SOCIETY OF CELTIC SHAMANS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Category: Celtic Faery Shamanism
What is Celtic Shamanism?
Celtic Shamanism is a shamanic path that is 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. top
What is the Faery Faith?
The Faery Faith is based upon the belief that everything in this and otherworlds is alive. That each thing is possessed of its own soul or spirit. This belief is called animism and was prevalent in the Western world before the advent of the Christian religion, which insists that only men have souls or spirts and everything else in the world has been placed here for the use of mankind. This attitude, that humankind is superior to all of the rest of creation, does not prevail in those parts of the world were animistic beliefs are still held. top
What are Faeries?
Faeries are beings which occupy another world or dimension that lies close to our own. Associating faeries with small, insect-winged beings, such as Disney's Tinkerbell, is a modern misconception regarding the Fair Folk. Although there are races of small faeries, others appear to be as large as we are. There are also gigantic faeries the size of trees and of mountains. Sometimes they appear as beautiful shining people with rainbow auras about their heads and shoulders. These are often called the Shining Ones or the Shining People. They are able to interact with humankind and contact between the faeries and humans was quite common before the advent of Christianity in the Celtic countries. In an effort to wipe out the Faery Faith the Fair Folk were demonized, or else assigned the roles and attributes of Christian angels or saints, but they are not any of these. The Faeries still exist in the bright realms that lie all around ours. Celtic Shamans are able to enter those realms and interact with the Shining Ones. top
How are Celtic Shamans different from other shamans?
Celtic Shamans follow the spiritual paths of their Celtic Ancestors, just as American Indians follow the spiritual paths of theirs and Australian Aborigines follow the paths of theirs and so on. Each of the Earth's tribes has their own shamanic traditions and their own ways of walking in this and other worlds. None of these ways are 'better' than the others. None of the tribes are 'superior' to the others. We are all of different clans and different tribes but ALL ONE PEOPLE. top
Is there really any such thing as Celtic Shamanism?
Yes, there is. Shamanism is the world's oldest spiritual path. The fact that we in the West have forgotten our spiritual roots does not mean that those roots are not still growing and flourishing beneath the Earth, waiting to spring into evergreen life if only we will break the ground to allow them freedom once again. For too long the paths have been choked with weeds, the doors sealed and the locks rusted shut. Today many are once more walking those ancient pathways, clearing them for others who will follow. We are rediscovering the keys that will open the locks. We are throwing wide the doors that open into the secret groves and crystal caves of our ancestors. top
Can I apprentice to become a Celtic Faery Shaman?
Yes, the Society of Celtic Shamans offers apprenticeship programs. If you would like to join us in re-membering - reconstructing - our ancient faith read on or Click Here to learn more about our apprenticeship program. top
Is there any link you know between Celtic Shamanism and the Ungarian-Finnish one?
As far as I know the Ungarian-Finnish Shamanic Tradition is an unbroken tradition and is still practiced by the Ungarian-Finnish peoples. Celtic Shamanism is, to a large extent, the result of recent reconstruction. There are many scholars who deny that there ever was a shamanic tradition among the Celtic peoples. It is, however, impossible for me to believe that of all the peoples on earth only the Celts lack such a tradition. So far as I know there are no links between the unbroken Ungarian-Finnish and the reconstructed Celtic shamanic traditions. top
What holidays do people of the Celtic Shamans faith celebrate,and what is their view about Christ?
Celtic Shamanism is not a faith. Many Celtic Shamans are Christians and they usually celebrate the Christian holidays. Some Celtic Shamans celebrate the pre-Christian holidays of Samhain (Nov 1), Imbolc (Feb 1), Beltane (May 1) and Lughnasadh (Aug 1). In addition to these four there are equinoxes and solstices which are usually celebrated around Dec 20-22, March 20-22, June 20-22, September 20-22. There is no central authority telling Celtic shamans what they may and may not belief - no doctrine or dogma. This is a very individualistic path. It is a mystical path about becoming one with all that is and entering into union with the divine. Christian Celtic Shamans generally believe in the divinity of Christ. As a non-Christian Celtic Shaman I believe that all is divine, including Christ. top
Just want to check - what is the difference between a Faery Shaman and a Faery Wiccan?
Shamanism is not a religion. It is a certain set of beliefs. Among these are a the belief that all things - people, animals, plants, rocks, hills, streams, lakes, mud puddles, ALL THINGS - are living and each has its own spirit. Shamans believe that there are Otherworlds that lie beside our own or interpentrate our own and that these Shining Realms are inhabited by the Fair Folk - faerys, elementals, animal spirits, green spirits, rock spirits, and so on. Faery Shamans are able to enter into the Shinins Realms and interact with the spirits of those bright lands. In addition, Faery Shamans are able to percieve the spirits of this world and interact with them. Shamans are engaged in what we call The Great Work. The Great Work is helping and healing, making and mending. Shamans serve their community. They are healers, teachers and counsellors. A Faery Shaman may be a Wiccan, Christian, Jew, Moslem, etc. or even an agnostic or atheist. Wicca is a religion based on what we know of the ancient earth based religions. Faery Wiccans are Wiccans whose religious practices are based on popular (as opposed to scholarly), modern interpretations of ancient Celtic spritual traditions. A Faery Wiccan may be a Faery Shaman and a Faery Shaman practice Faery Wicca. top
I would like to know more about Celtic Shamanism. Where do I turn?
You may want to start by reading a book or two or three by different authors. If you CLICK HERE you will find the sitemap for the Society of Celtic Shamans. And there under the category "Books and Publications" you will find the link to our bibliography that lists a lot of good books. Also look under "Our Magazine" for Earthsongs. When you go to Earthsongs go into the ARCHIVES and read articles from past issues. DJ Conways books: "By Oak, Ash, and Thorn" and "Advanced Celtic Shamanism" are good books. CLICK HERE for DJ Conway's webpage.
Or you may want to read my book, "The Green and Burning Tree" which you may buy online and download from the net is a good book You can join our public elist and ask questions. To join the list click the link below or send an email to that address. celticshaman-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. top
What is the difference between the Celtic Shamanism you practice and Druidism?
I don't know. I'm not a Druid nor do I know any Druids so I don't know how my practices differ from theirs. You may want to read our FAQ to find out what we are teaching and then go to one or two Druidic sites to find out what they are teaching. That should help you discover an answer to your question. top
Why Do You Have So Many Copyrights Notices On Your Webpage?
Since I first published the Society of Celtic Shamans homepage in 1997 others who are creating pages devoted to the Faery Faith and Celtic Shamanism have stolen my FAQ pages and published them as their own, giving me no credit and pretending they wrote the material themselves. This is called plagiary. It is against the law. I always do find out when someone has stolen my pages. I e-mail them and ask them to remove the pages and they always reply they did not know the material was protected by copyrights law. I am tired of this excuse. By posting a copyrights notice after every FAQ answer no one can pretend ignorance. top
Copyright © 1997-2005 Tira Brandon-Evans and content providers. The FAQ on this page are protected by copyright © 1997-2005 Tira Brandon-Evans. All rights reserved. International copyright laws prohibit reproduction of or distribution of this page by any means, electronic or otherwise, without first obtaining the written permissions of the copyright holders. We retain legal counsel to enforce our copyrights.
