt but that all such accounts of his activities were closely connected with the claims and counter-claims of the two leading power-groups of the period, the Uí Néill dynasty in the north and the Eoghanacht dynasty in the south.

In the 9th century literature we also find the beginning of a celebrated tradition concerning St Patrick. This claims that he spent forty days and nights fasting on top of the mountain of Croagh Patrick in Co. Mayo, and that God became worried lest he might die and thereby leave his mission unaccomplished. The Supreme Being therefore asked him to abandon his fast, but Patrick would only do so on three conditions - that the Irish people would not live permanently under oppression, that the country would be submerged seven years before the end of the world and so be spared the final devastation, and that Patrick himself would be allowed to judge all the Irish people on the Last Day. This tradition, which has Patrick as the special champion of the Irish, persisted down through the centuries and gave consolation to the people in times of misery and distress.

The best-known of all traditions concerning the saint seems not to have originated until the 11th century, when it first appears in biographies of him. This is the belief that he banished the snakes from Ireland. The indications are that this idea was suggested by the many accounts of how the saint banished the 'demons of paganism', and that it was borrowed specifically from a similar motif in the biography of St Honoratus, founder of the island-monastery of Lérins in France where Patrick is said to have studied. The fact that there were no snakes in Ireland was well known from antiquity, and indeed was referred to by the Graeco- Roman writer Solinus two hundred years before Patrick was born.

Later still is the association of the shamrock with him. It was customary in Ireland to use the shamrock as an aperitif, and the placing of some sprigs of it in a toast was no doubt the origin of 'drowning the shamrock on the feast day' of the saint. The actual wearing of the shamrock as a badge on St Patrick's Day is hardly more than a few centuries old, but old enough for some creative mind to notice that its trefoil stem offered a neat parallel to the Christian mystery of the Trinity. Thus we are told that Patrick, being exasperated in his efforts to impress this doctrine on his Irish audience, stooped down and picked up the shamrock, explaining that just as three leaves can spring from one stem so also there are three persons in one God.

The Irish people, however, have not confined their fascination with St Patrick to environmental and theological legends. Down through the centuries they have invented many other stories of a curious and sometimes humorous nature. He is said, for instance, to have met survivors of the epical heroes of old Irish tradition, the Fianna, and to have obtained baptism posthumously for their fellows. It is also claimed that he blessed and cursed various parts of the country, depending on the preferences of the storytellers, and that he ordered that tavern-keepers should always give extra value for money on the day of his feast!

So Patrick, the slave-boy forcibly brought here from abroad, has become to many generations of Irish people the epitome of all that they considered best in their culture - a courageous and protective figure, proficient in miracles, scrupulous in teaching, but full of human kindness and with his own puckish sense of humour.

St Patrick's Day has always had a special meaning for the Irish. The national holiday, which falls on March 17, is an occasion of great celebration not only for the native Irish themselves but also for many- thousands of people of Irish background throughout the world. While the principal parade in Ireland is in Dublin, many cities and towns throughout the country hold parades. Parades and marching band competitions have become the order of the day, and participants come from all over the United States, Canada, Britain and Continental Europe, to join in the festivities. Word of the fun has spread to such an extent that nowadays the period of celebration has increased to a week.

http://www.ireland-information.com/reference/patr.html

St Patrick kills Druids...
ST. PATRICK AND THE DRUIDS.

Let us see what the biographers of St. Patrick have to relate about the Druids.

A work published at St. Omer, in 1625, by John Heigham, has this story:--"One day as the Saint sayd masse in the sayd church, a sacrilegious magitian, the child of perdition, Stood without, and with a rodd put in at the window, cast down the chalice, and shed the holy sacrament, but God without delay severely punished so wicked a sacrilege, for

p. 28

the earth opening his mouth after a most strange manner devoured the magitian, who descended alive downe to hell."

Again:--"A certain magitian that was in high favour with the King, and whome the King honoured as a god opposed himself against S. Patricke, even in the same kin that Simon Magus resisted the apostle S. Peter; the miserable wretch being elevated in the ayre by the ministery of Devils, the King and the people looked after him as if he were to scale the heavens, but the glorious Saint, with the force of his fervent prayers, cast him downe unto the ground where dashing his head against a hard flint, he rêdred up his wicked soule as a pray to the infernnall Fiendes."

The Triptartite Life of St. Patrick relates:--"Laeghaire MacNeill possessed Druids and enchanters, who used to foretell through their Druidism and through their paganism what was in the future for them." Coming to certain town, the Saint, according to history, "found Druids at that place who denied the Virginity of Mary. Patrick blessed the ground, and it swallowed up the Druids."

