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Our Divine
As our path name
Deiuokara (DAY-woh-karr-AH) suggests, we show reverence or love to our
Celtic Divine.
Study and comparisons of ancient Indo-European
cultures, of which the ancient Celts were a part, suggests their religious
structure shared a common origin: a Proto-Indo-European (PIE) religious
structure and deity pantheon whose source is derived from an ancestral PIE
cultural horizon.
Early Celtic traditions identify three essential functions to
ensure the survival of community. They are the sovereignty function,
the warrior function, and the fertility function. It is important for the
community members to become familiar with these three functions and learn to
reflect them as a community in modern practice. For a fuller understanding
of these functions and how they relate to Celtic community, I recommend reading
"The Apple Branch" by Alexei Kondratiev,
pages 71 - 77, from which I will reference below.
Sovereignty
Function - This 1st function is the guiding one of the community and does so by
reminding the community of "its ideals, conserving its, lore, arbitrating its
disputes, and providing a link with the source of all values in the
Otherworld." The ideals of knowledge are bound up in this
function, so we recognize a Lord of Illumination of Knowledge, of Many Gifts and Skills as our
patron over this function.
Warrior
Function - This 2nd function is responsible for developing the
resources and qualities needed for the continued defense of the community from
outside threats. We recognize a Lord of Battles, of Victories, of Strength and
of Healing as our patron over this function.
Fertility
Function - This 3rd function is responsible for developing the
resources to provide for the physical sustenance of the community. We
recognize a Lord of Riches, of Birth and of Growth as our patron over this
function.
In addition to these three essential community
functions, there is a fourth function comprising all that is left over
from the tri-functional scheme, represented by artists and craftpersons, persons
with unusual talents or gifts from the Otherworld. This function is
connected to the Land Goddess, the "base" that supports the tri-functional
community and the one who confers her blessings of Sovereignty and fruitage of
the land.
In our personal practice, we honor one deity
who presides over these three functions relating to our spiritual community.
This Pan-Celtic triple
function deity is known by the names Lugus, Lugh, and
Lleu with titles such as
Samildánach (many gifted one), and Lámhfhada (of the long
hand). For more details on Lugus, please go to the link on
the navigation bar above.
As members of the Diaspora living in
traditionally non-Celtic lands, we incorporate a "dual vision" in
developing a relationship with the Land Goddess; one conceived in mythological
terms relating to the lands historically settled by Celtic cultures and one
conceived in terms relating to the land upon which the actual community lives.
In the practice of this dual vision, due to
our respect, we honor the land as it is, while adjusting some features our Earth
festivals and rituals to recognize this reality.
At the same time, we also emphasize our Celtic
identity by cultivating an attachment for our ancestral homelands where Celtic
culture evolved, maintaining a commitment to learn the symbolic language
connected to this Celtic identity. Our patron deity we recognize with this part
of our vision is the Gaulish land Goddess Brigindu, who the epigraphical,
etymological, and mythological evidence connects circumstantially with the
Insular Celtic Goddesses Brigantia and Brigit. For more
details on Brigindu, please go to the link on the navigation bar above.
This page will soon be
the home to more details surrounding the honoring of our Divine.
Under Construction.
Please revisit soon!
Last Updated:
08/14/08
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