Bradán Feasa~ Swimming in Wisdom

“Leaping! We come…
Slicing joyously through

each battling wave…

Armored,

Flashing and Bright,

like Knights of Olde…

Braving hungry teeth and

wicked claws.

Press on!

Be Bold!

We are so many stories

waiting to be told…

When we’ve returned at last

to our humble homes…

Quests fulfilled…

Treasures hidden along the Shore…

Toasty at the hearthside,

Content to feed the new generations

with epic tales.

Content…

No more to roam

the wandering waters and

restless Seas of Life!

Some have waited a lifetime

beside their fires

for a single taste

of the Wisdom I bring.

Who has heard me sing?”

“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” Johan Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust

“The gods do not deduct from man’s allotted span the hours spent in fishing.” Babylonian Proverb

“We learn a lot of lessons from watching animals. The salmon are one of our best teachers. We learn from them that we have to do certain things by the seasons. We watch the salmon as smolts going to the ocean and observe them returning home. We see them fulfill the circle of life, just as we must do. If the salmon aren’t here, the circle becomes broken and we all suffer. ” Leroy Seth of the Nez Perce

“We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us.” Proust

There are two groups of Salmon, Atlantic and Pacific, and eight species of Pacific salmon alone: chinook, coho, chum, sockeye, pink, steelhead trout, masu and amago salmon (two Asian species). I will be talking about fish in general and the King or Chinook Salmon specifically here. The King Salmon is blue-green on the back and top of its head, silver along it’s sides, with a white belly, black spots on the upper half of its body and gray/black mouth coloration, which is why they are sometimes called Blackmouth Salmon. While spawning, their coloration changes, indicating their mating readiness, and their colors range from red to copper to almost black, depending on location and degree of maturation. Males are more deeply colored than the females, and are distinguished by their “ridgeback”, hooked nose or upper jaw. King Salmon can grow up to a whopping 58 inches in length and weigh up to 129 pounds, although they are more often found weighing around 30 pounds and around 38 inches in length. Chinook spawn from late summer to early fall, and they utilize waterways that are deeper and larger than other salmon. The tremendous effort and energy put forth in spawning results in death for the King Salmon.

Each female lays between 3,000 and 14,000 eggs during spawning. She excavates several nests (redds) in the deeper waters within the gravel bed where she was spawned in which to lay her eggs. The eggs will need cool water with good water flow to supply oxygen if they are to survive. They are highly sensitive to movement and disruption at this stage. The newly hatched salmon, called alevins, live in the gravel for several weeks until they gradually absorb the food in the attached yolk sac. Juveniles, called fry, wiggle up through the gravel by early spring. Fry feed primarily upon plankton and then insects as they grow. In Alaska, most juvenile salmon remain in fresh water until the following spring when they will migrate out to the ocean. At this point in their development they are referred to as smolts.

Chinooks spend anywhere from 1 to 8 years at sea before returning to their birth streams to spawn. They are found from Alaska (where they are the state fish) to California with significant runs in the Columbia River, Rogue River, and Puget Sound. On the Asian coast, Chinook can be found from the Anadyr River area of Siberia all the way to Hokkaido, Japan. In the freshwater streams and estuaries they feed on terrestrial and aquatic insects, amphipods, and other crustaceans while young. Once out in the ocean, they feed primarily on smaller fish like herring, pilchard, sandlance, anchovy, sardine, krill, or even squid, crabs, and crustaceans. Salmon grow rapidly in the wide waters of the ocean and often double their weight during a single summer season! Eggs are laid in deeper water with larger gravel, and will need cool water with good water flow to supply oxygen if they are to survive.

