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S E L E C T E D
I N T E R V I E W S
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- 2014 interview by Jane McNab, The Observer, Melbourne, Australia
- 2009 On Collaborative Independence, GlobalArtsCollective.org
- 2005 interview by Dr. Rachael Kohn, ABC-Radio National, Australia
- 1999 interview by Greg Ozimek, PhenomeNews, USA
- 1999 interview by Dr. Gary Lewis, Australian historian
- 1998 interview by Ray Dorsey, Chaos Realm, USA
- 1998 interview by Judson Wood, Alternate Music Press, USA
- 1997 interview by Ben Kettlewell, Alternate Music Press, USA
Excerpt from 1999 interview conducted by Australian historian Dr. Gary Lewis
published in Celtic Women in Music, 1999, Quarry Music Press
Conclusion:
Gary Lewis: Could you explain the origin of the notion of ‘personal sovereignty’?
Maireid Sullivan: I was living in Australia when I set out to seriously study ancient Celtic heritage, back in 1991. Before that time I had spent years studying the development of Chinese history and philosophy. I was hugely surprised to discover that there was so much that I didn’t know about the ancient Celts. I knew some Celtic history but I certainly hadn’t accessed the depth of information that I have since gleaned deeper understanding from.
‘Personal sovereignty’ is a concept that can be traced way back in very ancient Celtic history. It has similarities to ancient Yogic theories. Consciousness ‘in the body’ is a vast field of exploration with an amazing pedigree. In ancient Europe, as in India, knowledge through ‘body consciousness’ had realized a great height of wisdom. Today’s science tells us that ninety nine point nine percent of every cell in the body is empty space and that every thought affects the chemistry of the whole body. Every thought has a chemical attached to it.
Rupert Sheldrake’s theory is that memory and other information is stored within the microtubules of every cell. These are alive, self-organizing and causal information systems called holodynes. We can learn to access them and transform them. Holodynes exist within a quantum field dynamic that creates a ‘morphogenic’ effect, which resists change. To transform these fields, we need to understand ‘field shifting’. The ancient Celts called it ‘shapeshifting’.
I use traditional Irish dancing as my metaphor to show how we can comprehend this greater dimension of insight. This is an exercise for the imagination. While it would help to know how to dance the simplest form of jig and to have the music playing because the dance music helps to make the body light, it doesn’t really matter if that isn’t possible. The dance can be imagined. Prepare as you would to dance a simple Jig. Imagine yourself standing very straight and still and let your body feel very light. Imagine your body becoming weightless. Imagine bouncing up and landing back down on the toe, just lightly enough to spring back up again. Focus on the point where your body feels weightless, just where you imagine yourself springing up and then down. Continue to focus your imagination on making yourself as weightless as possible, until you experience a fresh, heightened awareness of your body. The focus is the key. You will become aware of the field of energy around and through your body. Imagine being held up from the Medulla Oblongata, at the base of the brain, the first entry of the nervous system into the embryo.
When there is an opportunity to actually dance to the music with someone else, it is really great if both people have done the imagination exercise first. Then, when you move toward the other person in the dance, you will feel their energy touching yours long before you come close to each other. It is a thrilling sensation, to be so sensitive and aware of your body that you actually perceive your energy moving into another person’s energy field before you even come close to them.
The ancient Celts promoted that kind of self-knowledge, beginning with consciousness through the body. They believed, “we are all embryonic gods and goddesses.” We can achieve god-hood in our lifetime, that is our true purpose, and when we do, “we have a filial duty to assist our kith and kin”. It’s all about the individual’s capacity, no matter which gender, to interpret and develop their own unique sovereign realm of reality.
The Irish concept of ‘Anam Chara’ (anam cara) describes the way that we can meet another as a ‘soul friend’. Anam means ‘name’ or ‘soul’ and chara means ‘friend’ The concept of ‘Anam Chara’ means that we can become ‘soul friends’ by respectful interaction. We can work at refining that communication and melding our being with another in a non-threatening and beautiful way.
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G.L. Which came first, your interest in Celtic culture or the concept of Personal Sovereignty?
M.S. I saw the concept in my first readings from ancient Celtic history. It was the concept that drew me to pursue further study. This concept says so much because it brings two opposite concepts together - ‘personal’ and ‘sovereignty’. It’s simply referring to ‘my own realm’, where I have complete control and autonomy, where I have the final word about defining or interpreting my reality because only I live in it, and it contains the whole universe, as far as I’m concerned. While no other human being can see reality the way that I see it, and that is the fact, the truth, the really important realization is that it takes profound respect to know anyone in a significant way. We reach out to another and we realize that we are here at the threshold of another being’s reality, and there is the vast unknown.
G.L. What are the relevant messages for today, from Celtic history?
M.S. Love is made profound by knowledge. I really like the Celtic tradition of emphasizing subtlety over obviousness. The hidden is more important than the revealed in that it has greater prospects for interpretation -- hidden possibilities.
G.L. A subject we can think about but never know fully.
M.S. It draws you deeply in, whereas the obvious doesn’t require you to use your imagination.
G.L It's interesting that looking through your lyrics I see references to tides, anchors, rocks, boats; one is about movement and the other is secured. In your song, Danu’s Land, (For Love’s caress CD) there is the Celtic mother goddess making a call to heed her ancient song and come out of hiding. Is that a fair understanding of that?
M.S. Yes. That was one of my first poem-prayers, from 1993 [recorded in 1998].
G.L. In what sense then does this appeal to the feminine principles or reaction against patriarchal religion, ie. Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc. or is it not?
M.S. It tells us to ignore all of that old politics. It tells us we can come out of hiding and not have to pay any attention to superficialities of politics anymore. It suggests that we can set our imagination free and we can become emissaries of peace.
G.L. The meaning of the title song on your CD ‘For Love’s Caress” seems obvious. “We are daughters of history, mothers of a new world that’s dawning, and this great old world can be made new in the name of love’s caress.”
M.S. The roles of mother and the grand-mother are universally understood models of nurturing and justice. Mothers don’t compete with their children. They give themselves to their children. Mothering is the best approach to healing on all levels. We have seen enough war and holocaust and genocide to know that it takes a special effort for us to evolve human consciousness. I believe we should remember the mother’s way when we try to bring peace and healing to this planet and the lives of everyone we come into contact with, even in small ways; through positive thought projection, dedication, generosity and most ardent love. I want to find people who are dedicated to this effort because they are the ones who approach relationship with the best energy and consciousness. They make the sparks fly for me. They are the ones who know how to laugh and sing and dance for joy -- like children.
End
Full interview: 1999 interview by Australian historian Dr. Gary Lewis
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