As we step into the realm of Gaulish soito/magic, we can gain much from using and knowing the Gauls' words. By understanding the intricacies and perspectives inherent in their words, we can gain inspiration and understanding. Unfortunately, much of what the Gauls would have known is lost, magical knowledge was likely kept hidden, and we will never get back everything that was lost. This is why it is vital to allow awe-c to infuse us so that we may create something new from the ruins of the past. This glossary of terms and tools will serve as a tool of inspiration and help to re-shift and focus our mindsets. Like the glossary of spirits, this glossary will be expanded as our soitoi further explore this hidden realm.

Terms

*Awe-C/Awen: inspiration, insight. "Creating truth like glass in awen's furnace"

Adgarios: accuser, summoner, caller, caster, bewitcher. 

Andernados brictom “the sorcery of those from below” 

Bells: Bells are considered to be protective and good luck charms, they offer protection against things such as the ‘evil eye’ through their pleasant ringing (Eckardt and Williams, 2018). Bells were often found in the graves of young people and women, both in Gaul and other parts of the Roman empire, with the suggestion that the ringing of the bells protected the deceased from less kind spirits of the dead (Eckardt and Williams, 2018). Lastly, bells were associated with certain Gods and sanctuaries and would have had several uses, such as being votive offerings, protection for the site and used in ritual to highlight certain parts of longer rituals, such as beginnings and ends of the ritual (Eckardt and Williams, 2018). The brixtlos or soitoi could then make use of bells for protection and good luck in their magical endeavours and to sanctify a space for ritual purposes.

Bnanom brictom “women sorcery”.

Brixtia anderon “the sorcery of the infernals”.

Brixtlos: magician, word weaver, poet. For us, a Brixtlos may be a term for a devotee of Brixta, the Deua of magic and enchantments. (link brixta article)

Brixtu: magic incantation, formula, octosyllabic formula.

Druredoatis/druredatis. Oak/World Tree traveller: From Drus (oak, world tree), redo- (riding, voyage, journey) and atis (agent noun). A word constructed by us.

Prittius: magical transformation, shape.

Redosentiios/redosentiia (Masc and feminine). Travel companion: From Redo- (riding, voyage, journey) and sentiios (companion, neighbour, travelling companion, partner, spouse, soulmate, fellow, associate, consort). A word constructed by us.

Runus: secret, magic. 

Soito/soyto: Magic, sorcery. A more general term than Brixtu. 

Soitoi: Magician, sorcerer. 

Uidlua: magician, prophet, seer, sage. Uidlua may practice Uedl-souna or sleep magic. A tool they may use is a Uldu-gesus, a magic spear.

Bibliography:

Delamarre, X. (2003). Dictionnaire de la langue gauloise : une approche linguistique du vieux-celtique continental. Paris: Ed. Errance.

Eckardt, H. and Williams, S., 2018. The sound of magic? Bells in Roman Britain. Britannia, 49, pp.179-210.

Koch, J., 2020. Celto-Germanic. Later Prehistory and Post-Proto-Indo-European vocabulary in the North and West.

Matasović, R. (2009). Etymological dictionary of proto-Celtic. Leiden: Brill.

Mees, B. (2009). Celtic Curses. Woodbridge: Boydell Press.

Piqueron, O. (2019) Yextis Keltika: A classic Gaulish Handbook (Unofficial English Translation) - Tegos Skribbatous.