The Daughter of Ivor
Searles O'Dubhain

Fri Jan 19 10:35:14 2001
Here's another short excerpt from my book on the topic of serpents and serpent power:*p*The Daughter of Ivor*p*It is the belief of some modern Celtic Pagans that the "Daughter of Ivor" is the snake. She is Brighid, the daughter of fire and the Goddess of wisdom, hearth and healing.  Ivor is her father, The Dagda.  'Wisdom' is the daughter of 'Skill in Doing.'  This is another way of saying that Brighid, the wisdom goddess, is the daughter of The Dagda, “the Red One of Great Knowledge.” The two snakes of Brighid’s arms are symbols of the latent and dynamic power of our spiritual wisdom.  They coil about our three centers of wisdom: our pathway to the present, our *now*, and our ability to create a future.  If the two snakes of power do battle, the flows of power and energy between our cauldrons will suffer.  We will be fighting ourselves. It is better to let one snake of energy teach us while the other becomes a serpent of learning.  In this way, the intuitive power of the Moon may taste of the fruits of wisdom while the deductive abilities of the Sun give us direction. The teacher can also be a student while the lessons are experienced by both. *p*The Two Serpents*p*In Vedic teachings, these pairs of coiling energy serpents within our body are called Nadis.  Their names are Ida and Pingala (one is white and representative of the Moon, while the other is red and symbolizes the influences of the Sun within the body).  One nadi is considered a feminine form of energy while the other is a flow of masculine power. The lunar nadi is said in Yoga to connect to the left nostril while the solar nadi connects to the right.  A yogic exercise in breath control alternates the usage of each nostril to reestablish balance between the male and female forces.  Observing the nature of breathing at this time will indicate whether solar or lunar energy is dominant within the body.  In my own view of Druidic power and mythology, the male flow of power is visualized as the Red Bull of the Sun while the feminine energy is considered to be the White Cow of the Moon. The marriage of the two within us is what determines our own physical, mental and spiritual power. The 'Daughter of Ivor' is the creative control of the breath when we balance and marshall our internal energies. She is Brighid, the Goddess of Poetry.*p*When we meditate, we can better determine the balance and ever-changing harmony of differences between these two sides of ourselves.  In the contention that can occur when we attempt to integrate our energy sources, our struggles parallel the subterranean forces that were in characterized as battling red and white dragons in the tale of Vortigern’s Tower.  Perhaps there is a lesson to be found in this contention? Facing our inner conflicts helps us discover our true strengths and weaknesses and empowers us.  When we do this, we become Merlyn in a sense and are able to better focus our own spirits, wills and energies. We can become as Merlyn became when he was selected to be the sacrifice at Vortigern's Tower.  We can chose to be the offering or we can become the revelation and the solution.  Revealing these inner red and white dragons to ourselves allows us to free our creativity and to establish a firm foundation for any future achievement. Understanding the flows of power can also enable us to establish a connection between our own inner flows and the power inherent to wood itself. There are ritual actions and techniques that can empower the Ogham for us much as the rowan wood empowered Mug Roith's magical fire and what is sometimes called the “serpent’s breath” in tales of Merlyn.*br*