Core Vision: Tribal Sovereignty in Harmony with Nature
Bram’s decentralized groups align with the Celtic model of tuatha (tribal communities), each sovereign yet interconnected.
Celtic Alignment:
- Embodies the “Three Realms” (Land, Sea, Sky) – groups root locally while honoring wider connections.
- Echoes Celtic tribal law (e.g., Brehon law), where power flows from communal consent, not top-down rule.
- Tech as modern druidry: Open-source tools become new “ogham staves” for sharing wisdom.
Philosophy: “Golden Processes” as Sacred Cycles
Bram’s processes mirror Celtic cosmology:
- Lead (Negligible): Chaos (e.g., invasive brambles) – distractions to clear for fertile ground.
- Metal (Linear): Practical crafts (e.g., smithing, farming) – actions with clear intent (dán/purpose).
- Golden (Circular): Eternal cycles of life:
- Ancestor veneration (aos sí rituals),
- Seasonal rites (Samhain/Imbolc),
- Stewardship of sacred groves (nemeton) and waterways.
Key Insight: Protecting “golden processes” honors imbas (sacred inspiration) – all cycles deserve reverence.
Groups as Modern “Tuatha”: Tech-Enabled Tribes
Bram’s groups can embody Celtic values:
- Local Resilience: Use open-source tools to:
- Coordinate meitheal (community work bees),
- Map local ecosystems (rivers, oak groves),
- Preserve oral histories (seanchaí tradition).
- Transparency as Honor: Platforms must uphold fír (truth) – deception breaks geasa (sacred vows).
- Ancestral Connection: Digitally archive clan lore, aligning with Celtic reverence for síle na caille (ancestral wisdom).
Celtic Model: Like a druid circle, groups balance:
“Warrior (action), Bard (story), and Druid (wisdom)” roles for holistic harmony.
Ethical Warnings Through Celtic Wisdom
- Reject Violence: Bram’s “violence is weakness” reflects Celtic heroic restraint – true strength lies in wisdom (e.g., Cú Chulainn’s geasa).
- Avoid “Caves” of Forgetfulness: Bram’s cave allegory warns against cauldrons of ignorance – Celtic truth (fírinne) requires awakening to ancestral and land memory.
- Combat Greed/Pride: Bram’s vices defy Celtic hospitality (cairdeas) and modesty – virtues of the Ard Rí (High King).
Tensions and Resolutions
- Technology vs. Animism:
- Opportunity: Use platforms as “digital cauldrons” – sharing herb lore, tracking moon phases, or coordinating forest guardianship.
- Caution: Avoid dubhós (spiritual darkness) from tech disconnection; stay rooted in local land (dúchas).
- Global Groups vs. Local Spirits:
- Groups honor genii loci (local spirits) – Bram’s decentralization allows each tuath to honor its own deithe (gods).
- “Circular Processes” and Sovereignty:
- Bram’s cycles reflect Celtic wheel of the year – all life is sacred, temporary, and interwoven.
Call to Action for Celtic Pagans
- Build “Tuatha 2.0”: Create groups using Bram’s tools for:
- Seasonal rites (e.g., Beltane fire coordination),
- Land restoration (sacred spring cleanings),
- Story circles (digital fíanaigecht sagas).
- Guard Sacred Cycles: Protect “golden processes” (ancestors, nature, crafts) as dúile (elements) of life.
- Embrace Bram’s “Play” Principle: Approach change with Fionn’s wisdom – curiosity and adaptability.
- Wield Tech as Druidry: Use open-source code to:
- Map ley lines (sí energy),
- Track wildlife migrations (honoring Cernunnos),
- Archive Ogham knowledge.
“Three things not hidden:
The truth of the land,
The song of the bard,
The love of the tribe.”
— Triad of Irish Wisdom
Final Reflection
Bram’s project is a path of imbas forosnai (illuminating inspiration) for modern Celts:
- Decentralization restores tuath sovereignty,
- Group resilience honors the Morrígan’s call to protect the tribe,
- “Golden” stewardship rekindles pantheistic reverence – every stream, stone, and story is alive.
As the Dindshenchas (lore of place-names) teaches:
“To know the land is to know the gods.” Bram’s tools help us reclaim that knowing.
Explore: yetanotherprojecttosavetheworld.org
Act: Gather your tribe. Plant an oak. Sing to the river. Code with purpose.
Note: Bram’s Ballmer’s Peak experience (p.42) mirrors Celtic áes dána (inspired ones) – those touched by the Awen often walk between worlds.