The Great Epic Ages of the Pagans and Druids.

 Neo :

 A very normal and widely accepted differentiation of some sort of Historic development.

Certainly the Druidic Priest Cast of the Bronze Age or the Fili and Brehon of old Éire can not be considered the same as a Neo-Druid of a Modern Order today!

neo- or sometimes before a vowel ne-
combining form
1. (sometimes capital) new, recent, or a new or modern form or development: neoclassicism; neocolonialism.
2. (Geological Science) (usually capital) the most recent subdivision of a geological period: Neogene.
[from Greek neos new] (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/neo

-)

----------------------

Paleopaganism or Paleo-Paganism:

A general term for the original polytheistic, nature-centered faiths of tribal Europe, Africa, Asia, the Americas, Oceania and Australia, when they were (or in some rare cases, still are) practiced as intact belief systems. Of the so-called “Great Religions of the World,”Hinduism (prior to the influx of Islam into India), Taoism and Shinto, for example, fall under this category, though many members of these faiths might be reluctant to use the term. Some Paleopagan belief systems may be racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. There are billions of Paleopagans living and worshiping their deities today. See Mesopaganism and Neopaganism. R1

Mesopaganism or Meso-Paganism:

A general term for a variety of movements both organized and nonorganized, started as attempts to recreate, revive or continue what their founders thought were the best aspects of the Paleopagan ways of their ancestors (or predecessors), but which were heavily influenced (accidentally, deliberately and/or involuntarily) by concepts and practices from the monotheistic, dualistic, or nontheistic worldviews of Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, or early Buddhism. Examples of Mesopagan belief systems would include Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, Theosophy, Spiritualism, etc., as well as those forms ofDruidism influenced by those movements, the many Afro-Diasporatic faiths (such asVoudoun, Santeria, Candomble, etc.), Sikhism, several sects of Hinduism that have been influenced by Islam and Christianity, Mahayana Buddhism, Aleister Crowley’s religion/philosophy of Thelema, Odinism (most Norse Paganism), most “Family Traditions” of Witchcraft (those that aren’t completely fake), and most orthodox (aka “British Traditionalist”) denominations of Wicca. Some Mesopagan belief systems may be racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. There are at least a billion Mesopagans living and worshiping their deities today. See Paleopaganism and Neopaganism. R1

Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism:

A general term for a variety of movements both organized and (usually) nonorganized, started since 1960 c.e. or so (though they had literary roots going back to the mid-1800’s), as attempts to recreate, revive or continue what their founders thought were the best aspects of the Paleopagan ways of their ancestors (or predecessors), blended with modern humanistic, pluralist and inclusionary ideals, while consciously striving to eliminate as much as possible of the traditional Western monotheism, dualism, and puritanism. The core Neopagan beliefs include a multiplicity of deities of all genders, a perception of those deities as both immanent and transcendent, a commitment to environmental awareness, and a willingness to perform magical as well as spiritual rituals to help both ourselves and others. Examples of Neopaganism would include the Church of All Worlds, most heterodox Wiccan traditions, Druidism as practiced by Ár nDraíocht Féin and the Henge of Keltria, some Norse Paganism, and some modern forms of Buddhism whose members refer to themselves as “Buddheo-Pagans.” Neopagan belief systems are not racist, sexist, homophobic, etc. There are hundreds of thousands of Neopagans living and worshiping their deities today. As “Neo-Paganism,” this term was popularized in the 1960’s and 1970’s by Oberon Zell, a founder of the Church of All Worlds. R1

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Also see: 

Pagan / Druid P's and T'shttp://howtobeadruid.blogspot.com/2015/02/pagan-druid-ps-and-ts.html

References:

References: R1

1) The following is a list of technical words and phrases originally taken from the first three editions of Real Magic. (Issac Bonewits)

-----------------------

Ritual, Liturgy, Protocols and the Druid or Pagan

FYI this is just a place holder for now. Data in temporary files I will be updating this one very slowly, but will post it on Facebook when its gets a bit of fat.



