III. The 49 Mysteries

49 “world parts” or mysteries can be drawn from the Enchanter’s Song of Creation. 33 of them alone can be found in the naming charm; elements from the portions of the song before and after it yield this list of meditational and archetypal items, powers, and symbols:

Darkness- primordial duality force
Light- primordial duality force
Ice- essence of contraction
Flame- essence of expansion

The Woman of earth and river- Banba
The World- The wholeness of creative power that gave birth to Banba
The White Salmon- Fintan
The Ocean- The primordial waters on the earth that gave birth to Fintan
The Hawk- Fintan’s companion

Sky- the vault of heaven
Earth- the body of Banba or the Sovereign Goddess
Sun- primal world-constituent
Moon- primal world-constituent
Lake- primal world-constituent
Rivers- primal world-constituent
Many fruits- primal world-constituent, including plants and trees
Rain- primal world-constituent
Produce of sea- fish and sea-life, primal world-constituent
Mouths- primal body part
Ears- primal body part
Eyes- primal body part
Treasures- things crafted and created by humans or Gods
Feet- primal body part
Hands- primal body part
Warriors- primal role of humans and Gods
Story-tellers- enchanters, primal role of humans and Gods
Horses- primal beast
Swords- primal implement of force
Chariots- primal vehicle of motion
Spears- primal implement of force
Shields- primal implement of sheltering
Men- primal beings
Women- primal beings
Children- primal beings
Dew- primal world-constituent
Mist on rivers- primal world-constituent
Stones on plains- primal world-constituent, but can also be treasures
Sheen on leaves- primal world-constituent
Day- primal world-constituent, part of the world order, sprung from light
Night- primal world-constituent, part of the world order, sprung from darkness
Ebb- primordial duality force
Flow- primordial duality force

The Five Portioned Brandubh Board- symbol of the fivefold division of the land
Fomorian Monsters- giants or chaotic powers that still influence power in the land

Fire- same as flame; symbol of the sacred function, not counted twice.
Torc- primal treasure, symbol of rulership
Sword- primal treasure, symbol of the force function, not counted twice
Spear- primal treasure, symbol of the force function, not counted twice
The Plow- primal treasure, symbol of the fertility function
Cow or Bull- primal beast, symbol of the fertility function

The Shining Ones (Gods)- Primordial divine beings, symbolized by ravens, horses and chariots and light.
Hearth-Goddess- primal Goddess of the home and many other functions.

* * *

This list of “Mysteries” represents the 49 key items, beings, or entities that the Song of Creation “names” into being or regenerated existence. As you encounter these powers through sound and word while chanting the song’s verses, it is important to visualize them each, clearly, as you say their names.

These 49 conceptual objects, beings and symbols are major portions of the tapestry of the world, powerful “ingredients” of the wholeness of the world order as our human minds know it. Each can be alone meditated upon by silence and visualization for other powerful insights, which arise mostly as feelings.


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