Season of Beltane

Ideas for honouring the Season of Beltane

• It is said that Beltane really starts when the Hawthorn trees blossom. When do fruit-bearing trees in your area grow blossoms?
• Where are you at with the plans you made at Samhain? You have reached the half-way mark of the year.
• Attend a Mummer’s Dance or Maypole dance
• Gather morning dew in a jar at sunrise. It is said to have healing powers.
• Begin planting your garden
• Plant or befriend a tree in your area
• Participate in a community clean up campaign

 The Wooing of Emer

Cu Chulain was a warrior type
The best in all the land
His greatest challenge lay ahead…
To request fair Emer’s hand!

Enemies both strong and skilled
Young Cu Chulain defeated
The territory he sought to take
Was where Emer was seated!

Emer’s Dad, a wily man,
This courtship would not bless…
Despite the fact that it was
Sanctioned by King Conchobhar Mac Ness!

He devised a plan that would surely
Bring the Hound of Chulain down
“To gain some skill in war” said he
And sent the hero out of town!

Off to Schathach’s Isle went Cu’
And faced many fearsome foes
Many dangerous wastelands
Added to his woes!

Upon his arrival, he did come
Across the bridge of great peril
Which flipped him off, but he
Overtook with a leap of Salmon’s skill!

Cu Chulain then learned from her
The arts of love and war
She bade him lead her army
Against her sister Aoife Mor!

The battle won, his task then done
Cu Chulain passed the test
A warrior of exceptional skill
He went home to show his best

Emer’s dad had heard the news
And he began to fret
The Hound of Chulain should have died
Not come back to claim his get!

What to do? He thought in haste
And called forth his fighting men.
Around the fort he set them up
‘Til secure he felt again.

A year it took for Cu Chulain
To fight up to the door
He then performed his Salmon Leap
And met Scibar, Cat and Ibhor!

The brothers three fell to his sword
Why did they even bother?
The Hound of Chulain ran to meet
Their cunning, wily father.

Across the battlements Old Forgall ran
Away from Emer’s Mate
But in his haste he toppled off
And fell to meet his fate.

Cu Chulain found his lady fair
With her sister in a keep
Under each arm did he take them
And over the walls did leap

With gold and silver did he run
With Emer and Sis in tow
He met up with a few armed men
And forced them all to go

At last he reached Emain Macha
Where he and his bride were wed
And such a feast was held for them
With mead and barley bread

To what extent will a man go…
How low or high above?
What perils would he will to face
For the sake of a woman’s love?

A man in love would walk the earth
And face a thousand guys
Just to see the light of love
Shine through his lover’s eyes.

Written by: Athelia Nihtscada /|\
April 19, 2004 

Trees!!!!!

Magnificent Trees from Myth and Legend

Trees have always held a special place in many world mythologies:

• The Garden of Eden from the Old Testamant (Genesis) contained the Tree of Knowledge, which God had forbidden Adam and Eve to eat from.
• Buddha gained his enlightenment while spending a lot of time meditating under the Bodhi tree in India. This could be why Bodhi is the root word of Bodhisattva which means “Enlightenment being” or someone who has done the work and is able to attain Nirvana, but chooses to postpone it in order to help others attain enlightenment. A compassionate act indeed! Bodhichitta is the mental state of someone who has chosen to undertake becoming enlightened in the Buddhist tradition.
• The Axis Mundi or the axle that the world spins upon was known as the “World Tree” by many cultures. They saw the tree as being the support and center of the world.
• Before the person (or persons) who wrote Genesis, wrote of the Tree of Knowledge, the ancient Sumerians offered to the Lord of the Tree of Truth. A cup was found from this period and it was dedicated to the Lord of the Tree of Truth.
• J.R.R. Tolkien wrote of the “Ents” or tree people in his Lord of the Rings series of books. They were characterized as being wise, powerful and notoriously slow to take action on anything unless it affected the trees and forests directly.

The Scottish folks had a little poem of advice for householders about which woods were the best to burn in the hearth (ash being the favoured one):

Beech-wood fires are bright and clear
If the logs are kept a year.
Oaken logs burn steadily
If the wood is old and dry.
Chestnut’s only good, they say
If for long it’s laid away.
But Ash new or Ash old
Is fit for a Queen with a crown of gold.

Birch and Fir-logs burn too fast –
Blaze up bright, but do not last.
Make a fire of Elder tree,
Death within your house you’ll see,
It is by the Irish said,
Hawthorn bakes the sweetest bread.
But Ash green or Ash brown
Is fit for a Queen with a golden crown.

Elm wood burns like churchyard mold –
E’ere the flames are cold.
Poplar gives a bitter smoke:
Fills your eyes and makes you choke.
Apple wood will scent your room,
With an incense-like perfume.
But Ash wet or Ash dry,
For a Queen to warm her slippers by.

(Taken from “Kindling the Celtic Spirit by Mara Freeman)

The Scots have also provided us with a list of 9 sacred trees that they used to start the Beltane fires:

Choose the Willow of the Streams
Choose the Hazel of the Rocks
Choose the Alder of the Marshes
Choose the Birch of the Waterfalls
Choose the Ash of the Shade
Choose the Yew of Resilience
Choose the Elm of the Brae
Choose the Oak of the Sun.

(Also taken from “Kindling the Celtic Spirit by Mara Freeman)


You’re probably noticing that there only eight trees listed above. No, I have not forgotten how to count. The ninth tree was left out on purpose by the Scots to remain a mystery. Or perhaps it was left out to be the choice of the person lighting the fire?

In the story of the Sickbed of Cu Chulain,, Cu Chulain’s charioteer, Laeg, went to the Mag Mell in the Otherworld to check out the lay of the land for the battle against Senach Siaborthe and Eochaid Iuil, and Eogan Inber for one day that Cu Chulain was to aid Labraid in.

When he arrived, Laeg discovered many wonders, including the trees. When Cu Chulain asked him what the lay of the land was, Laeg responded as follows:

At the doorway to the West,
Where the sun sets,
A herd of grey horses, bright their manes,
And a herd of Chestnut horses.

At the doorway to the East,
Three trees of brilliant crystal,
Whence a gentle flock of birds calls
To the children of the royal fort.

A tree at the doorway to the court,
Fair its harmony;
A tree of silver before the setting sun,
Its brightness like that of gold.

Three scores of trees there,
Whose crowns are meetings that do not meet.
Each tree bears ripe fruit,
For three hundred men.
…
A pity that the son [of Deichtine] did not go himself,
With everyone asking for him;
He could have seen for himself
The great house I visited.

If I possessed all of Eriu
And the kingship of yellow Brega,
I would give it all, no bad bargain,
To live in the place I visited.

(Excerpts from “The Wasting Sickness of Cu Chulaind” from “Early Irish Myths and Sagas” by Jeffrey Gantz – Penguin Classics Series, 1981)

The punishment laid upon the sons of Tuireann by Lugh upon the murder of his father, Cian, involved gathering items that would be life threatening to pursue. One such item on the list was “three apples from the Garden of Hespirides”. These apples could cure any ailment, and when thrown, they would always hit their mark. They were also guarded night and day so that no man could get one!

 How to Plant a Tree

One can attain a tree from a garden store or a nursery online or in person. (I would recommend making this purchase in person so you can get a feel for the tree and to see if it is healthy)

Trees are sold in one of three ways: with the rootball wrapped in burlap, bare root or container grown.

Below are tips for all three types from Tree Help (http://www.treehelp.com/howto/howto-plant-a-tree.asp [2]):

Things to remember:

• Plant in late Winter/early Spring or Fall when it is not too cold.
• Never plant in a hole that is too deep or too wide.
• Loosen the soil at the bottom and sides of the hole with a garden fork to avoid “glazing” and allow the roots to grow out.
• For all trees, dig a hole that is the exact height of the root ball/structure and 2 – 3 times the width of the root ball/structure.
• When filling the hole with soil, enrich it with compost or manure enriched soil.
• Use your hands to tap down the soil in the hole. This allows for you to really get a hands-on feel to the planting process to see if everything is going well for your tree…and it prevents you from over compressing the soil which would be hard on new root growth.
• Water your tree thoroughly. Let the water settle and water again to give the tree a good start.
• Use a good root-starting fertilizer in the hole and around the hole to promote healthy growth.

Bare Root:

1. Ensure the roots look healthy and have lots of little hairs on them.
2. Trim any damaged or dead roots, but retain as much of the root structure as possible.
3. Plant as soon as possible since there is no water or soil around the roots to sustain them. Keep the roots moist in between purchase and planting.
4. Make a little mound of the soil in the center of the hole. This will act as a little “seat” for the roots to rest upon.
5. Set the tree upon the cone and splay the roots about it. Ensure that the flare of the trunk is visible and the top of the roots (where they flare down) is just above the soil line to allow for settling.
6. Refill the general hole with soil and put a little extra soil around the edges to form a catch-basin. Water thoroughly.
7. Mulch can be placed around the tree but avoid getting it too close to the trunk.
8. Gently tap the soil down with your hands so you do not over-compress.

Container Grown:

1. Remove the container and check the roots
2. If the roots are pot-bound or compressed, gently spread the roots out with your fingers or a blunt instrument. Be sure not to tear the roots if possible.
3. Seat the tree in the hole you dug originally and fill it up with enriched soil to the same level that the soil was in the container.
4. Gently tap the soil down with your hands so you do not over-compress.

“Ball and Burlap” or “B & B”:

1. Measure the root-ball width and depth. The hole will need to be the exact height and 2 – 3 times the width of the root-ball.
2. Do not lift a B & B tree by its trunk. Always lift it from the root-ball.
3. Remove the burlap and bindings
4. Using enriched soil either with compost or manure, back-fill the hole taking care not to over-compress (tap soil down with your hands as opposed to a shovel). Fill only up to the top of the root-ball.

Questions to ponder:
1. Have you ever planted a tree before? What sort of “connection” did you feel with that tree?

I have planted several trees in my life, in fact I planted a seedling in a cup day before yesterday. I have never been able to keep one alive and growing yet though...I always feel so connected and so excited with everything i have planted. I am excited to see it grow and mature and would love to see a tree i plant grow to maturity. I plan, over the next two years, to build a house of my own (hobbit houses) and then i will be planting several trees along with a rather extensive garden area including herbs, vegetables, and flowers for food and my work. 


While i have never been able to grow a tree, i feel connected to all trees. I do not necessarily know what kind of trees, more so to branchy leafy trees then to pine type trees. I  do not know the different kinds of trees but am learning.

2. Do you feel your city has enough trees?

The City I lived in previously had so many more trees then the small town where i live now. And coming from northern Idaho, no, we do not have enough trees. Much of the time I feel like I can not breath with the last of trees, feel like I can't get the energy that I need so much to get through my days. I have to search them out here. There is a beautiful park here in town with magnificent trees but unfortunately, I cannot be there all of the time. One of the prime stipulations of the land I will be buying will include trees that I feel connected to. The previous owner will think me strange as I walk around the property touching trees looking for that connection. 

3. How can you promote awareness of the benefits of trees and take action in your community?

Planting trees right now is a big deal. There are many individuals and organizations that do this annually around this time of year as Arbor Day, Beltaine, and Ostara are upon us, either just past or on the horizon. You see whole groups along road sides planting trees up and down the freeway which is amazing. 

Does your city or town have a tree planting program in place?

