(Ed. Note: This begins an alphabetical listing and in-depth explanation of the Celtic gods and goddesses, which will continue throughout the next several issues.)

Aedh Dearge: {ae-djarg-ah} The Red Flame; a reborn manifestation of The Dagda Mór appearing as one of the sons of the Baobh Dearg {bayv djayrg}. Like his father, one of the Gods of War, also called "The Fiery Warrior," Aedh is a messenger of war and charioteer between the twain worlds. Similar to the "Beneficent Angel of Death," of Christian lore.

Aedh Mac Lír: {ae-mak-leer} One of the four sons of Lír the Ocean God. He was shifted into a swan by his stepmother Aoife. His domain is lochs and ponds of all natures.

Áes or Oes: {awe-sh} The name given to the ancient gods and goddesses who now dwell in the hills. Áes Sídhe means the People of the Hills. From this name came the word Síog {sheeok}, meaning faerie. The Aes Dana, another name for the Tuatha Dé Dannan, is assigned to a learned class of the Aes who are enobled by skills in the fine arts. It is said that the Aes Dana do place their special blessings upon those chosen at birth to become Bards, Fíli, Doctors of Letters, Doctors of Medicine, Judges, Smiths, & Wood Workers etc.

Aimend: {aye-mend} Goddess of the Sun and daughter of King Corco Loigde, High Lord of the Southern Realms of the Alltar. She is sometimes considered to be the summertime aspect of Bríghid the Fiery Goddess of Wintertide.

Áine: {awe-een-ya} The Goddess of Love and Fertility. Daughter of Eogabail {Able} foster-son of Manannán Mac Lír. Alternate aspects of Áine are Anu The Great Mother and The Mórrígán Goddess of Battles. These last two aspects are likely colloquial attributes from different bards. She is noted for aiding mortals in affairs of passion and desire.

Airmid: {are med} The daughter of Dian Cecht, the father of all healing and medicine. She taught the apothecaries the secrets of the herbal medicines. She is called upon for the healing and comfort of the terminally ill.

Anu: {anoo} Sometimes known as Ana {anna} The Great Mother. She is also called Búanann {Boo-an-nan}, "The Lasting One." She is considered to be the mother of all heroes and warriors. She is considered to be the war-prone aspect of Dana or Danu, the Mother of Bards and Filí.

Aobh: {Æ-ve} or Aebh {eve} The eldest daughter of Ailill of Aran and foster-child of Baobh Dearg. Her sisters are Aoife and Arbha. She married Lír the God of the Seas. She bore four children; two sets of twins. The first set were Fionnuala and Ædh. Their names translate to the Wine-Fountain and Burden-Bearer. The second set were Fiachra and Conn. Their names translate to The Raven and The Hound. Metaphorically these names translate to The Gifts of Fertility and Bravery bestowed upon mankind, and the names of Raven and Hound are the attributes of premonition and awareness, the first two skills need for acumen in the martial arts. However, Aobh died in childbirth while giving life to the latter two. (See The Cailleach Muire.)

Aonghus Óg: {ann-gus} Also Ænghus or Óenghus. More commonly known as Aonghus Óg {angus oak}, Young Angus, or Mac Óg the Young Son. Similar to Cupid of the Latin mythos, he is the God of Love. He is the son of The Dagda Mór and Dana. His birthplace is at New Grange, and his palace was called Brugh na Boyne. He was most beautiful in appearance and was always seen with four birds swarming above his head, called "an Pogadh n' hAongus" {an pog-ah n hang-us}, the kisses of Angus. His birth is celebrated at Fheillbhan Nollaig {el-van no-log} (Yule) as the old solar deity associated with the Holly tree; Ogma Grianneach is slain by the Bran Dearg in the guise of the Robin King called Bran Dearg. The Solar King is reborn as Aonghus Óg the Oak King. (See Cermait.)

Aonghus Mac Aedh: {angus mak-A} (MacCay) Son of Aedh named for his uncle, also a son of the Baobh Dearg and brother to Fand, the wife of Manannán Mac Lír, the High God of the Seas. Is known as the Father of Cantors. He visited Cúchullainn as he lay upon his sickbed and sang the song of the five winds. When the song was finished Cúchullainn arose from the sickbed healed entirely. It is said that calling upon Aonghus Mac Aedh one may learn the power of the healing chants and mantras.

