Archeological digs are continuing to find numerous swords, many of which are beautifully forged and decorated, in the wells and lakes of the Celtic region. It seems strange that a culture would waste something that was so hard to make, as a sword. We know that ancient cultures mined rocks, which came from deep within the earth. They smelted the ore, which required great heat. They also forged the molten metal by using molds that were carved out of stone. Those who knew how to forge metal were honored. (Could this be how the legend of a sword being pulled out of a stone got its start?)
Why were they throwing these items into the wells, springs, and lakes of the region?
A burial is a spiritual event. So, the reason why they threw such precious things away must have been spiritually symbolic for the culture. The Celtic society fully embraced a spiritual worldview through their spiritual priests, known as the Druids. Their spiritual beliefs and practices fully embraced the idea: “as above – so below.”
The oldest spiritual sites are wells and springs. The early Celts believed that these sites were places where the boundaries between the physical and spiritual worlds were the thinnest.
All ancient cultures contained rites of passage from childhood to adulthood. As a warrior people, the Celts most likely included the presentation of a sword at the time a boy was initiated into manhood. This is a two-fold event for the young man. It was the presentation of a real physical sword, the responsibilities as to use this weapon (kill the enemy not your neighbor), and an oath of allegiance to the chieftain. It was also a spiritual initiation of the Passion/Kundalini, whose prominent symbolism includes the sword or spear. Kundalini is known the world over as – The Life.
When The Life was ended, the man’s body was returned to the earth. The connection to the physical realm and thus the allegiance to the chieftain also ended. The return of the Passion/Kundalini to the base of the spine was mirrored by the practice of returning the physical symbol to the wells, springs, and lakes that were considered the openings to the womb of the earth. This completed the circle of life and created closure in both the physical and spiritual realms.
The Life was considered the property of The Goddess. So the weapon, that was forged from minerals found deep in the earth, was returned to The Goddess upon the death of the warrior.
My book, "Jesus' Wedding: A Peek into the Inner World Shrouded behind the Mystical Veil," will detail this universal system that explains all myth and spiritual symbol. It is planned to debut in December 2012. You are welcome to view the excerpts, models, and and photographs that are currently available on my website. http://www.JesusWedding.com
beautiful symbolism of the sword, cup, well, earth cycles. thank you.
Yes, the Celts had a deep and beautiful spiritual heritage that we are just now beginning to understand.
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