I do not know if the city has a tree planting program but do know that many private groups and individuals take it upon themselves to make sure this is done.

Healing in Old Ireland

Dian Cecht was credited for giving Nuadha his famous silver hand after he had lost his original one in battle. He had two sons, Cian and Miach, and a daughter called Airmid. Of no surprise, Miach and Airmid both inherited their father's medical skill. Miach surpassed his father's skill by reattaching Nuadha's original hand "sinew to sinew". Dian Cecht was angered by this and struck his son a near fatal blow. Miach was able to heal himself easily enough, but Dian Cecht struck him another blow. Miach again healed himself and Dian Cecht struck him yet again. This blow was beyond Miach's skill and he died of his injuries.

When Miach was buried, 365 herbs sprung up in the shape of the body. All of the herbs were said to correspond to illnesses that affected the part of the body they were growing on. Airmid gathered up all of the herbs and arranged them according to the location. Neatly organized, Airmid had the herbs that would heal all ills.

Dian Cecht found out about this and scattered the herbs, rendering them unclassifiable which is said to be why we do not have cures for medical ills to this day. Of course, Airmid was able to salvage some of the herbs, but many more cures would remain a mystery. 


Things to Ponder:

One could look at Dian Cecht's actions as being out of jealousy. Perhaps, on a base human level, they were. On the other hand, was Dian Cecht doing something else in keeping mankind from being able to perfectly heal all ills? This sort of thing would eliminate all disease and give mankind a new form of power…the power to heal indefinitely.

1.Was Dian Cecht trying to prevent such knowledge from getting out?

I would have to find a more complete story to know this. I do not feel we have enough information to determine if it was his goal to stop to much power or jealously. I can see where this power could be a bad things especially knowing that it is human nature to want what others have and to do and be better then others. 

2. Was he protecting mankind from this knowledge?

This kind of knowledge could cause the same problem as cloning. While cloning does amazing things for man kind, in the wrong hands, people could create armies. They could and are trying to do some very "bad" things with cloning. Being able to heal someone, no matter the injury or the reason for the injury, could also give people a power that could eventually wipe out everything. eventually someone would create something so bad that it couldn't be healed and then what. 

The story was re-written by Christian monks who, at that time, believed that ills were God's will and that people shouldn't mess with them. I would like to know the original story to see if the herbs really were scattered or if this part was added later on. If one looks at the advances that ancient societies had achieved and how the onset of the "Dark Ages' postponed much of this knowledge until a far later time (i.e.: central heating, the use of penicillin, washing hands between patients, etc.), where would we be today if this age had not happened? How far along would we be?

3. How do governments today still impede medical knowledge and cures?

One of the biggest things I see happening in our country is the fact that it is illegal to tell people how to use natural ways to cure ills. The pharmaceutical companies have government control in this area and it makes natural medicine a "bad" things so rather then knowing good info, people have to figure it out on their own. 

Fosterage Yesterday and Today

Questions to ponder:

1. What would you say are the differences between family values today and in our Ancestors' time?

Family values in general in today's society are very very different. Family is no longer priority, in this country at least. Children are not being taught and raised, they just grow up. There everyone is for themselves, the sense of community is gone and people do not take responsibility for themselves. As a teacher, I see so many families that are in such dire straights because of problems, it is unbelievable. I really don't know what else to say about this, I could go into detail and write a book, really do not want to do that here.

2. How has the concept of family changed in today's day and age?

The answer above answers this question. 

3. Would you think the Celtic type of fosterage would be beneficial or workable today?

I do think it would be very beneficial for many reasons though not all of the same reasons that they did in previously. This type of arrangement would allow for parents who have fallen on difficult times to get help for their children with things, like education, that they can not provide. I believe it would give under privileged children a way out, families a way to change their status in future generations, and also give poor families an option to help their children without embarrassment. 

It could totally be workable today in the same way it worked before. 

4. Have you ever "fostered" someone? No. Perhaps not as an official fosterage, but have you ever taken a young person under your wing to mentor them at work or in another capacity?

I have several "fake" daughters who call me mom. Friends of my own children who have come and gone through out the years. Even now these girls call me mom and I am even performing one of my daughters hand-fasting ceremony next March. Our home was not perfect by far, as I suffered with depression, but it was better then many. My kids have learned that since which has cured many of the regrets among us.

5. What examples of beneficial fosterage can be seen today?

 I can see many cases where fosterage can be beneficial but have not really seen any beneficial fosterages... I am sure they are out there, but I have not experienced them.

The Seasons of Imbolc

Ideas for Honouring the Season of Imbolc

• Learn how to make Brighid’s crosses
• Light a white candle for Brighid at dusk
• Leave milk, bread and a ribbon outside on your doorstep for Brighid and her cow as they walk in your locale
• Make a Bride doll and Bride’s bed. Offer it to Brighid and keep it in your home all year long. (These are great gifts for friends who are recuperating from a birth, illness or surgery)
• Note that the days are beginning to lengthen
• Begin “planting the seeds” of your plans that you made at Samhain

Questions to Ponder:

1. As the days begin to grow noticably longer, are you beginning to feel the stirrings of spring in the air or even in your spirit?

I am now past Imbolc, in fact we just passed Ostara. Here is western Washington, re truly do not start to feel the spring changes until late March, early April, even still getting up in the dark. There is a hope in your spirit that Spring will soon come, but truly that is about it.

2. How are you planning on celebrating Imbolc this year?

I made a wonderful spring dinner for my mom and sister and did a spring type ritual including a blessing for a prosperous and abundent year. It was to cold (we had snow this day) and wet for anything outside.

3. What healing and inspiration do you want to bring into your life during this season of healing and rebirth?

I am continuing healing of my spirit as well and growing in my spirituality.

4. What are you "birthing" this Spring (i.e.: ideas, projects, etc that are starting to take shape)?

My business will keep growing, my store front will open this year, and we will begin the process of building our home, hobbit house.

5. How has Brighid influenced your life? (if at all)

Directly not at all but I believe that she is one who has been pushing me forward through the hard times of the last 8 months... She and the Morrigan have been behind me, supporting me, and moving me forward and on with my endeavors.

The Green Man's Challenge

Today's story is an Arthurian one that involves the Green Man and a challenge he issues to Sir Gawain, who is sometimes known as the Pagan Knight in King Arthur's Court.

The story comes to us from a poem, written in Middle English, found in a late 14th Century manuscript. I have included translations of the poem below.

The story goes something like this:

During the Christmas Feasting at Camelot, a large knight, dressed in green and carrying a holy club and a large axe, entered the feasting hall and gave his greetings to all assembled there.

"I have come to offer a Christmas game." Said the knight. "I will allow anyone here to strike me with my axe. In return, I will be permitted to strike an equal blow at the place of my choosing on New Year's Morning next year."

Hardly a game, as you can see, and the assembly was rather disturbed.

King Arthur himself volunteered to face the knight's challenge but Gawain interceded and asked that this venture be his to undertake.

"A brave man indeed!" said the knight and gave Gawain the axe.

Gawain took the large axe and struck such a blow that the knight's head was cut from his shoulders.

The knight said nothing, but picked up his head and said "On New Year's morning in a year's time, meet me at the Green Chapel, where I shall return this blow."

The knight then left the people to their feasting and did not leave directions as to where this "Green Chapel" was. He did tell him to ask around after "The Green Knight" and the folk would be able to direct him.

Throughout the following year, Gawain set out in search of the Green Night's chapel. He came across many interesting adventures and quests before he finally reached his goal: a hollow mound. No finery adorned, there was no chapel…just this mound with a hole on each end and grass growing over it. This could not be it! Gawain thought.

The knight emerged with a freshly sharpened axe, even bigger and nastier than the first and bade him welcome to his home.

"You have kept your promise right to the time and found me well." The Knight said. "I commend you. However, there is no one here save for us. Take off your helmet and fulfill your promise to me."

Gawain made no moan of the task and did as he was asked. "Do as thou wilt" he said, offering his neck.

The knight raised his axe and it fell. Gawain shrunk away.

"You are not a valiant man!" the knight cried. "I did not flinch when you struck me!"

"I apologise." Said Gawain. "I shall not shrink away again. However, unlike you, I will not be able to simply pick my head up and walk out of here. This hardly matches us blow for blow. Regardless of my impending death, I shall not shrink away."

The knight lifted his axe again and came down hard…but stopped just before he could strike the killing blow. Gawain stood as still as a stone and did not flinch.

The knight then asked Gawain to move his hood so that the neck would be bare.

"Just get on with it." Gawain said after removing the hood and baring his neck. "I did not flounder and delay when I struck my blow!"

The knight lifted the axe lightly and just let it fall on Gawain's neck. It cut in a bit, but not much. Some blood poured down Gawain's neck, but the blow was hardly debilitating or fatal.

"Stop." Said Gawain. "I have stood here while you struck not once but twice. I flinched on the first, which is my fault. But I did not flinch on the second and you decided not to strike me. If you strike me again, I shall requite you, for you have not upheld your promise of blow for blow."

During Gawain's travels, he had met with a beautiful lady who had seduced him and tried him with kisses. She had even given him a woven green girdle. The Green Knight called Gawain on this since the woman had been his own wife. Gawain apologized in shame for wooing the knight's wife.

"Worry not." The other knight said. "I sent her to try you and you held off as well as an honourable man would be expected to. Keep the girdle, for it is mine to give to you."

"I shall keep this girdle to remind me of my weakness towards women…" Gawain said, thanking the Knight.

The Knight then confessed that Morgain Le Fay had sent him to the Hall that Christmas night to test the will of Arthur and placed a blessing of happiness and good fortune on Gawain for being an honourable man.

Gawain fared well in all his endeavours after that point, but still bore within himself a sense of shame, even though he had been exonerated. No one bore him ill will, but he wore the girdle and the scar on his neck as a reminder of his weakness.


Questions:

1. At this time, look at the challenges facing you. What are you seeking to accomplish this coming year?

I would like to join the Bards, Ovates and Druid to start my druid studies.
I want to be able to meditate at will when needed.
I want a good understanding of the Goddess who has chosen me.
I will open my brick and mortar store this year.

1. In the dark of the winter, Nature gives us the challenge to "work with it, not against it". It has struck its blow by making the land barren and the sky dark. How can we fulfill our promise to Nature? What can we do to achieve this?

Do no take needlessly. Always give back and give thanks.

1. Who is your main challenger in life? Looking at this person (who you may not even like!), what does he or she teach you? How does he or she reward/challenge you?

I feel that my challender in life is myself. Fighting a lack of confidence and depression makes my life more difficult then it could otherwise be.

1. What do you feel are the Green Man's challenges in your life? What is the main theme?

To respect myself and remember that I am a part of nature and to have faith that she will care for me always.

**********************************

One basic truth in life is that while we may try to be honest, not everyone else will be!

Common sense is the greatest weapon we have against most types of deception as one of Fionn McCumhail's warriors found out the hard way one night… (From the Fenian Cycle of Irish myths)

Fionn and his men were involved in a chase one evening and were found by a Druidic Dwarf while taking a rest afterwards. The dwarf invited them to stay at his place since they looked weary.

The men were not trusting of the dwarf, but figured it would be nothing if not an adventure…so why not?

The men were treated to a wonderful dinner with plenty to drink and then fine beds to sleep in afterwards. Once the men had retired for the night, the adventure began!