Árd Greimne: {ard graem-nia} His name means the High Power. This is likely more of a title than a name, for he draws upon a supernatural source of power to accomplish his feats in battle. Noted for his incredible force in battle, he is the father of the Celtic martial art forms. His two daughters are Scáthach {skawk}, the teacher of the martial arts (to Cúchullainn) and Aoife {A-fah} the she-warrior, who nearly defeated Cúchullainn in a single battle.

Badb or Badba: {Baekah} The War Goddess, or more properly the Goddess of Battles. She is seen in five aspects. The first of the five aspects is that of Badhbh {Bakah}. Her name is interpreted as "The Fury." She appears as a Black Crow or Raven. Similar in pronunciation is Macha {Maekah}, the White Raven, who is the personification of embattlement and the griefs that follow. Then there is Fea {fay} whose name means "Hateful," for she appears as fever riddled wind. The next aspect is that of Nemhaoin {nav-hon}, called "The Venomous One," or the "Death Bringer." She appears as a fiery serpent or a bolt of lightning running along the ground, more properly called a bollis {Bowl-ish}. She is inspiration of divine or heaven-borne causes. Nemhaoin (Nemain) is the wife of Nét (Nuada). The fifth aspect is The Mórrígan {more-ree-gawn}, the Great Queen and Supreme Goddess of War. The Mórrígan most often appears as a great red raven. She appears as the premonition-giver coming to warn both sides of a conflict how they would meet their deaths or win victory. Badb, Macha and The Mórrígan are often seen as members of a triune in early Gaelic poetry.

Beathuile: {bay-awe-la} The Great Source of Creative Life Forces. Neither male nor female, the name Beathuile is no name at all but a description meaning "life in its allness." Uttered in three syllables, Beathuile {bay-hal-uh} is envisioned as all of life, death and rebirth at once. Addressed in the first person, "a Bheathuile" {Ah vay-hal-uh} is envisioned as the living emulation of the Cróis nGael {Croosh n gale} or Celtic Cross with its arms extending as far up as down and equally as far around. The absolute root of the title is unknown but parallels have been drawn by some of the Seán Oidi to the Valhalla of the Norsemen. Other similarities may be drawn upon the Yod He Vau He, as he is perceived by the address of "the I Am." Beathuile may simply be equated to the Great Spirit of the Native Americans. The Great Spirit is present in the essence in every thing that lives; so too, is the Beathuile. However, Beathuile is not to be confused with Balor the Fomorii God of Death. Nor should Beathuile be confused with Bel of the Gauls or Bilé (Bay-lia), the Bloodletter, who is sometimes seen as the husband of Dana, and more often observed as the paternal aspect of the Poc (Puck), the Oak King whose dominion is the Earth during the season of the chase in spring and early summer and of the hunt in autumn.

BéCuma Cneisgel: {bay-kum-a} (She Who Creates Grief and Sorrow.) The Goddess of Grief, Sorrow, and Despair, she is so wanton that she was cast out of the Otherworld. She came to Tara and befriended Art MacChonn, the High King of Ireland whose father is Conn MacLír of the thousand battles. She became his concubine. While she lived with Art all of Ireland fell prey to famine, desolation, and sickness. She was playing the board game Fidchell with Art one night, winning the game with the aid of her invisible minions. She won the right to challenge Art to an impossible quest, hoping to vanquish him to the Otherworld forever. (See Créide Fírálaind.)

Balor of the Evil Eye: A Fomorii god over the realms of sorrow, vexation and death. The most foreboding of all the Fomorii. Rightly named Balor Mac Buarainneach {bal-or mak-bow-rain-ak}, this translates loosely to Gold Ring, son of Golden Bull. Balor has but one working eye which is swollen and sore. He proceeds through life as a blinded warrior until ready to finish his foe, and with no mercy he slowly raises his eyelid and instills mortal terror into whomever should behold the Evil Eye. For it is said that Balor's gaze is so sinister that it shall destroy whomever shall behold it.

