Foreword
Do not fail to read the Appendix of this book. Not only will you discover that the author also surmises that the term “Brigit” [Brighid] applies to more than one person, but he presents a history of the ceremonies to which many of the hymns and prayers belong. It is humbling to read these, and to begin to feel, understand, and long for the ways of our forefathers.
Especially wonderful is the description of Michaelmas, which occurs in September. As a sacred holiday in which Roman Christian ceremonies and the Highland Pagan ceremonies are conducted together, it is proof that religions can be and are often tolerant of each other, and shows what still could be. Both universal religions, Roman Christian and Faery (Animist) can, and still do, actually compliment each other. Some of these incantations and songs date back to the 8th century (to the time of Arthur) and celebrations, customs and rituals of Beltane, Midsummer and Lamas and Samhain form an obvious basis for Modern groups practicing either Wicca or the Highland Ways.
If you read the Carmina Gadelica from front to back, you’ll have a very good idea of the structure of society and religion(s) of our forefathers. At first glance, it “puts off” the neo-pagan reader because of the references throughout to archangels, saints and the Christ. But only real ignorance would prevent someone from seeing what is here. Our comment is that, if the literal meaning of “The Christ” be taken, as it may covertly have been, “Christ” simply means “anointed,” like a King was anointed in Jewish tradition. The “Christ” of the Yellow Hair was certainly NOT the Jewish/Christian “Jesus.”
Over time, the Yellow Haired King (the anointed one) who was very probably Baldur or Lugh, came to be equated in the newly-Christian minds, with the “Jesus” anointed, somewhat the way the Brighids became equated with the questionably-Jewish “Mary” of the new Christian religion. A mish-mash and superimposition of persons, legends, traditions and practices, which characterized Celtic Christianity, and so vexed the Roman Church, appears here, and begins to actually make sense as a great panorama of the ways of the older Fey people in relation to the new Roman ways of which we are all now so fond.
These are our humble comments on what we ever so humbly perceive about the greatness of our forebears. Has their time truly passed? Or do we have the same capacity to love, know, respect and worship as they had? Given the chance once again, could we become even as great as the humble Crofters seen here in these pages? It is up to us to try. Otherwise, the greatness of Mankind has truly passed.
