Riding With The Sidhe
by John Willmott of Celtic Ways
Most of my visits to Ireland's ancient sites are to "mounds". Many of them are chambered cairns and all of them carry at least one legend, a legend of people of "the other world", hence many of these "mounds" are known as "fairy hills".
I believe there would have been no Christianity without The resurrection. For thousands of years before Christ the races of Ireland, and certainly other countries, believed in an "other world" where we mortals moved onto at death and even arrived from at birth. In a new year message sent to me from Sapira there was a quote, "A Wise Elder from the Native American Anishinaabe tribe said that we are spiritual beings on a human journey".
Even with a massive catastrophe like the current Tsumanis these ancient beliefs would support a mass "transport" of these "fallen" people to the "other world". In some ways Tsumanis is comparable to ancient legends such as Atlantis and The Great Flood. In reverse, In Ireland, it also supports the legend of the arrival of the Tuatha De Danaan, the people of the goddess Dana, a mass mortal incarnation of people of "The Sidhe", pronounced "shee". "Banshee" comes from Sidhe, but that's another topic.
The Sidhe was, and still is, believed to be a parallel spiritual world that still has its tribes just like on earth so even today each family has its own Sidhe. Just like earthly tribes legends tell of these "other world" tribes also get into disagreement and war that affect life on earth.
It is said that some of the Sidhe remain between the two worlds to guide mortals and even reveal themselves when needed, hence the fairy and angel legends. The legends of the Sidhe were an oral tradition for 1000s of years until recorded in early manuscripts, a kind of Irish Old testament, such as The Book Of The Dun Cow and The Book Of Leinster which also describes the Tuatha De Danaan as "gods and not gods", but 'something in between'. Also, The Book Of The Dun Cow describes the Tuatha De Danaan as "likely they came from heaven, on account of their intelligence and excellence of their knowledge".
Dating of the "mounds" in Ireland is interesting. The earliest seem to be the cairns of Carrowkeel in Co. Sligo which date to about 7000 BC, Loughcrew in Meath about 5000 BC and the cairns of the Boyne, New Grange etc. about 3000 BC. Little is known of the Irish races until after these mounds were built.
About 2700 BC Ireland became populated by rival Partholan tribes, possibly arrived from Spain and Fomorians possibly from Scandinavian countries. About 2300 Nemedians came from Spain but were largely wiped out by Fomorians and then around 2000 there was the arrival of the Firbolgs, also from Spain who made a successful stand against the Formorians. The Firbolgs divided Ireland into the 5 regions that are now Ulster, Leinster, Connaught and Munster today, with the centre, Midhe, being at the "catstone" on the Hill Of Uisneach
It is said to have been 1896 BC when the Tuatha De Danaan arrived on a cloud, or in a mist, on an island in Lock Carrib in County Mayo, came ashore and defeated the Firbolgs around what is now Cong.
A few years later, the Tuatha De Dannan are said to have arrived on a cloud on a mountain in Leitrim and soon went into battle with the Firbolgs of Co. Sligo, and here we may have the roots of the legends of the wars between the fairies and the leprechauns. Co. Sligo is still abundant in cairns, with the finest examples being on the mountains of Carrowkeel. The Tuatha De Dannan, by legend, were the fairy race and the Firbolgs were dwarf people dressed in green living in the cairns, and some of them did have gold.
The Milesians arrived from Spain in 1699 BC and battled with the Tuatha De`Dannan for control of Ireland. It is said in the Book Of Leinster that the Milesians drove the Tuatha De Dannan underground, but from there the Tuatha De Dannan took revenge and destroyed their crops and milk production. A treaty had to be formed between the Milesians and De Dannan to ensure good harvests and no starvation.
Little is known, even by oral tradition, of the time between the building of the cairns in Co. Sligo in 7000 BC until the arrival of the Tuatha De Dannan about 5000 years later other than the presence of The Sidhe. The Sidhe, as well as being of the other world and being our "guides" were also regarded as the gods of the earth who controlled fertility, growth and harvest so they were always honoured with every harvest. The stories of the Tuatha De Dannan revenging the Milesians from the "underground" until the Milesians honoured them enforced this belief.
