The druids magic of Druid Warrior’s Heart ~guest post by Juli D. Revezzo

Today I'm so happy to have my good friend Juli D. Revezzo paying a visit to my blog. She has a guest post I'm sure my readers will enjoy, all about druid magic. Be sure to check out her new release, Druid Warrior's Heart. 

The druids magic of Druid Warrior’s Heart

by Juli D. Revezzo

Druid Warrior’s Heart is the second book in my Celtic Stewards Chronicles series. The book follows a warrior, sent by the Tuatha dé Danaan (the Irish gods of legend) to protect Ruth Macken, caretaker of a property they want for their upcoming battle (one that takes place every 500 years. Hence the term harshad*). Their legend has come down to Ruth through the stories her family has told for how many millennia, she’s not sure. When tragedy strikes her family, she finds the warriors and their druids waiting. Marsha asked me here to explain more about their druids and their magic.

Our history shows that druids were a learned strata in Celtic society. They handled matters as far reaching as law, astronomy, medicine, keeping history, and religious rites for their people. To master these subjects, your average druid would spend twenty years studying these subjects and more including, according to some historians, magic. When I wrote the first volume in the Celtic Stewards Chronicles I decided to play on the magic I’d granted them in order to fight their harshad wars, and really grew to love them. So in Druid Warrior’s Heart, the second book in the series, I decided to see what the druids might’ve done in their earlier days. Enter Cyreth.

When we first met her, she was an old woman; but here, going backwards 500 years, I found her  just coming out of her druidic training, when she and the hero Isaac encounter Ruth. And boy does Ruth need help! Every time they turn around, the poor woman is attacked by monsters, and men. So right off the bat, Cyreth’s healing powers are called for. She also must strengthen a barrier the gods have already place around Ruth’s land.

Not only that, but Ruth’s a bit stubborn. When another threat looms, the hero, Isaac, tells Ruth to stay inside and away from trouble. The first thing she does is head for the doors. Cyreth pulls a trick and locks the house tight, keeping Ruth from leaving.

Don’t ask me how she does all this. I’m not the druid and Cyreth—stubbornly—lives up to the druid’s reputation of keeping their information seekrit. Yep. She won’t share the magic words with me. *glares*

She also has a knack for telling stories that live in the reader’s mind as she speaks. One night, Cyreth recites her work-in-progress, a poem of a long ago battle, and Ruth can actually see the battle taking place. Now that trick, I think we’d all love to know. J Nope. She’s not telling that one, either.

Ruth too has her own magic in that she can bring a dying plant back to life, and has visions. Part of her status as the steward of the sacred ground. But that’s nothing compared to Cyreth’s skills. For instance how exactly did they know Ruth was *the one*? Well, it has a little bit to do with astrology and a science that was very much unknown in our world in 1513, Ruth’s DNA. So to that society that knowledge would’ve seemed magic. There are other divine markers she interprets, as well. For instance, Ruth’s scar, that wouldn’t ya know it? Just happens to take a shape similar to a tattoo her hero Isaac had gotten who knows how long ago.  Given the two, Ruth’s magic or Cyreth’s? I’d love to know all Cyreth’s secrets, wouldn’t you?

Cyreth uses all this to help protect Ruth, bolster Isaac in his battle against Balor and his minions, and further and foster Ruth and Isaac’s budding love. I have a few more books in mind for this series, so I hope, by the end we’ll know all the magic secrets of Cyreth and the other harshad druids.

If you’d like to read more about Druid Warrior’s Heart, here’s the synopsis:

Synopsis:

As the latest in her family’s long line of Stewards, Ruth Macken awaits the arrival of a warrior sworn to the Tuatha dé Danaan, the Celtic gods her family has served since the beginning of time. For on that day, a magical battle will erupt. A war between druids and an evil that will decide the fate of mankind. 

Isaac Connel knows the battle is imminent, and is ready to fight, once again but from the moment he sees Ruth flitting around the sacred ground, he’s captivated by her fiery charms and a need to protect her. 

Despite Isaac’s assurances and the dreams that guide her, what can Ruth and her lover do to drive off this evil? Despite everything, will the world end at the hands of an evil god?

Druid Warrior’s Heart is available at available at Amazon and in paperback from Createspace.

