Wiccan Bard?

[Leander]

I've looked around for ages to find a path for specifically Wiccan Bards. Is there one, or will I have to go it alone?

[mucgwyrt]

Hhhhmm... well as a bard is Celtic and Wiccans are, well, eclectic, I think that your chances of finding a Wiccan-Bard are quite slim. What kind of thing do you do, as a Wiccan-Bard?

[Nighthawk]

So, you wish to be wiccan and sing songs of the land and of the history...or something?

[Morgandria]

Many covens have a bard. This position is one where the person writes chants and songs for the coven, or in general, for worship, and is responsible for teaching the coven new chants, or leading chant or song in ritual. Not every coven has one.

-M.

[Nighthawk]

I was wondering if this is where they were going with it....

[Leander]

Many covens have a bard. This position is one where the person writes chants and songs for the coven, or in general, for worship, and is responsible for teaching the coven new chants, or leading chant or song in ritual. Not every coven has one.

-M.

Yeah, that kind of thing. I love music and poetry, and I wanted to find a way to incorporate my love of these arts into my religion.

[Nighthawk]

It sounds fascinating..... So, you play some instrument, and you will write these thoughts in poetry like form, and put them to music... It sounds really cool.

[mucgwyrt]

Well I never, you learn something new every day :D

[mothwench]

Many covens have a bard. This position is one where the person writes chants and songs for the coven, or in general, for worship, and is responsible for teaching the coven new chants, or leading chant or song in ritual. Not every coven has one.

-M.
that's not a historical interpretation of a bard. when did the meaning change?

[CleftOfLight]

I thought Bards were poets? So how can you have a tradition of nothing but poets?Maybe you shold start like a Bard Society were poets could get together write poems share there creativity and stuff lke that.

[Leander]

Well, I was hoping to have some music in their too...(I sing, play cello, organ, piano etc...)

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

that's not a historical interpretation of a bard. when did the meaning change?

Mothy, a Wiccan Bard is generally thought of as something different than they are traditionally. Like they've done with many other things, Wiccans have adapted the bard concept for their tradition.

[mothwench]

oh, okay then. :) thank you mòrag. :smooch:

[Nighthawk]

Well, this is what I got from Merriam-Webster.....
...Pronunciation: 'bärd
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Scottish Gaelic & Irish
1 a : a tribal poet-singer skilled in composing and reciting verses on heroes and their deeds b : a composer, singer, or declaimer of epic or heroic verse

[Ron]

Hhhhmm... well as a bard is Celtic and Wiccans are, well, eclectic, I think that your chances of finding a Wiccan-Bard are quite slim. What kind of thing do you do, as a Wiccan-Bard?

I don't mean to be rude or poke holes in things... but Wiccans... eclectic?? I thought they were pure Garderian / Alexandrian??? But that's just me... I don't really know much about neo-pagan traditions...

[Pentangling_57]

Merry meet!
Ooh! I've been thinking of becoming a sort of Wiccan Bard. I was skimming a book a few months ago about the Celts. They said there were three main paths, a Druid, er... something else (sorry), and a Bard. Actually, my friend owns the book, so I could check on that for you. I was talking about it with my friends, and one mentioned how much she liked Tarot, and travel... And, well, if you can see where this is going, we were thinking about if there were any Gypsy-Wiccans, sort of. But more along a bardic path than any other. I really don't know where exactly I was going with this... um... If you feel any great connection with the Celts, perhaps you could become a sort of Celtic-Wiccan-Bard. Wicca is, of course, a very accepting religion. Perhaps if you begin a new type of path, others will become inspired. You couldn't have a piano with you everywhere you go, but do you play any small instruments? Not that it really matters, just thinking it might be a little easier. It is wonderful you can play so many instruments as well as sing! I can't sing for my life (well, maybe not that bad, but not amazing), but this summer I'm learning lute! CleftOfLight, bards were much, much more than just poets. And even if they weren't, what do you mean 'how could you have a tradition of just poets'? Of course a culture could be based around poetry! Not a very strong culture, perhaps, but still... Sorry, I'm a bit of a poet myself, so I can be rather defensive. I meant nothing by it. But, back on topic. Do you like writing? Storytelling? History? Poetry? Music (well obviously you do)? Singing? Songwriting? Writing music? I think a Wiccan Bard would be wonderful.

