Eluveitie

I have mentioned this band before in the music section of this blog, but everytime I listen to one of their songs, I come to appreciate this band even more.  They are very Celtic influenced and like to tell stories through their songs; mostly about the Gallish wars.  The song below is titled “A Rose for Epona”.  The Goddess Epona was protector of horses, donkeys, and mules.  Epona was the sole Celtic diety that the Romans also worshiped.  Epona and her horses were also said to be the leader of the souls into the Afterlife.  This draws parrallels to Rhiannon of the Mabinogion.  Rhiannon and Epona share a lot of the same attributes.

The song tells about a time when the Gallic wars broke out.  The Helvetians decided to leave their homeland and migrate to the western coasts of Gaul to start a new life.   At the time, the song tells about how many Helvetians had to face shattered hopes.  And so does the protagonist, whose viewpoint the song was written.  A young gaulish woman was part of the helvetic migration, but after the battle of Bibracte, all hopes that she and her people would ever reach their new home were torn to pieces.  Her situation was desparate.  In this situation the young gaulish woman despairs, can’t accept her fate and turns to her goddess Epona and accuses her for having forsaken her people. (Nuclear Blast Europe)

Historical Note:  The reason the song was titled “A Rose for Epona” was that all over Gaul there were Epona temples where people traditionally offered freshly cut roses or rose petals to their goddess.

 

Read Full Post »

Music Post #3- Eimear Quinn

The Voice by Eimear Quinn won the Eurovision Song contest back in 1996.
Those who are fans of Celtic Women would surely love Eimear. She blends traditional Celtic folk with contemporary New Age sounds. She has good vocal range and shows restraint where it is warranted. Sometimes artists with good range feel the need to show off their “pipes”. Eimear understands to establish the mood of a song you need to practice restraint.

The lyrics to The Voice speak to me in a very Druidic way. To me this song is stating that if you open your ears to Nature you will here it speak to you and share its knowledge with you. The Voice is the voice of the Natural World. Listen to the winds and they will whisper in your ear. Listen to the water and it will show you its visions.

The lyric “I am the voice of your history. Be not afraid-come follow me.” speaks to me personally. When I visit my Sacred Grove I am always speaking to my Druid anscestors. To me my ancient Druid anscestors are my guides who lead me down the Druid path. I have one in particular that is always by my side. He is the voice of my history.

This is a very Bardic-type song!

Here are the lyrics to this song:

I hear your voice on the wind
And I hear you call out my name

Listen my child you say to me
I am the voice of your history
Be not afraid – come follow me
Answer my call and I´ll set you free
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice and I will remain

I am the voice in the fields when the Summer´s gone
The dance of the leaves when the Autumn winds blow
N’er do I sleep throughout all the cold Winter long
I am the force that in Springtime will grow

I am the voice of the past that will always be
Filled with my sorrow and blood in my fields
I am the voice of the future
Bring me your peace, bring me your peace
And my wounds they will heal
I am the voice in the wind and the pouring rain
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice that always is calling you
I am the voice

I am the voice of the past that will always be
I am the voice of your hunger and pain
I am the voice of the future
I am the voice
I am the voice
I am the voice
I am the voice

Read Full Post »

Music Post #2: Artist: Enigma

It’s not often that an artist produces music that can alter your mood or put you in an imaginative frame of mind.  Yet Michael Cretu, who is the mastermind behind Enigma, does this time and time again.  I’m going to be very absolute in the next statement but it’s true (for me).  Every single one of Enigma’s songs has the potential to take you to a different realm (others like to call it astral planes or otherworlds).

Some of his work touches on Christian themes others touch on pagan themes.  Some of his work blends the two seemlessly (great for those Christo-pagans).

In my Druid path there is one song that is short in length but packs a big punch lyrically.  The very essence of who I am as a Druid, or rather, who I strive to be as a Druid is captured in “The Cross of Changes”.  Read these lyrics and it will provide you with a small look into the world of a Druid.

Lyrics and video:

If you understand or if you don’t

If you believe or if you doubt

There’s a universal justice

And the eyes of truth

Are always watching you

Read Full Post »

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennitt ‘Mummer’s Dance’

In my first music post, I feel the need to call attention to one pagan artist whose music inspires me.  Loreena McKennitt was the first pagan artist I ever heard when I first stepped foot on the pagan path.  This song, “Mummer’s Dance”, to this day still inspires me to stay on a path that feels so much like home.  The mystical nature of this song speaks to me and is truly a magical song.  This song puts me in the right frame of mind anytime I need to journey to my Sacred Grove (more on that later).

Magic can be in the form of song.  The composition, arrangement, and lyrics of this song place a sense of calm over me.  If I have a particularly stressful day I can listen to this song and the stress washes away.  The magical intent of this song is strong.

For those of you not familiar with paganism and its forms and think magic is about spell work…this is not entirely true.  Yes, I perform spells and rituals.  Think of spells like prayers (if you are Christian).  Prayers are a way to communicate with the divine to bring something into your life or banish something out of your life.  Spells are essentially the same thing.  However, magic can also be performed by way of music, etc…as evidence in the Mummer’s Dance.

Read Full Post »