Nemeton Belisama is the name of our Celtic clan, the group dedicated to Celtic activities within Nemeton, Institute for Shamanic and Systemic Art. Our Nemeton (a Celtic word for the space reserved to Gods and Men, the Temple) is dedicated to Belisama, Goddess of Light to whom belonged the main temple in Medhelanon (Milan, Italy), which used to stand where today is Duomo square. Belisama means “the brilliant one” or “the shining one”.
The tradition of Belisama goes on in the Madonnina (the golden statue of St. Mary dominating Milan’s gothic cathedral), protector of the city that was once the spiritual and trading capital of Gallia cisalpina. It also continues in our activities and lives. Since many years, we celebrate in public three of the most important rites of Celtic tradition: Samonios (Samhain, Hallowe’en, Festa dei Morti) around November 1, Imbolc (Candelore) around February 1 and Beltane (May, Maggio) around May 1.
Our druidic rituals, open to all, are conducted by Elena Dell’Orto and Marco Massignan. Families and children are very welcome. Celtic or medieval dress is appcreciated. Rituals are followed by a feast and by traditional live Celtic music events, with songs and dances. They are held in the Orta lake area, in the province of Novara, 1 h from Milano and Lugano and a 1h 20 min from Torino. All donations will be given to charities.
IMBOLC 2017
CELTIC RITUAL AND FEAST
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2017
h 19 – 22.30
WITH TRADITIONAL FEAST
Info and booking: text +39-347-9348198 or email info@marcomassignan.org
Minimum donation euro 30 (FREE for children under 18). Families welcome.
Celtic or medieval dress appreciated
MEANING AND PURPOSE OF THE DRUIDIC RITUAL
Imbolc corresponds to the Candelore of Christian superimposition on Celtic traditional feasts. It marks the middle point in the dark, feminine half of the year (from Old Irish i mbolg, “in the belly”, meaning that winter is pregnant with power for summer to come). The main purposes of Imbolc ritual are:
– purification by water and fire, led by the priestess/Goddess Brigantia/Brigid/Saint Brigid (hands, feet and head)
– honoring the first germination of seeds in the ground, where the frost of winter is starting to decrease;
– bringing growth into the lives of people, and sometimes creating a talisman containing growth power, in order to use it in the following months.
Brigantia’s Fire prepresents both Earth’s fertility and Sun’s heat. Both of them will gradually gain power as days become longer and longer. Lighting the Sacred Fire or the candles (if indoor) is an expression of magical encouragement to these growing forces – and a sign of joy for the light which is now more abundant.
BELTANE 2017
CELTIC RITUAL AND FEAST
SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2017
h 18.30 – 23.45
Hotel Le Betulle, c.so XXV Aprile 54, S.Maurizio d’Opaglio (NO)
lago d’Orta, Italy
WITH TRADITIONAL FEAST AND LIVE MUSIC
Info and booking – text +39-347-9348198 info@marcomassignan.org
Minimum donation euro 30 (FREE for children under 18). Families welcome.
Celtic or medieval dress appreciated
The Beltane ritual (the Maggio or May of peasants’ tradition) is the most important rite after Samonios, because it marks the beginning of the lightful half of the year, which is dedicated to the male God. It is the triumph of sexual love, fertility, light, and of conscious aspects of life.
All nature is now blooming, ablaze with colors and sounds, mating and thriving. This ritual revolves around the Fire’s transforming power and the mythical figure of the Flower Maiden. She welcomes the Maponos, the Divine Boy who incarnates the young, male sexuality. Simbolically, the two mate to ensure material and spiritual abundance to the tribe (him) and the Earth (her). The sacred wedding is then renewed. Other themes connected to this ritual are the defeat of Hawthorn Giant, who represents Nature’s caothic forces, and the healing power of Fire (male) into Water (female).
MEANING AND PURPOSE OF THE DRUIDIC RITUAL
The purpose of the ritual is to invoke spiritual and material abundance for couples, families, and the community at large. Two Sacred Fires will be lit following the druidic ritual. Then participants will pass through the bonfires in order to purify themselves and to receive abundance from thr Gods. This ritual is particularly indicated for couples who want to have children, in order to pray for a job, for sexual love, and for families.
During the evening it is possible to get married through the CELTIC WEDDING ritual. If you are interested as a couple, please contact us at least two weeks in advance.
SAMONIOS 2017
CELTIC RITUAL AND FEAST
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2017
h 18.30 – 23.55
Hotel Le Betulle
c.so XXV Aprile 54, S.Maurizio d’Opaglio (NO) Italy
WITH TRADITIONAL FEAST AND LIVE MUSIC
Info and booking – text +39-347-9348198 or email info@marcomassignan.org
Minimum donation euro 30 (FREE for children under 18). Families welcome.
Celtic or medieval dress appreciated
MEANING AND PURPOSE OF THE DRUIDIC RITUAL
“Samonios or Samhain (which was later turned into Halloween) is the main ritual and starting point of the Celtic ritual year. Samonios (“end of summer”) is the time of the year when gates between worlds are opened, and the Ancestors come closer. It marks the beginning of the dark cycle of the Goddess and the feminine, when plants and many animals go into their winter sleep. As darkness comes back and reaches its longest during the day, the year itself goes back into the Otherworld’s womb, from where it will grow back and flourish again in spring. Any real growth happens in darkness, which is the source of vitality and uncoscious things, before the conscious, male aspect discovers the limiting ways of rationality.
A great part of the Samonios celebration revolves around the rekindling of the Sacred Fire, invoking its energy for new future endeavours. Fear of darkness and fear of death are striclty related. Through the symbolic (and effective!) power of this ceremony, we will be more prepared to pass the dark winter season and look at death with no fear. Among other themese of this ritual there are renewal, letting go of old things, hospitality towards the dead, tricks and masquerade, the suspension of time and sacrifice in order to thank for the autumn harvest.” (transl. from the book “Costellazioni rituali®” by Marco Massignan, ed. Tecniche Nuove)
ISTRUCTIONS FOR THE RITUAL
Write on a piece of paper what you want to leave in the year that just passed, and bring it to the ritual.
If you want to know more about the Celtic ritual year, please read Alexei Kondratiev’s book The Apple Branch.