Stories of Lugh

Lugh is a God who exists in all Celtic pantheons with only slight variations in his name. In Ireland, he is known as Lugh Lamfadha (Lugh of the Long Arm). In Wales, he is known as Llew Llaw Gyffes, "The little one is many skilled". In ancient Gaul, he was called Lugos, and throughout the rest of the isle, he is known as Lug. His stories differ in each region as well.

Primarily known as the God of the Sun, Lugh is a "Jack of all trades". He is a Warrior, Physician, Druid, Bard, Smith, Brewer, etc. His trademark weapons in all traditions are his slingshot and spear. In Irish lore, he is the father of the great hero, Cu Chulainn. He can be called upon for help with anything requiring the use or demonstration of one's skills (i.e.: job interviews, starting new projects, etc.). He can also be called upon for almost any other reason (healing, courage, creativity, etc.).

Lugh in Irish Lore

Lugh's story starts with a secret love affair between Cian (A De Dannan) and Eithne (The daughter of Balor, the Formorian). Balor locks his daughter in a high tower, unreachable by any means except for flying. Cian, not to be disheartened by this, enlists in the aid of a Druidess, who makes him able to fly on a cloud over to the tower.

Months later, Eithne gives birth to two beautiful babies (which proves that they are not of Formorian fatherhood because Formorians are to be quite ugly). Balor, worried and angered by this, throws the babies into the sea. A prophesy had been made that a child of Formorian and De Dannan blood together would bring about his death and he wanted to prevent that fate. One drowns and the other swims away. The baby boy is discovered by the Sea God, Mannanann MacLir who in turn sends him to a warrior woman, Tailtu, to be fostered until such time that the boy is old enough to return for the 4 treasures of the otherworld to defeat Formorian rule).

The youngh Lugh was raised by a frazzled Tailtu. He learned so quickly that he became bored very quickly and would drive her nuts. She taught him everything that she could, and sent him to others to learn what she could not teach. By the time he was a young man, Lugh had pretty much gained almost every skill there was to be had. Soon, it was time for him to return to Mannanann and fulfill his destiny.

A Celtic Job Interview or "Lugh Gets a Job"

It was a rainy and miserable day when Lugh arrived at the gates of Tara, the not-so-stong-anymore-hold of the Tuatha De Dannan. The Formorians had the Dannans under their oppressive force for some time now. Nuada, the King, had lost his hand in battle and, even though a silver one had been put in its place, that worked just as well, he was forced to step down from his throne. (Celtic law forbade any to be ruler who had any form of blemish on his/her self). In his place, ruled Bres: a half Formorian, half Dannan> He was a good looking man but he had the countenance of a boor (not a boar).

Lugh appraoched the gate and knocked. His knock was soon answered by a sour-faced gatekeeper.

"What do you want?" Asked the gatekeeper.

"I have come to offer my skills to your people" Replied Lugh.

"What skills could you have to offer us?"

"I am a warrior"

"We already have warriors"

"I am a healer"

"We have many"

"I am a smith"

"We already have one"

This went on and on for quite a while. The gatekeeper was about to slam the door in his face when Lugh asked one final question:

"If you already have someone who can do ALL of these things, then I shall walk away and bother you no more"

The gatekeeper went to check. When he came back, he allowed Lugh entry. They had no one who could do all those things.

Not only did Lugh "get the job", but he even became King for a year and a day with Nuada as his advisor. During his "reign", he led the Tuatha De Dannan against the Formorians in the second Battle of Mag Tuiriedh. During the battle, he finally met up with the Formorian leader, Balor (who was also his grandfather). A joyous family reunion, it was not! While Balor's men prepared to open his evil eye that when opened would kill all within its sight, Lugh prepared his slingshot. As the eye was opened, Lugh made his shot. It went through the eye, making it look in upon Balor and Balor was killed. The Formorian threat was defeated and the De Dannans were victorious.

During his reign, his father Cian was killed by the sons of Uisnach. Lugh ruled that the sons would pay a very hefty honour price, which at the very end cost them their lives...but not at Lugh's hands. His foster mother, Tailtu died as well and Lugh held a massive funeral feast in her honour complete with warrior "games" (kind of like the Olympic games). He stated that this feast would be celebrated along with the harvest every year at the same time...hence the festival of Lughnassadh that is celebrated on August 1 to this day.

Llew Llaw Gyffes in Welsh Mythology

Llew Llaw Gyffes' story is quite different from his Irish counterpart although there are a few similarities.

