Pic: H. Kopperdelany’s

The Celtic Britons called themselves the Cymry, which meant "fellow countrymen" in their Celtic tongue. Once Roman rule ended in Britain in about 410 A.D., a power vacuum developed, leading to the onslaught of Germanic invasions by Angles and Saxons, then the retreat of the Cymry Celts into the northern and western areas of the isle.

The Celtic-speaking areas thus became Scotland (which was largely a Gaelic territory), as well as the Brythonic regions consisting of Wales (called Cymru by the Celtic peoples), Cornwall, and Cumbria (another land of the Cymry in what is now northwestern England).

The Anglo-Saxons called the Celts a different word–"wealas," which in their language meant "foreigners." Over time wealas formed into the English words Wales and the Welsh.

The sagas of the struggles between the Celtic Britons and the Anglo-Saxons is well preserved in Celtic mythology, and legendary figures arise from the pages. These stories are preserved in the Welsh language, a Celtic tongue, but are also found in the works of contemporary scholars writing in Latin: Gildas (died circa 570), Nennius (c. 800), and Geoffrey of Monmouth (d. 1155).

The heroes of the Cymry Celtic myths do have some elements of reality under their belts, but the borders between history and legend are often blurred. The word "euhemerism" refers to situations were the gods or demigods of mythology were really deified human beings, whose stories gained a massive status. Also there is the notion that myths can sometimes be traditional accounts of real people and events, which over time have gained in immensity. The Briton heroes do have a euhemeristic side, and looking back, we don’t always know which stories represent literal reality and which don’t.

Two Welsh Bards: Taliesin and Aneurin

Bards were Celtic poets and lyric storytellers. They held high position in Celtic society, and their words inspired fear and awe. As the Greek writer Diodorus Siculus noted in the first century B.C.: "Among the Celts are composers of melodies, called Bards, who sing to instruments like lyres…and in such reverence are they held, that when two armies, prepared for battle, have cast their darts and drawn their swords, on the arrival and intervention of the Bards, the army immediately desists. Thus, even among the rude barbarians, wrath gives place to wisdom, and Mars to Muses."

According to the Dark Ages scholar Nennius, there were five major Welsh bards of the sixth century: Taliesin, Aneurin, Blwchfardd, Cian, and Talhaern Tad. Other sources say that Llywarch the Aged and Myrddin were also important bards of this period. In the next several centuries Morfran, Meugan, Arofan, and Afan Ferddig were notable Welsh bards. Taliesin and Aneurin are of particular interest because major works of Welsh literature are named after them. They might well be considered Celtic literary heroes.

Taliesin, as we described earlier, played a key role in the legend of Ceridwen, but there is more. In the myth, Taliesin becomes the bard for the court of Elphin, who gives him his name–Taliesin meaning "shining brow" (for a light shone from his face). When Elphin is captured by King Maelgwn of Gwynedd, in northern Wales, Taliesin appears at Maelgwn’s court and challenges his bards to a contest. Taliesin is eloquent, and through a mysterious power, he renders Maelgwn’s bards incapable of speech. Then by the magic of his words, Taliesin frees Elphin from his chains.

This, of course, is a mythical image of Taliesin. In reality, he was probably born in Powys, central Wales, and was the court bard of King Urien of Rheged, a region near the present southwestern Scotland and Cumbria. Perhaps a dozen of authentic poems of Taliesin still exist, all of them praise poems and elegies. His poems, according to one modern critic, have ambitious metric patterns, both internal and end rhyme, and alliteration, though not so obvious in English translations.

Taliesin’s poetry is considered more complex than much of the Anglo-Saxon poetry. Taliesin emphasizes the loss of a way of life with the coming of the Saxons invaders, and his poems "celebrate the gaiety of court life, the personal triumph and generosity of a royal patron, and the ties between poet and patron." In his old age, Taliesin is said to have returned to Wales to die, and legend has it that he is buried at Tre-Taliesin, a village named for him.

