searles odubhain

The most often quoted tale about Druids and astrology is the Irish tale
of Baile in Scáil. This topic and tale came up on another list by this
is probably one of the better place to peruse the esoteric nature of the
discussion. For references, Baile in Scáil can be found at the following
URL's:

In English at:
http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/phantom.html

In Irish at: http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/G105001/text002.html

Baile in Scáil is a tale of astrology and signs from its beginning,
through its middle, and in its ending. The number 53 (days) in the story
could refer to the period of time that it would take the Moon to (twice)
return to the same place in the sky (though the background
stars/constellations would be different) that was being observed in the
tale "on the ramparts of Tara." This way of looking at the sky is
sometimes called lunar houses or seles in astrology.

Perhaps the period of 53 days was observed as a kind of inaugural
celebration or initiation period? It's been suggested that this was the
number of kings to follow Conn in the kingship of Ireland:

https://listserv.heanet.ie/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0408&L=old-irish-l&T=0&F=&S=&P=16964

http://johnston.redlands.edu/~angelk/professional/celtic/baile.html

The third cast being swifter than the other two seems to say to me that
the two periods of the Moon were the first two casts while the third
cast arrives in Otherworldly time before (or more swiftly than) the
other two. The entire tale is rife with Otherworldly and astrological
illusion: observing the skies, defending from the Sidhe (from the air),
king between sky and stone, sovereignty, the ox/boar/cup (the three
places in the sky where the Moon was housed during the period of the
tale).

Another speculation would be that the stone being in the land of Tailtiu
refers to Lughnasadh, which would suggest that the ox and boar ribs are
some sort of astrological symbols for parts of the sky associated with
this time of the year (after all they did journey across the Great Plain
of Magh Mór; which to me is the sky). The golden tree and the findruine
ridge pole are also astrological allusions and symbols as is the
cauldron.

The months in question seem to me (from a consideration of Ogham
kennings) to be March and April for the Boar and the Ox while the
cup/sovereignty is the month of May. The parts of the sky being
referenced are those around Aldeboran (Tree/Ox), Orionis (ridgepole),
Denebola (Conn's Half), Spica (Great Plain), a Bootis (Hidden House of
Lugh).

Of course, all of this is not clear cut, nor well do***ented in any
single text. It is based on ****ogy and correspondences of esoteric
meanings and speculations from a wide ranging interpretation of Irish
lore and tales. IMO the people of Ireland in the past would have seen
some similar sorts of meanings in the way the tale could be understood.
I have personally developed a system for myself of dividing the sky
based on Irish lore, Ogham and imbas as well as other similar systems in
other IE cultures. I enjoy looking at the sky and being reminded of our
traditions as well as our ancient mythologies (why should the Greeks and
Romans have all the fun?).

--
Searles O'Dubhain
http://www.summerlands.com

istara

You do post some intriguing thoughts, Searles... Now I'm going to have
to go read about Conn and do some stargazing. Thank you for another
"thinker", sir.

~ Doreen