Members share
a philosophy of belief that all life is interconnected and sacred.
This belief is the heart of the religion. Following the Welsh
Witches Way involves applying and living this belief, which has
evolved and developed over the past thousand years. A central part
of this philosophy is the observance of eight seasonal festivals
during the year, resulting in deep connections built between the
members and the Gods of Nature and Spirit. At other times
members meet to work, study, meditate and enjoy each other's
company. These meetings are called Circles and are usually held
every two weeks. Additionally, Esbats - Moon Rituals, are held at
the time of the Full Moon every month. Individual members and
Covens exist in many countries worldwide.
Our tradition
derives from Welsh and Pictish religious sources and from Druidic
and Witchcraft magickal practices which were in existence before
Christianity took root in Europe. Welsh Druidism, Pictish
Witchcraft, and Etruscan sources are a basis for its priesthood
which includes in its ancestry, Druids, Bards, Ovates, Faerie
Doctors, Cunning Men, Men in Black, and Wise Women. Gypsies who
migrated to Wales in ancient times, brought the Tarot; Jews fleeing
the repressions of Europe brought the Kabbalah, Astrology and
Gemetria.
CLICK HERE
FOR A HISTORY OF WICCAE, WITCHCRAFT, DRUIDISM, NEOPAGANISM AND WELSH
GWYDDON
CONTENTS OF PART ONE - INTRODUCTION TO DYNION MWYN
Introduction
History
Gathering of the Tribes
Core Beliefs and Practices
Mysteries
Gwiddoniad or Welsh Shamanism/Witchcraft
Gwyddon
Ecstasy
Role of Clergy
Religious Organization
Structure of Dynion Mwyn
Study Within Dynion Mwyn
Bangor Institute and Seminary
Religious
Worship
Magickal
Rituals
Religious
Circles
Welsh Pantheon of Gods
Standards
of Conduct
Readings and other Sources
A Note to Those Who Seek to Become a Welsh Witch
Introduction
to Dynion Mwyn
Dynion Mwyn
Philosophy is based on Welsh Family Documents containing historical
fact, folk lore and myth. Dynion Mwyn also has many shamanic,
religious and magickal foundations.
Based on the ancient Welsh
religion of Plant Donn, the teachings evolved into an oral Faerie
Tradition. The legend says that the Children of Donn chose to stay
in Wales after the invasion of the Celts, and took refuge under the
hills. This Faerie Tradition is based on the Faerie Folk of Wales or
Y Tylwyth Teg which are man-sized Faeries. They live underground, in
Dolmens or underwater in caves. From these we derive the Heroic
Faerie and the Medieval Faerie. Wales has two races: a visible race
called the Cymry (People) and the invisible Faerie People or the
Tylwyth Teg. The tradition of Dynion Mwyn (The Gentle People) is
dedicated to these Welsh Faerie people of the OtherWorld.
There were long periods of time
when modern historians knew little or nothing about large areas of
Wales but that didn't keep these same historians from
retrospectively applying evidence from later Medieval Wales, which
first occurs in thirteenth century copies of twelfth century
manuscripts. There was also a tendency among some earlier historians
to apply the contemporary evidence from other Celtic nations to the
Welsh, wrongly believing that there was a "common" Celtic society
sharing the same attitudes and institutions. In reality, the Celtic
peoples considered themselves to be individual tribes, and not part
of some greater "Celtic" nation. The Welsh thought of themselves as
Cymry or Britons. The Irish thought of themselves as Gael, etc. It
is from that Celtic racial pool that the Cymry developed their
unique culture and familial beliefs.
Certain family legends state that
the forests near Betws-y-coed Wales have been the home of a
tribe/family of Welsh Celts (the Dynion Mwyn) for countless
generations. The legends say this tribe migrated to the valley from
the west and south and settled the region because of the presence of
a very ancient and sacred grove of oak trees. The tribe built a
village near the grove and made a living from the land (hunting,
fishing etc.). It is rumored that the sacred grove still exists,
though only the remaining family knows its precise location.
