Avalon Within

by Jhenah Telyndru

  Positioned opposite the yoni-shaped portal to the Otherworld that is the Tor, this earthen womb burgeons with the energy of creation and underscores the pattern of alchemical polarity inherent in this Sacred Landscape. The Tor’s deep magnetic energies allows us to birth our highest conscious calling. Just as the dark stirrings of Ceridwen’s Cauldron-womb can be seen in the Tor’s labyrinthine terraces, leading us down into the realm of shadow, so too can we visualize the overturned Vessel of Transformation in the guise of Chalice Hill. No longer concealing its mysteries within, the Cauldron of Rebirth has spilled the energies of its bounty outward across the land.

  Chalice Hill is named for the legend that Joseph of Aramathea hid the Holy Grail beneath its slopes; belief holds that he returned to Glastonbury after the death of Christ to establish the first Christian Church in the British Isles. Symbolically, the sacred cup is analogous to the Cauldron of Plenty, and both are objects of quest in Arthurian mythos. Medieval tales speak of Arthur’s knights seeking the Holy Grail in order to bring renewal to the land and to heal the Wounded King. As we have seen, the early Welsh poem The Spoils of Annwn depicts Arthur and his men traveling by boat into the Otherworld to obtain the Cauldron of Plenty. Both of these vessels of abundance represent the Sacred Womb of the Great Mother; seeking the Grail or Cauldron is a figurative embodiment of the journey into the unconscious and the inner quest for the Divine Feminine.

  Just as the womb is the portal through which we enter into the physical plane, the Celts revered mounds as liminal places through which one could pass between worlds. Welsh mythology illustrates this in the First Branch of The Mabinogi where we see Rhiannon in the guise of the Otherworldly Maiden, riding out from the mound of Arberth. Folklore abounds throughout Celtic tradition extolling the mystical properties of the fairy mounds that dot the British landscape.

  The veneration of mounds is a vestige of ancient Celtic ancestor worship. The importance of kin and clan finds no better manifestation than the sometimes-elaborate burial places of important persons and families. Although the method of burial differed through space and time in the British Isles—ranging from long barrows to cairns, and dolmens to tumuli—intention and symbolic resonance are a common thread. With the coming of new belief systems and the passage of time, reverence of these ancestors faded, and these great personages were preserved in folk memory as the Fair Folk or faeries. In Welsh tradition, these beings were called Bendith y Mamau—Blessings of the Mother.

  Priestess and half-sister of King Arthur, Morgan le Fay is perhaps the most well-known inhabitant of Avalon. The appellation “Fay” or “fairy” denotes her Otherworldly status, hinting at her Pagan importance. There are clues that help us retrace her devolution, for her name is cognate with the Welsh goddess Modron, the Mother. Known in the Welsh Triads as the daughter of Avallach, the King of the Otherworld said to dwell below Glastonbury Tor, Modron is the Divine Ancestress of Avalon, perhaps the original figure come to be remembered in legend as Morgan of the Fairies. The Spoils of Annwn speaks of Nine Otherworldly Maidens who warmed the Cauldron of Plenty with their breath. These Maidens are the Nine Morgens of the Avalonian Tradition, powerful priestesses and teachers who serve as the Motherhood of Avalon. Morgen, in this case, is a title rather than a name, just as Modron may be an appellation of the Goddess rather than a specific deity. Perhaps originally an amorphic manifestation of the Divine Feminine, we know the mysterious figure of Modron tangentially through myth.

  In The Mabinogi and its associated tales, Modron is the mother of Mabon, the Wondrous Youth after whom the collected stories of Welsh mythology may be named. In the story of Culhwch and Olwen, several of King Arthur’s band search for this son of Modron, who, at three days old, was taken from his mother and held in captivity. They inquire of the five Oldest Animals, seeking his whereabouts and each, older than the last, had not heard of him. The procession of these marvelous creatures is an allegorical echo of the Cauldron Transformations, each of them speaking of the process of the Great Cycle, at the end of which the child of the Goddess within can be freed from his prison. These ancient races of animals are the totemic ancestors of the Cymry (Welsh), each a teacher of the mysteries and a guardian on the inner paths.

