White Rose of Avalon

Celtic

  • Avalonian Goddesses

    The Avalonian Goddesses refers to the goddesses worshipped by modern Avalonian witchcraft.   They are the five goddesses whose stories appear in The Mabinogion.   Cerridwen, Blodeuwedd, Rhiannon, Branwen, and Arainrhod are all powerful goddesses in Welsh Celtic tales.   In the Avalonian tradition Cerridwen, Blodeuwedd, and Rhiannon each take a third of the year…

  • The Blodeuwedd and Guinevere Connection

    Blodeuwedd and Guinevere have many commonalities in their tales.   Both could be seen as sovereignty goddesses that had marriages that gave kingship to their husbands.   Both had marriages that began as happy, but devolved into unhappiness on the part of the wives.   Both found true love when they were already married, and…

  • Banshee

    Banshees were the wailing women of Celtic belief.   These faery women had cries that could pierce the ears of the listeners, and served to herald death.   The goddess the Morrigan is considered the first banshee.   Many television series have been inspired by the story of the banshee.    In Ireland many families…

  • Blodeuwedd and Flower Brides

    Blodeuwedd is a faerie bride, and Celtic goddess, who appeared in the fourth branch of the Welsh Mabinogion.   She was also known as “Flower Face” (the meaning of her name), “May Queen”, and “May Bride.”   Since I will soon be a May bride myself, I could not resist doing a post on this…

  • Excalibur

    Excalibur is the mystical sword of Arthur.    Gifted to him by the Lady of the Lake, the sword helped Arthur win many a battle.   The television show Once Upon a Time took a unique look at this sword.   In that series Excalibur was part of the blade of the dark one, the…

  • Gwragedd Annwn

    The Gwragedd Annwn (pronounced Gareth Anoon~w in Welsh is a vowel pronounced “oo”, and “dd” in Welsh is pronounced “th”) were Welsh lake maidens.   Their name literally meant “wives of the Underworld.”    They were said to inhabit a watery realm of Annwn, the Celtic Underworld, or Otherworld, not like our modern conception of…

  • Faerie Queens and Art

    Faerie Queens have long been inspiration for artists.    They factor heavily into Celtic lore and legends.   Celtic culture itself heavily influenced the Arthurian Legends!   Arthurian legends would inspire many generations of artists. Edmund Spenser wrote the epic poem The Faerie Queene during the reign of Elizabeth I.   The poem is an…

  • Lady of the Lake

    Within the Arthurian Legends there is the faerie woman known as the Lady of the Lake.    She is keeper of Excalibur, and the protectress of Avalon.    In some tales Lady of the Lake is the title given to the head of the nine sisters who practice magic on the Isle of Avalon.   …

  • Rhiannon: Faerie Queen

    Rhiannon was a horse goddess in ancient Wales.    This Celtic goddess had her story told in the Mabinogion.   Besides horses Rhiannon also has three songbirds that are symbols of her power.    Rhiannon seems to be related to the ancient Gallo-Roman horse goddess Epona, and a derivative, possibly of the earlier Celtic goddess…

  • My Top 10 Arthurian Films

    The top films in a specific category is always a matter that inspires much debate.   As a lover of everything Arthurian, and faerie, and films (especially classic films) I think I am qualified to tell you my personal top ten list of Arthurian adaptions!   Number 10: Avalon High ~This Disney Channel Original Film…