The Four Treasures of the Tuatha De Dannan
The Tuatha De Dannan came to Ireland from four cities of the Otherworld, Murias, Falias, Gorias and Finias, bringing with them four treasures. It should be noted here that these four symbols of magical elements are reflected in the Sword, the Spear, the Cup (Cauldron) and the Singing Stone of Destiny-Falias.
At the time of the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann the race inhabiting Eire was known as the "fir Bolgs" who were divided into three tribes.The "fir Domnann" controlled North Munster, South Munster and Connaught. The "Fir Bolg" controlled Ulster and the "Fir Gaillon" Leincester. At that time their king was called Eochid son of Erc. It is said that the Tuatha Dé Danann arrived on the 1st of May (Beltaine) bringing with them treasures from their home cities. From Findias they brought Nuada's sword, from Gorias they brought Lugh's lance, from Murias they brought Dagda's cauldron and from Falias they brought the stone of destiny. The gods reached the coast of Ireland in a shrowd of mist to conceal themselves from the Fir Bolgs. Morrigu and her fellow war godesses created fogs, rainstorms and larva to fall on the Fur Bolgs so that they had to take shelter for three days until their own druids overcame the enchantments.
Finally the two sides met and after a period of truce the two sides began a bloody battle where Eochid was slain and the Fir Bolgs defeated. It was in this very battle that Nuada had his hand sliced clean off and, although Diancecht skillfully made him a hand of silver, he was sufficiently disfigured to have to give up the rule of the Tuatha Dé Danann. And so it was that the Tuatha Dé Danann took control of Ireland. The surviving Fir Bolgs were given Connaught to live in and to this day there are those that claim ancestry to that ancient tribe.
The 4 treasures have been firmly placed within the lore and architecture of Celtic civilization and many of theses myths maybe indeed based upon fact passed down through generations. Each of these treasures denotes action in their appearance within the tales, and great abilities to match those of their bearers. The story of the Tuatha is a long one, but what I bring is more of the inspiration they spread upon us.
Mannanan, the Holy Bárd, brought
from Murias in the West
the Cauldron of Renewal,
which has the Power to regenerate life.
Those who drink from it do not die, but may pass beyond the Portals
to gain the wisdom of the Otherworld and return.
Morrighan, the Rìgh-Bhean,
brought from Falias, in the north
the Stone of Destiny.
This is the stone of Divine Right on which kings are crowned.
Wherever it may be, the Scepter is to be with it.
In that resides the wisdom and the spirit of the Mighty Ones,
Its guardian has the Power to cross beyond the Portals of Time and Space.
Great Lugh of the Long Arm, Warlord
of the Dannan, carried from Finias in the South
the Spear of Victory.
This is the Shining Spear, against which no enemy shall prevail.
The guardian of this spear shall be always victorious,
for its Power is such that no battle can ever be sustained against it.
Ogma of the Sunface, the Lady's
Champion, carried from Glorias in the East
the Sword of Light.
No enemy ever escapes once it is drawn from its sheath.
The Quartering of Eire
copyright September 16, 2002
By Autumn Laird
East the cauldron, Murias, Fort of the Sea and prosperity
South the Fal stone roars, Failias, proclaiming musically a King's destiny
West the spear of Lugh, Gorias, Burning Fort of wisdom
North the sword of Nuada, Findias, come battle and warring
Center the flaith of sovereignty, Meath, where the great fires of Tara burn
To each quarter linked to Otherworld aspects...
now Tara manor is settled
come ye children and gather the stones
find the music in the south
and dance to the sounds of a melody
let the pipe and drum play on in the north
wars forgotten in the enchanted isles
let the peace become
a place inside a heart so strong
be at one with the song
rock and sway to the faerie tune
the past be the past
the future still lies in your hands
now come to the standing stones
remember the circle that is unbroken
through the maze winding, turning
spiraling back to the center
where first the quarters of Tara united
upon a sacred hill
in the mist and in the heather
green as all earth lay untouched
a path to the sky through the waters
and through the rains
upon this land we do pray
bring ye peace and love
the power of the ancient days
channeling in the accent
to reach the highest point
cleansing of the land
reunited in the king sun
given by the mother goddess of the land
it is her right to which should all ignore
listen now to hear the ocean roar
and know too that I am within
a sacred spiral of returning
come now to the four quarters
be blessed by the wind
be warmed by the sun
be purified in santimonium by the fire
be fed upon the green earth
be sustained by the water's mirth
and illuminated by the word
so that in time all will unite
hand in hand this heart of royalty
stood by the course of time
by the will of perseverance
so that the trees will know us
by the knocking upon their cord
awaken ancient ones
spring forth your faerie life
the forests call again
to the bog and to the edges of man
till the day comes
when we see the past at hand
and return in this circle
wiser than before
knowing the Goddess lives inside
this season's door
so be it that the lines have run
deeper than man has ever come
the living essence for which is given
spirit to the green lands
upon them rides a protector
should you kill him to like the Goddess
in fear and in sadness
all that will blight your wickedness
in blindness you will know
the circle must turn and grow
not be held back by some misfortunate soul
who would bind a land to greed
so for me I will choose to see
and sing the song melancholy
as we return to a wasted land
but it is in my hand that sweet blossom can grow
within the tiniest seed
my song will surely show
the path up those ancient stones
changing my song into joyous reunion
with the Goddess in my heart
and the Kings of Tara bestowed
the ancient rite of the serpent healing
winding its solar skin across the stone
shedding the old year of its weariness
and now it is plain to all this Celtic Mandela
making the invisible world visible
to all who lay sheltered under under the tree
for which creative life force guides thee
to the Otherworld and back
returning to the center of history.
