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August 12 through August 18, 2024

A Scorpio Moon hangs overhead as we begin a busy and productive week. We'll feel the intense focus of this Moon on Monday, spurring us to make some important choices and finalize some things that have been hanging in the balance. The Sagittarius Moon on Tuesday and Wednesday makes this an ideal time for networking and talking things over with others. Rather than running on our own steam, getting a second opinion can add to the plans or internal work we're in the midst of. Let's get ready to rock and roll when the Moon moves into Capricorn on Thursday, as it moves us forward in leaps and bounds through Saturday. Whether we're launching a new business, updating our home, or exploring a new travel destination, we'll be moving non-stop through the second have of the week. Reserve Sunday for socializing and meeting up with friends, either in person or on the internet, as the Aquarius Moon promotes connecting with others throughout the day!

On Wings of Change: The Dragon in Celtic Magic, by Kristoffer Hughes

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

Classical Latin writers specified that a "Draco" (which forms the origin of the modern word Dragon) referred to an unspecified or uncategorized serpent. The British Celtic name for Dragon, Dreig, continues to be used to this day in the modern Welsh language and is indicative of a mythical creature that is heraldic or emblematic of a Celtic Cultural Continuum. It is probable that the serpentine nature of the dragon and their expression in Celtic myth as worms and snakes seem to imply a possible land-based nature to these creatures; it may be suggested that the dragon started its life as a snake and developed through the popular imagination to become the mighty beast with which we are familiar. The dragon can be found in several cultures around the world, and is not exclusive to the Celtic nations; many have an earthy feel to them and seem symbolic of the relationship between a people and their land.

In Celtic magic, the true significance of the dragon is subtle, and they are not simply the enormous fire breathing beasts that we have been led to believe; they are so much more than their fictionalized expression. Not only do they represent the serpentine qualities of the land, of a creature in touch with the earth and moving into relationship with the people, they are also indicative of the spirit of a people, in this case the Celts of the islands of Britain. The dragon may have started its life as a lowly snake, but it rose to become the spirit of a place, genius loci, and then something remarkable happened: it became a part of our mythology, it sprouted wings and it moved with the people across the surface of the earth, over oceans and to new lands. Whereas the ordinary spirits of place are a part of the story of location, the dragon became something else; it became transferable and could migrate with the people. In order to gain an understanding of the significance and importance of the dragon in Celtic magic, we must descend into the past and find them in the misty corridors of mythology.

Into the Dragon's Den
In the tale of Lludd and Llefelys (which forms part of the Mabinogi collection compiled from the Red Book of Hergest), the sons of Beli the great, Lludd and his brother Llefelys find they must deal with three plagues that terrorized the island of Britain. The second plague was an awful scream that was heard every May-eve. So terrible was the scream that it pierced every heart in Britain; men would lose their strength, women would lose their children, young people would lose their minds, and every tree and plant would be left barren. The tale tells us that the cause of this plague was the cries of Britain's native dragon in battle with a dragon of a foreign race who strived to overcome it. To combat the plague, Britain was measured in length and breadth to discover its center, Oxford, and here a great pit was dug. Within this pit Lludd and Llefelys placed a vast cauldron filled with the finest mead and covered with a satin sheet. In time, two monstrous creatures appeared in battle; at length they took to the air in the form of mighty dragons, and finally they fell as pigs onto the satin sheet—which sank to the mead depths of the cauldron, and there they drank and slept. Lludd and Llefelys wrapped the pigs tightly in the satin sheet and placed them within a stone cist and buried them in the securest part of the island of Britain, at the place called Dinas Emrys in Snowdonia. And thus the fierce outcry ceased, and the people recovered.

The significance of the above tale is further reiterated in the Triads of the Island of Britain, which describes that one of the three fortunate concealments of Britain was, "the concealment of the dragons in Dinas Emrys which Lludd the son of Beli concealed."¹ Further reference to the same pair of dragons can be found in Nennius' Historia Brittonum, compiled in the 9th century. Its title is misleading, as it does not represent a comprehensive history but rather a disparate collection of early writings that focused on locality-specific British history. The story that follows involves the famed Celtic prophet/magician Merlin and his adventures with Vortigern, the Druids, and two powerful dragons.

The story tells of the shamed king Vortigern and his attempt to build a stronghold in Snowdonia, but try as he may, the towers keep falling. His Druids inform him that the only way to safeguard the strength of the tower is to sprinkle the ground with the blood of a fatherless child. In due course, such a child is discovered and brought to the site to be slaughtered. Upon discovering that the Druids are responsible for his fate, he asks if they know what is buried beneath the tower; they cannot answer. He claims that under the ground is a lake, and within that lake a cloth tent, within which are to be found two sleeping serpents, one red and one white. The site is dug, and lo and behold, the serpents are discovered. The boy asks the Druids what the meaning of this is, and again they are unable to answer. The child explains that the cloth tent represents the kingdom and the two serpents are dragons; the red dragon stands for Britain and the white for the Saxons. So far, the white has been victorious, but eventually the red would reassert her strength and repel the invader. Eventually the boy reveals his identity: he is Merlin Ambrosius.

