Celtic Workshop #12 The "Outer Darkness", the "Dragon's Eye" and the "Many Speckled Rainment" This Workshop was presented and hosted by Searles O'Dubhain. We covered the basis of Druid Magick or Drai'ocht. We discussed the "Dragon" or "Serpent" Power that is inherit in the Land. We touched on the many different areas of knowledge and discipline necessary to be a Druid. We also discussed the Mysteries of "Death" and "Rebirth". Some preliminary socializing soon gave way to the formal presentation and discussion: Here is what I hope to cover tonight: The Road to the Grove. The Druidic concepts of Being. The use of the Power of the Land in the Rite of the "Dragon's Eye". The "ley lines" and the "death roads". The attainment of Druidic enlightenment (Initiation to the Inner Mysteries) Authority and the "Many Speckled Rainment" The Road to the Grove There are many paths to Magick though only One True Magick IMHO. The Grove is a home to this Power as is the Circle and the Temple. How do we attain the Power to do Magick for ourselves and for all of humanity? Let us look to see what the Pathways were for others. The Ancient Druidic Orders I have discussed the Ancient orders or levels of Druids in a previous workshop. I include them here for the sake of our current discussion. Druidic Bards studied for 15 to 20 years to learn the epics, chants, spells and histories of their peoples and clans. These works were memorized exactly and were a requirement for advancement to a higher or inner level of the Druidic ranks. The works had to be rendered with feeling so that the listener would be spell bound and consequently could relive the event. The Irish Druids had the following classes of Bards: Class # of Epics __________________________________________ Driseg 20 (the Beginner) Foclaic 30 (Advanced beginner) Cili 100 (Journeyman) Anraid 175 (Master/Warrior) Ollomh 175+ (Doctor/Judge) It is to be expected that the lawyers, seers, scientists, judges, and clergy of the Draoi underwent similarly lengthy training periods. The Cloak of Many Colors In the Christian Bible, Joseph was awarded a cloak of many colors by his father because he was beloved among all of his brothers. Due to the jealousy and greed of his brothers, Joseph was also sold into slavery in Egypt and suffered a "death" to his old way of life. Because he was open to wisdom and could perceive the meanings within signs and dreams, he became the chief counselor to the Pharaoh and rose above his death to "new life". Just as the history of the Gaels is tied to Egypt, so the rites of Druids are tied to this idea of "many colors" and rebirth. Please recall that the Mileseans descend from the Pharaohs of Egypt and that their Druids were said to be better Magi than the Persians. To be as good a Druid as Joseph, one must learn the art of interpreting dreams, divination and eloquence. This is a mighty job and worthy of us all! My Own Personal Paths When I embarked upon the quest for my roots and for the nature of Drai'ocht, I was immediately impressed by two things: 1. The Druids were acute and patient observers of Nature. 2. The Druids were the scholars and scientists of their day. Using these two ideas, I created a color-coded series of educational levels for myself in my quest into the secrets of the Draoi. I believe there are five areas of knowledge in the Mysteries: Knowledge of Self, Knowledge of the World, Knowledge of the Spirit, Knowledge of Magick, Knowledge of the ONE. The entire process of learning and growing never stops. As a minimum I have required myself to know the following: Knowledge of Self (The Blue Level) __________________________________________ The Student must be able to meditate until he/she can know their inner voice. The Student must know truth and abstain from lying. The Student must be able to love and be loved. The Student must know the limits of self. The Student must identify their Sexuallity. The Student must know their life goals. The Student must know their bodies and how to maximize and maintain their health. Knowledge of the World (The Green Level) __________________________________________ The Student must know the physical world. The Student must know how the laws of Nature work. The Student must be Holistic with Creation. The Student must be able to shape the forces of Physics and Chemistry. The Student must know the ways of Botany and Zoology. The Student must study