Fionn was visited in his room by a woman who was fairer than the fairest women of legend. She stood in a rich chariot drawn by tiny horses and she spoke in a melodious voice.

"Come and sit beside me in my chariot and come with me to my home in the hills!" she said in an inviting tone.

Fionn was enthralled by the woman but something in his mind told him to put his thumb to his mouth (for Fionn could receive Otherworldly wisdom via the thumb he had burned on the Salmon of Wisdom). He did and the vision changed immediately.

Before him stood not a beautiful maiden in a rich chariot, but an old withered creature on a cart of sticks. Fionn turned away and did not move. Sensing that the creature had not left, he blew his horn to warn the others of wicked tricks.

The horn was heard by Fergus, Caeilte, Diarmuid, Oisin, Luacha, Goll, and Conan. All of these men were being visited by similar visions of loveliness and each took this as a sign to turn away as their chief had done.

Only one of the company did not hear the horn: a man by the name of Conan the Incontinent…one not very well loved by the rest of the Fianna.

He jumped right into the fey woman's car and found himself landing headfirst into a well of boiling water. He grabbed onto a beam that was above the well and yelled so loud the others came running to him. He was found straddling the spit over the large cooking cauldron.

The others comforted him but warned him to resist temptation for the rest of the night.

No sooner had Conan the Incontinent fallen asleep but he was visited by the same vision of the woman in the chariot and again he jumped into the car, only to find himself thrust into a forest where he was attacked by a giant panther that took his head into its mouth and began jawing on it. He screamed and the men rushed to his aid, only to find him lying on the floor with a housecat sitting on his chest, licking his chin.

"If you disturb us again with your wailing, we shall beat you with our sword belts!"

All was silent for awhile, but Conan's cries again filled the house. The men found him pinned to the floor by his hair while he struggled against unseen hands. Fionn chewed his thumb and saw the Druidic dwarf sitting in the corner singing a song. The warriors held their spears to his throat demanding his release.

The dwarf gave Fionn a vial which he then gave to Conan. The other men stood watch over the dwarf until they heard Fionn laughing. When they turned around, Conan sat unhurt but with a large bald spot on the top of his head.

They all laughed a moment, but resolved to leave the abode as soon as possible for fear of further trickery.

From that day forward, any warrior embarking on an adventure was wished better luck than Conan at Creas!


Questions:

1. Have you ever been the victim of a scam?
No, I have not.

Looking back, how could you have prevented it?

2. Have you ever deceived someone else?
No, not really, at least not intentionally. I try hard not to decieve though I have been accused of being deceiptful.

3. How have you grown from your experiences with deceit over the years?
I am just not a deceptful person, and I am also not gullable.

Winter Solstice: The Blessing of the Virgin Mother

The story we will be looking at comes from Wales and is also about a virgin birth. Most importantly, it is about the importance of a mother’s regard towards her child and the events that happen from that.

It was believed that the blessing of a mother was of great importance, even if the child was being traditionally fostered out. It was not uncommon for a mother to give her child his first solid food upon his father’s sword to ensure the child would be protected from harm. The mother’s blessing, or lack thereof, would greatly affect the child as he/she started in life.

You may recall the story of the rape of Goewin, the virgin who held Math’s feet as part of his Geas, from the Mabinogion. She was raped by his two nephews (and they were subsequently punished by being turned into animals of the opposite sex who would have to mate) and he was left without a virgin.

It was suggested that his niece, Arianrhod, be considered for the position since she was a virgin. Math called upon her right away.

When she arrived, Math asked her if she was a virgin and she said she was unsure. He asked her to step over his staff and they would see if she was a virgin. She did step over the staff and a baby boy fell from her loins. Math took up the child and said that he would be named Dylan. The boy was no sooner named than he plunged himself into the sea and swam as good as any sea creature. Dylan became the Son of the Wave and no wave would break before him.

Arianrhod fled the place and another baby dropped from her loins. No one seemed to notice, except Gwydion, who took the child and fostered him to a woman who would care for him.

This boy grew at an alarming rate and was big and smart enough to attend court by the time he was two! Gwydion saw the boy and took him back into his care. The boy loved him more than anyone else, but the time had come where he needed to receive the blessing from his mother.

Gwydion took the boy to Arianrhod’s castle and introduced him. Her response was less than favourable, for she saw the boy as a shame to her, and would not lay the blessing upon him or even acknowledge him.

“What is his name?” She finally asked.

“He has no name.” Gwydion replied. Arianrhod understood all too well the importance of a mother’s blessing and saw an opportunity to ensure this shame to her would be eliminated.

“Then this shall be his destiny.” she said. “He shall never have a name unless he gets one from me!” (Not giving a name was believed to kill the child)

Gwydion left with the boy in anger and began to think of a way to trick her into giving the boy a name.

On the next morning, Gwydion went out and through his magic, fashioned himself a boat and some beautiful leather. He took the boy with him in the boat and they landed at the port of Arianrhod’s castle. Gwydion disguised their likeness and he began to make shoes. People began to notice the high quality of the shoes, including Arianrhod.

She sent one of her servants to the disguised shoemaker and asked to send a pair of shoes up for her. The first pair he made was too big, the second were too small.
“Tell your Lady that I need to see her foot in order to make a proper shoe!”

Arianrhod came down to the boat and a pair of shoes was made to fit. While the shoes were being measured for her feet, the boy noticed a wren and shot it with his slingshot.

“With a sure and steady hand did the lion aim at that bird!” she exclaimed in wonder at the boy’s skill.

That being said, the boat disappeared and so did the disguises and the shoes, leaving only Gwydion, the boy and Arianrhod standing on the port.

“You have just given him a name: Llew Llaw Gyffes “he of the sure and steady hand of skill”!” Gwydion laughed.

“Well, you have tricked me on this one.” She said. “But I lay this destiny on him: he shall not take up arms unless I invest him with them!” Once again, it was believed that a child would have no protection or future without arms.

Gwydion left and the next day, he and the boy were disguised and came to Arianrhod’s castle as two young travelling bards. They spent a fine evening feasting and telling tales.

That night, while everyone went to bed, Gwydion worked his magic. In the morning, it appeared that ships were approaching the castle to attack.

Arianrhod ran into their room and announced to her guests that there were ships approaching who may attack.

“Close up the castle walks” He said. “And we shall help you defend it.”

Arianrhod agreed to give them all the arms they would need to defend the castle.

She returned with armament a plenty and two maidens to assist the young men into their armour.

The maidens helped the disguised Gwydion, while Arianrhod armed his smaller companion.

At that point, the noise died down and the ships vanished as quickly as they had appeared.

“What is this?” Arianrhod exclaimed.

Gwydion removed the charm of disguise from himself and the boy and told her that she had just armed her son.

“Well! There is one last destiny I will place upon this boy and not even you can use trickery!” She said. “This boy will never have for a wife, a woman of any race on this planet!”

Gwydion swore he would find a way around that and left with Llew in tow. He went to his uncle, Math, and informed him of Llew’s misfortune with Arianrhod.

“A wife not of a race of this earth?” Math asked. “Well, we can work our way around that yet! We shall fashion for Llew a wife made of the earth itself…of flowers!”

Gwydion and Math took the blossoms of Oak, Meadowsweet and broom, and from them fashioned the most beautiful of women. They named her Blodeuwedd.

Llew was wedded to the flower bride and Math gave them lands and riches to sustain them. They were loved by all of those in their land.

One day, Llew went out to see Math and left Blodeuwedd home alone with the servants. As the sun started to set, she heard a horn and saw a single man and his hounds chasing a stag. He finally killed the stag, but it was late and Blodeuwedd thought it would be a good idea to allow him to rest there for the night.

They ate supper together and it was not long until the two of them were gazing at each other with love in their eyes. The man, named Gronw Pebyr, expressed his love for her and she was overjoyed since she was in an arranged marriage and Llew never expressed such feelings for her.

They spent the better part of the night talking about their love for one another. While she had been made of flowers, she was still a woman and had fallen in love with a man of her choice!

For four days Gronw remained with her and on the last day he insisted he must leave. However, he told her to ask Llew how he might be killed…

Llew returned home to find his wife anxiously awaiting his return.

“Oh. I have missed you and have been worried so!” She said.

“Why would you worry?” He asked.

“What if you were to die while away for so long? What if you were attacked? I would be left all alone!”

“Lucky for you, I am not easily killed.” Said Llew.

“Tell me the manner in which you could be killed so that my mind may be put at ease…” She said.

“Very well.” He replied. “If it will put your mind at ease, I will tell you how hard it would be to kill me.

“I can only be killed by a wound…and that wound must be inflicted by a spear that has been a year in its forming…and it can only be worked on during a certain time on Sundays. I cannot be slain neither within a house nor outside of it, nor can I be slain on either horseback or on foot.”

“Well, in what manner can you be killed then?” She asked.

“One would have to make a bath by the side of a river and put a tightly thatched roof above it. A buck would need to be put beside the cauldron and I would need to have one foot on the cauldron and one on the buck. Then, one would have to strike me with the specially made spear.”

“Thank goodness for that…how silly of me to worry so!” She said with feigned relief.

She relayed this to Gronw who immediately set to work on making the spear.

A year later, the spear was finished and Gronw set his plan into action.

Blodeuwedd engaged Llew in the conversation about the nature of his death again and asked him to show her how it would need to be done. Llew, not being a very smart man, demonstrated how he could be slain by setting up the bath with the roof and the buck, alongside the river.

He stood with one foot on the buck and one on the cauldron, and Gronw, who had been waiting in ambush, jumped out and attacked him with the spear.

The poisoned spear struck Llew in the side and he turned into an eagle and flew away; the spear still sticking in his side.

Gronw took over ownership of Llew’s properties and he and Blodeuwedd ruled them.

Gwydion grew uneasy since he had not received word from his nephew in a long time and brought his concern up with Math. He went out to search for him and stayed at the house of a swineherd in Arvon.

They started talking about a certain sow that the swineherd could not seem to catch during the day, but she would return faithfully each night. Gwydion found this curious, so he decided to follow the pig the next day.

In the light of the next morning, Gwydion stood by the pig sty and the door was opened. The sow broke out from there and ran at a great speed. Gwydion followed her until she came to brook now called Nant Y Llew. Upon arriving there, she went to the base of a tree and ate what looked like rotting flesh and vermin.

Gwydion looked up and saw a wounded eagle with a spear in its side. Each time it shook, putrid flesh would fall from it, which the pig would eat.

Gwydion sang an englyn (4 lined song) to the eagle:
[This song is taken from the Mabinogion translated by Lady Charlotte Guest8]

"Oak that grows between the two banks;
Darkened is the sky and hill!
Shall I not tell him by his wounds,
That this is Llew?"

The eagle descended a bit down the tree and stopped in the middle. Gwydion sang again:

"Oak that grows in upland ground,
Is it not wetted by the rain? Has it not been drenched
By nine score tempests?
It bears in its branches Llew Llaw Gyffes!"

The eagle came down a bit more until it was on the lowest branch and once again Gwydion sang:

"Oak that grows beneath the steep;
Stately and majestic is its aspect!
Shall I not speak it?
That Llew will come to my lap?"

With that, the eagle hopped onto Gwydion’s lap. Gwydion touched it with his staff and the eagle turned into Llew Llaw Gyffes, his nephew.