Aneurin was a north Briton of the sixth century, and an existing poem of his is considered by many to be the oldest piece of Welsh literature (the "Y Gododdin"). Aneurin was the court bard of the Manaw Gododdin people, whose Celtic king was Mynyddawg Mwynfawr. This was a realm near the southeastern borderlands of what is now Scotland and England. Aneurin is a Welsh bard in that he wrote in Cymraeg, what became the Welsh language.

The dilemma facing Aneurin’s people was the common problem of the day for most Briton Celts–the Saxons were encroaching on Celtic territories. In the Y Gododdin, Aneurin writes that the Saxons have taken over the old Roman town of Catterick (called Cattraeth in the poem), a key spot in neighboring Northumbria. So sometime around 600 A.D., King Mynyddawg assembles 300 Celtic warriors, and treats them to a feast at his court in Edinburgh. This is a preparatory meal before a great battle. The problem is that the Celtic warriors drink far too much mead and wine, and when they finally attack the Saxons at Cattraeth, they are not sound at battle and the Saxons easily defeat them. Only three of the Gododdin Celts survive: Aeron, Conan, and Aneurin himself.

To get a sense of what the longer poem sounds like, below is a short excerpt of Y Gododdin, as translated from the sixth century Welsh into English by Thomas Gray.

The Celtic Arthur

King Arthur of Camelot is a personage who comes to our attention in three forms. First is the Arthur of Celtic myth, his shape that is least known. Here Arthur is described in the Welsh language, and is sometimes full of rustic flavor, and other times almost deified. Then there is the Arthur of popular myth, known to about every schoolboy. This image was created by Norman-English and French writers of medieval times, and is full of stories of the Table Round, Lancelot, and the Holy Grail. Finally there is the real Arthur, the historical person. Celtic expert Simon James describes the historical Arthur in this way: It is widely accepted that Arthur probably was a real person, but beyond that there is little agreement about who he was, what he did, or even where or when he lived. None of the early sources call him king. He is described as dux bellorum, "leader of battles," perhaps a successful supra-tribal war-leader in the spirit of Vercingetorix and Caratacus, leading the combined forces of British kingdoms against the invading Saxons. Variously seen as a Celtic war-chief, or a Romanized cavalry commander, Arthur could still also have been a petty king in his own right.

Nennius describes the twelve great battles that Arthur fought against the Saxons, culminating in the Battle of Mt. Badon, after which Saxon encroachments into Celtic territories were slowed for a generation. Some experts suggest that Mt. Badon was near the English city of Bath, and that the battle took place around the year 516. Although, understandably, the Anglo-Saxons were not enthused about Arthur, his fame spread in Celtic areas, including Brittany. These Breton minstrels introduced the stories of Arthur in Norman courts, who were then responsible for spreading these stories throughout Europe, and back to England with William of Conqueror and the Norman invasion in 1066.

In the early 1100s, Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote his famous history of Britain, describing King Arthur as victor against the Saxons, the Scots, the Norsemen, the French, and finally the Romans. Although this was a lightly-taken fabrication, Geoffrey launched the European literary movement of viewing Arthur as a sort of medieval superstar, and the legends grew in grand fashion. King Arthur took his place in the popular imagination for centuries to come.

All the while this was happening, there were still the old Celtic myths of Arthur, known to relatively few, but cherished by those wishing to protect the memory of the original Celtic Arthur. Not that the mythic events were historically true, for often Arthur conquered realms that did not exist on the map. In the Welsh story, "The Spoiling of Annwn," Arthur leads an expedition to the Celtic underworld, and captures the magic cauldron of inspiration and poetry.

Some experts see this cauldron quest as the Celtic origin of the Holy Grail story. There are other Celtic origins of the popular Arthurian legends. For instance the sword Excalibur; this is a reminder of the Celtic magic swords in the myths of Nuada and Manannán, who also named their swords. Some experts suggest that Camelot had earlier versions, Squire thinking its origins were at Cadbury in Somerset, and Sidney Lanier reporting that it was in Winchester in south England. Many of the principal names in the popular Arthurian legends began as characters in the Welsh Arthur stories, such as, Lady Guinevere (originally Gwynhwyvar in Welsh), Merlin (Myrddin), Mordred (Medrawt), Sir Kay (Kai), Sir Bedivere (Bedwyr), and Sir Tristrem (Trystan).