animals, plants, insects, birds,fish,trees and rocks. The Student must hear the voice of the Waters and the Winds. The Student must SEE within the Fires, The Student must be connected with the Earth. The Student must know the history of civilization. The Student must know the laws of man. The Student must learn Music. The Student must learn Poetry and Writing. The Knowledge of the Spirit (The Yellow Level) ______________________________________________ The Student must know the Spirit within. The Student must study the Religions of Humanity. The Student must make a Spiritual Journey. The Student must leave the body and walk the Moon Ways. (OOBE) The Student must see the origins and travels of the Spirit within. (PAST LIFE REGRESSION) The Student must Know the Spirit in Music, Colors, Symbols and Life. The Student must hear the Akasha. The Knowledge of Magick (The Orange Level) __________________________________________ The Student must read the Great Works (Cayce, Crowley, Enoch, Fortune, Hermes, Jung, Ogham, Pythagorus, Qabalah, Science, Solomon, Thelema, etc.) The Student must learn to "See." The Student must learn to "Divine". The Student must learn to "Shield." The student shall learn to "Speak." The student shall learn to "Heal." The student shall learn to "Travel." The Knowledge of the ONE (The Red Level) __________________________________________ The Student must create and lead a Ritual. The Student must focus the three Powers (Earth, Self, ONE). The Student must perform the Great Rite. The Student must change Reality. The Student must perform the rite of "Making." The Student must be reborn and become ONE. After passing through all levels successfully, the Student then becomes the Teacher and can wear the White, Multi-speckled or the Dark Robes of their choice. This is my path to Drai'ocht. You alone can choose the proper path to your Inner Light of Whiteness or Darkness. All colors are one color. All Drai'ocht is ONE DRAI'OCHT! The Druidic concepts of Being ------------------------------- I would like to quickly touch on some Druidic concepts about states of being. These states of being correspond to the previous cosmology that we discussed in workshop 5. (Time does not permit me to make a complete discussion of these topics tonight. I may add another workshop to cover them more completely in the future.) Barddas and The Circles of Being ---------------------------------- The Welsh Bardic work "Barddas" contains a description of the three Circles of Being: 1. Abred or the Realm of Matter (The physical world of form) 2. Gwynyd or the Realm of Blessedness (The Magickal Astral world of Spirits) 3. Ceugant or the Realm of Infinities (That which is the home of the God/desses and the Blessed) These states of being are separated by three veils that must be passed: 1. Annwn or "Dark Forgetfulness" (This is the gap or veil that must be passed to achieve birth and rebirth in the Physical World.) 2. Cythraul or "the Ghost" (This is the veil that must be passed to achieve enlightenment.) 3. Lyonesse or "the Isle of the Blest" (This is the final veil that is passed when one has achieved complete enlightenment and complete growth.) "Awen" or "illumination" is like a lightning bolt that can come to us across these veils and bring us knowledge and understanding. The key to our Power and true wills is how well we are able to pass between these states of being. I will discuss some of these techniques next. Circles of Thought or, The Cyclatron of the Soul One of the marvels of modern science is the atom smasher or particle accelerator. Another name for these powerful devices is a "cyclatron". This is basically a phased arrray of electromagnetic devices that take charged particles and accelerate them to tremendous speeds around a circular field until they approximate the speed of light or at least they approach relativistic velocities. The particles are then smashed into a target and the history of the mutual destruction is observed and recorded so that humanity may unlock the secrets of the Gods. I trust that most of us here tonight have experienced this acceleration effect within the vortex of our thoughts and Spirits. We strive mightily to increase the relativistic mass of our thoughts so that we may observe their behavor as they approach God-like reality in their manifestions. Whirr and strive as we might, we are doomed to the universal restraints