Avalon Within

by Jhenah Telyndru

  Cycle of the Stars: House of Scorpio to house of Aquarius (Fixed to Fixed)—The Unchanged

  mythological sources: The Tale of Gwion Bach; Hanes Taliesin

  The goddess Ceridwen is the keeper of the Cauldron of Inspiration—the pearl-rimmed vessel from which all knowledge can be obtained. In the dark abyss of Her Cauldron, Ceridwen brews the Graal of wisdom—a powerful potion that requires much time and many components. When complete, the liquid will yield three potent drops containing all wisdom—the rest is a poison that cracks the vessel open. We must drink of this cauldron to obtain the three-fold gift found in the shadow’s darkness.

  Ceridwen teaches us that we can transform the darkness within us into the greatest of beauty though obtaining the illumination of Wisdom. This transformation is not without its price; we must change ourselves on every level and a part of us must die so that we may be truly reborn in wisdom. The Draught of Illumination is brewed only by the distillation of the self—that seeking of our inner truths mired in the poison of shadow. Connecting with these energies causes us to break our vessels open, catalyzing the death of our old selves and the freedom of our truths from outmoded perspectives and limitations of our beings.

  Through this alchemical process we gain the Three Rays of Awen—the triple illumination that activates the dormant seeds of wisdom within us. Once obtained, these seeds must be incubated and brought to the surface, breaking through the once-fallow ground to sprout with new potential for a bountiful harvest. It is only when we allow our old selves to be consumed by Ceridwen that we can be born anew.

  Invocation to Ceridwen

  Holy Ceridwen, Lady of the Cauldron, fill me with Your streams of illumination so that I may find the depth of my vessel and test the true nature of my mettle. White Sow, teach me the art of transformation, that I may come to embrace the changes that bring me ever back into Your womb to be reborn again—ever in pursuit of all wisdom. Sacred Muse, inspire me to peer into the utter darkness of my limitations that I may find the fairest one of all—the Divine potential of my soul.

  Blodeuwedd

  avalonian landscape: The White Spring

  avalonian cycle of healing: Station of Emergence

  sacred times

  Cycle of the Sun: Full moon after Gwyl Mair to full moon after Calan Mai

  Cycle of the Moon: New moon to first quarter (night after the dark moon through the tenth night after the dark moon)

  Cycle of the Stars: House of Pisces to house of Gemini (Mutable to Mutable)—The Changed

  mythological sources: The Mabinogi—Math, Son of Mathonwy; Hanes Blodeuwedd

  Blodeuwedd is both Flower Bride and owl of wisdom—She who blossoms by day and hunts by night. Leaving the shade of the Otherworld behind, Blodeuwedd dances into the returning dawn to don Her blooming mantle of rebirth. Her energy rejuvenates the land, granting Sovereignty to those She deems worthy. Rejecting the confines created by the expectations of others, it is the choice to live Her truth that causes Blodeuwedd to trade Her fragile petals for a feathered cloak of Her own design.

  Sharp-taloned and keen-eyed, the transformed Blodeuwedd helps us see through the shadow’s darkness so that we may grip tight to that which we wish to reclaim and all that we wish to become. No wilting flower, Her owl aspect is filled with wisdom only found through liberating the authentic self from the fetters of external influences and the parts we are expected to play.

  Having faced the challenges of the shadow, and uncovered the gifts that lie within the deepest depths of the self, we too must return into the light in order to actualize the promise and potential unearthed in the darkness. Like Blodeuwedd, a coat of expectation is overlaid upon our person, and we are consigned to repeat our outmoded patterns of limitation and to perform the roles demanded of us in our daily life—unless we consciously choose otherwise.

  In the wake of the renewal that comes with the Light Half of the Cycle, we are faced with a choice: to manifest the authentic woman found deep within, or to remain in the roles others would see us fulfill. With the choice to be true to the self comes wisdom gained, earning our spiritual wings for flight and lifting us above all that we have been. Our perspective shifts and our eyes become owl-wide, granting us the ability to see the truth through the shroud of the darkness that once hindered our sight.

