Myths and Legends : Boand

The following is from the Rennes Dindenchas, as translated by Dr. Stokes, in the Revue Cdtique, xv. 315-6:

--'Boand, wife of Nechtitn son of Labraid, went to the secret well which was in the green of Sid Nechtdin. Whoever went to it would not come from it without his two eyes bursting, unless it were NechtAn himself and his three cup-bearers, whose names were Flesc and Ldm and Luam. Once upon a time Boand went through pride to test the well's power, and declared that it had no secret force which could shatter her form, and thrice she walked withershins round the well. (Whereupon) three waves from the well break over her and deprive her of a thigh [? wounded her thigh) and one of her hands and one of her eyes. Then she, fleeing her shame, turns seaward, with the water behind her as far as Boyne-mouth, (where she was drowned).  Book of Leinster, fol.191a, makes the general statement that no one who gazed right into the well could avoid the instant ruin of his two eyes or otherwise escape with impunity.

from: Celtic Folklore Welsh And Manx  by John Rhys  1901

The Wisdom - even the greatest secrets will be revealed -

Human kind is inquisitive. Our desire of exploration lead into the darkest corners and deepest hidden places.  We have a great need to know. This may be an intensely personal search of our own soul or an outward journey into the wonderful world we inhabit.  And when we have visited somewhere no one else has ever been, when we have been frightened and overcome our fear, when we have been hurt yet still survived, we have to share our story, so that others may learn from our experience.  Boand was such a being.

She reminds us to take the journey into the depths to which we are denied access.  In that place lives great wisdom.  Wisdom so powerful that it may be painful to meet it.  Yet it is our destiny to discover the truth.  And when we have broken through the boundary hiding the secret, we break forth in a great surge of growth, expanding into the world.  It is the brave first step that we must all take that will lead to wisdom.

Page last updated: 25th Mar 2009