| Druidic Cosmology The 5 Elements  Cosmology gives a particular Celtic view to nature and the existence of spirit within it. The best explanation of the Druidic Cosmology view is in the Barddas, a collection of medieval Welsh texts. Although these writings are influenced by Christian doctrine, many scholars believe they are still the best source for the Druidic view.
One of these texts, which is supported by other European and non-European documents, recant the Druidic Cosmology of The 5 Elements.   Calas
These are the 'hard' things, everything of the earth. Fluidit The moisture and the flux, the changes in live and water. Breath The wind, breeze, respiration and air. Uvel All things of heat, the light, the sun and fire. Nwyvre Every life, motion, spirit, every soul of man, from it's union with other elements, to it's interconnection to other beings. The Divine Spirit.
The 5th Element Nwyvre The 5th element has long been seen as the spirit or Divine element in many pagan traditions. It is an important element in esoteric teachings, appearing all over the world under many different names. The ancient Greeks called it Pneuma, which the medieval European alchemists identified with the Quintessence. The Celts call it Nwyvre, the Welsh, Nwyf which means energy. Additional labels are Nwyfriant (vigor and vivacity) and Nwyfre (sky or firmament).
The Barddas explains this 5th element of the Druids in this manner. The Divine Spirit is seen as non-human, yet sentient beings. These beings take on many forms, each separate and specialized manifestations of the greater whole. These beings are described as the gods and goddesses fairies, leprechauns, sprites, elementals and dragons. It's important to note that through Celtic mythology, many humans have taken on the persona of a God or Goddess. These 'man-made' deities are not part of the Druidic view of the GreatSpirits. There are few true gods and goddesses in Celtic lore. And these are the divine beings described by the Druids in the Barddas.
The Nwyvre is a semi-abstract energy that is depicted in the form of a mythological dragon-like being that can be found throughout European art. The Nwyvre is seen with the head of a predatory animal, with ears joined to a reptilian body and one pair of forelegs. It's back bears wings and its rear is part of a prehensile serpentine like body and tail. The Wyvern of English heraldry is the Nwyvre. This spiritual creature is different than a dragon, which has 4 legs, and a posterior. The divine spirit is a sum of it's parts. The sprites alone are not the divine, and the divine is not complete without all the components of each sentient being. The Barddas also outlines that while the common man can work with one or several components of the Nwyvre, they do not work with the Divine Spirit as a whole. That mission is left to the experience, wisdom and knowledge of the Druid priests. Who presumably have worked up to and earned the right to connect with this intense level of divine energy that would overwhelm the common Celt. Another way of looking at this - The Divine Spirit is the great Oak. The sentient beings are parts of the roots, trunk, limb, twigs and leaves of the tree. The common Celt can work with and connect to the various parts of the tree, but only the Druid can connect to the whole tree.
Text on this page courtesy of: http://www.paganspath.com/magik/celtic/5elements.htm |
