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Realm of Summer & Fae

7/4/2018

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A splendor of a summer's day saturates with vivid colours dawned with the fragrance by the radiant sun's sweet air, captivating a most mythical and magical realm.  It is a realm where secret gardens, groves, and brooks abode with the nature Fae!
Image Credit: artist unknown; found on Pinterest.

~ NEW ~ Irish Fairies Silver Pendants  to our Celtic Jewellery Collection.
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*Dance of the Faerie Ring*

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Richard Doyle - "Fairy Rings and Toadstools"
In the morn, after the moonlit night,
a ring of mushrooms appears to delight. 
The dance has occurred overnight,
by the Fae frolicking in the moonlight. 

The Faeries' Ring enchants
to entice the passersby per chance,
who enter to revel this ring from which lore are told,
to bring good fortune and merriment,
lasting seven hundred years fold and more. 

Yet, to the mortal realm ye cannot return,
lest ye wait one year 'fore the lesson to be learned. 
For the Faerie ring shall remain,
a forthright for those in disdain;
Widdershins loop thrice fold heart's scorns,
where purest spirit ye's inner-child, abode.

                                - Helena Ryan

Faeries free spirit is as playful as children.  It is no wonder, as some lore will tell, the Fae are the protectors of the little ones - a reminder of our inner child.
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Artist Credit: Nene Thomas
- May your Faerie hearts dance and laugh the season through, Celts! -
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Enchantment of Autumn Plum

8/25/2016

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Plum is the warmth of the fire red summer's sun, combined with the cool blue of the  winter's hue - a union capturing the enchantment of the Autumn season.

As we approach the new season; we begin to yield the taste and colours of the harvest; the winds of change arrive to bring in the subtle, crisp of air - rustling the leaves in demand of turn to slumber.  The freshly, lit woodstoves lend a warmth in accompaniment to their smokey fragrance of the depths of the forest - where the Stags roam in exaltation for the Doe.   

With all the elements of Fall in place, we've added a few new items to our collections and direct your gaze to traditional, nostalgic gifts -  in inspiration of the season. 


New Collection

Added to our luxuriously trending Cork collection are these eco-friendly purses and bags in plum.  These are fantastic for day or night and compliment this season's outfits, beautifully. 
For the Gents, the 'Eisenberg' is an excellent choice for on-the-go style.
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"If you want to get ahead
Get a Hat!"

Charles Sydney Catlin  (1934)
Tweed is a style and warmth of nostalgia from our Ancestors.  These fibres and styles will most certainly keep you embracing to remain outdoors - with their neutral colours and the perfect weight to run about your business of the day or a somber walk in the evening.
We've added the 'plain' tweed hats and working on adding the 'plain' tweed caps to the collection of the World renowned "Hanna Hats".  
***Accessorize with our fine Walking Sticks (Canes) or Umbrellas for a dashing, polished look!  (Keep checking back as we will be continuously adding to this collection.)


In keeping with the moment of the season is an inviting scent composed of musk, pine and wood smoke in the auburn colour.
Jamie Fraser is the perfect "Book Scents" candle to set the imagery and sense of a raw Celtic Land!


Keep in mind;
the OUTLANDER Collection is perfect for those walks in the woods and fields amidst the Air of Autumn!

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***We will be adding the glass jars to the collection, soon.  Should you want to purchase the glass jars before they're up on the website, please contact us and we will be happy to accommodate your request. 

ALBAN ELFED

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The Autumn Equinox has also approached us - celebrated on September 21/22 in the Northern Hemisphere where the hours of daylight equal to the hours of night. 

This is a time of the completion of the harvest in preparation for the dormant of deep sleep and scarcity in the months ahead; an awareness our Ancestors held with greatness in their harvesting of grains and plenty of corn.   We find in our lives inspiration, fulfillment, as well as reflection on our past achievements during this cycle. 

- Wise Words of the Ancient Ones -

"In Silence is the seed of Wisdom gained."
(From the Eleusinian Mysteries of Ancient Greece)
~
"The Ancients conceived the Earth as afloat in water,
and the Summer Solstice is concerned with the shores:
the ever-trembling and moving shore of the Earth,
the place of external change and balance between
the rising and falling year at the Sun's highest point.
But beyond the shore is the mysterious depth of ocean,
into which all waters seem to flow,
which grows darker with the shorter evenings.
Water is the sphere of the autumnal equinox,
Alban Elfed, the year descending into the ocean. 
Nuinn

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Romance of Spring

4/28/2016

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Greetings Celts!  It's been a wee bit o' time passed since my last blog entry.  I'm very excited about our new products added to our collections of gifts, which capture the essence of the Romance of Spring . 