The man was barely skin and bone and half-dead, but Gwydion was able to take him to some fine healers and within a year, Llew was fully healed.

When Llew was in fine health, Gwydion and Math decided that it was time for justice to be done upon the conspirators of Llew’s attempted murder.

Gwydion chased Blodeuwedd into the mountains and her maidens were all drowned.

“I will not kill you” he said. “Instead, for the shame you have brought upon Llew, I will change you into a bird that lives at night, will be the hate of all other birds because it will attack them and yet still has the face of a flower.” With that he changed her into an owl, the flower faced bird that is the fear of all other birds.

Gronw knew that justice was to be done to him and he offered gold, riches or anything he could offer to compensate Llew for his injury.

Llew would accept nothing less than to have Gronw stand the same as he did, upon the bath and the buck and let Llew take a shot at him with a spear.

No one in Gronw’s household would take his place, so Gronw took it upon himself to stand as Llew had done on that fateful day.

Now, Gronw prepared himself to stand as Llew did and asked Llew if he could place a stone slab between his body and the spear since it was the “wiles of a woman” that had caused him to injure Llew.

Llew, as we all know, had a sure and steady hand, and agreed.

Gronw stood with the stone and Llew hurled the spear. True to his name, the spear was aimed straight and it struck true…through the stone and through Gronw’s heart, killing him.

Llew took back his lands and lordship and ruled benevolently until the end of his days.

Questions:
1. How have your parents affected you in this regard?

My father continually rejected me and my ideas though I do not think it was me specifically that he rejected. He seemed to have a hatred for women in general that of courrse, since I was a pre-teen, included me.

My mom on the other hand has always been proud if me, even when I make choices, such as my faith, that are not her choices. This is such a huge contridction to how my father treated me.

Do you feel you have done them proud?

There was never anything i could ever do to make my  father proud. I do beleive, however, that my mom is and always has been proud of all of us and all that we do.

Do you feel a sense of loss if they have not expressed pride or have rejected you in some form?

For all of the years that my father lived, i felt the loss of his rejection. There was never anything i could ever do to make him happy or make him like me. At a point some years ago, i finally just cut him out of our lives as I didn't feel that my children needed to see someone who was suppose to be my father and their grandfather treat me so badly. He liked to make me cry and we didn't need that. When he died, I was released. It was like i was suddlely allowd to  be who i am and here i am now, following my own path even though I had not spoken to him in years.

2. How much influence would you say your parents’ opinions of you have had on you?

My parents opinions have always had a huge impact on me though it has not made my decisions for me as an adult. Having my mom's approval on many things is very important to me and not getting aprroval from my dad hurt me for many years. Even now, my mom's aprroval of the things i do is important to me especially because at this point in my life, she is my total support system.

Has their approval made you stronger?

My mon's approval has made me stronger.

Has disapproval made you weaker or has it made you want to go out and do better to prove them wrong?

My fathers constant disapproval was a big part of my depression problems when i was younger.

3. How have you bucked your parents/guardians’ approval and gone on to do the things that you want to?

I never really did.    What results have you had?
4. For those of you who have children or work with children, do you feel that your actions and opinions influence them?
Our actions do influene children, whether they are my chidlren or the students i work with. When they are praised, when you are happy and excited about something, when they see that you are praised for something you do or a particular behavior, they will strive to do the same, especially the younger children. We need to remember this when we do things that may not be so appropriate.


Have you seen evidence of this influence in their lives? Do you encourage them to do their own thing and create their own destinies?
5. What light within will you try to give birth to this Solstice?

The Season of Samhain Dark/Light

Ideas for honouring the Season of Samhain:

• Plan a “dumb supper” for your ancestors. Plan a meal alone or with friends/family and make a plate up for the ancestors. Honour your ancestors with tales of family members who have passed on, or by telling a story of a famous ancestor.
• Hold a candle-light vigil. Turn off all of the lights and stand in complete darkness for a few minutes. Reflect upon those who have passed on recently and reflect on your ancestors. When ready, light the candle and dedicate it to them. Place the candle inside a jack-o-lantern and place it outside with an offering of food, to help your ancestors find hospitality. Alternately, you could place a lit flashlight in your window to help guide the ancestors.
• Think about all that has happened this past year. What have you succeeded in doing? What lessons have you learned?
• Make plans for the upcoming year. What would you like to have achieved by this time next year?

The Coming of Fionn MacCumhail to Tara
As translated by Lady Gregory

And after [travelling and learning], Finn being but a young lad yet, made himself ready and went up at Samhain time to the gathering of the High King at Teamhair. And it was the law at that gathering, no one to raise a quarrel or bring out any grudge against another through the whole of the time it lasted.

And the king and his chief men, and Goll, son of Morna, that was now Head of the Fianna, and Caoilte, son of Ronan, and Conan, son of Morna, of the sharp words, were sitting at a feast in the great house of the Middle Court; and the young lad came in and took his place among them, and none of them knew who he was.

The High King looked at him then, and the horn of meetings was brought to him, and he put it into the boy’s hand, and asked him who was he.

"I am Finn, son of Cumhal," he said, "son of the man that used to be head over the Fianna, and king of Ireland; and I am come now to get your friendship, and to give you my service."

"You are son of a friend, boy," said the king, "and son of a man I trusted."

Then Finn rose up and made his agreement of service and of faithfulness to the king; and the king took him by the hand and put him sitting beside his own son, and they gave themselves to drinking and to pleasure for a while.

Every year, now, at Samhain time, for nine years, there had come a man of the Tuatha de Danaan out of Sidhe Finnachaidh in the north, and had burned up Teamhair. Aillen, son of Midhna, his name was, and it is the way he used to come, playing music of the Sidhe, and all the people that heard it would fall asleep. And when they were all in their sleep, he would let a flame of fire out of his mouth, and would blow the flame till all Teamhair was burned.

The king rose up at the feast after a while, and his smooth horn in his hand, and it is what he said: "If I could find among you, men of Ireland, any man that would keep Teamhair till the break of day to-morrow without being burned by Aillen, son of Midhna, I would give him whatever inheritance is right for him to have, whether it be much or little."

But the men of Ireland made no answer, for they knew well that at the sound of the sweet pitiful music made by that comely man of the Sidhe, even women in their pains and men that were wounded would fall asleep.

It is then Finn rose up and spoke to the King of Ireland. "Who will be your sureties that you will fulfill this?" he said. "The kings of the provinces of Ireland," said the king, "and Cithruadh with his Druids." So they gave their pledges, and Finn took in hand to keep Teamhair safe till the breaking of day on the morrow.

Now there was a fighting man among the followers of the King of Ireland, Fiacha, son of Conga, that Cumhal, Finn’s father, used to have a great liking for, and he said to Finn: "Well, boy," he said, "what reward would you give me if I would bring you a deadly spear, that no false cast was ever made with?"

"What reward are you asking of me?" said Finn. "Whatever your right hand wins at any time, the third of it to be mine," said Fiacha, "and a third of your trust and your friendship to be mine." "I will give you that," said Finn.
Then Fiacha brought him the spear, unknown to the sons of Morna or to any other person, and he said: "When you will hear the music of the Sidhe, let you strip the covering off the head of the spear and put it to your forehead, and the power of the spear will not let sleep come upon you."
Then Finn rose up before all the men of Ireland, and he made a round of the whole of Teamhair. And it was not long till he heard the sorrowful music, and he stripped the covering from the head of the spear, and he held the power of it to his forehead.

And Aillen went on playing his little harp, till he had put every one in their sleep as he was used; and then he let a flame of fire out from his mouth to burn Teamhair. And Finn held up his fringed crimson cloak against the flame, and it fell down through the air and went into the ground, bringing the four-folded cloak with it deep into the earth.

And when Aillen saw his spells were destroyed, he went back to Sidhe Finnachaidh on the top of Slieve Fuad; but Finn followed after him there, and as Aillen was going in at the door he made a cast of the spear that went through his heart. And he struck his head off then, and brought it back to Teamhair, and fixed it on a crooked pole and left it there till the rising of the sun over the heights and invers of the country.

And Aillen’s mother came to where his body was lying, and there was great grief on her, and she made this complaint: —

"Ochone! Aillen is fallen, chief of the Sidhe of Beinn Boirche; the slow clouds of death are come on him. Och! he was pleasant, Och! he was kind. Aillen, son of Midhna of Slieve Fuad.

"Nine times he burned Teamhair. It is a great name he was always looking for, Ochone, Ochone, Aillen!"

And at the breaking of day, the king and all the men of Ireland came out upon the lawn at Teamhair where Finn was. "King," said Finn, "there is the head of the man that burned Teamhair, and the pipe and the harp that made his music. And it is what I think," he said, "that Teamhair and all that is in it is saved."

Then they all came together into the place of counsel, and it is what they agreed, the headship of the Fianna of Ireland to be given to Finn. And the king said to Goll, son of Morna: "Well, Goll," he said, "is it your choice to quit Ireland or to put your hand in Finn’s hand?" "By my word, I will give Finn my hand," said Goll.

And when the charms that used to bring good luck had done their work, the chief men of the Fianna rose up and struck their hands in Finn’s hand, and Goll, son of Morna, was the first to give him his hand the way there would be less shame on the rest for doing it.
And Finn kept the headship of the Fianna until the end; and the place he lived in was Almhuin of Leinster, where the white dun was made by Nuada of the Tuatha de Danaan, that was as white as if all the lime in Ireland was put on it, and that got its name from the great herd of cattle that died fighting one time around the well, and that left their horns there, speckled horns and white.

As you can see, Finn did well for himself that day, and it won him the leadership of the Fianna!

Other great events happened at Samhain, including the landing of the Tuatha De Dannan at Eire and the securing of victory over the Formhori by the mating of Morrighan and Daghda.

On the eve of Samhain, just before the second battle of Magh Tuireadh (Moy Tura), Daghda found the Morrighan, washing herself at a river in Sligo. She had a foot on either bank and was washing her hair, which fell in nine tresses. The two had sexual intercourse and thus joined the forces of Leader of the Land and Goddess of the Land. After their mating, the Morrighan gave the Daghda all the information he would need to defeat the Formorian hosts. She also promised him that she would do her part by striking fear into the Formorian warriors.

Upon the victory of the Tuatha De Dannann, Morrighan proclaimed her prophecy, which many use today to bless groves and such:

The Morrigan Prophecy

After the Second Battle of Mag Tuired,
the Morrígan spoke a prophecy of peace and prosperity.

The original Irish text is given first,
after follows an English translation by Seán Ó Tuathail.


Fáistine leis an Morrígan

Sídh go neimh

neimh go domhan
domhan fo neimh
neart i gcách
án forlán
lán do mil
míd go sáith
sam i ngram
gae for sciath
sciath for dúnadh
dúnadh lonngharg
fód di uí
ros forbiur beanna
abú airbí imeachta
meas for chrannaibh
craobh do scís
scís do ás
saith do mhac
mac formhúin
muinréal tairbh
tarbh di arcain
odhbh do crann
crann do thine
tine a n-áil
ail a n-úir
uích a mbuaibh
Boinn a mbrú
brú le feabh faid
ásghlas iar earccah
foghamar forasit eacha
iall do tír
tír go trácht le feabh ráidh
bíodh rúad rossaibh síoraibh ríochmhór
sídh go neimh
bíodh síornoí.

