"The druid Bicne bequeathed to his successor the duty that, whenever he was unable to decide upon some obscure question..... that he should first consume some of Ireland's fruit, corn, fish, milk or chestnuts."
____ "The Metrical Dindshenchas," ed. Edward Gwynn (trans CM)
In ancient Celtic tradition, the druids are often shown literally tasting the ground in a practical sense, seeking an augury from the land and its fruits before uttering a judgment or answer. In all earth traditions there is an understanding that the land is a witness to truth, that its very molecules do not lie, that its constituent fabric and all life forms that naturally grow upon it are wise in ways that humans rarely match. The blind druid Bicne is able to divine answers to uncertain matters by eating the produce of the earth - a skill that he teaches to his successors.
Keeping a sense of deep discernment and taste is very difficult when there are so many different criteria to consider. In multicultural and pluralist societies, both our physical and subtle senses of taste are under pressure to determine issues and things in ways that are right for us, our families, and our communities. One thing is certain: whoever lives upon a land with respect is welcomed by that land in ways deeper than we can imagine - a fact that we should bear in mind when issues of race and culture are raised. For those who are true to the land shall find that the land keeps faith with them. With our ability to move about the earth and settle at will, we do well to first consult the region where we are thinking of living, going straight to the land and speaking with its spirit, so that we can live with discrimination, truth and respect.
"Wherever you are living, go and stand on bare, umconcreted earth and commune with the spirit of the land. Return to your home and in soul-flight go back to the site you visited and ask for a better sense of discrimination."
[From: "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews]
Makes sense to me.
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