Re: Brehons. . . Searles Wed Mar 3 00:35:12 1999 Hi Aicerno,*p*The work on the Cairdean site and the Brehon Laws is taking a backseat right now to getting a book out for publication. It's on Ogham and their use amongDruids and Celtic Seers. I hope that it'll be well received.*p*I've pondered the issues of human sacrifice among the ancients and even held a Celtic Workshop on the subject at one time. I felt that it was important for us today to understand why people were sacrificed to the gods by the Celts and (indeed) most of the people of the world in ancient times. Many reasons were given, such as:*p* Renewal of the world.*p* Blood Magic and Empowerment of other Magical acts.*p* Establishing a Guardian for the People (or the Family)*p* As a Tribute for success in crops, herds, war, progeny.*p*It seems that even the Tuatha De/ Danann were required to pe4rform these rites by the Fomorii so that they could harvest the crops and increase their herds.*p*The important thing to consider is that almost all religions and people have eventually transcended the need to sacrifice humans and animals to their deities. The Tuatha De/ fought a war with the Fomorii over such issues and IIRC they did not sacrifice their progeny after the victory that occurred at Maigh Tuired. In times of trouble, such sacrifice was suggested by certain priests among the Celts (who IMO had no power of their own). I feel they resorted to suggesting such measures because they were not competent in their own right. Almost always, the gods found another way to avoid such actions. Frequently they would intervene through actual manifestation (in the case of Conn) or some other Magical action (such as the dragons and the prophecy of Merlin).*p*The need for human sacrifice is not something that exists in this world, in the forms that existed in the past. Today's sacrifices are accomplished through living instead of through dying. We are called to focus the spirit through our bodies in action, rather than through death. This doies not mean that the spirit of a person should not be dedicated to the gods, but that the decision for the giving or the taking of life should remain in their hands and not our own. I do not think that any of us today has enough of the truth within us to determine if another person should live or die. That is a truth for each person to decide for themselves along with their gods. I do think that people who are no longercapable of living within this life, should be allowed to pass over, but this does not mean thatthey sjould be killed, only that they should be allowed to die on their own. With the proper teachings, the spirit and mind can guide the body across the veil between the worlds. Such a guiding and a shielding of one person for another is an act of the greatest humanity and love.*p*I will continue this discussion and expand on these ideas along the pathway of the anamchara or soul friend, as well as the "Bardo" which is an entire system for such things. I think we should develop rituals for crossing over, but that we should definitely not assist anyone beyond supporting them in the dignity of their own deaths as the laws of this land allow.*p*I'll have much more to say soon,*p*Sla/n is beannacht,*p*Searles*p*P.S. Bealtaine is for fertility and a celebration of life and its blossoming, but I don't think it is necessarily a wild night of sex and frolic in a wholesale fashion. I do think that the normally responsible and tightly regulated mores of society should be loosened at such times. Perhaps this would also be a good topic for extended disscussion, as well as a study of what the ancients actually did during such festivals?*p**br*Aicerno OCathasaigh wrote,*br*: Searles,*br*:*br*: I was wondering how the work on the cairdean page was *br*: coming. . . As well as pondering on a few other issues also. *br*: Besides the Brehon work, I've been thinking about the issue *br*: of 'assisted suicide' and the possibilty of renewing the *br*: practice of human sacrifice.*br*<snip> Brehons. . . Aicerno OCathasaigh 390 Tue Mar 2 16:22:03 1999