The Cauldron and the Drum: A Journey into Celtic Shamanism

The highest cauldron, known as coire sois, or the cauldron of wisdom, parallels the Indian crown chakra. It is home to your higher self, and is the portal through which you can receive what the Celts called imbas forosnai, or divine wisdom. By working with this cauldron, imbas forosnai will appear in the form of intuition, inspiration, and spiritua

To close the ritual, take a few deep breaths and say a statement or prayer of gratitude (silently or out loud) for the cleansing and sanctity of the object of your intention. Notice any energetic changes you feel in the coming days around the object of your intention as a result of this ritual.

Europe, it was only with the arrival of the Roman empire and Christianity that the magic of stones, lakes, and winds was silenced and the art of following your inner authority was forgotten, all replaced by a distant god in the sky and a handful of cloaked men who claimed to be his only true spokesmen.

bring consistent, loving attention to everything you are thinking, feeling, and perceiving.

To start, choose a small object in your home. It could be a shoe, a dish, a flower, or anything else within arm's reach. Pretend that you are seeing this object for the first time. Remember that the object's name is just a convention we use for communicating with one another. Take a moment to experience the object beyond its name, as if you are dis

Your lower cauldron is the “soil” of your life, and tending it allows everything you plant to grow and flourish. The middle cauldron, known as coire erma, or the cauldron of motion, shares some features with the Indian heart chakra. This cauldron is responsible for your sense of compassion, forgiveness, and love—both for yourself and for others. It

When you steep your mind in the qualities of lightness, alertness, and gentleness, you

okay to keep it simple and short. For example, you might say, “I ask that this space be made sacred, and that all who enter feel loved, protected, and at ease.”

How does your perception change, knowing that this is your only chance to see, feel, and handle this object before it is gone? Do you feel a newfound appreciation for the color and texture of the object, or for its emotional significance? Do you feel that you are literally seeing it more clearly, and with something like greater reverence?