Visit the pinterest page board for Druid Warrior's Heart at:

https://www.pinterest.com/jewelsraven/related-to-the-celtic-stewards-chronicles/

Thanks, Marsha, for inviting me here today!

(**A harshad number is a number divisible by the sum of its digits…for instance, 500.)

Social Media links:

For more on these and other books visit Juli at: http://julidrevezzo.com/

And Juli’s Amazon page.

You can also find her on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/julidrevezzo

Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5782712.Juli_D_Revezzo

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/111476709039805267272/posts

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/jewelsraven/

Celtic Steward Chronicles Pinterest page, for images and articles that have inspired the Celtic Stewards Chronicles.

twitter: @julidrevezzo

Sign up for her newsletter at: http://bit.ly/SNI5K6

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Marsha A. Moore is a writer of fantasy romance. The magic of art and nature spark life into her writing. Read her COON HOLLOW TALES of paranormal romance and her ENCHANTED BOOKSTORE LEGENDS for adventurous epic fantasy romance. For a FREE ebook download, read her historic fantasy, LE CIRQUE DE MAGIE, available at Amazon and Smashwords.

Magical Monday: Celtic Traditions

Today’s A to Z Blogging Challenge is all about the letter “C.” For this week’s Magical Monday, I’m exploring Celtic traditions of neo-paganism. 

Artwork credit: Katherine Sunderland

There are many related belief systems (listed below) of the Celtic tradition. All maintain these basic points:

No division between the sacred and the secular.

Spiritual equality of women and men.

Preference for rural life.

Honor nature and God's creatures.

From there, you can find great variety in terms of focus on past or present, beliefs about life in the universe, and use of rituals. 

Whether any branches of Celtic tradition are “magical” is subject to opinion. I like a broad definition of magic--any extraordinary or mystical influence. What is mystical to some may not be to others. 

The Pan Celtic movement is one of the strongest in neo-paganism. Music emphasizing pipes, drums, and harps during rituals helps renew Celtic traditions. Neo-Celts traditionally decorate or “dress” sacred wells, believe in fairies, and celebrate solstice days with great fire festivals. The winter solstice is often celebrated with dancers wearing horned costumes, in reference to the Celtic Horned God Kernunnos, also known as Lord of the Animals or the Great Shaman. 

The Celtic year begins with the harvest feast of Samhain, on the last eve of October. Another feast takes place on May Eve, called Beltane. Then, all fires are extinguished and relit from Bel’s Fire, sacred to the solar-fire god Bel.

This exploration was especially interesting to me, having an Irish heritage.  

Do you have any Celtic blood? Still honor any Celtic traditions?

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Branches of Celtic Traditionalism:
Celtic Reconstructionalism-- seeks to recreate, to the best extent possible in the modern world, the religion of the ancient Celtic peoples of Western Europe and the British Isles. Modern Celtic paganism embodies a strong reverence for nature.

Druidry-- based on the practices, rituals, and magick of the early Celtic priestly class known as the Druids. Many expressions of the tradition still exist, and their differences have often been cause for dissension in the pagan community.

Faery Faith--maintains the belief that everything in this and other worlds is alive, each thing possesses its own soul or spirit. This belief is called animism and was prevalent in the Western world before the advent of Christianity, which holds that only man has souls or spirits and everything else in is solely here for the use of mankind.

Celtic Shamanism-- a shamanic path based on the Faery Faith of the Celtic peoples of Western Europe and especially of Britain, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Cornwall, Isle of Man and Brittany.

Witta-- combines old Irish traditions with influences of the Norse. Witta recognizes that at each stage in the development of Irish paganism, each generation has been able to add something of value.

Celtic Witan Church--A legally incorporated church which studies and practices the goddess-oriented nature-based religion of the ancient Celtic peoples. This is a fertility religion concerned with all aspects of prosperity, growth, abundance, creativity, and healing. 

Text References: http://www.joellessacredgrove.com/Celtic/celtictraditions.html

http://www.celtic-anabaptist-ministries.com/celtic-tradition.html

Bobbing for apples on All Hallow's Eve

A Magical Monday useful Halloween tip: Peeling an apple in front of a candlelit mirror on Samhain will reveal an image of one’s future spouse.

Apples were a major part of the Celtic/Druid harvest festival of All Hallow’s Eve. The present day custom of bobbing for apples came from one of their festivities. Magical fermented cider was commonly used in pagan rites. In England, a particularly strong cider is often referred to as witches’ brew.

