Bóann, The White Cow
Searles

Fri Jan 22 19:55:50 1999
The tale of Bóand is as follows:*p*Bóand attempted to challange the power of the Well of Segais.  In her folly, she attempted to cast a Tuaithe or "negative magic charm or spell" upon the well.  This involved chanting an "amrun" while going around the well in a tuaisceart, to the "north" or "to the lefthand side" (widdershins) direction. She circled the well three times AGAINST the Sun.  Three waves rose up from the well and drowned her.  Being of the Sidhe, she did not die but  lost and arm, a leg and an eye in her battle with the well.*p*Five streams of wisdom flowed forth from this well (one for each of the senses). So Bóand suffered the "druidic/shamanic death" of drowning but she gained the Wisdom of Conla/Segais as well as the five senses. (I wonder if this tale might also refer to the "fives" of the Oghams in some way? I will have to further investigate.)*p*Bóand is referred to by Ferchertne, in "the Colloquy of the Two Sages," when he describes where he has been:*p*"Along the elfmound of Nechtan's wife, (Brugh na Bóinne, Nechtan-cupbearer for the Well of Segais)*br*along the forearm of Nuada's wife, (Ethlinn daughter of Balor)*br*along the land of the sun, (Tory hill? Sleigh-Grian in Kilkenny?) (Grianan Ailech?)*br*along the dwelling of the moon,(Sleigh-Na-Man? in Tipperary?) (The Lios?)*br*along the young one's navel string." (The passage way into New Grange)*p*These are references to the River Bóinne, the passage tombs and Angus mac Og. She was also the mate of the Dagdha at Samhain as well as the mother of  Angus mac Og.*p*I think we can see from this tale (and others) that traveling tuaisceart, "against the Sun", is a Magical act of banishment or projection/contention.  Traveling with the Sun, "dessel", is a Magical act of invocation or attunement/empowerment. (Of course, having "geasa" changes this for us.)*p*In the dindshenchas about Bóand, we find these words describing Her as the River of rivers (in a manner reminiscent of Danu).  We also see more about the items that were discussed by Ferchertne and Nede above:*p*"Bóand*br*(from the Metrical Dindshenchas, Part III translation by Edward Gwynn)*p*Sid Nectain is the name that is on the mountain here,*br*the grave of the full-keen son of Labraid,*br*from which flows the stainless river*br*whose name is Bóand ever-full.*p*Fifteen names, certainty of disputes,*br*given to this stream we enumerate,*br*from Sid Nectain away*br*till it reaches the paradise of Adam.*p*Segais was her name in the Sid*br*to be sung by thee in every land:*br*River of Segais is her name from that point*br*to the pool of Mochua the cleric.*p*From the well of righteous Mochua*br*to the bounds of Meath's wide plain,*br*the Arm of Nuada's Wife and her Leg*br*are the two noble and exalted names.*p*From the bounds of goodly Meath*br*till she reaches the sea's green floor*br*she is called the Great Silver Yoke*br*and the White Marrow of Fedlimid.*p*Stormy Wave from thence onward*br*unto branchy Cualnge;*br*River of the White Hazel from stern Cualnge*br*to the lough of Eochu Red-Brows.*p*Banna is her name from faultless Lough Neagh:*br*Roof of Ocean as far as Scotland:*br*Lunnand she is in blameless Scotland -*br*The name denotes her according to its meaning.*br*Severn is she called through the land of the sound Saxons,*br*Tiber in the Romans' keep:*br*River Jordan thereafter in the east*br*and vast River Euphrates.*p*River Tigris in enduring paradise,*br*long is she in the east, a time of wandering*br*from paradise back again hither*br*to the streams of this Sid."*p*Bóann is the mother of the Young Son (Angus), which makes here akin to Modron, mother of Mabon.  She is the wife of the Father of the Gods (The Dagda), which makes her a queen of the gods.  She is one of the two chief river goddesses of Ireland (Sinann is the other), which makes her a part of *THE* River Goddess (Danu).*p*She is the one who has freed imbas from the Well of Segais and she is the mother of wisdom (Brighid).*p*Searles*br*