The book of 1625 is the authority for another story:--"Two magitians with their magicall charmes overcast all the region with a horrible darkness for the space of three dayes, hoping by that meanes to debar his (Patrick's enterance into the country." Again:--"Nine magitians conspired the Saint's death, and to have the more free accesse to him, they counterfeited thēselves to be monks putting on religious weeds; the Saint, by divine information, knew thē to be wolves wraped in sheeps cloathing; making, therefore, the signe of the crosse against the childrē of Satan, behould fire descended from Heaven and consumed them all nine." He is also reported to hay caused the death of 12,000 idolaters at Tara.

St. Patrick contended with the Druids before King

p. 29

Laeghaire at Tara. One, Lochra, hardened the King's heart against the preaching; so "the Saint prayed that he might be lifted out and die, even as St. Peter had obtained the death of Simon Magus. In an instant Lochra was raised up in the air, and died, falling on a stone." This Lochra had, it is said, previously foretold the Saint's visit:--

"A Tailcenn (baldhead) will come over the raging sea,
With his perforated garments, his crook-headed staff,
With his table (altar) at the east end of his house,
And all the people will answer--'Amen! Amen!"

The authoress of Ireland, the Ur of the Chaldees, ventured to write:--"When the Apostle of Ireland went there, the people believed him, for he taught no new doctrine." She thought Druidism not very unlike Christianity. Dr. O'Donovan, upon the Four Masters, observes:--"Nothing is clearer than that Patrick engrafted Christianity on the pagan superstitions with so much skill that he won the people over to the Christian religion before they understood the exact difference between the two systems of beliefs; and much of this half pagan, half Christian religion will be found, not only in the Irish stories of the Middle Ages, but in the superstitions of the peasantry of the present day." Todd sees that worldly wisdom in "dedicating to a Saint the pillar-stone, or sacred fountain."

It is not necessary to discuss the question as to the individual Saint himself, around which so much controversy has raged. They who read theology between the lines of old Irish history may be induced to doubt whether such a person ever existed, or if he were but a Druid himself, such being the obscurity of old literature.

St. Bridget's early career was associated with the Druids. A miracle she wrought in the production of butter caused her Druidical master to become a Christian.

p. 30

Colgan contended that St. Patrick, by "continually warring with Druids, exposed his body to a thousand kinds of deaths." In The Guardsman's Cry of St. Patric, which declares "Patric made this hymn," we are informed that it was "against incantations of false prophets, against black laws of hereticians, against surroundings of idolism, against spells of women, and of smiths, and of Druids."

The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters mentions a number of stories relative to Irish Druids, then believed to have once ruled Erin. St. Patrick was a youthful slave to Milcho, a Druidical priest. Gradwell's Succat, therefore, says, "He must often have practised heathenish rites in the presence of his household, and thus excited the horror of his Christian slave."

Scoto-Irish Druids.

St. Columba, the Culdee, was much the same as St. Patrick in his mission work, and his contests with Druids. He changed water into wine, stilled a storm, purified wells, brought down rain, changed winds, drove the devil out of a milk-pail, and raised the dead to life. All that tradition acknowledged as miraculous in the Druids was attributed equally to Columba as to Patrick.

Adamnan of Iona tells some strange stories of his master. One tale concerns Brochan the Druid. "On a certain day, Brochan, while conversing with the Saint, said to him, 'Tell me, Columba, when do you propose to set sail?' To which the Saint replied, 'I intend to begin my voyage after three days, if God permits me, and preserves my life.' Brochan then said, 'You will not be able, for I will make the winds unfavourable to your voyage, and I will create a great darkness over the sea."' The wind rose, and the

p. 31

darkness came. But the Saint put off, and "the vessel ran against the wind with extraordinary speed, to the wonder of the large crowd."

The Saint wanted the Druid to release an Irish female captive, which he declined to do. But, says Adamnan, "an angel sent from heaven, striking him severely, has broken in pieces the glass cup which he held in his hand, and from which he was in the act of drinking, and he himself is left half dead." Then he consented to free the Irish girl, and Columba cured him of the wound.
http://www.sacred-texts.com/pag/idr/idr06.htm

My comment - Even if only one claim of murder is true = then Patrick could not be a saint.

Crom Abú

(top picture from: http://www.historyireland.com/st-patrick/st-patrick-the-legend-and-the-bishop/ ) interesting story as well.