  The Oldest Animals

  The Blackbird of Cilgwri

  myth: Blackbird had lived so long she was able to shrink an unworked blacksmith’s anvil to the size of a nut solely by pecking at it every night.

  symbolism: Blackbird, the Otherworldly messenger that calls us to the quest, reminds us to listen to the voice of our inner Divinity.

  aspect of the quest: Descending into the unconscious with the aim of getting to the core of the matter, eroding any obstacle preventing us from seeking our Center.

  correspondences: The Station of Descent in the Avalonian Cycle of Healing; the Lower World.

  The Stag of Redynvre

  myth: Of the race older than Blackbird, Stag had lived so long as to witness the growth of an oak from a sapling to a mighty tree of one hundred branches, which then declined and died, leaving only a withered stump.

  symbolism: Stag represents the fertile potential of the Land and the stillness of Sovereignty that lies within.

  aspect of the quest: Uprooting the shadow aspects of the self that once fed upon our personal energy, and sent out tendrils of lower-self influence into our lives; death of the old self.

  correspondences: The Station of Confrontation in the Avalonian Cycle of Healing; the Middle World; the Realm of Land.

  The Owl of Cwm Cawlwyd

  myth: Of the race of animals older than Stag, Owl saw three successive periods of uproot and reforestation of a wooded glen.

  symbolism: Owl teaches us to see past the darkness of illusion to find truth and to hold fast to our convictions.

  aspect of the quest: Creating new growth from that which is old and outmoded. Transformation of the self through the initiatory process of the triple rebirth.

  correspondences: The Station of Emergence in the Avalonian Cycle of Healing; the Middle World; the Realm of Sea.

  The Eagle of Gwern Abwy

  myth: Of the race of animals older than Owl, Eagle witnessed the transformation over time of a stone which was once so tall he could stand upon it and peck at the stars every evening, to something just a span high.

  symbolism: Eagle reminds us of the brightness of our potential and the new perspective that accompanies the quest for the actualized self.

  aspect of the quest: Attaining the summit and achieving one’s goals. While we cannot remain forever at the top, for the wheel will turn around and down once again, we bring our gifts with us, so that the peak of our next summit will be higher yet.

  correspondences: The Station of Resolution in the Avalonian Cycle of Healing; the Middle World; The Realm of Sky.

  The Salmon of Llyn Llyw

  myth: The oldest of all animals, Salmon was once almost captured for food by Eagle, with whom he then entered into battle before making peace. On one of his journeys upriver made with every tide, Salmon discovered the location of Mabon’s prison and was able to bring Arthur’s men to free the boy.

  symbolism: Salmon brings revelations of wisdom and connection to the essence of divinity that transcends all Worlds and Realms.

  aspect of the quest: Freeing an aspect of Sovereignty from the prison of the shadow by successfully navigating the currents of the Unconscious and conquering the impulses of ego.

  correspondences: The Station of Integration in the Avalonian Cycle of Healing; the Upper World.

  As ancient as these animals may have been, only Salmon, the eldest and wisest of them all, knew the whereabouts of Mabon. Because of this, it may be that Modron and Her son existed before them all, reinforcing the notion that They are a primal Dyad—the Ancestral Creatrix and her Divine Son. In the creation stories of many cultures, the Primordial Mound is the first formation to rise out
of the watery abyss. It seems fitting in many ways, therefore, that in seeking to reclaim the pre-Christian name of Chalice Hill, the name Modron’s Mound was chosen—the Mound of the Mother.

  Immram to Modron’s Mound

  Modron’s Mound, or Chalice Hill, is related to the Station of Resolution in the Avalonian Cycle of Healing. Stepping through the portal of this Station, we enter into the direct light of complete inner illumination. That which we discovered hidden in the darkness of the unconscious has been brought full circle to complete conscious revelation. Seeing ourselves in the brightness of self-actualization, we are now empowered to bring ourselves to a full and abundant outer harvest.

  Use this holy site to bring forth the full fruits cultivated in the orchard of your soul. Unleash the unbridled power of the soul’s vital force into the world; it is a canvas awaiting your brush—a slab of marble awaiting your chisel. All you desire at the very heart of your being sings for release. The spark of Sovereignty reclaimed from the shackles of the shadow is fanned into flame, shining its warmth and light into the outside world—a herald of growth and transformation. The Station of Resolution inspires us to become all we aspire to be, teaching us to love all we are so that we may finally see the face of the Lady revealed in our own reflection.

  Perform the Immram to the Island of Avalon as described on p. 55. After getting on the Barge to Avalon, proceed with the rest of this working.

  The Journey

  It is noontime. Stepping out of the Barge that transported you across the glassy lake to the Holy Isle, you meet your guide waiting for you on the shores of Avalon. Greet your guide and share your reason for undertaking this journey. State your desire to visit Modron’s Mound and ask to be guided there.

  The landscape is vibrant with a riot of color intensified by the sun’s peak strength; the warming rays beat down upon you from directly overhead. The vivid blue sky is cloudless and clear. As you are led through the orchards, the day’s heat is cooled somewhat by the shade of the apple trees, their limbs hanging heavy with ripening fruit.

  The terrain slopes up and then down again, finally causing the slumbering body of the Tor to rise gently over the landscape. Take note of what you see along your path as you follow your guide, not this time to the Tor’s spiraled terraces, but to the pregnant earthen rise known to those of this time as Modron’s Mound.

  You stand before the rounded hill, inviting in its resonant bounty and enrobed in a mantle of lush and vibrant green. The mound is hedged all around by wildly growing hawthorn trees and bushes. Their ripe, red berries are the delight of the congregation of birds moving in and out of the thicket, all the while deftly avoiding its thorn-armored branches. Accompanied by a chorus of cheerful song, the flurry of the birds’ activity lends a festive quality to the air. Their industry inspires you; you feel drawn to ascend the hill.

  After a short and invigorating climb up the gradual slope, you find yourself standing at the top of Modron’s Mound. All of the Vale of Avalon opens before you: the Tor to the east, the fish-shaped Wearyall Hill to the south … the lush apple orchards … the sparking sun on the distant, encircling lake … the oak processional leading to the Tor … the ancient column of yew trees guiding the way to the cleft in the Earth from which the Red Spring flows …

  You survey the landscape and take in the sights of the Sacred Isle. In the day’s illumination, all things have changed. You see where you have come from—the orchards, the Tor, and the springs—the areas you have become familiar with in your work. You see that which is yet to come—the other hills on the island, the sanctuary, the timber halls, the roundhouses of the priestesses and teachers, and all other parts of the island you have yet to visit.

  Turning your attention to the center of the curving hilltop, you find a woodpile built up into the form of a small bonfire. Walking closer, your expanded vision allows you to see that the pile is made up of nine sacred woods, and it comes to you that they have been gathered with great intention from all parts of the Holy Isle. Your guide gestures to two oak branches in the grass in front of the fire circle. You pick them up, knowing you are meant start the fire with these oaken staves.

  Kneeling before the fire, you begin to rub the sticks together, hoping to release the spark that will set the bonfire aflame. The heat of the sun beats down upon your head and you begin to perspire, in no small part from the effort with which you work. With your breath, connect with the energies of the sun and pour it into the place where the two sticks meet. Like a magnifying glass, focus all the heat and light to the point of greatest friction, as if to harness the full strength of the sun’s potential. The heat builds and the sticks begin to smoke. Suddenly a spark flies out and makes contact with the kindling below the crisscrossed fire, igniting it.

  You gently coax the fledgling flame to grow, feeding it with your breath. Gradually the fire builds as scarlet tongues lap at the dry and ready wood. Soon the entire pile is engulfed, and you step back with a deep feeling of gratitude and accomplishment at what you have achieved with your own two hands. You can sense right away that this is no ordinary fire. Burning brightly, the flames devour the sacred wood, releasing the spiritual essences that dwell within. The smoke begins to shift, no longer only a physical byproduct of the burning wood, but now stirred by swirls of mystical power.

