“”Did you hear what the fish said,
Floundering among the reeds?
Nature’s wiser than learning.”
Fourteenth century Welsh verse
In the Celtic and world folk traditions, reminders of this important fact emerge time and time again in stories that tell of speaking animals. All young heroes and heroines who are sent out on the road of adventure eventually encounter animal allies who speak to them of deeper wisdoms that those they received at school. These encounters require that the young person treat the animal with respect, share her goods or food with the animal, and listen and act upon the animal’s wisdom. The characters who do these things emerge unscathed; the ones who neglect to respect, share, or listen lose their way and fall prey to dangers. It is for this reason that so many spiritual traditions regard animals as their wisdom-keepers: animals are representatives of the oral, living world of nature – beings who know the implications and responsibilities of their belonging and guardianship.
All people now living have the responsibility of relearning the wisdom of nature, directly from nature: from the trees and hills, the birds and streams, the animals and fields, the fish and seas. Wherever we are, there is an older wisdom singing, which keeps the world in harmony. When we can join in that singing, we will begin to find our true place in nature and be at one with our brother and sister beings.”
From The Celtic Spirit: Daily Meditations for the Turning Year by Caitlin Matthews
Artwork by T. Kittelsen, 1900
Chorlton Unitarians 