Dindshenchas and Totems help us to investigate the Celtic Inner Spirit by looking at beliefs about the Land, the Family, the Spirit and the Soul. The stories about name origins, as well as the practice of having totemic beasts seemed to be a good place to start. I also hoped that such investigations would give added meaning to understanding Druidic concepts of Being. During a previous workshop, we studied the Celtic Otherworld and the God/desses. We saw how Existence was divided into a Higher, Middle.and Underworld reality. The Spirit of the Celt.would be tied to and migrate between these various worlds. A Celt was very connected to the land as well as having a strong belief in his "code of conduct'" and the immortality of his Being. Tonight's Workshop will attempt.to clarify how A Celt arrived at these strong inner concepts of connection to his family, his Land and his Eternal or Spirit life. In order to understand the Celtic Spirit, one must know the Dinshenchas, the Totemic Animals and the Druidic concept of Transmigration of the Soul.
The first topic to be covered will be the Dinshenchas or "Place Name Stories": The Dinshenchas or "Place Name Stories" are among the earliest tales of Ireland. This tract gives the etymology of the names of several of the more well known places of Erinn. The first such "place name" that we will discuss is the origin of the Names "Meath" and "Uisnech". These two locations are tied into the history of the Kings of Ireland. Meath is the "fifth" division of Ireland set aside for the Ard Reis to rule and Uisnech is the hill that represents the Spiritual center of Ireland.
This is the story of Uisnech: "After the Tuatha de Dannan had been conquered by the Sons of Milesius (Mileseans), Midhe the son of Brath, son of Detha, was the first to light a fire in all of Erinn. This fire burned upon his hilltop for seven years and all the fires of the land were lighted using this fire. Midhe and his clan were entitled to a sack of corn and a pig from every house in Erinn each year in return for maintaining his fire. Naturally, the Druids were envious of this fact and they met together to conspire against Midhe and his clan. Midhe discovered the plot and attacked the Druid conclave, cutting out the tongues of the Druids so they could not speak against him. He buried these tongues in the earth and sat upon the spot while his mother exclaimed that it was "proudly" or "Uaisnech" you sit up there this night! This then is the derivation of the name of the hill, Uisnech and of the province of Meath "Midhe". BTW Uisnech is pronounced "ISH nuk". Uisnech is the site also of the "Well of Life" where twelve major Magickal rivers flow forth from the Underworld. Could this be the Magick of the Druids tongues?
Here is a story of the origins of the name "Tara": "Another significant hill is Tara. This hill had it's name changed five times. It was first called Druim Descuin or "the Conspicuous Hill", next it was Liath Druim after a Firbolg chieftain who was first to clear it of woods. The third name for the hill was Druim Cain "the Beautiful Hill", then Cathar Crofinn, and finally Teamair (Anglicized Tara) from the name Te'a the wife of Eremon the son of Milesius." This story gives us a mini history of Ireland, from the original names of the hill through the names ascribed to various invading tribes until we see the name that it retains to this day "Tara". BTW this name is pronounced "CHOW irr" in Gaeilge.
The next topic to be discussed will be the Totemic Animals. Celts and Druids held the belief that each person and family had a special relationship with animals and animal Spirit Beings that were sacred to ech clan. This belief is what Patricia Kennealy is referring to in her book "Strange Days, My Life With Jim Morrison". MS. Kennealy is a member of an ancient clan of Irish "Wolf Shamans" whose tradition states that they are the Magickal leaders of their people. This association of Spirit Animals or "Totems" is based upon the ancient Celtic belief that all life is related, the Land, the waters, the spirits of a place, the trees, the flora and the animals that they lived with side by side. Many ancient stories tell how the Druids could "shapeshift" into animal form to escape or work Magick. To know your Inner Celtic Spirit, you must know your clan and your personal Spirit Animal.
Another Dindshencha is the story of Lughaidh Delbaeth "the fire-producer", a Dalcasian Druid. "Lugaid had a considerable amount of land, while the husband of his daughter, Trad, though a king, had little land and a large family. Trad asked Lugaid for an oracle to find out how he could gain more land. Lugaid consulted his oracles and announced that if Trad would ask any man on that day to surrender his lands, that man would be bound to comply. Trad then asked Lugaid to surrender his lands which he did. Lugaid took his six sons with him across the Shannon river where he started a fire by means of his Druid Power. This fire had five streams issuing from it. Each of the eldest five sons followed theses flames to the site of their new lands. Lugaid remained behind with his youngest son, Nos, and eventually dies and was buried next to a lake, near to Carn Fiacha (now called Loch Lugh-phorta or the Lake of Lugaid)." This story is important for a few reasons:
1. It is an instance of the use of Druid Magick to create fire. 2. It shows the the use of oracles to determine a course of action. 3. It demonstrates the sanctity of one's word of honor. 4. It shows the derivation of several place names as well as the familt name of "Devlin" (from Dealbhna, derived from Debaeth).
