Celtic Source 2025 - 2026 Season

To follow this programme of live courses you will need a Deep Discussions membership.

The First Branch of the Mabinogi

8-Week Course Outline

Join Dr. Gwilym Morus-Baird for an in-depth exploration of the First Branch of the Mabinogi, one of the great prose classics of Welsh literature. This course delves into the rich symbolism, cultural context, and enduring wisdom of this ancient narrative.

New students - please attend the Orientation on September 21st, 7pm UK Time.

Course Details

Duration: 8 weeks

Format: Weekly live sessions (1 hour each)

Schedule: Sunday evenings at 7:00 PM UK Time

Dates: First session on September 28th, last session on November 16th

Materials: Translation provided alongside further reading

Instructor: Dr. Gwilym Morus-Baird

What will we do?

Week 1: The Magical Huntsman

We dive into the First Branch itself, beginning with Pwyll’s fateful meeting in the forest. Strange hounds of shining white and red ears signal the presence of the Otherworld, leading to a dramatic encounter with Arawn, the mysterious king of Annwfn. Together, we’ll explore how colours, language, and custom reveal hidden layers of meaning, and how a simple hunting scene opens the doorway to myth and magic.

Week 2: Changing Places

We explore Pwyll’s daring exchange of identity with Arawn, lord of the Otherworld. What begins as a simple bargain opens into rich themes of temptation, self-control, and cosmic balance. Together, we’ll uncover how this moment links to wider mythic patterns—where mortals step into divine roles and time itself bends at the threshold between worlds.

Week 3: A Woman on a White Horse

We turn to one of the most enchanted moments of the First Branch, Pwyll’s encounter with Rhiannon. Appearing from the Otherworld on her shining white horse, Rhiannon defies pursuit and draws us into the mystery of sacred mounds, ancient pathways, and timeless sovereignty. This week reveals how myth, archaeology, and language combine to unlock the deeper symbolism of this magical meeting.

Week 4: Badger in the Bag

This week plunges us into one of the most dramatic episodes of the First Branch. At Rhiannon’s wedding feast, custom and honour collide, Pwyll blunders, rivals scheme, and only Rhiannon’s cunning saves the day. The strange game of “Badger in the Bag” reveals deep truths about identity, power, and the hidden language of myth.

Week 5: The Child of Promise

The final episode of the First Branch brings joy and tragedy intertwined. Rhiannon gives birth to a son, only to face false accusation and cruel punishment. This week we explore themes of betrayal, justice, and the fragile bonds between family, society, and the Otherworld. A powerful close to Pwyll and Rhiannon’s tale, it reveals how myth confronts both wonder and sorrow in equal measure.

Week 6: Time in the Otherworld

We step back and explore how Celtic myth reshapes our sense of time. Drawing on John Carey’s work and comparisons with Irish tradition, we’ll see how the Otherworld bends, stretches, and intensifies time: sometimes locking step with our world, sometimes breaking free into eternity. Through story, language, and symbolism, we uncover how myth transforms time into a living force of wonder and power.

Week 7: Mirror of Princes

We set the First Branch alongside the medieval “mirrors for princes”: story-based guides that taught rulers how to live and lead. From Irish wisdom texts and to wider European handbooks, we’ll see how Pwyll’s trials read like a quiet manual of kingship wrapped in myth.

Week 8: Patterns

We try to see the bigger picture. The story of Pwyll and Rhiannon is revealed through recurring cycles of hunts, pursuits, and trials that show how mortals and the Otherworld are bound together. By tracing these patterns, we uncover the deeper rhythm of the First Branch and glimpse the ancient structures that make Celtic myth endlessly rich.

This First Branch course offers a perfect entry point into the deeper world of Celtic myth interpretation, combining scholarly insight with accessible discussion in a supportive community environment.

Upcoming Live Courses:

November 23 - December 14, 2025

7pm - The Arthur of the Welsh, Part 2

8pm - Welsh Bardic Craft

January 11 - March 1, 2026

7pm - The Second Branch of the Mabinogi

8pm - The Third Branch of the Mabinogi

March 8 - March 29, 2026

7pm - Y Tylwyth Teg, Part 2

8pm - Welsh Bardic Craft

April 26 - June 14, 2026
7pm - The Third Branch of the Mabinogi

8pm - The Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi