Cylch Blodeuwedd

Druidic Grove in North-West Wales

Who We Are

Below you will find a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) which first of all explain all about us, and also about the druid path. We also hope to develop an FAQ for the commonly asked questions for website users, which will be done by our webmaster, Dafydd.

Click on any link to take you to where you wish, or if you’d just like to browse, scroll down.

FAQ–Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT US :

ABOUT DRUIDRY:

WHO ARE WE?

We are a small but rapidly growing group. For the first 18 months of our existence, we were merely three members from the same family, plus two or three friends and neighbours from the same valley, this beautiful Nantlle Vale, with lofty, cloud-topped Snowdon at its head and the sparkling tapestry of the ocean at its foot. Since the Grove’s origins, we have gathered members from all over North Wales, representing the Llyn Peninsula, Anglesey, Flintshire and of course, Gwynedd.

Appropriately, at Samhain/Gŵyl Calan Gaeaf 2005, our Grove suddenly began to grow and now we have a regular attendance of about 13, sometimes reaching above 20. Over the last few years, a lot of people have come and gone, and now we are left with the most committed members, who fully participate and understand what we do! This of course is very liberating.

Primarily, we come together to learn from one another, pool and share ideas and to celebrate in a way which feels comfortable to us and which reflects our joy and awe for the natural world, life in general and also each other. When Cylch Blodeuwedd began, it was a ‘Learning Grove’, where the Grove Mother led the way, but since 2007, all members have been encouraged to lead rituals, contribute in a major way, and show an active interest, because as Gillian has said many times, “This is YOUR Grove!” Because of this, the Grove has benefited immensely, drawing from a wider source of inspiration and interpretation.

The members of Cylch Blodeuwedd come from many different spiritual backgrounds, including Pagan and Christian… some of us are Quakers, others have strong leanings to Buddhism … most of us are also Theosophists. Some of us belong to the Druid Network, others are members of OBOD, and a few contribute to Druidic Dawn. We do not have a “Priest” or “Priestess”, attempting to remain as democratic as possible, but Gillian does act as “Grove Mother”. She, with the help of her family (Holger, Dafydd, and Jenn) oversee the day-to-day running and organisation of the grove as ably and willingly as possible, but helped by all the others. As said above, all members are encouraged to participate, volunteer to contribute to or lead rituals, and of course, have a good time. We can be serious, but we also know how to have fun and laugh!

WHY DO WE HAVE A WEBSITE?

This website has been constructed with two main objectives in mind.

The first is to act as an online diary and resource for all the Cylch Blodeuwedd members, where they can easily communicate with each other, keep up-to-date with upcoming events, and share their recipes, crafts and pictures from our various festivals and gatherings.

The second purpose is to represent the real-life Grove to the rest of the world, so that anyone interested in us or material on our website can “share” and find out more. Anyone is welcome to copy, build and expand upon our craft and recipe ideas, and make these their own. We want to be an inspiration to other Groves and people out there on a similar path.

It is wonderful to communicate and share, to bounce ideas and inspiration off each other in an atmosphere of mutual love, reverence and fun. So please, draw up a metaphorical chair to our www. table and join with us… and we hope, ENJOY!

DO WE USE WELSH? DAN NI’N DEFNYDDIO’R GYMRAEG?

We feel very strongly that Welsh should be used as much as possible in our meetings, because it belongs to this land, to Cymru, and because of that, we have all noticed that when Welsh/Cymraeg is in use, the land seems to respond more.

As a group, we are about half Welsh speakers or learners and half non-Welsh speakers. Because of this, our entire rituals and gatherings are not in Welsh, BUT Welsh speakers are encouraged to greet the ancestors and spirits of place in the language of this land, as well as with each other.

WHO IS BLODEUWEDD?

You will find her in the tale of Math fab Mathonwy in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, one of kingship and sovereignty. The king of Arfon from whom the tale takes its name is Math fab Mathonwy, a descendent of the gods whose feet must never rest on the earth. He has to choose an heir to suceed his divine kingship, but the Celtic and probably pre-Celtic peoples believed that the king gained his sovereignty from the land–which means that whatever heir he chooses must also please the land goddess. Gwydion, magician (his name means Great Knower), decides that his son (and nephew) Lleu Llaw Gyffes is destined to take this place as divine king. After Arianrhod, the Fate Goddess and Lleu’s mother denies her son his “rightful” place, Gwydion and Math create a companion or bride from (traditionally) nine different kinds of flowers or herbs. ‘Blodeuedd’ they call her, for blodau means “flowers” in the welsh language. She was made of the wildness and beauty of earth–possibly in effect like an elemental. She was created so that Lleu could mate with the earth (for the Celtic Sovereign King was considered the mate of the Earth Goddess) but as Lleu was either incapable or otherwise obsessed with war and campaigns (sounds familiar to Arthur and his Grail Quest, doesn’t it?), it is no wonder that Blodeuedd fell in love with Gronw, the Hunter Lord of the Otherworld. They conspired to put Lleu to death–and in so doing, initiated Lleu into a demi-god and sacrificial king. For their actions, Lleu kills Gronw and Gwydion shapeshifts Blodeuedd into an owl–who must always flee from the face of the sun (meaning, Lleu, who is the Sun-King). Forever more after that she is called Blodeuwedd which means “flower-faced”. This actually is a welsh nickname for the Owl.