of our own humanity in much the same manner as nuclear physicists are limited by the unvirsal limits of "C" or light speeds (warp Factor 1, Mr. Sulu!). Such are the limits of thinking. The Salmon Leap and the Shaman's Death I have gone through the process of questing for ultimate meaning in life many times. Most of this effort has been exhausting as well as futile. Only through extraordinary efforts have I actually attained results. These results came about through quantum leaps of the mind and spirit across the "void". Since the salmon is the totem of knowledge, I call this leap the "Salmon Leap". It is very approprite to name it thus since the "void" is actually "death" and the salmon "leap" up the streams of it's birth to spawn new life from it's own death struggle. The ancients also refered to mighty feats as a "Salmon Leap". We must experience the "Shaman's Death" in order to attain our new life and knowledge. The "Salmon Leap" brings us to a New Reality and altered state of Being. Included in the initiation rites to all of the Great Mystery Schools was just such a rite of Death and Rebirth. Anyone care to reveal their secrets now? OTO'ers? GD'ers? Druids? Wiccans? AMORC? Freemasons? Templars? Illumatti? Assassins? Channellers? Others? The floor is now open. Let's hear the words of Life and the words of Death. Josey Wales faces Ten Bears in the moment of Truth. The gauge is cast...the challenge is issued. The floor is open to all comers! Enlightenment Coming through the "dark night of the soul" or the "Shaman's Death" purifies and releases us so that we can experience illumination and enlightenment. Our "darkness' and ignorance are burned away in the flames of the Phoenix as we are reborn into the Light! Such a wonder! The Akasha and all knowledge are there to be received! Our training and our quest are rewarded. We are a new creation! The Dragon's Eye The "Dragon's Eye" is another word for Earth Magick or the Power inherent to the Land that is at the root of the Celtic Soul. This is the power of Excalibur or Caliborn, the sword of Arthur. It is the "Dragon's Breath" that Merlin works with to create a Magickal Mist while using the charm of "Making". We have already seen the "Eye of the Dragon" in a previous workshop ritual. I would like to now open the floor for a further discussion by everyone here as to how we sense this Power in the Land and particularly how we sense it at many sacred sites such as "Stone Circles", Raths, Menhirs, Hills, "Ley Lines", "Stonehenge", "Avebury" or any other site of your experience. The floor is now open for Magickal discussion! Anyone else have a good story for how they've sensed the Power of the Land? How it just is laying there waiting for the call? (2-10,Freepowder) Some time, when you can be alone for a while.. climb up into the moutains, my mountains are the Sierras get up high, above treeline, and sit there, find a rock... where the wind blows all the time and just sit. it may take a while maybe an hour, maybe a day... but you will feel it.. strength more than power, but power just the same coming up form the rocks... singing in the wind... when you have got it right.. the animals will come you may not see them, the conys and the birds but you will feel them too if you are lucky. they will talk to you not in words but in thoughts. if you are ready your totem will make itself known I have found that no great preparation is neccesary but for an open heart and mind it happens for me everytime I go there which is not nearly often enough oh! don't do this in a lightning storm (2-8,O'Dubhain) Beautiful Freepowder! A hymn to the Mother! We can all sing the song of the Health of the Earth! She is beautiful still in some places and will be again in others as we....and I do mean we.... all get together to release the Power of the Dragon! THAT has been safeguarded for us by our ancient Shamans within the Earth. I sense that the keys for this Work are soon to be given to us all once more. (2-15,Nan) Well, I can think of many times that I've felt the Power of the Land but I'll offer just a simple recent example: Last week I gave my ankle a nasty sprain, I knew that one thing it needed for healing was to walk barefoot on the land, so that's what I did in general I find that going barefoot on almost any ground allows me to feel the power of the land......I don't do it long in the snow though . (2-8,O'Dubhain) I'll