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Mural of Kamehamaha arriving in Oahu- photo by Diveena |
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Spring Equinox/Beltane newsletter opened the window for our tour this year with the Celts. As we touched on the magic and power of the Celtic mythological culture from the last issue, we will continue our exploration with the Celtic people themselves. I find it an appropriate support to our Lughnasdh theme. If you would like to review the previous text, go the rubystar page and click on the appropriate archive newsletter. The Celtic social world consisted of three main classes, the kings, the warriors, (considered aristocracy) and the freeman farmers. The ancestral inhabitants of Ireland were a mixture of the ancient Gaul's, the Spanish from Iberia, the little known Picts, who eventually settled in northern Scotland and two 'other' worldly races; the Fir Bolg who in legend were giants, and the Fomorians that were described as a fierce and hostile supernatural race eluding to the sea raiding Vikings (Gaels). Such an eclectic race of multi-cultural and transcendental worlds, which seem to emit the essence of mystical and intriguingly magical qualities. The high kingship was a prized title and was acquired by conquering the previous king in battle. Mostly the land was divided into four sections, Connaught, Ulster, Munster and Leinster and were ruled by a provisional king. Many battles were fought to procure lands. The aristocrats were a warrior class always ready for battle. Then there were the freeman farmers and livestock owners. Cattle were valued highly for their economic worth. Cattle were thoroughly utilized for their milk and its various forms such as cheese and butter as well as their hides and bones. The value of livestock in the Celtic culture was the prominent focus for all the ceremonies and rituals that took place during the year to insure health, fertility and abundance. There were four significant festivals that were upheld as extremely sacred and it was considered a major offense if a crime was committed during these times. The beginning of the Gaelic year was marking the end of summer and the start of winter on November 1, called Samhain. It celebrated the return of the cattle from higher pastures and also it was a time of courtship and weddings. It was also a dangerous time when the barriers between worlds were removed and the mortals and immortals could pass between the two. Imbolg was celebrated on February 1 and is associated with the ancient Celtic goddess Brigid and marks the preparations for spring. As we have stated previously, Brigid was very venerated in the Celtic culture for her connection to the livestock. May 1, celebrates the waking of the earth from her winter sleep and the renewal of spring. This festival officially marked the beginning of Irish summer. The livestock, both cattle and sheep were transferred to more upland pastures. The large bonfires of Beltane are well known for the purification of the livestock and the night celebrations. Most of the important events in Gaelic mythology happened on Beltane. The midsummer harvest after the summer solstice in June represents Lughnasdh, in honor of the sun god Lugh. The sun god Lugh, King of the Tuatha de Nan called 'the shining one' was considered a god and a hero. He was highly honored during the midsummer after the summer solstice in June celebrating Lughnasdh, season of the harvest. He was the prominent agent for the Tuatha de Naan to defeat the Fomhoire (a fierce supernatural race). This was celebrated through August 1-6 and was considered the festival of love and a time for arranging marriages and starting friendships. As we observe, each of the seasonal feasts were connected to a pastoral way of life. Their observations consisted of eating special foods, gatherings, prophetic activities and various protective practices. Men were specially aware of the activities of good and evil spirits. These festivals are considered older than even the Celts and were incorporated into the later underground Druid practices in England along with the Equinoxes and Solstices at Stonehenge. On last remark regarding the social status of women, in general they had more rights than Greek or Roman women at the time and we can almost say more equal rights to men. It has been know that women held the titles of warriors and were accepted into the Druidic orders in the Celtic culture. We will introduce the Druidic group in our next discourse on the Magical and Powerful Celts in our Autumnal Equinox/Samhain newsletter in September. This section of the article was written by my college Ciara and the previous was by Calvin.. |
Lughnasdh, known also like Lammas or Lammastide, named by Lugh, the one of the long hands, Celtic God of the light and the fire. This festival marks the end of the summer and the first grain harvest. Generally known as the first harvest where the acknowledgement of the shift from growing to harvesting, from incline to decline becomes evident. Originally the concept of Lughnasdh was a feast and festival for the funeral assembly of Lugh’s foster mother..This festival takes place in the beginning of August, and includes games and such, as traditional for a Celtic funeral, and also incorporates the barley harvest with much bread and beer.It is a day of feasting. Bread is baked in mass quantities and fruits and nuts are harvested. Corn is a vital crop that is harvested at this time. Lughnasdh is a holiday of death and harvest as well as bounty and life. Symbols of this sabbat are the grain tied one, garlic, the sunflowers and the maize. Its colors are gilt and the Earth oranges. Ritually sacrifice all the negative