“Family life is full of major and minor crises - the ups and downs of health, success and failure in career, marriage, and divorce - and all kinds of characters. It is tied to places and events and histories. With all of these felt details, life etches itself into memory and personality. It’s difficult to imagine anything more nourishing to the soul.” Thomas Moore

“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.” Henry David Thoreau

“Ideas are like fish.If you want to catch little fish, you can stay in the shallow water. But if you want to catch the big fish, you’ve got to go deeper.Down deep, the fish are more powerful and more pure. They’re huge and abstract. And they’re very beautiful.” David Lynch

Salmon typically have a high mortality rate due to predation, and changes in habitat due to the human influence; such as pollution, siltation, high water temperatures, low oxygen conditions, loss of stream cover and reductions in river flow. Natural predators of juveniles include snakes, frogs, otters, raccoons, fish like larger salmon, whiting and mackerel, and various birds like kingfishers. Predators of adults include birds like eagle and osprey, bear, orca, whales, dolphins, seals, and sea lions. Those called by this Teacher will progress through stages, and will need to examine these different predators at various points in their life as potential balancing energies. They are a key species in the food chain, and their rapidly disintegrating numbers really should be cause for more concern from society than is currently apparent to me.

“The time will soon be here when my grandchild will long for the cry of a loon, the flash of a salmon, the whisper of spruce needles, or the screech of an eagle. But he will not make friends with any of these creatures and when his heart aches with longing he will curse me. Have I done all to keep the air fresh? Have I cared enough about the water? Have I left the eagle to soar in freedom? Have I done everything I could to earn my grandchild’s fondness?” Chief Dan George

2006 was one of the worst fishing seasons on record. According to Dan Bacher at www.fishsniffer.com “A retired DFG captain, H.A. Carling, is convinced that the operation of Coleman Fish Hatchery is to blame for the low return of fish on the main Sacramento.” Carling is quoted here,

“The Coleman hatchery was constructed to mitigate for miles of prime spawning grounds blocked when Shasta Dam was constructed. An estimated half million adult salmon were affected. Instead of doing this, it appears that the management policy is to destroy a large part of what few adults now return. Salmon counts over the Red Bluff Diversion Dam have gone from about 30,000 fish to 4,909. Last year to date, the count was 10,634 salmon. What is happening?”

What indeed! It is not just Salmon that have been disappearing either. The fish that have infamously fed the masses since time immemorial, symbols of Abundance, Wealth, Wisdom, Spirituality, Nourishment, Luck and Prosperity are vanishing… and we barely seem to bat an eye. As a key species, equal with Bear and Eagle in the sacred Cycle of Life, sensitive life-giving Salmon asks us to give up our disrespectful and wasteful ways, swim with Creativity, Passion, Strength and Wisdom into the future. Salmon is one of many Teachers that would likes us to begin our lives as loving custodians of this World. If you take the time to search for information on dwindling numbers of fish, sources from Nasa to National Geographi are spelling out a bleak future for all marine life, which will, in turn affect many of our Relations and us. Another symptom of our imbalance with, and self-imposed separation from the World around us.

“The loss of the food and the salmon is monumental- and it’s all tied together. Food is a really big part of the Yakama culture, as it is elsewhere. Anywhere you look in the world, food carries culture. So if you lose your foods, you lose part of your culture- and it has a devastating effect on the psyche. You also lose the social interaction. When you fish, you spend time together- you share all the things that impact your life-and you plan together for next year.

Salmon is more important than just food… There’s a huge connection between salmon and tribal health. Restoring salmon restores a way of life. It restores physical activity. It restores mental health. It improves nutrition and this restores physical health. It restores a traditional food source, which we know isn’t everything- but it is a big deal. It allows families to share time together and builds connections between family members. It passes on traditions that are being lost. If the salmon come back, these positive changes would start.” ~ Chris Walsh, Yakama

“We are in massive denial and continue to bicker over the last shrinking numbers of survivors.” Dr. Ransom Myers, Dalhousie University speaking about the loss in marine life numbers

“Spirituality is a domain of awareness.” Deepak Chopra

“I prayed for twenty years but received no answer until I prayed with my legs.” Frederick Douglass, escaped slave

