I was wondering if any of you knew how to say witch in Gaelic as I am planning on personalising my license plates on my car. Thanks to you all!!!!!

by the way, if you do know the answer to this feel free to e-mail me at ladyfirebrand58@hotmail.com!

There isn't a word for witch in Irish, at least not as it's understood in modern English. You could have 'cailleach,' which has connotations of an old woman (hag) with magical powers, or 'bean draoi,' a woman of magic. I'd avoid using 'cailleach' if I were you.

witch is old english for wise one. the closest thing in irish is Druid.

How about bean fheasa?
Then again I don't know gaelic .. so...

Out of idle curiousity, why do you recommend against using cailleach, Shae?

Because The Cailleach might be still alive and, if she is, she is a very ancient, very powerful lady who doesn't like wannabe pagans who don't know their arse from their elbow messing about with her. She does her own thing so just leave her alone!

Sorry, Acc and all.

I did not mean to angry you. I just honestly did not know why you said that.

I have always thought of cailleach as being different from The Cailleach. the same as most christians would consider refering to a god entirely different from refering to The God. Personally, I think that there is no doubt that The Cailleach is still alive. Furthermore, I think that she would be honored for one to let others know that he or she pays tribute to The Cailleach.

The Cailleach has faced many attempts to defame her over the centuries, and even today you need look no further than the reprehensible movie "The Blair Witch Project" to see that these attempts continue even today.

I did not ask that question for a long time, for the fear that you might share the patriarchal revisionist view of the name. I should have known that you would not. Forgive my doubting you.

Although I do not pretend to know the Folklore, Myths and Legends anywhere near as well as you, I try to do the best that I can. I do hope that I don't fit into the catagory of not knowing my mythological arse from a legendary hole in the ground.

As far as the initial question on this conversation, would Faery Doctor be a good substitute? Yeats refered to men and women gifted with The Sight or other gifts as Faery Doctors. It is not exactly the same, but I think it might work.

It would be a bit lengthy in Gaelige or in English to put it on a license plate, but so would every other suggestion I have seen given. (For an American License Plate anyway seven characters is usually the maximum)

Once again, Shae, please accept my apologies, I meant no offense.

My annoyance was not directed at any particular individual but at the misinformation and downright wrong information that seems to be floating around among some groups of present-day pagans. Not that it’s relevant, but my own belief is that all deities are inventions of the human imagination and nothing more. However I respect every person’s right to believe and practice what they wish as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else. Some of my best and most respected friends are pagans. The difference between them and many others is that they have studied the traditions and aren’t led by the nose by pseudo-pagans who concoct their own versions of the "old ways," usually blending several different traditions and ending up with something that is undoubtedly unique but totally devoid of any resemblance to any known genuine pagan belief.

Anyway, enough of my rant and back to Daryl’s queries.

"The Cailleach" is a concept rather than the name of a particular goddess. She was the personification of the "Land" and, as such, was Sovereignty. People didn’t "pay tribute" to The Cailleach/Sovereignty. Only the king-elect could have any dealings with her. As king, he was given responsibility for the well-being of his people, their crops and kine by Sovereignty. His success or failure was determined by her. If she approved him, his reign was a success. If she didn’t, he was doomed. She wasn’t someone to be tangled with lightly. That’s why I suggested she should be left alone if you believe she still lives.

As for "Faery Doctor," the notion of fairy, faery, fey is of Germanic/Nordic origin and is a relatively recent introduction to Irish folklore. It has no place in Celtic mythology. Yeats was a great poet but, while he and Lady Gregory deserve great credit for reviving interest in things Celtic in general and in Irish mythology especially, they did a great disservice by overly romanticising them. Just my opinion!