Bánbhé: {bawn-vay} Also spelled Bánubh (Anglicized as Banba). The virgin aspect of a threefold goddess consisting of Bánbhé, Éire, {ay-ir} and Fóthla {Fo-lah}. Legend has it that the three were sisters and together greeted Miliseus upon his arrival in Hibernia from Ibero-Gaul. Each of the sisters requested that the conquerors call the land after themselves. They are like three separate but similar entities, all of whom are the spirit of "Alanna Ifheinn," {ah-lana-E-hayn} (Ireland Herself.) One translation of her name is the "Unplowed Land;" another translation is the "Pale Woman." The latter may also be interpreted as the "Empty Woman," alluring to a virgin or unfertilized female. This was not a chauvinistic description, as all things pertaining to females in the Gaelic suggest the wonderful power of and strength inherent in the gift of fertility. For instance, Beandrúid literally means fertile druid. The aspect of Fóthla seems to imply the "fruitful land," or "plush plentiful land." Hence this seems to be the maternal aspect. Éire is a name derived from Éar meaning "western island," Iarunn from the Old Irish, meaning the isle of iron. Traditionally Éire is the "Grand Old Woman," or "Séan Bán," both alluring to the Crone or Grand Mother aspect of the triad.

Baodb Dearg: {bayv-djayrg} Baodhaibh Dearg, The Red Phantom. His minions are called the baodhaibhsí {Bav-ee-shee}. They appear as phantasms or more accurately as "vision- makers." He is in some accounts the son of The Dagda Mór, and in others the brother of Boann, the "Nursing Mother," an aspect of Dana. He is considered to be the Guardian-God of the hours of the night, the giver of the gifts of prophesy and premonition. His birthplace was in Connacht, or more rightly in the skies over the western sea, for each night he paints the sun, sea and the skies to the west of Galway and Connemara with a blood red hue. Baodhaibh Dearg dwells in a Sídhe or Enchanted Mound overlooking Loch Dearg, which was once known as Loch Deargdherc (the Lake of the Red Visions [red eyes]) located on the Shannon River. In some sagas the Baodhaibh Dearg succeeds The Dagda Mór's rule as Allfather of the Gaidlealucht Gods.

Béag or Bé hag: {be-ah-hag} Literally her name translates "The Woman at..." Her name is rightly "nBé ag Tobair Eagna" {n-bee-ag toe-bar aig-na}, the Woman at the Well, a Guardian-Goddess over the Well of Wisdom. Fionn MacCumhal once came to the Well of Wisdom and asked for a drink. Béag's three daughters (whose names are known only to those that may drink of the Well) tried in vain to prevent Fionn's drinking from the Well. One of the daughters splashed him with nearly frozen water. Fionn opened his mouth and drank a portion of the water in spite of all her shrieking, and thus gained a portion of the wisdom of the immortals.

Bealcú: {bayl coo} The God of Mercy and Forgiveness. More like a petitioner or an angel of mercy, Bealcú is Dé Dannan, who would not slay a foe that was torn to the point of near death but carry him home to nurse him back to death, and offer a new and equal combat if desired by the one-time foe. He is often called upon as a healer of soul-borne wounds and a mender of hatreds. He is also called upon to aide in the invocation of a dignified meeting with the Bé Fhind or Bé Fhinné. (See Bé Fhind.)

Bé Fhind or Bé Fhinné: {b-ah-in-yah} Pronounced similarly to the word for milk, "baine" {ban-nya}. The Ghostly Goddess: Mother Goddess of the Sidhé, she is called the White Lady or Fair Skinned Woman, or the fair maiden. Her daughter-like minions are called the Bean Sidhé {ban shee}, the Callers of the Death Borne. She comes to us as an aspect of the Goddess Brídeog in the guise of an apparition or aibhisé {av eesh}. She is sister of Boann (Bo Fhand or Bo Fhinné), the White Cow Goddess form of Dana. Bé Find is wife to Idath {ee-dah}, the bold warrior of Connacht, and mother to Fraoch {frock} the most comely of all warriors in Ireland and hero of the battles of Táin Bó Fraoch. The Tales of Fraoch (or Fraich) are thought to be the prime source of the Tales of Beowulf of Aenglish Lore.

