📖 Ancient Restoration

In the Celtic cycles ancient stones can be inhabited by mysterious sentinels. Mastering this entity affirms the hero's truth of purpose.

The megalithic stone is associated with a 'test of sovereignty'. In it Arthur has to retrieve the sword. The Lia Fáil at Tara is king-namer.

In Celtic story-telling tradition, men who righted the standing stone were admitted into the warrior ascendancy on completion of the feat.

In Celtic story-telling tradition, men who righted the standing stone were admitted into the warrior ascendancy on completion of the feat.

The Irish tradition of handfasting is associated with holed standing stones. Couples would make their engagement vows over the stone

Menhir, or standing stones, were placed to mark burials, travel routes & tribal boundaries. They may have also served a ritual purpose.

Menhir, or standing stones, were placed to mark burials, travel routes & tribal boundaries. They may have also served a ritual purpose.

Dawn at Beltany Stone Circle, Donegal, Ireland - dates from around 1400-800 BC and comprises 64 standing stones

Dawn at Beltany Stone Circle, Donegal, Ireland - dates from around 1400-800 BC and comprises 64 standing stones

'St Patrick, the hero, is the incarnation and perfection of a social value or ideal which conforms to the group which created him.'

Snakes represent earthly wisdom & the power of good judgement. Moses strikes down the snake-staff on Pharaoh's throne, freeing Israel from Egypt; when banished Lucifer transforms into a serpent. Snake venom symbolises the delayed but decisive effect of performing…

St Patrick is said to have banished snakes from Ireland. This echoes Honoratus of France, who drove snakes from the island where he founded his abbey in the French Riviera. The young Patrick later trained at the abbey, the legend becoming assoc. with him.