Category Archives: Celtic

Carved into the Future

Posted on March 24, 2013 by greenmackenzie

This beech tree stands on the edge of the woods which spill away from the parkland gardens of the old abbey. It has been here a long time. It’s roots reach down through the same rocks and soil which covered … Continue reading →

Posted in ancient sites, Celtic, photos, spiritual, weekly photo challenge | Tagged ancient beliefs, Celtic, love, nature, photography, postaday, scotland, spiritual, trees | 60 Comments

Winters Grip – Cailleach Bhearra

Posted on January 27, 2013 by greenmackenzie

The Cailleach’s icy grip holds the earth as firm as iron. Her cold blue skin reflects the chilly sky above, and her frozen blood is as hard as all the water across the earths face. She squeezes tight … Continue reading →

Posted in ancient history, Celtic, change, elemental, history, mythology, photos | Tagged Blue Hag, Cailleach Bhearra, Celtic, change, fairy tales, photography, scotland, scottish, snow, symbolism, winter, Winter myths | 7 Comments

Weekly Travel Photo Challenge: Mystical

Posted on November 18, 2012 by greenmackenzie

These photos were taken in a Scottish peat bog, deep in the Scottish Highlands, and I was captivated by the clarity and depth of reflection in the dark peaty water. The sky seemed to fill the pool with mesmerising reflections … Continue reading →

Posted in ancient sites, Celtic, mythology, nature photo, photos, weekly photo challenge | Tagged Celtic, clouds, dragonfly, Highlands, nature, peat bog, photo, photography, scotland, scottish, spiritual, the past | 15 Comments

Weekly Photo Challenge: Renewal

Posted on November 10, 2012 by greenmackenzie

The deep well of renewal. Wells were in the past places where travellers could refresh and renew themselves, before the next stage of their journey. They were also sacred places of connection with the otherworld, and its regenerative forces of … Continue reading →

Posted in ancient sites, Celtic, mindfulness, nature photo, weekly photo challenge | Tagged Highlands, mindfulness, musings, nature, photo, photography, postaday, renewal, sacred well, scotland, spiritual, travel, Well | 5 Comments

Dark Roots: Memoirs of an Old Scottish Halloween

Posted on October 29, 2012 by greenmackenzie

The gathering gloom swirled with crisply tumbled leaves and neep lanterns and candles began to flicker in the windows and on the doorsteps of the village. I was rushing to put the finishing touches to my turnip lantern, with the … Continue reading →

Posted in ancient history, Celtic, childhood, history, mythology | Tagged All Hallows Eve, celebration, Celtic, guising, Halloween, history, lanterns, life, musings, night, postaday, Rosshire, samhain, scotland, scottish, symbolism, the past, travel, turnip lanterns | 5 Comments

Friendships tricky paths

Posted on September 13, 2012 by greenmackenzie

The path of friendship is often long and rocky, with many twists, turns, ups and downs, but to survive must always be a joint adventure. Both halves must be able to allow the other to grow and change freely and … Continue reading →

Posted in Celtic, celtic prayer, friends, mindfulness, nature photo, philosophy, poem, spiritual, stuckness, thoughts | Tagged blessing, Celtic, change, friends, friendship, friendships, Highlands, life, love, mindfulness, nature, photo, poem, poetry, postaday, prayer, relationships, sacred, scotland, scottish, the past, walk | 2 Comments

Deep Peace

Posted on August 30, 2012 by greenmackenzie

I walked today along the beach, listening to the long gentle waves washing through the sand. There was a feeling of peace filling the whole place, with just a whisper of a breeze caressing the air. The school have all … Continue reading →

Posted in Celtic, celtic prayer, green walks, mindfulness, nature photo, photos, poem, relaxation | Tagged beach, calm space, celtic monks, DPchallenge, Edinburgh, gentle waves, life, mindfulness, nature, photo, poem, poetry, postaday, relaxation, scotland, spititual, the past, vacation, walk | 8 Comments

Pictish footsteps

Posted on August 14, 2012 by greenmackenzie

We took a walk along the shores of Loch Duich to this amazing iron age broch. Its called Caisteal Grugaig (or Dun Totaig) Broch, and is well off the beaten track on a lonely peninsula, looking across Loch Duich and … Continue reading →