We often think of Spring in the form of new life  with buds of flowers, fresh sprouts of grass and plenty of rain.  However, once the snow melts (which by the way, here in Northern Ontario, we have just recently said "ta-ta" to till then), the movie 'BAMBI' comes to mind and the Wise ol' Owls' teaching of 'Twitterpatting' ~  "Nearly everybody gets twitterpatted in the springtime. For example, you're walking along minding your own business; you're looking neither to the left, nor to the right when all of a sudden you run smack into a pretty face... Who-o! Who-o! You begin to get weak in the knees, your head's in a whirl! And then you feel light as feather, and before you know it you're walking on air, and then, you know what? You're knocked for a loop! And you completely lose your head!"

Spring is very romantic, as you can very well gather from 'Owl'; which leads me back to introducing some of our new products:
  • Inis Moonlight - Eau de parfum:  the sister of Inis - Energy of the Sea, this fragrance captures the essence of where everything is possible and beautiful, 'Where the Moonlight whispers the Oceans Dreams'!

***Remember, with each purchase contributes to the conservation of our Oceans and Dolphins. 

I've added this video for you to capture the feeling of inspiration which this fragrance invokes.

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AVOCA Anthology Socks - Our new favorite...Aran High Knee.
These are inspired by the ever famous Aran Sweater of Ireland. 

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The Return of OUTLANDER; Season 2 has us swooning once again and has brought about the Scottish Thistle Pin.  Adorn your beautiful Tartans while showing your Scottish Pride or to simply being... a fan of the T.V. Series.
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New to our World Peace Tartan Collection is the Ladies Billie Kilt.  It's fresh and it's perfect for this new Spring Season; while all the while you're promoting World Peace!

BELTANE

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May 1st is fast approaching where May Eve is at it's peak with sexuality and earth becoming alive.  Many will be celebrating Beltane.  This is when we really begin to light the bonfires.  Who doesn't love a great bonfire?  The belief is that the fire destroys the powers hostile to man, purifies the air, and allows man, beast and vegetation to thrive and become fertile.  The ceremony of Beltane unifies with our Romantic Spring.  It brings about fertility, passion, sexuality, good fortune; truly an Honour of Life! 

The central figures of the Celts during this time is the Horned God Hernes/Cernunnos, King of the hunt/Lord of the Wild Things along with the unison of the Goddess Ceridwen, the enchantress bringing forth rebirth, transformation and inspiration. 

Beltane (or Beltain) is a Gaelic festival. The name Beltane means bright fire or Fire of Bel (Bel or Belinos being the Sun God). Halfway between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice - this day marks the beginning of the bright half of the year.  


Words of the Wise Ones

Three errors not acknowledged:
  1. Fear of an enemy
  2. Torment of love
  3. A jealous person's evil suspicion of their mate
Fear of an enemy will paralyze you.  Challenge this 'fear' with a courage in trying to understand it and what it represents in your life.  Conquer your fears and you will be capable once again in progression of yourself.  

The pain of a love not satisfied is in actuality the invitation to change the course you are on.  It is the moment you must pursue your creative potential, a creativity in which we all are inherent.  In the journey, you will find your strength and the pain will begin to dissipate.

The jealousy and suspicion of the one you love is grave to the two hearts.  The attributes of the uniqueness of your mate for which you fell in love, must not be constrained.  A precious love allows the others' free will and independence.
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~
Now that you've been 'Twitterpatted' with my Celtic Meanderings;
I bid you Adieu, Celts!
~

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Gael Love Poem

2/7/2016

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New OUTLANDER; The Series Product

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Here's a sneak preview of one of the products to come to our
OUTLANDER; The Series Collection. 
Can you guess what it might be?  

Stay tuned....... 
I stumbled across some Gael words and thought to create a love poem using these terms of endearment.  Of course, they are and can be used alone, but when I put all the words together, then the combination of Love Words becomes quite tantalizing.  And so, I call my poem... Ceol na Helena!

