HEADHUNTERS

Have you guys noticed the Celts fascination with heads? Almost all corpses are decapitated. Seldaim, Cuchulainn's father continues to speak through his decapitated head the warning to the Ulstermen to go into battle. Cuchulainn has Fertedill, the charioteer, carry the head of Orlam into Medb and Ailill's camp to have his own head decapitated because he doesn't follow orders. In another story, according to the Dictionary of Celtic Myth and Lengend by Miranda Green, Tale of Mac Do Tho's Pig, Conall Cernach sleeps with the head of a slain Connachton under his knee (p 117). In another tale, Conall Cernach's own head is used to bolster the strength of the Ulstermen when it is filled with milk (p 117, Green). Also, Cuchulainn collects the four skulls and piles them at the creek as a warning as he also, does this with twelve heads at the plain of Murtheme. There is also, the brain-ball which is a hardened mixture of brain and lime which is used as trophies and as weapons (p 117, Green). Obviously, The Celts were headhunters.

What do you make of this practice? Why do you think they would keep the skull of the enemy? Why would Conall's head provide strength to the Ulstermen?

MODERN TAIN

Two rock bands have released EP's on The Tain.The Horslips released an album in 1973 (can't believe I missed this) and the same album was released recently. The Decemberists released a CD in 2004. The Horslips version follows The Tain more closely than the Decemberists' CD but both are quite good! The lyrics for the Horslips CD can be found at www.tuatha.org/horslips/tain.html and the lyrics for Decemberists CD can be found at www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/ Go to Decemberists (page 3 of D), then The Tain.

The Decemberists' CD is a modern interpretation and uses anachronisms like M-5 (weapon)and "Charlemagne in a motorcade " (perhaps to show how figures of history are transported today, and simliar to Charlemagne who massacred thousands of his people to make them Christians and under his power and how those people parade themselves to show their power) and ultimately ends in the defeat of Cuchulain by Medb. Wikipedia says Medb connived with others (sons of those killed by Cuchulain) to bring about his defeat. At least, that is my interpretation. It starts out dark and deep but it also has some carnival-like elements in it (you can sing to a "oom-pa-pa " beat).
With the Horslips' CD, there are several catchy tunes , for example, in Morrigan's Dream where Cuchulain warns Medb that she has bit off more than she can chew. Cuchullain also laments the death of Ferdia with his golden hair and his death is Cuchulain's fate. Cuchulain is referred to as "Dearg Doom' (The Red Destroyer). If you read the lyrics, the Charolais, is another anachronism but it refers to a muscled type of cattle developed in France much later than The Tain but it refers to the Brown Bull of Cooley. Let me know what you think of the lyrics and/or music.

ROOTING FOR THE TROJANS

Was anyone disappointed that more important Achaens didn't die? I found myself disappointed that only the minor Achaens died in battle. Patroclus seemed to be the real annhilator, as well as Ajax. Even when Hector was raisng havoc in battle, there was a vulnerability about him. He had the help of Apollo to kill Patroclus. Does anyone agree or disagree?

FATHER OR CREATOR GOD

In The Iliad we encounter Father Zeus. My question to you guys, is do we still relate to a father god? Progressive Christianity tells us that God is beyond sex. That our creator does not have sexual organs. That God is beyond sexual identification. The problem is relationship. How do we encounter someone so much larger than ourselves? Also, if we have a broken relationship with our father, it makes it even harder to relate to a god as father. Do you guys see this as just being politically correct? Many have changed the Lord's Prayer address to "our Creator."

Goddess Named in Nepal

Hey classmates!

I found this article recently in the Free Lance Star. This little three year old girl from Nepal is being designated a goddess, the reincarnation of the "powerful" Hindu god Taleju. She must have perfect hair, eyes, teeth and skin with no scars. She must spend a night in a room among slaughtered goats and buffaloes without showing fear. She is selected from the lower Shakya goldsmith caste. She will remain a goddess until she reaches puberty. Fascinating, isn't it?

Tell me what you think!

ACTS OF PROCREATION

I thought the resulting acts of procreation were interesting. I know that through the transmigration of souls, your station in life ,according to Hindu mythology, is result of past lives. We also see that life is the result of the actions others take in this life as well. In The Mahabarata we find that Pandu is pale because of an act of frightened sex and Dhritarashta is born blind because Ambika closes her eyes during the act. WE also see that Dhritarashta is blind to many things in life and Pandu cannot even consummate his marriage because of the curse for killing deer in the act of intercourse. Because Pandu is not the legitimate father, is the resulting conflict between the Kouravas and Pandavas the result of rightful heirs (rightful births) to the Dhritarashta empire?

Reaping What WE Sow: Making the right or wrong choices?

Karna seemed to live his life the epitome of adharma. His abandonment at birth leads him to a deceitful life through no fault of his own. As a result he aligns himself with the enemy of his true family, the Pandavas. Even when acknowledging the Pandavas as his family, Karna rejects them as his mother Kunti rejected him. Karna exhibits an uncompromising loyalty to the evil Duryodhana represents. Karna's dergradation of Drupadi and accomplice in the cheating dice game further shows his wrongful choices. As a result, Karna dies from an act of adharma when Ajuna kills Karna who cannot defend himself. Would we have done the same? Are there some hurts we cannot forgive and how does that affect our karma?