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Dian Cécht

Our logo was inspired by the Irish mythological figure and god of healing - Dian Cécht.  He was one of the Tuatha Dé Danann and the son of Dagda.  His name means 'swift power',  'swift potion' or 'he who is swift with healing remedies'.  During the Second Battle of Mag Tuired, Dian Cecht restored life to fallen Tuatha by bathing them in the Tipra Slaine (Spring of Life) on Achlad Abla (Field of the Apple Trees). He cured illnesses using a porridge made of dandelions, hazelnuts, wood sorrel, and chickweed, as well as by singing healing incantations over the sick and wounded. He also once healed a struck out eyeball with a hazel wand.

Dian Cécht sang incantations over the wounded to heal them, which echoes the healing magic of Odin who with an accompanying choir sings Galdr (singing magic) over the wounded, as in the story of Baldur's horse. His bathing of fallen warriors on the spring is reminiscent of the Dagda’s and Welsh Arawn’s cauldron of renewal.

It was by Dian Cécht’s knowledge that a well of healing was created, containing all of the healing herbs with the healing words chanted over it. At the end of each day, warriors bearing even the most grievous of wounds would be placed into the well waters, and come out completely healed with their vigour fully restored. This was the ability that Dian Cecht brought to battle, wounded warriors restored and fit to fight fresh each day.

He carries potions on his belt, as well as a thick craftsman’s hammer, a small bag of dried mistletoe berries, an oak token of his holy symbol, and a small silver ingot.

The holy symbol of Diancecht is a crossing of oak and mistletoe. The proper image is a crossed oak branch and mistletoe branch. The oak and acorn stand for strength and sturdiness, and the mistletoe and mistletoe berries represent growth and perseverance. Diancecht believes in balance, and so the symbol represents the delicate balance of the relationship of oak trees and mistletoe. Oaks give life to mistletoe, and the mistletoe in turn provides seeds and shelter for birds which then rid the tree of parasites. Too much mistletoe can damage or harm an oak, and without the oaks, the mistletoe will no longer exist. A balance must be struck in order for all things to live.