We pick up the story with Taliesin
Einion Vawr. Taliesin was born in the forests of Wales in 1927.
During the next thirteen years, because of his father's government
position, the family traveled throughout Europe. They returned to
England in 1938, and the children were sent to live with relatives
in Wales. In September, 1940, their father and mother were killed in
the bombing of London during the Battle of Britain. He and his
sister were taken in and raised by an uncle and auntie in a small
village in North Wales. It was here they learned of their family's
heritage of Druidism and Witchcraft as they met Y Tylwyth Teg (Welsh
Faeries) at Fairy Ring near Betws-y-Coed, and swam with the water
sprites in the local river. He says in his journal this was the
happiest time of his life. Taliesin became a spokesperson for Dynion
Mwyn in the early 60s and taught the knowledge of Gwyddon until his
death in 2001.
In 1965 Rhuddlwm Gawr met Sarah
Wentworth while on holiday in Majorca. She invited him to London and
then they drove to Wales where he was introduced to Taliesin einion
Vawr. Rhuddlwm stayed in Wales and studied The Old Ways with Sarah
and Taliesin. In 1966 Rhuddlwm returned to the US and established
the Coven and Church of Y Tylwyth Teg in Landover Maryland. For a
historical perspective of this tradition: Go to
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/dynionmwyn/dynionmwyn23.html.
Go to
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/history.html.
CLICK HERE
FOR A HISTORY OF WICCAE, WITCHCRAFT, DRUIDISM, NEOPAGANISM AND WELSH
GWYDDON
Every year, members of the
Dynion Mwyn tradition and other Pagan friends, gather from all over
the world to worship and experience a tribal family conclave. These
Gatherings have been held every year since 1967. The first festival
was held in the forests of Maryland. Currently they are being
organized in Iowa, Georgia and Alabama... Go to
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/gathering.html.
Our Statement of Beliefs at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/beliefs.html
is only a representative sample of those principles we believe in.
The list does not represent any other belief system but that of the
Welsh Faerie Tradition. But you will find similar beliefs among a
great number of Pagan religions both modern and ancient.
We believe that every Welsh
Witch should welcome sincere cooperation with other traditions of
the Craft and other religions. But, in seeking to be inclusive, we
do not wish to open ourselves to the destruction of our group
culture by those on self-serving power trips, or to philosophies and
practices contradictory to our principles. We welcome all who are
sincerely interested in our knowledge and beliefs, regardless of
race, color, sex, age, national or cultural origins, or sexual
preference. We therefore ask that those who seek to identify with us
to accept certain basic principles. Go to
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/beliefs.html
The Gwyddon are concerned with the
inner truth, the nature of the Mysteries, and the mystical
experience of its members. Like most mystery religions, it has an
inner circle and an outer circle. The spiritual experience of this
inner circle is much greater than that found in the outer world. It
is a discipline that creates an enriched inward vision and embraces
the total human experience from birth to death, and beyond.
Understanding the Mysteries of
Dynion Mwyn creates a light which illuminates the human spirit and
brightens the darkness of superstition and ignorance. After being
lit, it can never be extinguished. After understanding the
Mysteries, they can never be fully forgotten, and never be fully
remembered. The Gwyddon becomes the life of the member. Without it
he or she is nothing. With it, he or she becomes part of all
creation.
Gwyddoniad
or Welsh Shamanism
"Shamanic ecstasy is
the real 'Old Time Religion, ' of which modern churches are but
pallid evocations. Shamanic, visionary ecstasy, the mysterium
tremendum, the unio mystica, the eternally delightful experience
of the universe as energy, is a sine qua non of religion; it is
what religion is for! There is no need for faith, it is the
ecstatic experience itself that gives one faith in the intrinsic
unity and integrity of the universe, in ourselves as integral
parts of the whole; that reveals to us the sublime majesty of
our universe, and the fluctuant, scintillant, alchemical miracle
that is quotidian consciousness. Any religion that requires
faith and gives none, that defends against religious
experiences, that promulgates the bizarre superstition that
humankind is in some way separate, divorced from the rest of
creation, that heals not the gaping wound between Body and Soul,
but would tear them asunder... is no religion at all!"