  Invocation to Blodeuwedd

  Holy Blodeuwedd, Lady of Nine Flowers, fill me with Your blessings of renewal and the joy of empowered flight. Flower-Faced One, teach me the power of my choices so that I may embrace my authentic self, even in the face of others’ expectations. Keen-Eyed Hunter in the Night, help me see past the illusion-shrouded darkness, that my eyes may stay focused on the essence of my being, my sharp talons never losing their grip upon the Truth.

  Arianrhod

  avalonian landscape: Modron’s Mound

  avalonian cycle of healing: Station of Resolution

  sacred times

  Cycle of the Sun: All time

  Cycle of the Moon: Full lunar eclipse

  Cycle of the Stars: Band of the zodiac

  mythological source: The Mabinogi—Math, Son of Mathonwy

  The goddess Arianrhod is the Lady of the Silver Wheel, and She Who Wears the Northern Crown. From Her starry fortress, Arianrhod oversees the turning of the Great Cycle and maintains the balance of the universe. She is the Mother of our unfolding and the Lesson Bringer who presents challenges that help us to reveal our inherent Divinity. Hers is not the cruel hand of fate, rather She is the Great Teacher who offers us the opportunity to repay our soul debt and bring our essence back into balance.

  Beholden to no man and completely Sovereign within Herself, Arianrhod is the Virgin Mother, bearing sons of sea and sun—of the shadow and the self. Dylan of the Waters is born complete, and returns to the depths of the sea. He is the sense of Divinity immersed in the unconscious of us all. Her other son is not yet fully formed, signifying our need to develop the consciousness of our Divinity which, once complete, will make our souls shine like the sun. To aid in this growth, Arianrhod places three geas, or taboos, upon this second son, who would come to be known as Lleu Llaw Gyffes, that he must surmount in order to come fully into his Godhood.

  In the same way, Arianrhod turns us on Her wheel and spins us into wholeness. The trials She lays before us help us to birth ourselves—inspiring us to move past our limitations to achieve inner Sovereignty. At times, this testing may seem cruel, but it is the universe providing us with an opportunity to manifest our true selves. Through Arianrhod, we pass through the triple rite of passage wherein we gain our names—by answering the call to authenticity; our arms—by overcoming the fears that keep us from being who we are; and a partner not of this earth—by establishing a strong relationship with our higher selves and with the Divine.

  We must take up the challenges of Arianrhod if we want to fulfill our highest potential, for no one can change us but ourselves. She is the spark that impels our self re-creation, but only we can bring ourselves to our destinies.

  Invocation to Arianrhod

  Holy Arianrhod, Lady of the Heavens, fill me with your strength of purpose and ability to catalyze change. Silver Wheel, teach me to honor the ebb and flow of my personal process and become able to recognize the gifts that lie at the heart of life’s most difficult lessons. Northern Crown, help me weave the tapestry of my soul anew, filled with the spark of Awen that conquers all shadow, as I walk the cyclic labyrinth leading me to Your sacred Presence.

  Branwen

  avalonian landscape: The Island of Avalon

  avalonian cycle of healing: Station of Integration

  sacred times

  Cycle of the Sun: The now

  Cycle of the Moon: The Blue Moon (second full moon in a sun sign)

  Cycle of the Stars: The Pole Star

  mythological source: The Mabinogi—B
ranwen, Daughter of Llyr

  Branwen is the embodiment of Sovereignty and the Soul of the Land. As such, She sits at the Heart of the Avalonian Tradition. She is the Sacred Center found where the Worlds overlap and all realms of being can be accessed. Lady of Two Islands, Branwen is the voice of the unconscious as well as the response of the conscious self. When the two are working in harmony we obtain the torc of Sovereignty, for we are living in partnership with the self.

  Metaphorically, Branwen and Her brother Bran are two parts of the same whole, the white raven and the black—the spiritual and the physical. He is the King of the Island of the Mighty; She is King-Maker, bestowing Sovereignty to the King of Ireland. Her very being is a unifying force, bringing peace through marriage to both island nations. When Her husband mistreats and imprisons Her, Branwen trains a starling to make Her brother aware of Her plight, and He, Her other self, responds to Her needs, leading a party to rescue Her.

