The Four Irish Cycles: In the traditional Irish history, there were four cycles. These four cycles have swept the Irish country and its cultural influences that formed the basis of the Faery Faith. Here are the brief description of each of the four cycles.

The Mythological Cycle- primarily based on the Tuatha De Danann, the tribe of Dana, from which the Faery Lineage is derived. Throughout this cycle, there were five waves of invaders that gives us glimpses of the ancient Irish ethics of war, three of which may of colonized Ireland through battle.

The main events in ancient world history is synchronized through this cycle; the fifth wave of invaders(Milesians) are fixed at about 1000 BCE, the time of Solomon.

Many of the legends are based on the Tuatha De Danann, who come from the Ancient Ones(Gods, both male and female) of the Celtic Pantheon with tales of enchantments and transformations and victory gained by superior knowledge and wizardry.

The distinctive features of this cycle are intelligence and magick.

The Ulster Cycle- begins at the time of Christ in the common era. In this cycle we have the appearance of the Amazonian Queen Mebd(Maeve), daughter of Eocaid(the High King of Ireland) who was the instigator of the great Connaught-Ulster war and who became an immortal warrior-goddess. Another legend from this cycle revolves around Deirdre, as told in the story The Sons of Usnach, is one of the Three Sorrows of Irish story-telling.

Warriors and war-goddesses who glory in their prowess and unyielding endurance is the central group of tales that belong to this cycle. Will-power is the primary force, not intelligence. The world of heoism begins.

The Fenian Cycle- is based on legends of Finn mac Cumaill and his roving fiana. Often known as the Ossianic Cycle due to the fact that poems attributed to Finn's son, Oisin or Ossian.

Finn and his fiana served Cormac mac Airt, who was considered the greatest by the poets of all the ancient kings of Ireland. The tales of the Ossianic, or Fenian Cycle, are similar to that of the Ulster Cycle. It mostly focuses on heroic fighters, but two groups of stories differ in their characteristics. The first is the fiana, the "foot" soldiers who walk rather than ride. The second is the camaraderie which they display, the intense pleasure found in a life shared with members of one's own special group.

The fiana were soldiers in time of war and police in time of peace. The Fenian Cycle also differs in form and temper as it comes into prominence in the period of the poetry of the troubadour and parallels the Arthurian legends of Britain. For those seeking to enter this noble area, they had to take many and hard tests.

When a candidate had passed the tests, and was approved as fit for the heroic band, there were four vows of chivalry laid upon him as the final condition of his admission. Hard though they seemed, such accomplishment guaranteed an ensuing life of beauteous advernture.

Unlike the Mythological Cycle, the distinctive quality of the Fenian Cycle is that of human warmth of feeling(it is this element that connects to all Faery ceremony and ritual).

Historical Cycle- a miscellaneous group of stories centered on various high-kings of Ireland and lesser kings. The tales range from the third century to the eighth century. Most well known kings in this cycle are Conaire Mor to Conn of the Hundred Battles, Niall of the Nine Hostages, and the Domnall, son of Aed.

Niall of the Nine Hostages was the greatest king that Ireland knew between the time of Cormac MacArt and the coming of Patrick. He not only ruled Ireland greatly, but carried the name and fame and power to all neighboring nations.

This cycle is also known as the Cycle of the Kings. The tales in this cycle are not only about kings, but of kingship, founding dynasties, and so on. The tales focus on the nature of kingship as being a marriage between the king and the realm(the country is a woman, spouse of king, and before her marriage she is described as a hag). Once united with the king, her countenance becomes that of a goddess.

The Five Waves of Invasions

In Faery Wicca the primary myths focused upon are drawn heavily from the Mythological Cycle, mainly those of the Tuatha De Danann. The Faery-Faith was birthed during the golden age of the Tuatha De Danann. Within the Mythological Cycle are the legends of the five waves of invasions known as:

Partholan- name of the first group of invader's respective leader. He fled his country after killing his mother and father. His descendants settled in an area between what is now called Tallaght and Howth(near Dublin). They all believed to be perished by a plague some 30-odd years being in Ireland.

Neimheadh- name of leader of the second group of invaders, who came from Scythia. His people were terribly harassed by fleets of pirates out of Africa.

Neimheadh died in Ireland, but his people abandoned the country after suffering great tribulations. They dispersed in three groups, two of which were the next to occupy Ireland.

Fir Bolg- third wave to come. The Fir Bolgs were escaped slaves from Greece who settled into Ireland creating an agricultural community. They were a pastoral people, creating raths and earthen-mounds in which they buried their dead. They had laws and social instituions and established a monarchical government. They lived in Ireland for 36 years before the fourth wave of invaders arrived.

Tuatha De Danann- the cheif characters of the Mythological Cycle. They are known as a people of magic wonders, learned in all the arts, and supreme masters of wizardry. Before coming to Ireland they are believed to have lived in the northern islands of the world(where they acquired their incomparable esoteric knowledge) and brought with them four talismans: the Great Fal, the person under whom this stone shrieked was king of Ireland; the Spear of Lugh, no victory could be won against it nor against him who had it in his hand; the Sword of Nuada, no one escaped from it when it was drawn from its scabbard; and the Cauldron of the Dagda, from which no company would go away unsatisfied.

The De Danann were said to have come in dark clouds through the air and alighted on a mountain of Conmaicne Rein. They were described as being the most handsome and delightful company. In the Book of the Dun Cow(1100 C.E.), it was noted they were worshiped as gods.

The first Battle of Mag Tuired was fought between the De Danann and the Fir Bolg for occupation of Ireland. The second Batlle of Mag Tuired is the subject of one of the greatest stories of the Mythological Cycle.

The Milesian- the Celts. They were the fifth wave of invaders(also known as the Sons of Mil) who put an end to the supreme reign of the De Danann.

Their leader was Miled, or Milesius, whose wife was a Pharaoh's daughter named Scota. Landing in Ireland after great ordeals, the three kings and three queens of De Danann were slain, many killed, and the remainder dispersed. The descendants of the Milesian generally have an O or a Mac before their surname.