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Sir Gawain, Woman and Wild God

In this third part of the series, Tom Hirons and myself talk through his poem ‘Sometimes a Wild God’ and some of it’s connections to the Green Knight. The following discussion explores Sir Gawain’s relationship with Lady Bertilak and what this can tell us about medieval and modern ideas of sexuality. You can also  listenContinue reading “Sir Gawain, Woman and Wild God”

Sir Gawain and the Mabinogi (Part 1)

I have been intending to explore Sir Gawain for some time now, and I thought it best to do it in conversation with a good friend of mine, the poet, storyteller and guide Tom Hirons. We recorded a lengthy conversation that I’ve edited into several chapters. Here is the first, Sir Gawain and the Mabinogi.Continue reading “Sir Gawain and the Mabinogi (Part 1)”

A Queen Betrayed

Both Rhiannon’s and Branwen’s stories in the Mabinogi express some of the most tragic themes in Celtic myth. They are also very similar to later folktales from other traditions. In comparing all of these stories we find some very interesting ideas and beliefs common to many of them. You can also listen to the podcastContinue reading “A Queen Betrayed”

The Celtic Wonder-child Myth

Myths about immortal fathers and miraculous births are found in many cultures across the world, including the stories of the Welsh and the Irish. What does this widespread myth tell us about mythology itself? Rhiannon’s Mabinogi part 3. You can also listen to this episode as a podcast here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/8cvTIARTAvb

How can we understand the Mabinogi?

In this second video on W.J.Gruffydd’s classic of Celtic scholarship, Rhiannon we explore his comparison of the Irish story the Conception of Mongán with the Welsh story of Pwyll in Annwfn. What can this tell us about Celtic myth? You can also listen to this episode as a podcast. https://anchor.fm/celtic-source/embed/episodes/40–How-can-we-understand-the-Mabinogi–Rhiannons-Mabinogi-part-2-e1rhvp7