- Lughnasadh

Lughnasadh

Gate Keeper on Tara:

“Who are you?...for none without an art may enter Tara.”

Lugh:

“I am Lugh, master of story telling

I am Lugh, master of healing

I am Lugh, master of knowledge

I am Lugh, master of sailing

I am Lugh, master of magic

I am Lugh, master of smithing

I am Lugh, master of carpentry

I am Lugh, master of the Harp

I am Lugh, master of champions

I am Lugh, master of poetry

I am Lugh, master of the battle."

So the story of the arrival of Lugh goes.

Lugh was part Tuath de Danann, part Fomorian, the ildánach, master of all arts.

Orator, Harper, Healer, Historian, Poet, Cup bearer, Carpenter, Champion, Smith, Magician. The coming of Lugh is a well known Irish story in which Lugh “Samildáanach”(Master of all the arts) presents himself at the gates of Tara, capital of Ireland, and demonstrates his ability to lead. So skilled was he that the High King gave Lugh his throne for a magical 13 days. What is generally over looked is the fact that Lugh came to bring war, death and destruction.

lughnassadh battle

The Tuath de Danaan were being suppressed by the evil Fomorians who were applying harsh taxes on the Tuath de. At their moment of greatest need Lugh names his credentials and enters Tara to lead the Tuath in a crushing defeat of the Fomorians. This fulfilled the ancient prophecy that Balor's own grandson (Lugh) would defeat the Fomorians and Balor himself at the second battle of Mag Tuireadh. But this is not without severe cost to Lugh who sent his father to Ulster to get reinforcements. Unfortunately Lugh looses his father to the sons of Tuireann.

One can see how this story reflects the wisdom of building inner resources and cunning to tackle “that which no longer serves us”. It is the struggle for freedom and justice. It is about facing our inner Fomorian demons with our mastery of life. And about asking for help even though we may be multi skilled.

One can also see the paralell between this archetypal story and modern day Ireland (after doing so well from European funds) facing the European backlash to Lisbon. Who will be our talented leader to guide the nation at this time of pressure?

In the wider world there is much conflict that has not been resolved. Here on Tara we have several large scale battles and massacres which have been perpetrated to people, the landscape and to our cultural psyche.

That is why we will be symbolically enacting all the battles that ever took place on the inner and outer realms with our weapons. Every battle that has ever occurred on the planet has had some tangible or intangible level effect on us. The mythological battles, the massacre of the women of Tara, the 1798 croppy boy rebellion, the modern day battles over the motorway, nationalism, unionism, sectarianism, religion, the inner battles over fear, separation, illusion and delusion, ignorance, hate, etc.

We will then transform the weapons of mass destruction in our Healing Cauldron of fire converting swords into plough shares. We will bring death and destruction to battle itself and connect with all the peace making that has ever occurred on the planet, as we are very much part of that too.

Then we become as Lugh, a true Samildánach.

This Lughnasadh what fruits are you harvesting to bring into the winter when all there will be to survive are the fruits of your labour? Will you be nourished by your war or your peace?

sword