Ancient Celts and Their Environment in 'Earth Sea and Sky'
Shae Clancy
This chapter looks at how the pre-Christian Celts interacted with the world around them. Their approach to daily life balanced a recognition that their survival depended on using the animals and plants around them with the knowledge that a respectful relationship with their environment was required to maintain prosperity.
Forests and Farmland
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-XMWRSXIEW]XSEWWIWWNYWXLS[QYGLJSVIWXGPIEVERGI[EWYRHIVXEOIRF] QEMRPERH'IPXWFIGEYWIWIZIVEPSXLIVGYPXYVIWEPWSGSRXVMFYXIHXSXLITVSGIWW -VIPERH[EWSRISJXLIJI['IPXMGEVIEWXLEXVIQEMRIHJVIISJHSQMRERGIF]SXLIV GYPXYVIWYRXMPXLIX[IPJXLGIRXYV]ERHMXMWXLIVIXLEX[IGERJMRHWSQIMRHMGEXMSR SJXLI'IPXMGEXXMXYHIXSGPIEVERGI
-VMWLWEKEWVIJIVETTVSZMRKP]XSMRHMZMHYEPW[LSGPIEVIHTPEMRWXLIVIF]QEOMRK XLIPERHWYMXEFPIJSVEKVMGYPXYVI8LIMQTSVXERGITPEGIHF]XLIIEVP]-VMWLSR JSVIWXGPIEVERGIMWMRHMGEXIHF]XLIJVIUYIRG]SJTPEGIREQIW[MXLGSQTSRIRXW WYGLEWMoy-, (Magh)QIERMRK'plain' ERH Clon Cluain QIERMRK'meadow.' )\EQTPIWEVIMoytura (Magh Turaidhthe Plain of Turaidh ERHClontarf (Cluain tarbh, the Meadow of the Bull %TEVXJVSQGPIEVERGIWJSVEKVMGYPXYVEPTYVTSWIW XVIIW[IVIJIPPIHXSQEOI[E]JSVVSEH[E]W'VIEXMSRSJVSEHWEGVSWWTPEMRWERH FSKWMWQIRXMSRIHMRERIEVP]-VMWLXI\X8SGLQEVGL)XEMRERHXLITVEGXMGIMW WYTTSVXIHF]EVGLEISPSKMGEPJMRHWWYGLEWXLI'SVPIE&SKVSEHQEHIJVSQSEO XVIIWXLEX[IVIJIPPIHMR &')%HHMXMSREPIZMHIRGIGSQIWJVSQXLIQSHIVR -VMWL[SVHJSVTEXLERHVSEH[E]slíJVSQXLIIEVPMIV[SVHsligeQIERMRK 'clearance, felling.'
8LIVIWIIQWPMXXPIHSYFXXLIRXLEXEWSRQEMRPERH)YVSTI-VMWLJSVIWXW[IVI GPIEVIHXSJEGMPMXEXIEKVMGYPXYVIERHXSQEOIVSEH[E]W8LIERREPWKMZIXLI MQTVIWWMSRXLEXPEVKIEVIEWSJXLIGSYRXV]LEHFIIRGPIEVIHSJ[SSHPERHF]XLI IRHSJXLIJSYVXLGIRXYV]8LMWMWWYTTSVXIHRSXSRP]F]WGMIRXMJMGIZMHIRGIFYXF] JVIUYIRXVIJIVIRGIWXSXSYVWSJXLIMVXIVVMXSVMIWF]OMRKWERHXLIMVIRXSYVEKIW 7YGLQSZIQIRXW[SYPHRSXLEZIFIIRIEW]XLVSYKLHIRWI[SSHPERH 2IZIVXLIPIWWBede[VMXMRKMRXLIIMKLXLGIRXYV]VIQEVOIHSRXLII\XIRXSJ-VMWL JSVIWXWEXXLEXXMQIERHGiraldus Cambrensis Gerald of Wales [LSXSYVIHTEVXWSJ -VIPERHWLSVXP]EJXIVXLI2SVQERWEVVMZIHMRXLIX[IPJXLGIRXYV]GSQQIRXIHXLEX "there are, here and there, some fine plains, but in comparison with the woods they are small indeed." -XWIIQWXLIRXLEXXLI-VMWL'IPXWGPIEVIHWSQI[SSHPERHWJSV EKVMGYPXYVIERHIEWISJXVEZIP[LMPIHIPMFIVEXIP]TVIWIVZMRKQEMRXEMRMRKERH GYPXMZEXMRKSXLIVW8LIMQTSVXERGISJXVIIWMWVIGSKRM^IHMRERIEVP]-VMWLPE[ XVEGXXLEXHIXEMPWXLITIREPXMIWMQTSWIHSRMRHMZMHYEPW[LSJIPPIHSVIZIR HEQEKIHEXVIISRWSQISRIIPWI WTVSTIVX]