  At the end of Her tale, Branwen dies of a broken heart caused by the carnage resulting from Her rescue. Yet, Hers is the Cauldron of Rebirth, bringing together the individual parts in the struggle to forge a new perspective of self, shining in its wholeness. Merging with the Unconscious once more, She returns to her silent guardianship of the Land. As we move through each turn of the Cycle, our battle for wholeness further opens our heart, thereby allowing a greater revelation of the actualized Center.

  Branwen has chosen to reveal Herself through myth not as the fully actualized Center, but as an example to all women needing to walk down their personal paths to empowerment. Immensely compassionate, Branwen understands the reality of women’s struggles—the sorrow and joy, the heartbreak and triumph, the bondage and freedom. It is through these trials that we come to find the seat of our souls, and claim the throne of Sovereignty that is our birthright. When we have at last mastered the self, and come fully into our power, we too shall sit in the still, quiet center of our queenship.

  Invocation to Branwen

  Holy Branwen, Lady of Two Islands, fill me with your steadfast grace and radiating beauty. White Raven, teach me to listen to the voice within, that I may move through my challenges and bridge the divide between sorrow and healing—between pain and wholeness. Sovereign Queen, may every heartbeat fill me with the unshakable knowledge that You are within me, and I within You; I need but listen within the depths of all silences to hear the starling’s call—and awaken.

  [1] *Note: Each Cycle goddess (Rhiannon, Ceridwen, and Blodeuwedd) presides over four full lunar cycles, remaining in ascendance until the night of the full moon that begins the next goddess’ run of moons. For example, Blodeuwedd’s time begins at the full moon after Gwyl Mair/Imbolc, when Ceridwen’s time comes to a close, and ends on the night when Rhiannon’s time begins, at the full moon before Gwyl Awst/Lughnasadh.

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  Connecting with the Lady of the Land

  The three foundations of Spirituality: Hearth as altar, work as worship, and service as sacrament.

  Celtic Triad

  In the same way we ride the Wheel of the Year, the Cycle reveals itself to us monthly through the moon’s phases. Harnessing this energy every month is where our inner work originates. We see echoes of the greater cycle reverberating in the smaller one, pushing us through our day-to-day revelations, building up to greater insights that come through the work of the yearly cycle, culminating in the cycle of our lives when our time here is through. Indeed, even as we cycle around the incarnational wheel, the same energies move through and over us until we finally attain ultimate wholeness—union with the Divine.

  At the full moon, women of Avalon come together in ritual, seeking the wisdom of the Goddess to aid and guide the inner process. In the light of the moon’s fullness, the answers are revealed, and the work of the month is presented. As the lunar energy wanes, we travel deeply into ourselves, seeking information we need and following guidance we received at the full moon. This journey leads us deeper within ourselves, until the moon is fully obscured and the Mysteries guard themselves.

  In solitude, we look into the mirror at the dark moon. Just as we harness the full moon’s energy to connect with the Goddess in our community of sisters, at the dark moon we find Her deep within ourselves. The power of the moon turns inward at this time, and so too does women’s wisdom. From the dark we turn again toward the light and the promise of renewal that is the new moon, that sliver in the sky sprouting new growth from darkness. As she waxes, we too begin to manifest what we have learned from our inner questing, and our changes become apparent as we work to integrate our newfound wisdoms into our lives. We return at the full, bringing what we have learned and accomplished since our last dance beneath her silver light, asking for the next step on our ever-winding journey home.

  The cycle of the year, the cycle of the moon, the cycle of our lives, and the cycle of wisdom all weave the same pattern of Descent, Confrontation, Emergence, Resolution, and Integration. As we align ourselves with these natural rhythms, we will find that our work parallels the energies of the present point of cycle. As we begin the process at the third quarter moon or Calan Gaeaf (Samhain), the Station of Descent, we enter into the Dark Half of the Cycle, focusing upon what hinders us and prevents us from being all that we are. The work continues as we come to the dark moon or Gwyl Mair (Imbolc), the Station of Confrontation. At this darkest point of the Cycle, the shadow is revealed.

