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Are you interested in Celtic Paganism, but don’t know where to turn for good information? Maybe it feels like the topic is impossibly big, or like every time you ask a question you get sent in a different direction.
This course is designed with you in mind!
This course is designed with you in mind!
Celtic Beginnings is a space where there are no stupid questions and no judgement.
We will cover the basics of different Celtic cultures, myths, gods and goddesses.
A firm foundation for you to build on.
We will cover the basics of different Celtic cultures, myths, gods and goddesses.
A firm foundation for you to build on.
I’m a member of several online Celtic Pagan and Polytheist groups.
I see a constant stream of “newbies” and “seekers” and just plain curious people trying to get started on a Celtic path. Often they are asking very broad questions like “how do I get started” or “can you suggest some reading”.
If they’re lucky, someone asks them a few questions, like “get started doing what?” and “reading about what? Are you interested in deities or history or mythology?”
Usually, they just get a few off-the-wall suggestions. “The best author is Joe Bloggs.” “Have you looked at the group files?” And from me – “read the myths”.
If they’re unlucky, because of their inexperience they say something which someone considers “wrong” and then they just get Pagan-splained. It’s no wonder most people never ask a second question. I wonder what happens to all those people?
I want to make a safe place where you can figure out what your questions even are.
Where no one will laugh at you when you’re struggling to get from A to B, because you can’t figure out which map to buy.
Not knowing which map to buy. That’s often the trouble with getting started, I think. So, a lot of this class series will be about showing you a few different maps and how to read them.
You get to choose your own journey, explore you own by-ways, and probably make your own wrong turnings. But that will be okay, because you should come out of this with as set of maps, and maybe a list of people to call for assistance.
I can’t tell you how to do your religion or spirituality. (That’s not my style, but I can probably point you to a few people who will do that, who are trustworthy.)
I can show you the diversity of ways of doing – and maybe offer some opinions.
I can help you make sense of the different Celtic cultures and languages and regions. Hint: there’s more than Ireland (but you probably know that).
We talked about maps earlier. Once you’ve got your maps, it will be easier to think about where you want to start, and where you hope to go.
What does a starting place look like? It might be an author or teacher. It might be a particular book. It might be prayer and meditation. For some people joining a group or organisation is helpful. Or maybe you just need to know where to start to read those myths I’m always talking about. I can offer you trustworthy suggestions and (relatively) unbiased descriptions of who/what’s on offer.
There are things I won't be teaching about: Witchcraft and magic. Norse and Germanic questions.The good people/fae/fairies, etc. I don’t dislike any of these things, but I’m either not that interested or just don’t know enough.
However, I’m knowledgeable about: Gods and goddesses of different Celtic cultures, mythology of Ireland and Wales, folklore of Scotland and other Celtic places, Celtic languages, Romano-British stuff, and I’m not too bad at the history and geography that relates to all this.
I see a constant stream of “newbies” and “seekers” and just plain curious people trying to get started on a Celtic path. Often they are asking very broad questions like “how do I get started” or “can you suggest some reading”.
If they’re lucky, someone asks them a few questions, like “get started doing what?” and “reading about what? Are you interested in deities or history or mythology?”
Usually, they just get a few off-the-wall suggestions. “The best author is Joe Bloggs.” “Have you looked at the group files?” And from me – “read the myths”.
If they’re unlucky, because of their inexperience they say something which someone considers “wrong” and then they just get Pagan-splained. It’s no wonder most people never ask a second question. I wonder what happens to all those people?
I want to make a safe place where you can figure out what your questions even are.
Where no one will laugh at you when you’re struggling to get from A to B, because you can’t figure out which map to buy.
Not knowing which map to buy. That’s often the trouble with getting started, I think. So, a lot of this class series will be about showing you a few different maps and how to read them.
You get to choose your own journey, explore you own by-ways, and probably make your own wrong turnings. But that will be okay, because you should come out of this with as set of maps, and maybe a list of people to call for assistance.
I can’t tell you how to do your religion or spirituality. (That’s not my style, but I can probably point you to a few people who will do that, who are trustworthy.)
I can show you the diversity of ways of doing – and maybe offer some opinions.
I can help you make sense of the different Celtic cultures and languages and regions. Hint: there’s more than Ireland (but you probably know that).
We talked about maps earlier. Once you’ve got your maps, it will be easier to think about where you want to start, and where you hope to go.
What does a starting place look like? It might be an author or teacher. It might be a particular book. It might be prayer and meditation. For some people joining a group or organisation is helpful. Or maybe you just need to know where to start to read those myths I’m always talking about. I can offer you trustworthy suggestions and (relatively) unbiased descriptions of who/what’s on offer.
There are things I won't be teaching about: Witchcraft and magic. Norse and Germanic questions.The good people/fae/fairies, etc. I don’t dislike any of these things, but I’m either not that interested or just don’t know enough.
However, I’m knowledgeable about: Gods and goddesses of different Celtic cultures, mythology of Ireland and Wales, folklore of Scotland and other Celtic places, Celtic languages, Romano-British stuff, and I’m not too bad at the history and geography that relates to all this.
Course outline.
This is a working outline. I will update it as I finalise things, but it's a good indication of what we'll cover.
This is a working outline. I will update it as I finalise things, but it's a good indication of what we'll cover.
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Week 1 – introduction
The old Celtic world How do we know things about the past?
Week 2 - Wales and the Britons Gaul and early Britain
Week 3 – Ireland
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Week 4 – Scotland
Week 5 – The situation today The internet
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Dates: Saturdays, June 26th, July 3rd, 10th, 17th & 24th
Time: 12 noon Pacific/3 pm Eastern/8pm UK
Recordings of missed sessions are available to registered students on request - so don't worry if you can make it to class.
Time: 12 noon Pacific/3 pm Eastern/8pm UK
Recordings of missed sessions are available to registered students on request - so don't worry if you can make it to class.