Bé Chiabh Mar Ór: {bay' key-a-mar-hOre} The Golden-Haired Goddess. The lady of the long golden hair; a feminine counterpart of the Aongus Óg among the Sidhé. A solar goddess whose dominion is one of visions and petitions of "geasa grá" {gay-sh graw}, enchantments of love, grace and beauty. The application of the word Geis literally means "taboo or enchantment," but is applied to an enchantment that is to be in effect regardless of whether the bearer is upon the land, sea, or even in the air, but may not be carried into the Alltar. Some poets have called her Niamh Ceann Ór {nee-ah ken-ore}, "Heavenly" of the Golden Hair who enticed Oisín to follow her to Tír Nan Óg, where she rules as Queen of the Fae.

Bé Chiabh Mar Dubh: {bay 'key-a-mar doo} The Raven Haired Goddess, the Nocturnal Goddess, deeply associated with the invocation of Geasa Droma Draíochta {gay-sha dro-ma-dru-hok-tah}, inviolable enchantments. These enchantments are built by first visualizing the effects of the Geis upon the bearer, then beginning a soft chant which builds to a crescendo as it is released. She also called "n'Géis Dubh" {n-geesh doo}, the Black Swan. A rare old enchantment I once heard, to bring about a release for a father entrapped by an ailing body, was begun with "Black Swan, Black Swan, fly by me this night. Hear the calls of one and all here with me this night. Lift up the soul of this ould one, so ill bring him bright to Cruach's Hill. Pain not to hinder, fear not to render, be with us in this work of will, send him bright to Cruach's Hill!" Then the chant began, and when it reached an unearthly peak, a dark shadow appeared above our heads. As long as I may live I will swear that the flapping of wings and the cry of a swan filled the once starlit sky.

Bilé: {Bay-lia} (Beallé) The Blood-letter who is sometimes seen as the husband of Dana in the aspect of The Dagda Mór. Bilé is often observed as the paternal aspect of the Poc (Puc or Boc), the Oak King whose dominion is the Earth during the season of the chase (in spring and early summer) and Lord of the Hunt in the quarter-annual season between Nollaig and Bealltain (Yule thru Bealtaine). His full reign runs from Nollaig gu Briongloig (Yule til Midsummer). At Briongloig (Midsummer) he is seduced into the Alltar. At that time, Aongus Óg, who is transformed into Ogma Grianneach {og-ma gear-e-an-ak}, Ogma of the Sunny Countenance, begins his dominion of the Realms of the Earth as the Holly King. His association with Herne and Cernunnós are acceptable in that Bilé is associated with the hunt and is therefore perceived as a Horned God.

Boann {bone} or Boandh or Bó Fhindh: {boyn-yah} The Goddess of Feminine Beauty. In these spellings her name means "She of the White Cattle." But her name also appears as Bé Fhand or Bo Fhinné; pronounced the same, this implies woman of the green fields. The Scots Gaelig word Boine {Boyn-ia} is one word associated with beauty (bonnie). The River Boyne is named for her. As a River Goddess she assumes a more spiritual aspect of Dana. She is wife of Nechtan^*, an elder or ancient brother of Bé Aig. By this I mean that he was being worshiped at the Síidhe Nechtain or Sídhe Shagais {shee hag-ash} which hides the ancient Well Of Sagais {sag-ash}, called the source of all knowlege of the twain worlds combined. This hill or Sídhe is now called the Hill of Carbery in County Claire. This forbidden or Geis-riddled well has also been called the "Well of Séan Eaglais" (well of ancient knowledge). Other spellings render the name Saighasidhé {sag-ah-shia}, implying the title of "sought-out well," meaning "unfindable or unapproachable well." As the stories go, only four persons entirely were allowed access to the well. These were Nechtan himself and three Goilla Copán {cup bearers}. At the top of the sídhe stood a grove of nine Hazel trees brought to Hibernia by Scota Ni Nechta, and from these trees fell the Cnónna Coill n'Gaois {no-na call n'gay-sh}; Nuts of Wisdom. These Cnónna Coill were constantly consumed by Fintan (Fionn Tainn), meaning the White Fire, a great salmon (the Salmon of Wisdom) for safe keeping. Boann, being a curious goddess, caused an enchantment to force the Sídhe to open. When the great hill opened the well was revealed. Taking the form of a great white cow, Boann bent to take a drink, but the enchanted well swelled up with anger at this violation and began to give chase to the fair goddess. As she ran, so too did the well follow. When the well had no more water to loose it came to a standstill. Boann swore that the great knowledge once hidden should be provided for all to partake of, so all along the trail of her run today there flows the River Boyne.