A story of this sort was used to establish place names, to derive family traditions, to demonstrate morality, to show the worth of cunning and integrity. It is also a good example of Druidic Powers. it was from a large wealth and variety of such tales that our ancestors remembered their past and learned their code of living. This serves a similar function to the new book by William Bennett.....can't recall the title. But I think it's on the best seller list right now....anyone know the book? Something like the Book of.Virtues?
The next topic to be discussed will be the Totemic Animals. Celts and Druids held the belief that each person and family had a special relationship with animals and animal Spirit Beings that were sacred to ech clan. This belief is what Patricia Kennealy is referring to in her book "Strange Days, My Life With Jim Morrison". MS. Kennealy is a member of an ancient clan of Irish "Wolf Shamans" whose tradition states that they are the Magickal leaders of their people. This association of Spirit Animals or "Totems" is based upon the ancient Celtic belief that all life is related, the Land, the waters, the spirits of a place, the trees, the flora and the animals that they lived with side by side. Many ancient stories tell how the Druids could "shapeshift" into animal form to escape or work Magick. To know your Inner Celtic Spirit, you must know your clan and your personal Spirit Animal.
This is the fish of All Wisdom. It lives in the depths of the Sea from which all life springs. It is said to acquire it's great knowledge from eating the Nine Hazels of Wisdom that fall from the Tree of Knowledge. This fish was said to be among the oldest of living creatures. The great Hero and Druid Fionn mac Cumhail gained his wisdom by touching his thumb to a salmon that he was cooking for the Druid Fintan.
The deer was said to be a fairy creature that could pass between the world's. This was especially true for a white deer. Fionn's wife Sabha became a deer when she went to the Otherworld. Beautiful women frequently became deer in many tales while fleeing from hunters. The Druid Tuan mac Carill is the sole survivor of a group of early Partholanian Irish settlers. He lives at first as a wildman of the woods ventually becoming a stag, an eagle, a salmon and eventually is reincarnated as himself at a much later date to give the ancient history of Ireland to the more recent settlers.
The horse was one of the most important animals to the Celts. A mare is ritually symbolically mated by the King in the Rite of Sovereignty. White horses are also mystical beings. It is a pale horse that is ridden by Gwynn ap Nudd the Master of the Wild Hunt in Wales while gathering souls. A huge horse shape is sculpted into the hills of Wiltshire called White Horse Hill. This animal is another guide to the Otherworld.
The most famous Hawk is the Hawk of Achill that can riddle and discuss with the Druidic poet Fintan. This animal is also as old as time and another storehouse of great knowledge.
This is yet another animal that can freely pass into the Otherworld. It is associated with the Druids and the Goddess Rhiannon. This bird has mystical arts and can sing one into a trancelike state. It can give one access to the Magick of the Otherworld and is an excellent familiar. This is not the Crow or Raven but a songbird.
This is an animal of the hunt and is frequently associated with humanlike intelligence. The hounds of Fionn mac Cumhail, Bran and Sgeolainn, are actually transformed humans, The Cwn Annwn, are the Gabriel hounds that accompany Gwynn ap Nudd during the Wild Hunt as well as guarding the gates to the Underworld or Annwn the kingdom of the God of the Dead, Arawn. Cuchulain the Champion of Ulster gets his name from replacing the Hound of Cuchul that he kills. He is called the "Hound of Ulster" from this event. The hound is also his totem animal.
The Dragon is another mighty Magical animal that appears in British and Welsh stories. It is, of course, a creature of fire but is also related to the Power of the Land. Another word for Ley Lines is Dragon Lines. Another name for raising Power is to invoke the "Eye of the Dragon". The whole Earth was viewed by the Druids as the body of the Dragon. Menhirs and stone Circles were located at great Power nodes. The Celts called Dragons "Fire Drakes".
There are many other Magickal totemic animals in Celtic Magick and history: the Eagle (Iolair), Crow (Badb), Raven (Bran), Sow (Airc), Boar (Bacrie), Cat (Caoit), Otter (Balgair), Bear (Arth), Badger (Breach) and the Eel (As-chu). The importance of these animals is in their use as Spirit Guides in the Otherworld and their aid as a familiar in working Magick. To find your totemic animal will require you to experience a shamanic trance. This is usually accomplished by "drumming" and meditation. (You'll need someone to drum or a "drumming tape" to allow yourself a chance to really meditate). Open youself up to the God of the Hunt as you meditate upon the Tree of Life. He will come to you while you are in trance (usually after 10 to 40 minutes of drumming). Your totem animal will apear running from the Great Forest. When the animal appears, let its essence fill you. Become your totem. Dance its dance and sing its song until you are one in the Spirit. You should repeat this ritual as often as necessary to have a close rapport with you Spirit Animal guide. Much of what you are told and given will be from the perspective of the Animal and will be difficult to understand unless you are truly One with it.
The use of animals as Spirit Guides is a hallmark of Shamanism. I personally believe that many of the Druidic techniques were based on Shamanism (though they did not call themselves Shaman). I'd like to recommend two books: "The Celtic Shaman" by John Matthews and "Fire in the Head" by Tom Cowan