The Winds and Direction
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Ancient Ireland seemed to have placed a very large importance upon the Directions, especially in regards to divination. There are two systems for this understanding, the four cardinal points and the twelve winds.
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The Twelve Winds are listed twice as being apart of the creation of God, both quotes listed here:
“The white, the clear purple,
the blue, the very strong green,
the yellow, the red, sure the knowledge,
in their gentle meetings wrath did not seize them.
The black, the grey, the speckled,
the dark and the deep brown,
the dun, darksome hues,
they are not light, easily controlled.
King who ordained them over every void,
the eight wild under-winds;
who laid down without defect
the bounds of the four prime winds.
From the East, the smiling purple,
from the South, the pure white, wondrous,
from the North, the black blustering moaning wind,
from the West, the babbling dun breeze.
The red, and the yellow along with it,
both white and purple;
the green, the blue, it is brave,
both dun and the pure white.
The grey, the dark brown, hateful their harshness,
both dun and deep black;
the dark, the speckled easterly wind
both black and purple.
Rightly ordered their form,
their disposition was ordained;
with wise adjustments, openly,
according to their position and their fixed places.” (Poem Book of the Gael, p.5).
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The other quote:
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“He also formed the eight winds i.e., four chief winds, and four subordinate winds; and four other subordinate winds are mentioned, so that there are twelve winds accordingly.
He also formed the colours of the winds, so that the colours of all these winds are different from each other i.e., white and purple, pale gray and green, yellow and red, black and gray, speckled and the dark, the dark-brown, and the pale. From the east blows the purple wind, from the south the white, from the north the black, from the west the pale; the red and the yellow are between the white wind and the purple; the green and the pale gray are between the pale and the pure white; the gray and the dark-brown are between the pale and the jet black; the dark and the speckled are between the black and the purple. And thus there are two subordinate winds between each chief wind.” (Senchus Mor).
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As such four triads of winds can be gathered, broken up into four winds that are the 'chief winds' each chief wind having two 'subordinate wind':
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The Southern winds:
The Green Wind
The White Wind
The Red Wind
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The Western Winds:
The Pale Gray Wind
The Pale Wind
The Gray Wind
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The Northern Winds:
The Dark Wind
The Black Wind
Dark Brown Wind
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The Eastern Winds:
The Speckled (Multi-coloured) Wind.
The Purple Wind
The Yellow Wind
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The meaning behind each direction can be found in a wider variety of texts, Including the first poem, however it is most clearly represented in the settling of the Manor of Tara:
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23. ‘O Fintan,’ said he, ‘and Ireland, how has it been partitioned,
where have things been therein?’
‘Easy to say,’ said Fintan: ‘knowledge in the west, battle
in the north, prosperity in the east, music in the south, kingship
in the centre (?)’.
‘True indeed, O Fintan,’ said Trefuilngid, ‘thou art an excellent
shanachie. It is thus that it has been, and will be for ever, namely:
24. Her learning, her foundation, her teaching, her alliance, her
judgement, her chronicles, her counsels, her stories, her histories,
her science, her comeliness, her eloquence, her beauty, her modesty
(lit. blushing), her bounty, her abundance, her wealth—from the
western part in the west.’
‘Whence are these?’ said the host. ‘Easy to say,’ he
answered.
‘From Ae, from Umall, from Aidne, from Bairenn, from Bres,
from Breifne, from Bri Airg, from Berramain, from Bagna, from
Cera, from Corann, from Cruachu, from Irrus, from Imga, from
Imgan, from Tarbga, from Teidmne, from Tulcha, from Muad,
from Muiresc, from Meada, from Maige (that is, between Traige
and Reocha and Lacha), from Mucrama, from Maenmag, from
Mag Luirg, from Mag Ene, from Arann, from Aigle, from Airtech.’
25. ‘Her battles also,’ said he, ‘and her contentions, her
hardihood, her rough places, her strifes, her haughtiness, her
unprofitableness, her pride, her captures, her assaults, her hardness,
her wars, her conflicts, from the northern part in the north.’
‘Whence are the foregoing?’ said the host. ‘Easy to say:
From Lie, from Lorg, from Lothar, from Callann, from Farney,
from Fidga, from Srub Brain, from Bernas, from Daball, from Ard
Fothaid, from Goll, from Irgoll, from Airmmach, from the Glens (?),
from Gera, from Gabor, from Emain, from Ailech, from Imclar.’
26. ‘Her prosperity then,’ said he, ‘and her supplies, her
bee-hives (?) her contests, her feats of arms, her householders, her
nobles, her wonders, her good custom, her good manners, her
splendour, her abundance, her dignity, her strength, her wealth,
her householding, her many arts, her accoutrements (?), her many
treasures, her satin, her serge, her silks, her cloths (?), her green
spotted cloth (?), her hospitality, from the eastern part in the
east.’
‘Whence are these?’ said the host. ‘Easy to say,’ said he.
‘From Fethach, from Fothna, from Inrechtra, from Mugna, from
Bile, from Bairne, from Berna, from Drenna, from Druach, from
Diamar, from Lee, from Line, from Lathirne, from Cuib, from
Cualnge, from Cenn Con, from Mag Rath, from Mag Inis, from
Mag Muirthemne.’
27. ‘Her waterfalls, her fairs, her nobles, her reavers, her knowledge,
her subtlety, her musicianship, her melody, her minstrelsy,
her wisdom, her honour, her music, her learning, her teaching, her
warriorship, her fidchell playing, her vehemence, her fierceness,
her poetical art, her advocacy, her modesty, her code, her retinue,
her fertility, from the southern part in the south.’
‘Whence are these,’ said they. ‘Easy to say,’ said Trefuilngid.
‘From Mairg, from Maistiu, from Raigne, from Rairiu, from
Gabair, from Gabran, from Cliu, from Claire, from Femned (?),
from Faifae, from Bregon, from Barchi, from Cenn Chaille, from
Clere, from Cermna, from Raithlinn, from Glennamain, from
Gobair, from Luachair, from Labrand, from Loch Léin, from
Loch Lugdach, from Loch Daimderg, from Cathair Chonroi, from
Cathair Cairbri, from Cathair Ulad, from Dun Bindi, from Dun
Chain, from Dun Tulcha, from Fertae, from Feorainn, from
Fiandainn.’
28. ‘Her kings, moreover, her stewards, her dignity, her primacy,
her stability, her establishments, her supports, her destructions,
her warriorship, her charioteership, her soldiery, her principality,
her high-kingship, her ollaveship, her mead, her bounty, her ale,
her renown, her great fame, her prosperity, from the centre
position.’
‘Whence are these?’ said they. ‘Easy to say,’ said
Trefuilngid.
‘From Mide, from Bile, from Bethre, from Bruiden, from
Colba, from Cnodba, from Cuilliu, from Ailbe, from Asal, from
Usnech, from Sidan, from Slemain, from Sláine, from Cno, from
Cerna, from Cennandus, from Bri Scáil, from Bri Graigi, from Bri
meic Thaidg, from Bri Foibri, from Bri Dili, from Bri Fremain,
from Tara, from Tethbe, from Temair Broga Niad, from Temair
Breg, the overlordship of all Ireland from these.’ (The Settling of the Manor of Tara, 23-8).
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