The real tragedy is not that Lleu was murdered (for he is transformed back to life) but rather how Blodeuwedd was only acting out her true nature, that of Nature–and was instead forced out into the liminal, dark places of human civilisation and psyche. Without her, Lleu could never have become king, and although it seems treacherous and cruel by our modern standards, he had to be killed if he was ever to become divine. It is thought that the medieval author of the Mabinogi was not the original maker of these stories. No doubt they passed and evolved over time through the Welsh Oral Traditions, just as the parallel Irish Cycles move. The Mabinogi thus is a glance into older beliefs and stories. Perhaps this is why the author (presumably Christian) seems to condemn Blodeuwedd and applaud the unjust and corrupt Gwydion (if you read between the lines of the Mabinogi tales, he is not the good guy!).

The supposed sites of some of the events in this familiar age-old love-triangle are situated here in our valley, the Nantlle Valley, at whose foot Lleu was transformed into a god and king.

For instance, the iron age hill fort of Caer Engan is the possible location for Caer Dathyl, stronghold of the sacred king, Mathonwy. The iron age hill fort at Dinas Dinlle is supposed to be the stringhold of the magician, Gwydion. While the narrow ridge of rocks , only exposed at the lowest of spring tides and which lies only half a mile out to sea between Dinas Dinlle and Maen Dylan, is reputedly Caer Arianrhod, home of the sister/mate of Gwydion and mother of both Dylan (the seal and wave demi-god) and Lleu Llaw Gyffes, who succeeded Math fab Mathonwy as sacred king and eventually ruled over all of Gwynedd.

There are many other ancient locations which are possibly sites of events mentioned in the Mabinogi. The locations cover most of Wales but are most prolific here in North West Wales and on Anglesey.

Blodeuedd was supposed to be a woman of healing, made from beautiful herbs and flowers (but predominantly Broom, Oak and Meadowsweat), until she was turned into Blodeuwedd , the dark huntress-owl instead. The owl is also the symbol of knowledge and wisdom (as in the case of Athena in Greek mythology).

THE MEANING OF “CYLCH BLODEUWEDD”

Cylch Blodeuwedd or Grove (literally “circle”–to represent everyone’s equality) of Blodeuwedd.

We have repeatedly tried to name the grove after Blodeuedd, “flower-face”, but it ALWAYS ends up coming out as Blodeuwedd, “owl”, (note the two subtly different spellings of the name which change the meaning and the context!).

So for now, we have decided to let her have her way and allow the Grove name to continue as the Grove of the Owl, Blodeuwedd. Forming a grove which was originally based in the valley of Blodeuedd / Blodeuwedd, we could hardly ignore her. But whatever spelling we are being compelled to use, we would like to call on her gentle, healing and wise aspects to aid our own spiritual growth and help us disseminate the love and healing which is so greatly needed in the world today. Also, may Blodeuwedd, the Owl, help us let go of that which is keeping us from our divine selves, so we can claim our authentic place in this world.

And yes, there ARE owls here in the valley. We frequently hear them out hunting, calling to each other …..

WHAT DOES THE LOGO REPRESENT?

Our Logo (which is at the top right corner of the website) was drawn and created by Jenn (also known as “Aethnen”) in 2006. It was done intuitively, but now we have come to understand the various layers of meaning the logo has come to symbolize for us, in the most appropriate ways.

The owl in the centre is a Tawny Owl, which we later discovered was most likely what Blodeuwedd would have been changed into, and is the owl most common in Dyffryn Nantlle. She sits on top of a single flower, which represents Blodeuwedd’s more passive nature as a Woman of Flowers. In this case, the Owl is on top of the flower because the Owl is her predominant aspect.

Behind the Owl is the Moon, showing the owl’s connection to the night and being exiled from the face of the sun. At the same time, it is a full moon, which is the Moon’s most benevolent aspect, still shining light on our paths. At the same time, the Moon is also a Circle, which ties into the “Cylch” idea of the name.

Surrounding the Owl and overlapping the Moon, is a kind of single Celtic knotwork, which 8 points on it. The 8 points represent the Wheel of the Year and its Eight Festivals. These are the times of the year that we most commonly meet to celebrate the change of the season, as well as to align ourselves with the natural cycles present all around and within us.

HOW CAN I BECOME A MEMBER?

* Currently under revision *

CAN I JOIN THE FORUM?

Yes, anyone can join the forum online. This is a good way to get to know us a bit better, if you don’t already know us, or if you are a current member, it’s a great place to carry on discussions and share information!

CYLCH BLODEUWEDD’S CONTACT POLICIES

1. Unspecific details of each upcoming ritual will be posted on the main website under “Grove News“. This is the place where such details should appear and not on the forum. You will also find possible discussion topics, what you should bring and even the day’s itinerary. Upcoming details of the next discussion group, related talks in the area and even group outings will be posted here on this page too!

2. As soon as we receive them, we will then email each grove member with the personal details of the person and place who is hosting the ritual day. For example, their address, phone number and especially directions to their house. It is not a good idea to post, say directions, on even the forums, but especially not the main website, as anyone can see such sensitive information. The forums are not entirely private either as anyone can join. That is why details must be expressly sent out in emails or given by word of mouth, etc. This is also why the member photo gallery is set to private and you must be approved to join.

3. When you receive your email containing all the details and directions, DO reply confirming you have received the email and giving us an idea whether you hope to join us or not. If you do NOT reply, we will assume that you have not received the email, and will try again (… so if you don’t want to get 15 emails saying the same thing, just simply reply!!! could even be a “yes” or “no” answer!)

4. If for any reason you have not heard from us, PLEASE get in touch with us by email, phone or whatever, just in case there is a problem with the address or communication in any way…. we all know how druidic/pagan energies can play havoc with electrical systems. Also, try not to leave any of this to the day of the ritual, as especially whoever is leading it (members) or organizing it (Gill and co.) will most likely be away from the phone and mobiles in preparation!

5. If for whatever reason you change your email address or other contact details, it is YOUR responsibility to contact us with the new information. Also, if for whatever reason, you wish to be removed from the contact list, so to speak, please tell us, so that we are not imposing in any way.

WHAT WE CALL DRUIDRY

After one of our group discussion at a Ritual Day, we each attempted to give one or two sentences that attest, simply and succinctly, what we each as members of Cylch Blodeuwedd, would define as “Druidry”, seeing that for most modern followers of the Druidic tradition do not adhere to any particular dogma or creed, but live out their own intepretations as it seems right and honourable for them to do so. Here is our harvest:

Druidry is . . .

. . . a spirituality (lacking dogma) that gravitates towards natural truths all around us.

. . . an integrated path honouring and embracing the ancestors and sacred earth.

. . . the freedom to follow a spiritual path that is necessary for you at this time.

. . . trying to put my personal rhythms into the song of the earth.

. . . a celebration of nature and ways of saying thank you back to the earth.

. . . an authentic path to empowering and evolving the soul, by honouring that of our blood (the ancestors), that of our homes (the land and her natural cycles) and our journeys (growth and change).

. . . a path of inspiration, connection, transformation and honour.

. . . the realisation that we are one–the divine is in all–but then honouring that unique and personal manifestation of the divine which is you and me.

WHAT IS A GROVE?

Most people’s perception of Neo-Pagans comes from Wicca, and the concept of a coven. Druids do not meet in covens (although the word from Latin simply means to convene or come together), but in “groves”. In ancient times, the historical Druids convened not in a religious temple or building, but held their most sacred rituals and rites out under the trees, in a grove of trees, where they felt the power of the divine most prevelant.

Indeed, the word “druid” which through Latin and then Gaulish, derives directly from the Old Celtic language, and means something like “wise one of the trees”, “one who knows the trees” or “one whose wisdom is of the trees”. This is most interesting because Irish Druids were known to have an arcane symbolic language, the Ogham, which was inscribed on sacred stones and so forth–an alphabet based on trees. So indeed, there does seem to be more connections between druids and trees than we can really ever guess. Modern-day practitioners who are inspired from the Druids of yore often use the Ogham as a form of divination, much like the Germanic runes.

Cylch Blodeuwedd does not always meet in a grove of trees, but we are very blessed to meet sometimes in the oak grove locally reputed to have been the “birth”-place of Blodeuwedd, and still considered very special to the old folk who remember the stories. There you can find the deep richness of earth, the lofty rising of the winds on the mountainside, the sparkling joy of water, and the fire of sun through the leaves. We are very lucky, or you could say, fated, to have found a place so central to Blodeuwedd, our muse, and at the same time, also central to Dyffryn Nantlle. Owls, by the way, are particularly seen around that oak grove, and every midsummer, the area is covered in broom and meadowsweet flowers!

WHAT IS A GROVE MOTHER?

“Grove Mother” was a title entirely original with Gillian, who when she initiated the group amongst her friends and family, knew that she didn’t want to be a “priestess” or in position of authority. Instead, she focuses on using the nurturing qualities of a mother–generosity, healing, hospitality, honesty, blessing, unconditional love, and if needed, gentle guidance and forgiveness, as all part of her “way of the hearth and heart”. Indeed, the home and hearth are at the core of her life-path.