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” Harold Whitman

Salmon, and many other fish, have been linked with Spirituality in countless ways from cultures across the World. In Buddhist symbolism there is a pair of golden fish known as Suvarnamatsya. These two stand vertically with heads turned inward, and symbolize happiness as they have complete freedom in water. They are utterly adapted and at ease in the turbulent waters that represent Life, and they are the emblem of anyone seeking rescue from the ocean of misery that dominates earthly existence. For another example, the tradition of eating fish on Fridays and during lent is debatable in origin, but ultimately this concept revolves around the spiritual need for fasting. Fasting (going without food or drink for a certain period) and abstaining (going without specific foods like meat, or denying one’s self other physical comforts like smoking or sex) are ancient methods of cleansing one’s body, seeking clarity or divine vision, shedding karma, experiencing the hunger of the needy, and conquering bodily needs in favor of refining one’s spirit.

Some form of fasting can be found in just about every religion around the world, and the meal shared after the period of fasting is usually a tradition of unity, celebration, and gratitude. Salmon do not feed once they have begun spawning, directing all of their energy into the drive for Creation.Jesus, like many other spiritual Teachers, recommended fasting not as a formality to be observed and not as a burden imposed upon the poor who eat when they can, even if it violates tradition. Jesus advised us to fast when we fail to sense that God is near. Christ and Buddha have both been referred to as a “fisher of men” as they rescue men from the ocean of earthly existence, and this is one of many tools that they gave to those of us seeking to refine our souls. Salmon speaks of the constant motion and change found in Life, the our place within the circle of life, and especially the fluid give and take, the motions of sacrifice and reception, that are required for spiritual growth.

Fish have been considered sacred by a variety of cultures, have represented sacred trinity, religion in general, and most recently the Christian community. People have looked forward to the salmon migrations for ages as a time of plenty, a welcome delicacy that broke the fast of winter, a signal that the fertility of spring is in action and the world is moving in harmony as well as an outward sign of Creator providing.

“The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool.” William Shakespeare, As You Like It

Fish swim through the water, feed countless creatures, and live in harmony with their environment as an example to us. We too should move fluidly with the many changes of Life, live in harmony, and be willing to sacrifice something of our selves for the benefit of others. Salmon teaches us that everything has a proper season. All stages of life are sacred and must support each other; youth must respect elder just as surely as the elder must pass their wisdom to the next generation. Prayer and spirituality are vital in a balanced life, but action is equally necessary. To truly become the caretakers of our world we must understand, balance and utilize both Spirituality and Action. Prayer alone, however powerful, will not right the imbalance we have created, and all the spiritual beliefs in the world will not save a single drowning child if action is not also taken. Passionate and creative Salmon encourages us to be bold and take action.

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. ” Edmund Burke

“A spirit of innovation is generally the result of a selfish temper and confined views. People will not look forward to posterity, who never look backward to their ancestors.” Edmund Burke

“The kind of spirituality I value is one in which you get great joy out of contributing to life, not just sitting & meditating, although meditation is certainly valuable. But from the meditation, from the resulting consciousness, I would like to see people in action creating the world that they want to live in.” Marshall Rosenberg

Salmon, like other cold-water fish, are low in calories and saturated fats, yet high in protein and the essential omega 3 fatty acids so beneficial to our health. They are also an excellent source of selenium, niacin, vitamin B12, and a good source of phosphorous, magnesium and vitamin B6. Omega 3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation throughout the body, prevent excessive blood clotting, maintain the fluidity of cell membranes, lower the amount of lipids (such as cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood, decrease platelet aggregation, inhibit thickening of the arteries, increase the activity which causes arteries to relax and dilate, reduce the production of messenger chemicals which are involved in inflammatory response associated with atherosclerosis, improve the body’s ability to respond to insulin, and reduce the risk of obesity.

