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Post by wren on Jan 7, 2007 13:36:06 GMT -5
And they brought from the four cities their four treasures: a Stone of Virtue from Falias, that was called the Lia Fál, the Stone of Destiny: and from Gorias, they brought a sword; and from Finias, a Spear of Victory; and from Murias the fourth treasure. The Cauldron that no company ever went away from unsatisfied. From Cath Tánaiste Maige Tuired (The Second Battle of Moytura) Though these four Ogham are not at all traditional from a purely Reconstructionist point of view, I have found the study of them very enlightening. If nothing else, they are further study of four important symbols in Celtic mythology and how they relate to our daily lives. The Cauldron can be further related to the Cauldrons of Poesy, for example, or to the feminine aspect of the womb. While these may be seen as ‘male’ or ‘female’ aspects, they relate to those aspects within each of us. This is just one more step on the path of study and one, which may expand not only your knowledge and understanding of the Ogham, but of yourself as well. The Four Treasures also correspond also to the bodhrán ogham casting I have begun to use. If crafting your own set of fews, you might consider adding these four additional Treasures to your set.
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Post by wren on Jan 7, 2007 13:39:41 GMT -5
The Stone of Destiny Treasure: Lia Fál City: Falias Direction: North Region: Ulster Correspondence: Fate and destiny Why is stone hard? Why is thorn sharp? What is hard as a stone And salty as salt?~ Taliesin[/center] DestinyVisualize a gray standing stone on a green hilltop presiding over the surrounding landscape. This treasure represents your destiny coming to the fore and taking you by the hand. Lia Fál is the Stone of Destiny brought from the city of Falias and, according to legend, installed on the Hill of Tara in County Meath, Ireland. This stone reputedly cried aloud at the approach of the High King, in a myth similar to Arthur’s having to draw the sword from the stone before taking his place as the ruler of Camelot. Whereas the Spear signifies your own creative will, which allows you to a degree of control over your destiny, the Stone corresponds to the deepest, innermost purpose of your earthy existence. Every living being has a place and a role to play within the larger cosmic design, and the appearance of the Stone is a sign that your own, unique fate-path is unfolding before you. The Tara stone, as it was known, was placed at the mystical center of Ireland, just as the oracular shrine of Delphi was considered the omphalos (navel) of ancient Greece. We can relate this in personal terms to the philosopher’s stone that lies in us all: the source of insight and guidance that leads us unerringly towards our higher path. The Lia Fál originated in the otherworldly city of Falias, which lay (symbolically speaking), in the northern quadrant. In Celtic tradition, the north is a mystical place connected to the Hyperborean, the otherworldly tribe from whom the Tuatha de Danaan are said to have descended. The root word Fál means ‘truth’ or ‘destiny’, hence Falias and Lia Fál or the Stone of Destiny. From the realm of the old gods, located in the north, therefore, comes the stone that betokens the fate of the land. The calling out of the Stone corresponds to the inner cry of recognition you experience when you harmonize with your true purpose. We still talk about a person’s vocation as their ‘calling’, suggesting one has been called to fulfil the law of one’s being. Here, you answer the call and thereby discover the meaning of your life. Reversed, the Stone of Destiny spells difficulty in the quest for meaning and purpose in life. Perhaps you are stumbling in the labyrinth, lost as if in catacombs of stone, drawn this way and that by conflicting forces. Stop dead still and take some time away to listen quietly for the answer to your questions. There is a unique path for you to be discovered, if only you search hard enough. Visualize a magical stone, which whispers its secrets to your listening ears. What is it trying to say, and where might it be leading you. Keywords: Destiny, your innermost purpose, your role in the cosmic design, one’s fate-path, vocation or calling, life’s meaning. Reversed: Difficulties in the quest, stumbling, being lost, conflicting forces, the need to find and follow guidance.