WHAT IS A RITUAL?

A “ritual” is anything you do that re-aligns you with the natural cycles and patterns of life, that brings you back into conversation with Life, and that fosters a kind of sacred (perhaps, animistic) way of seeing.

Cylch Blodeuwedd uses ritual as a focusing tool which helps us acknowledge and embrace the changes constantly going on around and within us, thereby creating a higher level of balance, peace and inner growth.

Each member of the Grove has their own particular way of leading a ritual or participating, and because of this, our rituals are each unique and never the same twice. We usually greet the Ancestors and Spirits of Place, as well as the Four Quarters (or Winds or Elements) to begin a ritual. Somewhere in the middle there is a bread/cake and water/wine. And closing is a farewell or thanks to the energies and things that were present with us.

WHAT IS A RITUAL DAY?

A Ritual Day is the day we hold the ritual. It lasts for most of the day, so that people can truly “sink” into the feelings and experiences that the ritual and its accompanying activities offer, as well as giving people a chance to refocus on their perceptions of the sacred.

WHAT ARE THE EIGHT FESTIVALS OR WHEEL OF THE YEAR?

The Wheel of the Year is a Neo-Pagan idea that aligns itself with the agricultural and solar year that was celebrated and honoured throughout the ancient world, by mixing old Celtic “bonfire” traditions (Gŵyl Calan Gaeaf/Samhain; Gŵyl Ffraid/Imbolc; Gŵyl Calan Mai/Beltaine; and Gŵyl Awst or Gŵyl Lleu/Lughnasadh) with the Neolithic (ie Pre-Celtic) and Germanic quarter days of Winter Solstice (Midwinter/Yule), Spring Equinox (Ostara), Summer Solstice (Midsummer/Litha) and Autumn Equinox (Mabon).

These Eight Festivals are called the “Wheel of the Year” because time is perceived as cyclical, not linear, moving more in a spiral fashion than from point A to point B.

In Cylch Blodeuwedd, we have tried to be very careful about cultural appropriation, and also we prefer to honour the Wheel of the Year in a fashion that is in harmony with the land and spiritscapes of North Wales, where we live. For these reasons, we look to the old Celtic beliefs and customs, particularly those of Wales whenever possible, for our inspiration. At the same time, we come from a varied genetic background, so the use of Saxon or Nordic beliefs or customs is also sometimes present (indeed a couple of our members lean towards the old Germanic ways). We also look to other continuous spiritual traditions from around the world as inspiration and also as a way of double-checking to see if we have any similar experiences or discoveries along the way.

WHAT IS AWEN?

Permeating all forms of Welsh Druidry is one very talked-about word: Awen. Most every writer on Druidry today will mention it, throw it about, and express his own opinions about what particularly this curious word means. Awen, in its most basic sense, is divine inspiration, but it is so much more. Awen is the creative-thought force in the universe, bringing forth the imagination and intuitions that shape the cycles and motions of all living things. Some druids compare it to the Irish Gaelic “imbas” or “fire in the head”, but that cannot be exactly right. Imbas is more a state of being where the poet or bard basks in a frenzied state of creative genius. Awen is not just a state of being, it is its own entity, that permeates the very threads of existence. It is Life, breathing, flowing, being.

An excellent definition by the Welsh druid Kristoffer Hughes is

— “The Awen I sing from the deep I bring it, like a river it flows…” Words of the great bard Taliesin, introducing us to the wonder and mystery of Awen. Inspiration is too poor, too clean a word to even attempt to explain it. Awen is above, beyond and throughout everything that exists, has existed and ever will. Imagine all the gods and goddesses of the universe playing football on a vibrant green pitch, Awen is the sun which shines upon them, it is the breath vapour that leaves their lungs, the wind that teases their hair, it is within and without them. Awen lies at the heart of Druidry, it is the mystery that hides in the darkness, holding truth in its song. It is that which sings creation into being, and we are a part of its voice, neither separate from it of subservient to it. The blinding rays of Awen shine from the deepest darkness and it is here that we find Awen in all its glory, in the darkness of potentiality.

In this way, Awen is comparable to the Gaelic Oran Mor or “Great Song” of all Life, which is an essence that continually changes and shapes who we are. It is the power of transformation, which rests in the palms of Creativity.

Below you will find a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) which first of all explain all about us, and also about the druid path. We also hope to develop an FAQ for the commonly asked questions for website users, which will be done by our webmaster, Dafydd.

Click on any link to take you to where you wish, or if you’d just like to browse, scroll down.

FAQ–Frequently Asked Questions

ABOUT US :

ABOUT DRUIDRY:

WHO ARE WE?

