The People of the Gift

The People of the Gift

"Give humble respect to each of the wise people
of the gift, for honor is due to them."
     __ "The Book of the O'Connor Don," Irish text


   In Celtic society, the people of the gift - the aos dana (EES DAH'na), or artists, were given the kind of respect that we now accord to great religious leaders, political leaders, actors and singers. They were honored because they had the power to go beyond the world, to commune with otherworldly powers and to mediate their inspiration to the community.  Respect was given because they represented the unseen reality to our world in a process of meditation.

  In our society, the ability to convey sacred reality in living forms has become the preserve of the religious painter, poet, or performer, and only in highest forms of aesthetic appreciation do we see a comparable attempt to convey the beautiful and simple truths of the sacred. Only when performers and artists come close to the heart of the mystery of their craft do they feel the impinging power of the sacred. Those whom we universally regard as especially gifted, because of their ability to convey something beyond the music, the script, or whatever art form corresponds to their skill, have humility and regard for their sacred art. But today the respect that is due to the gift is often accorded solely to the artist and appropriated by her as a personal honor.

  People of gifted vision are generally unable to live by their art because so few people are able to apprehend and receive the gift. It is not a question of money but of our interest in and involvement with the gift, with the art itself. This alone creates a climate wherein the gift of the otherworld can be received and welcomed, and true respect for the people of the gift can flourish once again.

"Mediate upon your personal relationship with sacred gifts of art, music, performance. Your respect changes everything."
[From: "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews]

When thinking about this little essay I found myself looking upon Kathy Jones (http://www.kathyjones.co.uk/about_kathy.html)   as being one of these who is blessed with the gift to bring to us communications with the otherworld.  The books she has written and had illustrated with beautiful art work of the Goddess are truly a 'gift' to us.  Check out some of her websites:

http://www.kathyjones.co.uk/drama/ariadneproductions.html

http://www.kathyjones.co.uk/films/films.html

http://www.kathyjones.co.uk/books/ariadne.html

http://www.kathyjones.co.uk/trainings/ptrainings.html