Bran: {bran} Rightly Bran MacLír, brother of Manannan MacLír. Sometimes he is called Bran Rígh {bran ree}, meaning "King Bran." Brythonic traditions list him as the King of the Otherworld. In our tradition he appears much like the Baobh, in that he often comes as a raven. But he also appears as mystic fog or appears in the dreamstate to inform a person of a coming danger or blessing. He most often appears in three different guises, the first being "Bran Dearg" {bran-jay-erg}, occasionally spelled Briondhearg {brayn urg}, who comes as the red raven, or more accurately as a robin. For the sign of a robin is one of forewarnings of an illness or mortal danger. This is a bit like The Mórrigan only connected to dangers not involving wars.

Brían: {Bree-un} The Strong Leader; the eldest son of Tuirean {Toe-rain} by the Goddess Brídeog. Brían is to be compared to Jason of Greek lore. His two brothers Iuchar {Eo kar} (Repayment) and Iucharba {eo-kar-va} (Healing) accompanied him through all his journeys. Together they are the Triune Gods of Inner-Strength and Virtue. Brían is often called upon to guide one through trials of retributory payment.

Bríghid, Brídeog or Bhríd: {bre-jad}, {bree-ja-ok} or {vredj} Also known as Brighid, from the root Breo-Dé-shaigh {bree-ja-ok}, meaning "She who keeps the Sacred Fires." Literally, from this root, her name means "Fire of the Sacred Thrusting." As phallic as that might sound the feast of Lá Fheill Brídeog {law el-vreej} has since long before the creation of St. Brighid meant a calling of she who keeps the fires alive during winter to summon the sleeping Goddess of Summertide to be reincarnated as the Maiden of Spring. In not too ancient times great fire towers, fashioned after round obelisks, were built with windows facing each surrounding hill. Within each tower and upon each hill a "Fheillbhann Teine" {el-van-chain-a} or festival fire was lit on the first of February. In Roman Catholic tradition Lá Fheill Brídeog involves a ritual called "The Blessing of the Throats," with a candle passed before the open mouths of the parishoners, creating a fireborne baptism of the passions of the human spirit. Understanding this accepted meaning of her name, an alternate source for her name is Breo-Dé-shaighdeadh {bree-ja-had} and Bréo-shaighid {bree-hi-gad}, meaning the "Fire of the Divine Incitement." Since fire is the ultimate source of all human virtues or passions she is assigned the realms of Healing, Smiths and Crafters, Fertility and Poetry. She is seen as the Keeper of the Winter's Fires. She is often perceived as an aspect of Danu the Mother of all Goddesses during the Geamhrail or wintertides. Her attributes are equated to those of Lúgh Lámhfada. Like Diana she was worshiped by a group of white clad priestesses called the Brídeoganta, who retained their virginity and were noted as warriors as well as healers.

Buanann: {bow-nan} The Eternal Reaper, or Búanann: {boo-nan} The Untiring One. By either name she is perceived as another aspect of Anu, the Mother of Gaelic martial arts. She ran a school for warriors during the Red Branch Sagas. She is a good lady to know when there are weeds in life's garden that need to be thinned.
Another attribute she is noted for is teaching the art of keen observation and rapid-fire wit. Noted for moving at such a speed that others about her seem to be in slow motion, she is a Matron of the Arts of Prestidigitation (slight of hand, tricks).

