#airts

[caraecethrae]

In The Silver Bough, Volume 1, F. Marian McNeill discusses the airts, or the different directions in Scottish tradition. This concept of the directions relating to seasons is also a part of Fairy Witchcraft, where we associate each season with a cardinal point. Each direction is related to a season, with spring in the east, summer in the south, fall in the west, and winter in the north (McNeill, 1956). She mentions that this progression was seen as being connected to the path of the sun through the sky, but that she believes this clockwise movement may also connect to the constellation of Ursa Major. This constellation, which is also called the Farmer’s Clock, points in each of the directions in the corresponding season.

Excerpt From: "Fairycraft: Following The Path Of Fairy Witchcraft" by Morgan Daimler. Scribd.

[megalithix]

Salachary Stones, Kilmartin, Argyll

Salachary Stones, Kilmartin, Argyll

Standing Stones:  OS Grid Reference – NM 8405 0403

Also Known as:

Canmore ID 22831

Getting Here

Two of the Salachary stones

Roughly halfway between the staggering standing stone at Kintraw and the farmhouse of Salachary a coupla miles east along the A816 road to Kilmartin, a small overgrown car park nearly hides on the south-side of the road, just below the forestry.  50 yards west of this, a…

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[megalithix]

Blakey Topping, Allerston, North Yorkshire

Blakey Topping, Allerston, North Yorkshire

Stone Circle:  OS Grid Reference – SE 8719 9338

Getting Here

Old stones of Blakey Topping (photo by James Elkington)

From Pickering, take the A169 towards Whitby. When you get to the Car Park at the ‘Hole-of-Horcum’ – (you can’t miss it), park the car and walk North along the side of the road towards Whitby. After 60 yds, take the track East. Follow this for approximately a mile until the track…

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[megalithix]

Blakey Topping, Allerston, North Yorkshire

Blakey Topping, Allerston, North Yorkshire

Sacred Hill:  OS Grid Reference – SE 8731 9377

Getting Here

Blakey Topping (photo, James Elkington)

From Pickering, take the A169 towards Whitby. When you get to the Car Park at the ‘Hole-of-Horcum’ – (you can’t miss it), park the car and walk North along the side of the road towards Whitby. After 60 yds, take the track East. Follow this for approximately a mile until the track splits. Take the…

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[megalithix]

Stone Hill Head, Allerston Moor, North Yorkshire

Stone Hill Head, Allerston Moor, North Yorkshire

Standing Stone (missing):  OS Grid Reference – SE 881 947

Archaeology & History

A number of standing stones were reported by regional historian Robert Knox (1855) in his antiquarian work of this area, but forestry and vandalism has seen the demise of some.  This one, however, may possibly still be found, laid down somewhere on the tops, along the ridge aptly-named as Stone Hill Head.  Where…

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[morriganscauldron]

The Airts: South

South Fire

“Fire is the creator and the destroyer. It warms our homes, cooks our food, and fuels out passions. Unlike the other elements, Fire cannot exist in phyical form without consuming something else. Thus, fire transforms objects into new forms: heat, light, ash, and smoke.

On a sunny day, go outside at noon and press your receptive hand against a warm rock. Smell the smoke from a burning fire. Gaze into a candle’s flame. Immerse yourself in Fire energy, and realize that it also exists within ourselves.” - Cunningham, Scott; Earth Air Fire Water

Masculine energy - Mother Goddess - Sun King Colors: Traditional : White - Gardnerian : Red Season: Summer Time of life: Adulthood Time of day: Noon Type of Energy: Projective Sense: Sight Gaelic: Deas Regent Planet: Mars Metals: Gold, Brass Magical tools: Athame, Candle, Incense Son of Horus: Tuamutef Rome Wind: Notus ArchAngel: Michael Zodiac: Aries, Leo & Sagittarius Correspondence:  Action & Manifestation Elemental being: Salamander, & Firedrakes Symbols: lightning, volcanoes, rainbow, sun Ritual Work: Freedom, change, sight, perception, vision, illumination, learning, love, will, passion, sexuality, energy ,healing, destruction, purification.

References:

Cunningham, Scott.  Earth, Air, Fire & Water: More Techniques of Natural Magics

Conway, D.J.   Celtic Magic

Few other references....

[morriganscauldron]

The Airts: East

East Air

“Scientists and magicians may have different views concerning this element, but all agree that it’s vital to human survival.

Without air, we would perish.

Air is the power of movement; of freshening and of intelligence. It’s the invisible and yet quite real mixture of gases that we breathe in every day. In magical terms, Air is also the power of the mind: the force of intellect.

Got to a place with clean air and breathe deeply. Touch a feather. Inhale the fragrance of a heavily scented flower. Study an intricately patterned leaf. Experience the wonders of the manifestations of this element. Remember too, that we possess Air energy within ourselves.” - Cunningham, Scott; Earth Air Fire Water

Masculine Energy - Maiden Goddess - Young God Colors: Traditional : Red - Gardnerian : Yellow Season: Spring Time of life: Childhood Time of day: Dawn Type of Energy: Projective Sense: Hearing, Smell Gaelic:  Aes Regent Planet: Mercury Metals: Tin, Coppar Magical tools: Wand, Incense Son of Horus: Qebesenu Rome Wind: Eurus ArchAngel: Raphael Zodiac:  Gemini, Libra & Aquarius Correspondence: Creativity & New Beginnings Elemental Being: Sylph, Zyphyrs & Fairies Symbols: sky, wind, breezes, clouds, breath, vibrations, plants, herbs, flowers, & trees Ritual Work: Knowledge, inspiration, hearing, harmony, herbal knowledge, plant growth, intellect, thought, ideas, travel, freedom, revealing the truth, finding lost things, movement, psychic abilities

References:

Cunningham, Scott.  Earth, Air, Fire & Water: More Techniques of Natural Magics

Conway, D.J.   Celtic Magic

Few other references....