Excerpt: Fireside Tales

There she was, a fine fat doe, walking out of the mist, responding to his call as he knew she would, as she has always done. Fionn MacCumhaill had learned to speak the language of all the animals from the Salmon, himself. The Great Salmon who had known the Creators, who was wise in all things before ever a creature even thought of gasping at the dry air or slithering onto the dry earth. Come closer sweet deer”, he whispered. “I bring you the gift of a good death. I will free your spirit and sing your praise for leaving your fine meat to feed my poor clannad. We honor you and your clan always for your gifts to us.”
Fionn had saved the Great Salmon from the wiley plans of Cerridwen. She, goddess and protector of the cauldron of life and death. She who had loved the mortal Fionn and taught him the ways of death and life and freedom. Cerridwen had thought to eat the Great Salmon and gain the Wisdom of the greater gods, but Fionn had touched the wise one and knew it could not be so. He released the Salmon to the cold waters and returned to his beloved empty handed. She flew into a wild rage and prophesized the hardship and death awaiting Fionn. He had loved her-loved her still as he knew she still loved him even in her anger. But he left her cursing him roundly, though she, a goddess, would not hear his explanation. To touch the wise one was to know, and Fionn knew that Cerridwen was beautiful and powerful but not wise. The Salmon knew well that wisdom was not for these gods nor yet for the humans. He would swim free preserving all wisdom for the greater ones who would come long in the future. Fionn left his love and walked off into the forest. Back to his clan resigned to the knowledge that would never understand the ways of the gods, nor yet the ways of women.

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Tags:

celtic, myth and symbol