The Feat of Bicne Searles Sun Dec 17 12:30:43 2000 The Feat of Bicne*p*In the dindshenchas concerning Irarus, a tale is related wherein Coirpre Lifechair was beset by Otherworldly birds (who were actually women of the Sídhe who were attempting to lure him away from his rath). Two of the birds cried out "Tortha, Tortha" (I come, I come!) while the other two called forth "Tiagu, Tigu!" (I go, I go!). Everyday for seven times fifty days the king was beset in his rath by these Sidhe women until his strength and prosperity were removed from him. He called his rhyming Druid Bicne to him to see what could be done. Bicne chanted to no avail against the birds with incantations uttered over every type of wood that could be found in the area. He sent men to the wood of Frosmuine where they found a spindle tree. Waving a branch of this tree aloft, he was able to work incantations and fragrances against the singing of the birds that checked them in their own workings and silenced their singing. Hence, this incantation is known as the Feat of Bicne and when it is required in the future it will be found in eating the fruit of the Spindle tree. *p*What I see suggested in the above tale is that Bicne produced an incantation using kennings from the Ogham for the spindle tree. I believe that this feat involved an act of chanting over a wood that was selected for its ability to reach the king in his troubled state of mind (torn between the magic of the fairy women and their own chanting). As in other cases where a Druid chants against the spells of Otherworldly women (notably in the tale of Connla), I think that the tones and the words are designed to bring a balance back to the afflicted person. The music cancels the Otherworldly effect and allows the king to know his own mind free from outside influences. I see this use of a chant to cause a change of state within the mind and existence of another to give evidence that the form of imbas known as Teimn Laegda is involved. I think that the Druid actually has to hear the music of the Sídhe in order to know what sort of chant will counter balance its effect on the king.*p*In the divination system that I use (based on Fionn's Window), the Ogham OI or the Spindle tree is associated with fertility, with growth and with Bealtaine. The fruit of the spindle tree is the dedication of Bealtaine. The story that is related is a matter of clearly taking the path between the calls of the birds (the horns of dilemma, i.e. the twin fires of Bealtaine). It is about making a clear judgement when faced with difficult choices. The Feat of Bicne is about recognizing the problems besetting others (through a kind of resonant empathy) and being able to find the balance point even under the most trying of circumstances. In some respects it is like a "can't win" scenario that requires one to flow into the problem; to become a part of the problem through empathy, and then to create a solution through chanting and singing reality back into balance.*p*"Doráchad dia apaid,*br*Scél ná lacaid logad,*br*Rotucad réil robeth,*br*Dia tomled a thorad."*p*"The ability to resolve the difficult questions of tangled thickets is handed down to the poet of lords. When he tastes of the fruit of the problem, clear judgements and understandings will be his without wasteful oblivion." (a very loose translation of the meaning of the dindshenchas by myself using Edward Gwynn's translation and notes as a guide).*p*Sources:*p*Metrical Dindshenchas, Edward Gwynn, Volume IV, pp. 211-217, "Irarus."*br*Auraicept na n-E/ces, George Calder, p. xxi.*p*Searles*p**p*Searles O'Dubhain wrote,*br*: The four feats of an Ollamh that were performed in the last *br*: year of training were the feat of Ladchend mic Bairchida and *br*: the feat of Chota and the feat of Bicni and the feat of *br*: Béci. The Four Cerda of the Ollamh Searles O'Dubhain 760 Sun Dec 17 12:19:56 2000