The Irish believed in the Salmon of Knowledge, which had acquired its powers through eating the nuts of the sacred hazelnut tree that fell into the well in which it lived. Druids and magicians alike sought this magical fish in the hope of partaking in its flesh. Indeed, Finn McColl, an Irish hero, is said to have caught and cooked the salmon. On burning his thumb, he sucked it and developed the ability to perceive events before they happened – today known as clairvoyance. This story bears a strong resemblance to the Welsh story in which Gwion is burnt by the magical potion he is preparing, much to the displeasure of Ceridwen who intended the potion for her son.
Before the arrival of the Christians, Celtic spiral designs were already in use, commemorating both the Goddess as Mother Earth in her journey from the underworld and also the path that we must take towards enlightenment. Much Celtic art shows this in the form of fantastic animal illustrations.
Simple spiral designs developed into more sophisticated ones and then evolved into intricate knotwork that was more labyrinthine than spiral. Sophisticated spirals exist in the same early works where the knotwork and animal designs are still somewhat rudimentary.
Later, the astonishing degree of ornamentation and detail in The Book of Kells, a set of illuminations that decorate a translation of the four Gospels in Latin, demonstrates the way that monks of the period (around CE 800) used such artwork as a working meditation – not to the Goddess but for Christian purposes. This labour of love was a true offering to the Divine, yet remained within the traditions of the culture. Art forms often can link different ways of thinking and belief systems.
Celtic religion and Druidism are often inextricably linked in the minds of many people. They are not necessarily the same thing, the Celtic religion being based much more on folklore while Druidism was a different set of beliefs, with a philosophical background based on an appreciation of natural forces.