thoughts , emotions and behaviors for you and those that surround to you. Who was Lugh? The god Lugh was worshipped in Ireland as a deity of the sun. This connection with the sun may explain his name (it means "shining one"), and it also may account for the attributes that he displayed: he was handsome, perpetually youthful, and had tremendous energy and vitality. This energy manifests itself especially in the number of skills he had, according to legend, mastered. In fact, there was a tale that related Lugh's myriad abilities at arts and crafts. As told in the Battle of Magh Tuiredh, the god traveled to Tara, and arrived during a tremendous feast for the royal court. Lugh was greeted at the door by the keeper of the gate, and was immediately asked what talent he had - for it was a tradition there that only those who had a special or unique ability could enter the palace. The god offered his reply: "I am a wright". In response, the gate keeper said: "We already have a wright. Your services are not needed here". Still, Lugh, not to be so easily dismissed, continued: "I am a smith". Again, the guard retorted that the court had a smith that was quite adequate; but the god was not to be dissuaded. In short order, he noted that he was also a champion, a harper, a hero, a poet, an historian, a sorcerer, and a craftsman. To this list, the gate keeper merely nodded his head, and stated matter of fact that all of these various trades were represented in the court by other members of the Tuatha de Danaan. "Ah, but you do have an individual who possesses all of these skills simultaneously?", was Lugh's clever and inspired reply. The guard was forced to admit his defeat, and so Lugh was allowed to enter and join the festivities. Lugh was as important a god to the ancient Euro-Celtic religion as Jesus is to Christianity. Lugh was the great Sun God of the Irish and Euro-Celts, patron of Arts and Crafts, leader of the Tuatha dé Danaan. Many European cities were named for Lugh such as London, Léon, Loudan, Lyons and others. Lugh (pronounced "Luck") has been eluded to the leprechaun, ones that bring great blessings. Lugh is a very intriguing deity. One that an organization called the Equinox project is researching. From what I can gather from their findings there is an astonishing relationship with Lugh and Jesus. Or rather Lugh's alterations through history. See for yourself at Equinox project. |
As in all myth, there are countless versions. The value of myth is that within it there will be some symbolic meaning that captivates our inner being and lives forever within us. This symbol, this archetype resurfaces when the appropriate moment within the individual soul cycle (I feel the soul is intrinsically related to the sun) needs more help or rather reaches for its power for initiation. Lugh was principally valued by the ancient Celts as a powerful warrior with a heart of gold. He was fearless against injustice and tyranny. Sounds like the genuine hero what we'd call today a super-hero. For no one could challenge a grandiose authoritative power but a super hero. This archetype lives on within us so we can reach within to the fire of courage and do what we need to do to change what is out of balance in our lives. Why does King Arthur live on today? Or Superman or even Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. These men, either imagined or real, Lugh/Leu-Jesus/Horus lived on within them. Many women do hold Lugh within their breasts as they defend their rights, their children and others less fortunate. This is a time to honor this light, this spirit, this 'will' within us, and within the universe. It starts within our hearts. Lugh like all legendary warriors was born to fulfill a long awaited prophesy to over throw the rulers of the people because of tyranny. Usually there is someone who is part of this warrior's blood line that knows about his birth and wants to depose of him. There is also a benefactor that takes the warrior/savior away to live apart from society in order to know himself uncorrupted by the court/bougeoisie etc. So many many heroes come under this archetype. Even here in Hawaii King Kamehameha was born during such a prophesy and was sent away just as the rest only to come back to unite the people. He lived a very isolated but glorious life. The most important aspect about him was that he had his priests around him always. He spend much time in solitude and with homage to the gods and to the universe. He had built many temples and sacred places across the islands. It has also been recorded that in the ancient world there were many shrines and temples that were built in honor of Lugh. Lugh has qualities we long to possess. To be true to ourselves to have the courage to love others with the passion filled with justice. To champion the good causes so that all that we love and respect may live a rich and fulfilled life. Lughnasdh is a time to celebrate such qualities and ask for their reinforcements in our lives. To be proud of these glorious attributes in ourselves and others. The Hawaiian people have never forgotten Kamehamaha and don't want to. Their heritage was united just as the Celts are as a people now. Before, they were constantly warring amongst themselves. The Hawaiians would have been annihilated if it wasn't for Kamehamaha giving his life work to unite his people before the outsiders came. Now their heritage is stronger than ever. The very same thing happened to the Irish Celts. No matter what they went through after the ancient days of unification they will never loose sight of who they are. Let us all honor Lugh's 'Shining' in all our lives during this time. |
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Seasons Greetings pg1