Podcast appearances and mentions of christian celtic

Three knocks in the night. A wailing cry. A figure in white seen from the corner of your eye. Across cultures, these omens carry the same chilling message—someone will soon die.In this captivating exploration of supernatural death harbingers, folklorist and author Steven J. Rolfes takes us deep into the mysterious world of banshees and their counterparts across different cultures. With his book Beware the Banshee's Cry as our guide, Steven reveals the fascinating complexities behind these ethereal messengers.What exactly is a banshee? Steven presents three possibilities: the ghost of an ancestor with either loving or vindictive intentions, a fairy from the ancient Tuatha de Danann, or perhaps most intriguingly, a transformed Celtic goddess. The name itself—"bean sí" or "woman from the fairy mound"—connects these entities to pre-Christian Celtic traditions that have survived centuries of cultural evolution.From Lady Fanshawe's encounter with a floating red-haired apparition at an O'Brien castle in 1649 to a mysterious black cat haunting a Cincinnati hospital in 1879, these stories span continents and centuries, demonstrating how banshees follow Irish families wherever they travel. We also discover similar traditions worldwide, including Germany's White Lady (Weissefrau) and Mexico's weeping woman (La Llorona), showing how humans across cultures have personified death's approach.The folklore contains surprising elements—banshees' treasured combs that shouldn't be stolen, the protective power of iron against supernatural entities, and the specific families traditionally haunted by these harbingers. Stephen's storytelling brings these traditions to life with both scholarly insight and captivating narrative.Listen now to discover whether your heritage comes with its own supernatural warning system, and consider: if you heard three knocks at your door tonight, would you answer?Tired of websites that have been Frankensteined together using subpar body parts? Check out Becky and Diana's digital media and web design company, The Concept Spot, and let's make some digital spookiness together! theconceptspot.comSupport the show

Welcome to the first episode of the Summer 2024 season of A Wild New Work! In this season, we'll be exploring how to communicate with the Earth. In today's episode, we're looking at a pre-Christian Celtic ritual in which the land and the people were brought into intimate partnership. We'll explore how our own modern lives could change if we were sovereign and in committed relationships with the enspirited lands we inhabit. If you enjoyed this episode, please help get it to others by subscribing, rating the show, or sharing it with a friend! You can also pitch in to support the show once or monthly at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/meganleatherman *Fruition Class: https://awildnewwork.com/shop/fruition-expand-your-options-and-make-fruitful-choices *Rise Up Rooted: Rite of Passage Program for Adults: https://awildnewwork.com/rise-up-rooted Celtic Ceremonial Marriage Resources: https://sharonblackie.substack.com/p/marrying-the-land-how-we-broke-the-ancient-bargain https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWyHPRFOJr4&t=299s

Halloween is an odd event—very odd, in a way, because in its origins it was not evil; it was actually good. A number of you probably know that “Halloween” is “All Hallows Even”; in other words, All Hallows Eve—the evening before All Hallows. And “All Hallows” is All Saints day. And, originally, All Saints Day (November 1st) was the day when all the saints were honored. In other words, it's a time that the Church had set aside to honor those people who had lived exemplary lives, who had blessed others by their lives, and were considered saints by the Church at that time.October 31st, though, among non-Christian Celtic people, was a different matter altogether. It was the festival of Samhain. What you may not know is the fact it was also New Year's Eve in Celtic and Anglo-Saxon England at that time. It was actually the end of the old year and the beginning of the new. It took place in the autumn, as a matter of fact. It was an occasion for fire festivals, they lit huge bonfires on top of hills to frighten off the evil spirits, and also it was a time when laws and land tenures were renewed.It harkens back, in a way, to the Old Testament. You'll recall where, in the year of release, all the captives were released. People who have been enslaved because of having been a thief and caught and sold into slavery were turned loose, in the seventh year. That was always in the autumn, not in the spring. In that Jubilee year, all the land again went back to its original family owner—the one who received it by lot. Here they had, in the autumn, a time when all the laws and land tenures were renewed.In the Celtic religions, the dead were supposed to visit their homes on this night. As a consequence, you get the sinister aspects of the festival. And, of course, you had the Celtic Church right alongside of the Roman Church; and the gradual melding that took place in these things over time created something along the lines of Halloween. And though it really became in later times a secular holiday, at the same time it has also retained a lot of those sinister overtones.“Halloween was thought to be the most favorable time for divinations, for marriage, for health, for death, and for luck. And it was the only day when the help of the devil was invoked in such matters.” I think that is fascinating. For people who call themselves Christians—who are believers in Christ, people who try to serve God—you can almost see how it would be tempting, in certain circumstances (and I want to talk about that a little later), to get some guidance from that side of the spirit world.Halloween is a night of great evil. But really, it's a night of great evil only because the devil is invoked in some of the customs and some of the practices. If it were nothing but a harvest festival, it probably wouldn't amount to much. The question is: Is there really a devil, and are there demons in a spirit world that come out on Halloween or at other times? I recently received a letter from a long-time correspondent, and he had what I think is easily the most comprehensive set of questions about the spirit world and the paranormal that I have ever received in my life. I mean, to answer it would require me to write a book, “Everything You Always Wanted to Know About the Spirit World But Were Afraid To Ask”. And he gave me a really good list. He asked me about spirit sightings, dreams that come true, UFOs, abductions, strange lights, hauntings, healings, psychics, miracles that seem to have nothing to do with God and yet are miracles, and a whole long list. And he asked that, somewhere along the line, I would do a sermon or a tape or something on the subject. And so you owe this sermon today to my friend who wrote to me about this.

