Celtic Paganism has many different expressions and each of these expressions constitute a tradition in itself. It is misleading to simply call oneself Celtic without a further study into what that means. The term "Celtic" spans at least 8 countries.
There was no division between the sacred and the secular. There was spiritual equality of women and men. Church structure was relational and familial in nature rather than territorial or traditionally hierarchical. Celtic Christians were very missionary minded. They had a more optimistic view of man than did the Roman Catholics. They believed God was both immanent and transcendent. There was a strong emphasis on the Trinity and Incarnation. They believed that all life is sacramental; they affirmed the Presence of God in even the smallest of everyday tasks. The Celtic Church was much less authoritarian than the Roman Catholic Church.
The Feast of Lughnasadh falls on the cross-quarter day between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. The festival was, according to legend, instituted by the god Lugh on the occasion of his foster-mother Tailtiu's death as a funeral feast. It is clear, however, that the feast originated as a commemoration of Lugh's slaying of the giant Balor, and the prizing of agricultural secrets from the dark god Bres. This victory over the Fomorians marked the beginning of the rule of the Tuatha D Danann.
Celtic Christians stressed local spiritual unity rather than universal uniformity. They valued personal sanctity more than doctrinal orthodoxy. They believed in the nearness of the spiritual world. The Celtic Church emphasized anamchara, the "soul friend" - a spiritual mentor and fellow traveller on the true path.
Celtic Reconstructionism (CR) is a relatively recent brand of Celtic neopaganism. It is similar in many ways to neodruidry, in that both attempt to achieve some semblance of authenticity in their spiritual practices. Unlike druidry, however, the reconstructionists tend to cast a wider net, with a broader interest in Celtic culture as a whole. Reconstructionists also tend to follow a less rigid initiatory system - where druid orders tend to emphasize the classical ideals of druid priesthood with its lengthy training, hierarchical systems, and emphasis on philosophy, Celtic paganism looks to be more accessible, open, and culturally aware.
There was no division between the sacred and the secular. There was spiritual equality of women and men. Church structure was relational and familial in nature rather than territorial or traditionally hierarchical. Celtic Christians were very missionary minded. They had a more optimistic view of man than did the Roman Catholics. They believed God was both immanent and transcendent. There was a strong emphasis on the Trinity and Incarnation. They believed that all life is sacramental; they affirmed the Presence of God in even the smallest of everyday tasks. The Celtic Church was much less authoritarian than the Roman Catholic Church.
The Feast of Lughnasadh falls on the cross-quarter day between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. The festival was, according to legend, instituted by the god Lugh on the occasion of his foster-mother Tailtiu's death as a funeral feast. It is clear, however, that the feast originated as a commemoration of Lugh's slaying of the giant Balor, and the prizing of agricultural secrets from the dark god Bres. This victory over the Fomorians marked the beginning of the rule of the Tuatha D Danann.
Celtic Christians stressed local spiritual unity rather than universal uniformity. They valued personal sanctity more than doctrinal orthodoxy. They believed in the nearness of the spiritual world. The Celtic Church emphasized anamchara, the "soul friend" - a spiritual mentor and fellow traveller on the true path.
Celtic Reconstructionism (CR) is a relatively recent brand of Celtic neopaganism. It is similar in many ways to neodruidry, in that both attempt to achieve some semblance of authenticity in their spiritual practices. Unlike druidry, however, the reconstructionists tend to cast a wider net, with a broader interest in Celtic culture as a whole. Reconstructionists also tend to follow a less rigid initiatory system - where druid orders tend to emphasize the classical ideals of druid priesthood with its lengthy training, hierarchical systems, and emphasis on philosophy, Celtic paganism looks to be more accessible, open, and culturally aware.
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