Ceol na Helena


Ceol (Kyol)
– Music, song, vigour. THE RHYTHM WITHIN US.
Dathúil (DA-hoo-il)
– Good-looking.
A PLEASURE TO THE EYES.
This Irish word literally means ‘coloured’ or ‘colourful’, and is used to describe beauty and comeliness of appearance.
Leannán (LAN-awn) – Lover PERFECTION IN OUR HEARTS
To say that love is blind in Irish, one says ‘a lover sees no fault’.

Taisce (TASH-ka)
– Store, treasure, hoard THAT WHICH WE VALUE
This Irish word can be used as a term of endearment, as in A thaisce! (a-HASH-ka), meaning ‘My darling!’.


A thaisce, tú
dathúil,
Ceol is
leannán!  
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My Darling,
You are a Pleasure
to the Eyes,
The Rhythm within us
is perfection in our Hearts!

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Wise Words of the Ancient Ones

There are three foundations of Wisdom:
  1. discretion in learning
  2. memory in retaining
  3. eloquence in telling
To say.... choose carefully what you wish to learn. Because there is so much information out there & literally right at our fingertips, only choose that which you need.  Develop your memory so you retain what you have learned.  Develop the art of speaking clearly about what you have learned; your wisdom is useless for sharing if you cannot reiterate your knowledge! 
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How do I say 'I Love You' !

2/3/2016

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Let me count the ways of saying I Love You in Gaelic - Way #2:

Mo ghrá thú - meaning 'My Love to You'. 
This expression is usually said to a lover or spouse.  It holds a little more passion in meaning. 

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Wise Words of the Ancient Ones....
  1. being good in service
  2. being good in disposition
  3. being good in secrecy
As if to say....  be of service with love, out of the kindness of your own heart. Be pleasant and kind and be faithful in keeping confidence with matters spoken to you and matters of the heart.  It is these three elements of our being which will lead us to a lightheartedness of good spirit and integrity.  It is truly an honour of attribution!   
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Lore of Love!

2/3/2016

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One of my most intense feelings stirred within, upon hearing this Gaelic phrase of love is;
"Mo chuisle, mo chroí" - My Pulse, My Heart!  This is my personal favorite of these love phrases.  Our Moldavite Garnet Jewellery reminds me of this phrase.  The Moldavite Garnet Pendants are held close to the heart.  Just click on the picture to purchase these magnificent pendants of pulse energy, from the rare rock of the skies!  A beautiful gift of Love! 

The Celts have long been reigning in love poems, literature, proverbs, deities of Love Goddess/Gods & Lore! 
One such Lore of Love is the love story of - Aengus; The God of Love & Beauty.  The Celts believed the magic kisses of Aengus Og became tiny birds and whoever heard their sweet singing would suddenly be overcome with passionate ideas.

I found this beautiful ancient legend written by a modern day author; Ms. Tara Erinn Pelton.  There are many versions of this same legend but I find this version entails most of the elements contained within all other versions! 


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Each night as he slept, Angus dreamnt of a beautiful woman. She had creamy, fair skin, dark eyes, a long graceful neck and corn-colored hair that fell below her knees. In his dream, she beckoned to him, then she vanished.  Each night he dreamt of her and his love grew stronger, but each day, though he searched, he never found her. He grew weary and eventually he fell ill from the pain in his heart.

At last, Angus became too ill to search any longer.  But with the help of Tuatha de Danann Kings, after three years of searching the countryside, the lovely woman was found living beside a lake. The Kings sent a messenger to tell Angus to tell him where she lived.
Overcome with desire, Angus regained his spirit and rode at a great speed to reach her and declare his love. But when he finally arrived, he found she’d been put under a spell: she was bound to the flock of swan. She was transformed into a swan each day and a woman only at night.

It was then that Angus saw he could never be with her in his human form.  Only if he would transform with her, could he know her love fully.

So it came to be that Angus transformed himself into a swan by day and only a man at night, to be with Caer.  As a swan he saw the lake as it spread out before his eyes, glistening in the sunlight and reflecting the changing skies.  He held his lover very close and near his heart and they were together always.


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I am certain, that the next time you see an image of the heart-shape swans of love; you will, no-doubt, remember
Aengus and Caer. 