We will explore the Modern Pagan or Druid as well as other religions Protocols used in their Rituals and Liturgies or services.

Ritual define:



Liturgy define:

Books to buy:

Resources for Druid Heathen Pagan Wicca outreach to Incarcerated or Released Pagan Friends and Family

This resource is useful for Pagan or Pagan Priest and has a great deal of downloadable books also.

>>
We welcome you to the Alternative Religions Educational Network Headquarters Web Site and encourage you to visit often and become an informed member of your Community. We will try to keep you updated on issues of Religious Freedom and Spiritual Integrity throughout the United States. AREN is here for YOU! It is our goal to see that every member of Our Community becomes empowered in their pursuit of Religious Freedom. We can maintain our individual autonomy, as well as work together as a Collective. AREN now issues a call to all Religious Freedom Advocates, and Elders within Our Community...we must join together to insure Our birthright for the generations to come!! To those already supporting Our Community with these endeavors, thank you for your time and energy. For those whom support the ideals of AREN, either in Support or Magick... thank you!! AREN honors our connection...as we do the Deity within! Moving forward as we co-create Our Collective Community of the 21st Century...Blessed Be!
<<

http://aren.org/

>>

 Pagan Federation:Prison Ministry

Helene Mobius is the PF Prison Ministry Manager.

Pagans in Prison: The Pagan Ministry.
Prison Ministry Manager
PFPM
PO Box 1318
Bagshot
GU19 5YN

For the past 25 years the Pagan Federation through the Prison Ministry has gained recognition with the Home Office and Justice Department in England and Wales as the governing body of the Ministry, within the prison system. The Pagan Federation are the only body that can endorse a Pagan Chaplain in the prison service, and membership of the Pagan Federation is mandatory. There are now quite a few PFPM Chaplains that visit different establishments, and quite a few more writing Ministers that correspond via letter. There are even PFPM Chaplains and writing ministers overseas, all working to do their bit to educate, enlighten, and provide a resource to all those that would like to know more about “Paganism”. It has been an uphill struggle, a relay marathon that has tested the endurance of every PF Ministry Manager, it has not been easy and now the baton has been passed to me, I hope that I can do my predecessors justice in the role of PFPM Manager.

Behind the scenes Pagan Prison Chaplains provide a forum whereby those who chose to, can practice their faith in a “safe” environment free from prejudice and misconception. They provide support and assistance to those who are exploring their spirituality or those who have found their path but would like to learn more. The British prison service, even now is dominated by Christianity and these days Islam is not far behind, but laws have been passed to make certain that every person has the right to corporate worship with a minister of their own faith. This includes Paganism which unofficially (at the moment) stands as one of the fastest growing religions in Great Britain, and the 7th officially recognised religion in this country, after Hindu and Sikh.

I became involved in the PFPM when I realised that although we have taken great strides in gaining recognition, the problem is, there are still too few of us offering spiritual support to those who can be intimidated and vulnerable. We are still being asked basic questions that show that most people are still ignorant of what our faith is truly about. We can put out literature and books, but they do not replace the face to face contact and communication that a Pagan Chaplain provides. It can be challenging and frustrating, but the rewards are shown when statistically, there are stronger more informed, Pagan groups in the prisons that have Pagan Chaplains, than in the ones that do not.

Prisoners have already been punished, and it is not our place to further judge the crimes they are imprisoned for. We are there to support them and to make sure their right to practice their religion is protected, that exploration, development, and questions are met in a healthy informative way. Religious discrimination is still happening, so we still have a way to go to change attitudes. There are still prisons in areas of England that are not covered by a Pagan Chaplain so we are still looking to recruit, and further raise the profile of Pagan Chaplains in prison.

The application, screening, selection and clearance process is lengthy and arduous, so patience and stamina are a pre requisite, but you will also need a mature attitude, good communication skills and recognition of the need to keep confidentiality. A knowledge of, and experience in your own Pagan Tradition is essential, however an eclectic approach is ideal, as you need to be confident to teach inmates that may only be at the beginning of their personal journey of discovery. This job will test the strength of your convictions and is not for the faint hearted, however, the rewards are immense and successful applicants can/will be remunerated.