Buile Shuibhne: {bwe-la swee-ny} Though sometimes corruptly called Billy Sweeney, the title Buile Shuibhne truly means Sweeney's Rage or Sweeney of the Frenzy. A one-time warrior of the Dál Ríada {dawl Ree-ah-da}, the Travelling (wandering) Tribes (septs) in Lienster in Éire and Argyle in Scotland, is considered to be the father of shape-shifting or the art of Claochlú {kloe-kloo}. It was a warrior by the name of Shuibhne who was mortally wounded in the Battle of Moira. But he rose from the dead by refusing to stay with the Baobh Dearg. As a result he was compelled to set out upon a series of journeys through the Talamh Fián n' hÉareann {tal-ah fe-awn n hay-ran} (the wild lands of Ireland), in search of a peaceful mind state. In a moving series of tales and poems Suibhne's journeys lead him to primal oneness with all the creatures of Nature. In some accounts his empathic skills are such that he shifts into the shape and mindset of his familiars. His accounts are perhaps the truest to the primal Shamanism of any in all the western lore. Even the name of his birthrite tribe, the Dál Ríada, is perhaps the root of the common phrase "The Travelling People." Though now applied to tinkers, the term was once applied to peoples that were compelled to live in the forests and open plains to obtain a complete oneness with Nature amid the Talamh Fián. In the course of time, apparently several Filí and Seánachai enjoyed the fruits of similar "frenzies," all of whom attributed their works of Nature poetry to Shuibhne himself.

SHE MOVES...

My Mother is a single sound
Wherein all music would be found
Eternal creativity
She moves, She moves, She moves in me

Her song, Her breath, caressing, warm
To manifest Her blessing
Form a spiral evermore

She is a chord
She is unbroken
Silent though Her

Part II

Ed. Note: This article first appeared in The Henge, published by Church of Rhiannon in middle Georgia.

Sources:

SILLY SPELLS

Source:

THE CELTIC GODDESS

To the top of the tallest mountain
To the bottom of the deepest sea
We have been the Goddess
Forever and for eternity.

Throughout the entire universe
and beyond what we know as infinity
We are still the Goddess--
We are the original trinity!

The trinity consists of the Daughter,
The Mother and the Grandmother.
We are Maid, Mother and Crone--
We are one the same with each other.

We have no beginning
We have no end.
We are a complete circle
Circling again and again.

We are Danu, Morrigan, Macha,
Cerridwen, Morgan La Fay, Epona,
Bridget, Cailleach Bheur, Mari,
Maeave, Rhiannon and Feona.

Each of the 13 lunar months has its own particular 'glyph,' or line, from the Song of Amergin, an ancient poem said to have been chanted by the chief bard of the Milesian invaders of Ireland as he first set foot to the island in 1268 BC. This poem was reconstructed by Robert Graves in The White Goddess and related to the Beth-Luis-Nion alphabet. Each of these lines speak of a particular essence of the lunar energies, and when studied in-depth, can help lead to a greater understanding of the tree month. This series of articles will attempt to explore these glyphs, and at least get you started in your own understanding. (See Issue #20 for the poem.)

October is the revelry season of the ivy-wreathed Bassarids, or Maenads, priestesses of Dionysus and Orpheus. (Graves 210) Possessed by the spirit of the wine god, Dionysus, these priestesses became "wild women" who tore apart their sacrificial victim and devoured him during their orgies. In later, more civilized times, they worshipped their god with a drunken feast and carnival processions. In Rome, where their god was named Bacchus, they were called Bacchantes, and their festival was the Bacchanalia. (Walker 564)

The last two moons are connected to each other, both having to do with the sea. Let's therefore look at the two of them together.

Bibliography:

MOTHER EARTH ANATOMY

Source:
Wildlife Ecology and Management. 3rd Edition. Eric G. Bolen and William L. Robinson. 1985, Prentice Hall.

Suggested Reading:
Last Chance to See, by Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine.

THE YEAR IN EFFIGY

Strange how the winter
Builds scarecrows inside
Seams in the straw
Like dried pieces of sun
Roll with the moon
On a path made of shade
And wicker-winged women
Where lightening is strung

THE DRUMS OF SAMHAIN

TRUE MODERN FAERIE TALE

Part II

Update for new readers; In our last issue our English correspondent , the Spiritualist Medium Michael Devizes, told how he was summonsed by 'The Management' on the spiritual internet to go to Sweden and collect a party of trolls and escort them back to England's far south western tip ; where they met up with their long lost cousins the Cornish pixies.....

