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CATH MAIGE TUIRED

The Second Battle of Mag Tuired

Translated by Elizabeth A. Gray

THIS TALE BELOW IS THE BATTLE OF MAG TUIRED AND THE BIRTH OF BRES SON OF ELATHA AND HIS REIGN

1. The Tuatha De Danann were in the northern islands of the world, studying occult lore and sorcery, druidic arts and witchcraft and magical skill, until they surpassed the sages of the pagan arts.

2. They studied occult lore and secret knowledge and diabolic arts in four cities: Falias, Gorias, Murias, and Findias.

3. From Falias was brought the Stone of Fal which was located in Tara. It used to cry out beneath every king that would take Ireland.

4. From Gorias was brought the spear which Lug had. No battle was ever sustained against it, or against the man who held it in his hand.

5. From Findias was brought the sword of Nuadu. No one ever escaped from it once it was drawn from its deadly sheath, and no one could resist it.

6. From Murias was brought the Dagda's cauldron. No company ever went away from it unsatisfied.

7. There were four wizards in those four cities. Morfesa was in Falias; Esras was in Gorias; Uiscias was in Findias; Semias was in Murias. Those are the four poets from whom the Tuatha De learned occult lore and secret knowledge.

8. The Tuatha De then made an alliance with the Fomoire, and Balor the grandson of Net gave his daughter Ethne to Cian the son of Dian Cecht. And she bore the glorious child, Lug.

9. The Tuatha De came with a great fleet to Ireland to take it by force from the Fir Bolg. Upon reaching the territory of Corcu Belgatan (which is Conmaicne Mara today), they at once burned their boats so that they would not think of fleeing to them. The smoke and the mist which came from the ships filled the land and the air which was near them. For that reason it has been thought that they arrived in clouds of mist.  

original source  -  the story of the Second Battle of Maige Tuired  -  

http://www.ucc.ie/celt/published/T300010/index.html

The Second Battle of Mag Tuired

The second text of this name, also known as Cath Dédenach Maige Tuired ("The Last Battle of Mag Tuired"), Cath Tánaiste Maige Tuired ("The Second Battle of Mag Tuired"), and Cath Maighe Tuireadh Thúaidh ("The Battle of Northern Mag Tuired"), tells how the Tuatha Dé Danann, having conquered Ireland, fall under the oppression of the Fomorians, and then fight a battle to free themselves from this oppression. It expands on references to the battle in Lebor Gabála Érenn and the Irish Annals, and is one of the richest sources of tales of the former Irish gods. It is found in a 16th century manuscript, but is believed to be a composite work compiled in the 12th century from 9th century material.[1]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cath_Maige_Tuireadh

 

 

Fallias

 the stone

  

Murias

the cauldron of the Dagda

 

 

 

 

Gorias

 

the spear of Lugh

 

Findias

 
 

the sword of Nuada

 

 

The Four Cities

There are four cities that no mortal eye has seen: Gorias, that is in the East, and Finias that is in the South, and Murias that is in the West, and Falias that is in the North.  And the symbol of Falias is the stone of death, which is crowned with pale fire.  And the symbol of Gorias is the dividing sword.  And the symbol of Finias is a spear.  And the symbol of Murias is a hollow that is filled with water and fading light. 
From: The Little Book of the Great Enchantment by  Fiona Macleod

The Four Cities Visualization

Sacred Space is opened, and silence is realized. 

We begin by building strongly in our inner vision the Four Directions of North, East, South and West.  In the North is night and winter, in the East is dawn and spring; in the South is noon and midsummer; in the West is autumn and evening. As we build our vision of the Directions, we see the room in which we sit change into a square chamber, with a door in the wall of each Quarter, and know that we must pass through each door in turn to reach the Four Cities of the faery realm: Gorias in the East, Finias in the South, Murias in the West, and Falias in the North.

 

 

 

this whole visualisation from RJ Stewart's Dreampower site    -        

 

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~Spear of Lugh copy.jpg (47780 bytes)

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The Spear of Lugh

http://www.howarddavidjohnson.com/celticmythology.htm