We are a small but rapidly growing group. For the first 18 months of our existence, we were merely three members from the same family, plus two or three friends and neighbours from the same valley, this beautiful Nantlle Vale, with lofty, cloud-topped Snowdon at its head and the sparkling tapestry of the ocean at its foot. Since the Grove’s origins, we have gathered members from all over North Wales, representing the Llyn Peninsula, Anglesey, Flintshire and of course, Gwynedd.

Appropriately, at Samhain/Gŵyl Calan Gaeaf 2005, our Grove suddenly began to grow and now we have a regular attendance of about 13, sometimes reaching above 20. Over the last few years, a lot of people have come and gone, and now we are left with the most committed members, who fully participate and understand what we do! This of course is very liberating.

Primarily, we come together to learn from one another, pool and share ideas and to celebrate in a way which feels comfortable to us and which reflects our joy and awe for the natural world, life in general and also each other. When Cylch Blodeuwedd began, it was a ‘Learning Grove’, where the Grove Mother led the way, but since 2007, all members have been encouraged to lead rituals, contribute in a major way, and show an active interest, because as Gillian has said many times, “This is YOUR Grove!” Because of this, the Grove has benefited immensely, drawing from a wider source of inspiration and interpretation.

The members of Cylch Blodeuwedd come from many different spiritual backgrounds, including Pagan and Christian… some of us are Quakers, others have strong leanings to Buddhism … most of us are also Theosophists. Some of us belong to the Druid Network, others are members of OBOD, and a few contribute to Druidic Dawn. We do not have a “Priest” or “Priestess”, attempting to remain as democratic as possible, but Gillian does act as “Grove Mother”. She, with the help of her family (Holger, Dafydd, and Jenn) oversee the day-to-day running and organisation of the grove as ably and willingly as possible, but helped by all the others. As said above, all members are encouraged to participate, volunteer to contribute to or lead rituals, and of course, have a good time. We can be serious, but we also know how to have fun and laugh!

WHY DO WE HAVE A WEBSITE?

This website has been constructed with two main objectives in mind.

The first is to act as an online diary and resource for all the Cylch Blodeuwedd members, where they can easily communicate with each other, keep up-to-date with upcoming events, and share their recipes, crafts and pictures from our various festivals and gatherings.

The second purpose is to represent the real-life Grove to the rest of the world, so that anyone interested in us or material on our website can “share” and find out more. Anyone is welcome to copy, build and expand upon our craft and recipe ideas, and make these their own. We want to be an inspiration to other Groves and people out there on a similar path.

It is wonderful to communicate and share, to bounce ideas and inspiration off each other in an atmosphere of mutual love, reverence and fun. So please, draw up a metaphorical chair to our www. table and join with us… and we hope, ENJOY!

DO WE USE WELSH? DAN NI’N DEFNYDDIO’R GYMRAEG?

We feel very strongly that Welsh should be used as much as possible in our meetings, because it belongs to this land, to Cymru, and because of that, we have all noticed that when Welsh/Cymraeg is in use, the land seems to respond more.

As a group, we are about half Welsh speakers or learners and half non-Welsh speakers. Because of this, our entire rituals and gatherings are not in Welsh, BUT Welsh speakers are encouraged to greet the ancestors and spirits of place in the language of this land, as well as with each other.

WHO IS BLODEUWEDD?

You will find her in the tale of Math fab Mathonwy in the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi, one of kingship and sovereignty. The king of Arfon from whom the tale takes its name is Math fab Mathonwy, a descendent of the gods whose feet must never rest on the earth. He has to choose an heir to suceed his divine kingship, but the Celtic and probably pre-Celtic peoples believed that the king gained his sovereignty from the land–which means that whatever heir he chooses must also please the land goddess. Gwydion, magician (his name means Great Knower), decides that his son (and nephew) Lleu Llaw Gyffes is destined to take this place as divine king. After Arianrhod, the Fate Goddess and Lleu’s mother denies her son his “rightful” place, Gwydion and Math create a companion or bride from (traditionally) nine different kinds of flowers or herbs. ‘Blodeuedd’ they call her, for blodau means “flowers” in the welsh language. She was made of the wildness and beauty of earth–possibly in effect like an elemental. She was created so that Lleu could mate with the earth (for the Celtic Sovereign King was considered the mate of the Earth Goddess) but as Lleu was either incapable or otherwise obsessed with war and campaigns (sounds familiar to Arthur and his Grail Quest, doesn’t it?), it is no wonder that Blodeuedd fell in love with Gronw, the Hunter Lord of the Otherworld. They conspired to put Lleu to death–and in so doing, initiated Lleu into a demi-god and sacrificial king. For their actions, Lleu kills Gronw and Gwydion shapeshifts Blodeuedd into an owl–who must always flee from the face of the sun (meaning, Lleu, who is the Sun-King). Forever more after that she is called Blodeuwedd which means “flower-faced”. This actually is a welsh nickname for the Owl.