If you are not put off by this article and would like to know more then please contact me by email.

Helene Mobius

<<

http://www.paganfed.org/index.php/community-work/prison-ministry

Blogs, Zines and other resources:

From the ADF group:

Kirk Thomas
3 hrs
In case folks haven't seen it elsewhere, here's an interesting post by Vice Archdruid Jean Pagano about a recent visit to an ADF prison group.

https://adruidsprogress.wordpress.com/2015/08/30/i-was-wrong/

PaganSquare.com - WitchesAndPagans.com

http://witchesandpagans.com/gender-diversity/379-pagans-in-prison-pg50.html

Pagans in Prison – Interview with Patrick McCollum

http://pncminnesota.com/2011/04/19/pagans-in-prison-patrick-mccollum-intervie/

Wicca Online Community For Pagans and Wiccans

http://wiccancommunity.blogspot.com/2014/04/pagans-in-prison.html

This Grim Stead – a Festival in Prison

http://intothemound.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-grim-stead-festival-in-prison.html

This is a living Blog and more materials may be added to it from time to time.

Moon Rising on us all
TDK / The Druid King

The hidden Hearthstone

It times of old the heart of a home was its Fire pit or Fireplace.

Light at night, warmth, cooking of food and where all gathered round in safety warmth and good cheer.

And like the heart is the center of love, the hearthstone upon which the fire is build was the center of the home's heart also.

Also often long after the walls have fallen and the home's owners long dust, the hearthstone is all that remains to mark.

Yes we were there and fire was in our heart's and home.

It has been said when the persecutions of the old faiths came and the Burning Times.

Long after Rome had ground the Druid's into legion's dust.

It was unsafe for the wise to meet in home grove or public place.

And we had to find hidden a new nemetonic place to meet deep in the dark of night.

Or well hidden from village eyes in our Ladies bright moon light.

So a old and perhaps sacred hearthstone was taken from its home, out in dark of night.

And slightly buried at the center of our new secret sacred and hidden place to meet.

All would come from round about ways, no worn path in these dark days.

Some would bring a war broom along, to sweep away the dirt and cover of the hidden hearthstone and recover when sabbet was done. 

And yes in these times owning weapons was for most a crime of death. 

No longer was iron sword part of peasant's dress. 

Only Church or King's men had iron, shield and branded vest.

But broom was always close at had and if the shank extended close to the end of the broom straw, sharp and fire harden.

Had the right witches herbs and oils rubbed in a deep cut grove.

Well lets just say it could sweep out the life of prying eyes, should times be that dangerous.

Or send one home in a drunken like stupor mumbling like a Fairy touched madman.

And yes there are lessons for us all from the hidden Hearthstone in this ever more dangerous and hate filled times we too live in.

Yes you may ask how do we know its true.

We were there first as Druids and then later Witches too.

For in our souls the Oak has always run true.

TDK / The Druid King

Copyright George King 08-15-2015

PS: You may also wish to read:
http://thedruidking.blogspot.com/2011/08/warning-no-warm-fuzzes-here.html

There are four main Wiccan festivals and four Druid festivals.

BY Janice Scott-Reeder King

Dear friends,

There are four main Wiccan festivals and four Druid festivals. Just because someone put them on a wheel together doesn't mean they belong there or that they were all celebrated by the same religious or philosophical group.Let's take the four main Druid festivals which are actually the only Druidic festivals. You will notice this because all those honking huge stone monuments are precisely aligned to 4 points of the year not 8.I did not move those stones around to create that fact so don't blame me.They mark what is beginning and ends of seasons as are needed for agriculture. You begin with the Winter Solstice.

