Myth Mountain Podcast
This is a new podcast my wife and I will be making over the next few months. If you want to hear more, please search for the Myth Mountain podcast on your favourite platform and subscribe. You can find us on Spotify here.
This podcast explores many of the ideas behind the Myth Mountain programme that you can find here.
“Join Lucy and Gwilym as they unpack why we are compelled by myths, what role they play in enriching our lives, why we are drawn to the myths of our ancestral lands and how this gives us a sense of the sacred. Sharing personal stories and their experience of being in the wild, vision quest and connection to place.”
Danu and Dôn
There have been several decades of speculation about the relationship between these two mysterious mythic mothers who both founded divine lineages in Celtic myth. But what is their relationship? Are they the same or different?
You can also listen to this episode as a podcast here.
Is Taliesin a god?
The answer may not be what you think . . . I also respond to a question about the apparent difference between myth and folklore. This is an edited version of a talk I gave for Druids Down Under.
You can also listen as a podcast here.
If you want to learn more about Taliesin’s myth, I recently published a book, Taliesin Origins.
“Few authors are able to discuss the original Taliesin myth in as much depth as Dr Gwilym Morus-Baird. As a native Welsh speaker and scholar he has studied the Welsh bardic tradition from the inside, and able to give readers insights few others have even guessed at.
In this groundbreaking exploration, Dr Gwilym Morus-Baird tells the many tales behind the story and draws out the deeper meanings of the original myth. As one of the most complete studies of the greatest Celtic bard in print, this book is a must-have for anyone seriously studying Celtic myth, be they students, researchers, druids or pagans. It reveals the ancient roots of Taliesin’s myth in the Celtic tradition, and interprets many of the symbols, themes and meanings embedded in this important tale.
The book presents new insights not only into Taliesin himself, but also the central figure of Ceridwen, the ancient symbol of her cauldron, the mystical relationship between awen and Annwfn, and how all of these elements relate to the Welsh bardic tradition.”
From students past and present:
“… a scholarly honouring of the magical and otherworldly nature of the Celts.” – Professor Susan Pryor, Tamna University.
“His work is of incalculable value … from the clarity of his explanations and beyond to the countless associations he invites and stimulates.” – Associate Professor Valeria Rodriguez Van Dam, Universidad de Buenos Aires
“ … fundamental for any exploration into Celtic myths and the meaning behind them.” – Dr Gary Llewellyn, Scientist, Neo Druid & Storyteller
“His work … goes to the inner most aspects of Celtic culture that otherwise would seem impossible to penetrate.” – Luke Huw Llewellyn, Welsh Folklore Student & Musician
“He brings the full essence and depth of Welsh mythology into modern times … he has the utmost respect for the original sources and adheres to them as he teaches.” – Kate Cowie Riley, Poet and Writer
“Taliesin and other great poets spring back to life again in his voice. I have learned more from him than I can ever express.” – Dr Ann Beer
“He skilfully stirs the cauldron, and we who are gathered round invariably catch the odd drop of awen.” – Simon Hughes Lilly, Author, Artist & Craftsman
Book Launch Tour
Gyfeillion, I’ll be playing few gigs in Welsh venues over the coming months to launch the book. You would be very welcome to come along. Most of these events are free but they’re all ticketed, so make sure you sign up before you come.
To learn more about the book, or to purchase a copy, you can see this page here.
The remaining events will begin a t 7:30pm and include some music by myself, a rendition of the Tale of Taliesin and a Q&A, as well as an opportunity to purchase a signed copy of the book. Get your tickets here:
10.11 – Bwyd Da Bangor
5.12 – Bankvault Aberystwyth
8.12 – Inkspot Cardiff
13.12 – The Cellar Aberteifi
More dates to be confirmed soon. If you would like me to visit a venue near you, get in touch.
Eternally Fruitful Questions
What questions should we ask when investigating Celtic myths? There are plenty we could ask, but I’ve tried to hone it down to three eternally fruitful questions.
You can listen to this episode as a podcast here.
I’ll talk through these three questions on the courses this coming season, and introduce you to the many children they keep having!
Taliesin Origins (my own and his)
There’s not many folks who end up in my line of work, and I often reflect on how I’ve ended up here, why I’m still following the path of Celtic myth.
It all began with Taliesin, and I have a very distinct set of memories from my youth about those first tentative steps.
This video is a filmed version of the introduction to the new book (and now course), Taliesin Origins.
Modern Paganism’s Translation Problem?
Do books on modern paganism have a translation problem when it comes to Celtic sources? A discussion with Kris Hughes on an important subject.
Or listen to this episode as a podcast:
Thanks, Rest and Next . . .
An end of term message for you all, including news on what’s coming up in September.
A 5th branch of the Mabinogi?
What would a 5th branch of the Mabinogi look like? By following the recurring themes of The Four Branches of the Mabinogi, is there a way of guessing what a 5th branch would contain? Here’s a short lecture I gave a few years back at the Aberystwyth Storytelling Festival:
Docu-mental Interview
I was fortunate enough to be invited by Whitney McKnight to talk on her podcast Docu-mental. It’s slightly different to things I usually talk about, we follow a political strand of thought, but still myth centred. You can listen by clicking here.
Note: I start out by saying my family moved to the North West, which is totally wrong, it was the North East!