One important story of the Celtic Arthur is called "The Dream of Rhonabwy." Here, a Welsh man-at-arms named Rhonabwy lies down upon a yellow calf-skin, and sleeps three days and three nights, having a most wonderful dream. In his dream, Rhonabwy and his companions are traveling toward the River Severn in Wales, and they meet the Celtic warrior Iddawc the Agitator. Iddawc gained his name because Arthur had sent him on a diplomatic mission to Medrawt with many fair sayings. But Iddawc loved war, and translated these messages into extremely harsh words, precipitating the Battle of Camlan. However, Iddawc had done seven year’s penance, and having been forgiven, was now traveling to Arthur’s camp. Iddawc insists that Rhonabwy and his companions come with him.

When they arrive, Arthur is conversing with Bedwini the Bishop of Gwarthegyd. Arthur casts his eye on Rhonabwy and comments on the latter’s small stature. But, Rhonabwy is told to be quiet and watch what is about to happen. It is an important day, for Arthur and his warriors are gathering to fight the Battle of Mt. Badon against the Saxons. Rhonabwy watches in amazement as each of Arthur’s champions and warriors rides by him. The dream, as portrayed by the unknown author of old, seems to be an effort to catalogue the most important of Arthur’s followers.

"Kulhwch and Olwen" and the Treasures of Britain

As in the popular Arthurian legends, Welsh myths often focus on a secondary character and then Arthur’s eminence emerges from the background. In the case of the story of "Kulhwch and Olwen," Arthur and his mighty men arise to win the day.

Kulhwch, according to the myth, was the son of a petty king who married a widow with a daughter. Kulhwch’s stepmother urged him to marry her daughter, and when he politely refused, the stepmother "laid a destiny" on him that he would marry a different maiden, the fair Olwen, or nobody at all.

Olwen was the most beautiful young woman of the realm, but her father was the wicked Hawthorn, the Chief of the Giants. Hawthorn was monstrous in size and shape, and he had enormous eyebrows, which were so heavy over his eyes, in order to see he needed forks to lift the eyebrows up. Hawthorn would allow no man to marry Olwen, because he had a premonition that he would die upon her marriage.

When Kulhwch asked for Olwen’s hand, Hawthorn commanded a bride’s price so high that the giant just knew that Kulhwch could never secure the demand. Hawthorn required that the man to marry Olwen provide him with the Thirteen Treasures of Britain. These treasures were the cornucopia of Gwysddneu, the magic chalice of Llwyr, the cauldron of Diwrnach the Gael, the sword of Gwrnach the Giant, the drinking horn of Gwlgawd Gododin, the harp of Teirtu, the tusk of White-tooth the Boar, the blood of the Black Sorceress, the preservative bottles of Gyddolwyn Gorr, and the milk bottles of Rhinnon Rhin Barnawd. The final three treasures would be the hardest to obtain: a comb, razor, and scissors which lay between the ears of Twrch Trwyth, a king who had been transformed by magic into the most fierce of wild boars.

With this, Kulhwch was in dismay and had no idea what to do, for these Treasures of Britain were virtually unobtainable. Kulhwch’s father then recommended that he seek the assistance of Arthur, for they were blood relatives. So Kulhwch traveled to the court of Arthur, who agreed to help in the quest for securing the Treasures of Britain. Arthur would be accompanied by his most able warriors–Kai, Bedwyr, Kynddelig, Gwrhyr, Gwalchmei, and Menw. And in this story, Arthur is assisted by warriors who were once viewed as Welsh gods–Mabon and Manawyddan.