[Theres]

Yeah, that kind of thing. I love music and poetry, and I wanted to find a way to incorporate my love of these arts into my religion.

have you read 'Poets and Gleemen' by Robert Graves?

[mucgwyrt]

I don't mean to be rude or poke holes in things... but Wiccans... eclectic?? I thought they were pure Garderian / Alexandrian??? But that's just me... I don't really know much about neo-pagan traditions...

By "eclectic" I meant that the wiccan tradition is an amalgamation of malaysian traditions, celtic, stone-cutters, anglo-saxon etc etc etc - which Gardner put in a pot and mixed together to create "wicca". To me, that's as eclectic as it gets ;)

[mucgwyrt]

Mothy, a Wiccan Bard is generally thought of as something different than they are traditionally. Like they've done with many other things, Wiccans have adapted the bard concept for their tradition.

:rotfl:

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

Merry meet!
Ooh! I've been thinking of becoming a sort of Wiccan Bard. I was skimming a book a few months ago about the Celts. They said there were three main paths, a Druid, er... something else (sorry), and a Bard.

Ovates is the other word you're looking for. The Ovates were generally the "fortune-tellers." They were the oracles for the tribes and interpreted messages from the gods. They were the astrologers and astronmers, searching the skies for messages, reading the entrails of both human and animal sacrifices, and used several other methods of divination.

[The Renegade Divo]

Well, just the fact that you are wiccan (I'm guessing), and that you are a bard (you're a musician), already makes you a "wiccan bard".

Witchcraft and Wicca already incorporate music into their worship. There is usually always a chant, or song in the ritual. I personally do a lot of drumming, and chanting.

Finding a specific tradition that uses music as the main means of worship will be difficult.

So why don't you start your own dear?

Write your prayers, and sing them to the Mother. (or whomever you have faith in).

It was once said that music is the language of the Gods.

And it is probably a good idea to learn many instruments. And then designate a different instrument for each of the quarters (for when you call them), and perhaps a certain instrument that you play to invoke gods and goddesses.

And write your own songs for those quarters, and for each god or goddess that you work with. And write your own songs for each of the sabbats, and the esbats!

So many many many possibilities!

[mucgwyrt]

Yup.
"spell" is actually anglo-saxon (old english) for an enchanting song :)

[Pentangling_57]

Ovates is the other word you're looking for.
There's a word? Wonderful! Yay! Thank you, thank you, thank you! I doubt that I'll be reading the entrails of human and animal sacrafices, but other than that... hehe

[Mòrag Elasaid Ní Dhòmhnaill]

There's actually few different words. You can also use the word seer, it's a very common think over in Scotland even today.

[Pentangling_57]

Thank you again!!

[Leander]

Thanks guys! :spinner:

[Chosen Angel]

I realise I'm seven years behind, but I found MW because I was specifically searching for wiccan bards. As distinct from OBOD ?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but leaving aside the reconstructionist elements of the various pagan paths; my perception is that Wicca does not have a well-developed theology or underpinning mytho of its own. Although the wheel of the year is described in terms of the relationship between the Goddess and her child/consort Horned God, the tellings I have seen have been superficial in the extreme.

So then, where are the bards, where the campfire re-telling of the new old stories ? Do they (yet?) exist ?

[Eyeris]

I'm a theatre person, and if you look at the history and development the history of theater and other performance art are entangled within religion. The parallels of metaphor and lesson of a story echo the use of symbolism and magic in a ritual. In a way a ritual is a participatory theatre, the art of one feeds the effectiveness of the other. Or if it is more congregational, like a church, it is more comparable to a stage show.

Greek theatre always evoked the gods with sacrifice before performances, and also before many poetic works. (i.e. Ovid)

I think a modern Celtic bard would have the same goal as a priest or priestess; spiritual guidance and enlightenment of the self/others. And their method would be artistic means, articulating stories with hidden morals or lessons, or illuminating beauty.

My buddy is the only example of a Wicca bard I know. He is a magician, and though he entertains he also tells stories that reflect moral and spiritual principals... but its a fun show mostly viewed by non-wiccans. It's a crafty craft :)