The Morrígan's Prophecy

Peace to (as high as) the sky
sky to the earth
earth beneath sky
strength in everyone
a cup very full
a fullness of honey
honour enough
summer in winter
spear supported by shield
shields supported by forts
forts fierce eager for battle
"sod" (fleece) from sheep
woods grown with antler-tips (full of stags)
forever destructions have departed
mast (nuts) on trees
a branch drooping-down
drooping from growth
wealth for a son
a son very learned
neck of bull (in yoke)
a bull from a song
knots in woods (i.e. scrap-wood)
wood for a fire
fire as wanted
palisades new and bright
salmon their victory
the Boyne (i.e. Newgrange) their hostel
hostel with an excellence of length (size)
blue (new) growth after spring
(in) autumn horses increase
the land held secure
land recounted with excellence of word
Be might to the eternal much excellent woods
peace to (as high as the) sky
be (this) nine times eternal

Translation Copyright © 1993 John Kellnhauser
May be reposted as long as the above attribution and copyright notice are retained.

However, most people miss out on the second part of the prophecy, which is not as positive…

I shall not see a world that will be dear to me
Summer without flowers
Kine will be without milk,
Women without modesty,
Men without valor,
Captures without a king...
Woods without mast,
Sea without produce...
Wrong judgments of old men,
False precedents of lawyers,
Every man a betrayer,
Every boy a reaver
Son will enter his fathers bed,
Father will enter his son's bed,
Every one will be his brother's brother in law....
An evil time!
Son will deceive his father,
Daughter will deceive her mother.

Another event at Samhain is what is known as the Wild Hunt. This lore comes to us from England and Wales.

It is said that at this time, a group of spirits go on a wild and chaotic hunt to gather up lost souls and lead them home. An honourable pursuit, actually, but one that would seem downright frightening to the mortal person. A great hunter leads the Wild Hunt, such as Gwynn Ap Nudd, King Arthur or Herne.

Mara Freeman gives an interesting theory in her book “Kindling the Celtic Spirit7” at how the cries of migrating wild geese might have been interpreted by our ancestors as the unearthly yelping of the infamous white dogs with red ears that accompanied the hunters as they rode to gather the lost souls home!

This lore is also known in Scotland when the spirit hunters carried hawks on their wrists (explaining the noise) and rode Westward with their catch towards Tir na h-oige (Land of Youth) and Tir fo thuinn (Land Under Waves).

Using this lore, this is a good time of year to pray for those many lost souls that we hear about and hope that they get to accompany the Wild Hunters home to rest! At your Samhain rituals, say a prayer for the Lost Souls so that they too may find their way home.

This is the time when we invite the dead to feast with us and then say our goodbyes for another year. Some ideas for doing this are via the “Dumb Supper” or a feast that is held with friends and family with an extra tale setting for the ancestors; or via lighting a candle in the window the guide the dead home.

A well known tale of Chaos told at this time of year is the Scottish tale of Tam Lin.

Tam Lin was a man who was enchanted and taken away by the Fearie Queen. His love, Janet, missed him terribly and around the time of Samhain, he found a way to contact her.

“Every seven years, the queen must pay a fee to Hell, and this year that fee will be me!” he said. “But, the Faeries will ride by tonight. Cast a circle of protection around yourself with holy water, and as we come riding by, grab me from my horse and hold on to me until they pass no matter how much it will hurt or scare you!”

Janet promised to do so and went to the place Tam Lin had told her to await him. She sprinkled the holy water around her in a circle and waited.

The Faery Host came riding by and Janet saw Tam Lin. She pulled him off his horse and held on for dear life.

The Faeries turned him into an adder, a bear and a number of other frightening things before they rode by and he was finally left a naked and trembling man in Janet’s arms. She had won back her love through her courage and had prevented him from being taken to Hell by the Faerie Queen.

Questions to ask yourself at this time of year:

1. What have I accomplished this year? What did I set out to do last Spring that I have reaped the results of? (Look at these things and evaluate the events)
2. What has been dogging me that I need to find closure with? Is it the death of a loved one, an argument with a friend, a bad habit, a stale relationship or even a bad job?
3. Who am I remembering this year? (Ancestors, departed friends and family, a beloved pet who has passed on, etc.)
4. What lost souls are out there who need to find their way home? How can I help them do so? (Say a prayer for them or light a candle)
5. What ideas do I have for plans for next year? What would I like to accomplish by this time next year?
6. What can I do to find peace and comfort during the time of Winter? How can I help others?
Darkness and Light
Questions to ponder in the dark or in the light:

1. Take a little inventory of yourself and write down your dark and light aspects.
Dark side: I get really angry sometimes and I would consider this a dark aspect. I tend to not like people who are bossy or insist that they are always right.
Light side: I am a care taker. I love children and can't believe how some people treat them. I love animals, helping others, and happy things. I love nature and love to be in it. Light keeps me happy.

2. Take a deeper look at your dark and light aspects. Do you see them personified? If so…who are they? What do they look like? Who are they to you? What do they inspire within you or cause you to do?

3. How can these aspects be of benefit to you right now? How have they been of benefit to you in the past?

4. Have you ever experienced a time when you have been seriously out of balance? How did that affect you in your life (physically, in your career, in your family, etc.)

I have had many bout's with depression. This caused me to not be so kind, to have difficulty with my kids and others in my family, and to not want to work, help others, or even take care of myself. This was difficutl for everyone, not just myself and caused problems within my own household along with others who new me outside of my household. It was difficult for all involved and I still feel deep regret for much of what happened during this time, mostly for the difficulties it caused my children.

5. How did you regain your balance?

I decided that I just could not be that way any longer. I visited a doctor who helped get me back on track. i will never go back to this again though sometimes it feels like it would be easier to give in, but I don't. Now i treat myself when needed with meditation, asking the goddess for help, and herbal remedies in tea.

6. How can you attain balance in your life today?

Now I meditate to keep balance and if I need more help, i use herbs for specific needs in my tea.

How can utilize your dual aspects of dark and light?

I think that i can successfully use my darker aspect to help motivate me when I need to get things done that I don't necessarily want to do. I have also used my darker aspects to help me write spells for things that I need help with or things that I need to accomplish.

The Role of the Bard in Celtic Society

The Tale of Amairgin

Amairgin's brother fell from his boat during one of the violent storms sent by the Druids and drowned. Amairgin was then struck by sudden inspiration and he recited the following lines:

"I invoke the land of Ireland.
Much coursed be the fertile sea,
Fertile be the fruit-strewn mountain,
Fruit-strewn be the showery wood,
Showery be the river of water-falls,
Of water-falls be the lake of deep pools,
Deep-pooled be the hill-top well,
A well of tribes be the assembly,
An assembly of the kings of Tara,
Tara be the hill of the tribes,
The tribes be the sons of Mil,
Of Mil of the ships, the barks,
Let the lofty bark be Ireland,
Lofty Ireland, darkly sung,
An incantation of great cunning...
I invoke the land of Ireland (ibid)."
[Taken from Taliesin: Shamanism and the Bardic Mysteries of Britain
and Ireland by John Matthews (Arkana, London, 1991), Page 54 & 55]

With this said, the winds and sea died down to a calm state, making it possible for the Milesian ships to land upon the shore despite the losses suffered. Once landed, Amairgin continued:

"I am a wind upon the sea,
I am a wave upon the ocean,
I am a sound of the sea,
I am a stag of seven points,
I am a bull of seven fights,
I am a hawk upon a cliff,
I am a teardrop of the sun,
I am the fairest of blossoms,
I am a boar of boldness,
I am a salmon in a pool,
I am a lake on a plain,
I am the mound of poetry,
I am a word of skill,
I am a battle-waging spear of spoil,
I am a God who fashions fire in the mind.
Who but I knows the secrets of the stone door?
Who has seven times sought the peace of peace?
Who, save I, knows the ages of the moon,
The place and time the sun sets?
Who calls the kine from Tethra's house,
And sees them dance in the bright heavens?
Who shapes weapons in a fort of glass,
In a fort that harbours satirists?
Who but the poet, the singer of praises,
Who but I divides the Ogham letters,
Separates combatants, approaches the Faery mound?
I, who am a wind upon the sea."
[Taken from Taliesin: Shamanism and the Bardic Mysteries of Britain and Ireland by John Matthews (Arkana, London, 1991), Page 55. Based on the original Irish, and on the translations of R.A.S Macalister, Eleanor Hull, T.P. Cross and C.H. Slover, 170, 130. 59]Some Celtic stories that could be used in certain situations we encounter in modern life:

Job interviews - The story of how Lugh got into Tara (I told that one here not too long ago)

Forbidden love - The story of Deidre and the sons of Uiesneach (I think I spelled that wrong), The story of Grainne and Diarmuidd (From the Fionn MacCumhail Saga)

Sudden death (Violent) - The story of the death of Lugh's father Cian and the awful blood fine placed upon his murderers;

Sudden death (Heroic) - The story of CuChulainn and the Cattle Raid of Cooley

Jealous boyfriends (Yes, I have used this one on one of my jealous boyfriends) - The story of Chonchobhar's rage at losing Deirdre (Or the sorrow of Deirdre) - the one where Chonchobhar kills her lover, she kills herself, the two get buried side by side and the trees grow over the graves and entwine, mocking Conchobhar's stupidity even in death!;

Starting new projects or moving - The Milesian invasion of Ireland and Amergin's song, The arrival of the Nemedians (Soon to be the Tuatha DeDannanns);

Overbearing boss, supervisor, jerk neighbours, etc: The story of the Tuatha DeDannan's struggles with the Formorians and their taxes, The first and second Battles of Mag Tuireadh

Foster children/adopted children - Lugh's fosterage with Tailtu, Setanta's (CuChulainn in later years) fostering by King Conchobhar, Llew Llaw Gyffe's fostering by Gwydion;

Women in situations forced on them by men or society - The marriage of Dechtire to Sualtim (Dechtire was CuChulainn's mother in case some are unsure), The creation of Bloddeauwedd and her forced marriage to Llew Llaw Gyffes

Disturbing dreams - The dream of Aonghus Mac Og, The dreams and wasting sickness of CuChulainn

Jealous Girlfriends - The story of Emer's jealousy of CuChulainn's sickness over Fand, the wife of Mannanann Mac Lir

“The Song of Taliesin” by John Matthews
 Since Oghma was a child, he had a yearning…a yearning to seek and find something that he could neither describe nor even name. He just knew there was something out there that he needed to find. It drove him to his soul and he set out upon his search as a young man.

As he looked upon his fellow Gods and Goddesses, he saw darkness. He saw the darkness of Morrighan’s position…even Lugh’s! Himself…he was a lighter God. He knew the song of creation and would often cast his dark struggles away, earning him the title of Champion.

Oghma decided to take his journey and see if he could find the destiny he knew was out there for him. He knew that he would find this thing he must find.

After a seemingly long time, he was forgotten about and one night he lay beneath the faded stars and dreamt: He dreamed of a man looking at a picture of an old man who had chains coming from his tongue which were attached the ears of all of the people who followed him. What did it mean? He learned that the picture was a representation of eloquence. The old man showed the wisdom that comes as we age, and the chains were the link between the words of one person and the ears of other…the physical link. The chains were the power of this man’s eloquence, but also the lasting nature of his words.

How are words best preserved for a long time? What was the link between the words and the memories of people through the ages who could not hear them, but yet they know them many years into the future? What was the physical way to do this?

