Descriptions of indigenous spirituality that seem to largely relate to creation (see here, in which I found particularly interesting stories showing changes in landscape such as Port Phillip, which used to be dry when the Yarra went through the Carrum Carrum swamp), or songlines which have lots of practical info. There's nothing which would equate readily to Evens-Wentz's descriptions.
Going back to the Irish Chapter (pp. 31-32): spirits on Earth are said to be as thick as the grass, mostly "good spirit"s - those who died in war or early, who stay till their time is up (that's a new twist on rescue work ...). Also, there are "bad" spirits.
The belief that faeries are the dead seems to equate with the view (in the Australian film "Ten Canoes") tha,t between lives, spirits live in/near water holes (or some other sacred part of the landscape in other parts of Australia).
As I read more of Irish chapter, my old shamanistic habits came more to the fore, and I tended to regard the stories a little dubiously - except for the concept of leaving a bit out for the fair folk: like that principle. One point that particularly grated is the view that Water is a barrier - not so in the shaman/shamanka's world, where water is a means of passage!
There was a lot about helpers, including from dead rellies, which is a bit like Spiritualism ...
Also stuff about the unseelie is a bit like the struggle between "good" and "bad" in many trad's.
Well, I'll have to see what I think when I finish reading :)
Love, light, hugs and blessings
Gnwmythr
(pronounced "new-MYTH-ear")
Tags: Evans-Wentz, faery, Celts,
First published: Sunnudagr, 26th June, 2011
Last edited: Sunday, 26th June, 2011