Jonathan Ott
The Welsh Faerie Witch evolved
from the Indo-European culture which had shamanism as its link
between the tribes and the Gods. Shamanism and Faerie Gwyddon
Witchcraft are very much alike in concept and theology. The Magick
which was performed by the Ancient Witches and Gwyddon are very
similar in nature. The Celts had very specific words for their
religious clergy and Shaman was not one of them. The term Gwyddon
was most commonly related to those of religious function who were
among the common class of people.
Druidism, which is also a
component of Dynion Mwyn, was a firm part of the noble social order
and ruling class, rather than being at the fringes of society.
Druids were a part of the political and judicial structure and
Gwyddons were mainly healers and visionaries. Druids conducted
formal training for many years in a well structured scholastic
system. Gwyddonism was most commonly taught under a single master
with very few students.
This synthesis of the Gwyddon and
Druid elements occurred in the late 13th century. By combining the
elements of Shamanism, Pagan religion, natural healing, psychic
development and magickal manifestation, the Welsh Gwyddon became
travelers in the "OtherWorld."
Many Celtic "OtherWorld" journeys are
told about people who have gone there unwillingly and without any
control over the experience. Faerie Witches and Gwyddons are masters
of controlling their trips into the "OtherWorld, " deciding when and
where they will go. They experience what we call a "State of
Ecstasy."
"The Shaman looks, the
Shaman sees, the Shaman reaches inside of me. He pulls the evil
from my chest, and throws away the nasty mess. I feel much
better, my spirit clean, I am now nice, where I was mean. Thank
you sir, you rang my bell. You cured my ills and made me well.
The Shaman woke and looked at me. You cured yourself he said
with glee. Where you were sick and now are well, you believed my
words that I did tell. You opened up your heart you see. You
felt your love reach out to me..." From "The Shaman"
by Rhuddlwm Gawr
Ecstasy, (from the Greek
'ekstasis'), literally means to be placed outside. This is a state
of exaltation in which a person stands outside of his or herself.
Ecstasy may range from the seizure of the body by a spirit or the
seizure of a person by the divine, to the magical transformation or
flight of consciousness. There are three types of Ecstasy: Gwyddon
Ecstasy; Prophetic Ecstasy; and Mystical Ecstasy. The latter is the
rising of the soul of the Gwyddon into the heavens or its sinking
into the underworld. These states of ecstatic exaltation usually
occur after strenuous training and initiation, and often under
dangerous and distressing circumstances.
The resulting contact by the
Gwyddon with the higher or lower regions of the OtherWorld and their
inhabitants and nature spirits, enables him or her to accomplish
such tasks as accompanying the soul of a deceased into its proper
place in the next world, affecting the well-being of the sick and
conveying the story of their inner travels upon their return to
mundane awareness. The statements of the Gwyddon are in contrast
with those who claim prophetic and mystical ecstasy.
A fundamental requirement of a
High Priest or Priestess of the Gwyddon is to journey to the
OtherWorld and experience a trance ecstatic state.
Dynion Mwyn is a religion, a
church and an initiatory organization which is the guardian of
magickal and spiritual Mysteries. Through many different
disciplines, both of the physical, mental and spiritual realms, we
strive to teach love, knowledge and power through wisdom leading to
enlightenment.
Our High Priests and High
Priestesses also act as counselors and mediators to congregations of
seekers, initiates and members. These duties are similar to those of
ministers of mainstream churches. But they also have an obligation
to carry out the duties of teaching and revealing the Sacred
Mysteries to those men and women seeking the Grail. Since Dynion
Mwyn is a Mystery Religion the priesthood works to reveal the wisdom
inherent in all of us.