As the story progresses, Arthur and his mighty men do great deeds to acquire each of the first ten of the treasures. What lay ahead would be the most difficult task of obtaining the comb, razor, and scissors from the boar Twrch Trwyth. The boar was now with seven young pigs in Ireland. Arthur and his men go there and fight Twrch Trwyth for nine days and nights, but not even one of the little pigs succumbs.

Twrch Trwyth then proclaims that he and his pigs will lay waste to Arthur’s country, and the eight pigs cross the sea to Wales. Arthur follows on his ship "Prydwen," and chases the boar and pigs throughout South Wales. One by one each of the little pigs are felled, and Arthur loses many of his company as well. Finally, Twrch Trwyth is alone at the estuary of the River Severn. He is in a awkward position and Arthur’s men are able to get the scissors and razor, but not the comb. The boar then escapes and travels to Cornwall. There Arthur is met with many troubles, but is eventually able to defeat Twrch Trwyth and obtain the comb.

Arthur now has all thirteen of the Treasures of Britain, and Kulhwch presents them to Hawthorn the Giant. Olwen would now be the bride of Kulhwch, and in his last words, Hawthorn says to the groom:

My daughter is yours, but you need not thank me for it, but Arthur, who has accomplished this."

The Red Dragon

We might wish to close this discussion of Welsh mythology with the legend of the Red Dragon. According to the myth, the White Dragon of the Saxons was attacking the land of the Celtic Britons. To meet the monster in battle was the Red Dragon of the Britain, a Celtic symbol. The two dragons fought in fierce fashion in the sky with mighty shrieks. But the mythic Lludd was able to capture the dragons, and he buried them in the Snowdon district of Wales. Five hundred years later, Merlin dug up the dragons, the fighting renewed, and the Red Dragon forced the White Dragon of the Saxons out of Britain. This myth might have been a form of wishful thinking among the Welsh in the early Dark Ages, as Saxons gained more and more of their territory.

The current Welsh flag and coat of arms feature prominently a red dragon against a background of white and green. In 1999, the Welsh gained a significant boost in their national identity as a Welsh parliament met for the first time in centuries. Although the Red Dragon will not likely drive the White Dragon out, one can easily bet that the Red Dragon of Britain is here to stay.

Copyright © 2001 jpparle@aol.com

Source

Pic: BreakThru Films

Now here’s something I’m really excited about! I don’t often go over the top about something new (OK, well that’s not exactly true is it – I can get a bit excited! ) but this new film by BreakThru Films about CuChulainn looks as though it is going to be fantastic! Using “visual innovations as portrayed in recent films like 300, Pan’s Labyrinth and the Lord Of The Rings trilogy“, the scope of the Ulster Cycle story about CuChulainn is going to brought to life in this ambitious project by this UK-based Film company. When Celtic hero Cúchulainn returns home from exile the war spirit Morrigan seduces him with tragic consequences: forcing him to wage war on war itself.

Hound: The Story

Buried in the mythic ancient past lies an Ireland divided up by four tribal “nations”: the original inhabitants and three exotic new peoples swept in on successive waves of immigration in a world as much in flux as the present, co-existing in a perpetual cycle of war and truce. A clash of cultures and ideas as vital as any in our accelerated modern world, their world is over-laid by the mystic, the magical, and the realm of the spirits. Into this world is born Cúchulainn, a semi-divine hero marked out by destiny as the greatest warrior but bound for tragic glory: yet in the brutal tragedy of his life lies the seed of a united island.

Pic: BreakThru Films

When the other three nations, steered by the war spirit Morrigan and led by the malevolent Queen Maeve, invade his homeland to take the prized Brown Bull of Cooley, Cúchulainn returns home early from military training in the Land of Shadows to help his kin. He finds his people struck down by a mysterious sickness, unable to defend themselves, and is forced to make a lone stand against the invaders. Manipulated by the war spirit, Morrigan, Queen Maeve sets her sights on far more than a bull and pits Cú’s oldest friend – her best champion – against him.

