Sorry for so many sites shared but each seems to add a bit more to the True picture of this interesting subject. And yes I could have added even more but I think these old sites will wet the appetite if there is one.
Tenm Laida - `Illumination by Song
Dichetal do Chennaib - `Cracking open the nuts of Wisdom
`Imbas Forosna - `Sudden Illumination
Are the `Three Illuminations` of the Filidh, as described in the Irish vernacular texts. Here in I will try to give my interpretations of these techniques.
Tenm Laida
Illumination by Song
Tenm Laida is, IMHO, the easiest of the three techniques to perform. The way in which I use Tenm Laida is as a method to achieving that altered state of conciousness in which that other realm may be contacted. This state is acheived through the chanting or singing (or as many of us seem to be utilizing more shamanic techniques - drumming) a repetitive phrase or pattern, until the mind reaches a state of inner peace. It must be noted that this seems to be a universal practice, forms of it may be found in most native cultures.
Whilst using this technique the Filidh would often prophecise in the form of spontaneously composed verse, (though I have to be honest and say I`ve very rarely achieved it!).
Dichetal do Chennaib
Cracking open the nuts of Wisdom
Describing how Dichetal do Chennaib worked it problematic. In the Senchus Mor it is translated as incantation from the ends (of fingers), or (of bones). Others translate it as inspired incantation or cracking open the nuts of wisdom. It could mean that the `poet` would compose a Ogham `spell` using the fingers to make the Ogham shapes. Alternately a kind of Hand-Ogham may be been suggested, each Ogham used as a mnemonic to compose inspirational verse. What ever its form, it was the only technique that St.Patrick did not outlaw, because, unlike the others, it `contained no ritual`.
Imbas Forosna
Sudden Illumination
Imbas Forosna, seems to me to be related to the Tabhfheis - `The Bulls Hide Trance`. Both involve the `poet` chewing on the raw meat of certain animals, both involve sensory derivation, (Tabhfheis beneath a bulls hide, Imbas Forosna within a darkened chamber) and both involved prophecy whilst in a trance-like state. In Imbas Forosna the `poet` would remain in the chamber for up to three days, and would then be brought out into the bright light, the sudden illumination causing spontaneous prophecy. Now the one thing I was always taught is never to shock someone out of meditation, so I can`t recommend this at all. The Filidh were trained for up to twenty years in these techniques, we, as a rule, are not
Text written by J.C.Melia. Obviously, I claim no to copyright! Ref. http://www.oocities.org/athens/aegean/7779/illum1.htm
dichetal > spells and spellwork
Dichetal Do Chennaib > (Cracking open the Nuts of Wisdom) is a state achieved by relaxation and clearing the mind in a Ritual environment. It usually involved using some Magickal implement such as a knife, a sword or a staff to touch a subject (usually upon the head) or involved the handling an item so that the diviner could discover what secret knowledge was contained within it. This information could be events from a person's past life, a detailed history of who and what had happened to an object or how and why the subject was being hexed or spelled. I know this sounds like ESP but it was enhanced through Ritual and relaxation techniques. I believe that Dichetal Do Chennaib is the proper state for performing Ogham divinations as well.
Ref. http://www.summerlands.com/crossroads/library/awenimba.htm
díchetal do chennaib
[OIr., extempore incantation (?)].
A kind of incantation or spell composed by poets (fili) and druids of early Ireland. Various early sources describe it as being composed extemporaneously, often using the finger-tips, which may imply divination. Commentators have suggested that díchetal do chennaib may have been a kind of clairvoyance or psychometry in which the seer conveys his message in quatrain or verse. The ollam was required to be proficient in both the díchetal do chennaib and the imbas forosnai. Fionn mac Cumhaill is described as being especially proficient at díchetal do chennaib. St Patrick allowed díchetal do chennaib to continue because it was judged harmless and did not involve pagan rites.
See also DIVINATION; TEINM LAÍDA; AWENYDDION.
From: díchetal do chennaib in A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology »
Reference Entries
díchetal do chennaib
in A Dictionary of Celtic MythologyLength: 128 words Ref, http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095716520
DICHETAL
DO CHENNAIB (Cracking open the Nuts of Wisdom) is a state achieved by
relaxation and clearing the mind in a Ritual environment. It usually
involved using some sort of Magical implement such as a knife, a
sword or staff. Sometimes they had to actually touch the subject (if
alive, usually upon the head) or directly handle an item to discover
what secret knowledge was contained within it. This information could
be almost anything: events from a person's past life, a detailed
history of who and what had happened to an object or even how and why
the subject was bespelled or enchanted. A spontaneous flow of
information and/or poetic verse might accompany the first contact
that occured between the seer and the object. This verse would then
be interpreted based upon the vast storehouse of knowledge that had
been accumulated through years of study, experiment, observation and
experience.
Ref. http://dichetaldochennaib.blogspot.com/
Dichetal do chennaib cnâime
The Dichetal do chennaib cnâime , in Irish mythology , is a magical incantation reserved for druids .
Interpretation [ modify | modify the code ]
The meaning of this mantra is uncertain what "sung prophecy" is an improvisation 1 .
Sources and references [ edit | edit the code ]
Mythological tale:
- The Roundup cows Cooley , Irish Celtic story translated from Irish, introduced and annotated by Alain Deniel, L'Harmattan, Paris, 1997 ( ISBN 2-7384-5250-7 ) .
- Paul-Marie Duval , The Gods of Gaul , Paris, Editions Payot, February 1993, 169 p. ( ISBN 2-228-88621-1 )Increased reissue of a book originally published in 1957 in the PUF . Paul-Marie Duval distinguished Gallic Celtic mythology syncretism due to the Gallo-Roman civilization.
- Albert Grenier , Gauls , Paris, Payot Small library, August 1994, 365 p. ( ISBN 2-228-88838-9 )Increased reissue of a book originally published in 1970. Albert Grenier says Indo-European origin, described their social organization, their culture and their religion by making the link with the island Celts.
- Christian-J. Guyonvarc'h , Magic, medicine and divination among the Celts , Science Library Payot, Paris, 1997 ( ISBN 2-228-89112-6 ) .
- Christian-J. Guyonvarc'h and Françoise Le Roux :
- Druids , West-France University, al. "human memory: history", Rennes, 1986 ( ISBN 2-85882-920-9 ) ;
- Celtic Civilisation , Ouest-France University, al. "human memory: history", Rennes, 1990 ( ISBN 2-7373-0297-8 ) ;
- Celtic Festivals , Rennes, Ouest-France University, al. "human memory: history", April 1995, 216 . p ( ISBN 9782737313158 )Work devoted to four major religious festivals: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh.
- Philippe Jouët , The Sources of Celtic mythology , Yoran Embanner, Fouesnant, 2007 ( ISBN 9782914855372 ) .
- Wenceslas Kruta , Celts, History and English Editions Robert Laffont, coll. "Mouthpieces", Paris, 2000 ( ISBN 2-7028-6261-6 ) .
- Claude Sterckx , Celtic Mythology the world , Paris, Marabout, October 2009, 470 p. ( ISBN 978-2-501-05410-2 ).
- See also the bibliography on Celtic mythology and literature on Celtic civilization .
Moon Rising
TDK / The Druid King