What? You thought we were on the Gregorian calendar that wasn't created for thousands of years after these monuments were built? The Gregorian Calendar was introduced in February of 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII. If you plan on being a Druid, you need to use your gray matter. The Winter Solstice is the turning point of the dark part of the year and the days will now get longer. If you survived that long, you had it made. Next you have the Spring Equinox, the point at which the day and night times are equal. Crops need to be planted by this point or they won't have a long enough growing period and will be killed by frost before they ripen. Summer Solstice marks the longest day of the year and is when the days begin to shorten. It is time to plan for winter. You can figure what crops are doing well and plant some winter root crops. Finally comes the Fall Equinox when day and night are once again equal and you should be preparing the harvests. Harvests have to be carefully planned or you have part of your food rotting in the field before you can get to it. Hence you have to know exactly how long the plant takes to grow, fruit and ripen. The entire village normally moved from field to field harvesting based on careful planting so nothing rotted. Each farmer grew what they were best at growing. Not only that but you has annual rainfall events and crops had to be out of the fields before the rains came or once again you had a rotted mess.This is more than seasonally important as most city dwellers do not know. There are long season and short season crops. There are crops that require x amount of light to flower and fruit and day neutral crops. There are summer and winter crops. Knowledge of this allowed the farmer to create a balanced diet for his family and animals. If you plant cauliflower in the late spring, it will bolt or go to seed in summer when it gets hot without producing a food crop. This is why it is a cold season crop. On the other hand, corn requires heat so it grows over the summer. Most greens have to be grown in the spring and fall because summer is too hot for them. It was a balancing act and knowing the exact timing of the seasons was life or death.What you need to note is none of these holidays are associated with a “god”. It was only when someone added them to the Wiccan four festivals did they become associated with “gods”. Your four Wiccan festivals are all celebrations not of seasons but of gods. We start in February with Imbolc which honors Brigit. Beltane shows up in April/May now, though originally it was May 5th and it celebrates the god and goddess of fertility whose names are oddly never mentioned. August 1st marks Lughnasadh which honors the God Lugh, the master craftsman. It is not Lammas as Lammas is a Christian creation. And lastly you have Samhain who never was a god. The October 31st date marks the end of the final harvest and the death of the gods, not the god of death. Wicca is a fertility religion. This is the one Celtic holiday we can actually be certain of and it was adopted by every religion that followed it from becoming on Nov 1st the Feast of the Dead to a couple of days later becoming the Day of the Dead in Latin America when it was meshed with the Mayan and Aztec religions. It has no astronomical significance and hence is not a Druidic holiday.Samhain or October 31st is not the Druid New Year because all Druidic holidays are based on astronomical and seasonal events that occur every year. The Wiccan Holidays are nicely based on the Gregorian Calendar which came thousands of years after the Druids marked out their calendar. Since the Wiccans and pagans previously depended on a lunar calendar with 13 months it is highly unlikely these festivals fell on these same dates every year but were more likely marked by agricultural or lunar events and when villages had time to celebrate.For example I'll use the most under rated holiday, Imbolc or Brigit's Day. Although the Christians hijacked the holiday and Brigit's cross, it has a pagan basis. The original “cross” which comes out looking more like the Hindu swastika that Hitler inverted and stole. In Sanskrit swastika means well being. Oddly Brigit's Cross has a similar meaning as instead of being woven from rushes as it is in modern day it was woven from grain stalks or hay. The significance was you had some precious food either human or animal left from the winter, a few brave plants were peaking through the snow and it was time to celebrate surviving or well being. When the cross is woven from grain, the grain heads tend to droop at the ends of the cross producing a swastika appearance or a wheel, hence the little known designation of Brigit's Wheel.Modern Wicca has neatly meshed all of this together and now it has even more neatly lost the meanings of the holidays in some quarters. In this Druid's logical opinion, our new year or count for years would have begun on the Spring Equinox as that is the start of the growing season. There is no logical reason we would start the year at the end of the growing season or in the middle of the winter or associate it with any harvest as those are variable. Astronomical events are fixed.

The Sacred Trees of Ancient Ireland

Our Guest speaker is well know and wise Druii Searles O'Dubhain.