Realising the futility of war after he defeats his friend Cú turns his grief stricken rage on the war spirit herself. He tragically fights fire with fire, and when that fails he chooses sacrifice over surrender. It is the only way to ensure the war spirit can never use his power against mankind again. [Source]

Hound: The Film Company behind the film

Pic: BreakThru Films

Pic: Rick Leche

Astronomy magazine has a website that tells us that on Friday night, January 29/30, if you think the Moon is shining down on you with a special brilliance, you’re right. That’s because it’s the nearest Full Moon of 2010.

At closest, our natural satellite will lie roughly 221,600 miles (356,630 kilometers) from Earth. Compare that to the Moon’s average distance of 238,855 miles (384,800 km) from Earth. This distance difference translates into a late-January Full Moon whose area is nearly 12 percent larger than average.

Astronomically, there’s nothing special about Friday night’s Moon,

said Astronomy Contributing Editor Raymond Shubinski.

But it does help teach that the Moon’s orbit is elliptical, not circular. Sometimes it’s closer to Earth, and at other times it’s farther away.

Along with the year’s biggest Full Moon, a special treat awaits skywatchers. In the early evening look for Mars less than 7° north-northeast of the Moon. You won’t have any trouble spotting Mars. The Red Planet will glow with an intense orange-white light, and only Sirius, the brightest of all the nighttime stars, will outshine it. But Sirius is blue-white and lies one-quarter of the way across the sky to the southwest.

Read the full article and find out more about the magazine at astronomy.com

Pic: Northumberland Gazette

NEARLY a thousand new archeological sites have been discovered off the North East coast as part of an English Heritage-funded project. Helen Woods of the Northumberland Gazette tells us: The survey, conducted by EH archaeologists along with help from Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, has been done to help researchers understand the history of the coastline and damages it may face.

Among the results were a number of Iron Age multivallate forts and hillforts. At Howick Hill, these are still used as earthworks. David MacLeod, senior investigator with English Heritage’s Aerial Survey Team, said:

“Often, it’s only by looking at a site from the air that you start to understand its size and structure. Historic sites along the coast are vulnerable to the effects of both natural coastal change and human activities. Although erosion has actually helped to reveal a number of nationally important sites along the North East coast, such as Bronze Age burial mounds at Low Hauxley in Northumberland, too often it poses a threat. This project will help us understand not just the history of our coastline, but also the dangers it faces now and in the future.”

Continue Reading »

Originally posted 2009-02-07 03:32:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Pic: Save Newgrange

Just what is it with Governments and heritage that makes them want to build over it? The Irish Independent announced on January 22nd that the proposed route of the Slane bypass in Co Meath will run just 500 metres from the edge of the ancient Newgrange complex.

The National Roads Authority (NRA) yesterday released an environmental impact study for the route which shows that although it skirts the perimeter of the Bru na Boinne complex, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it would be almost 3km from the famed burial chamber at Newgrange.

Planning permission for the 3.5km dual carriageway has been sought from An Bord Pleanala, and the NRA said the proposed route would have the “least impact” on the archaeology and heritage of the area.

Included in the scheme is a new bridge over the River Boyne, which will be around 200 metres long.

Bypass Slane Campaign group spokesperson Michelle Power said:

We welcome the plans and look forward to the day permission is granted and funds are allocated for its construction. After numerous fatal accidents human life must take precedence.

Brian Taylor, of An Taisce in Meath, said the route seemed to be the “least offensive” option. Documents for the planning application show there are 44 archaeological and cultural sites within 500 metres of the route.

Read the full article on the Irish Independent site and more at the Irish Herald. Join the Facebook Save Newgrange campaign to help spread the word and help Vincent Salafia of Tarawatch protect Newgrange by signing the Petition.

Pic: Mackies

Mackie’s of Scotland’s Haggis & Cracked Black Pepper crisps are proving to be the most popular flavour in their range. Who would have thought it? This Scottish company are becoming well-known and extremely sought after for their exotic flavours (such as Cherry Tomato & Herb and Flamegrilled Aberdeen Angus) but their Haggis crisps are raising smiles and sales all over!

