The Faery Godmother as protector and guide through Dorcha's wild dreams
Interesting observations about the Celtic Curse and its control by...bloodletting, Rosanne! I have just remembered, too, that my friend (who committed suicide by slitting his arteries in my nightmare) is of wholly Irish origin, though he was born and brought up in Yorkshire. He is typically Celtic-looking with dark hair and blue-grey eyes. His wife, on the other hand, who takes their baby and leaveshim in my dream, provoking his bloody suicide, is a beautiful typically anglo-saxon blonde. So this dream gets more intriguing still! I really don't know how to tie the Celtic element in - and the mixed element. I am of *such* mixed origin myself, including a strong celtic streak, that I don't know how to separate what is my friend's and what is mine, though I am sure the dream is primarily about me - I hope so at least.
Rosanne - can you tell me more about this Celtic Curse? maybe by PM if you don't want to do it on the thread?
Because I didn't want to go to bed two nights ago with this image of blood and suicide - followed by all these discussions! - I asked for a faery to help me follow Epona's Wild Daughter where she wanted me to go, while keeping me from becoming obsessive (blood has that effect)...And, no suprise, I received the
Faery Godmother .
I placed her next to Dorcha, Epona's daughter, and was struck by the likeness and the subtle links between the two cards. Have you noticed them?
The first thing I saw was the
owl in both cards. Very large in Epona's Wild Daughter, smaller but no less visible in the Faery Godmother. If I read from Miranda Green's "Symbol & Images in Celtic Religious Art" (a book I recommend - probably the most complete book in English on the subject), I read that birds in general were very often represented in Celtic art, though owls seem to have been a Roman borrowing. Owls I have always associated with Minerva/Athena: they bring
clear sight, wisdom, and provide a link to the otherworld through their nocturnal habits. Minerva/Athena was Ulysses protectress during his long adventures, and adored his wiliness, which was an echo of her own: she got him through some dark times and brought him safely home. One might say that the Faery Godmother is also an avatar of Minerva...
Next link is the
crown of stars - both faeries wear one. The book tells us it is a mark of service, compassion, great wisdom. Of course, when operating a sacrifice, compassion and great wisdom are needed. Now the crown of stars is most commonly associated with imagery of Mary as Queen of Heaven, but I don't know where this symbol comes from, or if it is originally Christian (Rosanne?). In any case, the idea of compassion and hope in the otherworld is very much associated with Mary. I had not thought to see the crown of stars worn by a faery who takes us through nightmares and dark nights of the soul - and yet that is precisely when we most need compassion and hope!
For some imagery of the Crown of Stars, as well as the next image, the crescent moon, have a look at:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~matc/math5.geometry/unit10/unit10.html
The
moon is also a common theme: the crescent moon on the Faery Godmother's forehead (the crescent moon is another reminder of Mary, btw) -and the moonlight bathing Dorcha. Moon symbolism was associated with mother goddesses and with virgin goddesses in both Celtic and Roman mythology (and their synchretism) - and also, more interestingly in this context - with goddesses that had the key to the otherworld (often the same as fertlity goddesses). The Moon is a feminine symbol the world round because of its cyclical nature: and feminine cycles and childbirth, of course, bring us back to blood - and my nightmare. Am I birthing something? Mothers know that a birth is a joy but also a sacrifice (and the monthly periods are certainly a form of sacrifice!!). The moon - via Diana, the Roman moon goddess - was associated with the hunt; this is certainly one aspect that the Celts either adopted or already had: according to Miranda Green, the divine hunt is a promise of rebirth and resurrection. And the hunt too, brings us back to bloodletting... Am I hunting something - or is something hunting me? I am finding the association between blood letting and renewal quite troubling.
Another element that joins the two cards is the apple the Faery Godmother holds: Epona's worshippers would often bring her a
basket of apples - and eventually feed them to Epona's protégés - the horses (everyone who has spent time with horses will know how much they appreciate apples!). Apples were VERY important in the Celtic world-view - a symbol of science, magic and revelation as well as healing food.
Avallon means the island of apples, and it is there that Arthur found refuge, and was able to heal. Its climate is temperate, its inhabitants joyful, its food regenerating. Therefore the apple that the Faery Godmother seems to be handing to me will be my gift to Epona's Wild Daughter - but also a magic apple to allow me to see clearly, discover is hidden and come through this exploration safely and regenerated. The "revelation" and vision motif is repeated in the crystal ball the Faery Godmother holds in the other hand.
The Faery godmother also has
birch branches in her crown. The birch is a North-East European symbol of youth and beginnings: this is a sign for me that my dream announces the
launch of something new in my life - for which I msut make sacrifices (well, I know that, duh!). The birch
recalls the moon, because of its colour, so reminds us again of Dorcha's moonlit body and the crescent moon on the Faery Godmother's forehead. But the birch symbolism is much deeper. It is particualarly revered by Siberian populations where it symbolises the rod of life and is the tree up which the shaman's soul moves to reach the astral planes. The Celts, on the other hand, seemed to have associated the birch with death - and in a common reversal, to renewal of life as well (no doubt because of the cyclical nature of life and death). In a Gaulish text, the birch is described as the transformer - which prepares the dead for their new life. This I find particularly relevant in the context of my dream - going under, re-emerging. But another aspect of the birch relates to its use in punishment - birching - which was done until blood appeared (again!). Yet another one that I am using in exploring my nightmare is the ancient Roman use of birch branches as torches - a light to guide me! (Something like the Hermit's lantern).
The faery Godmother has intrigued me for a while already. She is a gift, a grace - and her appearance in fairytales is always beneficient, but also
announces a trial. She appears only to women. Here, in this card, she is wearing finely wrought
armour: at least on her arms, and we can imagine that she is wearing a chestplate and leg armour under her drapery. The armour also reminds me of the hunt. She is protective, therefore, as well as - to my mind - a huntress: active and focussed - so I can't think of a better faery to have on my side while I explore the realms of Epona's Wild Daughter. I slept with her under my pillow that night!