D is for Danu

"So there, by the divine waters of Danu, from where those waters rose and flooded through the now fertile green valleys of the Earth, eastwards towards a distant sea, The Dagda and Brigid settled. And they called the great course of eastward rushing water after the Mother Goddess, which is Danuvius, whose children still know it as the mighty Danube."

-Celtic Myths and Legends-

The Goddess Danu is perhaps one of the more well known figures of the Celtic Pantheon. For many, Danu is the Mother Goddess. It is Danu that is the mother of Brigid, a bond so linked that in many traditions Danu disappeared altogether. Some believe Danu to be the oldest deity in Celtic circles. This is with good reason, as the root dan is Old Irish meaning knowledge. It is knowledge that is the essence of Danu, as the Celts believed all knowledge was found at the water's edge. More endearingly, the Celtic Gods, or the Tuatha De Danann are called, the Children of Danu. Some have come to incorporate Danu with the Goddesses Anu, and the Morrigan. One cannot escape the importance of Danu within the Celtic Pantheon is some way. 

My own journey with Danu happened quite early, as she was the first Goddess that I heard any myths about. I have to admit that at first, I was unaware of her affiliation with the Morrigan, or with the Goddess Brigid. At the time, I focused more of my efforts on learning about the Morrigan, because that was how I started on the path to a Celtic Pantheon. For awhile, I forgot completely about Danu, until coming across the Goddess Anu. While I posted about Anu before, she is an Earth Goddess, while Danu is a Water Goddess. The two go together quite well, but at the time I didn't see or realize that. Danu truly didn't come into importance for my journey, until I started to meditate for an aspect of the Goddess to guide me. 

While meditating, I saw a great river, though calm and quite peaceful. I sat at the edge of it, and simply watched the water flow by. After some time, I felt myself let go, and become immersed in this great river. The flow of the river led to a wooden clearing, though with a pool of water from the river. It was there that I was led, and there I rested. Such peace and calm had never been felt in my meditations before then, and I could have stayed in that moment for some time. In that circle, that pool of water, I saw a woman. All I could do was ask her name, and it was the Goddess Danu. With her name, came the understanding that all knowledge was linked to that place, and at the edge of the water. 

I had wanted to do a Pagan blog for some time, though I had no idea how to start. At the time, I didn't even have a name for it. Danu, and the legends of Danu, gave this blog its name. Soon, all the pieces began falling into place, and everything has worked out better than expected. Each time I write a new posting though, I am reminded of where the source of my knowledge comes from. It is a small, and yet powerful reminder of the presence Danu has in my path now. There are many aspects left to be revealed about Danu's nature, but the parts I do understand are wonderful. The aspect of Danu brings a comfort, which can only be likened to that of a mother's love. 

Though I had my spiritual guide for this path, I was unsure of how it all fit. As I said previously, I felt a strong pull towards the Goddess Anu instead. Not to mention, I felt a sense of loyalty to the Morrigan, which had started this journey in the first place. With trust, and a bit of time, things began falling into place though. Both Danu and Anu are linked to the Morrigan, though with different opinions or traditions. This caused a sense of ease and transition began to take place. I saw the picture as a whole, instead of just pieces of it. Learning to balance the influences of both Anu and Danu, gave me a better understanding of the path I wanted to walk. Anu is earth based, while Danu remains more water based. 

All of this has led to a deeper understanding of Goddess I didn't even know were out there. On this path, I'm learning that while the Morrigan may seem complex, all paths lead to one source. In forming this new Tradition, in blending Druidry, Celtic, and Arthurian paths, Danu makes all the more sense. It is knowledge that is at the heart of any path. The creativity and love sparked by Danu, is a driving influence for the knowledge I seek out in the future. I know, that wherever this path takes me, that Danu will somehow be an intimate part of it. The Celtic Legends speak of how Brigid returned to the edges of the Danube to teach the Tuatha De Danann all there was to know. So too, do I seek the water's edge, in search of all that is to be revealed.

D is for Dindrane

"If the quest was hard for a man, imagine how much harder it was for a woman." 

-Camelot Oracle- 

Dindrane's character is almost tempting to forget, as little is actually known about her. The most well known fact about her is that she is the sister of Perceval. She was raised in almost complete seclusion, which echoes that of her brother's own upbringing. To the surprise of many however, Dindrane is the only woman to search for the holy grail. The fact she is the only woman to search for the grail, makes her character extremely important to the tale. Even while the Arthurian Legend depicts her death, her character's importance lives on throughout the legends. 

As the only female to actively seek out the grail, Dindrane is often known as the grail heroine. She is first introduced in a lonely hermitage, where Galahad has wandered. Interestingly, it is Dindrane, not Galahad that offers to join the quest. Without almost a word, Dindrane leads Galahad to a shore line, where Perceval and Bors are waiting. Soon, a ship arrives, without any crew aboard. Without too much delay, the group soon boards the ship, only to discover precious items for their quest. Interestingly, it is Dindrane and Galahad that have a major role to play in this event. 

While on board the Ship of Solomon, Galahad finds a sword. It is Dindrane that knows the sword's significance, and fulfill one of the prophecies. Taking her hair, gold thread, silk, and jewels, Dindrane makes a new belt for the sword. The Sword of the strange belt is later found to belong to none other than Galahad. It's religious significance in their quest being that such a sword belonged to King David, and then Solomon himself. Legend says that after finding these things, the group continued until they reached a castle. It was within this castle that Dindrane would fulfill her destiny. 

