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www.shamansociety.org29practicesortechniquesdidtheyuseTherearemanydescriptionsofpeopletravelingtotheOtherworldeatingspe-cialfoodschantingsingingorrecitingsacredloreandtextsandsoforth.ButhowwerethesethingsaccomplishedWeretheyjourneying-asweunderstandthatterm-orusingotherindigenousCelticmethodsVisionoftheBull-SleepAlthoughthewrittenrecordsarefarfromperfecttherearefascinatingaccountsoftraditionalmethodswhichappeartobeshamanicinnature.OneoftheearliestcomesfromancientIrelandandisknownasthetarb-feisbull-sleeporbull-feast.ItisdescribedinanearlyIrishtalecalledTheDestructionofDaDergasHosteltohelpthecommunitychooseaworthyleaderaftertheoldkingorchiefhaddiedThemenofIrelandgatheredtogetherforthebull-feastAbullwaskilledonaccountofitandheateofitanddrankitsbrothandanincantationoftruthwaschantedoverhimwhilehewaslyingdown.Whoeverthismansawinhissleepitishethatwouldbekingandifhespeaksaliehedies2Asimilarversionofthetarb-feisispro-videdinthemythTheWastingSicknessofCChulainnoneofmyfavouriteearlyIrishtalesandastoryfullofshamaniccontent.3Abulloroxskinappearsinthethir-teenth-centuryWelshtaleRhonabwysDream.Rhonabwyisgrantedavisionwhenhesleepsonayellowoxskin.InthevisionheandhistwocompanionstravelacrossthelandandencounteramanonahorsewhogivesthemaccesstovisionsoftheArthurianpast.AttheendofthevisionRhonabwyawakensontheyellowoxskinandrealizeshehasbeenasleepforthreedaysandthreenights.4GeoffreyKeatingsearlyseventeenth-centuryMiddleIrishworkForasFeasaaririnnwhilenotentirelyreliableoffersdetaileddescriptionsofsimilarritualswecanexamineforcomparativepurposes.Gessasg.geisareinjunctionsortaboosAsforthedruidsthisistheservicetheymadeofthehidesofbullsinsacri-ficialofferingsforkeepinginfrontofthemwhilemakingconjurationsorwhileputtingspiritsliterallydemonsundergessai.e.todothedruidsbiddingandmanyaretheproceduresbywhichtheyputgessauponthemsuchastobegazingforavisionatonesownimageinwaterorbylookingatthecloudsoftheheavensorbylisteningtothesoundofthewindorthevoiceofbirdswhenevereachofthesemethodsfailedthemwhattheydidwastomakeroundwattlesoftherowantreeandspreadthehidesofthebullsgiveninsacrificeuponthemandthesidethatwasnexttothefleshwasputontheirchestsandinthiswaytheyhadrecoursetoageistocallthespiritstogaininformationfromthem5Therearemanysimilarritualpracticesdescribedintheseandotheraccounts.TheseincludetheofferingofabulleatingofaritualmealthechantingofdruidsinOldIrishoverthepropheticdreamerdivinatorysleepuseofabullshidelayingonsticksofrowanatreeassoci-atedwithmagicanddivinationHerewehavethefoundationofanactualnativeCelticshamanicritualtocallupontheGodsforinformationorguidance.Inamodernversionofthetarbfeisagroupofthreetofivepeopleormoregathertogetheratanappointedtimeandplace.Whilewenolongerengageindirectanimalsacrificetheofferingofsomethingofvalueisimportantincompletingthecircleofreciprocityanddemonstratinggratitudetothespirits.InCelticculturebullswereasignofwealth.Soweshouldoffersomethingofvaluesuchasavesselofcookedmeatorastewoforganicvegetables.InmypracticeIhavehadprofoundexperiencesof-feringthefleshofasacredanimalsuchasthesalmonwhichsymbolizesdivinewisdomasthespiritoftheanimalwhichshouldalsobethankedispresentattheceremony.Partoftheritualinvolvesthecelebrantspartakingofthesacredmealalongwiththespiritsingestingwisdomfromthesourceitself.Thedreamerliesonaritualbedofrowanbranchesandwrapshim-orherselfinawhiteorlight-colouredcattlehide.Thisobjectmayhavebeenchosentoconnectthepersonwiththespiritoftheanimalwhosefleshisbeingof-fered.Oritmayhavebeenusedsimplybecauseitislargeenoughtowrapthepersoninside.Ihavejourneyedoveraperiodofseveraldaysinachestnut-colouredhorsehidedeeplyconnect-ingwithmyprimarypoweranimal.Journeyingandboundinsidetheanimalskinthespiritanimalspresenceisfeltempoweringthejourneyandprotectingthedreameraswell.NexttwotofourchantersorArdaghchalicesymbolicofavesselofdivinewisdomArdMachaIreland