> Sites dedicated to Michael in Celtic areas often can be traced back
>to previous dedications to Celtic Mercury (in Gaul and other Continental
>sites) and to Lugh in Ireland.
Hi!
A communication from Alexei Kondratiev, that I'm sure he wouldn't mind me
paraphrasing here, points out that 'Mercurii montes' in many parts of
western Europe (especially western and central France) were made into
Michael chapels and follow the path by which the Michael cult penetrated
the Western world: "beginning in Asia Minor ca. 4th century, spreading to
Italy in 4th-6th centuries, to the Celtic world in the 8th-9th centuries,
and "officialised" in Britain around the 11th century -- with notable
changes in Michael's appearance and role as he puts down roots in the West."
So it may just be that the Michael shrines in the south and west of Britain
(and, of course, as Francine mentioned, Skellig Michael in Kerry) are the
ones most likely to be situated on heights.
Alexei also goes on to say:
" not all of the Michael/Lugh correspondences are expressed as worship on
high places: Michael (especially in Britain) also took over Lugh's
patronage of the cemetery"
BTW John Michell's writings on Michael shrines as powerful 'earth energy'
places are not his own invention. I have a book written in 1957 (12 years
earlier than publication of 'The View Over Atlantis') with a whole chapter
on the subject, and the tone conveys the impression that the lore is old,
established and well-known in south-west England.
Mara
Lugh was a storm god who apparently was the
>focus of beginning of harvest festivals. Folk customs related to beginning
>of harvest in Scotland are often dedicated to St. Michael (see the Carmina
>Gadelica's Consecration of the Seed for such a reference) and Michaelmas
>seems to be a replacement for Lughnasa in Scotland (where harvest began
>later) inasmuch as many Michaelmas customs seem to be cognates of Irish
>Lughnasa customs.
>
> Graham Jones, if he's lurking about, probably has something to add
>on the subject of Michael dedications.
>
> Francine Nicholson
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