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Sacred Trees and Groves
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*YVXLIVMRHMGEXMSRWSJXLI'IPXMGVIZIVIRGIJSVXVIIWEVIWIIRMRXLISKEQ EPTLEFIXERHMRXLI3PH-VMWLXVIIPMWX)EGLSJXLISVMKMREPX[IRX]PIXXIVWMRXLI SKEQEPTLEFIXMWPMROIHXSEXVIISVWLVYF%PXLSYKLXLIKVSYTMRKWMRXLIXVIIPMWX WIIQXSLEZIFIIRJSVIGSRSQMGVIEWSRWXLI]RIZIVXLIPIWWTVSZMHIWSQI MRHMGEXMSRSJXLIVIKEVHXLIQIHMIZEP-VMWLLEHJSVIEGLXVIIERHWLVYF8LI] [IVIGPEWWMJMIHEWIMXLIVXLI"nobles," "commoners," "lower divisions"SV"bushes"SJ XLI[SSH2SXWYVTVMWMRKP]XLI"nobles"MRGPYHISEOLE^IP]I[ERHEWL%QSRK XLI"bushes" [IVIFVEGOIRJYV^IERHLIEXLIV)EGLXVIIWLVYFERHFYWL[EW ZEPYIHJSVXLIFIRIJMXMXTVSZMHIHMVVIWTIGXMZISJMXWTPEGIMRXLILMIVEVGL] %PXLSYKLWSQISEOW[IVIIWTIGMEPP]WEGVIHXSXLI'IPXWXLIXVII WQEMR MQTSVXERGI[EWJSVTVSZMWMSRSJEGSVRWSR[LMGLHSQIWXMGEXIHTMKWGSYPHJIIH HYVMRKXLI[MRXIV,E^IPRYXW[IVIEZEPYEFPIWSYVGISJTVSXIMRERHSXLIV RYXVMIRXWJSVLYQERWHYVMRKXLIPIER[MRXIVQSRXLW3XLIVXVIIWERHWLVYFW[IVI YWIHXSH]IGPSXLXERPIEXLIVSVJSVQIHMGMREPTYVTSWIW
Wild Animals
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-VMWLXI\XWTVSZMHIWSQIMRWMKLXMRXSQIXLSHWIQTPS]IHF]XLI'IPXWXSLYRX KEQI(IIV[IVILYRXIHYWMRKERYQFIVSJXIGLRMUYIW8LI][IVIGLEWIHF] LSYRHWWXEPOIHSRJSSXSVHVMZIRXS[EVHW[EMXMRKLYRXIVW[LSOMPPIHXLIQ[MXL WTIEVW8LI][IVIEPWSGEYKLXMRHIIVTMXWMQTEPIHSRLMHHIRWTMOIWSV MQQSFMPM^IHF]PIKXVETW1EMRPERH'IPXWLYRXIHWIZIVEPWTIGMIWSJHIIVERHIPO FYX-VIPERHWYTTSVXIHSRP]VIHHIIVEXXLIXMQI
8LIERGMIRX'IPXWLYRXIHJSVIWXERMQEPWJSVWTSVXERHJSVJSSH'IPXMGRSFMPMX] VIZIPIHMRXLILYRXEWE[E]SJHIQSRWXVEXMRKXLIMVTVS[IWWERHJSVXLIWLIIV I\LMPEVEXMSRSJTMXXMRKQEREKEMRWXFIEWX-VMWL;IPWLERH%VXLYVMERWEKEW HIWGVMFIGLEWMRKERMQEPWJSVXLINS]ERHGLEPPIRKISJXLILYRXEW[IPPEWJSVXLI JIEWXEJXIV[EVHW8LIWXSV]SJSir Gawain and the Green KnightJSVI\EQTPILEW KVETLMGHIWGVMTXMSRWSJERMQEPLYRXW-RER-VMWLWXSV]DiarmuidPSZIVSJGráinne [EWOMPPIHF]EQEKMGEP[MPHFSEVMRXLIJMREPWXEKIWSJELYRX8LMWERHSXLIV WXSVMIWSJHIIVERHFSEVLYRXWMWVIGSYRXIHMRXLI*MSRR']GPI(IIVERHFSEV [IVIRSXXLISRP]ERMQEPWLYRXIHLS[IZIV8LI-VMWLXEPI"The Destruction of Da Derga's Hostel," HIWGVMFIWLS[ConaireTYVWYIHKVIEX[LMXIWTIGOPIHFMVHWYRXMPLMW LSVWIW[IVIXMVIH
