Conneda and the Golden Apples | Celtic Mythology and Folklore

Con-eda and the Golden Apples of Lough Neagh.
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In this Pagan initiation story that strongly mirrors Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey mono-mythic archetypal narrative, the ideal prince Conneda must journey into the Otherworld in search of the three golden apples of the King of the Fairy realm.
Unlike other stories from Irish folklore and Mythology, this tale seems to stem directly from the pre-christian era and as such resembles a Celtic pagan initiation. Its origins probably lie in the iron-age or even bronze-age.
Many of the psychological archetypes of the collective unconscious are apparent in this tale, common in the works of Joseph Campbell, Carl Jung and Heinrich Zimmer, among many others.
Lough Neagh is the largest body of freshwater in Britain or Ireland.
Told here by Oliver Lavery.

[@jakemcnamee9417]

Been to therapy a few times. Reading mythology and good music seem more helpful. Mythology and fairytales are definitely therapeutic.

[@TheStoryCrow]

I agree. So much medicine in these old tales. Thanks for watching 🙏

[@hArtyTruffle]

Oh my… yes I relate to the fool, but a fool who really needs to overcome fear. Absolutely treasure this story Oliver. Thankyou 🙏

[@scathatch]

Well told story and my God how beautiful is the landscape you are travelling through.

[@TheStoryCrow]

Ireland is gorgeous, even if it’s raining 97.5 % of the time.

[@niteowl365]

I myself am a bit of a Campbellian🖤So I am loving all your stories!

[@TheStoryCrow]

Me too, to a point 😉

[@sevilaynursaraclar7771]

That part of the story stuck with me, killing one's only friend and guide then the guide becomes his inner voice and keeps helping him in his journey forward. I guess this is about integrating the guide but then also the guide himself needed to be killed off, to be set free by his best friend that was an interesting point there.

[@TheStoryCrow]

I think you might be on to something there. It’s a startlingly common motif. Thanks for watching 🐴 🩸 🙏

[@marksadventures3889]

A good yarn is always therapeutic and what a backdrop. Slainte mhath!

[@TheStoryCrow]

Stunning part of Ireland ☘️☺️ I mean, who am I kidding. The whole island is stunning. 🙏😂✨

[@mzbramstedt9278]

my new favorite channel! thank you from Oakland, California

[@TheStoryCrow]

Hey! Welcome aboard and thanks for the kind words ☺️

[@hannahbotanica3311]

You are a wonderful storyteller 😊 Thank you for keeping me company on a cold, windy day in the States. One day, I'll be able to travel across the pond & explore the lands of my ancestors.

[@TheStoryCrow]

You’re most welcome Hannah. You’ll find many great storytellers on these islands 🌳✨🌊

[@johnsykes9623]

Wonderful. Thanks very much for your story

[@sarunaskukcinavicius1437]

When you mentioned shaggy horse I noticed strong correlation with legends from my own country - Lithuania. We have story about divine hunchback horse of Perkunas a.k.a God of heaven and thunder. Long story short - Perkunas had lost his most favourite horse because of trickstery of Velinas (God of underworld) and raging storms was washing away entire cities - after all the most beloved horse got lost, so Perkunas was quite not pleased let's say so. During those storms out of nowhere in front of largest and strongest castle which the only one left standing, appeared most ugly and disgusting horse you can imagine - sh***t and blood all over the body, legs looking sideways, maggots dropping down from wounds and backbone deformed so much that if you sit on that horse - your feets will touch ground. So not functional horse in many ways, however king of all kings (owner of the castle) got pity about that poor being and order his servants to heal him or take him out of misery at least. Day by Day horse started to recover and became more and more stronger. After week that horse had strength of thousand horses, that was very useful because during the storms all cities were washed out. Eventually hunchback horse fully recovered from wounds and asked king to be sacrificed in Romuva - that's sacred ground in the heart of oak forest. King tried to negotiate because that horse alone by himself was re-establishing whole kingdom however he understood that if you meet with speaking horse who is talking about Divine Intervention - probably the best option is agree. After some minor hesitation ritual was held and with last blood drop from the heart of that horse jumped out most beautiful stallion, however that stallion still had deformed backbone. Stallion started to sing, heavens opened and Perkunas was reunited with his horse. You may ask - how that horse got so ugly and why backbone was still deformed even after resurrection? Backbone was broken when Perkunas first time was riding on that horse and Perkunas is very massive being and no other horse was able to carry him trough heavens. As mentioned previously God of underworld stole horse and was riding all the way from heaven to the hell trough branches and roots of the Tree of World - in Lithuanian myths there are three worlds connected by tree. Crown for heaven, log for mortals and roots for dead ones.

[@TheStoryCrow]

Oh wow. Thank you so much for sharing this Lithuanian Myth with me. I hadn’t heard it - I find the mythology of your part of the world so fascinating - but I know very little about it. I’d like to travel there one day to learn more. It seems like you still have a connection to a lot of the old stories, and there are so many similarities with other info European cosmogonies, as you rightly point out. What type of tree is the Lithuanian world tree? Is it an oak by any chance?

[@sarunaskukcinavicius1437]

@@TheStoryCrow you are more than welcome to visit Lithuania :) probably you already know that lithuanians were the last pagans in Europe so... Let's say that old Gods are still slumbering around. Yes tree of world is oak indeed

[@markdpricemusic1574]

Superb! Many thanks for taking the trouble to share this with us!

[@David.Bowman.]

This one is bordering on Epic! Had me hooked the whole way. And 22:22 , seamless😉

[@TheStoryCrow]

Ha ha! I was curious so I skipped to that frame. A terrible edit indeed 😂 but that’s editing in the van for you 😀 Glad you liked the story, it’s a powerful one eh 🙏

[@David.Bowman.]