GAUNTLET CON 2019 - Alun R runs a sessions of his Dark Age PbtA game Eotenweard, inspired by Monster of the Week (by Michael Sands). The characters are commissioned by the King of the Christian Celtic kingdom of Elmet to seek out a notorious witch, rumoured to be unkillable; and put a final end ot her ...

Today we’re talking about Fairies. There are many concepts about fairies. My only association with the word fairy was the Tinkerbelle sort in Peter Pan. Sort of a Fairy Godmother. The tooth fairy. A good little angel. Fairies that I heard about growing up were good… and there was never any worry about a fairy causing mischief or harm.   But in the pre-Christian Celtic countries the concept of fairies was different. These beings were feared because they could curse you or bring you bad luck. You didn’t mess with the fairies. You didn’t disturb their domain or their rath. You stayed away from fairy hills or forts. You didn’t cut down the lone hawthorn bush because it might be a fairy tree – a fairy domain.   There’s a well-known poem about fairies, written by a man from County Donegal named William Allingham. It describes this apprehension about interacting with the fairies.   Up the airy mountain Down the rushy glen, We daren’t go a -hunting For fear of little men.   Fairies were known to steal babies and replace them with a fairy changeling who would bring bad luck to the house.   They stole little Bridget For seven years long; When she came down again Her friends were all gone.   They have kept her ever since Deep within the lake On a bed of flag-leaves Watching till she wake.   The hawthorns are associated with the fairies. All across Ireland you see lone hawthorn trees and bushes standing solitary in fields. Many of the farmers won’t cut them. Ireland built a dual lane highway around one hawthorn bush because none of the workers laying down the highway would cut the bush down. Eventually they rerouted the highway around the bush so as not to disturb it.   By the craggy hill-side Through the mosses bare, They have planted thorn-trees For pleasure here and there. Is any man so daring As dig them up in spite, He shall find their sharpest thorns In his bed at night. To many people – especially in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England – fairies are real. They are part of a communion of elemental beings that exist in a parallel realm or dimension. And there are people who interact with the fairies and connect with their energy. Our guest today is one of these people. She not only connects with the fairies – she uses their energy in holistic healing practices. Carmel Costello is a Spiritual Healer and kinesiologist who grew up on a farm in Co. Kilkenny. And on that farm, Carmel developed a healthy sense of respect for nature and what it produced. After finishing school, she spent years in the catering industry and had her own restaurant. In the year 2000, Carmel found herself working with adults who had learning difficulties, and it was from that experience that she developed her skill with energy healing. Carmel says that she always knew I was different. I felt different energies outside of me. I felt other people’s energy and the energy in nature – the plants and animals. In 2007 she studied kinesiology for two years and received a diploma in 2009 completing her training in many energy therapies such as Reiki, Quantum touch and Magnified Healing. At present she works as a healer supported by the energies of the divine, the fairies, the little people, the nature spirits. This support came about once she acknowledged their presence and recognized that they came to help. Carmel has felt the fairy energy quite strong. They’ve guided her in many ways – specifically in making fairy houses as healing tools. Carmel also has a unique sense of the landscape and the layers of energy and elemental beings in the sacred landscape, and we’re going to talk with her today about the sacred landscape in Kilkenny.   Doon Hill is located in Aberfoyle, Scotland - about 30 miles north of Glasgow near Loch Lomond – actually located in the Trossachs National Park. The fairies stories associated with Doon Hill came from folklorist and minister, Robert Kirk. He was born – the son of a minister in 1644. He was the seventh son and said to have the gift of second sight. There was a belief that a kind of magic built up in a woman’s womb with the birth of each son, so that by the 7th son, the magic was ripe and imparted to that child giving him special gifts – usually of the psychic nature. Kirk who became known as the Fairy Minister - is mostly known today for his communing with the fairies on Doon Hill. His manse was located near it – he could see it. He would take walks on the hill and commune with the fairies. Eventually he wrote down his experiences between 1691 and 1692 but died before it could be published. 123 years later, Sir Walter Scott published the book under the title The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns, and Fairies. It is still in print today. Kirk describes the fairies as ….said to be of middle nature between man and angel Intelligent fluidous spirits, light changeable bodies. Somewhat of the nature of a condensed cloud Best seen at twilight On one of his nightly walks, Kirk disappeared. Some say he was not seen for days and was eventually found dead at the top of Doon Hill in his nightshirt. Many people surmised that the fairies had taken him because he was revealing their secrets in his writings. Some say that the whole story about him being found dead is a lie. That he was never found. There was an incident where someone said they saw Kirk shortly after he disappeared. He told the person that the fairies had kidnapped him and he was to tell one of Kirk’s relations - named Graham that the only way he (Kirk) would attend Graham’s yet to be born son’s baptism and at that moment of appearance, Graham was to throw a dirk (knife) directly over Kirk’s head. This ritual would release him from captivity. Kirk did appear at the baptism, but Graham was too frightened by the vision and the fairies. He didn’t throw the dirk. So Robert Kirk – the man with second site - faded away… forever to be known as the Minister of the Fairy Queen. People believe that his soul is trapped inside the tall Scots Pine tree at the top of Doon Hill – The tree is no known as “The Minister’s Pine.” Such a mystery. His old manse sits just up from the graveyard. They both face Doon Hill –known now as the Fairy Knowe. Fairy knowe is a Scottish term. The Irish use the term “rath” as you hear from Carmel to refer to small hills where the fairies live. A fairy knowe in Scotland is typically a small hillock, often wooded with mature deciduous trees. There is also some sort of archaeological feature – a slab, a well or as on Doon Hill – a tree. The fairy knowes are entrances into a mystical realm. A private domain of the fairies that is fiercely protected. These places were especially “active” during liminal times – dawn and twilight. We visited the Fairy Knowe, which is Doon Hill. It’s not a huge hill or a mountain that is quickly noticed in the landscape. But it is a little unusual in that it has a little “cap” on the top.. A small bump almost like a nipple. That bump is the Minister’s Pine. The pathway to the top is clearly marked. It begins as a slow wind around the base of the hill. There is a little stopping place before the path gets too steep. In that place is a fairy cottage that someone carved out of an oak stump. The stump is taller than a man – maybe 6 and half feet. It’s perfectly carved to make a very tall fairy house complete with a doors and windows – front steps, roof shingles and a chimney. It sits in a small oak grove. Young oak saplings cover the ground. People have left tokens – crystals, stones, little objects – all around the house. Many have pushed coins into the stump – so you see rows and rows of coins half embedded in the wood – reminders of fairy pilgrims who stopped at this little fairy cottage. There’s another stump that has been carved into a large mushroom – also with half visible coins pushed into it. At the top of the hill, The Minister’s Pine is evident. It’s right in the middle of the clearing and covered with ribbons, rags, notes, and other tokens left behind. There are similar tokens on the surrounding trees. There are also clusters of sticks and wood shaped into little mounds – kind of like building a cairn with wood. Children have left notes with wishes on them. One that I saw said “More Legos” another said, “I wish for a cupcake every Monday.” It’s a powerful spot. People are naturally quiet there. I shot a little video near the Fairy cottage and got a little dancing green light in the lower portion of the screen. It could have been caused by the rays of the sun … or not. Doon Hill is a worthy visit for those who love thin places. I’ve included links to the walking routes around the hill. The entire experience takes about two hours. The Secret Commonwealth of Elves, Fauns & Fairies , by Robert Kirk Walking Route for Doon Hill – Aberfoyle Aberfoyle Walking Brochure

