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Post by bobmullo on Oct 16, 2017 5:50:12 GMT -1
Hello,
I'm new to the Celtic reconstructionist thing. I just started reading the Mabinogion. I have a 50 year old English translation I kept from when I was kid so I think I'll just stick to this version for now. I was interested in Tolkien as a child so I remember reading some bits and pieces of Welsh literature.
I have begun reading through dunbrython.org and I am aware of the framework that Celtic Reconstructionism and this community works within. From my understanding, it is encouraged to stay within a single cultural context so I am curious about how Gaulish and Brythonic/Welsh/British strains of practice inform each other. I also find it difficult to separate out the Gaelic side of all of this.
I'm taking this slowly in case I get discouraged by my lack of knowledge. I'm not used to participating in forums but I was hoping to actually talk to people on here. I do not speak Welsh or any other Celtic language so pronunciation is something I am struggling with. Are most people on this forum from Britain?
Thanks for allowing me to be here.
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Post by lorna on Oct 16, 2017 10:09:35 GMT -1
Hello Bobmullo and welcome to Brython I'm not one hundred per cent sure we'd all class ourselves as Celtic Reconstructionists here. I define my path as Brythonic polytheist (I'm also an awenydd). My approach is much more based on developing a devotional relationship with the gods in the here-and-now and reimagining their stories from personal visions of the old myths than trying to reconstruct the past. Not being a Celtic Reconstructionist I'm too concerned about sticking within a single cultural context and am not sure it's possible. I don't think those strands you mention can be separated. To me Britain is a country where prior to the arrival of the Romans, during the Romano-British period, and during the post-Roman period prior to to the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons, people spoke Brythonic languages and were of a Brythonic culture (except for the Pictish areas of Scotland) and worshiped Brythonic gods for many many centuries. When the Anglo-Saxons settled England, Wales became the only place Brythonic culture and language survived fully. The name Wales actually comes from an English word for foreigners. Welsh is Brythonic. Of course Wales has established its own identity since. Brythonic and Gaulish culture were intrinsically linked, with Caesar saying the people of Gaul got their gods and religious traditions from the Druids of Britain. There are inscriptions to gods with the same names throughout Britain and Gaul. And of course there was cross-over with Ireland and the Isle of Man across the Irish Sea. The sea was more passable than land in those days. We have forum members from both Britain and America and are open to folks from across the world
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Post by Heron on Oct 16, 2017 12:15:10 GMT -1
Hello and welcome! I have begun reading through dunbrython.org and I am aware of the framework that Celtic Reconstructionism and this community works within. From my understanding, it is encouraged to stay within a single cultural context so I am curious about how Gaulish and Brythonic/Welsh/British strains of practice inform each other. I also find it difficult to separate out the Gaelic side of all of this. As Lorna indicates, Gaulish and British practice was common in the Ancient World. Later medieval Welsh sources record much of earlier British material in the form of bardic tradition and also embedded in prose like The Mabinogion collection. Entirely separating Gaelic from Brythonic is difficult and a topic of endless debate among scholars although there are two distinct traditions. As Lorna also indicates, we aim to re-create rather than reconstruct; to make the material inspired by the past relevant to our own times.
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Post by bobmullo on Oct 16, 2017 17:40:11 GMT -1
Thank you both for the information. Actual polytheism is very new to me. I dabbled in heathenism once when I was a teenager trying to escape conservative Protestantism. I just didn't understand back then that there was never a complete replacement of Celtic Britons with Saxons, Danes, Normans etc. I thought then that because of my British heritage that Germanic deities would be for me. I feel like I am more called to honor Brythonic deities. Now that I'm older and better educated, I understand that genetics and language have really nothing to do with the other.
Is there much Latin influences involved with Brythonic practice? I ask is because I know that historically Romans were syncretists and that they were in Britain for hundreds of years blending their gods with British gods. I would like to reconstruct/recreate what religion would be like if Christianity hadn't been such a dominating force on my religious mindset. Hypothetically supposing Christianity never reached the island of Britain what would religion look like? I hope this all makes sense.
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Post by potia on Oct 19, 2017 20:03:02 GMT -1
Welcome. A while ago we used the term reconnection rather than reconstruction so that might help you are where several of us have our focus In terms of Latin influence I think most of us will acknowledge that to some extent what we do know about some Brythonic deities owes something to inscriptions left by those of Roman Britain. I don't think that means much in terms of Roman style practices though although personal practices can be very individual.
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Post by gruffudd on Nov 3, 2017 13:00:21 GMT -1
Hi bobmullo and welcome.
I'm on a similar boat to Lorna, I don't try to reconstruct the past but make my relationships relevant to today so I don't really identify as a reconstructionist either.
For example Vindos to me is not only a psychopomp but keeper of the spirit roads (and more...) so I make the assumption He can also aid in travel, so my car is blessed in His name and a prayer said before long travels. If I was reconstructing I wouldn't have done this as the ancients did not have cars. Its worked for me so far and I believe I can feel His presence in these times.
I look forward to speaking with you...
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