0 Comments

Excommunicate me, I am a Celtic Pagan

22/2/2018

0 Comments

Excommunicate me, I am a Celtic Pagan.
Freedom to choose your own Life Path
To walk your own Path you must be free. This means spiritual freedom and with this is implied the waking up to your higher self through the spiritual alchemy of self-transformation. This waking up is a series of choices that empower you to express your higher self. If you seek to be your true higher self and/or to offer service to others - you must be strong on your Path. We are not usually given this spiritual freedom at birth and because of that; as adults we must proudly choose to take it, to nurture it and to walk our Life Path with warmth, gentleness and an inner smile!Your Declaration of Defection from any church or religion
For all people seeking freedom it is not enough to simply say the words. It starts with the words, then it becomes belief and eventually it becomes your truth, your chosen Path. Many religions will de-list you if asked but the catholick church will not just let you leave or de-list you from its membership. Once upon a time there was an escape route for forced members who wanted ‘out’ i.e. people who did not want to be listed as catholic but it was closed when too many freedom lovers began to use it! Check out the websites - NotMe.ie and Countmeout.ie and Uplift.ie and catholicdoors.com/faq/qu286.htm for some history of the escape route that is now closed.

The following ‘Excommunicate Me, I am a Celtic Pagan’ draft document may be used by anyone who believes it to be true for them, it is free of any fee or charge. You may copy, paste and edit it to suit your understanding. Due to rampant corruption we suggest that you keep the signed original and only send an ‘authorised copy’ (you write that on the photocopy) with ‘To Whom It May Concern’ on the top of the document. The original you sign is a valuable document, so keep it safe.

To enter training as an /|\ Ard Druí with the Ireland’s Druidschool
You must formally leave any church or religion that lists you as a member before you can enter training as an /|\ Ard Druí with Ireland’s Druidschool. You will in writing inform the office of the religion previously chosen by you or for you by your parents/guardian/s that you do not accept any of their doctrines and that you have taken the Celtic Pagan Oath intending to enter training to become an /|\ Ard Druí with Ireland’s Druidschool, the teaching facility of the Celtic Druid Temple.

Most of the religions/churches will respond acknowledging your request to leave except for the church of Rome. For the Roman Catholick Church to formally de-list you as a member you need to be excommunicated. The following outline letter will cause 'Excommunication from the Roman Catholick Church' because it includes you stating that you have with full faculties chosen Apostasy, Heresy and Schism (see below for explanation). You may or may not get a reply but a copy of your signed letter sent to us is absolute proof that you have now chosen for yourself. We suggest that you keep the originating letter that you have signed for your own records and that you only post authorised copies to concerned parties such as your birth parish priest, local bishop, Primate of All Ireland and to us at the Celtic Druid Temple if you wish.

Excommunication for Roman Catholick Church members – under their rules there is automatic excommunication for committing any of the following offences –

1) Procuring of abortion.
2) Apostasy: The total rejection of the Christian faith.
3) Heresy: The obstinate post-baptismal denial of some truth, which must be believed with divine and Catholic faith.
4) Schism: The rejection of the authority and jurisdiction of the pope as head of the Church.
Note – the following methods of becoming excommunicated are not recommended -
Desecration of sacred species (Holy Communion).
Physical attack on the pope.
Sacramental absolution of an accomplice in sin against the Sixth and Ninth Commandments.
Unauthorized episcopal consecration.
Direct violation of confessional seal by confessor.

Please note - Apostasy, Heresy and Schism are our suggested declarations, they are individually sufficient for excommunication but being Celts – we do things in threes!
We recommend that you send copies to your parish of baptism church or current parish priest or local bishop or Archbishop Eamon Martin who is the current Primate of All Ireland (address below). Remember – this declaration is not a request, it is your statement of fact. It is only suitable for those listed as catholics who do not want to be listed as catholics.

                ‘Excommunicate Me, I am a Celtic Pagan’

                                                                                       Your name, address and date

To whom it may concern

                              Declaration of Defection

I,                                               was baptised at                                          (place and date).

This baptism was done before I had attained the age of reason, before I could even talk or walk and was done to me without my approval or permission. I write this formal letter to declare that as an adult I have left the Roman Catholic church and that being of sound mind that I now embrace the Celtic Pagan faith. I am entitled to be excommunicated from the Catholic Church because I choose to be a Celtic Pagan.