Dynion Mwyn has grown to be
an international religious movement. In the United States, There are
two branches of Dynion Mwyn in the United States. The Celtic Church
of Dynion Mwyn, Inc. and the Church of Y Tylwyth Teg, Inc. The
Association of Cymry Wiccae, Inc., a association of Dynion Mwyn
covens, groves and churches, originally received an IRS Group
501(c)3 nonprofit exemption designation in 1976, and the Church of Y
Tylwyth Teg was incorporated as a church on February 2, 1977. YTT
and Dynion Mwyn has numerous sister covens throughout the United
States, Africa, Australia and Western Europe including Great
Britain. See
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/StudyGroups.html.
The Tradition is organized
around an Inner and Outer Circle, with the Outer Circle representing
those members who are studying for initiation and the Inner Circle
which is composed of Initiated Witches. Dynion Mwyn covens and
churches have resident classes available in Wales and correspondence
study courses available in the U.S.
The hierarchy of Dynion Mwyn
consists of those who are new (seekers/neophytes), those who have
begun training (students), and those who have been initiated to the
various levels of attainment (Initiates). There are three Symbolic
Circles which contain nine Levels or stages of membership (three
levels in each Circle). Each Level has its own initiation which is
performed with others in a Circle or Grove.
As a mystery tradition, Dynion
Mwyn has a training program. This distinguishes the Welsh tradition
from other traditions which only center around worship, and whose
leadership is usually democratic. The training of students of Dynion
Mwyn is a very complex and difficult process. As such, it tends to
take a year and a day just to reach level one. There are nine levels
of attainment. Consequently, most students who begin training with
us never complete it.
Training begins with an
introductory class or correspondence course. In addition, the
student reads a variety of books on a multitude of subjects. Such
topics include Druidism, Magick, ritual, nature spirits, Herbalism,
psychic development, mythology, psychology, and religious
philosophy. Some of the books on the reading list are required
reading as a prerequisite to other training, and some are read to
give the student a rounded education.
The student will ultimately
attend classes with other students, with the majority of religious
and magickal training taking place in these classes. Here the
student will study the Bardic Gwyddon system, as well as a variety
of other topics such as shamanism, psychology, and mysticism.
Bangor Institute is a private
college soon to be located in the beautiful foothills of North
Georgia. Although it offers an undergraduate program in Holistic
Health and Metaphysics, it is primarily a Graduate School for
Holistic-oriented programs of Naturopathy, Pagan Religion and Human
Behavior, as well as a source for trained Pagan Clergy and
ordination. Bangor Institute will be composed of various Departments
administered by "Facilitators, " who are recognized in their fields.
Their teachings are marked by a different concept: they teach not so
much what to learn as how to learn. For more information, go to
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/bangor.html.
Dynion Mwyn worship is centered
around four great festivals which record in chronological order the
birth, growth, and decline of the fruits of the earth. These
festivals and four lesser festivals correspond to the cycles of
Nature (animal mating, seasons, planting and harvest) and the cycles
of the Sun (Solstices and Equinoxes). These are: Nos Galon-Mai
(Beltaine or May Eve) Gwyl Canol Haf (Midsummer Day) Nos Gwyl Awst
(Lammas) Nos Galon Gaeof (Samhain or Halloween) The four lesser
Sabbats are Gwyl Canol Gaeaf (Winter Solstice or Yule) Nos Gwyl Fair
(Candlemas) Gwyl Canol Gwenwynol (Spring Equinox) Gwyl Canol Hydref
(Fall Equinox)
These comprise a total of eight
major festivals. There are also 13 Full Moon Lunar Rituals and
several miscellaneous festivals which Dynion Mwyn recognizes.