To the West and Connacht
Came the foundations of Learning and Wisdom,
Teaching, science and judgment.
From the North and Ulster came the Battle
Pride, war, conflicts and contentions.
To the South and Munster came Music,
Poetic arts and advocacy.
The East and Leinster brought Prosperity,
Abundance, hospitality and dignity.
And from the Centre, from Mide,
Came the Kingship and Stewardship
Which holds the other four provinces
Fast into one island community.
Where the mists of time have come to part,
The quarters of Tara remain close at heart,
Four points uniting the mystic cross,
In the center the web is pulled taught,
Through the rocks and the trees,
Life spins in the Celtic heartbeat,
Woven together by the fabric of island, mist, & sea
Story of gold illumination turns the pages,
To a song made of the elements and the quarters at hand,
Sweet ballad of green Eire-land.
nan Rón ~ Song of the Seals
me on the crashing waves
on the current watching
blood runs through your veins
are your kin and fortune
there come a Light
live upon the sea among the tides
up sons and daughters of the sea
no matter what the day brings-
mark is upon the rocks we sit
of salt form in each damp footstep
there come a Light
children of the earth for the water
through you this mesmerizing call
as tides beating under the full moon
you back home to cliff and shore
into the waters of our birth
the very beginnings on earth
answer the healing powers of the seal song
there come a Light
the seventh stream on the seventh day
the course of the ninth high tide
of ancient ceremony and calling
we stand equal in sun and moon
there come a Light
glimmering in the playful eye
we change and take husband or bride
the sands of shifting time
hearts belong always to the rocking waters
we walk out of our skins
we will be trying to find a way back in
there come a Light
we have left the sorrow fills our eyes
our tears lead us back home
the streams meet the sea
our hearts dance merrily
and fast we swim
meet the waters we were born in
there come a Light
love we may hold on
that single longing of the sea
louder to one of the waters be
colours of blue-grey-green
us of what we will always be
And free we run to the seagulls cry
To the Dan nan Rón.
shiver in the timbers of trees
grove light shedding on me
the hillsides for movement
elongating as the wind begins to still
dips the sun beneath the horizon
it is in these twilight hours
gray stands the pale shadows
from the earth the dancers take flight
bright children tall and limber
on their airy feet taking to the song
Some dark, some light shrouded in the unseen
in a mantle of history
have not faded into the mythic falseness
people tattooed by the hidden knowledge
to the green lands which they called their own
of the searching for better places they roamed
misty green, stony fields and fingers of forest yields
looked to be the land Danu had chosen for her children
they abandoned their ships in a fiery blaze
blotted out the sun for many days
those who could remark on their arrival at Beltaine of May
seemed their ships shone with a light all their own
over the waves, like they were sent from the skies they raved
numbers were they to overtake the great island
hath planted their feet to stay
Old Ones of the lost tribes sent forth
first on a mountain in the West
all the world with their magic and lore
eleven generations of Nemedians they were born
the cities of Falias, Findias, Gorias, and Murias
beginnings they cast their luck
the new isles they carry their treasures
Falias, from hence the stone of kings comes
of destiny we seat before you
Findias, wielder of Nuada’s sword
shall escape or break your blade
Gorias, agile spear of Lug’s light
it’s bearing it will guarantee victory
Murias, great boiling cauldron of the Dagda
it’s depths everyone will find break their fast
pillars of society they created with these treasures
these sacred gifts to the green lands come
three lakes and brought agriculture
settle the fearsome Formorians by marriage bed and by war
champion is thus reborn of Balor’s misfortune
he takes the king’s hand, Nuada is avenged by Bres
many years that drift by, a hill is formed
spire of life arise over the city of Tara
hearts beating pure and strong singing the blood-line long
sons of the Good God Dagada split and share
Cuill, Mac Cecht, and Mac Greine
each take wives bestowing divine sovereignty
gods and goddesses of art they become
silversmith, and carpenters
and daughters of the hammer
But there are many others who rise and fall
mac Lir, wise sea-god
Lamfhota, champion and master of crafts
Og, god of dream and music
of the fire and healing
goddess of the Boyne and wife of Dagada
women of war, Badb, Macha, & Morrigan
a god of eloquence, strongman, & warrior