Oghma knew he was onto something, but what it was still was to be determined. He carried on with his journey until he came to the realm of Taranis, the keeper of the Great Wheel of Fate.

“What brings you here?” Asked Taranis.

“Strange as it may sound…I have come to ride your Wheel.”

“Do you know what could happen if you do such a thing? I don’t even know what could happen, but there is a chance that this could undo everything! Are you willing to take such a risk?”

“I am.” Replied Oghma and so he was tied to the Wheel of Fate and thus began his ordeal to find his destiny.

Upon the wheel, Oghma witnessed the coming and going of fate, the passing of ages and the changes that come with those passings.

He saw the work of his kindred and himself. He saw how Lugh inspired Wisdom, how Macha inspired War, how Gobhniu crafted wondrous swords and how Morrighan reaped the souls of the valiant dead. He saw himself as bringing the light of the Songs of Creation and singing his poetry to enlighten people.

He saw how he searched for meaning and how mankind too searched for meaning in the aspects of their lives – their daily work, their families, their passions and their dislikes.

Looking upon the wheel that he was tied to, he saw a sigil on each of the 25 spokes of the wheel that ties life to fate. These symbols he sought to understand. Looking at the spokes closer, he saw that they were each made of a different type of wood: oak, holly, yew, birch, etc. The symbols seemed to correspond with each of the woods.

As his knowledge grew, so did his pain as it filled his head and body. Barely able to stand the pain that wracked his body, mind and soul anymore, he passed into darkness…and the wheel ceased to turn.

And so Oghma dreamed. He stumbled through darkness until he found himself at the mouth of a well. He looked into the well and light blasted forth. In the light that seared his vision, he saw the bits of wood with the symbols and reached for them. He collected them all into a bag and attached it to his belt.

The darkness fell again and then again he returned to light. He was no longer upon the wheel, but looking down upon the earth. Great cities sprawled from the edges of oceans, lakes and rivers. People walked in light and no longer in darkness for they had the ability to transmit knowledge that would last…they had use of the written word and the written word could be reproduced and transported en masse to millions of people all at once! The knowledge could be spread and retained. These were the chains of wisdom that connected the tongue to the ears…the physical link.

Oghma’s purpose became clear. He had always brought the light of song…now it was him to bring the light of the written word. His purpose was to introduce a new form of communication…written language.

As he was set free from the wheel of fate with no knowledge, so he would set others free.


Things to ponder:

Have a look at the three Arts of Imbas Forosnai, Teimn Laeghdha and Dichetal Do Chenibh Dindsenchas. They are mentioned mostly as inspirational tools for bards. How else could these arts be applied in the spiritual sense?

 I think that these tools, as in other areas, can be used spiritually to teach faith. Things do not always work out the way we want, but it does work out. this, I feel, is the msot difficult lesson in spirituality, at least it has been for me.

Is there anyone today in music, film, literature, news or even outside of the realm of the famous that you would consider a bard in the sense of the old definitions? (See the list of bardic responsibilities)

When I think about this question, this list does not come to mind. I think of our teachers... These people best fit the responsibilies of the bard. We are historian, even if we don't teach history. We are story tellers. Everyone knows that stories are the best way to teach children and adults. We are reporters as we teach currrent events, discuss things that students do not understand, and spread news that is needed to be known. We heal everything from paper cuts, skinned knees, to broken hearts. And... we are satyrists. Making stories funny are a great way to draw students into something that may not otherwise be interesting to them.

How do you see some of the responsibilities of the bard being used today? (i.e.: appropriate story telling at an event - these wisdoms are my way of doing it, praising or satirising someone, healing, etc.)

Well, there are those amazing teachers as descibed in detail above. Ministers would be considered bards when they are guidng their congregations along their chosen paths. Mothers, good mothers and fathers are bards as they guide their children into hopefully good responsible loving adults. I think that the responsibilites of actual bards are much the same. The convey information in ways that the public will hopefully take it in and cherish it. They also tell about world problems, things that need to be changed. They help to rally for causes, also things that need to be done. It's an ongoing choice of career that is still and always will be much needed regardless of the medium that is used.

How do you see some of the responsibilities of the bard being used today? (i.e.: appropriate story telling at an event - these wisdoms are my way of doing it, praising or satirising someone, healing, etc.)

Well, there are those amazing teachers as descibed in detail above. Ministers would be considered bards when they are guidng their congregations along their chosen paths. Mothers, good mothers and fathers are bards as they guide their children into hopefully good responsible loving adults. I think that the responsibilites of actual bards are much the same. The convey information in ways that the public will hopefully take it in and cherish it. They also tell about world problems, things that need to be changed. They help to rally for causes, also things that need to be done. It's an ongoing choice of career that is still and always will be much needed regardless of the medium that is used.

Questions to Ponder:

1.When you first learned to read and write, what feeling did you get? Did you feel a sense of a door to great knowledge opening for you? What do you feel those who are illiterate might be missing out on?

I have been reading and writing from before I can remember so I really cannot answer the first question I can't imagine not knowing how to read and write, however. There is so much that those who are illiterate are missing out on. I can not imagine life with the many stories and books i have read. writing givese us a way to remember times we don't want to forget. It also gives us a way to see how different people see things whether it be history, the news, or their favorite celebrity. Also, in the world of the internet today, we are able to get to know and speak with people from all over the world. This is a whole world that would be near impossible if you could not read or write.

2. Again, we look at an initiatory process and gaining of wisdom in John Matthews’ story of Oghma on the Wheel of Taranis. What have you learned from ordeals in your life?

Each ordeal teaches us new ways to move forward, teaches us to think critically, and also teaches us that everything happens for a reason even if we do not see what it is immediately.

3. Would you say that any of these ordeals were self-directed like Oghma’s ordeal was?

I think that our ordeals are self directed if not always directly. We make decisions and things happen, though they are not always under our control.

4 and 5. Do you get the feeling that you may have a purpose but do not know what it is? How could you find that purpose? Do you feel that you know what your purpose is? How have you found it? How do you intend to pursue it?
I do feel that I have a purpose and it is not coming into play. through out my liffe I have had to deal with a lot. I have always wanted to be and have become a teacher and I think with what is happening in our world today and with the direction things are going, i am  meant to be a teacher. Not as in school as I am currently, but I believe that am meant to be a spiritual teacher and have already become such in a way. As the bards discussed above, I have a lot of learning to come but that is the direction that my lifes seems to be taking.

6. Looking at the Ogham, in what way could you use it in your daily life?

I plan to learn to use it for divination. I akse use it for intent purposes in spells and rituals.

7. Have you ever created your own system of lettering and writing? When I was a kid we made up codes.  Have you ever learned another culture’s system of writing, such as Chinese or Arabic? No. What feeling did you get from this knowledge or creation?

8. What would you say are the mysteries of the Ogham; in the letters themselves and their applications in daily life?

The mysteries are in the representations and the interpretations of these letters, not in the letterse themselves. Each letter or inscribing had a specific meaning to be put into context with the fews around them. These together are what gives you the meaning of the writings.

9. Have you ever gotten to know a tree? No but I would like to.. (If you’ve never communed with one, it may be well worth the experience to try!) What have you learned from this experience?  Some day when this is something that I am able to do, I will answer this.

 

Spring Equinox: Ostara!!!

There are so many things you can do to celebrate the spring equinox... or Ostara, no matter when you live or what the weather is like. It is true, many thing can very. You can plant your garden of there is snow  on the ground. You can go have a picnic when it's 35 degrees, well you could but not something I would do but what about these items.

Celebrating the Spring Equinox

• Plant seeds and raise them indoors until it is safe to plant them outside
• Note that the length of day and night are balanced
• Go outside and look for the first signs of spring in your area.
• Reacquaint yourself with the joy of painting hard-boiled eggs with non-toxic paint

These are things that we can all do in celebration fo the upcoming spring. I say this as I sit in a classroom looking at the snow coming down and covering the ground, cars, and trees. hmmm. March in the great northwest. Lol...


Spring is a time of transformation and change. In my studies, I was introduced to the story of Talisman and wanted to share it with whom reads this blog... Enjoy!

The story starts not with Taliesin but with Cerridwen, her husband Tegid and their three children, a daughter, Creiwry, a son, Morvan ap Tegid and their brother Avagddu. Creiwry and Avagddu were twins and both children were as opposite as night and day. Where Creiwry was fair, bright and lovely in nature and looks, Avagddu was dark, dull- witted and unattractive in every respect. His name alone meant "Utter Darkness" and his future was not too bright.

Cerridwen was heartbroken and wanted to do something to secure a brighter future for her dark son. Where he wouldn't get ahead in life with looks (and plastic surgery was not available!), Cerridwen decided that she could do something about his knowledge with the help of a magic potion. If Avagddu could be wise, who would care if he was as ugly as sin?

The potion itself proved to be no easy task to prepare. It required a year and a day worth of tending and adding ingredients at just the right time. A small price to pay if it meant success for her child!

Knowing that the potion must remain at a steady boil for the year and a day, and also knowing that she could not tend it herself while gathering ingredients and such, Cerridwen hired two people to tend the fire and stir the potion. Gwion Bach was a young boy who got the task of stirring the potion and Morda, an old man, got the task of tending the fire.

Diligently, these two fellows tended the potion well and Cerridwen was relieved to be able to gather the ingredients and make the proper incantations.

Towards the end of the year and a day, Cerridwen was out making the final incantation when three hot drops spurted forth from the boiling cauldron and landed on Gwion's finger. It must have hurt like heck and Gwion did what any other person would do when hot drops land on one's finger…suck at it!

Little did he know that those three drops were what was needed by Avagddu, while the rest of the potion was useless. To say that Cerridwen would be a little peeved off upon her return is the understatement of the century and Gwion, with all his new found magical wisdom figured that she would be after his head, so he took off.

The cauldron burst into two and the rancid liquid rushed forth and contaminated the river that Chief Gwyddno Garanhir's horses drank from. A royal disaster indeed!

True to Gwion's enlightened hypothesis, Cerridwen was absolutely furious and struck a blow to Morda with a stick, knocking one of his eyes out.

"You've disfigured me wrongly" said Morda. "I was not responsible for your loss!"

"You are right" said Cerridwen. "It was the young lad, Gwion, who has robbed me!"

(No mention is made of any compensation given to Morda…)

Cerridwen took off after Gwion and found him sure enough. Sensing her wrath and having the power to change, Gwion changed himself into hare to make a speedy escape. Cerridwen changed herself into a greyhound to pursue him.

Upon reaching the edge of a river, Gwion jumped in and changed himself into a fish. Cerridwen, not wanting to be outdone, turned into an otter and pursued him still.

He got out of the water and turned himself into a bird, but Cerridwen still pursued by turning herself into a hawk. She was not giving up the chase! What was Gwion to do?

Looking down, he saw a heap of wheat and changed himself into a grain of wheat and fell into the heap. Cerridwen changed herself into a black hen and ate the grain of wheat that was Gwion. Was this the end of Gwion?

Cerridwen bore him in her womb for nine months and he was born a beautiful baby boy. Cerridwen's anger melted and she could not bear to kill this lovely child with his radiant brow. Instead, she wrapped him in a leathern bag and set him out to sea on a coracle to let fate sort things out. According to Lady Charlotte Guest's translation of the Mabinogion, this was done on the 29th of April.

