divination

divination [L divinus, god]. Foretelling the future or discovering what is hidden or unknown, especially through intuitive, occult, or allegedly supernatural means; this includes vaticination, only foretelling the future through esoteric or occult means, but is distinct from prophecy, which does not always imply a magical motive. Abundant commentary from both Celtic and non-Celtic sources testifies to the widespread Celtic belief in divination under many forms. From the earliest times birds, especially the raven and the wren, were thought to have divining powers. Celtic New Year, 1 November (Samain in Old Irish), was a popular time to practise divination, to see who would survive the winter or who would marry a young maiden. Druids, both male and female, were thought adept at divination. In many stories heroes and heroines, notably Deirdre, have their fate foretold at birth. To ignore such warning is to court disaster, as Conaire Mór shows. Divination might take many forms: signs from nature, omens, and dreams. Astrology may have been practised; an early Irish word for astrologer appears to be nél(l)adóir ‘cloud diviner’. At Tara a new king was selected by using a bull in a special rite called tarbfheis, ‘bull feast’. Wood was thought to have special properties for divination. In early Ireland one could learn the future by casting yew wands with ogham inscriptions upon the ground. In Fenian stories, wood shavings may help to find a missing or fugitive person. Fionn mac Cumhaill and Merlin are described as having special powers of divination.

See AWENYDDION; DÍCHETAL DO CHENNAIB; DYN HYSBYS; IMBAS FOROSNAI; SECOND SIGHT; SHAMANISM; SOUS; TEINM LAÍDA. See also Margaret E. Griffiths, Early Vaticination in Welsh with English Parallels (Cardiff, 1937).