bet!!! Many of the ancient sacred sites are no longer in active use. I think that the day is rapidly approaching where the Land will call us to Work Magicks at such sites. We will re-establish the "ley lines" of Power that are now just echoes of their past. These lines and sites require a Human/Dragon magickal connection to re-Power the grids that exist all across this planet. Many events occur today that point to this Work. (2-15,Nan) I just wanted to comment that a few years ago I visited a more obscure stone circle and noticed by items left behind that it had been recently used..... so not *all* the ancient sites are inactive and I'm glad! (2-8,O'Dubhain) That's true! I believe Shadow Hawk told about feeling serpent lines of Power beneath Avebury's Circles during a visit there as well, though Stonehenge seemed inert. He told me recently that he sensed that it could come "alive" again for the right combination of persons working there. If that happened, it would have to be tended on a regular basis. Too much of the Dragon sleeps at that site. Myrdin Emyrs sleeps nearby himself! Anyone else have a "Dragon" sense? (2-17,cherokee/wwc1) Many of the american indians have the same legends only we call it the serpent my great grandmother taught me to go out at night and to feel the serpent move beneath my feet and to listen to the song it made in the wind. We believe the time for the serpent to rise is here [it is in the] spirit of the people and the land. I have been a healer in my past lives we used the crystals to awaken the serpent when it was time. That time is soon and I feel the serpent singing to me. (2-8,O'Dubhain) Thank you My Princess! Some legends say that crystals were used at Stonehenge as well. They were placed upon the tops of the lentils there to provide a Power connection. Perhaps the crystal skulls will provide an answer. I hope to see one in Miami next month. (2-15,Nan) All this talk of serpents reminded me of Australia, where the Aborigines have the story of the rainbow serpent (I think it may be part of a creation myth) there they call the ley lines songlines. Bruce Chatwin wrote a wonderful book by that name that covers a lot about the Aborginal beliefs (2-8,O'Dubhain) I want to check into that some more. Isn't it also amazing that everyone connects the serpent to wisdom ....even the Christians do it! Though I must say they try to make out like it was a bad thing to get smart! (2-17,cherokee/wwc1) All peoples have stories of serpents many of them have head cult legends where the skulls were used as resonators to focus energy and to sing to the serpent to wake it up the aborigines believe this as did the mayans and the cherokees and other native peoples (2-17,cherokee/wwc1) ga (2-8,O'Dubhain) Thanks!! ok Trailstalker M'lady ga! (2-1,Trailstalker) Sorry... I'm coming in late on the conversation... are we talking about snake/kundalini power?ga (2-8,O'Dubhain) we are talking about the power in the Land ga (2-1,Trailstalker) ok I just needed a ref. pt. for the conversation. (2-1,Trailstalker) ga (2-8,O'Dubhain) ok Freepowder ga (2-10,Freepowder) The serpents are everywhere, but watch out! some of them are snakes couldn't resist, sorry "The Many Speckled Rainment" "The Song of Amergin" This translation by Dr. Douglas Hyde from his work "Literary History of Ireland" was as well known to the Druids as the "Lord's Prayer" is to todays priests. It is a perfect example of the many different Magickal skills used by the Druids. It is one of my personal favorites as well! I would like to use it to discuss the "many-speckled" rainbow of Drai'ocht! Once again I give you the words of the Bard: The Mystery I am the wind which breathes upon the sea. I am the wave of the ocean. I am the murmur of the billows. I am the ox of the seven combats. I am the vulture upon the I am a beam of the Sun. I am the fairest of plants. I am a wild boar in valour. I am a salmon in the water. I am a lake in the plain. I am a word of science. I am a point of the lance in battle. I am the God who created in the head the fire. Who is it who throws light into the meeting on the mountain? Who announces the ages of the Moon? Who teaches the place where couches the Sun? (If not I)" Let's just go down the line and list the Druidic attributes used in this one spell by lines and in order (I also assigned colors to each attribute): Attribute Color _________________________________________ The Powers of: Wind, (Red) Sea, (Grey) Fire. (White) Persistence. (all) Death in battle. (Black) The Power of the Sun. (Golden) The Power of the Green World. (Green) Courage in extremis. (Red) Infinite Knowledge. (Yellow) The resting place of the soul. (Purple) The Knowledge of Science. (Yellow) Focus through Discipline. (White) The Gift of Awen. (Orange) *Drai'ocht*. (White) I could write an entire page on each of these attributes but not tonight! "Fire in the Head" is the name of an excellent book by Tom Cowan on the subject of Celtic Shamanism. "The 21 Lessons of Merlin" by Douglas Monroe agrees with my assignments for most of the above colors. A true Druid worn the Cloak of many Colors for festive occassions, White or Black robes to conduct Magick and during ritual and a bull's hide when in battle. Authority This the source or result of working with Magick for Druids. It is a measure of their Power and the strength of their "True Wills". In the "21 Lessons" Monroe states that the students of Drai'ocht were awarded colored glass beads (called Gleini na Droedh) that were strung on leather cords for necklaces. These multicolored necklaces were kept secret by each Druid and produced only to demonstrate their Authority to other Druids. Magick knowledge, discipline and practice determined the level of Authority thus attained. Into the Light Fionn's Wheel can also be multicolored. I have made the one in the library that way! (Make it so Number One!) Seriously, to become a Master Druid, one must transcend the separation of colors and walk into the Light. This involves knowing the many fold paths of the Wheel and primarily the Inner Mystery of the relationship of Life and Death, White and Black, Balance and Action, Being and Not being. The Initiations into most of the Great Mysteries included this Dualism of Transcendancy. (An excellent book on this topic is "The Great Initiates"by Edouard Schure, translation by Gloria Rasberry.) What does this mean? What is this Initiation? What is the Mystery? What follows is what I envision COULD have happened during such an initiation. Hear the words a modern day Druid might hear as he achieves his full Knowledge: "I am Arianrhod, Queen of the Heavens! You who approach me must now ask yourselves these questions: How can you achieve the Inner Knowledge? Where can you find the Signs that show you the Way? Heed My Words! I am Arianrhod, Queen of the Stars, I am She of the Silver Wheel! My crown spreads across the Vault of the Heavens! Your dreams shall be filled with the Secret Ways of the Night! It is I that will show you the Paths of Knowledge! It is I that will fire your Spirit in sparkling crystals of Wonder! I am Arianrhod! Come to Me My children! Be filled with Expectancy for what is yet to come!" "Hear the Words of the Ard Druis:" "You who seek the Ways of Power must dare to approach the Queen of the Stars! You who seek the embrace of Wisdom must approach Her Presence without fear! You that seek for Love must first know your True Selves. What is your Authority? Are you truly Human? Speak now if you dare!" "Oh Arianrhod of the Silver Wheel! Bless us in Your Mysteries! Fill us with Your Spirit! Let us place no limits upon Your exalted Being! You are Infinite! You are the Unknown! The Darkness! Admit us into Thy arms! Grant us Your Blessings! Our speech is confounded! Chaos is upon us!" "Now is the Great Re-awakening! Now is the time of enlightenment! Those who are untrue shall be cast out into the depths! Cleanse yourselves through trials of fire and fasting! The way is long, Only the strong shall attain Knowledge!" "Behold the Flaming Door! Behold the Burning sword of Gorias! Enter if you dare the halls of Lugh!! Wear the many speckled cloak of Samildanach!" "Hear the words of the Sun!" "I am Lugh Lamfadagh!!! I am Samildanach! I am thy burning desire for Knowledge! I am the Power that illumes the Heavens! Life is my gift to you, even as your Death is the Mother of Life. To know Me is to know yourself completely, even beyond Death! Enter if you dare! Approach the fires of Life!!! Die and live again!" "I, Lugh am the focus of the Power and you My Druid are its Manifestation! Enter the Flaming Door! Cead Mile Failte! Maith an Drui!" Such is the end of a long journey. An Fhi'rinne Roimh an Saol! We must awaken the Dragon Power within us all!! DRAI'OCHT LIVES AGAIN! TA' ME' DRAI'OCHT!!