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[1mTHE[0m [1mSACRED[0m [1mCENTERS[0m [1mOF[0m [1mTHE[0m [1mCELTIC[0m [1mNATIONS[0m
According to ancient Celtic thought, a country consisted of four
(or five) primary divisions oriented around a ritual center, a place
of great power which was thought to be a reproduction of the whole
land in miniature and from which the nation derived its identity.
Great feasts meant to draw the whole nation together, like L�nasa,
would focus on these centers. The six modern Celtic nations have
preserved in their traditions a memory of their sacred "heartlands".
[1mALBA[0m - Scone (Sg�in), just north of Perth, was the ritual center
of the Picts, and then of Scotland as a whole when Picts and Scots
were united under Kenneth Mac Alpine. Scottish kings were crowned
upon its prophetic Stone until the 17th century.
[1mBREIZH[0m - The Menez-Bre, in southern Treger, is a seat of prophecy
traditionally linked with the destiny of Brittany. Further south, the
Black Mountains constitute an ancient heartland.
[1mCYMRU[0m - The region between the sources of the Wye and the Severn
is called Gwrtheyrnion, the Land of the High Kings. The five peaks of
Pumlumon represent the five ancient kingdoms of Wales.
[1mEIRE[0m - Tara (Teamhair), the home of the High King, was thought to
contain in itself the essence of all of Ireland's kingdoms. The
nearby site of Uisneach, held by the druids, was of equal importance
with Tara during the great feasts.
[1mKERNOW[0m - Bodmin Moor, dotted with megalithic remains, has long
been the ritual center of the Cornish peninsula.
[1mMANNIN[0m - The peak of Snaefell, the most striking feature of
Mann's landscape, is naturally its central focus. This is where
Manannaun-Beg-Mac-y-Lheir most commonly appeared.
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THE SACRED CENTERS OF THE CELTIC NATIONS
According to ancient Celtic thought, a country consisted of four
(or five) primary divisions oriented around a ritual center, a place
of great power which was thought to be a reproduction of the whole
land in miniature and from which the nation derived its identity.
Great feasts meant to draw the whole nation together, like Lu'nasa,
would focus on these centers. The six modern Celtic nations have
preserved in their traditions a memory of their sacred "heartlands".
ALBA - Scone (Sga'in), just north of Perth, was the ritual center
of the Picts, and then of Scotland as a whole when Picts and Scots
were united under Kenneth Mac Alpine. Scottish kings were crowned
upon its prophetic Stone until the 17th century.
BREIZH - The Menez-Bre, in southern Treger, is a seat of prophecy
traditionally linked with the destiny of Brittany. Further south, the
Black Mountains constitute an ancient heartland.
CYMRU - The region between the sources of the Wye and the Severn
is called Gwrtheyrnion, the Land of the High Kings. The five peaks of
Pumlumon represent the five ancient kingdoms of Wales.
EIRE - Tara (Teamhair), the home of the High King, was thought to
contain in itself the essence of all of Ireland's kingdoms. The
nearby site of Uisneach, held by the druids, was of equal importance
with Tara during the great feasts.
KERNOW - Bodmin Moor, dotted with megalithic remains, has long
been the ritual center of the Cornish peninsula.
MANNIN - The peak of Snaefell, the most striking feature of
Mann's landscape, is naturally its central focus. This is where
Manannaun-Beg-Mac-y-Lheir most commonly appeared.
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