Since God told Adam, “For thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return,”[1] the flow of life in, through and from the land, people and other living flora and fauna, has been undeniable. The Irish, keenly aware of this experience, honor those places where this sense is heightened, and return there when they need support or want to give thanks.
The “People of the Mounds,” the aos sídhe,[2] are the dwelling[3] in the ancient mounds around Ireland. The mounds are slightly raised areas protected with sacred stones standing in a circle around the mound. There is usually at least one very old sacred tree as well, usually hawthorn[4] or hazelnut,[5] as here. This one also had a huge holly you’ll see in the video.
The first time we drove by the Glebe Stone Circles[7] very large cattle were standing in a circle around the ring. When we came back, they had moved on to resting in the far side of the field, leaving their cow patties behind. Grass fed cows don’t actually leave patties, but their own mounds of almost liquid… well, patties. They look happier than the cows I see around Ohio.
Between the tree roots it looks like Middle Earth, and I kind of expected something to happen. I placed a piece of beach glass as far back inside as I could get it. Maybe I’ll come back one day and the aos sídhe will remember me.
I can’t say I felt a great divine presence. But it does feel deeply, richly peaceful like many people have come here over time. I can see why the Irish protect these places from roadways or developments. They deserve protecting – probably because they are protecting.
I think the aos sídhe are helping in the garden. You should see the produce growing just outside the fence. The proprietors’ sharing makes it easy. Here’s our photo of the inviting Honesty Box, beautifully displayed offerings and even little bags for you to take your produce home.
These posts do build on information included in earlier posts. If you would like to read them in order from the beginning, here is a link: https://thegrainneproject.com/260809-2/
[1] Genesis 3:19, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat food, until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you will return. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%203%3A19&version=TLV
[2] Pronounced ess- SHEE. I’m only using the Wikipedia source this time, because it is extensively sourced and several people worked on it.
[3] In English we would say, those dwelling in, or even indwelling, but I’m trying to convey the feeling of the flowing movement of living breath, not individual beings. It’s more like dwelling-in in the mounded area and surrounding space. It’s not common every place.
[4] Hawthorn and whitethorn are the same kind of tree. Both are significant in Irish lore.
[5] The hazel tree is the source of the Nine Hazelnuts the Salmon of Knowledge consumed to become so wise and how Fionn mac Cumhaill, Finn McCool, became the ultimate wise poet and leader of the Fianna HERE. This foundational story connects to the Log Post 260911 and Patrick Pearse urging his countrymen to fight for independence.
[7] Here’s another view. We were at the North Circle. https://www.megalithicireland.com/Glebe%20North%20Stone%20Circle,%20Mayo.html