If one follows the path of the
Gwyddon and offers the sacrifices of love and spiritual dedication
to the Divine Earth Goddess and the Celestial God during these
Sabbats and festivals, we believe that he or she will make evident
an inner awareness of their true spiritual nature. Like our earlier
Pictish and other Celtic forbearers, Welsh Witches have an affinity
for patterns in Ritual, Song, Words, and Art, and are an intensely
proud and passionate people. The rich Sabbat festivals, customs,
artwork and music are indicative of a continuing Celtic heritage,
which is best represented by the Triscele, a Celtic version of the
Yin Yang symbol. A Triscele is three spiral lines appearing to move
in the same direction from a central point, enclosed by a circle.
This symbol of three is an important element in the Welsh religious
philosophy. Three is the number of the stages of life. The goddess
shows three faces: Maid, Mother and Crone. Go to
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/wheel.html
Defod Cymry or Welsh Ritual is
both worship and a prescribed action whose purpose is to reach the
subconscious mind, raising energy, which is then directed to the
purpose of the ritual. Ritual is also a way of getting in touch with
yourself. It is being in attunement, being aware. Ritual is a human
being's approach to the unapproachable. To be effective in the
performance of the Ritual, you have to change the way you use your
brain. Ritual requires the integration of the right hemisphere way
of thinking with the left hemisphere way of thinking.
Welsh Witches worship in a
sacred space or temple which we call The Circle. The Circle is a
gateway, a door, a psychic opening, a place where one opens up
oneself for what is inside the psyche. It is the sacred grove of
Ceridwen and Cernunnos, located between the worlds of the visible
and the invisible. It is the meeting place for the Gods and the
Children of the Gods. Respect for the Gods must ever be observed!
Creating a Circle is creating a sacred space. We define this sacred
space and sacred time whenever we cast a Circle in the Craft to
begin a ritual.
The Welsh Pantheon of
Gods
The Sky Goddess
Her name is Arianrhod. She is
called the Blue Virgin of the Outer Darkness. She is the whole
Universe, created and un-created, before and after. She is the
great infinite one who divided herself and brought forth light.
Her grain is Oats.
The Corn Maiden
Nimue, the Spring Queen. She
is the spirit of new growth, of both plants and animals. She is
the daughter of the Earth Mother, the spirit of all her
children. The Corn Maiden appears as a young girl, her body
shining white, holding a silver bow. Her emblem is a six-day-old
crescent Moon, which She wears upon her brow. Her grain is
Barley.
The Great Mother
The great mother goddess is
Donn (Danu); she is an embodiment of the forces of the sacred
land. This can range from the family to the solar system or a
pattern of stars. She is also called Mari (Mary) and is the
spirit of Earth, Sea, and Sky. The world is her body, and
through it she manifests. Her grain is all grains.
The Crone
Cerridwen or Kerridwen,
Ceridwen, Caridwen, (sometimes spelled with two r's), the Mother
Goddess of corn, inspiration and keeper of the Cauldron of
Knowledge; she is the symbol of the Witch and her name
translates as "the Cauldron of Wisdom." She has the power of
Magick and prophecy and she helps the seeker to find their own
powers through initiation. Her grain is Wheat.
The God of the Blue Stones
Danaglas is also called the
Serpent in the Well and the Flower King. He is the spirit of
Spring, youth, and potency. His seed is the life-giving moisture
of rain and rising springs. He also represents the human Divine
Spirit, from his quality of pure innocence.
The Harvest Lord
Twr (Welsh for tower) is
the Corn King. He is the spirit of Summer, a spirit of Light and
Heat in its aspect of nourishing and energizing life. He is the
son and lover of the Earth Mother. The Harvest Lord appears as a
stag-headed man. His body is completely golden: skin, hair,
eyes, and horns. His neck is wreathed with a garland of summer
flowers and green leaves about the neck. His emblem is a golden
sun.
