Ireland has a long history of shapeshifters. One of the earliest was Fintan, husband of Cessair, grand-daughter of Noah. Cessair and her family fled the approaching Deluge and settled in Ireland, but only Fintan survived. Fintan changed shape several times, first becoming a salmon, then an eagle, and then a falcon.

Another early Irish tale describes the long life of Tuan, who told his story to St. Finnian around the year 550. Tuan had lived as a stag, a boar, a hawk, a salmon, and then again as a human.1

Perhaps it should not be a surprise that St. Patrick used the same kind of “magic” when he intoned St. Patrick’s Breastplate to transform his followers and himself into deer, while escaping from King Loegaire’s forces. After calling upon the powers of several Christian powers and Deity, St. Patrick invokes the elements:

“I arise to-day
Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun,
Radiance of moon,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of wind,
Depth of sea,
Stability of earth,
Firmness of rock.2

In The Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom1, authors Caitlin and John Matthews note this as a fith-fath (said “fee-fohh”, rhymes with “Hee Haw”), which is generally a Scots Gaelic charm to change a person into another shape or form. It makes the person invisible to his or her enemies. This might also be a useful charm when hunting, to become another animal of the forest while hunting boar, etc.

Alexander Carmichael shared a “fath-fith” charm, spell, or prayer in his book, Carmina Gadelica, published in 1900. (Carmina Gadelica is Latin for “Scottish songs and incantations.”) In this important book, Carmichael recorded the many Pagan-based prayers and rituals–most of them already given a Christian context–from the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Here is the “fath-fith” as he transcribed it:

Fath-fith
Will I make on thee
By Mary of the augury
By Bride of the corslet
From sheep, from ram
From goat, from buck
From fox, from wolf
From sow, from boar
From dog, from cat
From hipped-bear
From wilderness-dog
From watchful scan*
From cow, from horse
From bull, from heifer
From daughter, from son
From the birds of the air
From the creeping things of the earth
From the fishes of the sea
From the imps of the storm.
*probably some animal

So, this kind of magic has existed for at least 1500 years in the British Isles. But, it is not the only kind of magic used by St. Patrick. For example, the Matthews note that St. Patrick did not ban the magical practice of dichetal do chennaib, sometimes called a form of divination, also described as a flash of intuition, as well as–from Robert Graves’ research–a kind of incantation from (or using) the fingertips or twigs from specific trees.

In fact, in Carmichael’s book there is a “finger-compassing” reference that quotes almost directly from another passage in St. Patrick’s Breastplate:

The finter-compassing
Who is before me?
Who is behind me?
Who is beneath me?
God and the Lord.

Who upholds me?
The Three of power,
Father and Son
And Spirit of peace.

It’s possible that we may find even more Pagan traditions in the beliefs and especially the practices of St. Patrick. It’s clear that he left us more than legends about shamrocks and snakes, and had more depth than his popular image.

References and resources:
1The Encyclopaedia of Celtic Wisdom : A Celtic Shaman’s Sourcebook, by Caitlin & John Matthews, p. 71, 152-3.
2Fianaigecht (The Fenian Cycle), trans. by Kuno Meyer (c)1910, St. Patrick’s Breastplate
3Carmina Gadelica: Hymns and Incantations, by Alexander Carmichael