ruler of the dead
Derg, son of the Dagada and later king
come in the wave of cloaked starlight
against a shore awaiting their coming
defeated by the mortal Milesians
survive as immortals in the cairns and barrows of the world
the world was split in two
surface where the sun shines over the victors and their line
in the earth, lies a route to the sídh
a war wages for milk and grains
ruins remain a place of power where they can dwell
watches and waits, for the sun to rise
Over the split realms that rejoin as one
The dancers call from the Otherworld womb
the magic they wield through the long forgotten
of the twilight, children of Danu
come to call upon these hill forts
the dreams of the ancestors’ tales
they ever live on in this dance so long begun
wait and watch from the circle
the heat rise up from the earth
night takes hold and the colors darken and spread
song becomes clearer, as the stars awaken
heart is alive with the music
like harp strings I look to the hillsides
I sense and see them calling me still
join their dance and make it real
these worlds, heal the crystal fracture
we were split asunder, now the circle is bound
they overlap and ask me,
you listen to the song we lament?
we come when the moon is eclipsed
on the blessing of Danu’s ships
The Old Ones
copyright June 19, 2002
Alone in the great shadow of Stonehenge stood a great oak. His roots were deep and well anchored here. He had been in this place since the great stones were placed here. He had watched in wonder at the coming and going of the ones of the old faith.Today he watched silently as the elders entered the sacred circle. The oldest among them his hair now white with age had once climbed his strong branches as a child to watch in secret as the old ones performed their rituals. This man seemed tired to the
Great Oak but the twinkle was still in his eyes. His voice still sounded strong but the oak heard the sadness there. "It is time my brothers for us to leave them. There are many others of our path that will leave this world for the Higher Plane. The new faith is encroaching and it will be many years before we will be summoned again. Our young ones will carry us with them and our words will be carried on the leaves of the trees and wind. I go to seek my rest now my brothers. Blessings to you as you seek yours." Quietly each of the elders left the circle seeking their own path alone. The old one walked silently toward the oak. He set under the branches of his old friend and closed his eyes. "Ah, Grandfather oak, grant me serenity." The oak gently moved his branches making a gentle breeze stir and flow over the Druid. " I am here my friend." He knew the Druid could feel him. "
I am so tired Grandfather...I am in need of rest." "Then close your eyes and rest my friend. I will wake you when you are needed." And there in the shadow of the Henge the Great Oak folded his branches around the Druid and they became one. Listen closely to the song of the trees for in them is the wisdom of the old ones.
Keepers of the Flame
copyright August 15, 2002
Chants fill the night air
Praises to the Gods raised
The flames reflecting the
shadows on the stones
Each of the thirteen moving
as one around the great circle of light.
Streams of blinding light
Illuminating each one as
bright as the crystals in their hands.
In the center of the flame
silhouetted against the night
A man and woman in an
embrace as old as time.
Two were the future of the
Old Ways chosen
As keepers of all the
knowledge the thirteen held.
The thirteen joined hands
and the light connected them in one great circle.
Rays of light shot toward
the stars as the chants filled the air.
Four rays shot form the
flame to the four winds
At each point a tree, a
sacred oak, grew from the end of the beam.
Lights joined in one orb
and rose toward the sky.
With a cry the thirteen
left with the promise to return when needed.
As the night became calm
and the clouds moved from the moon.
Left in the circle were the
two in the flame,
The keepers of the Sacred Knowledge of the Old Ones
The new Keepers of the Flame.
copyright October 20, 2000
is an endless melody like the satin ribbon of life
Cut and shredded, shrilled and screamed.
Memories of the past, dreams of the future all belong to each.
But the ribbon of endless time has broken since this time began
and means nothing at all to man.
I have wondered the halls of this endless time,
But now my walk is almost through,
because now the journey belongs to you.
I have come and gone this way many times before,
always to be heard but never seen.
I have walked beside you many times in the shadows of early dawn,
So I go being remembered only as the ghost of your dreams.
For more on the Tuatha de Dannan see: