R, ruis, the dwarf elder in Ogham. The rochat, or ... - Rodney Mackay

at these witching times, tying red or blue ribbons into their
tails and saying their “words” over the udders. In order
that cattle might retain their “virtues” a ball of cow’s hair,
termed the ronag was put into the milk pail on the day in
question , or at least by the following Thursday (Thor’s
Day). See roin, above.
RONG, the vital force, the spark of life, also a joining spar,
a ladder; rongair, a lean person worn out from sexual
activity. The passing of the sea-spirit to the land was to
the detriment of the elder kingdoms. It is a tenant of magic
that sexual activity bleeds away the spirit of the weaker
partner, a fact noted when men cohabited with the sidh or
the Fomors. After a single night “under the hill” or “west
of the sun” it was noted that men and women invariably
returned to their families drained of spirit so that they
almost always weakened and died. The purloining of the
kettle of life may represent the loss of the western gene
pool of the “giants.” In the latter days, the magic peoples
stole humans into their kingdom for it was said that they
could not reproduce among their own kind.
ROPAIN GORM, the little blue-green rope; the “blue clue” of
witchcraft. “Into a kiln-pot throw a clue of blue wool.
teased, carded and spun by yourself from the fleece of a
male lamb. Keeping hold of one end of the thread begin to
wind it off onto a fresh clue (bobbin). As you come near the
end you will find an invisible hand has grasped the thread
lying in the kiln. “Wha’ hands?” you must ask. Your lover
will thereupon disclose his name.” Magic-makers kept these
same blue clues, “balls of winded thread,” on their person
at all times. On witch who went to the stake at Barhill
supposedly called out not to be burned without her threadcharm,
which she had left at home. She promised the crowd
that if they would bring it to her she would reveal the
secrets of her art. The clue was produced. She took one end
of it and threw it in the air and after a few words “vanished
in a moment.”
ROSAI. An alternate name for the ollamh, or “professor” of