Meanwhile, at the stronghold of Gwyddno Garanhir, it was nearing the time for a great salmon roundup at Gwyddno's famous weir. Gwyddno had a son, Elphin, who was as unlucky as he was a nice fellow and Gwyddno wanted to see his son's luck change.

At the advice of his counselors, Gwyddno sent Elphin to take the salmon from the weir to see if his fortune would change.

Elphin went to the famous weir and was disheartened to see not one salmon caught in the net. The only thing there was a leather bag, which was caught in the net.

One of the men minding the weir said "If you were unlucky before tonight, then this is definitely not your lucky night! The weir has always produced at least a hundred pounds of salmon on the eve of Beltane, but tonight there is naught but a leather bag hanging from it!"

Figuring things couldn't get much worse, Elphin decided to take the bag and have a look inside. What he saw amazed him…for there in the bag was a child with the most beautiful light shining from his brow!

"Behold, a radiant brow!" Elphin exclaimed. "Taliesin" means radiant brow and thus the child in the bag was named.

Beautiful as the child was, he was not a hundred pounds of salmon! Gwyddno's weir had never failed to produce salmon…he had cursed them all. Boy, would Elphin's father be upset!

Elphin placed the boy on his horse and began to ride back to his father's stronghold, lamenting all the while the failed production of fish.

"Fair Elphin, cease to lament!" said the boy and he proceeded with the song of his origins:

"Let no one be dissatisfied with his own,
To despair will bring no advantage.
No man sees what supports him;
The prayer of Cynllo will not be in vain;
God will not violate his promise.
Never in Gwyddno's weir
Was there such good luck as this night.
Fair Elphin, dry thy cheeks!
Being too sad will not avail.
Although thou thinkest thou hast no gain,
Too much grief will bring thee no good;
Nor doubt the miracles of the Almighty:
Although I am but little, I am highly gifted.
From seas, and from mountains,
And from the depths of rivers,
God brings wealth to the fortunate man.
Elphin of lively qualities,
Thy resolution is unmanly;
Thou must not be over sorrowful:
Better to trust in God than to forbode ill.
Weak and small as I am,
On the foaming beach of the ocean,
In the day of trouble I shall be
Of more service to thee than three hundred salmon.
Elphin of notable qualities,
Be not displeased at thy misfortune;
Although reclined thus weak in my bag,
There lies a virtue in my tongue.
While I continue thy protector
Thou hast not much to fear;
Remembering the names of the Trinity,
None shall be able to harm thee."

(Song taken from Lady Charlotte Guest's translation of the Mabinogion)

Elphin was shocked…an infant who could speak so eloquently and with such wisdom…perhaps his luck had changed for the better after all!

"Are you a man or a spirit?" Asked Elphin.

"First, I have been formed a comely person,
In the court of Caridwen I have done penance;
Though little I was seen, placidly received,
I was great on the floor of the place to where I was led;
I have been a prized defence, the sweet muse the cause,
And by law without speech I have been liberated
By a smiling black old hag, when irritated
Dreadful her claim when pursued:
I have fled with vigour, I have fled as a frog,
I have fled in the semblance of a crow, scarcely finding rest;
I have fled vehemently, I have fled as a chain,
I have fled as a roe into an entangled thicket;
I have fled as a wolf cub, I have fled as a wolf in a wilderness,
I have fled as a thrush of portending language;
I have fled as a fox, used to concurrent bounds of quirks;
I have fled as a martin, which did not avail;
I have fled as a squirrel, that vainly hides,
I have fled as a stag's antler, of ruddy course,
I have fled as iron in a glowing fire,
I have fled as a spear-head, of woe to such as has a wish for it;
I have fled as a fierce hull bitterly fighting,
I have fled as a bristly boar seen in a ravine,
I have fled as a white grain of pure wheat,
On the skirt of a hempen sheet entangled,
That seemed of the size of a mare's foal,
That is filling like a ship on the waters;
Into a dark leathern bag I was thrown,
And on a boundless sea I was sent adrift;
Which was to me an omen of being tenderly nursed,
And the Lord God then set me at liberty."

(Song taken from Lady Charlotte Guest's translation of the Mabinogion)

Elphin took the boy to his father's court and Gwyddno asked if he had brought home any salmon.

"Alas the weir was barren…" said Elphin, to which Gwyddno lamented.

"However, I have brought home a bounty that is better than fish…" Elphin continued.

"What would that be?" asked Gwyddno.

"A bard!"

"And what shall he profit you?" asked Gwyddno, thinking the worst.

"He will profit more from him than that weir ever profited you!" replied the baby Taliesin.

"You can speak and yet you are so small!" Gwyddno exclaimed in disbelief.

"Yes, I can speak far better than you can to question me." Replied Taliesin.

"Well then…let's hear what you have to say!" Said Gwyddno and Taliesin sang another song of his origins.

With that Gwyddno was floored by the boy's wisdom and Elphin took the boy home where he and his wife cared for him lovingly.

For the next thirteen years, Elphin's luck indeed changed for the better. He grew in riches and popularity. When Taliesin was 13 years old, Elphin took him to the court of Maelgwn Gwynedd for a winter feast.

Maelgwn was King and a highly celebrated sort of man who enjoyed getting fawned over. Of course, he had earned his reputation, but he still took it to the extreme.

All of the finest men and women were at the party and the question was asked "Does anyone have greater bards than Maelgwn?" and "Is there a man with a more virtuous wife than Maelgwn?"

Elphin replied "My wife is certainly more virtuous and my bard finer than any of Maelgwn's!"

Not a way to make oneself popular at parties hosted by Kings, I'd say, and Maelgwn took notice immediately. The court went quiet.

Maelgwn had Elphin thrown into prison and his feet secured with a silver chain until he could ascertain the virtue of Elphin's wife and the skill of Elphin's bard.

To test Elphin's wife, Maelgwn sent his own son, Rhun to inquire. Rhun was a graceless and churlish sort of man who was known to resort to dirty ways of winning.

His intent was to get Elphin's wife drunk until she passed our, have his way with her, cut off her finger and prove that she was disloyal to her husband.

Taliesin figured out what Rhun was up to, so he had Elphin's wife switch clothes and roles with one her maidservants. The maid was also given the wedding ring to wear.

Rhun showed up for his "visit" and did what he had intended to do.

The next day, Elphin's wife was brought before Maelgwn where Rhun intended to prove her disloyalty.

"How would you prove this woman's disloyalty" asked Maelgwn to his son, Rhun.

"Easily said…I have cut off her wedding ring finger while she was drunk!" Rhun replied, showing his gruesome trophy with the wedding ring upon it.

Maelgwn brought Elphin out to make fun of him about his wife's lack of virtue. "It would do well for a man not to boast of his wife's virtue when she is less than such!"

"Hmm…I cannot deny the ring is our wedding ring." Elphin said. "But I can also say that this finger is not my wife's."

"How can you say that?" Maelgwn asked.

"Well, for starters, this nail has not been pared for a month. My wife cuts her nails every night before bed. Secondly, there is bread dough under the nail. My wife has not made bread since before we were married. Thirdly, my wife could never keep the ring on because it was always too big. The ring was forced on a finger that is too big for it here!"

At that point, Elphin's wife showed her hands complete with all ten fingers.

"Whose finger is this then?" Maelgwn demanded.

The hung over maid-servant with a missing ring finger was then brought in.

Furious with being shown up in front of his court, Maelgwn had Elphin thrown back into prison until he could ascertain the skill of his bard.

Elphin's wife and Taliesin went home and she was distraught over her husband being in prison.

"What are we going to do to get him out?" She asked.

To which Taliesin replied:

"A journey will I perform,
And to the gate I will come;
The hall I will enter,
And my song I will sing;
My speech I will pronounce
To silence royal bards,
In presence of their chief,
I will greet to deride,
Upon them I will break
And Elphin I will free.
Should contention arise,
In presence of the prince,
With summons to the bards,
For the sweet flowing song,
And wizards' posing lore
And wisdom of Druids,
In the court of the sons of the distributor
Some are who did appear
Intent on wily schemes,
By craft and tricking means,
In pangs of affliction
To wrong the innocent,
Let the fools be silent,
As erst in Badon's fight,--
With Arthur of liberal ones
The head, with long red blades;
Through feats of testy men,
And a chief with his foes.
Woe be to them, the fools,
When revenge comes on them.
I Taliesin, chief of bards,
With a sapient Druid's words,
Will set kind Elphin free
From haughty tyrant's bonds.
To their fell and chilling cry,
By the act of a surprising steed,
From the far distant North,
There soon shall be an end.
Let neither grace nor health
Be to Maelgwn Gwynedd,
For this force and this wrong;
And be extremes of ills
And an avenged end
To Rhun and all his race:
Short be his course of life,
Be all his lands laid waste;
And long exile be assigned
To Maelgwn Gwynedd"

(Song taken from Lady Charlotte Guest's translation of the Mabinogion)

Taliesin went to the court that night and sat with Maelgwn's bards. He sat and waited for each of the bards to stand and sing Maelgwn's praises. As they passed him, he pouted his lips and played "Blerwn, blewrm" upon them with his finger.

When the bards got up sing, all they could do is play "Blewrn, Blewrm" upon their lips as if enchanted.

All of them followed suit and Maelgwn was enraged. One of his lords hit one of the bards over the head with a stick which brought the man out of his enchantment.

"Are you drunk?" asked Maelgwn.

"It's not of the drink that we do this, but the powerful influence of the young lad who sits yonder." Replied the bard, pointing at the young Taliesin.

"Who are you?" asked Maelgwn to the young boy.

Taliesin Replied:

"Primary chief bard am I to Elphin,
And my original country is the region of the summer stars;
Idno and Heinin called me Merddin,
At length every king will call me Taliesin.
I was with my Lord in the highest sphere,
On the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell
I have borne a banner before Alexander;
I know the names of the stars from north to south;
I have been on the galaxy at the throne of the Distributor;
I was in Canaan when Absalom was slain;
I conveyed the Divine Spirit to the level of the vale of Hebron;
I was in the court of Don before the birth of Gwdion.
I was instructor to Eli and Enoc;
I have been winged by the genius of the splendid crosier;
I have been loquacious prior to being gifted with speech;
I was at the place of the crucifixion of the merciful Son of God;
I have been three periods in the prison of Arianrod;
I have been the chief director of the work of the tower of Nimrod;
I am a wonder whose origin is not known.
I have been in Asia with Noah in the ark,
I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra;
I have been in India when Roma was built,
I am now come here to the remnant of Troia.
I have been with my Lord in the manger of the ass:
I strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan;
I have been in the firmament with Mary Magdalene;
I have obtained the muse from the cauldron of Caridwen;
I have been bard of the harp to Lleon of Lochlin.
I have been on the White Hill, in the court of Cynvelyn,
For a day and a year in stocks and fetters,
I have suffered hunger for the Son of the Virgin,
I have been fostered in the land of the Deity,
I have been teacher to all intelligences,
I am able to instruct the whole universe.
I shall be until the day of doom on the face of the earth;
And it is not known whether my body is flesh or fish.
Then I was for nine months
In the womb of the hag Caridwen;
I was originally little Gwion,
And at length I am Taliesin."