Having reached the castle, the custom demands a royal virgin maiden give a dish of her blood, in the hopes of healing the lady of the castle. Dindrane gives of her blood freely, however she discovers that she cannot stop bleeding. She soon dies, and yet the lady of the castle is healed by her sacrifice. The group soon buries her upon their return to Sarras. Having foreseen her destiny, Dindrane knows that she would go on to be buried beside her brother, and also Galahad. Throughout the tales, there is a strong connection to Galahad and Dindrane. In fact, it sometimes said that she knew more of Galahad's family than he did. 

The significance of Dindrane's character is symbolic of Christ. Not only does she sacrifice herself, but she is interestingly female. Many have called her a female Christ, though only in a sense of the Arthurian Legends. It is within the legends that one finds an almost contradictory equality between men and women. For Pagans, this isn't truly surprising. Dindrane could very well be a great symbol of the wisdom and power within a female. It wouldn't be until years later, that the Arthurian Legends became a mix of both Pagan and Christian tales. The fact Dindrane's character lived on despite the prejudices of a highly patriarchal religion, shows her true importance. 

For those of the Arthurian Tradition, Dindrane remains a symbol of feminine wisdom. She reminds us of what it means to be honest and true at heart. Her very nature is one that is said to evoke kindness, and teaches only love. The very willingness to sacrifice of herself wholeheartedly, can only inspire us to adhere to such a standard. As the only female to seek out the grail, she reminds us all that at some point we may stand out. It is in that moment that we may truly find our destiny. For those working with Dindrane's energies, it is the purest, simplest, and  yet most intelligent. The secrets of pursuing our own quests can come alive, as we seek out the grail heroine for ourselves. 

C is for Cuchulain

"The story, I heard was that when this youth was attacked by the hound, he killed it. And while the warriors of Ulaidh were amazed by this feat, Cullan was sorrowful that his faithful hound had died for the safety of his house. The youth Setanta then offered to guard Cullan's house until such time as a hound whelp had been trained to take its sire's place. So Setanta became Cullan's hound - Cuchulain." 

- Celtic Myths and Legends- 

Cuchulain is an interesting character within Celtic Mythology, as his origins are quite unclear. Whether he is a god at all remains unclear, as his parents differ in many retellings. In some tellings, his mother is divine, and in others she is human. What can be agreed upon is the influence of the god Lugh, who is said to be a type of spiritual father to Cuchulain. To confuse the tale though, Cuchulain has a biological father, who is human. Still, in the tales Cuchulain is somehow divine himself. Part of all this confusion is no doubt due to the massive time span of these tales. Tales regarding Cuchulain date back prior to the seventh century, only then to be revived. It's an amazing thing that these tales survive today, in many different forms. 

Cuchulain is first introduced as Setanta, who famously kills one of Cullan's hounds. Offering to take its place, he earns the nickname Cuchulain or Hound of Ulster. A few years pass, and Cuchulain is a handsome youth, and the men around him begin to worry. The men convince him to accept a challenge to train under Scathach, who is a warrior and Goddess. Hoping the ordeal will be too much for Cuchulain, they see him off on this challenge. The tales of Cuchulain's training are many, and perhaps some of the best told about him. It was these first initial tales that I was introduced to his character, and I have been fond of him ever since. Though there are different versions, many of the events stay the same. 

Cuchulain reaches the Isle of Shadow, where the Goddess Scathach lives. Gaining entrance to her castle, which was no easy task, gave Cuchulain entrance to Scathach's academy. There he trained under the Goddess, and became a highly skilled warrior. Later, he returned to Ulster, and joined the Red Branch, a group of warriors. Cuchulain died young, fighting Queen Maeve of Connacht. Some say that Cuchulain failed to recognize Morrigan flying over him, and that is what lead to his death. With his life cut short, and his strong fighting abilities many have linked him with the likes of Achilles and Hercules. While many Celtic deities shared influences with Roman deities, there is no solid link between these tales.

For me, it is rare to find gods to relate to, and the ones that I do startle my awareness. For years, I focused on the gods Apollo, Mars, Ares, Eros, and Thanatos. Because most of the gods I've gotten to know in the past have been Roman or Greek, it's tough to switch to a new pantheon. What makes this transition easier, is being able to recognized equatable gods. While Cuchulain doesn't really have an equivalent, his father is still Lugh, God of light. Lugh is equivalent to the god Apollo, and one I have gotten to know quite well. As it happens Apollo was the first aspect of god that I worshipped and got to know in my path. This was became of his twin sister Artemis, who I related to greatly at the time. 

It seems wonderful to me, that the first god I was introduced to in Celtic mythology was Lugh. The familiar attributes were a welcome change. Perhaps this is why I enjoy getting to know Cuchulain. He has a mixture of both the god Ares and Apollo. Cuchulain is often linked to the sword and the spear, as is Ares, not to mention Cuchulain's fierceness in battle. The things I have gotten to know about Cuchulain are the playfulness of Apollo, and the passion of Ares. For me, the combination is almost one of pure enjoyment. Cuchulain isn't as prevalent in my life as many other god/desses, and it's that much better when he shows up. At times though, it's Setanta that shows up, before the burdens of life create a god out of a man. 

Cuchulain remains a symbol of perseverance, and shows us where our own strength lies. For me, some of the things Cuchllain has taught me lie in the nature of his aspect. Widely though, Cuchulain teaches the power of masculinity. He is symbolic of the power of the god within each of us, whether male or female. Cuchulain may appear a god, or a mortal man still yet to achieve his greatness. He was a lover of Fand, and yet a lover of Emer. A strong warrior, he still remained chivalrous and yet fierce. Cuchulain is the very son of Lugh, and no doubt his handsome is because of that great light within him. Whatever the path today, the light of Lugh and Cuchulain are sure to guide your path.