Celtic Starry Skies

Andromeda - the Princess ~~ known as Sabrina, called the fir queen by the early Celts; Ailim, the silver fir tree is the tree of the Winter Solstice

Antares ~~ called Watcher in the West by the Druids

Aquila - the Hawk ~~ thought to be the soul Lleu Llaw Gyffes by the Welsh

Auriga ~~ a group of stars representing the yoked oxen that Hu Gadarn used to drag the Afanc, a water monster, from the Welsh lake Llion Lyon

Bellatrix ~~ known by the Druids and believed to prophecy victories in battle

Capella ~~ watched by Druids and associated with the moon and its mysteries and the goddess, Arianrhod; in the constellation Auriga

Cassiopeia ~~ known in Wales as Lys Don (the Palace of Don); in legend called the chair of Cerridwen

Castor and Pollux ~~ symbolic of deities being born as twins; associated by the Druids with immortality

Corona Borealis ~~ associated with the goddess, Arianrhod; Caer Arianrhod symbolized the Silver Wheel of death and rebirth

Cygnus ~~ Wind's Wing; the Gray Lag Goose was thuoght to carry the souls of the dead to the heavens behind the north wind

Deneb ~~ part of the constellation of Cygnus; the White Swan symbolized the divinity of the Tuatha De Danann in Irish lore

Draco ~~ represents the dragon ridden by the Cailleach or Cerridwen each night

Lyra ~~ Telyn Idris, the oak harp of the Dagda

Milky Way ~~ Sarn Gwydion, the circle of Ceugant; also called the Great Star-Serpent

Orion ~~ associated by the Druids with the warrior Cu Chulainn, the Hound of Ulster; also called the Wain

Pegasus ~~ the Horse of Lyr, this constellation represents the horse goddesses Rhiannon and Epona

Perseus ~~ represents Lugh or Lleu Llaw

Pleiades ~~ Twr Tewdws; when rising in the eastern sky in September it aligns with the Heel Stone at Stonehenge

Pluto ~~ known by the Celts even before its formal discovery in 1930; symbolizes bringing forth of hidden wisdom (awen)

Sirius ~~ watched by the Druids who gathered sacred plants when it rose

Spica ~~ associated with riches and fame

Ursa Major ~~ Plough Y Saith Seren, the Seven Stars; also called Uthr Medelwr, the Terrible and Wonderful Reaper, Arthur's Plow Tail

Ursa Minor ~~ the Little Plow Tail; Caer Pedryvan, the Four-Cornered Castle belonging to the King of the High Place

Vega ~~ believed by the Celts to control the sea

Venus ~~ Gwena, the fair one

Zodiac ~~ Caer Siddi, the Revolving Castle; 27 constellations are believed to be in the Celtic zodiac

Author: Caileadair Etana