English lore, apples signify enchantment, tied to the Arthurian legends. When Arthur was seriously wounded, he was taken by three fairy queens to Avalon, also known as the “Isle of Apples,” or “Appleland.” Also, Lancelot, Arthur’s knight, fell asleep under an apple tree and was carried off by four fairy queens. Later, he saved Queen Guinevere, accused of being a witch and condemned to burn at the stake – she gave an apple to St. Patrick, who died.

The apple has long held spiritual significance. Many goddesses upheld the apple as the fruit which supplied eternal life: Greek goddess Hera; Scandinavian goddess Idun; Norse Hel, of the Underworld. American Iroquois Indians place the apple as their focal tree of heaven. And, in Christianity, Eve’s apple, accepted from the serpent, is the fruit of life, but also associated with sin.

In witchcraft, the apple is said to be a common vehicle for spells. In the folktale, Snow White, the lovely maiden was put to death by a poisoned apple given her by the black witch-queen. In Voodoo magic as well as English, Danish, and German folklore, the apple is a love charm.

In a real life account in Somerset, England in 1657, a young girl gave a twelve-year-old boy an apple which, according to neighbors, caused him to become bewitched, flying over his garden wall. The girl was charged with witchcraft, sentenced, and hanged.

English folklore says it’s bad luck to pick all the apples in a harvest – some must be left for the fairies.

So, on this Samhain, be sure to leave some for the fairies, but light a few candles and peel one in front of your mirror.

Reference: An Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft & Wicca, Rosemary Ellen Guiley, 2008.

Art: Kim_Moo and Maskimxul

A living fairy tale for my muse

Most muses expect to be fed occasionally. Some whimper for chocolate, others demand shopping sprees. Mine usually is satisfied with a pot of special blend white tea, kept steaming on a warmer for the evening of writing. But, once in a while she begs for an outing to someplace exotic. Lush settings captivate her. While taking lit classes in college, she prodded me to read every 19th c. novel she could find. That included the entire collection of Thomas Hardy, whose settings of mist-shrouded moors covered with purple heather in Wessex are every bit as memorable as his romantic characters, Tess and Angel, Bathsheba and Gabriel. She balks at workshops on world-building, maintaining a keen eye and an overactive imagination serve better. Nothing pleases her more than an afternoon at the beach. Once my toes are wiggling in sand beyond the towel's edge, she skips my pencil across pages at lightning pace.

Last Saturday I took my muse on a new adventure to the local Renaissance festival. I hoped she'd like it, since unnaturally cool Florida winter weather precluded beach days. And she did.

A curious array of earthy scents greeted us: fresh-milled wood chips underfoot; vendors newly-tanned leather vestments and boots; toasting cinnamon-dusted nuts; spirals of sandalwood incense. Visual delights also intrigued her. The grounds lay amid a grove of gnarly trees draped with Spanish moss. Their swags swayed with magic around tents belonging to tarot readers. Street performers and festival goers alike dressed in costumes, a variety of old world fantasy mixed with buccaneer accoutrements. Diaphanous layers of ladies skirts flowed like dreams. Coins adorned hats, headdresses, belts, wristlets, and necklaces – catching dappled sunlight and jingling with each step. I expected something of a pirate theme, following from the popularity of the Gasparilla festival, a pageant given by Ye Mystic Krewe in honor of their captain, Jose Gaspar. The result – a surreal tapestry.

Enchantment and swashbuckling in every direction. A human chess game and giant sand castle thrilled imaginations of young and old. Druids lay half hidden, clinging to tree trunks. A pickle vendor alerted me to fairies climbing in branches above, planning mischief. Celebrators extended cordial welcomes to all. The eclectic merriment painted an unwritten scene from Alice in Wonderland. My muse drank in the splendor of that living fairy tale.

In the days since, I felt her scrambling for characters to add to the new world. When finished, she hands me a complete setting and characters, detailed with personalities and attire. If she enjoys the characters enough she will lend a hand with plot. Then, my muse rests and sips tea until impatient with my plodding for months over what she created in days. I'm always behind, thankfully. She plays hard and works hard, never leaving me with writer's block. But the best gift is seeing the world through her eyes. A writer's blessing.