Arianrhod, the Goddess of the Wheel of Fate and Time as well as the moon and magic, wanted to prove her virtue. Her brother, Gwydion put his staff down on the floor and bade her step over it. If nothing happened, then her virtue would be proven. She did so and as she stepped over the staff, two baby boys fell from her loins. Enraged and humliated, she swore to kill the two babies. She drowned one, while Gwydion ran off woth the other one. Arianrhod yelled after her fleeing brother that the boy would die unless she gave him a name, arms, and a wife (Which she was not about to do).

Gwydion raised the boy as his own until the time came for the boy to be given a name. He took the boy to Arianrhod in disguise. They were disguised as travelling Cobblers. While fixing Arianrhod's shoe, the boy noticed a bird flying overhead. He pulled out his slingshot and shot the bird directly.

"The little boy has many skills!" Exclaimed Arianrhod, impressed with his skill.

"You have given him a name, Arianrhod...Llew Llaw Gyffes - the little one is many skilled!" Crowed Gwydion with glee as he shed his disguise.

Arianrhod did not have time to be angry as her castle was attacked in surprise. Panicking, she forgot about her curse and gave Llew weapons to help fight the attackers.

"Now you have given him arms!" Stated Gwydion.

"You may have me there, Gwydion, but there is no way you can trick me into giving him a wife!"

She was right. Gwydion could not think of a way to get around that obstacle, so instead he opted to make Llew a wife. He went to his uncle Math and together they created a fair woman from flowers. They named her Bloddeuwedd. She was more beautiful than any woman seen and she became Llew's wife.

Unfortunately, Bloddeuwedd, although created from flowers, had a mind of her own and fell in love with another man. In her unhappiness, she and her lover plotted to kill Llew. Normally, this might not have been too hard a task, but Gwydion had put a gaes on Llew that he could not die unless he was standing with one foot on land, one foot in water and killed with his own spear. Through trickery, they accomplished this task by getting him to stand with one foot in the bath, one foot on the floor while her lover speared him in the heart with his own spear. This wounded Llew badly but did not kill him. He turned himself into an eagle and flew away.

Gwydion found this eagle many months later in a tree. After conversing, Gwydion changed Llew back into his human form and healed him. Enraged at Bloddeuwedd, he changed her into an owl (the flower faced bird) so that she would only show her face at night.

Common Threads

There are quite a few common threads linking Lugh in all Celtic traditions.

• He is the fair haired and youthful faced God of the sun. It is often said that his countenance is like that of the rising sun.
• He is skilled in many things
• He was the surviving one of twins at birth
• He was fostered as a child (In Ireland by Tailtu and in Wales by Gwydion)
• His main weapons are a slingshot and a spear
• His association with birds and being able to shapeshift. He, like Morrigan, is associated with crows and ravens (although in the Welsh tale, he shapeshifted into the form of an eagle)

Working with Lugh

With time and practise, the practitioner will soon discover his/her own associations with deity forms, i.e.: what workings the Deity is associated with, how to invoke the Deity, which colours, incenses, tools, etc the Deity responds best to.

I have found that Lugh is quite fond of incense and grains. When working with Lugh, I like to burn a little incense for him or leave out some buns or bread on the altar.

Since Lugh is quite versatile, one can call on his aid for just about anything. I like to call on him for help with matters involving skill, i.e.: job interviews, contests, etc.

His feast day is, of course, Lughnassadh which falls on August 1 or the last full moon in July. Lughnassadh also celebrates Macha, one of the three forms of Morrighan. I usually honour both Lugh and Morrighan (why settle for just one aspect...I prefer to celebrate all of Morrighan) on this day (Lugh as it is his day and Morrighan for the association of warriors - from the war games Lugh held for Tailtu upon her death) with the sacrifice being wine, bread (or anything that symbolizes harvest) and incense. I try to decorate my altar as "harvest like" as possible with wheat or stuff harvested from the garden (especially the raspberries from my mother's garden which come up nice almost every year!). Preferably, the ritual should be held outside but if that is not available, then a harvesty decoration of the ritual area would suffice just as well. For casting the circle, I usually use my sword (I would use a spear but I do not yet have one...) and really embellish on the warrior association. This first of the harvest festivals signifies a time of change as the earth prepares for the darker half of the year. The leaves can be seen (here where I live, anyway) just starting to turn colour. I focus on Morrighan as well for her aspects as both a warrior and a Goddess of change and fate.

Keep in mind that these are only my preferences and I do not intend to dictate to anyone how to practise what they do or how to perform a ritual. I just wanted to share what I do:-)