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Post by wren on Jan 7, 2007 13:43:45 GMT -5
The Sword
Treasure: Sword of Nuada City: Munster Direction: South Region: Munster Correspondence: Decisiveness, discrimination
I have been in a multitude of shapes before attaining this fair form. I have been a sword in the hand, narrow, battle-notched… Taliesin, Cad Goddeu DecisivenessSee a shining sword hanging in the air, pointing downwards towards the Earth below. The Sword is both a weapon and an instrument of magical potency in Celtic myth. It is a sign of rulership, and as a treasured companion in battle it was often thought of as a living thing. We can relate this to our own warrior-selves, the aspect of our psyche concerned with defense, honor, fairness and impartiality. Yet, on the shadow side, the Sword is also a token of battles and wounding. The most well known sword of Celtic tradition is Excalibur, which Arthur pulls from the stone, thus proving his fitness for kingship (and note the relationship between sword and stone in the story as well). The sword here is clearly a symbol of leadership and strength, an embodiment of the decisive, no-nonsense nature of authority. So it is that power is like a sword: in the right hands in can uphold truth, in the wrong hands it is simply an instigator of conflict. This Sword Ogham, however, is Nuada’s sword. Núada Airgetám (of the Silver Hand) is one of the Great Goddess Dana’s principal sons, and was once ruler of the Túatha dé Danaan. A kind of Gaelic Zeus, Nuada reminds us of the Norse god Tiw or Tyr, who was a god of war and victory before being usurped by Odin. Nuada was, similarly, a god of battles and of battle victory, whom the Romans identified with Mars. He is a figure of both strength and tragedy, however, for his reign was quite literally cut short. Like Tyr, Nuada was a god of fairness and justice, a noble ruler, In the Cath Tánaiste Maige Tuired (The Second Battle of Moytura), he manages to obtain from the Fomori an assurance that the battles should always be fought in equal numbers on both sides. This points to Nuada representing more than mere brute force: he is an embodiment of the nobler aspects of the warrior ethos. He bears the Sword that is this Treasure, from the mystical city of Finias. Whatever the power that lies in your hands, it is important to wield it with fairness and impartiality. To be able to discriminate (in the positive sense) with impartiality is important. Drawing distinctions and separating out what is truly worth from what is outmoded is useless is a vital process. But beware taking up your sword without due cause. Finally, the whole theme of wounding inevitably accompanies the Sword. Yet here we can see the regenerative dimension of wounds. Without a dismemberment of the parts of our lives, there would be no quest for wholeness and renewal. Shamans often speak of dismemberment and regeneration as an important part of the initiatory process. This Treasure differs from the Straif Ogham (whose thorns correspond to the sword) in that it stresses this transformative process. Though painful our wounds ultimately leads us to waters of healing and renewal. Remember too the process of crafting a sword. Metal is set into the forge, the intense heat transforming its very chemical composition. The fire, and the blows of the smith, transform, shape and temper the blade into a thing of immense beauty and deadly power. This is the transformation suggested by this Treasure. See it not as something to fear but something to welcome on your quest for enlightenment and ‘becoming’. Casting this Ogham reversed might suggest that you are living under the shadow of the sword. Is it you or another who is misusing their authority and power? The danger is that if you act blindly, you will feel the double edge of the sword you wield. Remember the old saying here… ‘those who live by the sword, die by the sword’. Alternatively, you may find yourself having to take up the sword to disentangle yourself from constricting circumstances. Cut the constricting knots and free yourself! Keywords: Rulership, the warrior-self, strength. Also battles, wounding, conflict, distinctions, separation. Reversed: Misuse of power, acting blindly, the double edge.