Studies indicate that our bodies absorb Omega 3’s much more efficiently through food (cold-water fish, walnuts, flax seeds, etc) than supplements, and that Omega 3’s are useful in combating: depression, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, fatigue, dry or itchy skin, eczema, brittle hair and nails, joint pain, inability to concentrate, memory loss, Alzheimer’s, asthma, ADHD, bipolar disorder, cancer, high blood pressure, Huntington’s disease, lupus, migraines, obesity, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis. The ultimate brain food, just three servings a month can significantly reduce the risk of stroke or help combat any of these ailments! Salmon roe can be eaten the caviar which comes from Sturgeon. Their roe is a rich source of vitamins A and D, very long-chain fatty acids, and zinc. Revered as a delicacy and especially prized as a healthy food for pregnant women, salmon roe can help to prevent birth defects!

“But what is liberty without wisdom, and without virtue? It is the greatest of all possible evils; for it is folly, vice, and madness, without tuition or restraint.” Edmund Burke

“Pilgrims are poets who create by taking journeys.” Richard R. Niebuhr

“You cannot travel the path until you have become the path.” Gautam Buddha

“It is not the road ahead that wears you out- it is the grain of sand in your shoe.” Arabian proverb

Salmon’s coloring indicates peace/balance and healing (blue-green), passionate living (red), wisdom (black), the soul and spirituality (silver) and purity (white). This color combination is a potent yet subtle message that these qualities together will bring a satisfying existence beneficial to all. Their dramatic color change while spawning reminds us of their connections to Creation, creativity, and Kundalini. A salmon lives and journeys, ultimately, to reproduce and it will expend the last energy of its life to do so. Salmon reminds us that not only is the desire to create a strong motivation, but that sex itself is a potent drive and powerful source of energy whether one is abstaining or releasing that energy. Salmon says that Spirituality should be equal with Sexuality in importance and treated with equal respect.

Not the most charismatic or musical of creatures, nonetheless, creative Salmon makes me think of Bardic wisdom. The cycle of respect and support between all ages of human beings (youth, adult and elder) that passes lore, wisdom, and tradition through the years, hopefully, to the benefit of all makes this Teacher spring instantly to mind when discussing the Bards of ancient Ireland. Oghma, the Celtic god of Wisdom, has been likened to both Ogmios, Thor, and Hercules. He was the hero god of communication, particularly the written word, and ogham is the ancient Celtic script that this deity was said to have created and handed down to mortals so that we might remember our history. Oghma was also the patron of the Bards who kept the histories and traditions.

Oghma had two nicknames that we know of; Cermait which means “the honey-mouthed” (a testament to his eloquence and persuasive skills) and Grianainech, “the sunny-faced” which most believe relates to his illuminating wisdom. The salmon is associated with this deity, and often represents inspiration in the Celtic traditions as the infamous Salmon of Wisdom ate from Oghma’s sacred Hazel tree (a Tree of Life) nine nuts containing all poetic wisdom. Having absorbed this wisdom, the salmon swam the river Boyne until caught by an ancient druid who had spent his life in pursuit of this repository of knowledge.

Aged and weary the Druid called upon his apprentice, the hero Fionn MacCumhail to cook the salmon for him, warning him not to take so much as a taste. Fionn burned his thumb upon the cooked salmon and put it immediately in his mouth without a thought. The Druid declared that the Salmon’s wisdom was meant for him and gave up his life’s goal by giving it to Fionn. Salmon features largely in Celtic lore as a symbol of wisdom, prophecy, healing (as they are often said to be living in sacred wells of healing), and rebirth.

