The Cosmos and the Self contain elements that are interrelated in terms of their essential natures, their relationship to the whole and their relationships to one another. Each element of the Self and the Cosmos will be discussed individually and together.

The Bones are the structure that supports the body. Bones formed the shape of the Cauldron of Vocation. It is the bones that "give us backbone". To the Celts, and the Neolithic peoples of the British Isles, bones contained the Magick of a person. Bones were used to produce Magical implements and were carved with symbols and even Ogham were carved upon bones to enhance their effect. It was on stone that Ogham was also written, and it was by the "cries" of stone that the king was chosen. Stone is the foundation of a house just as the bones are the foundation of the body. It is no mistake that the most powerful Magicks in Ireland were carved and contained within the stones of the Brughs and the "centers of life". Meteorites were accorded a very high and mystical position, as the bones of the stars, "stones that burn".

The Flesh is the part of the body that connects to the structure of the bones and provides us with
a shape or form. This shape was known in Ireland as the "delb". The flesh is what moves us and
empowers us. It is the substance that we consume , burn and sacrifice (along with blood) when
we are making offerings to the Gods. The flesh of a bull was offered and consumed to facilitate the visions of the Tarbh Feis. Sometimes the blood or the flesh of an enemy was eaten during after-battle rituals (according to some authors...this matter is by no means certain, though I wouldn't be surprised). Earth is the Cosmic analog of flesh. It is the Land that supports our being and it is upon Her surface that we labor. Flesh is the main laborer of the Cauldron of Vocation.

The Hair and the Skin are the sensors and "feelers" of our bodies. The skin is the largest sensory organ that we possess. It is reactive to touch, heat, cold, pain and pleasure. The skin is one way in which we become aware of ourselves, our boundaries and our surroundings. The hair, extending beyond the skin, is an additional way we can sense our surroundings without actually touching anything. We can perceive the winds and even electricity caused by nearby objects. The hair also reflects our general well being (as does the skin). When we feel good our hair is shining and sleek. When we are depressed, the hair droops and is drab. The behavior of the skin closely parallels the behavior of the hair as an indicator of our body's condition and even its state of health. The Trees, shrubs and grasses of the earth are the Cosmic analog of the skin and hair of the human body. A healthy environment is reflected in the presence of green and growing trees, shrubs and plants. Our skin and hair provide coverings for the Cauldron of Vocation.

The Blood is the river of life within the body. It is what sustains the flesh (along with the breath).
It also warms us and reflects our emotional state. The blood is one of the three fires of the Cauldron of Warming. Are we warm or hot blooded? Is our blood up? Do we have blood in our eyes? Is our blood racing? All of these expressions characterize the flowing, sustaining and reactive nature of blood. As Blood is the life spring of the Body, so the Sea is the Cauldron of Plenty for the World. The Sea reflects Her moods and tempers, just as the Blood does. The Sea is in a constant state of change. It is the Blood of the World.

The Breath is the constant renewal of the spirit. It provides cleansing for the feelings as well as
relief for tension. Our breath is also used to ignite the nutritional processes that invigorate the
blood. The breath is one of the three fires of the Cauldron of Warming. The winds (and "breath of change") are what affect our moods and our perceptions. Our first act of awareness is to take in the "breath of life". It is no coincidence that the words for breath, soul and name all have the same root in the Irish language (anail, anam, ainm). The breath and the wind are body/natural correspondences. The Celts viewed the "airts" or winds as the breath of the heavens. The airts were also used by Celtic sailors to predict the weather and to foretell their catches.

The Mind, on the other hand, was a much deeper consideration for the Celts. Wisdom was said
to flow from wells and cauldrons. It is an amazing coincidence that this "flowing of wisdom" from a well of knowledge directly parallels the nature of the mind's alpha waves that our modern science has discovered. Perhaps the Druids discovered this wavelike nature of thought when they were performing brain surgeries? (examples have been discovered in the remains of Celtic burials). The Moon is the natural phenomena that controls the waves of the earth and sea. The moon is the symbol given by the Celts for inner thoughts and the wavelike cycling of Nature Herself. The mind is one of the three fires of the Cauldron of Warming.

The Brain serves as the platform for supporting our thoughts and memories. It is like the paper of books or the silicon of modern computers. It is the media that sustains our minds and contains
our thoughts. The brain is the organizer and the architect of our mental abilities. Being a "brain"
implies a very strong deductive capability. It is a sign of our mental powers. 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. Druidic Astrology was called "Neladoracht", literally "cloud watching".

The Face was thought to be the window on the personality. How one appeared in public and how one were perceived was very important. The reputation and personal prowess were both extolled in the praise poems of the poets and the bards. A man's word and honor (or a woman's) were considered to be as important as life itself. This importance of face and appearance might account for the emphasis placed upon satire by the Filidh and may well account for their ability to "blemish" or even kill the object of their scorn (using only words). In the world around them, face was represented by the Sun. It was the Sun that illuminated the world for all to see and to be seen. It was in turning with the Sun or against the Sun that praise or insult were communicated. The Sun was the epitome of face to the Celts. The face was the opening to the Cauldron of Knowledge.