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8LIVIMWWSQIEPXLSYKLWTEVWIIZMHIRGIXLEXGSRXMRIRXEP'IPXWQE]EPWSLEZI LYRXIHFIEVW-JXLI]HMH[ILEZIRSVIGSVHWSJLYRXMRKXIGLRMUYIWSVSJXLI VIEWSRWJSVLYRXMRKXLIQ&IEVWTPYRHIVIHJEVQWERHMJXLI][IVIIZIVLYRXIH MX[EWTVSFEFP]JSVXLMWVIEWSR8LIVIMWRSHSYFXEFSYXXLIMVWMKRMJMGERGIXSXLI IEVP]'IPXWXLSYKLFIGEYWIFIEVJMKYVMRIWLEZIFIIRJSYRHXLVSYKLSYX'IPXMG )YVSTI4IVLETWQSWXMQTSVXERXMWEFVSR^IGEWXMRKSJE+EYPMWLKSHHIWW MHIRXMJMIHF]MRWGVMTXMSREWArtio8LIKSHHIWWMWWIEXIHERHLSPHWJVYMXWSQISJ [LMGLWLISJJIVWXSEPEVKIFIEVJEGMRKLIV,S[IZIVMXMWRSXGPIEVJVSQXLI MGSRSKVETL]MJArtio +EYPMWLREQIIUYEXMRKXS'bear' MWTVSXIGXVIWWSVLYRXIVSJ FIEVW7LIQE]LEZIJMPPIHFSXLVSPIW8LIMQTSVXERGISJFIEVWXSXLI'IPXWMW JYVXLIVIQTLEWM^IHF]XLIJVIUYIRG]SJFIEVVIPEXIHREQIW%RIEVP]-VMWLXVMFI GEPPIHMXWIPJArtraigeXLIFIEVTISTPIERHSRISJXLIQSWXJEQSYW-VMWLOMRKW[EW Cormac mac Airt[LSWIJEXLIV[EWArt Óenfer'YVMSYWP]FIEVWLEHFIIRI\XMRGXMR -VIPERHJSVXLSYWERHWSJ]IEVWFIJSVIXLIEVVMZEPSJXLI'IPXWEPXLSYKLXLI] WYVZMZIHMR7GSXPERHYRXMPXLIWIGSRHGIRXYV]ERHTSWWMFP]EWPEXIEWXLIXIRXL GIRXYV]
%PXLSYKLHSQIWXMGJS[PTVSZMHIHIKKWERHQIEXXLI'IPXWEPWSLYRXIH[MPHFMVHW WYGLEW[SSHGSGOWRMTIHYGOERHKVSYWIJSVJSSH8LIVIEVIMRHMGEXMSRWXLEX W[ERWERHKIIWI[IVILYRXIHEPWSERHMXMWORS[RXLEXGETIVGEMPPMIEPEVKI KVSYWIWYVZMZIHMR-VMWLERH7GSXXMWL[SSHPERHWYRXMPXLIIMKLXIIRXLGIRXYV]2S HSYFXMX[EWLYRXIHXSS&MVHW[IVIIMXLIVGEYKLXMRRIXWSVOMPPIH[MXL WPMRKWLSXW8LI-VMWLERH;IPWLLEHEQFMZEPIRXJIIPMRKWEFSYXVETXSVWWYGLEW LE[OWERHIEKPIW3RXLISRILERHXLI]ETTIEVEWQ]XLSPSKMGEPJMKYVIWPMOIXLI Irish Hawk of AchillERHLleu Llaw GyfesMRXLI;IPWLMabinogi3RXLISXLIV JEVQIVWVIKEVHIHLE[OWERHIEKPIWEWZIVQMRFIGEYWISJXLIMVHITVIHEXMSRWSR ]SYRKTMKWERHLIRW8LIVIMWRSIZMHIRGIXLEXJEPGSRV][EWTVEGXMGIHMRMRWYPEV )YVSTIYRXMPEFSYXXLIRMRXLGIRXYV][LIRMXEVVMZIHMR)RKPERHJVSQXLI QEMRPERH
Fish
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Domestic Animals
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'EXXPI[IVIVIEVIHTVMQEVMP]JSVQMPOVEXLIVXLERJSVQIEX8LIGS[[EWXLI TVMRGMTEPYRMXSJGYVVIRG]EGGSVHMRKXS-VMWLVIGSVHW VIRXWERHPIKEPJMRIW[IVI VIGOSRIHMR"cow-units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Respect for the Land
8LYWJEVMRXLMWGLETXIV[ILEZIWIIRXLEXXLI'IPXWYWIHXLIPERHJSVWYVZMZEP ERHTPIEWYVI8LI]LEHXS[SVO[MXLREXYVIMRSVHIVXSWYVZMZIERHGSYPHSRP] LEZIHSRIXLMWF]GPSWISFWIVZEXMSRSJREXYVEPTLIRSQIRE8LIVIWIIQWPMXXPI HSYFXXLEXWYGLMRXMQEG][MXLXLIMVIRZMVSRQIRXQYWXLEZIIRKIRHIVIH XVIQIRHSYWVIWTIGXJSVMX
