Celtic folk magic is a rich and ancient tradition rooted in the beliefs and practices of the Celtic people. It encompasses a wide range of magical and spiritual practices that have been passed down through generations. Celtic folk magic is closely tied to the natural world and the cycle of the seasons, with a strong emphasis on elemental forces and the power of nature. One of the key aspects of Celtic folk magic is the belief in the interconnectedness of all things. Practitioners believe that everything in the world, both living and non-living, is connected and influenced by unseen forces. This belief forms the foundation of many Celtic magical practices, including divination, healing, and protection spells.
“You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.
When Livy asks him why he agreed to marry her, he simply states, When the Reverend come out to see me and told me about your situation, I thought maybe it be God s will , much to Livy s incredulity. Livy is polite and civil to her new husband and his sister Martha Mare Winningham , but she harbors feelings for the father of the baby, a World War II soldier, and feelings of guilt for the pregnancy.
This belief forms the foundation of many Celtic magical practices, including divination, healing, and protection spells. Divination is a common practice in Celtic folk magic, with various methods used to gain insight into the future or seek guidance. One popular form of divination is the use of Ogham, an ancient Celtic alphabet comprised of a series of symbols representing different trees.
Complete & Unabridged
Plans. We've all got them. Plans for what we will do tomorrow, next week, a year from now, five years from now. Trouble is that life never seems to go like we plan. The unexpected always happens, leaving our perfectly ordered plans in complete disarray. In her 2001 novel, Ann Howard Creel describes a life ripped completely off course by the unexpected, and the beauty and happiness that is so often found in ordinary places among ordinary people.
Olivia (Livvy) Dunne has her life all mapped out. She is only a few semesters away from completing her degree in archeology, and after that she plans to join digs in far away places like Egypt. But then her mother becomes very sick and Livvy is left to care for her. After her mother's death, Livvy gets caught up in a whirlwind romance that leaves her pregnant and alone. Her minister father hastily arranges a marriage for her to save the family from disgrace, and Livvy soon finds herself on a train to the Colorado countryside to marry a man she has never met.
That man is Ray Singleton, a farmer living alone on his family's century old farm. Though he is kind and gentle to Livvy, she cannot accept him as someone whom she would ever be able to love. The long country days creep slowly by until Livvy meets Rose and Lorelei, two Japanese-American sisters from the nearby internment camp who are working the Singleton farm. Like Livvy, their hopes and dreams have been shattered by circumstances, and all three girls become fast friends. As the year drags on, Livvy seeks a way to return to her old plans, but after one final betrayal, she begins to see that the love, acceptance, and forgiveness she had been seeking might just be sitting across the kitchen table.
My Review (Caution-Spoilers):
On the surface, The Magic of Ordinary Days is simply a love story. A man and woman who have never met finding themselves alone on the Colorado flatlands, depending on each other to keep away the loneliness that threatens to kill them. But the book has many more dimensions than that. It touches on human thoughts and feelings that all of us have experienced at one time or another.
The theme that stood out to me the most was the idea of human fragility. In the beginning of the story, Livvy seems to have it all. She's smart, from a good background, and has a flourishing future ahead of her. Then she makes a mistake. Whether circumstances lead her to it, or whether it would have happened anyway, she is not sure. But no matter the influences, she must still face the consequences. Throughout the whole story, she tries to hide her frailty. She never openly admits her weakness to herself and concentrates on returning to the life she had dreamed of. What she doesn't understand is that, like a beautiful vase that has been smashed, her life can never be whole again. She will always bear scars. But what is so wonderful is that, by the end of the story, she has opened herself up to the love and forgiveness that Ray wants give her and realizes that her life is no less beautiful for the heartaches.
