Comments on: Symbolic Meaning of the Celtic Torc

By: avenefica

avenefica — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:48:49 +0000

Excellent. Fascinating. Thanks, Rex, for sharing your experience on this subject. Much appreciated.
Namaste,
A.

By: Rex Ness

Rex Ness — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:22:27 +0000

I have a neck torc with a snug fit.I,myself have not developed any heightening of the human experience although the idea is possible.I have come across references to the torcs being worn in battle to deflect sword blows away from the neck.Wearing mine,I feel a connection to my celtic roots and I wear it often.I suppose this could be taken as a spiritual quickening.

By: avenefica

avenefica — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:13:52 +0000

Hi Mark, I’m curious..in your readings have you come across a reference to the torc/torque utilized for anything other than adornment & status? I’m curious about my pressure-point theory…if they (torcs) were used to heighten the human experience in much the same way our Native forebears ritualistically pressed the body with a goal for expanded consciousness.

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 23:07:32 +0000

This post came at a good time for me. I've been reading Bernard Cornwell's Last Kingdom and Winter King set in the 540s AD and 860s AD respectively. They mention the wearing of torcs (although he spells it torque) quite often. In those books it was seen as a big distinction between the pagans and the Christians.

By: avenefica

avenefica — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:46:59 +0000

Hi Liara,
Fascinating! Thanks for providing another dimension of depth by relating this story. I particulary embrace your invitation to imagine ourselves as Wednesday children in long, stacked glimmering neck-rings.

And, I keenly appreciate your last sentence: “Human beings create their own style and convince themselves what is necessary.” Right on.

By: Liara Covert

Liara Covert — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:33:19 +0000

This post offers intriguing insight into Celtic history. Anyone interested in these rings may also like the story of the brass rings worn by Thailand’s Padaung women, also called “long necks.” I have visited this part of the world. I learned their necks are not stretched as a result. X-rays show their body is compressed. It all relates back to a story;

Long, ago, a trib al chief had a dream. He was told a tiger would kill one of the much-loved children in the village – a child that had been born on a Wednesday. As his own child had been born on a Wednesday and as tigers kill their victims by first breaking their necks, he decreed all children born on a Wednesday should wear heavy brass rings round their necks.

As the tiger didn’t kill a child, it was presumed that the wearing of the brass rings worked. Over the years, this custom became popular and is now institutionalised as part of tribal life. It is also considered lucky. Women even try to arrange a mid-week birth so that if the baby is a girl, she will be a fortunate ‘Wednesday’s child.’

Rings are placed around the neck of the Wednesday girl-child from the age of five, continuing until she is twenty. By this time the woman will be wearing about twenty-three rings weighing up to fifteen pounds in total. These rings can never be removed. If they did, the head would collapse.

Imagine what your life would be like if you wore lots of brass rings like these women. Your sedentary lifestyle and erect posture would relate to heavy brass rings around your neck, legs and arms. Human beings create their own style and convince themselves what is necessary.

By: MeanGreen

MeanGreen — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:02:52 +0000

Hi cool post. I have a neck torc. Only wear it for special occassions, ritual work, and festivals, etc. That would be cool if the torc could stimilate who ever is wearing it. Mine is really loose around my neck. You mention a snug fit. So, I have not experienced arousal with my torc, but that might be due to a loose fit. Interesting point tho. Thanks for all your posts here and your WYS site. Learning lots.
Have a COOL YULE!!!!!!!!!!!