The Mage Robe

In popular imagination, Mages wore hooded, long, robes. The original robe was probably much closer to the dress or apron worn by shamans and blacksmiths. The main purpose is to protect the wearer from harm of any kind - whether physical or psychic in nature. To do this effectively the robe must be thick, strong, and environmentally neutral. Wool and leather are ideal. Mages probably wore something like this in general practice, but to perform particular work the robe might have been of special quality.

According to ancient Brehon Law, the Ard Righ (the High King) could wear seven colors; Mages, lords, and poets six colors; a provincial chief five colors; a wealthy landowner four colors; a warrior three colors; a peasant two colors; and a slave one color.

Ard Righ -

purple, white, black, blue, red, green, and yellow; Mages, Churchmen, Lords, Poets - white, black, blue, red, green, and yellow; Provincial Chiefs - black, blue, red, green, and yellow; a Bruiden or Wealthy Landowner - blue, red, green, and yellow; a Warrior - red, green, and yellow; a Peasant - green and yellow; and a Slave - yellow.

It is vital, therefore, when considering wearing a mantle for magical work and inspiration that it carry this kind of meaning. It will not do to wrap oneself in a cloth or leather of any origin. Try to obtain, for example, raw wool or leather from the source. Otherwise you can make the mantle from woven fabrics or tanned leather. Additionally, we recommend wearing the robe only for sacred purposes. Dedicate it under auspicious circumstances, allow no one but yourself to wear it, and store it in a safe and protected place. If you are thinking of obtaining a hide for purposes of divination, you are under even tighter restrictions. In the United States, a hide obtained from a bow hunter of an elk, deer, or caribou would be appropriate. If you obtain a hide in other ways, you can consecrate it with an aura of respect and power.