Haggis & Cracked Black Pepper

Mackie’s limited edition flavours mean you can look forward to variety – as we will keep introducing new flavours All Mackie’s potato crisps are naturally seasoned – with no artificial flavour enhancers. We hoped to be distinctively Scottish and were delighted to find that this mix of Haggis and Cracked Black pepper is a great and more-ish crisp flavour. You may be surprised. [Source]

Competition to win Haggis Crisps

Mackie’s are even running a competition until the 31st of this month, in which you can win the famed Crisps. They say:

Mackie’s Haggis & Cracked Black Pepper crisps are proving to be the most popular flavour in the range. Here’s your chance to see what all the fuss is about! We will send a box of big bags of Haggis flavour crisps to ten winners selected on St Andrew’s day – 30th November 2009 and ten further winners for Burns Night – 30th January 2009. We will show some of the entries received on the website and reward those used with a free voucher for a bag of any flavour of Mackie’s crisps.

To enter Just add your details and write your own Ode to a bag of Mackie’s Haggis crisps. Do keep it short – maximum 50 words. You can adopt any style and say anything you like. We’d enjoy it in Robert Burns’s style but that’s not compulsory! All entries will be encluded in the draw.

Pop along to the Mackie’s Website and enter the competiition.

Mackie’s

This young adult trilogy based on the early life of Merlin, is now available as a single volume and most of the following introduction comes from Amazon. Nobody writes Merlin like Jane Yolen, whether it’s the old man or a starry-eyed little child. And here the fantasy master’s “Merlin Trilogy” is brought together in one volume: the ethereal, beautifully-written fantasy stories “Passager,” “Hobby,” and “Merlin.”

Few authors can mix fantasy and history as Jane Yolen can, and she doesn’t drop the ball in this. On the fantasy side, we have a boy of mysterious origins who dreams of the future; on the other hand, we have medieval lords and underlings, not to mention her skilful use of the wodewose.

These three very, very short novellas are lushly, dreamily written. And most intriguing of all, the first one is almost entirely in Merlin’s own mind — every little event or emotion is seen through the eyes of a wild boy. The second and third are more grounded, but they retain that vague mistiness and sweetness, like a half-remembered dream. Her writing is descriptive and almost sensuous.

Jane Yolen brings the preadolescent Merlin to life in the “Merlin Trilogy,” a magical and beautifully written trio of novellas. Rather short, but thoroughly lovely. [Source]

As well as the excellent review and description found on the Amazon site, I have also quoted from Robin’s reading blog: A Fondness for Reading – a fascinating read in its own right!

Passager

Passager introduces us to a nameless, homeless boy who has been abandoned for sketchy reasons. The boy lives wild in the woods, but gradually rediscovers his human nature when he encounters a woodsman, who takes him in and gives him a name and a home… [Source]

Abandoned by his mother, eight-year old Merlin survived alone in the woods for a year, a feral child, before being found by a kindly falconer and cared for and trained to be a falconer himself. It was not an uncommon practice in the Middle Ages for families to abandon a child in the woods, and when the child is found to be taken in and raised by people who found him. [Source]

Hobby

Hobby opens with Merlin losing his new adoptive family in a fire. With no one to take care of him, he wanders through the woods again, calling himself Hawk. But then he suddenly encounters a vicious man called Fowler, who kidnaps him — and not even taking refuge in the circus can keep him safe. [Source]

In the second book, Merlin is 12 years old and once again on his own after his adopted family was killed in a fire. On the road, Merlin is captured by a cruel thug who calls himself Fowler. Merlin is able to escape from him and meets a traveling performing couple, a magician named Ambrosius and a singer named Viviane. They see that Merlin has special abilities, that he is a “dream reader,” and they use his power to earn money. They abandon him and take all the money with them, and Merlin, being pursued by Fowler, returns to the safety of the deep woods. [Source]