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First Day of Celtic Spring!

2/1/2016

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A Grand Welcome to Celtic Spring - such a fine day, indeed!  We're halfway now between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox.  I anticipate the warmth of change and rejuvenation.  We are still covered with quite amounts of snow in our corner; but with the warm air that we have been feeling this year, it has amounted to puddles while out-and-about.  Soon, I shall start to see the tulips sprouting from the soil, hear the love songs of the birds and a touch of grass peeking along the sides, from beneath the melting snow. 

Also sprouting, will be the newly anticipated items from our OUTLANDER; The Series Collection.  I will be adding these within the next week or two; be sure to check back often!

We have also arrived to the month of LOVE.  As mentioned in our previous blog - here is the first way to say 'I Love You' in Gaelic:

Tá grá agam duit (I love you or I have love for you) - this phrase is said to all of whom you love (Nana, child, friend, etc.). 
What a lovely element of the combination of linguistics of Gael and English, to express your endearment of said, in your Celtic tongue to your beloved.
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BRIGHID - The Triple Goddess of
Poets, Healers, Smiths, Birth,
Fire, Hearth & Inspiration

Wise Words of the Ancient Ones

There are three things that are never at rest in anyone;
  1. the heart in working
  2. the breath in moving
  3. the soul in purposing
To say... 'Just as the heart never stops beating and the lungs never stop breathing, your Soul never ceases in wanting to fulfill it's purpose.'  We all have a purpose in the world; believe in yourself as you continuously grow forward in life!
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The Beginning of our Celtic Meandering!

1/31/2016

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Good Evening Celts,

Well, this is my first Blog post.  I'm hoping to have a wee bit o 'craic' with it.    It is 9:18p.m. with a full day behind me, now.  We're half way through the week and heading towards the month of LOVE!  Starting the first of February; I will entertain the romantic within us each day, leading to February 14th with saying 'I love you' in all the various Gaelic ways.  

On the rambling list; to inform you that we are working on a different look to our store Website.  We're changing it up to be compatible with the mobile view.  You may or may not have noticed, the smartphone view is not behaving the way I need it to behave.  That in-it-self is quite humorous to me and I am sure has presented you with a view worthy of a chuckle.  Always a great thing to do anytime of the day...chuckle (I like that word, amusing indeed).  We've been happy to oblige!  

On the meandering list for the inquisitive Celt; IMBOLC! 
We are quickly approaching the ancient Pagan path of the Druid tradition, Imbolc (pronounced without the 'b'), as one of eight seasonal Festivities celebrated throughout the year.  This celebration is held on February 1st/2nd in the Northern Hemisphere and 1st/2nd in the Southern Hemisphere.   The celebration marks the purity of snow, the clearing of the debris of winter and the first ploughing and sowing (I can already start to feel the strength and warmth of the sun on my face.  Can you?).   The name IMBOLC refers to the milk of the ewes who had given birth to the first lambs of the Year.  Many cultures find this time of year to be of great importance including the Aztecs, Tibetans and Greeks. 

This festival celebrates the return of the Mother Goddess Brighid, Brig, Brigit (ST. Brigit, the Catholic Church celebrates with Candlemas Day). Brighde, or Bride (Scottish) and Serpent (Scandinavian customs).  She is associated with sacred fire, the fertile earth, poetry, healing and the art of smithing.  It must be noted*** this Goddess held such a strength of influence for the Celts and Druids that she was in later times named as a Christian Saint. 

In essence, it is the time of planting seeds, whether it be physical or within ourselves; a time of new life gradually appearing as the earth awakens from it's frozen state to the humble beginnings of greenery, once more. 

To sum up this first blog, I look forward to many more & leave you with images of Celtic Art, which I find to be absolutely wondrous, & words of wisdom from the ancients... !

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Three things resemble each other;
  1. a bright sword which rusts from long staying in the scabbard
  2. bright water which stinks from long standing
  3. wisdom which is dead from long disuse
To say..... the sword of the intellect needs significant use and practice if it is to remain clear and bright; allow your hearts to be filled with love and allow the expression of that love; we cannot be wise if we do not share our wisdom or refuse to act righteously (as the old saying goes - 'if you don't use it, you lose it'! 
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    Author; Helena Ryan

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