Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly:Celtic Spirituality

Ancient Celtic culture held great respect for the power of language and the abilities it could bestow. The term “imbas” encompassed a range of skills, including prophetic ability, magical knowledge, and specialized knowledge attained through mystical means. Sages, seers, and poets all sought to attain imbas as it was considered a coveted and powerful skill. To acquire imbas, the poet-seers or fili had to undergo an intensive process of spiritual development and self-discovery known as “imbas for