Some Uncommon Masonic Tracing Boards

The Occult in The Secret of Kells

The animated film, The Secret of Kells, is a highly esoteric film. Here's a pretty thorough plot summary from the Internet Movie Database:

Young Brendan lives in a remote medieval outpost under siege from barbarian raids. But a new life of adventure beckons when a celebrated master illuminator arrives from foreign lands carrying an ancient but unfinished book, brimming with secret wisdom and powers. To help complete the magical book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears on a dangerous quest that takes him into the enchanted forest where mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious young wolf-girl, who helps him along the way. But with the barbarians closing in, will Brendan's determination and artistic vision illuminate the darkness and show that enlightenment is the best fortification against evil?

I knew this when renting it but was surprised to see it open with what appeared to be an Egyptian obelisk only later to be shown fully as a tower.


However, it was no coincidence that it looked like an obelisk. It's shown again in a very different scene in full:

If the design looks familiar it's for good reason. Here's the Vatican's obelisk:


And Columbus Circle of Manhattan:

There is Set imagery in how the Vikings are portrayed (always shown in black as if shadows with red backdrops and demonic voices).


Also there is Set imagery when the main character enters the sanctuary of Crom Cruach (sorry no screen capture). That whole scene looks like it was taken out of an Egyptian mysteries initiation ritual where the initiate has to walk down the corridor with columns on either side of him in order to face the dreaded "Dark One" deity and his demonic shadowy minions before an eye shines down on him, protecting him (in the film it's a glowing circular symbol that was either the Eye of Columcille or the Eye of Crom Cruach). Crom Cruach was a solar deity much in the form of the beloved solar deities to Freemasons, although he is the Dark One in this.

There are also subtle references that can pass unnoticed because of the basic setting of the story. For instance, "he must be a stone mason," and "you used to be an illuminator."

Here is what follows a stereotypical falling down initiation scene that involves a Jormungander or Apep type serpent from whom he steals an eye (this image is from the graphic novel but pretty much the same in the film):

Another scene with the eye:

There is so much in this film that I don't have the time to cover it all as I've hardly had the time to blog in general, but maybe getting the subject out there will bring it to the attention of others who can focus on it more.