The real tragedy is not that Lleu was murdered (for he is transformed back to life) but rather how Blodeuwedd was only acting out her true nature, that of Nature–and was instead forced out into the liminal, dark places of human civilisation and psyche. Without her, Lleu could never have become king, and although it seems treacherous and cruel by our modern standards, he had to be killed if he was ever to become divine. It is thought that the medieval author of the Mabinogi was not the original maker of these stories. No doubt they passed and evolved over time through the Welsh Oral Traditions, just as the parallel Irish Cycles move. The Mabinogi thus is a glance into older beliefs and stories. Perhaps this is why the author (presumably Christian) seems to condemn Blodeuwedd and applaud the unjust and corrupt Gwydion (if you read between the lines of the Mabinogi tales, he is not the good guy!).

The supposed sites of some of the events in this familiar age-old love-triangle are situated here in our valley, the Nantlle Valley, at whose foot Lleu was transformed into a god and king.

For instance, the iron age hill fort of Caer Engan is the possible location for Caer Dathyl, stronghold of the sacred king, Mathonwy. The iron age hill fort at Dinas Dinlle is supposed to be the stringhold of the magician, Gwydion. While the narrow ridge of rocks , only exposed at the lowest of spring tides and which lies only half a mile out to sea between Dinas Dinlle and Maen Dylan, is reputedly Caer Arianrhod, home of the sister/mate of Gwydion and mother of both Dylan (the seal and wave demi-god) and Lleu Llaw Gyffes, who succeeded Math fab Mathonwy as sacred king and eventually ruled over all of Gwynedd.

There are many other ancient locations which are possibly sites of events mentioned in the Mabinogi. The locations cover most of Wales but are most prolific here in North West Wales and on Anglesey.

Blodeuedd was supposed to be a woman of healing, made from beautiful herbs and flowers (but predominantly Broom, Oak and Meadowsweat), until she was turned into Blodeuwedd , the dark huntress-owl instead. The owl is also the symbol of knowledge and wisdom (as in the case of Athena in Greek mythology).

THE MEANING OF “CYLCH BLODEUWEDD”

Cylch Blodeuwedd or Grove (literally “circle”–to represent everyone’s equality) of Blodeuwedd.

We have repeatedly tried to name the grove after Blodeuedd, “flower-face”, but it ALWAYS ends up coming out as Blodeuwedd, “owl”, (note the two subtly different spellings of the name which change the meaning and the context!).

So for now, we have decided to let her have her way and allow the Grove name to continue as the Grove of the Owl, Blodeuwedd. Forming a grove which was originally based in the valley of Blodeuedd / Blodeuwedd, we could hardly ignore her. But whatever spelling we are being compelled to use, we would like to call on her gentle, healing and wise aspects to aid our own spiritual growth and help us disseminate the love and healing which is so greatly needed in the world today. Also, may Blodeuwedd, the Owl, help us let go of that which is keeping us from our divine selves, so we can claim our authentic place in this world.

And yes, there ARE owls here in the valley. We frequently hear them out hunting, calling to each other …..

WHAT DOES THE LOGO REPRESENT?

Our Logo (which is at the top right corner of the website) was drawn and created by Jenn (also known as “Aethnen”) in 2006. It was done intuitively, but now we have come to understand the various layers of meaning the logo has come to symbolize for us, in the most appropriate ways.

The owl in the centre is a Tawny Owl, which we later discovered was most likely what Blodeuwedd would have been changed into, and is the owl most common in Dyffryn Nantlle. She sits on top of a single flower, which represents Blodeuwedd’s more passive nature as a Woman of Flowers. In this case, the Owl is on top of the flower because the Owl is her predominant aspect.

Behind the Owl is the Moon, showing the owl’s connection to the night and being exiled from the face of the sun. At the same time, it is a full moon, which is the Moon’s most benevolent aspect, still shining light on our paths. At the same time, the Moon is also a Circle, which ties into the “Cylch” idea of the name.

Surrounding the Owl and overlapping the Moon, is a kind of single Celtic knotwork, which 8 points on it. The 8 points represent the Wheel of the Year and its Eight Festivals. These are the times of the year that we most commonly meet to celebrate the change of the season, as well as to align ourselves with the natural cycles present all around and within us.

HOW CAN I BECOME A MEMBER?

Becoming a member of Cylch Blodeuwedd is easy.

If you already know us personally, simply get in contact and we will invite you to one of our rituals or gatherings, so you can see how you feel and also how we feel about you.

If you are a stranger to us, still get in contact with us, but also we will probably ask questions about who you are and why you are interested in joining in with us. Then, when we are comfortable, you will hopefully receive an invite to one of the gatherings or perhaps to a private meeting first, so you can get to know us or otherwise. A good way of first getting to know us is by joining the Grove Forum.