6IWTIGXJSVXLIMVPERHERHIRZMVSRQIRXMWZIV]IZMHIRXMRXLIQ]XLSPSK]SJXLI 'IPXW1ER]HIMXMIWEVIEWWSGMEXIH[MXLREXYVEPJIEXYVIWWYGLEWQSYRXEMRWERH VMZIVWERH[MXLXVIIWERHERMQEPW7SQIWGLSPEVWWYKKIWXXLEXHIMXMIW"dwelled in the landscape and presided over all human undertakings." 7YGLGETVMGMSYWJSVGIW QMKLXQERMJIWXXLIQWIPZIWMREPQSWXER]JSVQERHXLIVIJSVQIVMXIHVIWTIGX
-RXLIPIKIRHWLYQERW[LSLEHWTIGMEPIQTEXL][MXLREXYVI[IVIWSQIXMQIW KMZIRORS[PIHKIERHTS[IVXSGSRXVSPXLIJSVGIWSJREXYVI3RIWYGLLYQER[EW AmergenEWVIPEXIHMRLebor Gabála ÉrennAmergen [EWXLITSIXHVYMHSJXLI MilesiansEQ]XLMGEPLYQERVEGIMR-VMWLTWIYHSLMWXSV]%JXIVEPSRKERHEVHYSYW WIENSYVRI]XLIMilesiansETTVSEGLIH-VMWLWLSVIWFYX[IVIHVMZIRSJJF]E QEKMGEP[MRHGSRNYVIHF]XLITúatha Dé Danann[LSEPVIEH]SGGYTMIHXLIPERH 8LIMilesiansTIVWIZIVIHERHJMREPP]QEHIWLSVI[LIVIYTSRAmergenWSYKLX TIVQMWWMSRSJErinnXLI0ERHXSHMWIQFEVO
Fain we ask Erinn
Faring o'er ocean's
Motions to mountains . . .
Pray here to sail in,
Wailing maids royal!
Loyal chief leaders,
Pleaders blend pray'r in
So we seek Erinn.
-XMWGPIEVXLEXAmergenFIPMIZIHXLI0ERH[EWEPMZMRKTSXIRXIRXMX]XLEXLEHE REQIERHXLIVIJSVIHIWIVZIHVIWTIGX8LIMilesiansJMREPP]SZIVGEQIXLITúatha Dé Danann'sQEKMGERHFIEGLIHXLIMVFSEXW&IJSVIER]SJLMWSXLIVGSQTERMSRW GSYPHEPMKLXAmergenWIXLMWVMKLXJSSXSRXLIPERHSJErinn ERHVIGMXIHLMWJEQSYW WSRK I, the Wind at Sea,
I, the Rolling Billow
I, the roar of Ocean.
,IGSRXMRYIWXSIUYEXILMQWIPJ[MXLSXLIVREXYVEPIRXMXMIWWYGLEWS\IRSWTVI]W WYRPMKLXFSEVWEPQSRERHJPS[IVWERHXLMWMWWSQIXMQIWMRXIVTVIXIHEWE WXEXIQIRXSJLMWEFMPMX]XSWLETIWLMJXAmergenLMQWIPJTVSZMHIWEQSVIPMOIP] I\TPEREXMSRXSXLIQIERMRKSJLMWWSRK
Who can lead to falling waters?
Who can tell the white Moon's ages?
Who can draw the deep sea fishes?
Who can show the fire-top headlands?
,IERW[IVWLMWS[RUYIWXMSRW[MXL
I, the poet, prophet, pray'rful.
%QIVKIRXLITSIXEHHVIWWIHXLI"land" FIGEYWILIYRHIVWXSSHERHVIWTIGXIHMXW TS[IV%WETSIXLMWEFMPMXMIWXSSFWIVZIERHYRHIVWXERHREXYVI[IVIIRLERGIH ,IETTVIGMEXIHXLIRSXMSRWSJLEVQSR]ERHFEPERGIMRREXYVIVIGSKRMWMRKXLEX FSXLEVIIWWIRXMEPJSVXLI[IPPFIMRKSJXLIPERHERHMXWMRLEFMXERXW%QIVKIREW TVSTLIXGSYPHTVIHMGX"Future fame in soaring story"JSVLMWTISTPIFIGEYWIEWER SFWIVZIVSJREXYVILIORI[XLIMVEFMPMXMIWERHWXVIRKXLW8LI][SYPHI\GIPMRXLI RI[PERHTVSZMHIHXLI]VIWTIGXIHMXFYXEW%QIVKIRXLI"pray'ful,"LIORI[XLI YPXMQEXIHIGMWMSR[SYPHFIQEHIF]XLIPERHMXWIPJ,MWTVE]IVJSVEGGITXERGISJ LMWTISTPI[EWQEHIXSXLIPERHXLIIRXMX]REQIH)VMRR