THOMAS THE RHYMER

True Thomas lay o'er yonder bank,
And he beheld a lady gay.
A lady that was brisk and bold.
Come riding o'er the fernie brae.

Her skirt was of the grass-green silk,
Her mantle of the velvet fine;
At ilka tate o' her horse's mane
Hung fifty siller bells and nine

True Thomas he took off his hat,

O they rade on, and farther on,
Until they came to a garden green;

"O no, O no, True Thomas," she says,

"But I have a laef her in muy lap,
Likewise a bottle of calrry wine;
And now, ere we go further on,
We'll rest awhile, and ye may dine."

When he had eaten and drank his fill,
The lady said "ere we climb yon hill,
Lay your head upon my knee,
And I will show you ferlies three.

"O see you not yon narrow road,
So thick beset with thorns and briers?
That is the path of righteousness,
Though after it there's few inquires.

"And see you not that bonny road,
That wonds about the fernie brae?
That is the road to fair Elfland,
Where you and I this night maun gae.

For forty days and forty nights

Os/Ansuz is the rune of communication and speaking. Not just speaking eloquently as the great bards were able to do, but speaking clearly, honestly and truly from the heart.

Eolh/Elhaz is the rune of protection. It means to take care and beware of things around you that can possibly go wrong, harm or injure you. The rune Os, when
combined with Eolh, says that we need to be careful what we say about ourselves and others in the craft. Our actions count as well.

Odal/Othel is the rune of our ancestors, where the heart is, and the place we call home. It also represents our boundaries, who we let in and who we keep out. Combined with Os and Eolh
it says we are waking up to our past. The present isn't working and we need to learn more about the past. We learn this through one of the oldest known religions, that of the Goddess. People need healing, the Earth needs healing and we need not bicker among us who is on the right path or the wrong path!

INTO THE LIGHT: DETECTING HEALTH IMBALANCES

Exercise One

Exercise Two

by Dana Ston

by Dana Ston

by Vanessa Blue Heron

by Vanessa Blue Heron

ANKH (CROSS)-WORD PUZZLE

ACROSS
2 A community effort, a sacred ______ .
4 Inherits Hercules' arrows.
5 Lavendar & chamomile for _______.
7 Irish poet.
9 Holly, _______, and vine.
10 When planning on getting nekked at a festival, wear _______.
11 Grow his love, grow for me, as green grows the _______tree.
12 Mother of the Muses.
DOWN
1 When leaving a primitive festival, you take _______.
3 Built Stonhenge, had their own calendar.
6 The encirclement of all life.
8 Welsh poet.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

ABOUT OUR STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS...

James (Jay) Lynch (Advertising Manager) has been a pagan for 6 years. He has always enjoyed studying parapsychology and other unexplained subjects, including Big Foot, UFO's, ancient civilizations, etc. Other interests include computers, camping, and bowling. He is currently working as a locksmith in Auburn, Alabama. Write to him c/o The Hazel Nut, or email to: <drgnwolf@aub.mindspring.com>.

Lark (Poetry Editor) has been a solitary pagan for many years. She spent a decadent youth on the road as a rock-and-roll singer, and is still a professional photographer and musician. She is pursuing a Master's degree in Archival Sciences, and enjoys Civil War reenacting with her daughter. Write to her c/o The Hazel Nut, or email to: <Lark@mindspring.com>.

Imré K. Rainey (Staff Writer and Web Consultant) was the original editor of The Hazel Nut when it started back in May 1993. He's been a pagan for six years, and is now an initiate of the Faerie Faith with a group of his own. He is also an ordained minister, a 3rd degree Reiki Master, and a certified Clinical Hypnotherapist, and is studying chiropractic medicine at Life Chiropractic College in Marietta, GA. Write to him c/o The Hazel Nut, or email to: talbot@mindspring.com.