If we take the above three accounts—the tale of Lludd and Llefelys, the Triad, and the account of Merlin and Vortigern—there are several facts that belie the nature of the dragon. In the first tale we are told that the terrible cry on May-eve is the battle cries of a dragon, which the tale describes as "...and therefore YOUR dragon..."², implying that one of the dragons is native to Britain and to the tribes of Lludd and his brother Llefelys, and is indicative of the land and its people, whereas the antagonist is foreign. We find the usual tripartite style relating to the shape or forms of the dragons, in that they appear initially as "monstrous animals," they then arise to the air as—one assumes—winged mighty dragons, and finally they fall to the earth in the form of pigs. Many of the modern interpretations of the tale fail to address the magical significance of this saga; firstly there are three forms to the dragons: unassigned animal, dragon, and pig. Meaning can be discovered in the original language, which states that "...yn ymladd yn rith aruthter aniveileit...yn rith dreigieu yn yr awyr...yn rith deu barchell,"³, which translates as, "in the form of monstrous animals...in the form of dragons in the air...in the form of two pigs." That may not seem extraordinary until one examines the term "rith," which is a word that describes a form of magic, or a magical description for an object's form or shape that is altered or transformed by magic. The term "rith" used magically implies that the actual shape of anything in existence is not necessarily permanent and can be changed by the will or power of the magician. One may assume that owing to the etymology of the word "dragon" and the fact that Merlin describes the sleeping dragons as serpents, that the initial monstrous shape of the dragons may well have been in the form of serpents. Snakes are commonly associated with the Celts and may represent the spirit of the land itself, which may imply that the dragon may have started its life as Genius Loci. After they rise to the air in the form of dragons they then descend into the shape of the most common Otherworldly Celtic beast, the pig, believed to have been gifted to humanity from the indigenous Celtic underworld, Annwn. The pig appears throughout Celtic mythology as devourer of the profane, a sign of impending supernatural activity and a valued commodity, qualities that can be superimposed onto the scales of the mighty dragon.

In the tale of Merlin and Vortigern we are informed of their colouration, red and white; the red dragon continues to be the emblematic symbol of the nation of Wales and its people as the original inhabitants of the Island of Britain. The dragons and the inter-textual references between these three accounts and other Celtic myths demonstrate the nature of the dragon, its function and the impact it had on the Celtic culture—which continues to this day.

How is this of value to practitioners of Celtic magic today? Not only do we have a creature of supernatural erudition that is indicative of the lands of the Celts but which is also representative of that cultural continuum and its people. It is the magic and spirit of the dragon that connects one on an energetic level to the entire Celtic Cultural Continuum. Some Genius Loci are not transferable from one location to another whilst others are. Where one spirit is indicative of a river, a mountain, or an ancestor, the dragon is the spirit that encompasses them all; it represents the beating, pulsing, vibrant spirit of the Celts and it is transferable to another location. To call the dragon is to summon the might of the Celts, to invoke the essence of heritage and culture that swim within you.

The Spirit of the Celts is more than the sum total of heritage and genetics, for if we look to the tales we can catch a glimpse, a clue to the nature of its spirit. In the tale of Vortigern, a fatherless child is necessary to solve the riddle of the fort's continuous destruction. This lack of parenthood is a trait shared by another enigmatic and magical figure of Celtic mythology, the prophet and chief bard of Britain: Taliesin, who also claimed himself to be an aspect of mystery by stating, "Not of mother nor of father, was my birth, was my creation."⁴ This trait seems to eliminate the need for hard genetics to justify one's connection to the Celtic spirit—which cannot be contained to blood alone; it runs in the rivers of deep ancestry and the magic of spiritual connection. It is by means of the Celtic spirit that we connect and swim in the rivers of its powerful continuum, and the dragon with its myriad shapes and its qualities of both land and tribe is perhaps one of the most powerful symbols of this connection. Regardless of where you are or where you come from, the commonality of the dragon and its power to transcend diversity, location and time is an ancient and significant energy that can and will bring richness and connection to your devotional practice, your magic and rituals.

¹Trioedd Ynys Prydein, Rachel Bromwich. Univeristy of Wales Press, Cardiff, 2006. P 94.
²The Mabinogion, Sioned Davies, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2008. Pp 113.
³The White Book Mabinogion. J. Gwenogfryn Evans, private press, Pwllheli, 1915. Pp 99.
⁴Kat Godeu, "The Battle of the Trees," The Book of Taliesin. Author's translation.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2014. All rights reserved.