Mythical Significance
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
%RMQEPW[IVIQ]XLMGEPP]MQTSVXERXXSXLI'IPXWXSS&SEVHIIVERHSXLIVERMQEPW LEZIEPVIEH]FIIRQIRXMSRIHMRGSRRIGXMSR[MXLXLILYRXERHJEVQMRK)ZIR QSVIMQTSVXERXP]XLIHIMXMIWGSYPHXVERWJSVQXLIQWIPZIWMRXSERMQEPWERHXLI 'IPXWSJXIRMHIRXMJMIHHIMXMIWSVXLIMVTS[IVW[MXLERMQEPW8LI]RIZIVORI[MJXLI ERMQEPXLI]LYRXIH[EWEHIMX]SVRSX
&SEV[IVIEWWSGMEXIH[MXL[EVFIGEYWISJXLIMVJIVSGMX]ERHJIEVPIWWRIWW7SQI 'IPXMG[EVVMSVW[SVIFSEVLIPQIXWXSFEXXPIMRXLIFIPMIJXLI][SYPHXIVVMJ]XLIMV STTSRIRXW8LIIJJIGXWIIQWXSLEZIFIIRWSTSXIRXXLEXXLIFSEVW]QFSP[EW EHSTXIHF]E6SQERPIKMSRWXEXMSRIHMR'LIWXIVEWE[EVRMRKXSMXWJSIWSJMXW TVS[IWW-R'IPXMGEVXFSEVEVIWLS[R[MXLIRPEVKIHIEVWERHI\EKKIVEXIHWTMREP FVMWXPIWIQTLEWM^MRKXLIMVJIVSGMX]8LI][IVIEPWSGLXLSRMGERMQEPWPMROIHXS XLIYRHIV[SVPHFIGEYWIXLI][IVISJXIRVIWTSRWMFPIJSVXLIHIEXLWSJXLIMV LYRXIVW
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°R[LMGLQIERW"little deer."
8LI*MSRRWXSVMIWWLS[XLEXXLIHIMXMIWGSYPHETTIEVXSLYQERWMRXLIJSVQSJ HIIVFYXXLIVIEVISXLIVMRWXERGIWSJHIMXMIWEWWYQMRKSXLIVERMQEPJSVQW8LI 1SVV°KERYWYEPP]HITMGXIHEWEVEZIRXEOIWXLIWLETISJ[SPJIIPERHLIMJIVMR VETMHWYGGIWWMSRMRXLIWEKESJXLI8¤MR&¶'YEMPRKI
%PXLSYKLHIMXMIWGSYPHEWWYQIXLIWLETISJERMQEPWXLI'IPXWEPWSFIPMIZIHXLEX ERMQEPWSVEXPIEWXVITVIWIRXEXMSRWSJERMQEPWLEHWTIGMEPTS[IVWSJXLIMVS[R SVXLVSYKLXLIMVEWWSGMEXMSR[MXLHIMXMIW
(SKWSVHSKW LIEHWSJXIREGGSQTER]2SHIRWE&VMXMWLKSHSJXLI,YRXERH 2ILEPIRRMEEGSRXMRIRXEPKSHHIWWSJWIEJEVIVW'½'LYPEMRRSVMKMREPP]7IXERXE [EWWSREQIHFIGEYWILIOMPPIHXLILSYRHSJ'YPEMRRMRWIPJHIJIRGIERHPEXIV SJJIVIHXSXEOIXLIHSK WTPEGIEWTVSXIGXSVSJXLILSQIWXIEHYRXMP'YPEMRRGSYPH XVEMREWYMXEFPIVITPEGIQIRX8LII\TVIWWMSR"licking his wounds"SVMKMREXIHMRXLI SFWIVZEXMSRXLEXHSKWHSMRHIIHPMGOXLIMV[SYRHWGPIERXSEMHLIEPMRK(SKW SJXIR"nurse"MRNYVIHERMQEPWSJSXLIVWTIGMIWMRGPYHMRKLYQERW%LIEPMRK[EXIV WERGXYEV]HIHMGEXIHXS2SHIRW[EWFYMPXSRXLIFEROWSJXLIVMZIV7IZIVRMR )RKPERHHYVMRKXLIXLMVHGIRXYV]ERHEPPSJJIVMRKWXSXLIKSHJSYRHXSHEXIEVI HSKJMKYVMRIWEKEMRPMROMRKHSKW[MXLLIEPMRK
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