The Winter King
Arddu (Old Welsh, "royal
darkness") is the Dark Lord and King of the Dead. He is the
spirit of winter and death. In Witchcraft, Death is called the
Great Teacher, and so the Winter King, as the bringer of death,
is the giver of wisdom and knowledge, the Guardian of the
Mysteries.
The Horned King
Kernunnos, the horned one,
the Celtic "Father of Animals" with his companion Stag and Boar
is associated with Cernunnos, connected with fertility and
wealth. Cernunnos is depicted as the "horned god, " with the
antlers of a stag, most notably on the famous Gundestrup
cauldron discovered in Denmark.
Dynion Mwyn only has one rule of
behavior: "Behave Yourself and hurt not another lest it be in self
defense. " We are not perfect. We are students and true seekers of
the Old Religion - the Old Ways." The Welsh Faerie Folk subscribe to
a life-affirming belief system. As biological or adopted
descendants, we also subscribe to certain tenets.
Go to
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/tenets.html
for a list of our twenty-three tenets and a
brief explanation of their religious meaning.
Some of the below listed
books can be obtained at
http://www.amazon.com
Beginning Readings
The Quest by Rhuddlwm Gawr - Camelot Press - available from:
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0595201245
The Mabinogion by Lady Charlotte Guest - Dover 0-486-29541-9
The White Goddess by Robert Graves (Various)
A History of Witchcraft by Jeffrey Russell - Thames
0-500-01225-3
Elements of Herbalism by David Hoffman - Barnes 0-7607-0308-6
The Book of Crystal Healing by Liz Simpson - Sterling
0-8069-0417-8
Celtic Crystal Magick Vol 1 by Rhuddlwm Gawr - Camelot Press
Intermediate Readings
The Way by Rhuddlwm Gawr - Camelot Press - available from:
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=059523125X
The Rebirth of Witchcraft by Doreen Valiente - Phoenix
0-919345-39 5
By Standing Stone and Elder Tree by William G. Gray -
Llewellyn 0-87542-299-3
The Alex Sanders Lectures - Magickal 0-939708-05-1
Shamanism and the Mystery Lines by Paul Devereux - Llewellyn
0-87542-189-X
Tarot for Beginners by P.Scott Hollander - Llewellyn
1-56718-363-8
Crystal Magick Vol. II by Rhuddlwm Gawr
Advanced Readings
The
Word by Rhuddlwm Gawr and others - Camelot - available from:
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0595258085
The Book of Druidry by Ross Nicholls - Thorsons 1-85538-167-2
The Call of the Horned Piper by Nigel A. Jackson - Capall
Bann 1-898307-09-1
Angels and Goddesses by Michael Howard - Capall Bann
1-898307-03-2
The Pickingill Papers by Michael Howard - Capall Bann
1-898307-10-5
The Sacred Ring by Michael Howard - Capall Bann 1-898307-28-8
The Innerspace Workbook by C Summers & J Vayne - Capall Bann
1-898307-13-X
Pathworking by Pete Jennings - Capall Bann 1-898307-00-8
In Search of Herne the Hunter by Eric Fitch - Capall Bann
1-898307-23-7
The Witches of OZ - by Matthew & Julia Phillips - Capall Bann
1-898307-18-0
Sacred Geometry by Nigel Pennick - Capall Bann 1-898307-15-6
Lines on the Landscape by Nigel Pennick - Hale
Practical Magic in the Northern Tradition by Nigel Pennick -
Aquarian
The Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner - Bantam
Earth Magic - a Seasonal Guide by Margaret McArthur - Capall
Bann 1-898307-01-6
Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries by WY Evans-Wentz - Colin
Smythe
Pattern of the Past by Guy Underwood - Abacus
Websites
Dynion
Mwyn website
-
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/dynionmwyn/dynionmwyn23.html
Welsh
Witchcraft website
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/dynion1.html
The
Quest is available at
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0595201245
The
Way is available at
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=059523125X
The
Word is available at
http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0595258085
A free
Introductory Lesson is at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/dynionmwyn/lesson1/thirteen1.html
The
Wales Dynion Mwyn homepage at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/dynionmwyn/dynionmwyn23.html
The
Welsh Resources page at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/welsh1.html
