Omens
based on birds and animals are widespread in Celtic belief. The following
charms list omens of luck for the coming year relying on hearing or seeing
specific animals. If we study this information we can learn details of what
animals and what actions by certain animals were seen as bad omens.
Omen 203
Early
on a Monday morning,
I heard the bleating of a lamb,
And the kid-like cry of snipe,
While I was gently sitting,
And the grey-blue cuckoo,
And no food yet in my stomach.
On the fair evening of Tuesday,
I saw on the smooth stone,
The snail slimy, pale,
And the ashy wheatear
Near the stream,
The foal of the old mare
Of springing gait, and its back to me.
I heard the bleating of a lamb,
And the kid-like cry of snipe,
While I was gently sitting,
And the grey-blue cuckoo,
And no food yet in my stomach.
On the fair evening of Tuesday,
I saw on the smooth stone,
The snail slimy, pale,
And the ashy wheatear
Near the stream,
The foal of the old mare
Of springing gait, and its back to me.
And I knew from these
That the year would not go well with me.
That the year would not go well with me.
***
Omen 204
Early on a Monday in the spring,
I saw on the brine
A duck and a white swan
Swim together.
I saw on the brine
A duck and a white swan
Swim together.
I heard on Tuesday
The snipe of the seasons,
Bleating on high
And calling.
The snipe of the seasons,
Bleating on high
And calling.
On Wednesday I had been
Outside gathering herbs,
And then saw I the three
Arising.
Outside gathering herbs,
And then saw I the three
Arising.
I knew immediately
That there would not be,
Good fortune after that.
The blessings of Brighid calm,
The blessings of Danu mild,
The blessings of the Daghda strong,
Upon me and mine,
Upon me and mine.
That there would not be,
Good fortune after that.
The blessings of Brighid calm,
The blessings of Danu mild,
The blessings of the Daghda strong,
Upon me and mine,
Upon me and mine.
Excerpted from By Land, Sea, and Sky
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