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Post by wren on Jan 7, 2007 13:46:41 GMT -5
The Spear
Treasure: The Spear of Lugh City: Gorias Direction: East Region: Leinster Correspondence: Initiative and will
I have cast my spear into the camp of Eogen Indberg: I do not know, famous is its path, Whether my shot hit or missed. From Serglige con Culainn Inso Sis (The Wasting Sickness of Cu Chulainn) InitiativeA spear flies through the air, sparks flying from its tip like the rays of the sun! The fiery Spear of Lugh, a weapon of the Celtic god, represents the directed will. It is a symbol of initiative, teaching that applying determination to circumstances helps make manifest your dreams and goals. Like the spear speeding towards its target, your focus takes you to the exact point you wish to reach. Fire is an element of great energy and potency. It has both creative and destructive potential and must be handled with wisdom and care. Human mastery of fire has, along with the dangers, opened all sorts of possibilities for improving our lot which otherwise would never have been possible. In Celtic myth, Lugh possesses a magical spear that burns with unbearable heat. It is so powerful that it sends itself speeding towards its target, smiting enemies that stand in its path. This may be likened to the will and its fiery intensity. Rightly wielded, such an instrument is invaluable: we need our will in order to actually accomplish what we set out to achieve. Lugh’s spear was so ferocious in battle that it became known as the Spear of Victory. This weapon was obviously part of an important theme in Celtic culture. Lugh’s Welsh counterpart, Lleu Llaw Gffyes, requires the assistance of the magician-god, Gwyddyon to trick the goddess Arianrhod, who has him imprisoned, into arming him with the weapons of his manhood, including the spear. The solar hero Cú Chulainn’s favorite instrument of war is also the spear. Psychologically, the fiery spear that obeys no law but its own is a good symbol for a person’s will and initiative. These are very powerful and useful forces but, like the Spear of Lugh, their heat and hunger for victory can also make them dangerous. It probably won’t escape your attention that the spear is a phallic emblem, matching the ancient idea that the sun is the head of a member whose dripping rays fertilize the Earth below. Masculine, solar force dominates here, yet such fiery willpower and initiative when misdirected blazes destructively, threatening to destroy. Under direction of the higher self, however, the will actually co-creates rather than ravaging and laying waste. Use your will and its powers of manifestation wisely, and success will follow suit. Remember, too, that Lugh’s sword blazed with such heat that it needed to be bathed in nine cold baths in order to cool it sufficiently from its battle-lust. The use of the Dagda’s Cauldron for this purpose ties the Spear to that Treasure as well, giving it a female “womb-like’ counterpart to its male symbolism. Reversed, we are made mindful of the fact that the Spear of Lugh was a dangerous weapon. Similarly, the will can sometimes become your master, turning your higher self into a slave. Motivation and initiative are vital but do not become a pawn to your own needs and desires. Keywords: The directed will, initiative, determination, energy and potency, accomplishments, masculine force. Reversed: Overweening ambition, battle-lust, enslavement.
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Post by wren on Jan 7, 2007 13:51:25 GMT -5
The Cauldron
Treasure: The Cauldron of An Dagda City: Murias Direction: West Region: Connacht Correspondence: Wealth, abundance, plenty
I invoke the land of Eiru! The shining, shining, sea! The fertile, fertile hill! The wooded vale! The river abundant, abundant in water! The fishful, fishful lake! Toghairm na hÉireann (Amergin’s Invocation of Ireland) AbundanceA cauldron of bronze embellished with scenes of plenty, spilling over with the nuts, fruits, and grains of the Earth. This Treasure symbolizes abundance, for from the festooned Cauldron of the Dagda in Celtic legend spring all the gifts of earthly and otherworldly sustenance. Drawing the Cauldron augurs a time of plenty and freedom from want, when the cornucopia of Nature’s bounty is being poured upon you. On the most literal level, a cauldron is a large container that can hold a considerable volume within itself. It represents fullness, the wine of life coming to the top of your cup. On a deeper level, the cauldron is a magical vessel that catches the wealth that springs from the natural world. After all, everything we eat, drink, and imagine we own comes from the Earth itself. There are actually three great Cauldrons of Irish and Welsh Legend: the Cauldron of the Dagda, which grants absolute abundance; The Cauldron of Cerridwen, from which dead things are reborn; and the Cauldron of Anwynn (or the Master of the Abyss), which is