CAN I JOIN THE FORUM?

Yes, anyone can join the forum online. This is a good way to get to know us a bit better, if you don’t already know us, or if you are a current member, it’s a great place to carry on discussions and share information!

CYLCH BLODEUWEDD’S CONTACT POLICIES

1. Unspecific details of each upcoming ritual will be posted on the main website under “Grove News“. This is the place where such details should appear and not on the forum. You will also find possible discussion topics, what you should bring and even the day’s itinerary. Upcoming details of the next discussion group, related talks in the area and even group outings will be posted here on this page too!

2. As soon as we receive them, we will then email each grove member with the personal details of the person and place who is hosting the ritual day. For example, their address, phone number and especially directions to their house. It is not a good idea to post, say directions, on even the forums, but especially not the main website, as anyone can see such sensitive information. The forums are not entirely private either as anyone can join. That is why details must be expressly sent out in emails or given by word of mouth, etc. This is also why the member photo gallery is set to private and you must be approved to join.

3. When you receive your email containing all the details and directions, DO reply confirming you have received the email and giving us an idea whether you hope to join us or not. If you do NOT reply, we will assume that you have not received the email, and will try again (… so if you don’t want to get 15 emails saying the same thing, just simply reply!!! could even be a “yes” or “no” answer!)

4. If for any reason you have not heard from us, PLEASE get in touch with us by email, phone or whatever, just in case there is a problem with the address or communication in any way…. we all know how druidic/pagan energies can play havoc with electrical systems. Also, try not to leave any of this to the day of the ritual, as especially whoever is leading it (members) or organizing it (Gill and co.) will most likely be away from the phone and mobiles in preparation!

5. If for whatever reason you change your email address or other contact details, it is YOUR responsibility to contact us with the new information. Also, if for whatever reason, you wish to be removed from the contact list, so to speak, please tell us, so that we are not imposing in any way.

WHAT WE CALL DRUIDRY

After one of our group discussion at a Ritual Day, we each attempted to give one or two sentences that attest, simply and succinctly, what we each as members of Cylch Blodeuwedd, would define as “Druidry”, seeing that for most modern followers of the Druidic tradition do not adhere to any particular dogma or creed, but live out their own intepretations as it seems right and honourable for them to do so. Here is our harvest:

Druidry is . . .

. . . a spirituality (lacking dogma) that gravitates towards natural truths all around us.

. . . an integrated path honouring and embracing the ancestors and sacred earth.

. . . the freedom to follow a spiritual path that is necessary for you at this time.

. . . trying to put my personal rhythms into the song of the earth.

. . . a celebration of nature and ways of saying thank you back to the earth.

. . . an authentic path to empowering and evolving the soul, by honouring that of our blood (the ancestors), that of our homes (the land and her natural cycles) and our journeys (growth and change).

. . . a path of inspiration, connection, transformation and honour.

. . . the realisation that we are one–the divine is in all–but then honouring that unique and personal manifestation of the divine which is you and me.

WHAT IS A GROVE?

Most people’s perception of Neo-Pagans comes from Wicca, and the concept of a coven. Druids do not meet in covens (although the word from Latin simply means to convene or come together), but in “groves”. In ancient times, the historical Druids convened not in a religious temple or building, but held their most sacred rituals and rites out under the trees, in a grove of trees, where they felt the power of the divine most prevelant.

Indeed, the word “druid” which through Latin and then Gaulish, derives directly from the Old Celtic language, and means something like “wise one of the trees”, “one who knows the trees” or “one whose wisdom is of the trees”. This is most interesting because Irish Druids were known to have an arcane symbolic language, the Ogham, which was inscribed on sacred stones and so forth–an alphabet based on trees. So indeed, there does seem to be more connections between druids and trees than we can really ever guess. Modern-day practitioners who are inspired from the Druids of yore often use the Ogham as a form of divination, much like the Germanic runes.

Cylch Blodeuwedd does not always meet in a grove of trees, but we are very blessed to meet sometimes in the oak grove locally reputed to have been the “birth”-place of Blodeuwedd, and still considered very special to the old folk who remember the stories. There you can find the deep richness of earth, the lofty rising of the winds on the mountainside, the sparkling joy of water, and the fire of sun through the leaves. We are very lucky, or you could say, fated, to have found a place so central to Blodeuwedd, our muse, and at the same time, also central to Dyffryn Nantlle. Owls, by the way, are particularly seen around that oak grove, and every midsummer, the area is covered in broom and meadowsweet flowers!

WHAT IS A GROVE MOTHER?

“Grove Mother” was a title entirely original with Gillian, who when she initiated the group amongst her friends and family, knew that she didn’t want to be a “priestess” or in position of authority. Instead, she focuses on using the nurturing qualities of a mother–generosity, healing, hospitality, honesty, blessing, unconditional love, and if needed, gentle guidance and forgiveness, as all part of her “way of the hearth and heart”. Indeed, the home and hearth are at the core of her life-path.