(Song taken from Lady Charlotte Guest's translation of the Mabinogion)

He then turned to the bards of Maelgwn and chided them as follows:

"Puny bards, I am trying
To secure the prize, if I can;
By a gentle prophetic strain
I am endeavouring to retrieve
The loss I may have suffered;
Complete the attempt I hope,
Since Elphin endures trouble
In the fortress of Teganwy,
On him may there not be laid
Too many chains and fetters;
The Chair of the fortress of Teganwy
Will I again seek;
Strengthened by my muse I am powerful;
Mighty on my part is what I seek,
For three hundred songs and more
Are combined in the spell I sing.
There ought not to stand where I am
Neither stone, neither ring;
And there ought not to be about me
Any bard who may not know
That Elphin the son of Gwyddno
Is in the land of Artro,
Secured by thirteen locks,
For praising his instructor;
And then I Taliesin,
Chief of the bards of the west,
Shall loosen Elphin
Out of a golden fetter."
* * * *
"If you be primary bards
To the master of sciences,
Declare ye mysteries
That relate to the inhabitants of the world;
There is a noxious creature,
From the rampart of Satanas,
Which has overcome all
Between the deep and the shallow;
Equally wide are his jaws
As the mountains of the Alps;
Him death will not subdue,
Nor hand or blades;
There is the load of nine hundred wagons
In the hair of his two paws;
There is in his head an eye
Green as the limpid sheet of icicle;
Three springs arise
In the nape of his neck;
Sea-roughs thereon
Swim through it;
There was the dissolution of the oxen
Of Deivrdonwy the water-gifted.
The names of the three springs
From the midst of the ocean;
One generated brine
Which is from the Corina,
To replenish the flood
Over seas disappearing;
The second, without injury
It will fall on us,
When there is rain abroad,
Through the whelming sky;
The third will appear
Through the mountain veins,
Like a flinty banquet,
The work of the King of kings,
You are blundering bards,
In too much solicitude;
You cannot celebrate
The kingdom of the Britons;
And I am Taliesin,
Chief of the bards of the west,
Who will loosen Elphin
Out of the golden fetter."
* * * *
"Be silent, then, ye unlucky rhyming bards,
For you cannot judge between truth and falsehood.
If you be primary bards formed by heaven,
Tell your king what his fate will be.
It is I who am a diviner and a leading bard,
And know every passage in the country of your king;
I shall liberate Elphin from the belly of the stony tower;
And will tell your king what will befall him.
A most strange creature will come from the sea marsh of Rhianedd
As a punishment of iniquity on Maelgwn Gwynedd;
His hair, his teeth, and his eyes being as gold,
And this will bring destruction upon Maelgwn Gwynedd."
* * * * *
"Discover thou what is
The strong creature from before the flood,
Without flesh, without bone,
Without vein, without blood,
Without head, without feet;
It will neither be older nor younger
Than at the beginning;
For fear of a denial,
There are no rude wants
With creatures.
Great God! how the sea whitens
When first it comes!
Great are its gusts
When it comes from the south;
Great are its evaporations
When it strikes on coasts.
It is in the field, it is in the wood,
Without hand, and without foot,
Without signs of old age,
Though it be co-æval
With the five ages or periods;
And older still,
Though they be numberless years.
It is also so wide
As the surface of the earth;
And it was not born,
Nor was it seen.
It will cause consternation
Wherever God willeth.
On sea, and on land,
It neither sees, nor is seen.
Its course is devious,
And will not come when desired;
On land and on sea,
It is indispensable.
It is without an equal,
It is four-sided;
It is not confined,
It is incomparable;
It comes from four quarters;
It will not be advised,
It will not be without advice.
It commences its journey
Above the marble rock,
It is sonorous, it is dumb,
It is mild,
It is strong, it is bold,
When it glances over the land,
It is silent, it is vocal,
It is clamorous,
It is the most noisy
On the face of the earth.
It is good, it is bad,
It is extremely injurious.
It is concealed,
Because sight cannot perceive it.
It is noxious, it is beneficial;
It is yonder, it is here;
It will discompose,
But will not repair the injury;
It will not suffer for its doings,
Seeing it is blameless.
It is wet, it is dry,
It frequently comes,
Proceeding from the heat of the sun,
And the coldness of the moon.
The moon is less beneficial,
Inasmuch as her heat is less.
One Being has prepared it,
Out of all creatures,
By a tremendous blast,
To wreak vengeance
On Maelgwn Gwynedd."

At this point, a wind rose up so high as to knock everyone in the room onto the floor. Maelgwn ordered Elphin to be brought forth in chains and Taliesin (now on a roll!) continued: (The following taken from Lady Charlotte Guest's translation)

"I adore the Supreme, Lord of all animation,--
Him that supports the heavens, Ruler of every extreme,
Him that made the water good for all,
Him who has bestowed each gift, and blesses it;--
May abundance of mead be given Maelgwn of Anglesey, who supplies us,
From his foaming meadhorns, with the choicest pure liquor.
Since bees collect, and do not enjoy,
We have sparkling distilled mead, which is universally praised.
The multitude of creatures which the earth nourishes
God made for man, with a view to enrich him;--
Some are violent, some are mute, he enjoys them,
Some are wild, some are tame; the Lord makes them;--
Part of their produce becomes clothing;
For food and beverage till doom will they continue.
I entreat the Supreme, Sovereign of the region of peace,
To liberate Elphin from banishment,
The man who gave me wine, and ale, and mead,
With large princely steeds, of beautiful appearance;
May he yet give me; and at the end,
May God of his good will grant me, in honour,
A succession of numberless ages, in the retreat of tranquillity.
Elphin, knight of mead, late be thy dissolution!"

And afterwards he sang the ode which is called "The Excellence of the Bards."

"What was the first man
Made by the God of heaven;
What the fairest flattering speech
That was prepared by Ieuav;
What meat, what drink,
What roof his shelter;
What the first impression
Of his primary thinking;
What became his clothing;
Who carried on a disguise,
Owing to the wilds of the country,
In the beginning?
Wherefore should a stone be hard;
Why should a thorn be sharp-pointed?
Who is hard like a flint;
Who is salt like brine;
Who sweet like honey;
Who rides on the gale;
Why ridged should be the nose;
Why should a wheel be round;
Why should the tongue be gifted with speech
Rather than another member?
If thy bards, Heinin, be competent,
Let them reply to me, Taliesin."

And after that he sang the address which is called "The Reproof of the Bards."

"If thou art a bard completely imbued
With genius not to be controlled,
Be thou not untractable
Within the court of thy king;
Until thy rigmarole shall be known,
Be thou silent, Heinin,
As to the name of thy verse,
And the name of thy vaunting;
And as to the name of thy grandsire
Prior to his being baptized.
And the name of the sphere,
And the name of the element,
And the name of thy language,
And the name of thy region.
Avaunt, ye bards above,
Avaunt, ye bards below!
My beloved is below,
In the fetter of Arianrod
It is certain you know not
How to understand the song I utter,
Nor clearly how to discriminate
Between the truth and what is false;
Puny bards, crows of the district,
Why do you not take to flight?
A bard that will not silence me,
Silence may he not obtain,
Till he goes to be covered
Under gravel and pebbles;
Such as shall listen to me,
May God listen to him."
Then sang he the piece called "The Spite of the Bards."
"Minstrels persevere in their false custom,
Immoral ditties are their delight;
Vain and tasteless praise they recite;
Falsehood at all times do they utter;
The innocent persons they ridicule;
Married women they destroy,
Innocent virgins of Mary they corrupt;
As they pass their lives away in vanity,
Poor innocent persons they ridicule;
At night they get drunk, they sleep the day;
In idleness without work they feed themselves;
The Church they hate, and the tavern they frequent;
With thieves and perjured fellows they associate;
At courts they inquire after feasts;
Every senseless word they bring forward;
Every deadly sin they praise;
Every vile course of life they lead;
Through every village, town, and country they stroll;
Concerning the gripe of death they think not;
Neither lodging nor charity do they give;
Indulging in victuals to excess.
Psalms or prayers they do not use,
Tithes or offerings to God they do not pay,
On holidays or Sundays they do not worship;
Vigils or festivals they do not heed.
The birds do fly, the fish do swim,
The bees collect honey, worms do crawl,
Every thing travails to obtain its food,
Except minstrels and lazy useless thieves.
I deride neither song nor minstrelsy,
For they are given by God to lighten thought;
But him who abuses them,
For blaspheming Jesus and his service."

Maelgwn and his bards were dumbfounded as Elphin's chains fell from his feet. Taliesin had truly proved that he more than surpassed Maelgwn's bards and he was named Chief Bard of Gwynedd.

Questions to Ponder:1. What was the greatest gift that your mother gave you or service that she did for you? Even if she failed at doing something for you, were her actions appreciated?

She gave me courage and the freedom to decide for myself. I don't think she ever failed at anything she did for. She has always and still does that best that she can as I now do for her. I do feel a lot, however, that I fail her. I certainly hope not but much of the time that is how I feel.

2. What was the most transformative experience of your life? What elements were present in the process?

Well, this is difficult to answer. Life is so full of transformations. From child to adult, from single to married, from person to parent, and then back to single no children, from part of a couple to single. From worker to students and then career person... changing to Spiritualist and druid. I can not choose one so I will talk about my change to this path as that is what this is all about.

The changes have been amazing and of course the precess continues and always will. I really don't know how else to put it. A sense of calmness, release, i think is one of the most prominent changes. A sense of belonging that I have always looked for but never found. I have always felt different and now with my circle of friends, I feel like I belong somewhere but not where I physically reside. It's been amazing.

Elements present in the change? Attitude is a big one. When I made that first spiritual connection through meditation, my attitude chanes forever... it was an automatic thing.

After a rough year, I am almost starting over. Learning again to meditate, trying to find my way back to the peace in life and peace of mind. Working back into finding my faith in the powers that control our destinies and fulfull our needs. It is an every changing ever learning process.

3. When has your merit shone through when others would try to block your path or put you down?

I do not know how to answer this question. I have spent my life over coming obstacles from getting through college in my 30s as a single parent to finding my own spirituality and just supporting and raising my kids. While I am finding peace with my obstacles, learning not to worry to much ~ though worry is not something that just goes away, you learn worry and have to, in turn, learn to put it aside ~ and learning to take care of myself first, something else very new to me. I am learning and progressing though it is definitely a day to day process. Some days are easier then others. 
  
Have you seen truth shine through for others in this manner?

I am much better at picking this out in others then I am at picking this out in myself...

4. How have you rewarded loyalty or how was your loyalty rewarded by another?

This is not soemthing I have really experienced as I have always been on my own. My kids are amazing... that is the extent of my rewards for loyalty... while this is huge, I have done much in my life, now as I look back I realize how much and the rewards at this point are yet to be seen.

How have you served?

While I have not always been Druid or even pagan admittedly, I have always served. I am a helper, a care taker of everyone. I have taken people in, given things away, pushed and supported many and done have always done anything I can when I come across someone in need. I still do. It is just the way that I am.

5. With regards to magic solutions, what have been your experiences? Does it work, has it failed? What does this story tell you about it? (Everyone sees things differently!)

My own magical solutions to problems have all worked so far though I do not tend to ask for outlandish or strange over the top things. Success in my store which provides the monetary abundance for my household. Work has not been successful in the way that I would like but I am subbing for now that works. I have asked often for healing of pain, sleep, and healing requests like that and they have all worked amazingly. Once again, I am not good at taking care of myself though I am getting better. I tend to also not ask for things for myself either but I am also getting better there.