Teinm Laeghdha, or Rhyme Illumination

Above: Statue of Fionn Mac Cumhaill

Fionn mac Cumhaill, who was an accomplished druid, chewed his own thumb when he wished to prophesy by means of Rhyme Illumination. One of many notorious cases was when he identified the headless body of Lamna the buffoon, put to death at the instigation of Fionn’s wdfe to conceal an impropriety. Maen mac Etnae, a distinguished poet, identified by means of Teinm Laeghdha for the king of Munster, Connla great grandson of Oileall Olom, the skull of the first lapdog ever known in Ireland.    This method of divination seems to have been a charm in rhyme, which led the druid on
o the name he sought.    That these druidic charms were 1 egarded with anxiety is pretty obvious from a statement in the  tripartite Life of Saint Patrick to the effect that "all
/c  virtues   are  invoked "  in   ‘ the   Deer’s   Cry ‘   " against the spells of women, smiths and druids." raim Illumination,   or  Iombas   Forosnai.
Another rite, is described in of the raw red flesh of a pig, dog or cat, and retires with it to his bed behB the door, where he pronounces an oration on it, and offl it to his idols. He then invokes his idol gods, and if he W not received illumination before the next day he pronounM incantations upon his palms and takes his idol gods into n bed so as not to be interrupted in his sleep. Then he plaB his hands crosswise, one over and one hither upon his cheeB and is watched so as not to be interrupted until everytl^B he seeks is revealed at the end of a day, or two, or three^n the case may be. Hence Palm Illumination. It was pfl hibited by St. Patrick, as was Rhyme Illumination, whB accompanied by a sacrifice. When not, it was called tfl Great Extempore Recital, and was not prohibited.