The Secret History of Wicca, British
Witchcraft and Welsh Gwyddon (Witchcraft) at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/SecretHistory.html
Welsh
Witchcraft beliefs at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/beliefs.html
The
History of Dynion Mwyn in Wales and the UK
at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/WORD/WORDCH01.html
The
History of Y Tylwyth Teg in America at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/history.html
The
Introduction to a Book of Shadows
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/bos.html
A
Craft Dictionary at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/glossary.html
Descriptions of Religious Sabbats at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/wheel.html
Symbols of the Craft at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/symbol1.html
Frequently asked questions at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/wfwfaq.html
Discover Y Tylwyth Teg and Dynion Mwyn Books at
http://www.dynionmwyn.net/DMbooks.html
Rhuddlwm Gawr at SelfGrowth.com at
http://www.selfgrowth.com/experts/rhuddlwm_gawr.html
WE ARE
RAPIDLY LOSING THE FOUNDERS OF THE NEO-PAGAN MOVEMENT! FIRST DOREEN
VALIENTE, THEN STEWART FARRAR, AND FINALLY OUR OWN TALIESIN WYNNE!!
GO TO OUR
OBITUARY PAGE HERE
If you are
interested in the Welsh music found on these pages
CLICK HERE FOR
WELSH MUSIC !!! (LOTS OF MIDI FILES) You may download any or
all of the songs in Midi format. Enjoy!!!
A NOTE TO THOSE WHO SEEK TO BECOME A WELSH WITCH (GWYDDON)
So you want to be
a Witch?! Why? If you are interested in Witchcraft because you've
just seen the film "The Craft", and want to have control over the
person who's just ditched you, or you have seen "Sabrina the Teenage
Witch" and want to be able to change your dress in an instant, or
you've seen "Charmed" and want to win the lottery, or you were
watching reruns of "Bewitched" and got excited about the prospects
of twitching your nose, you've come to the right place; because
we're going to do our best to discourage you!!!
If you came here
because you are interested in Witchcraft for excitement, wild sex,
large silver pentacles, black gothic clothing, turning your boy/girl
friend in to a toad or your slave and being self indulgence, you'll
be very disappointed! That's not to say that Witches don't like
excitement, large silver pentacles, black gothic clothing, turning
your boy/girlfriend into your slave and having fantastic sex (after
all I'm sure there are some wild Witches out there!), but that's not
what Witchcraft is all about.
Witchcraft is
about Enlightenment, Healing, Magick, Knowledge, and yes - Power,
but its also about your Spiritual Growth. If you are not interested
in your own Spiritual Growth, and not interested in doing all the
hard work involved in becoming a Witch, we would encourage you to
browse the Web until you find a tradition or religion, more suited
to your needs. Come back when you are ready to work.
Oh, your still
interested? Then read on: Once you start on the path, it will
become an important part of your life. Being a Witch is a vocation,
just as being a Doctor, Nurse or for that matter, the Priest of any
other religion is, because that is what you are going to be: a
Priest or a Priestess. In Christianity, a minister or Priest must
work very hard to become the leader of a congregation. A Witch
Priest or Priestess must work just as hard and just as long or even
longer.
Once you are a
Witch, you can't undo what you've learned. It will be with you for
the rest of your life. You will always "know" things and understand
things others won't. You will feel things more. You will truly
walk in the other persons shoes.
There is a
statement used during initiation; "thou must suffer in order to
learn". There are no truer words. If you are accepted as a
student, you will soon find that during your year and a day study
toward initiation, spiritual changes will occur in your life which
may be very painful; for some it means their life being turned
upside down for an entire year, after which they take their final
vows to give service of the Gods, and yes, it does smooth out.
