MEDIEVAL MAGIC OF WITCHES AND SORCERERS

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Celtic Tradition

The Celts, like the Slavs, were deeply connected with nature, but their magic was oriented not only towards the earth but also towards celestial forces. For them, the world was a network of interconnected realms, between which there existed a flow of energy, magic, and power. Everything around them—trees, rivers, mountains, the sky—was perceived as a living, magical reality, and people could engage in dialogue with this world. Celtic magic was closely intertwined with myths and legends. The central figure of Celtic magic was the druid—priest, teacher, and sorcerer—who not only performed ritual practices but also preserved knowledge. Druids had knowledge of herbs, healing, prophecies, and even the ability to influence the course of events through rituals. They used natural forces—from water to fire—to achieve their goals. Among the most famous magical symbols of the Celtic tradition are the cross, the circle, triskeles, and other signs representing the union of different elements and worlds. The tree, especially the oak, was a sacred symbol. It embodied life and death, spirits of ancient forests that possessed extraordinary power. The Celts believed that if a person cut down a sacred tree, they would enter into a dangerous confrontation with nature, which could lead to misfortune.