Then there was the idea of beauty and magic being found in the most ordinary things in life. Perhaps nothing exemplifies this idea better than Ray. He's not perfect by any means. He's not exactly good looking, he shares almost none of Livvy's interests, and he has some resentment against Japanese-Americans for his brother's death at Pearl Harbor. But for all his imperfections, he is also a loving and caring man. He goes out of his way to make life for Livvy more pleasant and he views his marriage to her as something that is for forever. He instantly accepts her with all of her flaws and mistakes and it is such a joy to watch the shy and awkward man fall head over heels for her. Creel also shows the beauty of the ordinary through her emphasis on history. Through most of the story, Livvy thinks that the only interesting and important things in history are found among ancient and distant civilizations. But she eventually realizes that there is a history that is more intimate and just as important found in the attics of ordinary people.
The final theme seems to focus mostly on our relationships with other people. Livvy's friendship with Rose and Lorelei comes to heartbreaking end because she made the same mistake that most of her family had made in regards to her. She saw them as strong, self-assured, and unable to fall. What she didn't see was that they, like her, were starved for deep connections and desperately desired to return to their past life. How often do we assume that someone is okay because they seem so strong? We don't realize that even the strongest among us need to feel loved, accepted, and appreciated. It is this assumption that helps contribute to Rose and Lorelei's final betrayal.
The Magic of Ordinary Days is a nice little read. It's not great literature by any stretch of the imagination, but it is a thought-provoking and beautiful story. It's not jam packed with action, but it has a charm and beauty in it's quietness. Give it a try.
Like I said, I wanted to love this book and I rather did up until the second half after which point I began to despise it. My reasons for ultimately not enjoying this read are two-fold:
Each tree has its own magical properties and can be used for divination or spellcasting. Another method of divination is scrying, which involves gazing into a reflective surface such as a bowl of water or a crystal to gain insight. The use of herbs and plants is also central to Celtic folk magic. Different plants and flowers are believed to possess unique magical properties and can be used in spells and rituals for various purposes. For example, mistletoe is often used for protection, while vervain is associated with love and healing. Celtic folk magic also incorporates the use of charms and talismans, made from natural materials such as stones, shells, or animal bones, which are believed to hold protective or magical properties. In addition to practical magic, Celtic folk magic places great importance on spiritual practices. The Celtic people had a deep reverence for the natural world, and rituals and ceremonies were often performed to honor the spirits of the land, the ancestors, and the gods and goddesses of the Celtic pantheon. These rituals involved offerings, prayers, and the recitation of incantations, often held at sacred sites such as stone circles or wells. Overall, Celtic folk magic is a diverse and multifaceted tradition that encompasses a wide range of magical practices and beliefs. It is a testament to the Celtic people's deep connection to the natural world and their belief in the power of the unseen. Today, Celtic folk magic continues to be practiced and celebrated by those who seek to reconnect with their Celtic heritage and embrace its magical traditions..
Reviews for "The Art of Amulets and Talismans in Celtic Folk Magic"
1. Laura - 2 stars - I was really excited to learn about Celtic folk magic, but I found this book to be quite disappointing. The information provided was very basic and felt more like a general overview rather than an in-depth exploration of the topic. Additionally, the author's writing style was dry and lacked any sort of excitement or passion. I didn't feel inspired or motivated to practice the techniques mentioned in the book. Overall, I would not recommend this book to someone looking for a comprehensive guide to Celtic folk magic.
2. Mark - 1 star - This book was a waste of money. It provided very little useful information and was poorly organized. The content felt scattered and lacked a clear structure. I was hoping for more detailed instructions and examples, but instead, I found myself struggling to understand the concepts presented. The book also lacked any practical application of the magic, making it difficult for me to connect with the material. I would advise anyone interested in Celtic folk magic to look for alternative resources that offer more depth and practicality.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - While the book did touch on some interesting aspects of Celtic folk magic, I found it to be quite repetitive and lacking in originality. It felt like the author was just regurgitating information found in other sources without providing any new insights or perspectives. I was also disappointed by the lack of illustrations or images to accompany the text, as visual aids can often enhance the learning experience. Overall, this book failed to capture my interest and left me wanting more. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone seeking a unique and comprehensive exploration of Celtic folk magic.