;ILEZIEPVIEH]WIIRXLEXWSQI'IPXMGXVMFIWEHSTXIHXLIREQIWSJXVIIWEWXLIMV TVSXIGXMZIXSXIQ%RMQEPREQIW[IVIEPWSEHSTXIH)\EQTPIWEVIXLIArtraige FIEVTISTPI Osraige HIIVTISTPI Grecraige LSVWITISTPI ERHSordraige FSEV TISTPI -XLEWFIIRWYKKIWXIHXLEXXLIREQISJSRIIEVP]-VMWLXVMFIXLIBibraige QIERWFIEZIVTISTPI-JXLMWMWGSVVIGXXLIXVMFIQYWXLEZIFVSYKLXXLIREQI [LIRMXQSZIHJVSQXLIQEMRPERHFIGEYWIFIEZIVW[IVIRIZIVMRHMKIRSYWXS -VIPERH
Watery Places
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wishing'wellSVJSYRXEMRJSVPYGO#7TVMRKW LEHTEVXMGYPEVEWWSGMEXMSR[MXLXLIYRHIV[SVPHFIGEYWIXLI]FYFFPIYTJVSQXLI HITXLWSJXLIIEVXL XLI[EXIVMWIMXLIV[EVQSVZIV]GSPHERHGSRXEMRWHMWWSPZIH WEPXWXLEX[IVIFIPMIZIHXSLEZIGYVEXMZITVSTIVXMIW7YGLWTVMRKWLEZIPSRKWMRGI FIIR'LVMWXMERMWIHEW,SP];IPPWYWYEPP]HIHMGEXIHXSEWEMRXFYXXLI[EXIVW JVSQQSWXEVIWXMPPFIPMIZIHXSLEZITS[IVXSGYVIEMPQIRXW
%TEVXJVSQXLIMVHE]XSHE]YWIWJSVHSQIWXMGTYVTSWIW[EXIVWIWTIGMEPP]VMZIVW [IVIMRXMQEXIP]PMROIHXSXLIJIVXMPMX]SJXLIWSMP8LIERRYEPMRYRHEXMSRSJXLI JPSSHTPEMRPIJXVMGLHITSWMXWSJWMPXXLEXRSYVMWLIHXLIWSMP MXWIIQWPMOIP]XLEXEX PIEWXMRWSQIGEWIWXLISJJIVMRKW[IVITPIEWJSVJYXYVIJIVXMPMX]ERHEFYRHERGISV [IVIXSOIRWSJKVEXMXYHIJSVEWYGGIWWJYPLEVZIWX3JJIVMRKWXSVMZIVW[IVIEPWS QEHIMRKVEXMXYHIJSVZMGXSV]MRFEXXPI
;EXIVLEHEWMRMWXIVEWTIGXXSS-X[EWYRGSRXVSPPEFPIERHGETVMGMSYWERHEWVEMR GSYPHFEXXIVGVSTW8LIWIEGSYPH[VIGOFSEXWERHHVS[RWIEJEVIVWERHJPSSHMRK VMZIVWGSYPHHIWXVS]JEVQWERHH[IPPMRKW8SSPMXXPI[EXIVVIWYPXIHMRHVSYKLX JEMPYVISJGVSTWERHPSWWSJGEXXPIERHSXLIVIWWIRXMEPERMQEPW:SXMZISJJIVMRKW GSYPHEPWSXLIRLEZIFIIREXXIQTXWXSTPEGEXIERKV][EXIVWSVTPIEHMRKWJSV QSVI[EXIVHYVMRKXMQIWSJHVSYKLX
;IRSXIHIEVPMIVMRXLMWGLETXIVXLIQEVOIHGPMQEXMGHIXIVMSVEXMSRXLEXSGGYVVIH EVSYRHXLIQMHHPISJXLIPEWXQMPPIRRMYQ&')ERHMXQE]RSXFIGSMRGMHIRGIXLEX ZSXMZISJJIVMRKWEX[EXIV]TPEGIWMRGVIEWIHHYVMRKXLEXXMQI
Placelore
;LMPIXVIIWERMQEPWERH[EXIVJIEXYVIHPEVKIP]MRHEMP]'IPXMGPMJISXLIVEWTIGXW SJXLIMVIRZMVSRQIRX[IVIMQTSVXERXXSS8LIVIMWEPEVKIFSH]SJWXSVMIWERHPSVI HIHMGEXIHWSPIP]XSXLIREQIWSJTPEGIWERHMXWIIQWXSLEZIFIIRIWWIRXMEPXLEX JIEXYVIWSJXLIPERHWGETI[IVIREQIH%QIVKIREHHVIWWIHXLIIRXMVIPERHSJ -VIPERHF]REQIFYXMRHMZMHYEPGSQTSRIRXWVMZIVWLMPPWERHQSYRXEMRWEPWSLEH XSFIREQIH)EVP]-VMWLWGLSPEVWGSQTSWIHSVXVERWGVMFIHWXSVMIWGSPPIGXMZIP] ORS[REW(MRHWIRGLEWXLEXI\TPEMR[L]SVLS[IEGLTPEGIKSXMXWREQI)ZIRMR XLI8¤MR&¶'YEMPRKIWTIGMEPIJJSVXWIIQWXSLEZIFIIRQEHIXSREQITPEGIW EGGSVHMRKXSIZIRXWXLEXSGGYVVIHXLIVIMVVIWTIGXMZISJXLIMVVIPIZERGIXSXLI WXSV]8LIVIEWSRJSVXLMWGSQTYPWMSRXSREQITPEGIWMWFIWXWYQQIHYTF]XLI SPH-VMWLWE]MRK "To be named is to exist."