That year may
hurt. But you will learn more about spirituality in that one year,
than you would have in the previous twenty. And at the end of your
training, you will KNOW you are a Witch without any doubt.
Being a Witch is
about service to the Great Spirit through the Lord and Lady, so you
have to go through that initial pain of spiritual growth. After all
if there is No Pain: there will be No Gain! If you avoid the pain
of initiation, who are you serving? The answer; no one but
yourself. Uncomfortable yet? Having second thoughts? If yes, give
up reading this now. If not, read further.
Some people make
statements like: "Witches are born not made", and another that
"Witches are made, not born". Neither is totally true. Yes, psychic
ability does come easier to some people, but the majority of Witches
learn the Knowledge of the Craft through hard work. If you can't do
that, you can't be a Witch.
If you become a
student, you will acquire this knowledge through hard work, study,
and the practice of the Art through an ongoing craft structure
preserved and continued in various forms and folkways from the days
of our Pictish and Druidic ancestors, and before. You will learn
that you never stop learning; that there is always more to learn,
particularly about yourself.
Discipline and
responsibility are cornerstones of our expectations. We require
them no less from our students than we do from ourselves. That is
why we screen all who come to us looking for initiation into the
Welsh Craft of the Wise. That is also why you may not hear back
from us for some time. We will do a psychometric reading of your
photo and your handwriting. If you are not honest with us, you will
never hear from us again.
Always keep in
mind that every true Witchcraft tradition strives to promote perfect
love and perfect trust among it's members. We will expect you to be
honorable and reliable. If you can convince us that you have these
qualities, are sincere, and ready to work, we will give you the
opportunity to begin introductory training.
For our part, we
will devote as much time and effort as it takes to help you become a
Witch, but we will also expect certain things from you: we will
expect you to complete your lessons in a reasonable length of time.
If you are coming to local classes and we have asked you to do
homework due in two weeks, we don't mean four weeks. If we ask you
to return an exam in a month, we don't mean two. If we ask you
to perform an assignment a specific way, we do not mean YOUR way.
When it comes time
to be taught in person by an individual teacher, we will expect you
to give him or her your complete attention as well as the courtesy
and respect due an elder of the Craft. Therefore we will expect
respect, loyalty and honor to our Tradition to be your first
mottoes.
These three words
are part of the Twenty Three Virtues which you will taught in your
first year.
Ancient Pictish
Witches and Welsh Druids passed on their spiritual, mystical and
magickal knowledge of the mysteries of Nature to our forefathers
over a thousand years ago, and until this day it has existed in
Wales. In 1967 it was brought to the U.S. by an Elder.
Since 1967, in the
United States, our tradition has initiated thousands of Witches,
trained hundreds of Elders, High Priests and High Priestesses, and
started many Covens. But even though Witchcraft is a popular
religion, this knowledge is not for everyone's eyes. Some people
cannot handle the truth, or the power of Magick. You don't share a
loaded machine gun with a five year old child.
We will show you
how to live in harmony with Nature and its forces. In our
teachings, we emphasis the creative aspects of the God and Goddess,
the Great Spirit, and stress the respect that you must have for
these forces. You will learn various techniques of obtaining
Psychic Inner awareness, through such techniques as meditation and
rituals. This process will help you attain a higher form of
consciousness, eventually leading to Spiritual Enlightenment.
If you complete
the training and become part of the Pagan Way Outer Circle, you will
find an empathetic and supportive community, and you may begin oral
and written study to become a WITCH! A Witch not only has mastered
the above studies but is also working to become a High Priest or
High Priestess in the service and worship of The Mother Goddess and
The Father God in all the many forms and names they are known by.
You will eventually teach the knowledge of the Mighty Ones, and live
by the philosophy of the Laws of Nature.
Do you Wish
to Become a Welsh Witch? CLICK HERE, Complete the
Questionnaire and
Registration Forms and your good to go!
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