Even today, some Irish leave butter and milk for the good people at Imbolc time, which is very much in tune with similar traditions around the world at the same time and even the Christian harvest festival around Lughnasa of Equinox time is in the same spirit. It seems the powers of the "other world", even though it may contain its own battles, we are very dependent on.
There are so many tales around the above that I will share with you in this blog, extended articles on my web sites, photo galleries, live shows and live visits to these "temples".
No matter how we live our lives it seems that we "ride the Sidhe", or whatever we call the spirits of the other world, that guide the paths where we express our freewill. Maybe they are not as dominating as we have made them out to be. Like a horse we may ride, we equally need each other.
Perhaps when you visit one of these ancient mounds, Ancient Temples of Ireland, you will feel relaxed and at one with yourself. The clouds and mists of your life will drift away and reveal the other world to you. It is then you will find yourself clearly riding with the Sidhe and journeying west through their elemental kingdoms of Tir-nan-Og, Tir-na-Bea, Tir-fo-Thonn, Tir-na-Moe and Tirtaingiri.
Most people do not really know what their draw is to Ireland until they experience this, and then they really do feel that they have "been" to Ireland.
Most of my visits to Ireland's ancient sites are to "mounds". Many of them are chambered cairns and all of them carry at least one legend, a legend of people of "the other world", hence many of these "mounds" are known as "fairy hills".
I believe there would have been no Christianity without The resurrection. For thousands of years before Christ the races of Ireland, and certainly other countries, believed in an "other world" where we mortals moved onto at death and even arrived from at birth. In a new year message sent to me from Sapira there was a quote, "A Wise Elder from the Native American Anishinaabe tribe said that we are spiritual beings on a human journey".
Even with a massive catastrophe like the current Tsumanis these ancient beliefs would support a mass "transport" of these "fallen" people to the "other world". In some ways Tsumanis is comparable to ancient legends such as Atlantis and The Great Flood. In reverse, In Ireland, it also supports the legend of the arrival of the Tuatha De Danaan, the people of the goddess Dana, a mass mortal incarnation of people of "The Sidhe", pronounced "shee". "Banshee" comes from Sidhe, but that's another topic.
The Sidhe was, and still is, believed to be a parallel spiritual world that still has its tribes just like on earth so even today each family has its own Sidhe. Just like earthly tribes legends tell of these "other world" tribes also get into disagreement and war that affect life on earth.
It is said that some of the Sidhe remain between the two worlds to guide mortals and even reveal themselves when needed, hence the fairy and angel legends. The legends of the Sidhe were an oral tradition for 1000s of years until recorded in early manuscripts, a kind of Irish Old testament, such as The Book Of The Dun Cow and The Book Of Leinster which also describes the Tuatha De Danaan as "gods and not gods", but 'something in between'. Also, The Book Of The Dun Cow describes the Tuatha De Danaan as "likely they came from heaven, on account of their intelligence and excellence of their knowledge".
Dating of the "mounds" in Ireland is interesting. The earliest seem to be the cairns of Carrowkeel in Co. Sligo which date to about 7000 BC, Loughcrew in Meath about 5000 BC and the cairns of the Boyne, New Grange etc. about 3000 BC. Little is known of the Irish races until after these mounds were built.
About 2700 BC Ireland became populated by rival Partholan tribes, possibly arrived from Spain and Fomorians possibly from Scandinavian countries. About 2300 Nemedians came from Spain but were largely wiped out by Fomorians and then around 2000 there was the arrival of the Firbolgs, also from Spain who made a successful stand against the Formorians. The Firbolgs divided Ireland into the 5 regions that are now Ulster, Leinster, Connaught and Munster today, with the centre, Midhe, being at the "catstone" on the Hill Of Uisneach
It is said to have been 1896 BC when the Tuatha De Danaan arrived on a cloud, or in a mist, on an island in Lock Carrib in County Mayo, came ashore and defeated the Firbolgs around what is now Cong.
