mysteries of the Yew and the memory of Bards

Invocation of the Bard 

I’m Luis MacDara and I hear the ancient song, 
I hear the ancient song of the Earth. 
 
I am an exile I belong to no tribe, 
I hear the ancient song the earth. 
 
This land runs through every fibre of my being, 
I hear the ancient song of the Earth. 
 
I feel her pain, the savage lament, 
I hear the ancient song of the Earth. 
 
I witness the stories erupt from the land, 
I hear the ancient song of the Earth. 
 
I am a chronicler, a storyteller, 
I hear the ancient song of the Earth. 
 
I only sip from the sacred cup, 
 to heal the wastelands of the earth 
 
I hear the ancient song of the Earth. 
 
For I am Luis MacDara, Bard of the North, South, East and West.
Lover of woodlands, inspired by Nature,
Words are my coracle, riding on a sea of inspiration, metaphor and wisdom,
Conveyed through their constant use.

I am the son of poetry, poetry, son of reflection, reflection son of meditation, meditation son of lore, lore son of research, research son of great knowledge, great knowledge son of intelligence, intelligence son of comprehension, comprehension son of wisdom, wisdom son of the three gods of Danu. 

All of the tales I tell are true for they have come down from the ancient bards of old, from Fintan mac Bochra to Tuan mac Cairill to Urard mac Coise down to the saints of old, Patrick, Columcille and Brigit to my own ears.
 
 
Genealogy of memory from 'The Colloquy of the Two Sages' (Book of Leinster 1100CE sourced by Caitlin Matthews) 
 
Fintan mac Bochra and Tuan mac Cairill were the first bards of Ireland. They lived for many hundreds of years and took the forms of different animals to witness the stories of the land. The first invocation above relates an idea of hearing the stories erupt from the land and that there are no stories if no-one is alive to witness them

The second invocation lists the ways to wisdom which indicates effort as well as inspiration is needed and finally in my own words I list the lineage of transmission of the stories which comes down from the ancient bards who are the ancestry of the land into the new Christian tradition via the saints before reaching my own ears as Luis MacDara. 

Meditation - The Wildwood of Knowledge
 
 We enter into the deep dark woods of knowledge and as we enter we get a sense of meeting an aged yew tree as old as the earth itself.  

The Yew of Mugna, it was a hallowed treasure, 
Nine hundred bushels was its bountiful yield, 
It fell in Dairbre southward, 
Across Magh Ailbe of the cruel combats. 
 
The Bole of Ross, a comely yew, 
With abundance of broad timber, 
The tree without hollow or flaw, 
The stately bole, how did it fall? 

  Sit by the aged tree which is as old as the ancient stones and it contains the memories of all of creation. Here your guides become even more real, do you sense an animal that is with you? You may already have a strong connection with an animal guide in which case spend a little time with them. If you are not aware of an animal start to focus your intent on one, an animal that feels right, an animal that probably reflects your own innate characteristics, what we call a familiar. 

Spend time in meditation  with your animal and the presence of trees. 

I feel the forest within me (x3), plants growing inside. 
Tree spirits I see you (x3), I know you are alive. 
Plant spirits encompass me (x3), weave your wisdom of life. 
 
Under soil, under sea, old old woods, take thee. 
Nymphs, fauns, centaurs, giants, teach me to serve. ​

In our next Woodland Bard Evening on Sunday 7th February@6pm we shall explore Brigit and the Spring through the gentle presence of the Birch tree.

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