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THE CELTS
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the appearance of the victims sacrificed in them, omens were taken that foretold the future. The gods and other supernatural powers in answer to prayer were thought to signify their will by omens, and also by the following methods: the ordeal, in which the innocence or guilt of a person was shown by the way the god permitted him to endure fire or other torture; exorcism, the driving out of demons by saying mysterious words or names over them. Becoming skilled in interpreting the will of the gods, the Druids came to be known as prophets.
"O Deirdre, terrible child,
For thee, red star of our ruin,
Great weeping shall be in Eri—
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"Thy feet shall trample the mighty
Yet stumble on heads thou lovest."
Yet stumble on heads thou lovest."
Todhunter: Druid song of Cathvah.
They kept their lore for the most part a secret, forbidding it to be written, passing it