“Trust only movement. Life happens at the level of events, not of words. Trust movement.” Alfred Adler

“To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.” George MacDonald

“A good marriage is at least 80 percent good luck in finding the right person at the right time. The rest is trust.” Nanette Newman

“When I’m trusting and being myself… everything in my life reflects this by falling into place easily, often miraculously.” Shakti Gawain

Fish can also represent fertility and abundance as they multiply very rapidly. Considering that fish of all kinds are rapidly disappearing from our waters, this seems a dramatic warning to change our wasteful ways! While the Salmon’s amazing ability to accurately, and against much opposition, find their original birth waters is still largely a mystery to science, it is believed that pheromones in the water, and the Salmon’s keen sense of smell may be the key to their unerring direction. As a Totem, this ability denotes a strong sense of instinctual intuition and Salmon people should pay heed to their hunches and impressions in all situations, even if they cannot find a “solid and rational” explanation for these impressions. Salmon people may also have an inexplicably keen sense of direction, and often have a powerful drive to Create, frequently expressing themselves through some form of art.

Salmon people have a strong desire to leave a lasting and positive impression upon the world. Whether this means inspiring others by being living examples and guiding lights to those around them, or utilizing their skills and talents to bring them recognition and reward makes little difference, although they can do the greatest good when using their skills for the benefit of all. These powerful and often ill-understood instinctive and intuitive forces may cause quiet Salmon people to plague themselves with doubt.

Trust is a key word for Salmon people. Knowing when to trust themselves, who and when to trust in others, and the tremendous leaps of Faith required when trusting Creator will be important lessons along their life’s path. Salmon people, like salmon, will grow spiritually in stages and each stage will involve some important lesson about Trust. Those who hold positions as religious leaders should be especially careful of choosing tradition and dogma over the needs of the people who look to them. Intolerance is an easy path for Salmon people to start down, and they should beware feeding this sort of destructive behavior.

“Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from a religious conviction.” ~Pascal, Pensees, 1670

“Nothing makes a fish bigger than almost being caught.” Author Unknown

Borage, also known as the herb of gladness or starflower, and the stone Lepidolite are both associated with Trust and can be found in the same area of the Medicine Wheel as Salmon. Borage has been used for many years as a treatment for depression, and helps to reduce stress as an excellent tonic for the adrenal glands. Lepidolite will accept no negative energy of any kind and is a tremendously useful stone for those seeking peace, healing, stress reduction, serenity and positive energy. Borage and Lepidolite are reminders that life and spiritual growth are stressful things, but we progress best when we make all efforts to reduce the negative on these paths. Intuition, wisdom, and trust all flow best when we are healthy, serene and in a positive frame of mind. Raspberry and Carnelian are also associated with Salmon and should be examined.

“The problem with fundamentalists insisting on a literal interpretation of the Bible is that the meaning of words change. A prime example is ‘Spare the rod, spoil the child.’ A rod was a stick used by shepherds to guide their sheep to go in the desired direction. Shepherds did not use it to beat their sheep. The proper translation of the saying is ‘Give your child guidance, or they will go astray.’ It does not mean ‘Beat the shit out of your child or he will become rotten’ as many fundamentalist parents seem to believe.” Author Unknown

“Not all religion is to be found in the church, any more than all knowledge is found in the classroom.” Author Unknown

“It is with our passions as it is with fire and water; they are good servants, but bad masters.” Roger L’Estrange, Aesop’s Fables, 1692

Salmon people, like other fish, can be very spiritual individuals, and are often deeply interested in religious and spiritual paths. Salmon people can also be: Passionate livers, enthusiastic, quick to anger and quick to appease, emotional, intensely feeling, intuitive, fickle, cold, ardent, sensual, motivated, restless/movement oriented, homebodies, generous, proud, frank, and above all changeable. They can be excellent leaders, especially in the capacity of spiritual and religious guides (priests, nuns, shamans, etc.) Salmon goes through many stages and changes.