a mysterious and magical vessel found in the underworld. The Treasure that concerns us here is the first, the Cauldron of Abundance. The Dagda is the supreme god in Irish myth (though he himself is the son of Danu, the Mother of the Gods). He is affectionately referred to as ‘the Good God’. His palace is at Bruig na Bóinde, or Newgrange, County Meath. This is the greatest of the dwellings of the Sidhe (the Faery folk) and a place of wild finery. As his residence there would suggest, the Dagda is an Earth god, which is quite a different identity than that of the sky fathers common in Indo-European myth. In his great Cauldron ‘everyone found sustenance in proportion to his merits and… none ever went away unsatisfied’. Known as the Undry, Dagda’s Cauldron provides limitless succor: meat, drink, fruits and grain and plenty. He is also the god of draiidect or the Druids. The Celts saw worldly plenty as a spiritual gift. The fertile soil and the fish-flecked sea were expressions of the generosity of the gods of the land and ocean. Treated in this way, and with respect for Nature’s generosity, you have every right to seek after a fair measure of the Good Life. Whether drawing the Cauldron relates to a single windfall, a boost to your finances, or a general phase of abundance, you should enjoy the fruits of plenty. With careful effort, you can consolidate your position so that all things necessary for survival are manifest according to your requirements. However, abundance is more than material plenty: it also represents a state of contentment and fulfillment. Do not ever forget, however, that the Dagda’s Cauldron is one of generosity and abundance for all. Generosity and hospitality are essential virtues to the Celtic spirit and all that we have, all the contents of our Cauldron, are to be shared with those in need as well. It is a never-ending source of plenty. It is replenished best by sharing it with others. Also, too, there are the ‘Cauldrons of Poesy’, a poem relating to the three Cauldrons within each of us. These are righted or turned, creativity, offering health, well being and inspiration… or illness and blockages to creativity. All these, as well as the womb-like aspect, relate to this Treasure. Its meanings are as deep and unending as it is itself. Reversed, you are likely to be suffering from lack and deprivation. Perhaps the cupboard is bare or it is difficult to get by at the moment. This is a time to focus special effort on what you need and how in practical terms you can go out and get it. People often survive on trust, a wing and a prayer at such a time but, as the saying goes, ‘the gods help them who help themselves’. Seek the waters of abundance to their source, for there you will find succor. Keywords: Gifts, earthly and of the Otherworld, cornucopia, fullness, gifts, generosity, a boon, contentment, fulfillment, generosity, hospitality. Reversed: Lack, deprivation, the need to seek prosperity
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Post by Senbecc on Jan 8, 2007 13:53:49 GMT -5
And they brought from the four cities their four treasures: a Stone of Virtue from Falias, that was called the Lia Fál, the Stone of Destiny: and from Gorias, they brought a sword; and from Finias, a Spear of Victory; and from Murias the fourth treasure. The Cauldron that no company ever went away from unsatisfied. From Cath Tánaiste Maige Tuired (The Second Battle of Moytura) Though these four Ogham are not at all traditional from a purely Reconstructionist point of view, I have found the study of them very enlightening. If nothing else, they are further study of four important symbols in Celtic mythology and how they relate to our daily lives. The Cauldron can be further related to the Cauldrons of Poesy, for example, or to the feminine aspect of the womb. While these may be seen as ‘male’ or ‘female’ aspects, they relate to those aspects within each of us. This is just one more step on the path of study and one, which may expand not only your knowledge and understanding of the Ogham, but of yourself as well. The Four Treasures also correspond also to the bodhrán ogham casting I have begun to use. If crafting your own set of fews, you might consider adding these four additional Treasures to your set. Well, they may not be used often in the reconstructionist view, but I can certainly see how they can aid as one's quest for draíocht with their obvious hidden meanings and lore that surround them. In my own quest I don't (as you know ) use them with the ogham, though I can certainly see why so many do include them. The meanings of un-dry (plenty), truth, destiny, and justice, something that each individual struggles to find the balance in. Nice post Wren!
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Post by wren on Jan 8, 2007 14:13:17 GMT -5
Thanks, John! They can be added to the set at any time you should wish to have them!
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