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Articles & Poems
Extract from "Living Now as a Spiritual Development" editorial Copyright February 1999 J. Spring A growing fascination with all things Celtic is perhaps an expression of our yearning to connect with our own lost culture of Europe and Britain. Religious hostilities and waves of blood-thirsty invaders once stamped out a profoundly spiritual link to our land and to our ancient wisdom, that is still hidden in folk wisdom - "superstition", legend and song. The tradition of the Celtic bards was a rich study of music, words, and healing. Bards attained, through long years of training on the harp, the ability to invoke states of Joy, Sorrow and healing Sleep in their listeners - "mending Soul-loss to wholeness"...perhaps the first psychotherapists. The harp, once known as the "Doorway between the Worlds", still speaks to an ancient yearning in listeners of today.
Out of dark nights, under cold stars of loneliness, born of a
yearning to draw together before fires that kept the Fear away; The Goddess gave birth to three sons harping; The three harp strains of the sons of Boann, Holding at bay now, the dark nights under cold stars.
copyright 1999 Jacqueline Spring Background The harp, once known as the "Doorway Between the Worlds" in Celtic Christian tradition, still speaks to an ancient yearning in listeners today. And those involved in the earlier tradition of the Bards, used music and words as doorways into healing and inspiration. They spent many long years in training on the harp, developing the ability to invoke the three "Harp Strains" or "Releases" in their listeners... Goltrai-Sorrow, Geantrai- Joy, Suantrai- Sleep. They sought to mend "Soul-loss" , believed to be the cause of dis-ease or disharmony in the mind or body... and could perhaps be thus considered the first psycho-therapists! Within the roots of our own ancient culture of Western Europe or Britain, referred to currently as Celtic, as well as many other rich cultures around the world, were these powerful and spiritual, ways of healing.. now nearly lost and forgotten. Yet many ancient traditions and stories speak of a Cup, Cauldron, or Grail which flows unceasingly, bringing knowledge and healing to all. Perhaps these magical symbols may be seen as a metaphor for the songs, poetry, "superstitions" (folk wisdom) that are the hidden oral threads of our lost culture. The stories, the songs, containing the deep memories and yearnings of those who lived before us thus are the Goddesses’ sons and daughters... Her birth-gifts to us to heal and inspire us in current Soul-Loss of these times.
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