I certainly do love that movie. Thanks for sharing, @Rowan 
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Oh, I spoke too soon, hahaha. Thank you for sharing all that info, Juana de Arcoās history (as we Spanish speakers call her) is really amazing, a woman with temper, empowered, determined, just, that is what I wanted to become when I was a kid. 
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Iām in love with the Tarot! Itās one of the most beautiful things Iāve encountered since I started this path. Thank you for sharing that!
I got one quick questionā¦ Iām looking for a Tarot deck but Iām not sure a good place to buy one. Do you have any recommendations? Iām wondering if thereās anyone here that sells Tarot decks, Iād love to buy one from any of the coven members.
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For this weekās challenge I was hoping to dig a little into my new book on the history of magic and witchcraft, referenced above.
As it turns out, between a busy week at work and then heading to Ireland for my birthday for the weekend, Iāve not had much chance to do so.
Whilst in Ireland though, another opportunity presented itself. As Iāll be moving to Ireland early next year, Iām keen to learn more about the history of magick in Ireland.
We were staying in County Cork and whilst there visited Blarney Castle, home of the infamous Blarney Stone.
In the gardens at the castle thereās an area called āRock Closeā.
According to the guidebook:
The massive rock formations and the great boulders indicate that in pre-historic times it was was a Druidic settlement or place of worship. The druids were the priests of the old pagan religion which existed in Ireland before the coming of St Patrick in 432, and they worshipped the Sun God.
To be found walking around Rock Close are (amongst other things)
The Dolmen
The Druidās Altar and Stones
The Witchās Kitchen
The Wishing Steps (which have to be transversed downwards and upwards with your eyes closed to have your wish come true)
and the Witch Stone
Most of the rocks stand as they have done for over two thousand years, though some amendments were made by the Jeffreys family in the eighteenth century.
There are ancient yew and ilex trees, with the Yew hanging over the Witchās Kitchen having been assessed as being over a thousand years old.
Itās an enchanting and magickal feeling place with a real sense of history, you can feel it in the air as you walk around. And even has itās own fairy glade!
Leading on from this, I have had a quick opportunity to look in my book which has a short section on the druids and Celtic myth and magic.
My books says that historically Druids are likely to have been wise men, teachers, or priests, sometimes described as having magical powers.
According to Roman writer Pliny the Elder, druids saw magical powers in white-juiced mistletoe, which they thought brought fertility. Pliny also claimed that druids sacrificed animals; he described the killing of two white bulls as part of a druid ceremony for gathering mistletoe. Roman writers, including Pliny and Julius Caesar, are the sources of most accounts of druids, but similar stories appear in old Welsh and Irish tales, which had Celtic originals. From the 8th Century Christian scholars recorded these stories in manuscripts such as the 12th-century Book of Leinster and Book of the Dun Cow. Druids in such myths are sometimes magicians with power over storms or other natural phenomena. In one Christian tale, when St Patrick went to Ireland, a druid tried to discredit him by summoning a snowstorm, but Patrick dispersed it with the sign of the Cross.
Irish folklore, is full of myths and legends describing magical beings and gods, shapeshifting, and of course the infamous banshee. And Irish mythology includes a strong connection to other worlds including Tir na nāOg, the Land of Eternal Youth.
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I personally use Crystal Visions with my family and friends. I use Anima Mundi for myself and my SO. Note: I do intuitive readings instead of following the traditional RiderāWaiteāSmith meanings.
My ex has the Kawaii Tarot. There is an Android App and an Apple App. Itās cute.
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Wow! That is very interesting, Iām glad you got to go to such magickal place.
Thanks a lot for sharing!
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Wow!!! Thank you for sharing, these pictures are just stunning. I really wish I could teleport there. 
Gorgeous Book also!!
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Hey all!
I hope Iām not too late. Iāve read all your comments and learned some much about our history, itās very very interesting. So thank you all for sharing your wisdom.
I love museums so Iāve read about Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, I didnāt know about this place and itās certainly interesting. Did you know that this year the museum is celebrating its 70th anniversary? I didnāt know that Gerald Gardner was involved in that museum as well.
Thanks again for this beautiful idea. Itās very important to know about our past and the lives of our ancestors. 
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Iris,
Beautiful Stones Iris, I love the earthy greenery the Druids had the enchanting lifestyle with the trees 
and stones there so large and they must of took a lot of time to build those steps !
I just loved your pics you did an awsome job!
Thank you for sharing!
Perdos - Neat how Crowley was magical and made some one fall lol 
he called it āaction in a distanceā
I wonder if it was really an accident?
Jeannie
Blessed be!
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WhiteFox 
I really didnāt know that
Blockquote
He really did a lot didnāt he.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Blessed be!
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Valen,
I enjoyed the video Drawing Down the Moon! She had a gift didnāt she!
Jeannie
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@IrisW ~ Wow, your pictures made me feel as if I were there! Especially the one of The Wishing Steps! It looks so familiar to me! Maybe I was there in another life. 
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Merry meet!
I have provided a link to my weey challenge here https://forum.spells8.com/t/history-of-magick-my-weekly-challenge/14733
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If youāre talking about the one in Cornwall Iāve been there. Fascinating place 
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This challenge is now CLOSED
Thank you to everyone for peering into the past to explore witchy history this week! 
A Props and Presents post will soon appear with shout-outs and prize details. Please keep an eye on the main page of the forums.
Note : This post will remain open for continued discussion for a few more days, but no additional prizes will be given after today.
Blessed be! 
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Thanks for sharing the video about ancient magick, @pedros10! Itās going on the to-watch list, looks awesome! 
@RyuWyn- while I donāt think any of the Coven Member Shops sell tarot decks (and I could be wrong!), I know @SacredBee has a beautiful deck they made, and you could consider supporting fellow witches through Tarot Kickstarter campaigns. There are also some lovely Tarot deck reviews posted in the Recommendations Category- take a peek! Good luck with your search 
What an exciting place to discover on your trip, @IrisW! 
The pictures are stunning- look at all that beautiful lush greenery 
I had to admit that while walking blind up and down the wish steps I think the only wish Iād be thinking of is āplease donāt fallā Thanks for sharing and hope you had a lovely trip- safe travels! 
Is that the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic in England, @RyuWyn? A very fun place to research! And yes, lucky Iris has been there (Iām jealous! 
) Glad you enjoyed it- and thanks for sharing! 
Thanks again for your lovely exploration of the history of charms, amulets, and talismans in the other thread, @NickWick- great job! 
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@RyuWyn Hello! I have been searching and digging trying to learn and understand American Indian peopleās beliefs and their ways. I have found very limited credible information and found that most documentation kept by the native peoples most likely burned with their villages. I am interested in any info that may be out there that I may not be aware of?? -much love
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Thanks for the info! Iāll take a look for sure!
And yep, the museum in England. I really wanna go there too, haha
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