Here's a head scratcher: I firmly believe that the Universe has placed me in certain situations, jobs and residences for specific reasons. I also know that I have met various people who have helped me or "hurt" me for specific reasons. A few years ago I went through a depression. I curled into a shell for a period until I was strong and well enough to deal with life again. Since then, I've steadily grown more excited and ready to welcome new people into my life. I've learned so much about myself, and I know I can be a better friend than I ever was before. (I wasn't so great). The thing is, I can't seem to connect with anyone now. In fact, I seem to be repelling people. This has happened with people I meet as well as with people I've chatted with on the internet. I can assure you it's not that I come on too strong. I am pretty reserved, but I love to joke and laugh and can be as charming as the next person. I am also a great listener! Because I truly believe from experience (and instinct) that the Universe protects me from those who are "unhealthy" for me (and vice versa), I have to accept that the Universe is somehow behind this absence of real connections. I even had one reader tell me that a couple of benign spirits were keeping others away from me because they wanted me all to themselves. (?!) That seemed ridiculous, but then again, I really can't wrap my head around why it has been so hard for me. Before the depression and the self-imposed exile, I had very little problem meeting people. What do you think is going on? Many thanks! (Virgo Sun/Leo Moon/Cap rising)

Dreamchaser:

I am very glad that you have told your story in this forum. I cannot tell you the number of people who just "go to sleep for a little while." Fortunately, during that sleep time you evolved and grew spiritually. When you got up, you were a new person. You are now enlightened.

One of the side effects of being an enlightened human being is a tendency toward a more solitary lifestyle. The reason for this is a) "mortals" (people who are not enlightened or do not want to be) cannot relate to you and think you are strange and b) you cannot relate to most human beings anymore either. You find dealing with most humans draining and unfulfilling.

Before your "exile," as you call it, you were more willing to accept ANY treatment and to allow any type of human around you just to have someone there. You felt that your worth as a person was reflected by the number of people who knew you. You are starting to see, as difficult as this lesson may be, that it is better to be alone than to have an "energy vampire" or someone you cannot relate to or trust around.

I found myself in much the same place you are in, and "oddly enough," I too am a recovering Virgo. We Virgos tend to live relatively solitary lives; when you add spiritual evolvement into the equation, we become almost reclusive. You can find like-minded people. You just have to be ready for them. I feel that for the time being, you are still learning how to live your new life, and you are still in the process of evolvement. I feel that you will stay rather solitary for some time. If you have a Unity (not Unitarian) Church nearby, you should look into going. It is a church that thinks like you do, and you would feel so blessed there. You would also receive guidance on how to live in your new self.

You are being taught to find what you need on the inside of yourself. You are being taught to be a fully self-sufficient human. Your gut gives you all the answers you need, and you do enjoy being alone and spending time by yourself. We crave human companionship for a number of reasons, but one is to prevent loneliness. If we can find contentment in aloneness and in ourselves, then our relationships with others take on a whole new meaning.

You are correct in saying that the Universe is working in your life. Who you need and should have will come into your life. Just work on "being here now," and allow the Universe to do the rest. Buddha did not sit under the tree with 50 friends. He sat under the tree alone.

I wish you self fulfillment.

*****

Astrea:

After going through the kind of depression you describe, many people find themselves starting a whole new life. This means that new friends, new people and new GOALS present themselves. You're going through that difficult transition, and you are going to have to learn to be very self-reliant. Yes, the Universe and your Angels are still around to help out, but you've got to make your own choices and decisions now.

Your Sun, Moon, and Ascendant are all working for you in your quest for new friends and experiences now. Your Leo Moon would make you more sociable than most people, so that is probably the part of your personality that craves the attention of others. The Capricorn in your chart will help focus and center your Virgo drive. You have so much going for you astrologically that it will become easier as time goes on to find the right people to share your life.

I agree that the suggestion that SPIRITS are interfering in your search for new people to welcome into your life is pretty ridiculous. I really doubt that Angels and Spirits find us as interesting as all that. I'm sure it's flattering to fantasize about being "held captive" from relating to others by Celestial Beings, but I don't see how any rational person could believe in that for long. That sounds like an easy answer given to you by someone who didn't really know what else to say.

If you want to believe that the UNIVERSE was behind every move you've made up to this point, that's fine, but you should also accept that you had Free Will and Free Choice - even during the times you were depressed. Sure, it was easy to meet people when they felt that you were weak and vulnerable, but now that you're strong and whole, people who would have come into your life to USE you before will steer clear of you now. You're having a much harder time meeting the kind of people you want, because, sadly, there aren't too many of the nice ones out there these days. It takes a lot longer to make friends when you're looking for high quality, mutually beneficial relationships.

Take the time to listen. You ARE indeed a good listener, but you must make sure you're listening to your OWN Inner Voice as you meet, greet and welcome new things and new people into your NEW life. Now that you're all better, YOU are the force behind your choices and decisions. Take that as a GIFT and use it wisely. The Universe doesn't owe us a thing, and doesn't hand things out, either. We have to ask for what we want and do the necessary work to create and keep it.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.