Immortals of Annwyn Glossary

Author’s Note: While I love to incorporate words from other languages, or even the language of a fictional world, it can be intimidating for readers. These terms are found in the Immortals of Annwyn series, but it won’t be necessary to keep flipping back to a glossary because I make certain to explain the term at the time of use. So this glossary is just for fun, and a peek into the Celtic world of Annwyn.

A word about pronunciation. Gaelic is a notoriously difficult language to learn and read. The culture and spoken word comprise three distinct cultures and dialects, Irish, Welsh and Scottish. For the most part, I’ve taken the Scottish version and used it for Annwyn, not only because my background is Scottish, but because the shape-shifters I used are as well.

But overriding that though, was my desire to make it easy for readers to pronounce words. So you may see some Welsh and Irish mixed in there, because I wanted a word to be able to be sounded out or read phonetically.

For instance, Annwyn can be pronounced Ann-win, or by its actual Gaelic of Ann-ooh-in. Cailleach may be said Cal-leach or the Gaelic way of Cal-lock. Whichever way you say it, I hope I’ve picked words that are easy enough for readers not to get tangled up in.

Enjoy!

Adbertos: Literally means a sacrifice

All-Power: A term used when referring to the great power or life source in which the God and Goddess are both a part.

Amulet: Gem stones for protection as well as enhancing certain powers to the wearer. Protected at all costs.

Anam: The Soul

Anam Cara: ‘Soul Friend’. Responsibility is to guide the soul through the passage of birth, life and death. In Annwyn, this is a most sacred, powerful bond.

Annwyn (Druidic):  One of the many words to describe the Celtic Otherworld which is separated from the mortal realm by a thin veil.

Athame: Ritual knife associated with the element of air.

Aura: The rings or ‘halo of light’ emitted from a human symbolizing their dominant energy. Only the Sidhe and the Supreme Goddess can see mortal auras.

Cailleach: Supreme Goddess of the Otherworld. She has the ability to control the sun, moon, stars. The ruler that all races bow to.

Cruachan; Cave of:  Entrance to the Otherworld which lies beneath the Velvet Haven nightclub.

Cumdach: Lavishly ornamented shrine, usually used for housing illuminated manuscripts.

Great Rite: Known as ‘Sacred Marriage’. The symbolic union of the Goddess and God.

Grouding: To disperse excess energy generated during a magical rite by sending it to the earth. May also mean a process to center oneself before entering the physical world.

Invocation: Calling upon the elements, moon and stars before beginning a rite.

Lanamnas: Druidic tradition of an eternal vow taken with a soul mate.

Lemniscate: One of the most powerful spiritual symbols. Also known as the infinity knot, resembles the number 8 turned on its side. It represents the flow of all things; life, death, rebirth. It is drawn without pausing.

Necromancy: Practice of the Dark Arts, or Black Magick. Comprises either Sex Magick, or Death Magick, or both. Necromancy has been banned in Annwyn for two hundred years

Nemed:  Old Irish word meaning Sacred Space.

Night Sidhe: Pronounced Sith in Scottish lore, and Shee in Irish. In my mind, I use Sith. They are dangerous warrior Fey who live in darkness. They make fierce enemies but loyal and trustworthy allies.
 
Ogham: Celtic writing, resembling runes and basically consisting of lines.

Passing Over:  Ritual observed when a loved one has died.

Power of Nine: A Celtic sacred number which represents the beginning and ending of all things. The square root is three, the basic sacred number of the celts.

Reflection Pool: Sacred waters that can foretell the future. A place where creatures, whose element is water replenish their powers.

Rune: Ancient language. Each character represents a whole word.

Shadowland (The): A place of darkness and fear. Equivalent of Christian Hell.

Shaman: Means walker between worlds.

Summerland: A place of light and joy. Equivalent of Christian Heaven.

Transmigration: The Druidic belief that life essence or soul of a living thing would pass immediately from their old vessel into a new life form after their physical death.

Triad:  Indicates a divine threesome. The number three is a sacred number in Celtic culture and is seen in many of their philosophies.

Triscale: A Celtic symbol used by the Druids to represents the sacred number three. It is a circle divided into three equal spaces separated by whirling lines which radiate out from the center. Symbol of Annwyn.

Tumulus: A type of cairn which contains an underground chamber and ritual space where death rituals take place.

Wasteland  (The): A place of grey, evil, pain. Equivalent to Christian purgatory. It is a place of punishment and solitude.

Check out a deleted scene from Velvet Haven here.