A few years later, the Tuatha De Dannan are said to have arrived on a cloud on a mountain in Leitrim and soon went into battle with the Firbolgs of Co. Sligo, and here we may have the roots of the legends of the wars between the fairies and the leprechauns. Co. Sligo is still abundant in cairns, with the finest examples being on the mountains of Carrowkeel. The Tuatha De Dannan, by legend, were the fairy race and the Firbolgs were dwarf people dressed in green living in the cairns, and some of them did have gold.
The Milesians arrived from Spain in 1699 BC and battled with the Tuatha De`Dannan for control of Ireland. It is said in the Book Of Leinster that the Milesians drove the Tuatha De Dannan underground, but from there the Tuatha De Dannan took revenge and destroyed their crops and milk production. A treaty had to be formed between the Milesians and De Dannan to ensure good harvests and no starvation.
Little is known, even by oral tradition, of the time between the building of the cairns in Co. Sligo in 7000 BC until the arrival of the Tuatha De Dannan about 5000 years later other than the presence of The Sidhe. The Sidhe, as well as being of the other world and being our "guides" were also regarded as the gods of the earth who controlled fertility, growth and harvest so they were always honoured with every harvest. The stories of the Tuatha De Dannan revenging the Milesians from the "underground" until the Milesians honoured them enforced this belief.
Even today, some Irish leave butter and milk for the good people at Imbolc time, which is very much in tune with similar traditions around the world at the same time and even the Christian harvest festival around Lughnasa of Equinox time is in the same spirit. It seems the powers of the "other world", even though it may contain its own battles, we are very dependent on.
There are so many tales around the above that I will share with you in this blog, extended articles on my web sites, photo galleries, live shows and live visits to these "temples".
No matter how we live our lives it seems that we "ride the Sidhe", or whatever we call the spirits of the other world, that guide the paths where we express our freewill. Maybe they are not as dominating as we have made them out to be. Like a horse we may ride, we equally need each other.
Perhaps when you visit one of these ancient mounds, Ancient Temples of Ireland, you will feel relaxed and at one with yourself. The clouds and mists of your life will drift away and reveal the other world to you. It is then you will find yourself clearly riding with the Sidhe and journeying west through their elemental kingdoms of Tir-nan-Og, Tir-na-Bea, Tir-fo-Thonn, Tir-na-Moe and Tirtaingiri.
Most people do not really know what their draw is to Ireland until they experience this, and then they really do feel that they have "been" to Ireland.
1 Comments:
In response to Riding With The Sidhe a lady, who does not wish to be named, asked some questions to which I responded .....
Q .... I have enjoyed reading some of your topics as i have Irish roots and a curiosity. I am a christian and I am wondering how in your discussion of the spirit world of fairies etc. and your reference to being a Christian what your actual beliefs are?
Me .... As you may well know the definition of what Christianity is seems to be a constant battle. Anyone studying theology will learn of the many definitions and disputes, even down to a Synod being held at Durham in the 12th century to debate what style of haircuts monks should wear.
Ireland has 1000s of years of oral tradition before it was put into writing.
Likewise, the Bible seems to be largely written out of oral tradition, with different versions and interpretations developed and published over the centuries since.
Another thing to consider is that many of the Christian teachings and the bible were developed from the manuscripts of the Sinai desert monks. These teachings seem to have taken two directions, one through Ireland and the other through Rome.
The high crosses of Ireland were sculptured for the purpose of teaching the scriptures in relation to the old stories and teaching of Ireland. This is a kind of marriage of Ireland's old testament with the stories of the New Testament brought to Ireland by the desert monks, who founded the idea of monastic living in Ireland.
