I won't argue with this a bit...unfortunatley the celts kept very few written texts and anything they did have was restructured by invading monks to give it a "less heathen taste" So most anything that is known about kelts come from archeological study and historical accounts from invaders...I guess...science does have some uses

I think this is a good basis for this little subject...So shall we begin little girl?

I'll start with a Conway book! Celtic Magic...

Macha(maax-ah) Ireland. "Crow" Battle" Great Queen of phantoms, a war goddess, mother death, originally a mother goddess, one of the triple aspects of the triple morrigu. Associate with ravens and crows. (here's my favorite part) She was honored a Lughnassa. After battle the irish cut off the heads of the losers and called them Macha's acorn crop. Protectress in war as in peace, goddess of war and death. Cunning sheer physical force, sexuality, fertility, dominance over males...a good link for her... http://www.uidaho.edu/student_orgs/a.../celtic/women/

The Morrigu: Morrigan/morrighan/morgan:Ireland, wales and britain. Great Queen, Supreme war Goddess, Queen of phantoms, specter Queen; a shape-shifter. She reigned over the battlefield hellping with her magic, but did not join in battles. Associated with crows and ravens, The Crone aspect of the Goddess. Great mother, moon goddess, White goddes, queen of Fairies. In her dark aspect(her symbol is the raven or crow) She is the goddess of war, fate and death. She went fully armed and carried two spears. The carrion crow was her favorite guise. With her Fea(hateful)Nemon(venomous), badb(fury) and Mach(battle)Together they encouraged fighters to battle madness, goddess of rivers, lakes, fresh water. Patroness of prestesses and witches, Revenge, night, magic, and prophecy...a good link for her...http://homepages.iol.ie/~sinann/grove/morrigan.html This one even has pictures...so little please present you evidence...oh and any questions?

my link works now

Let's remember that the celtic people were found throughout Western Europe, and not confined to the British Isles. They were a far-flung people...not an empire in the political sense, but their culture was pervasive about a large area of the European landmass. The Gauls, for example, were a celtic people.

Quite correct there again shadow...they have been recorded as far down as poland...I just have studied more the northern european celts...I love their culture, myths and stories...I believe we've discussed the celts before dear shadow...at that time i think it was more focused on their brutality of battle and penache for sacrafice!

True enough. Although I believe the subject of brutality came up because someone was attempting to romanticize them as this pure, peaceful people. I hate it when that happens. It's like the fairytale image everyone has of Native Americans, that they were such an enlightened people. The 'noble savage', if you will. They were people, just like any other. They fought, they warred, they killed. It's human nature.

As to the subject of the range of the celtic people, there are archeological sites in Asia where burial mounds have been uncovered with artifacts that are decidedly celtic in style. So apparently some of them wandered pretty far afield.

As to the magic, I'm going to postulate that the truth of the matter is as muddled and unclear as their history and religion is...

and that dear shadow is why I so love your intercedings on the theories of magickal practices

If you have a room full of people with no difference of opinion, it's not a debate, it's a back-patting convention.