"People visited groves and springs at the sacred times
and made the Turas, circling these holy places and wells.
A sort of concentric prayer spiraling inwards."
____ from a speech by Nuala Ahern,
Irish Member of the European Parliament
The word turas (TU'ras), which means 'journey,' pilgrimage,' and 'time,' refers especially to the circular, spiraling prayer and meditation form used by people in the Celtic countries as they walked sunwise around a sacred site. Making the turas, or circling around a sacred site, well, tree, or stone, is still a living part of Celtic spirituality today.
The motion of this walking prayer is always deiseal, or sunwise - that is, from left to right. The clockwise method of making the turas is customary in the nothern hemisphere; it is considered to be the fortunate and appropriate way of moving, while tuathal, or counterclockwise, is considered to be less fortunate. (Note: In the southern hemisphere, sacred motion is counterclockwise.)
We need to circle, spiraling around the sacred site with our body in tune with our intentions and with the presence of the site. The process of spiraling around builds power, strengthens intention, and brings us into attunement with our soul's thread. It also attunes us in another way: as our planet spins around the circling year, we too simultaneously experience the turning of our soul toward the source of greatest spiritual light. Each season is a mystical gateway of opportunity and understanding, a sacred time of wisdom. If we live with awareness of the year's cycles, we will achieve a direct alignment with those sacred opportunities.
"Visit a tree, rock, well or other place in nature to which you feel particularly drawn. Make your own turas about it. If you live in an urban environment, find a stone that can represent a sacred site within your own home."
[From" "The Celtic Spirit" by Caitlin Matthews]
The passage of time was a crucial aspect of ancient Celtic beliefs. Indeed, measuring and marking it was a mater of survival because the Celts lived close to the land and seasonal activities such as sowing and planting had to be carried out at the right time. To the Celts, the cycles of the natural world and the celestial bodies had spiritual significance, and therefore exerted a powerful influence on humanity. The Celtic year is split into two parts: the dark half and the light half, reflecting the recurring cycle of birth, growth and death, followed by renewal and rebirth.All life, whether plant or animal, begins in darkness, and all outer actions begin with inner preparation, so Celtic cycles begin with the dark segment. Thus the Celtic year begins with the first onset of winter.
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