On Today’s episode of The World In My Eyes we’re exploring the most wondrous time of the year! That’s right boys and girls… today I’m going to share with you all the wonder and excitement of one of my favorite holidays! Straddling the line between fall and winter, or life and death, Halloween is a time of celebration… and superstition. Believed to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, where people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts, Halloween is one of the most celebrated and misunderstood holidays. Halloween had its beginnings in an ancient, pre-Christian Celtic festival of the dead. The Celtic peoples, once found all over Europe, divided the year by four major holidays. According to their calendar, the year began on a day corresponding to November 1st on our present calendar and marked the beginning of winter. Since they were farmers and shepherds, it was a time when cattle and sheep had moved to closer pastures and been secured for the winter months. Crops were harvested and stored. The date marked both an ending and a beginning in the eternal cycle. The festival observed at this time was called Samhain . It was the biggest and most significant holiday of the Celtic year. The Celts believed that at the time of Samhain, more so than any other time of the year, the ghosts of the dead were able to mingle with the living, because at Samhain the souls of those who had died during the year traveled into the otherworld. People gathered to sacrifice animals, fruits, and vegetables. They also lit bonfires in honor of the dead, to aid them on their journey, and to keep them away from the living. On that day all manner of beings were abroad: ghosts, fairies, and demons--all part of the dark and dread.

Brigid is  the much-loved irish saint of kildare as well a pre-Christian Celtic mythical figure.  But what connection is there    between the two? Just who is Brigid? Sift through the strata of her story  with the Story Archaeologists to uncover some unexpected surprises. Links to other  episodes  mentioned within the podcast. Further Discussion on the Well of Sláine: Airmid Revisited  Further discussion on Ethliu: Ethliu Revisited Further discussion on Rúadán and the forge of Goibniu Also mentioned in the episode: Corpse Carrying for Beginners and The Cow and the Time Machine   Don't forget to subscribe to get the latest podcasts! By The Story Archaeologists. Music: "Tam Lin" by Gian Castello.