  We take the hard-earned understanding of our pain and the previously unconscious motivations to which it relates, up into the light with us, to the Emergence into the Light Half of the Cycle at Calan Mai (Beltane) or the first quarter moon. Here, we now plant the seeds of light, that wondrous part of ourselves which will take the place of the darkness we toiled to uproot. Resolution at Gwyl Awst (Lughnasadh) and at the full moon sees the seeds come into fruition. Healing has taken place, and a new energy has come from this Transformation—an energy which will support the genuine self. The Cycle repeats itself as we peel away a new layer and work towards the Descent with new insight and new tools at our disposal.

  Connecting with the Goddesses of Avalon

  In the Avalonian Tradition, we come before the Goddess at the full moon to seek Her guidance in our work and support through our process. At the dark moon, we look into Her mirror to see what lies beyond the limitations of our sight, driven unremittingly to lift the veil of illusion. The Goddess is our soul’s greatest resource and most

  constant advocate, helping us to stay the course on the path to wholeness. Through ritually empowering our Immram work and harnessing the power of the Avalonian Cycle of Healing, we can make real and meaningful contact with the Ladies of Avalon—seeking the wisdom of the Cauldron found both in our souls and in the landscape of the Sacred Isle itself.

  The Goddesses of Avalon are honored at specific points in the Cycle and are associated with particular places in the Sacred Landscape. Depending upon where we are in the the Cycle, we can choose to connect with the goddess who oversees the energy of that Station by performing an Immram at a time and to a place on Avalon corresponding with Her energy. For example, it is recommended to begin aligning ourselves with the Cycle of Healing starting at the Station of Descent. Therefore, we could perform an Immram to the Red Spring during the third quarter moon, in order to connect with Rhiannon. Once in Her presence, we can ask for guidance about the parts of our soul process relevant to the energy of the Station of Descent—uncovering outmoded patterns that hold us back, revealing illusions we have accepted as truths about ourselves, and discovering the true the nature of our shadow.

  Alternatively, we can choose to align with the energies of the cycle of the sun, working with the goddess that corresponds to the position we currently occupy in the Wheel of the Year. Doing this will aid our merging with the power of the Great Cycle, and we will surely find that in time, our personal energies will come to mirror the unfolding essence of the natural order. The Cy
cle has no real starting place so it is possible to begin Cycle of Healing work at any point; we can use the self-reflective questions associated with each Station as a guide to determine our work’s focus at any position in the Avalonian Cycle of Healing. However we choose to approach the work, the important thing is that we engage in this transformational process and build a relationship with the Lady and the Land.

  Connecting with the Goddesses of Avalon in this fashion is a wonderful opportunity for us to learn more about these sacred matrons and about Avalon itself. We can use time spent in Their presence to inquire about the lessons of Their stories and to discover Their symbols, totems, sacred herbs, and the appropriate ways to honor Them. Working with the Ladies of Avalon can also facilitate our ability to delve deeply into the Sacred Landscape, allowing us to learn more about how these holy sites were used by the women of Avalon.

  It is important to remember that the unasked question cannot be answered. The more time spent traveling to the Holy Isle and seeking the company of the Divine, the stronger our connection to the goddesses and the archetypal realm of Avalon will become. As with any discipline, it will take time to hone our skills, but in the long run, our efforts will pay off bountifully. This discipline is seen in its highest manifestation by a commitment to connecting with the Goddesses of Avalon through regular ritual.

  Solitary Avalonian Ritual

  By definition, ritual is the repetition of a series of actions with the intention to obtain a specifically desired result. In many ways, it is like performing a science experiment. Specific ingredients are mixed in proper proportions and subjected to particular actions. The yield is the sought-after result. The ability to reproduce results is the keystone of science; that is, something is considered scientifically true if the results can be empirically measured and repeated. In many ways, therefore, preparing for ritual is as important as performing it.