The creation of Celtic Reconstructionism (CR) has been an ongoing collaborative effort between several people who want to further the Celtic culture. In 1985 during the Pagan Spirit Gathering in
Anyone can be a practitioner of CR. It does not matter if a person is of Celtic descent or not. The only thing that matters is if a person has an interest and is willing to become involved with a community and culture. People who practice CR do not really have a hierarchy or clergy, although some groups may have leadership specific to their group. With that said, people can practice solitary or in a group. There really is no clergy in CR, and the closest thing to clergy is people who are great contributors to a larger CR community. These people may provide one or more of a variety of services such as leading rituals, divination or healing. It is not a requirement to do these things, and it is possible to practice at home alone or with family. Since there really is no hierarchy, the elders are determined by looking at what the individual has given to the community and what type of person they are. It is the person, not a title that people are looking for, for guidance.
The beliefs of CR are that of ancient Celtic religions reconstructed into a modern context. CR attempts to follow the information regarding Celtic religion found in ancient texts and folklore. Information that is believed on a personal level; found or gained through more mystical practices such as meditation or spiritual experiences are called Unsubstantiated Personal Gnosis (UPG). It is not wrong to believe in the information found through UPG, however it cannot be verified through academic methods therefore should be looked at carefully to see if it can be used in spiritual practice. It is important to test out the information gained through UPG to see if it fits with ones beliefs. It can be put up against academic texts and folklore to see if it goes along with everything else one believes. There is no one book that describes the Celitc faith; rather practitioners look to academic texts and folklore, as well as intellectual discussion to further their beliefs.
Celtic Reconstructionists believe in multiple Gods and Goddesses. Because there are so many deities in the Celtic culture, the deities one chooses to work with are typically chosen based on the Celtic culture that person leans most toward. Some CRs will work with Patron or Matron Deities, and it is believed that the deities choose the person, not the other way around. CRs do not worship or use the divine; rather they build a relationship with them which resembles more of a friendship. One thing I have found interesting in this research is the “paths” that people can choose to follow. There are such paths as the Warrior path, or the Poets path. The path chosen is decided by a person’s interests and where they feel a pull toward. It is possible for a person to study more that one path at a time whether that is personal choice or possibly a requirement to master a specific path. There are many ways a person might follow a specific path, but to give an example; if a person follows the Warrior path, they might work with specific war deities, and then they might work on mastering something physical like self-defense or fensing, etc. Along with this the person might follow a career path that goes along with the warrior path, such as military or law enforcement. I thought this was a neat way to bring your life into perspective and focus.
Typically the holidays celebrated are determined by the path and deities that are followed. However certain paths do celebrate Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine, and Lunasa, as well as other important holidays specific to the person’s faith; such as a specific holiday to their Patron or Matron deity. The common practice for the dates of celebration are as follows: Samhain is celebrated as approximately the first frost; Imbolic is the first thaw; Bealtaine is when spring turns to summer, and Lunasa is is held around the middle of August sometime. In addition to holidays, rites of passage are also celebrated such as handfastings, burials, and child blessings. To celebrate any of these things, sacred space is not created as a place for spiritual practice as it is in some other pagan religions, it is found. This means that a person may find a spot out in a field that “speaks” to him as the perfect spot for spiritual practice.
There is a whole lot of information out there on the Celtic Culture and CR. This essay barely skimmed the surface of the information available. I'm happy with the religious path I follow, however I strongly believe that no matter what religion you follow there is always something to gain from learning about other's beliefs. Diversity is all around us, rather than fight it, we should embrace it.
Sources:
The CR FAQ (website) http://www.paganachd.com/faq/index.html Site copyright to Kathryn Price NicDhàna
“Celtic Reconstructionist Paganism” WitchVox Article by Erynn Rowan Laurie, Kathryn Price NicDhàna, Aedh Rua Ó Mórríghan, Kym Lambert ní Dhoireann and John Machate, ed. by Erynn Rowan Laurie http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=uswa&c=trads&id=6645
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