>> The Sacred Trees of Ancient Ireland

Many say that the Oak was not important to the Druids of Ireland but this list of sacred trees from the past tells a different story:

Each Irish Tuatha had a special tree that was chosen to represent the heart and spirit of the tribe. This was known as the Bile. This tree connected the tuatha to the Three Worlds and the Gods. It was a place of meetings, especially those requiring the resolution of spiritual matters and kingship.

 Patrick Logan showed in his book “The Holy Wells of Ireland,“ how these Bile were frequently located next to sacred wells (which were also considered to be passageways to the Gods and the Otherworld).

Some of the famous sacred Bile are: Eó Mugna (an oak), 

Eó Rossa (a yew), Bile Tortu (an ash), 

Bile Magh-Adair (sacred tree of the ÓBriens.. probably an oak),

Ruadbetheach (Red Beech, sacred tree of the Ó Connors),

Craebh-telcha (sacred tree of the Ulaidh), 

Bile Tulach Oc (sacred tree of the Ó Neills), 

Crann Áhulla (a stunted ash), 

Bile Brighid (a sacred oak in Kildare) ....there are/were many, many others.

There were oaks and oak groves with the name "Derry" or the suffix "daire" appearing in many place names. Since these are names for oak groves in Old Irish, let's not continue this misunderstanding about the place of oaks for the Irish Druids.  <<

>> In Ireland, there was a division of the trees into groups that ranked them. One of these groupings had 28 trees in it. In general, I think the trees were also assigned a kind of honor price based on their natures, their usefulness, and their symbolic values. Everything was considered to have a definite value by the ancient Irish, even a human life, so the idea of sacredness is one that was assigned through ritual activity and lore as far as I can see.

 
The sacred tree or Bile was considered such because of its origins, its location for rituals and its nature, all in a threefold way. Everything is sacred but some things become elevated over others through choice and ritual action. Each thing has its brí from the gods but the combined spiritual/magical energy of a thing or place can be increased through buas.This is as true for trees and places, as it is for objects like swords, wands, staves and crafted items.

If this were not true, then there would be little worth to having magical tools or sacred objects and places. Everything would be as usual and nothing would be more special or interesting than anything else. I do not think we came into this life to blend everything into one big homogeneous stew.

 I believe that we came here, into this life, for the differences, the competition and the ability to excel in the face of adversity.

A sacred tree is a symbol of the tribe's prestige and , as such, it is linked closely to its kingship. The idea of kingship is directly linked to the Goddess of Sovereignty (who is the source of prosperity for the life of people, animals and places). It is no small wonder that certain trees would be recognized as being blessed and chosen to represent this sacred link.

The idea of trees, their nature, and their worth to the people, was such that there was an entire law tract devoted to them called Fidbretha (Tree Judgements). If one's tree was harmed or destroyed, there was a "blood price" to be paid or extracted from the those who committed the crime. <<

Druii O'Dubhain also shared some links for us.

Trees in Ireland in early tradition and place-names
http://homepage.eircom.net/~archaeology/two/trees.htm

Sacred Trees in Early Ireland
http://irisharchaeology.ie/2013/08/sacred-trees-in-early-ireland/

5 Sacred and Magical Trees in Ireland
http://holidaysaroundireland.com/2013/03/5-sacred-and-magical-trees-in-ireland/


In Terms of Sacredness: Trees and Status in Medieval Ireland
Presentation by Michelle DiPietro
https://www.academia.edu/4403496/In_Terms_of_Sacredness_Tree_Laws_and_Status_in_Medieval_Ireland

Heritage Trees of Irelandhttp://www.ouririshheritage.org/page_id__58.aspx

Tree Council of Ireland Native Species 
http://treecouncil.ie/native-species/

• 
  
• 

  Searles O'Dubhain Here's the translation that D.A. Binchy did of the "Old Irish Tree List" that Fergus Kelly discussed in his work as well:
  
  (translated by D. A. Binchy from Crith Gablach):
  
  AN OLD IRISH LEGAL POEM
  
  “What are the most oppressive cases of tree-cutting 
  for which fools are mulcted? 
  