I utterly renounce the teachings of the church including the virgin birth, trans-substantiation and the resurrection. I renounce and reject all blessings, benefits, graces, sanctifications, and advantages supposedly conferred on me by the Roman Catholic church. I am not a member of the Roman Catholic church because I do not accept any of its doctrines. I never contribute money or time to the Roman Catholic church. I am opposed to much of what the Roman Catholic church does and what it stands for. I believe that the Roman Catholic church is misogynistic because it does not believe that women should have equal rights with men. The Roman Catholic church funds and works for anti-woman legislation around the world. The Roman Catholic church is homophobic. The Roman Catholic church is pronatalist and forbids any form of sexual behaviour that doesn’t raise the birth rate / its membership. The Roman Catholic church prohibits sex as an expression of love and sexual activity for simple pleasure. Homosexuality is completely prohibited and is condemned by the Roman Catholic church with intense loathing and disgust. The Roman Catholic church is lobbying against civil rights legislation for homosexuals, and is attempting to influence its congregations to deny homosexuals equal human rights with other citizens. The Roman Catholic church is antidemocratic, authoritarian and intolerant and aligns itself with authoritarian right-wing governments and has historically allied itself with them. The Roman Catholic church actively supported the fascists Hitler, Mussolini and Franco against democratic people.

I do not accept the Roman Catholic church position on birth control, or on abortion. I do not believe in the prayers, the miracles or the theology of the Roman Catholic church. I am no longer a Roman Catholic. I reject the assumed authority claimed by the Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic church and refuse to submit to him or those under him according to the hierarchy of the Church. I reject the entirety of the Roman Catholic church religion / faith. I do not want to be falsely counted as a Catholic. I condemn as monstrous the idea of original sin. I reject as ridiculous the idea of an atoning sacrifice and reject its presumed benefits. I am not an adherent of the irrational superstition known as the Roman Catholic church, which has done and continues to do irreparable harm to humanity. I have made a public renunciation of my forced membership of the Roman Catholic church and its dogmatic religion. No one may attack my character or personal traits or oppose my declaration herein in an attempt to undermine my decision to leave the Roman Catholic church and to live my life as a Celtic Pagan. My name may not be used in the records / official rolls of Catholics. I am no longer a Roman Catholic because I am automatically excommunicated because of my declared apostasy, heresy and schism.

I embrace the Celtic Path with Nature as the Supreme Being. I have as an adult spoken out loud the words of the Celtic Pagan Oath at sacred sites. I regularly attend Full Moon ceremonies and the Eightfold Year of the Sun ceremonies with other Celtic Pagans. I am a subscribed member of the Celtic Druid Temple, the state recognised Celtic Pagan religion in Ireland and by association I am a member of the European based international Celtic Druid Alliance adhering to the Ancient Primordial Tradition.

This is my truth, this is my choice, this is my life.

sign
date

end

You may if you so wish send an ‘authorised copy’ to Archbishop Eamon Martin who is the current Primate of All Ireland (head or senior
catholick since 2014)
Postal Address -
Archbishop Eamon Martin,
Primate of All Ireland,
Ara Coeli,
Armagh
BT61 7QY
Northern Ireland
Tel: +44 (0)28 3752 2045, Fax: +44 (0)28 3752 6182, Email: admin@aracoeli.com www.archdioceseofarmagh.org Twitter @ArchbishopEamon
Please note: When calling from the Republic of Ireland there is a direct code 048 before the local number

(Important Note – an authorised copy is simply a photocopy of your signed declaration when you write “authorised copy” on it in biro! This is a legal tactic – you keep the original declaration and thereby you will always have proof that cannot be contested. You may authorise copies and send them to whomsoever you think it may concern.
If you are a subscribed member of CDT, you may send an ‘authorised copy’ (with a SAE) to us at the

Celtic Druid Temple, Candlefield, Trien, Castlerea, Co Roscommon, F45 HK53 Ireland.

We will attach the CDT seal stamp to it, take and keep a photocopy and return it to you. If you seek to enter training as an /|\ Ard Drui you are obliged to send us an ‘authorised copy’ and SAE. We will never disclose personal private information of any members but if you ever find you need us to verify your choice of walking a Celtic Path we can do so. Your blue ink signed and dated declaration is unique and when you send an authorised copy to us we will stamp it with the CDT seal and return it to you adding further acknowledgement of your declared choice to walk a Celtic Path.)

‘Excommunicate Me, I am a Celtic Pagan’ PDF Download

‘Excommunicate Me, I am a Celtic Pagan’ Doc

0 Comments