WHAT IS A RITUAL?

A “ritual” is anything you do that re-aligns you with the natural cycles and patterns of life, that brings you back into conversation with Life, and that fosters a kind of sacred (perhaps, animistic) way of seeing.

Cylch Blodeuwedd uses ritual as a focusing tool which helps us acknowledge and embrace the changes constantly going on around and within us, thereby creating a higher level of balance, peace and inner growth.

Each member of the Grove has their own particular way of leading a ritual or participating, and because of this, our rituals are each unique and never the same twice. We usually greet the Ancestors and Spirits of Place, as well as the Four Quarters (or Winds or Elements) to begin a ritual. Somewhere in the middle there is a bread/cake and water/wine. And closing is a farewell or thanks to the energies and things that were present with us.

WHAT IS A RITUAL DAY?

A Ritual Day is the day we hold the ritual. It lasts for most of the day, so that people can truly “sink” into the feelings and experiences that the ritual and its accompanying activities offer, as well as giving people a chance to refocus on their perceptions of the sacred.

A typical Ritual Day starts with everyone arriving and having hot drinks, discussing, catching up. We have various activities throughout the day, other than just the ritual. These are always some kind of craft and/or guided meditation, accompanied by an appropriate discussion, time spent in nature connecting and being silent, as well as sharing of music, poetry and story-telling. We always end the Ritual Day with lots of food and feasting, laughing, playing games or telling jokes, and plenty of hugs to go around!

WHAT ARE THE EIGHT FESTIVALS OR WHEEL OF THE YEAR?

The Wheel of the Year is a Neo-Pagan idea that aligns itself with the agricultural and solar year that was celebrated and honoured throughout the ancient world, by mixing old Celtic “bonfire” traditions (Gŵyl Calan Gaeaf/Samhain; Gŵyl Ffraid/Imbolc; Gŵyl Calan Mai/Beltaine; and Gŵyl Awst or Gŵyl Lleu/Lughnasadh) with the Neolithic (ie Pre-Celtic) and Germanic quarter days of Winter Solstice (Midwinter/Yule), Spring Equinox (Ostara), Summer Solstice (Midsummer/Litha) and Autumn Equinox (Mabon).

These Eight Festivals are called the “Wheel of the Year” because time is perceived as cyclical, not linear, moving more in a spiral fashion than from point A to point B.

In Cylch Blodeuwedd, we have tried to be very careful about cultural appropriation, and also we prefer to honour the Wheel of the Year in a fashion that is in harmony with the land and spiritscapes of North Wales, where we live. For these reasons, we look to the old Celtic beliefs and customs, particularly those of Wales whenever possible, for our inspiration. At the same time, we come from a varied genetic background, so the use of Saxon or Nordic beliefs or customs is also sometimes present (indeed a couple of our members lean towards the old Germanic ways). We also look to other continuous spiritual traditions from around the world as inspiration and also as a way of double-checking to see if we have any similar experiences or discoveries along the way.

WHAT IS AWEN?

Permeating all forms of Welsh Druidry is one very talked-about word: Awen. Most every writer on Druidry today will mention it, throw it about, and express his own opinions about what particularly this curious word means. Awen, in its most basic sense, is divine inspiration, but it is so much more. Awen is the creative-thought force in the universe, bringing forth the imagination and intuitions that shape the cycles and motions of all living things. Some druids compare it to the Irish Gaelic “imbas” or “fire in the head”, but that cannot be exactly right. Imbas is more a state of being where the poet or bard basks in a frenzied state of creative genius. Awen is not just a state of being, it is its own entity, that permeates the very threads of existence. It is Life, breathing, flowing, being.

An excellent definition by the Welsh druid Kristoffer Hughes is

— “The Awen I sing from the deep I bring it, like a river it flows…” Words of the great bard Taliesin, introducing us to the wonder and mystery of Awen. Inspiration is too poor, too clean a word to even attempt to explain it. Awen is above, beyond and throughout everything that exists, has existed and ever will. Imagine all the gods and goddesses of the universe playing football on a vibrant green pitch, Awen is the sun which shines upon them, it is the breath vapour that leaves their lungs, the wind that teases their hair, it is within and without them. Awen lies at the heart of Druidry, it is the mystery that hides in the darkness, holding truth in its song. It is that which sings creation into being, and we are a part of its voice, neither separate from it of subservient to it. The blinding rays of Awen shine from the deepest darkness and it is here that we find Awen in all its glory, in the darkness of potentiality.

In this way, Awen is comparable to the Gaelic Oran Mor or “Great Song” of all Life, which is an essence that continually changes and shapes who we are. It is the power of transformation, which rests in the palms of Creativity.