  The hospitallers of the forest, 
  the ivied hazel. 
  A danger from which there is no escape 
  is the penalty for felling the sacred tree. 
  
  Thou shalt not cut a sacred tree 
  and escape with the fines for the seven noble trees 
  on account of the fine of three cows 
  that is fixed for cutting its stem. 
  
  There are others, seven 
  atoned for in seoit due for undergrowth. 
  
  Let me venture for [the benefit] of the immature 
  to state the immune things of the forest: 
  a single cauldron’s cooking-wood that is cut, 
  a handful of ripe nuts 
  to which one stretches not his hand in satiety. 
  
  Freest of it all 
  is the right of removal. 
  The penalty for the oak, 
  the penalty for lobbing its larger limbs 
  with its life-sustaining mast; 
  the stem-cutting of the yew; 
  the same penalty for cutting the holly tree. 
  
  Most oppressive of it all 
  is the penalty of the seven commoners of the forest 
  for each of which there is a cow as payment: 
  the stem cutting of the birch, 
  the peril of the alder, 
  the undermining of the willow. 
  
  Declare restitution for them. 
  the maiming of the whitethorn 
  and of the blackthorn; 
  its restitution extends to the undergrowth of the wood, 
  the undergrowth of fern, 
  of bog-myrtle, of reeds, 
  save that these are free to lords. “

Searles O'Dubhain "The Druids in Ireland did not worship the oak as is popularly believed instead their venerated trees were the hazel, yew and rowan."

Some people who otherwise seem to know what they are talking about think that.

"They bare no resemblance at all to the white-robed oak- worshippers of Julius Caesar. Irish druids wore, not white hooded robes, but rainbow capes, often feathered tunics and head-dresses (note, in the kast roscin this collection, how the druids mock the monks' hooded robes!). The important trees were rowan, yew, and hazel, and mistletoe was not found in ancient Ireland. "
http://www.imbas.org/.../excellence_of_the_ancient_word.html

Druids in History Maria Palmer

From the very earliest times ancient man has had his tribal holyman, or shaman, to answer those esoteric questions which defied his logic or reason. This position of holyman can be found within the ancient cultures of tribal societies throughout the world. The early Celtic peoples were no different…
http://www.aislingmagazine.com/aislingmagazine/articles/TAM27/Druids.html

• 
  
• 

  George King If one is Teacher to the Gods one Worships little but trys to know all, I Believe.
  TDK

Postscript:
110514a

The image of the tree in Gaelic culture
Meg Bateman 

http://pure.uhi.ac.uk/portal/files/1104943/Bateman_Image_of_the_Tree_RnaG6.pdf
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Rituals, ceremonies and customs related to sacred trees with a special reference to the Middle East

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1988790/

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Wishing trees

http://darraghdoyle.tumblr.com/post/84828406239/irelandseyeonmyth-this-is-a-wishing-tree-at
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clootie tree or witch tree 

http://witchmountain.wordpress.com/tag/clootie-trees/

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clootie_well

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Forest and tree symbolism in folklore

http://www.fao.org/docrep/005/y9882e/y9882e08.htm
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Sacred Wells and Wishing Trees

http://www.carolynemerick.com/the-archivists-corner/sacred-wells-and-wishing-trees
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The old Irish term "bri"

Define "Bri":
https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/br%C3%AD
From Old Irish bríg ‎(" force, power, value "), from Proto-Celtic *brīgo-‎(" strength ") (compare Welsh bri ‎ ... Old Irish Etymology .
Ref.
From Old Irish bríg ("force, power, value"), from Proto-Celtic *brīgo- ("strength") (compare Welsh bri ("fame, distinction")), from Proto-Indo-European *gʷrī-g-, the suffixed extended form of Proto-Indo-European *gʷerə- ("heavy").Noun, strength, vigor, meaning, significanceOrigin & history II From Old Irish brí, from Proto-Celtic *brixs.Noun braehttp://www.wordsense.eu/br%C3%AD/


http://howtobeadruid.blogspot.com/2015/11/what-does-old-irish-term-bri-mean.html

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People and Trees: Intimately Connected Through the Ages

http://www.pachamama.org/blog/people-and-trees-intimately-connected-through-the-ages?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Facebook+Posts&utm_term=Ryan+Landes-Gilman&utm_content=Blog+People+Trees+Connection+6+27+15


THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF TREES
http://www.psychicsuniverse.com/articles/spiritual-insight/spiritual-power-trees
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Under ancient Irish Brehon Law, trees were protected and heavy fines were imposed for the destruction of trees based on a hierarchical classification.

