From ancient times comes the mention of the Oral Faery Tradition: A tradition mixed with magick and surrealism; a tradition that enchants the listener, drawing you into the mystery teachings hinted at in its mythos. The Oral Faery Tradition' teachings and its dimensions are not about little creatures flitting about with wings on their backs, as is so popularly miscontrued by individuals who are not a part of this authentic tradition. It is a tradition and world centered in the primal earth and the power contained therein, the stars inside the earth, the circles of existence. It is a tradition rich with ancient Gods, the ancestors, and the continuum. The Oral Faery Tradition has survived, and is alive today. The tradition of Faery Wicca is recognized as the backbone of many other types of Celtic Wicca. The tradition spans generations and is replete with rich and varied practices.



      Like most ancient worlds, old-world Europe had its own shamanic tradition, which goes back at least 20 thousand years and possibly even further. In Faery Wicca, this shamanic tradition is known as the Oral Faery Tradition. The Oral Faery Tradition has gone through many modifications over the centuries. From a shamanic mystery practice, it passed into the Faery Faith. From the Faery Faith, it passed into a folk faith. As a folk faith, it dwindled into folktales and customs. Today, it has been remodified as simply Faery Wicca.



      Shamanism is considered one of the oldest forms of human spirituality. Visible signs of its practice have been discovered in many, if not all, of the Celtic countries. Rock paintings, ancient carved stones, standing circles, and other artifacts found in Ireland, Scotland, France and throughout Europe provide evidence that shamanic practices were a central part of the religious tradition, providing glimpses into the lives and beliefs of the pre-Celtic and Celtic shamans.



      Some of the first evidence of shamanism was found in the scenarious painted on cave walls in France and Spain. We are told that such drawings suggest an extremely archaic, but highly accurate, rendition of the shamanic experience such as shapeshifted individuals that are part human, part animal and part bird; a human figure lying in a trance like state; animals swarming in a stampede of spirit and power; and strikingly clear symbols of birth, life, death and rebirth.


      From Les Trois Freres



      Regardless of which branch of shamanism, there appear to be many common denominators: the practitioners are travelers who strive to see the sun at midnight and have come to know that power is somewhat like perfume, and the practices which involve delving into invisible realms are standard forms, boiling down to the same function. The differences and similarities of European shamanism and other world forms are complimentary rather than antagonistic, and the aspects combine to mark the position of the group in society; it is through the interplay of the distinctive contrasts that each group acquires its own identity, yet they remain firmly rooted side by side in modern practices.



      Shamans work in trance states, moving between the visible and invisible worlds, bringing back "visions.' Visions are known to come from the Spirit Realm, originating from the Divine Mind of Deity, and to receive a vision means one is blessed with prophecy-second sight-that one has truly traveled into the Spirit Realm, into the Other World, and returned. In Faery Shamanism, the term used for such a vision seeker is "seer."



      One of the primary responsibilities of the shaman was to focus on wholeness (the balancing of disease and health in the living before the shadow of death claimed a hold). Through trial and error, knowledge was learned and integrated, and with such knowledge came the acquirement of wisdom and power. Traditionally, a shaman was "called" at an early age into the realm of spirit. In ancient times, such a child would have been closely observed by the clan shaman, and in time, as the child grew, if he or she contined to demonstrate abilities deemed appropriate by the elder, she or he would become the charge of the shaman and apprenticed in the wise ways.



      The student of shamanism must truly learn to see what is not there, hear what is not heard, smell what is not evident, feel what is not felt, and taste the untastable. As a student, you must hold a belief in the All, by discovering your relationship to all created beings, animals, vegetable, and mineral. You must become aware of the shape and dimensions of the cosmos around you; learn to get out of the head, into the fire. You must learn to seek out spirit beings, guides, allies, guardians, totems in the OtherWorld; learn to trust an inner teacher. You must develop the ability to journey into the OtherWorld realms, where eventually you will meet the Ancient Ones, thus advancing into your spiritual deepening. But most importantly, the student of shamanism must expect the unexpected; know that magick can happen at any time, that one cannot predict or assume the form it will take; therefore, in order to receive the magick, to be ready, be aware..in one moment...you must be able to appreciate, to recognize the magick as it happens and unfold with it.


      Like many indigenous, earth-centered people, the Celts lived in diverse, scattered, tribal units, sometimes banding together for specific trade or military purposes, sharing many animistic beliefs and practices, along with a common attitude and respect for the land the spirits of the land." Like the Native American today, the Celts are struggling to save their Gaelic language, literature, folk customs and ancient religious beliefs by keeping their spiritual practices alive.



      The Faery Shaman was a storyteller, the joker or maker of riddles, the shapeshifter, mediator between the mystical OtherWorld of the sidhe and the mortal land of the living. They were known as mythological goddesses or gods, legendary heroes, cunning women and men, healers, poets, bards, priestesses and druids. There were even Christian monks and saints and later, mystics and witches. The Irish have kept this belief alive, even through the encroachment of new religions and the possibility of meeting death by holding ancient views.




      Music: Willow Tree
      Courtesy of Barry Taylor
      Used with Permission.




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