Celtic Mystery School - Faehallows School of Magic

The Faery Hallows
and the Search for the Holy Grail

A path lined with clues was laid out for us many thousands of years ago. These clues are woven into our world - into the very elements of Earth, Fire, Water, and Air that we see and feel all around and within us, but we can only discover their meaning when we walk the path and open the gates The Sidhe

along the way.

In ancient Irish legend the Tuatha De Danaan (the clan of the Goddess Danu), now known as the Sidhe (pronounced Shee) or faery folk, brought four gifts to our world at the dawn of time, providing us with a template to the secrets of Magic.

This Magical Template has come to be called the Four Sacred Hallows. Today the Hallows can be recognized in the Arthurian legends concerning the Holy Grail, and in the Tarot decks, the images of which can be traced back to the legends of Merlin. These sacred objects have become known collectively as the Holy Grail. The Hallows are feminine, right-brain symbols. They are also represented by the Pythagorean geometrical solids which are masculine, left-brain symbols of the elements in the Hermetic tradition. Many other symbols have sprung from these basic roots, allowing us to penetrate deeper into the mysteries of reality and creation.

The Hallows have never been lost, yet few now recognize them.

Legends of the Hallows and the Holy Grail abound in Celtic/Arthurian mythology, but the Grail itself remains a mystery. It is represented as a Cup or Cauldron of Plenty in some stories, often in connection with a Spear, but in other stories it is seen as a Stone, sometimes in connection with a Sword.

Even in stories as modern as the Harry Potter series, we find reflections of the original four hallows in the symbols of the houses of Hogwarts: the stone in Slytherin's ring, Huffelpuff's cup, and Gryffindore's sword. And of course in the final book, the Deathly Hallows are represented by the elder wand and the stone from Slytherin's ring (with the unique addition of an invisibility cloak).

* The mystery of the four Sacred Hallows is a map to understanding who we are and our place in the universe. They can be seen as stepping stones on our path through this world and the Otherworlds.

* The Hallows are keys to using magic in your life; a pathway to order, balance, rhythm, and harmony. They increase access to right-brain consciousness and the Otherworlds, while also grounding us in the reality of physical life on Earth.

* The Hallows are the living elements of Earth, Air, Fire, and Water with which we can communicate in love and respect. They are not here to serve us, nor are we here to serve them, but we can establish a mutually beneficial relationship with them.

Ancient Mythology

The Grail is not a "thing" it is the wholeness and balance of all things, as represented by the four elements and four gifts of the faeries. They are represented as follows:

Note: You will find that many traditions associate the Sword with Air, and the Wand with Fire, which seems odd to me, since it is a sword of light and light comes only from fire! However, some associate light with the first rays of the rising Sun in the East and therefore connect the sword of light with Air in the East.

Multiple and varied streams of oral tradition have led to much confusion about our history and the ancient associations, but magic is a living practice and we are reinventing our traditions as we explore the mysteries. The only important thing is that it works for you. As you walk the magical path, you will naturally discover your own alignment with the symbols, directions and elements, depending on where you live, that may or may not fit with what you have read or heard. Trust it.

For our present purpose, we will touch on the most commonly accepted associations used in Celtic magical circles.

stone pentacle symbol of earth and north

The Stone of Destiny - Pentacle
Representing Earth
Beautiful stone pentacles available from allthingsmagickal.com

The Sword of Light - Athame
Representing Air
Beautiful athames available
from magicksupplies.co.uk

chalice, cup, cauldron symbol of west and water

The Cauldron of Plenty - Cup
Representing Water

Beautiful chalices available from
http://celticcrafts.uk.com

The Spear of Victory - Wand
Representing Fire

Beautiful wands available from whitemagic.com.au

The Crossroads - Celtic Cross

Representing Center - Balance
Ether - Energy - the Void

By finding balance between all four Hallows, we stand at the center of the crossroads. We are able to achieve inner harmony and connection with our Creative Source within and without. You can use these symbols in meditation to enhance the creative energy of your magic. Held in balance they are a portal to the Otherworlds.

Learn More About Celtic Magic
and the Path of the Faery Hallows

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