1. Airig Fedo - ‘Nobles of the Wood’ (Cheiftain Trees): Daur - Oak, Coll - Hazel, Cuilenn - Holly, Ibar - Yew, Uinnius - Ash, Ochtach - Scots Pine, Aball - Wild Apple.

2. Aithig Fedo - ‘Commoners of the Wood’ (Peasant Trees): , Fern - Alder, Sail - Willow, Scé - Hawthorn (Whitethorn), Cáerthann - Rowan (Mountain Ash), Beithe - Birch, Lem - Elm, Idath - Wild Cherry.

3. Fodla Fedo - ‘Lower Divisions of the Wood’ (Shrub Trees): , Draigen - Blackthorn, Trom - Elder (Bore Tree), Féorus - Spindle-Tree, Crithach - Aspen, Crann Fir - Juniper, Findcholl - Whitebeam, Caithne - Arbitus (Strawberry Tree).

4. Iosa Fedo - ‘Bushes of the Wood’ (Bramble Trees): , Raith - Bracken, Rait - Bog-Myrtle, Aiten - Gorse (Furze), Dris - Bramble (Blackberry), Fróech - Heather, Gilcach - Broom, Spín - Wild Rose (Dog Rose).

An early legal poem, translated by D.A. Binchy, reads: “A danger from which there is no escape is the penalty for felling a sacred tree”. Historically, there were five great trees of Ireland: Bile Uisnigh, the ancient tree at Scé; Bíle Tortan at Ardbreccan in County Meath; Craobh Daithi in County Westmeath; Eo Rossa, a yew at Old Leighlin in County Carlow; and Eo Mugna, an oak at the mouth of the Shannon. Some of these trees were reputed to be large enough to shelter a thousand men. Trees such as oak and yew were associated with kingship. (the Irish word bíle means ‘sacred tree’) Many other individual trees were considered sacred too.

Sacred trees and groves were considered as sanctuaries and were often the location of celebrations. The ancient Irish built no temples. Instead, they treated nature as a temple. Trees were the oldest living things and were looked upon as sources of great wisdom. Fairy Thorns and Rag Trees were thought to be frequently visited by beings of the Otherworld. Mass Bushes served as the location for sermons and Monument Trees as the location for weddings, royal inaugurations, seasonal festivals and other social events. Even today, there is a reverence for Fairy Trees; highway construction workers have diverted the course of their road so as to leave a single hawthorn standing.

If you think that is an exaggeration then take the case of Eddie Lenihan, the renowned storyteller author, lecturer and broadcaster who came to international attention in 1999 when he stood up to road builders in County Clare who were about to cut down a special whitethorn tree. (The whitethorn is considered in local Irish lore and Celtic folklore in general, to be sacred to the Aos Sí – the fairy folk of Ireland.) In local tradition, this specific tree was believed to serve as the meeting place for the fairies of Munster whenever they prepared to ride against the fairies of Connacht.

Eddie’s protests made international headlines and he succeeded having the course of the road altered to spare the tree. Eddie, demonstrated for us all, the great time honoured and ancient Irish tradition of reverence for nature as well as the punishments that will accrue to those who harmed the abodes of the fairies

Approximate pronunciation guide
Bile – bil-a
Dris - Dr-ish
Eo - oh
Féorus - Faor-us
Fróech – Froo-ach
Scé - Scah
Uisnigh -u/w ish nee

Image: Woods at Gormanston College, Co. Meath, Ireland