@@TheStoryCrow lol I was listening on headphonesas I did the dishes and it was like a second ghost voice whispered in my ear😂 The tale is really interesting though. I recently read Tolkien’s Unfinished Tales which has an expanded version of Tuor, one of his lesser known early human heroes who goes on a long journey and eventually marries an Elf. Tolkien’s obviously more known for his Nordic inspiration but this really reminded me of some of the elements in Tuor’s story.

[@salviadorrii]

Interesting you talk about stories as medicine. I had never heard this but i've heard it twice today. I'm listening to "Great mythologies of the world" by the great courses. In Ancient Egypt, when someone was sick, they thought it was because the order of their body had moved into chaos, so the person would be told stories (creation myths) of the gods conquering chaos and putting the world into order, thinking the story literal medicine that would encourage the body to do the same. My first reaction was to think it ridiculous but...When I got my wisdom teeth out as a kid all I wanted to do was watch Peter Pan. A really bad breakup in college and for a week I only wanted romances with happy endings. Your little blur at the end was very enlightening and got me thinking I need to find ways to more readily incorporate narrative as a problem solving/emotional compass tool. Anxiety and sadness over killing that which has become your friend, is where the connection is for me. Coming up on butcher time on our backyard farm.

[@TheStoryCrow]

Interesting that this has come up twice for you recently. I like to take note of little synchronicities like that. ☺️ Thanks for that titbit about ancient Egypt, this makes total sense, although I had t heard it before. I think a lot of these medicinal tales have been handed down from great civilisations of the past, and get a little altered along the way of course. I guess the experience of butcher season is something you have closely in common with our ancestors. You’re lucky for that link I think. I guess part of the reason that bit resonates 🐴

[@frankieberry]

🤯❤

[@drowsyZot]

I do the same thing! People chuckle at my habit of rewatching shows and movies that I've already seen a dozen times (or rereading books), but it's for exactly that reason. Something about the story connects with something inside me that needs that particular connection. Stories as medicine.

[@drowsyZot]

As usual, a delightful video and fantastic story! I particularly love what you said about these stories living inside us. The image that resonated with me the most was the lonely castle ruin, hiding an entire fairly palace within its crumbling walls. And also the humble hermit, who doesn't know the whole story, but still does his best to help.

[@TheStoryCrow]

I love that little old hermit. He pops up in so many stories. Always showing the way, best he can 🧙‍♂️

[@drowsyZot]

@@TheStoryCrow So many people want to be the heroes. I would like, someday, to be the hermit.

[@silvafox8371]

Very well told , fascinating similarities between alot of other folklore stories , bards and story tellers did roam lands can explain alot. Thank you , i appreciate you

[@TheStoryCrow]

I know, those golden threads are a mythic labyrinth. Appreciate the support my friend 🙏

[@hArtyTruffle]

It’s also really interesting that the Egyptian Ba-bird should feature in this tale. It suggests that there are indeed ancient connections between Ireland and Egypt. I think this is my favourite story so far. I hope you take this the right way… to me, you’re like a cross between Oliver Reed and Philip Carr-Gomm.

[@TheStoryCrow]

Not the first time I’ve heard the reed one. Need to drink less strong ale ☺️

[@hArtyTruffle]

@@TheStoryCrow The way you pause sometimes when speaking and say “ah” reminds me strongly of Philips soft tone of voice, but you have the theatrical presence of Reed, and similar big eyes when he was young. I wasn’t referring to his reliance on alcohol. Only you can be the judge of where that goes 🍻

[@colinjohngilbert3994]

The hole story had me looking sideways 😂 ❤🇮🇪🤘

[@xxWillowWandxx]

Love your story telling. Thankyou

[@TheStoryCrow]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@naturalexplorer]

Magic. ♥♥🙏🙏😊😊⭐⭐. Spot on about tuning out of the mind and tuning into the heart/gut. Very similar can be said for balancing out the left brain mind with its right creative /intuitive side. Shoot through the centre.

[@TheStoryCrow]

So true 🙏

[@JacobRogers-tx9mm]

The van is amazing 😊

[@TheStoryCrow]

It’s quite good 🚛♥️🙏✨

[@frankieberry]

💚great story. Thank you again.

[@TheStoryCrow]

Pleasure as always 👍

[@sabithasajan5564]

You're great storyteller!

[@TheStoryCrow]

I appreciate that. Thanks for visiting 🙏✨

[@sabithasajan5564]

@@TheStoryCrow I'll always be here from now on ;)

[@unepetitecourfleurie6129]

Un conte magnifique. Merci.

[@TheStoryCrow]

Merci mon amis 🙏

[@sarunaskukcinavicius1437]

P.S. answer to your question about personal journey - looks like I took my jump of fire 😅 I am curious what or who is waiting further the way

[@TheStoryCrow]

Good luck in your quest ☺️🙏🧙🏿‍♂️

[@gailfairweather1515]

Awesome story and you told it extremely well thank you blessed be.😊loved this ❤️

[@TheStoryCrow]

You’re a lovely one for saying so. BB ✨

[@elderwyrmstudio5133]

Fantastic video dude

[@TheStoryCrow]

Glad you enjoyed 😉

[@drewknoles3258]

I will never underestimate an ugly horse again.

[@TheStoryCrow]

Just don’t go rummaging in it’s ears unless you’ve been introduced 😃 🐴

[@drewknoles3258]

@@TheStoryCrow good advice.

[@drowsyZot]

Lol! This is a solid plan.

[@judithsmorti4306]

❤️🎭

[@dianetheone4059]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