Fullness

Fullness

"The three most beautiful things in the world; a ship under full sail, a woman with child, and a full moon."
   ____ Scots Gaelic triad


   These three fullnesses are eulogized throughout the Celtic world; they define aspect of daily life that were very important to the ancients. Among the Celtic peoples, mothers were held in special awe - not only because their fertility increased the tribe, but because each mother was also under the protection of the Mothers, the triple goddesses who were depicted in statues and inscriptions as women with loaves, baskets and babies on their laps. Abundance, stability and power were their strong message to any who gazed upon them. The woman with child was seen not as frail or ill, as is often the case in some places today; but as strong and fulfilling her purpose. The full moon had a special meaning to the Celts as well, for it marked the twofold division of the month into the bright or waxing half and the dark or waning half. The full moon marked the day of the festivals, since the Celts did not use the modern calendar or reckon things by exact date. For them, the moon was the guide to each month's shape.

   In our own time, our standard of values places the fullness of wallets, shopping bags and gasoline tanks ahead of the natural triad above. Our lives are abundant with so many good things that we do not have a conscious awareness of fullness and emptiness (unless our paycheck is late). Yet there are many other kinds of fullness that are important and beautiful to us: the burgeoning growth of our creativity, the increase of sexual passion, working at the fullest stretch of our abilities. All these take us deeply into the abundance of our human lives and give us a sense of true beauty and fullness. 

"What are the three most beautiful things in your world?"
[From: "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews]