Music, stories, and facts for Midsummer 2008

Always great to hear from you! Email garyandruth@celticmythpodshow.com, or call us using Speakpipe

More resources over at our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com

Show Summary:

We celebrate the Midsummer Festival with a massive offering of goodies. So we've divided the episode into two parts. The first part contains a reading from The Religion of the Ancient Celts, another from a modern book called Fairy Healing, some music, and a story by Willie Meikle called The First Silkie.

Running Order:

• Intro 0:40
  
• News & Views 1:32
  
• The Religion of the Ancient Celts by J.A. MacCulloch 7:08
  
• Fairy Healing by Margie McArthur 10:01
• Shimmering Wings by Gaelic Wind Project 15:02
  
• The First Silkie by Willie Meikle 21:27
• The Ladychant 31:15
  
• The Summer Solstice 34:01
  
• Outtakes 35:34

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

 

---

 

News & Views

We talk about Midsummer being celebrated on the 20th, 21st or 22nd of June. Midsummer is traditionally a time for fairies - although it is dangerous to visit the fairy world at this time! We talk about the Solstice and time that the sun appears to wobble in its 'apparent' orbit around the earth. 

 

The Religion of the Ancient Celts

by J. A. MacCulloch

We select a passage concerning the Midsummer rituals from the Religions of the Ancient Celts by J. A. MacCulloch. This book, which appears for the first time on the Internet at Sacred Texts, is one of the earliest scholarly treatments of the ancient Celtic religion. Written early in the 20th Century, Religion of the Ancient Celts includes extensive treatment of that perennially fascinating subject, the Druids.

MacCulloch details the Celtic belief in reincarnation and a spectral otherworld; documents the enormous pantheon of now-obscure gods and goddesses, including many local deities; and describes totemistic and animistic beliefs. In addition, MacCulloch does not flinch (nor sensationalize) when describing the darker side of Celtic practices, including the famous 'Burning Man' human sacrifices, cannibalism and exogamous incest.

 

Fairy Healing: the Lore and Legacy

by Margie McArthur

We then present a small section of a modern book about Fairy Healing: The Lore and Legacy written by Margie McArthur. The section we read is from Chapter 5: The Irish Traditions and tells us about the Fairy Doctor.

Thank you to Margie for allowing us to read this for you. She has her home on the web at Brigid's Hearth where you can find out about this and her other books. She also runs a fairy healing website. Find out more about Margie McArthur in our Contributor pages. 

 

Shimmering Wings

by Gaelic Wind Project

They hail from Essen, Germany. Yet the repertoire of Gaelic Wind Project consists of Irish traditional songs and tunes, but they also perform their own material. This Irish folk band consists of two female lead vocalists who are accompanied by Irish wooden flute, accordion, guitar, Irish bouzouki and percussion. Gaelic Wind Project is a nice addition to any Celtic music collection.

"Our new song Shimmering Wings is inspired by Juliet Marillier´s novel Daughter of the Forest. Here you´ll find more information about the author and her books."

You can find the Gaelic Wind Project on the web at their homesite (now sadly gone). You can also find them on CD Baby.

 

The First Silkie

by Willie Meikle

Willie Meikle is a Scottish Author who writes Fantasy and Horror Fiction and has eight books published. Many of his stories and books are set in Scotland and are weaved with Mythology and folklore. Willie has had 130 stories published in the genre press, both in paper and on-line magazines and his work has appeared in the UK, Ireland, the USA, India, Greece, Romania and Canada. He has graciously allowed us to present an except from his novel, The Midnight Eye Files: The Sirens and concerns the origins of the Silkie – a fey creature able to shift from seal to human form.

The tale tells us of the origin of the Silkie which concerns Viking Gods, Bold Fishermen and a wager between Gods and Men.

You can find out more about Willie and his work at his website or you can read more details about this fantastic author in our Contributor pages.

 

The Ladychant

by Gary, Ruthie & friends

With thanks to three young friends of ours, we present our very unprofessional (but fun!) version of the Chant of the Lady. A big Thank You to Stacey, Tania and Jessica. You can download this chant from us by clicking Ladychant.

Lyrics

Lady, spin your Circle bright,
Weave your web of dark and light.
Earth, Air, Fire and Water,
Bind us as one.

Maiden, spin your Circle white,
Weave a web of shinning light.
Stag and Hawk, Bear and Wolf,
Bind us as one.

Mother, spin your Circle red,
Weave a web of glowing thread.
Earth, Air, Fire and Water,
Bind us as one.

Wise one, spin your Circle black,
Weave the wisdom that we lack.
Moonlight, Sunlight, Starlight, Shimmer,
Bind us as one.

Lady, spin your Circle bright,
Weave your web of dark and light.
Earth, Air, Fire and Water,
Bind us as one.

 

Winter Solstice 'Down Under'

<span styl