 Leprechauns
The leprechaun is probably the Irish version of the rulers of the elemental energies of the earth. Most peoples have tales of strange beings that inhabit the earth with us, beings that often look like humans only smaller. Each element has its own type of creature associated with it. The four elements are fire, water, air and earth. The inhabitants of the realm of fire are called the Salamanders (the lizards were named after this group of spirits); those of water are known as Sylphs; Undines rule the element of air and Gnomes protect the realm of the earth. Gnomes are usually portrayed as short, powerful, ill-tempered beings. They live within the earth and rule over all things earthly, including all metals, rocks and crystals. This includes all precious gems and, of course, gold. In the story of Snow White, the dwarves were miners who brought forth great gems. Technically, they are members of the Gnomic community. In fact, the story of Snow White is an allegorical reference to the art of alchemy practiced by the scientists of old. So many of our modern fairy tales are stories designed to pass along esoteric information as well as entertain. The seven dwarves relate to the seven metals encountered in the alchemical process, and so on. Gnomes were reputed to have extremely nasty temperaments if treated rudely and could effectively ruin the life of a human. If one could, however, gain the respect and friendship of the Gnomes, there was very little that they could not help with. Being the rulers of earthly matters they dealt with issues of money and power. It was nothing for the king of the Gnomes to bestow amazing amounts of gold and gems upon those in his favor and in need. They were powerful allies and devastating enemies. The King of the Gnomes was named Gob, and his followers were known as Goblins; yes, that's where they got their name. One place to find a pot of gold is at the end of a rainbow. If you've seen the end of a rainbow then you know the golden effect the light plays on the ground, but there's another reason for this old saying. In Mystical doctrine, the rainbow is a symbol of the path of the initiate; the seven colors relate to the seven planets of the ancients. Each planet has a matching metal on the earth; each metal in turn is a representation of an aspect of the evolution of the soul. To go from the heaviest and most impure of these states to the most evolved was the aim of not only the alchemists, but of many ancient orders. Gold represented the purest and ideal metal due to its scarcity and the fact that it never tarnishes. Its color corresponds to the sun, the giver of all warmth and light on our planet. At the end of the rainbow or the journey of life is a pot of gold, the joy of a life well spent.  The leprechaun guarded his gold jealously. According to legend, if one could capture the leprechaun the gold would also be captured. This was a difficult task to accomplish as leprechauns were a careful race of beings who were rarely seen by humans. If by chance they were caught, they were apt to use their considerable wiles to get them out of their predicament. It seems that more than one story focuses on the miserly human "accidently" happening upon the "unaware" leprechaun. The one tool that seemed to work for them the best was playing upon the greed of mankind. In leprechaun stories, the human inability to be satisfied is what allows the trickster to escape with gold intact. The elemental creatures of the earth are often a representation of our tendency to dwell in material issues. Those who focus upon the acquisition of only the physical necessities of life are destined to become the focus of the gnome's and leprechaun lessons. Another way to view the stories is that only by capturing your earthly essence can you acquire the golden truth of life and spirit. Our earthly natures may dangle temptation in front of us but by holding on tight to our basic desires and staring them in the eye, the gold can be ours. Of all the elemental creatures depicted in folklore, the leprechauns seem to have the keenest sense of humor and the most fun. They display a sense of humanity and wit that is a reflection of the Irish themselves. If you run into a leprechaun this St. Patrick's Day be sure to offer it a little corned beef and cabbage or a libation or two. As the Irish know, a little hospitality can go a long, long way.  |