For me, my Christian faith is founded on The Resurrection and that Christ demonstrated we are of one God who does many things rather than lots of gods doing individual things.
The stories of fairies in Ireland exist just like stories of angels in some of the desert stories, but this a subject too long for a single blog posting.
Q .... Do you consider the pull from the mounds and ancient longings to be dark in nature?
Me .... I think we have a modern problem with the imagery that is provoked by some theatric neo-pagans groups. Another larger problem seems to be fear provoking propaganda preaching spread by a section of so called Christian preachers. Both of these groups can distort the reality of these ancient sites.
The main thing that's forgotten is that the ancient sites were built 1000s of years before computers, calculators, printed charts, modern mathematics etc. Mysteriously, the science, mathematics and architecture behind them is an extraordinary wonder considering the minimum of resources, education, communication and logistics their builder had compared to today.
The only darkness these sites could stir, I feel, could come from within and not caused by the structure or its position. These ancient places are hermitage and meditative places. They force us to face ourselves completely naked of distraction, and that scares a lot of people today. However, if you visit with a good honest unconditional spiritual guide, Christian, Moslem etc., does not matter, these places are not places of darkness but places of connection to light,love and God, just like any good church or any place of prayer and worship.
Q .... I believe each Christian is given the holy spirit and with it comes a decernment of spiritual things.
I suppose I would re-word that to say that everyone carries the holy spirit but freewill decides how much we accept it, love it and let it guide us. I do not believe its exclusive to Christians. Though I personally find Christianity my chosen and even inherited faith I refuse to relate to Christianity as being the superior faith because I believe that doing so goes against Christianity.
Q .... There are times when I am listening to Celtic music and I am enthralled that a song comes on and my spirit is agitated, do you know what I mean?
Me .... Today, tabloid newspapers agitate me and the majority of old Celtic songs were the tabloids of the past. Their subjects were wars, deaths, lusts, drinking and usually written to provide sensation and even fear rather than present facts. Some were of romance. That's what sold the popularity of the bards and their songs, just like why tabloid newspapers sell today.
Some of the very old Celtic songs were of ghosts and visions, often experiences after a drinking session or a long time at sea, but hardly any of these songs conveyed mystical pagan messages.
There were a lot of of Celtic songs about nature and the land and many composed by monks. These songs are still very welcome in churches today.
Really, I would think there was less darkness about the pre-Christian tribes than amongst the people of today. Today we have access to so much knowledge and wisdom that can be perverted. Though we are born sinners I believe it takes knowledge and wisdom to create real evil when these gifts are perverted.
Those ancient people were innocents.They did what they could with what was available to them. Their only measurement of time and seasons were the sun, moon and stars positions, their healing with herbs and short there timing with chants rather than stop watches.
Do you think chants are magic?
If it means the difference between a three minute boiled and a five minute boiled egg by lengthening a chant, for timing,
I think that's magic :-)
Imagine the incredible wonder these people had when they saw their crops grow, something we regard as mundane and ignore today. Its not surprising that they thought in terms of many gods, but I do not see any evil in that, just an innocence that we have now gone beyond due
to teaching and wisdom.
Another matter taken for granted is that these people were adults by early teens, elderly in their 30s and rarely lived beyond 40 years old. We currently rate years as solar years while they rated years as lunar months, which is why we read of people living 400 - 500 years when in fact they only lasted into their 40s.
I believe one of the biggest injustices on mankind today is preaching with a style of initially creating fear and then offering solution and salvation. Many, many religious preachers are guilty of this and it is such an injustice because people put their entire life's faith in them.
Similar tactics are used by politicians an television news and printed newspapers. Television news is gradually becoming worse than the "fear and solution" preachers because journalistic content is now almost entirely created by departments within corporations. The purpose seems to be to slant public attitude in favour of their agenda because that attitude will buy their products and services. News services bow to this because these corporations pay them to be in business.
Again, thanks for writing and hope you enjoyed reading my alternative view.
Love and blessings
from John
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