Fionn of the Fenians, Salmon of Wisdom, and Hazel of Magic
Fionn MacCumhaill (1), a hero of Ireland, has several oghams named for him as well as a cycle of stories (Fenian Cycle). Who was this man of much is written? How did he reach such a pinnacle in Celtic traditions?
In the Fenian Cycles, which tells of Fionn’s life and family, Fionn is the wisest and most generous of men. He roamed the countryside with his band of Fenians defending Ireland from her enemies. Although, the Fenians lived outside the laws of the land, they were expected to be brave, generous, poetic, and quick witted. In the twilight borders between the worlds of man and the Otherkin, Fionn and his men lived and died.
Fionn’s exploits echo the stories of the old Celtic Gods before Christianity took root. Sent away for protection from his father’s enemies, young Fionn lives a life of a typical Celtic youth until he eats the Salmon of Wisdom. Two centuries later, now King of the Fenians of Ireland, Fionn wages one last battle and dies finally as an old man. The cycle of his stories end with the Otherkin carrying him off to their world.
The story of Fionn eating the Salmon of Knowledge has many versions. The essence of the stories is as follows:
Finneces, a druid, teaches young Fionn poetry and magic. During one of their sessions, they arrive at a riverbank, where this particular fish lives. Finneces catches the salmon and tell Fionn to cook the fish but not to eat it. When the salmon was finally cooked, Finneces would eat it, to gain the wisdom of the ages. However, quite by accident, Fionn eats a portion of the salmon, and receives the wisdom instead of Finneces.
Salmon of Wisdom
What is this salmon that gives knowledge to those who eat him? As the oldest animal on earth, this fish has witnessed the history of the world. One of the totem animals of the Celts, the Salmon lives at the well of Segais (Well of Wisdom), the source of all life. Surrounding the well are nine hazel trees that dropped their nuts into the well. When the salmon ate one hazelnut, another red spot would be added to his back. The spots measured how wise the salmon was becoming. (2)
Many stories about the search for knowledge often include the Salmon of Wisdom. One story involves Arthur, not as a medieval king, but as a Celtic leader. He seeks the missing Mabon, who was taken before time.(3) In his search, he first encounters the Blackbird of the Forge, who takes him to the other totem animals.(4) Eventually the Eagle of Gwernaby takes Arthur to the Salmon who tells him where to find Mabon.
Hazel of Magic
Coll of the Ogham is associated with hazel. Traditionally, hazel wood was used for magical purposes. Druids carried staffs of hazel for inspiration and for contact with the world beyond. In addition, hazel rods were used for dowsing. Furthermore, groves of hazel trees were said to have a magical, otherworldly atmosphere to them.
In many stories of the Salmon in the well, the hazel trees, that surrounded the well, dropped nuts into the water. The sacred hazel nut was so highly priced that it was called the “food of the gods”. The Salmon gained wisdom by eating these nuts. Fionn’s story involved the Grove of Nine Hazels, (5) which adds to the power that he gains from the eating the salmon.
Conclusion
Fionn’s story of eating the salmon who ate the hazel nuts is a motif of Celtic religion. A great hero who made his way through Ireland marauding monsters and invaders, Fionn achieves mythic status by eating the salmon. As the oldest animal on the earth, the salmon confers on Fionn godhood and ties him to the earliest aspects of Celtic history. The hazel adds to that by including magic of the other worlds to the story. Fionn is more than a man, he is a god who is the example of what Celts should aspire to – seer, ruler, and poet, a man who kept his promises, was generous, and ruled well. His story included: man, this world, Otherkin, and other worlds, all entwined by magic, wonder, and tradition.
Footnotes:
Sources:
The Celts offer their Wisdom in Tarot (Celtic Wisdom Tarot).
Purchase books on Celtic Spirituality from Amazon.com
"Hazel Tree" is copyrighted by Peter Doeberl at Visipix.
"Green Rock" is copyrighted by Mary Ann Sterling
Va. Carper
March 16, 2008