Stormy (Staff Writer and Artist) is a solitary practitioner who studies Norse mythology and Runes, and co-organizes a festival called Earth-Dance, held in Georgia. She's also interested in astrology, astronomy, UFO's, and anything on psychic studies and the paranormal. Write to her c/o The Hazel Nut, or email to: <thomphc@auducadm.duc.auburn.edu>.

Chanticleer is a new student at Auburn University. He is majoring in Managment Information Systems, but due to the way everyone is fooled into thinking he is a computer genius, he feels acting would be more profitable. He has been practicing Wicca for two years, and has been writing poetry for four years. "The Drums of Samhain" is his first published work. Write to him c/o The Hazel Nut.

Delphoene is a 20 year old Dianaic Feminist Wiccan solitary and music
(composition/voice) student, born and still living in Tasmania, Australia. A professional career in composition would be her choice, but she says she will probably wind up teaching privately. Being Pagan in Tasmania is somewhat lonely, as it is very hard to find anyone else who takes it seriously, so she is extremely grateful for the internet. Write to her at: 8/57 Sandy Bay Road, Battery Point, Tasmania 7005, Australia, or email to: <teresae@postoffice.utas.edu.au>.

Michael Devizes is a Spiritualist Medium in England. He has lectured across the globe on all matters mystical for some 25 years, and is the author of some 24 books. Write to him c/o The Hazel Nut, or email to: <Oaks.Millennium@ukonline.co.uk>.

Ing is Chief Bard of Church of Rhiannon (COR) in middle Georgia, which follows the Beth-Luis-Fearn tree calendar system. He was one of COR's co-founders back in 1983, when it was called Coven of Rhiannon. Write to him at: Rt. 4, Box 31, Blakely, GA 31723.

Adrian Loaghrian, now 44 yrs of age, was initiated into a hereditary Rosicrucian tradition at age 13. He's into studying other religions of the world, including Christianity, Judaism, etc., and has 12 years service in a public Wiccan coven. He previously studied ceremonial magic and finally formed this particular tradition in 1990, based on ancient and modern Irish folklore and Irish-Scottish folklore and literature. Write to him c/o The Hazel Nut, or email to: <OssianG@aol.com>.

Nion (Don Mikovitz) is 47, has been married 23 years to a devout Christian, and has 2 kids, 18 and 21. He works as a Registered Pulmonary Function Technician at the local community hospital. Nion was brought up as Catholic, but has always been pagan at heart. He's been a 1st degree Gardnarian witch since May 1995. Write to him c/o The Hazel Nut.

Sherlock, otherwise known as Sherry Holmes, lives and works in Auburn, Alabama, where she also studies Wildlife Biology. She is a beginner student of the Faerie Faith, and runs a Samhain festival called FallFling. Write to her at: 1037 Mayberry St., Waverly, AL 36879, or email to: <holmesr@mail.auburn.edu>.

Sean P. Snakenberg, age 27, resides in Columbus, Georgia with his wife, who is pregnant, and their 20-month old daughter. He is a solitary practitioner of the Celtic Pantheon and enjoys expressing his love of the Green Ray through art. Write to him at: 6338 Williamsburg Dr., Columbus, GA, 31909.

Scott Thomas' poetry and art has been seen in various pagan journals. He also writes fiction (ghost stories, horror, surrealism). A story of his appeared in the DAW Bood collection The Year's Best Horror Stories XXII. His interests range from Celtic folk music, herbalism and astrology to folklore and British Isles pre-history. Presently he is living in a moody old house with his beloved Nancy and their cat Huckity. Write to him at: P.O. Box 1294, Westborough, MA, 01581.

Marilyn Windle is a professional writer, with her first book being published this fall. She started studying the occult when she was 13 years old, beginning with Edgar Cayce, and has been a practicing psychic for 23 years. Write to her c/o The Hazel Nut.

The Book of the GODDESS Past and Present, An Introduction to Her Religion, Edited by Carl Olson. 1992. Crossroad Publishing Co., New York, NY. Softcover.
- Reviewed by Stormy

Music Review: Moonstruck by Moonstruck. 1996, Moonstruck & Starcraft Distributors, P.O. Box 125, Muscadine, AL, 36269. Cassette tape.
- Reviewed by Linda Kerr