  Each of the nine woods has its own distinctive energy signature, moving and vibrating at a different rate. Undulating above the fire, like energies are drawn to each other and coalesce into separate but harmonious streams of light. Nine women take form out of the pools of liberated energies—each one different in stature and appearance, but all of them strong, wise, and centered. Two of them approach, each taking one of your hands to include you in the circle of women forming around the blazing fire. Experience the oneness of this moment—the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. No woman standing in circle is of greater or lesser worth. All are Sisters in the Goddess; all are Modron’s Daughters. The women who gather here now are your peers, your friends, your companion journeyers, your sister change-makers. Take some time to be in this space, and look into the eyes of the women around you. Who are these women? Why have you gathered here in this place and at this time? What message do they have for you?

  Standing there, connected and connecting, you begin to feel another circle forming around you; each woman in the circle now has three women standing directly behind her, all holding hands in unison. These are your teachers, your role models, and your biological and spiritual mothers. Reflect upon all that you have learned from them and what they symbolize to you. How have they helped you become the woman you are today? As they have inspired you, what in turn has inspired them? What part of themselves have they passed along to you as your spiritual heritage?

  The circles begin to turn now, one inside the other, moving sunwise around the center of the hill and expanding the energy outwards. Behind each woman comes to stand three more women, forming circle after circle of ever-increasing numbers. The ancestral lineage ripples further and further back through the pool of time. Women of every race, creed, age, size, ability, and social standing are there, representing the full spectrum of women’s experience. Circles form around circles until at last there are nine circles in all … turning and turning, expanding the energy outward until the entire landscape thrums with the resonant heartbeat of the women gathered here.

  Take some time to be with this experience … to feel yourself a part of a vast and supportive tapestry of women, each in her own right a woman of wisdom. Feel the drumming of the collective heartbeat fill your own chest, consciously aligning yourself with the sacred dance of women that moves to the pattern of wholeness and co-creation. At the heart of this dance is the truth of who and what you are, an ember fanned to flame, now burning brightly in your soul. Claim your place in the circle and radiate with the fullness of your joy.

  Nine waves of women pulsate around you, drumming the guardians of Mo
dron’s Mound awake with each circling step. The energy reaches its peak, and all movement and sound comes to a pregnant pause as nine huge, misty forms rise to stand upright around the perimeter of the circle. These giantesses are the Mothers, the Triple Matronæ, and the Great Ancestresses of the Holy Island—the Nine Morgens of Avalon. These Nine attendants of the Cauldron of the Otherworld are the guardians of the Mysteries of Avalon, and it is through their teachings that the blessings of Awen can be obtained.

  It is that very spark of Divine spirit that now begins to glow in the breasts of the Nine, forming a circle of Awen around the vast gathering of women. In unison, the Morgens bend to touch the heart space of a woman in the outermost ring, and immediately the hearts of all within that circle become illuminated. These women turn to the next circle, three hands on one heart, passing the flame to the next ring … and the next … each successive circle bursting forth with the fires of inspiration.

  The fire moves quickly, and with a rush of wind in its wake, it is your turn to receive the sacred fire. You turn to face the three smiling women standing directly behind you; each places their right hand on your heart. With their left hand on their own hearts, you feel a surge of energy like a lightning bolt course through their arms as the three rays of light join to kindle a flame in the core of your existence.

  As the inner warmth expands to every part of your being, take time to experience this complete inner illumination. All things are made clear in this moment. In the light cast by the fire within, the true essence of who you are and what you were born to be is fully revealed. The fire burns through any obstacles that prevent you from fully manifesting the woman that you are; the barriers are gone, the way is made clear. All that remains in the wake of this Divine and cleansing flame is the vision of the fully actualized priestess self. The goal has been reached … the Grail found … the Cauldron reclaimed from the Otherworld. The Wounded Queen within has been fully healed. Bask in the abundance of this moment. Feel your soul swell with the joy of actualization. Imprint this feeling into the very fiber of your being so that you may never forget what has been revealed.