I agree with you Shae, there is a lot of misinformation and misconceptions as to what true paganism is...in a historical as well as a modern day sense.
~It has always been my opinion that true magic is something which exists in all things..it is something which never died, nor is it possible to extinguish it's flame..as it is inherant in all creatures, as indeed it is a part of our eternal existance. For some it is only a matter of re-awakening that sleeping dragon within. Witchcraft to me, to use that term, has always been about tapping in to that spring of ever-present knowledge which we all share and experience ..
I personally view the world around me and all it's components as part of a greater living organism, a creature (the universe..) which we are as much a living part of as the stars..and the earth..the heavens. For me god is in everything.. he/she/us/it is in the forest trees, the winds, the sea..the drops of rain, the dark clouds as well as the sunshine and rainbows...we are all reflections of oneanother, as light and shadow are upon waters.
Every moment is , to me, a precious part of a greater moment in time and space..as it unravels. spiralling outwards and inwards, giving birth to countless moments..
I do not subscribe to the teachings set out in any religion...I respect and share many of the views of, say Buddhism for instance..but I do not consider myself to be a Buddhist, any more than I could be considered a Christian, Muslim, or a Pagan for that matter..., though paganism is often the word easiest, and best used to desribe the 'heathenistic' views I hold on the religion, the world, and existance, without getting into the whole sha-bang of it.
The point I am trying to reach is that, while I am in no way an authority on the subject anymore than your average person, I feel that it is possible to practice 'witchcraft', simply by tuning in to the frequency of your soul..studying the arts of expression, divination, and healing...
What is a witch to you? That is the question I put forth for all now...
I have always found that a true witch is someone who you can go to when in need of counsel, or help..a wise soul..a friend..
If we are to examine the role witches have traditionally played in society(in general)..it is that of the healer, the sage, the prophet.. as well as sometimes the vehicle of (what many would view as unnatural occurences, and others as miracles)..although not limited to these alone, (as every culture differs, thus the role of an individual in that society may as well).
The image of the old hag is one that has long been popularized, and re-hashed by common society, Indeed it would be an old man or woman who perhaps has learned, and earned, a great deal of knowledge,respect, wisdom,...though one may sometimes be born to certain wisdom or powers...( as a natural-born comdedian is often recognizable by his/her inate ability to make others laugh, smile etc.)
Often teachings are passed from parent (mother or father or other close-relative) to child, sometimes unknowingly, or in fact inherited on the cellular level..Some are more apt to finding and rediscovering their talents..for others it may be a long process of study and achievment, to attain that wisdom which they might seek.
It has long been the case that mothers may pass on their teachings, through stories and song..weaving a generational thread which trancends time. Whilst there are many numerous books which might help one to better understand some arts or sciences (botany for one)..true knowledge must come from experience.
Witchcraft is , above all else , to me, about helping others to see and find their true inner beauty, it is about recognizing the integral oneness, and and thus inseperable quality of magic in our lives. Moreover, it is a living, breathing thing. If we look at it from merely a historical perspective, comparing it solely to the practices of a by-gone era..I feel we will miss the point entirely.
I suggested 'bean fheasa' because I understood that to mean a wise woman.. (or perhaps more correctly one of an advanced knowledge or wisdom)..As many of you know I am still new to the gaelic language..thus the excuse for my mistake if indeed it is so.
Well now that I have rambled...
All my care in whatever path you may follow, a chairde.

I've a great number of books on Irish Myths and Folklore, I think that it is difficult (Especially outside of Ireland) to get your hands on work older than Yeats. Even Lady Gregory's work I have found difficult to get my hands on original books. (I detest edited or interpreted versions)

I often am dismayed at the obvious misinformation I see printed in many modern books, but when I read the older books, I find that there were many discrepancies about the Irish Dieties. Not just them, all other Dieties seem to have changed over the centuries even when they were still being worshipped. (A thing that I have never found any reference to any Celtic Goddess or God requiring)

As I type this I look at a German Lithograph that hangs over my computer. It depicts a Celtic Chariot with driver and warrior riding, a raven is flying over them and a dog runs beside. I am reminded that according to the best research I can get my hands on, the Celts began their conquest (If you can call it that) of Europe from the Swiss/German Alps. Arriving in Ireland after the Milesians and many other groups. The beliefs of those who arrived there before them were obviously influenced by them, as theirs were by those they met there.

That neo-pagans adopt many different tenants from many different sources, is only to be expected as the entire world is now a single village thanks to the Internet.

I am trying to find the translation for A Mother's Witch can anyone help me?