It begins in the fresh or “sweet” waters of life, journeys, and battles the deep, dangerous, salty seas of the world’s tears. Only after many trials does Salmon return to the sweet waters of her birth to spend her last breath on ensuring future generations. All of the Salmon’s life experiences are focused on making a successful pilgrimage, and this powerful drive often marks Salmon people with a need to leave a favorable mark upon society. Excessive pride, doubt, indecision especially that brought about by a difference of opinion between heart and head, stubborn or domineering behavior, intolerance and impulsive behavior are common downfalls for Salmon people. Those born between July 22nd and August 21st have Salmon as their Birth Totem, and they should cultivate emotional stability, tolerance, open minds and hearts that bring sound judgment.

Fish have symbolized the unconscious, love, fertility, victory over death/rebirth, healing, prophesy, harmony, regeneration, feminine energy, children, childbirth, pregnancy, the arrival of love, the cycle of life, emotion, subconscious, thought, hazelnut trees, and the zodiac symbol Pisces. They have been connected to the Moon, the element Water, Ishtar, Isis, Aphrodite, Freya, Venus, Poseidon, Dagon, Kwan Yin, Hermes, Vishnu, Jesus, Christianity, Fionn, Cerridwen, Oghma, Lugh Lamfada, and Gwion, Ku-ula, Sharks symbolize survival and adaptability, and Jellyfish were sacred to Medusa. Nile carp were sacred to Set, the Egyptian god of storms, desert and chaos.Angelfish alert us to the prescience of angels and angelic energy in our lives. Koi represent strength, endurance, perseverance in the face of adversity, peace, and fortune. Siamese fighting fish teach us how to protect our boundaries within relationships.

The most commonly quoted estimate says that there are 20,000 different species of fish in the waters of the world. Each carries their own messages and associations. Those called by a Fish Totem will need to look at which specific fish is calling, their nearest relations, and the balancing energies of prey and predator. Salmon is often the patron of healers and Salmon people can be far more resilient and hardy than they appear. This Teacher encourages us to be sensitive to others, to trust our instincts, to stop fighting the currents of our life when we have not developed ourselves enough for the spiritual/life challenges ahead of us, to remember that everything has a proper time and season, to respect the cycle of Life, honor our heritage, to decide wisely, to leap over obstacles and see them as opportunities for growth, act with determination, to trust in self and Creator, and live passionately. How does Salmon appear in your life?

“Give me a fish and I eat for a day. Teach me to fish and I eat for a lifetime.” Chinese Proverb

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed.” Albert Einstein

“Love the animals, love the plants, love everything. If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things. Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day. And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all-embracing love.” Fyodor Dostoyevsky

“The beauty of the trees, the softness of the air,
the fragrance of the grass speaks to me.
The summit of the mountain, the thunder of the sky,
The rhythm of the sea, speaks to me.
The faintness of the stars, the freshness of the morning,
the dewdrop on the flower, speaks to me.
The strength of the fire, the taste of salmon, the trail of the sun,
and the life that never goes away, they speak to me
And my heart soars.”
Chief Dan George

Key concepts: Wisdom, instinct, fertility, persistence/determination, trust, faith, spirituality, thought, creativity/creation, cycle of birth/death/rebirth, courage, loyalty, pride, passion, heritage/ancestors, overcoming obstacles, returning home

Possible balancing energies for Salmon: eagle/hawk, bear, otter, fisher, fly, dolphin, the sea/water, whale, shark, plankton, worm, other fish, wolf/coyote, hazelnut tree, borage, lepidolite, raspberry, carnelian, raccoon, cat

Associated with: Fionn Macumhail, Lugus/Lugh Lamfada/Lleu Llaw Gyffes, Cerridwen, Gwion, Brighid, Boann/Sionna, Orcia, Nodens, Loki, Nechtain, Daghda, Taranis, Aurora Borealis, sacred wells, Latis, Cernnunnos, Taranis, Oghma, the Milky Way

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Tags:

all my relations, entwife, fish, instinct, nature, perserverance, salmon, sea, singer, spirit, spirit guide, spirituality, teacher, totem, water, who sings now and wisdom