The Movement of the Heavens
-HIRXMX][MXLTPEGIMWERIRHYVMRKJIEXYVISJ'IPXMGGYPXYVIFYXXLIIEVP]'IPXWHMH RSXGSRJMRIXLIMVGYVMSWMX]XSNYWXXLIMVPSGEPIRZMVSRQIRX%GGSVHMRKXS 4SQTSRMYW1IPE G') " . . . they [druids] claim to know the size of the earth and cosmos, the movements of the heavens and stars . . . "7SQIIEVP];IPWLQERYWGVMTXW REQIGSRWXIPPEXMSRWERHMRHMZMHYEPWXEVW3JTEVEQSYRXMQTSVXERGILS[IZIV [EWXLIWYR[LMGLTVSZMHIHPMKLXERH[EVQXL-XWMQTSVXERGI[EWSJXIRVIJPIGXIH MR'IPXMGEVX1ER]GYPXYVIWMRGPYHMRKXLI'IPXWEHSTXIHXLIW]QFSPWSJXLI GMVGPIWTSOIH[LIIPXVMWOIPIERHW[EWXMOEXSHITMGXXLITEWWEKISJXLIWYR EGVSWWXLIWO]8VMWOIPIWERHWSPEV[LIIPW[IVIYWIHSRLIPQIXWEVQSYVERH [IETSRWSJ'IPXMG[EVVMSVWWYKKIWXMRKXLITEXXIVRWQE]LEZILEHTVSXIGXMZI W]QFSPMWQ
7XVERKIP]XLIQSSRERHWXEVWWIIQRSXXSLEZIJIEXYVIHPEVKIP]MR'IPXMG MQEKIV]7SQIEVXMJEGXWJVSQGIRXVEP)YVSTIWLS[XLIWSPEV[LIIPPMROIHXS GVIWGIRXWLETIWTVIWYQEFP]XLIQSSR%WM\XLGIRXYV]&')WLIIXKSPHFS[PJVSQ >YVMGLLEWHITMGXMSRWSJHIIVXLIWYRERHXLIQSSR8LIREQI%VMERVLSH QSXLIVSJ0PIYMR;IPWLQ]XLSPSK]QIERW"Silver Wheel,"WYKKIWXMRKWLIQE] LEZIFIIREQSSRKSHHIWW7MVSRE[EWELIEPMRKKSHHIWWZIRIVEXIHSR GSRXMRIRXEP)YVSTI,IVREQIQIERMRK"Star,"PMROWLIV[MXLPMKLXTIRIXVEXMRK XLIHEVORIWWSJRMKLX8LI+EYPMWL'SPMKR]GEPIRHEVMWFEWIHSRWSPEVERHPYREV GSRJMKYVEXMSRWFYXHIWTMXIXLIWII\EQTPIWVIJIVIRGIWXSERHHITMGXMSRWSJQSSR ERHWXEVWEVIWGEVGIMR'IPXMGEVX
Underworld and Otherworld
7SJEV[ILEZIPSSOIHEXXLITL]WMGEPIRZMVSRQIRXERHLS[XLI'IPXWTIVGIMZIH HIZIPSTIHERHMRXIVEGXIH[MXLMX8LI][IVIEPWSE[EVISJSXLIVIRZMVSRQIRXW SZIV[LMGLXLI]LEHRSGSRXVSPFYX[LMGL[IVIMRXMQEXIP]PMROIHXSHEMP]PMJI 8LIWI[IVIXLIYRHIV[SVPHERHXLI3XLIV[SVPH
8LIYRHIV[SVPH[EWMRLEFMXIHF]XLIHIEHERHXLI3XLIV[SVPHF]XLIHIMXMIW %PXLSYKLFSXL[SVPHWEVIWITEVEXIXLIHMWXMRGXMSRFIX[IIRXLIQGERFIFPYVVIH 8LIQ]XLWWLS[XLEXPMZMRKTISTPISGGEWMSREPP]ZMWMXIHFSXL[SVPHWFYXXVEJJMG [EWQSVIGSQQSRMRXLISXLIVHMVIGXMSR8LIHIMXMIWWIIQXSLEZIFIIREFPIXS IRXIVXLITL]WMGEP[SVPHEXER]XMQIFYXXLIHIEHLEHXS[EMXJSVPMQMREPXMQIW [LIRXLVIWLSPHWGSYPHFIGVSWWIH8LIWIGSMRGMHIH[MXLEGLERKIJVSQSRIWXEXI XSERSXLIVWYGLEWEXHYWO[LIRXLIRI[HE]FIKERERHQSWXIWTIGMEPP]EXXLI 'IPXMGJIWXMZEP 7EQLEMRMRQSHIVR-VMWL XLEXQEVOIHXLIIRHSJXLISPH]IEVERH XLIWXEVXSJXLIRI[
7SQIGPEWWMGEP[VMXIVWVIGSVHXLEXXLI'IPXWFIPMIZIHMREREJXIVPMJI7XVEFS[VMXIW XLEX
. . . not only the druids, but others as well, have pronounced that men's souls and the universe are indestructible, although both fire and water will at some time or other prevail over them.
