The Elements as seen by The Ancient Celts
The Elements of the Dúile
To the Celts, the body was composed of many elements known as "dúile". The neach ("living being") or duine ("person") was composed of nine dúile ("elements"). Each of these elements had it's corresponding cosmic element in the "Bith" or Cosmos. A Celt's Spirit was centered within the house of his body.
Fein (The Self) Bith (Cosmos) Directions Magical Tools 1. Cnaimh (Bones) Cloch (Stone) Thuaidh (North) Lia Fail (Destiny) 2. Colaind (Flesh) Talamh (Earth) Faoi (Under, About) The Nemeton 3. Gruaigh (Hair) Uaine (Plant Life) Amach (Outwards) Ogham and Herbs 4. Fuil (Blood) Muir (Sea) Ior, Siar (West) Undry (Cauldron) 5. Anal "Breath" Gaeth (Wind) Air, Oithear (East) The Sword of Nuada 6. Imradud (Mind) Gealach (Moon) Isteach (Inwards) The Well of Segais 7. Drech (Face) Grian (Sun) Deas, Deis (South) The Spear of Lugh 8. Menma (Brain) Nel (Cloud) Thrid (Through) Imbas (Inspiration) 9. Ceann (Head) Neamh (Heaven) Os Cionn (Above) The Torque/Halo
These elements of the self can be equated to the chakras, the senses, the colors, plus most of the correspondences. The nine dúile above were known as the elements to the ancient celts.
Bones are the foundation of the human body and provide it with its structure and support. Bones formed the shape of the Cauldron of Vocation. It is the bones that "give us backbone" and structure. To the Celts, the bones contained the Magick of a person. Bones were used to create Magical implements.
The Flesh is connected to the foundation and provides us with our bodily shape or form. This shape was known as the "delb" in Ireland . Flesh is the main laborer of the Cauldron of Vocation. Flesh moves us and empowers us. It was consumed, burned and sacrificed when making offerings to the Gods. It was said that the flesh of a bull was consumed to induce the visions of the Tarbh Feis. And according to some, it has been said that the blood or the flesh of an enemy was eaten during after-battle rituals as a source of empowerment. The ancient celtic people thought that one gained the powers of the soul they had consumed, thus gaining in the strength and the power of the enemy themselves. Earth is the Cosmic analog of flesh. It is the Land that supports our being and it is upon Her surface that we labor.
The Hair and the Skin are the bodies sensors. The skin, being the largest sensory organ of the human body, reacts to touch, heat, cold, pain and pleasure. It is one way in which we become aware of our surroundings. Extending even beyond the skin, the hair is an additional way we can perceive our surroundings without actually touching them. We can feel the winds and even static electricity in our hair. The hair and skin reflects our state of general health. The Trees, shrubs and grasses of the earth are the Cosmic analog of the skin and hair of the human body.The presence of green and growing trees, shrubs and plants reflects a healthy environment. Our skin and hair provide coverings for the Cauldron of Vocation.
The Blood is the river of life within the human body. It sustains the flesh, warms us and reflects our emotions and wellbeing. The blood is one of the three fires of the Cauldron of Warming. Blood is the life spring of the Body, and the Sea is the Cauldron of Plenty for the World. The Sea reflects Her moods and tempers, just as Blood does. The Sea, in a constant state of change, is the Blood of the World.
The Breath is the constant renewal of the spirit. It cleanses the emotions and relieves tension. The breath is one of the three fires of the Cauldron of Warming. The breath is what affect our moods, feelings, and our reasoning. The Irish words for name, breath, and soul all have the same root word in the Irish language: ainm, anail, anam. The breath and the wind are both natural responses. The Celts viewed the winds as the breath of the heavens. Their word for them was "airts".
The Mind is one of the three fires of the Cauldron of Warming. Wisdom, which was highly valued, was thought to spring from wells and cauldrons. Because it is the natural phenomena that controls the waves of the earth and sea, the Moon was the symbol given by the Celtic People for inner thoughts and the cycles of Nature.
The Face was the opening to the Cauldron of Knowledge and was seen as the window of the personality. To the Celts, how one was seen or perceived by others was extremely important. Word of honor was considered almost 'Law' and was as important as life itself to both men and women. To the Celts, 'Face' was symbolized by the Sun since it was the Sun that illuminated the world for all to see. Praise or insult could be indirectly communicated by turning with the Sun or against it. The poets and the bards often sang of a person's reputation or personal prowess, and this was considered a great honor among the people, especially since they were held in such high esteem as to be almost royalty .
The Brain structures our thoughts and memories. It is the sustainer of our mental abilities. The brain is the "stew" that is contained within the Cauldron of Knowledge, just as the Clouds and Stars are the Cosmic stew of the Gods. The Druids read the stars and clouds to obtain the Wisdom of the Gods.
The Head was the container for the Cauldron of Knowledge and was so respected among the Celts that they often took the heads of their strongest, most powerful enemies as trophies. It was believed that to be in possession of one's head was to control the Soul of that person and to gain such power themselves. The head was thought to house the personality and personal power. And because of this, heads were preserved in cedar oil and displayed in a place of honor within banquet halls, homes, on war chariots and horses. The head ruled the Self, just as the Heavens ruled over the Earth. The Sacred King governed the Sovereignty of the Land (as head of the Tuatha and husband of the Goddess).