THE CELTIC TRADITION

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THE CELTIC TRADITION

Numerous Wiccan groups are immersed within the ancient pre-Christian Celts, claiming a variety of hereditary pagan traditions. But what does that really mean? The Celts did not leave any writings about themselves, even though there is overwhelming evidence of their existence through archeology. Yet, writings on pagan Celts/Picts are derived almost exclusively from the occupying Romans or later medieval Christian writers. Historians are dubious as to how accurate any of those sources might be, since they were interpreted by totally different cultures and religions and were often not very flattering. One of the earliest collection of Celtic myths, the Mabinogian, was not actually written down until the thirteenth century -- claiming its source derived from oral tradition. Le Morte D' Arthur; the prototype of many Arthurian legends, was not written by Sir Thomas Mallory until the sixteenth century. The Arthurlan legends have inspired some of the greatest works in western literature, but were not actually written down until eight hundred years after the Celts disappeared, (about the fifth century.) Nineteenth and twentieth century writers and poets have continued expanding on the myths about the romantic Arthurlan legends.

But what is a myth? It is more then a legend. It is a narrative legacy that carries within it our deepest yearnings and fears, and such were the stories of Arthur, Merlin, Morgan Le Fey, and all the ladies, knights and magic in Camelot. In metaphorical terms, they can contribute greatly to poetic ritual, so long as one recognizes that myths are parables and symbols of the archetypes within us all.

Recently, a few authors, among them R.J. Stewed, Caitlan and John Mathews and Norma Goodrich have participated in the revival of pagan interest in the legendary Celts. However, sometimes these books can be mis-interpreted by die-hard Wiccan traditionalists as verification for their own ancient hereditary claims, rather than for their metaphorical interpretations, which is their true value.

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