(MSHSVYW7MGYPYWGSQQIRXWXLEX "They [Gauls] do not fear death, but subscribe to the doctrine of Pythagoras that the human spirit is immortal and will enter a new body after a fixed number of years."
%GGSVHMRKXS.YPMYW'EIWEV
The cardinal doctrine which they [druids] seek to teach is that souls do not die, but after death pass from one to another; and this belief, as the fear of death is thereby cast aside, they hold to be the greatest incentive to valour.
2SXSRP]HMHWSYPWRSXHMIFYXEGGSVHMRKXS4SQTSRMYW1IPEXLI'IPXW" . . .would defer business and payment of debts to the next life."
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dark'SV'black' ERHVIHERHFPEGO[IVIXLIX[SGSPSYVWEWWSGMEXIH [MXLXLIYRHIV[SVPH3RISJXLI-VMWLQ]XLWHIWGVMFIWXLVIILSVWIQIRHVIWWIHMR VIHERHVMHMRKVIHLSVWIW[LSERRSYRGI "We ride the steeds of Donn Tetscorach [toothless Donn] from the fairy-mounds. Though we are alive we are dead."7SQI WGLSPEVWLEZIWYKKIWXIHXLIX[SGSPSYVWVITVIWIRXXLITIVMSHFIX[IIRWYRWIX ERHWYRVMWIERHFIX[IIRHIEXLERHVIFMVXL
-XWIIQWXLIRXLEX[LMPIXLIYRHIV[SVPH[EWETPEGI[LIVIRSVQEPEGXMZMXMIW WYGLEWFEVXIVMRKERHTE]QIRXSJHIFXWGSYPHGSRXMRYIMXEPWSLEHWSQFVIERH HEVOSZIVXSRIWEWWSGMEXIH[MXLXLIRMKLX,S[IZIVXLITVSWTIGXSJVIFMVXLWLIH WSQIPMKLXMRXSXLIKPSSQ
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°VRER雿KXLIPERHSJXLI]SYRK
4IVLETWSRISJXLIFIWXHIWGVMTXMSRWSJXLI3XLIV[SVPHETTIEVWMRXLI-VMWLXEPI XLI"Voyage of Bran."%WXVERKI[SQERETTIEVWXS&VERERHLMWLSYWILSPHERH WMRKWJMJX]UYEXVEMRWEFSYXXLI3XLIV[SVPH[LMGLWLIGEPPW"Emne."7LIHIWGVMFIW MXEWEHMWXERXMWPIYTLIPHF]JSYVTMPPEVWSJ[LMXIFVSR^IEPSZIP]PERH"throughout the world's ages"SR[LMGLQER]FPSWWSQWHVST,SWXWLSPHKEQIWSRXLITPEMRW ERHWTPIRHSYVWSJIZIV]GSPSYVKPMWXIRXLVSYKLSYXXLIQ;EMPMRKERHXVIEGLIV] EVIYRORS[RERHXLIVIMWRSXLMRKLEVWLSVVSYKLFYXSRXLIGSRXVEV]W[IIX QYWMGWXVMOIWXLIIEV8LI[SVPHMW[MXLSYXKVMIJWSVVS[SVHIEXLERH[MXLSYX WMGORIWWSVHIFMPMX])RMKQEXMGEPP]XLIWXVERKIVVIJIVWXSLIV[SVPHEW"Many- shaped Emne by the sea, whether it be near, whether it be far...."
8LIJSPPS[MRKHE]&VERWIXWSYXSREZS]EKIXSHMWGSZIVXLMW[SVPHEGGSQTERMIH F]"three companions of nine."%JXIVX[SHE]WERHX[SRMKLXW&VERWIIWEQER GSQMRKSZIVXLIWIEXS[EVHWLMQSREGLEVMSX-XMW1ERERR¤RQEG0MVKSHSJXLI WIE,II\TPEMRWXS&VERXLEX[LMPI&VERSRLMWTPERIMWMRLMWFSEXSRXLIWIE ERHWIIW[EZIWWIELSVWIWERHPIETMRKWEPQSR1ERERR¤RMRLMWGLEVMSXMRXLI 3XLIV[SVPHWIIWETPEMR[MXLETVSJYWMSRSJJPS[IVWVMZIVWTSYVMRKJSVXLEWXVIEQ SJLSRI]ERHGEPZIWERHGSPSYVIHPEQFW-XWIIQWETTEVIRXXLEXXLI3XLIV[SVPH SZIVPETTIHZIV]MRXMQEXIP][MXL&VER W[SVPH l7LEI'PERG]
Earth Sea and Sky Edited by Shae Clancy and Francine Nicolson http://homepage.eircom.net/~shae/index.htm