Merlin

Merlin takes us to a different part of the Arthurian legend. Hunted by Fowler, he runs back into the woods and takes refuge there. Unfortunately, he is captured by a village of the wodewose, the wild people who live apart from civilization, and they want to harness his magical dreams. When the village is invaded, Merlin must try to keep himself alive — and the little boy who will change his life forever. [Source]

In the final book, Merlin eludes Fowler, but is captured by the wild folk of the wood — the wodewose. He is caged and forced to drink a potion to make him dream so that he can relate the future to them. One of the children, called “Cub,” befriends him and helps him escape. They flee into the forest and help each other survive. Merlin names the child “Artus,” and the story of Merlin and Arthur begins. [Source]

About the Author: Jane Yolen and Folklore

Her Amazon biography states:

Born and raised in New York City, Jane Yolen now lives in Hatfield, Massachusetts. She attended Smith College and received her master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. The distinguished author of more than 170 books, Jane Yolen is a person of many talents. When she is not writing, Yolen composes songs, is a professional storyteller on the stage, and is the busy wife of a university professor, the mother of three grown children, and a grandmother.

For twenty years, she ran a monthly writer’s workshop for new children’s book authors. In 1980, when Yolen was awarded an honorary Doctor of Law degree by Our Lady of the Elms College in Chicopee, Massachusetts, the citation recognized that “throughout her writing career she has remained true to her primary source of inspiration–folk culture.” Folklore is the

…perfect second skin.

writes Yolen.

From under its hide, we can see all the shimmering, shadowy uncertainties of the world.

Folklore, she believes, is the universal human language, a language that children instinctively feel in their hearts. All of Yolen’s stories and poems are somehow rooted in her sense of family and self.

Yolen’s graceful rhythms and outrageous rhymes have been gathered in numerous collections. She has earned many awards over the years: the Regina Medal, the Kerlan Award, the World Fantasy Award, the Society of Children’s Book Writers Award, the Mythopoetic Society’s Aslan Award, the Christopher Medal, the Boy’s Club Jr. Book Award, the Garden State Children’s Book Award, the Daedalus Award, a number of Parents’ Choice Magazine Awards, and many more. Her books and stories have been translated into Japanese, French, Spanish, Chinese, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Afrikaans, !Xhosa, Portuguese, and Braille.

With a versatility that has led her to be called “America’s Hans Christian Andersen,” Yolen, the child of two writers, is a gifted and natural storyteller. Perhaps the best explanation for her outstanding accomplishments comes from Jane Yolen herself:

I don’t care whether the story is real or fantastical. I tell the story that needs to be told.

If you go and have a look at her website, you’ll see that the Amazon information is out of date! She is preparing to publish her 300th book! What a prodigious and hard-working lady!

The above video is Part 1 of a presentation of the Celtic and Prehistoric museum collection by founder and owner Harris Moore. You can find Part 2 below. The Celtic and Prehistoric museum is on the Slea Head road west of Ventry, west of Dingle, Kerry. Kerry is as close as you’ll get to the mythical Ireland; that Celtic Kingdom of misty mountains promised by glossy brochures, Hollywood and our daydreams. Between the county’s snow-capped summits are medieval ruins, glacial lakes, coastal peninsulas, blustery beaches, deserted archipelagos, secluded hamlets, and larger towns where live music sparks up every night.

If you follow the YouTube link on the video, you’ll find that the video was uploaded by celticways. John of the wonderful tour company, Celtic Ways, does a great deal for the Celtic community – much more than ferry people around Ireland

Celtic Ways

Based in Co. Sligo, John of Celtic Ways says:

During the days we offer a variety of guided tours, adventures and experiences around local ancient sacred sites. Be surrounded by the mythology and spiritual stories of Brigid, Morrigan, Maeve, The Tuatha De Dannan, Lughad, Dagda and many more in places high enough to see up to a third of Ireland, around our many beautiful lakes and along our beautiful coastline.

Enjoy sharing some time discovering traditions that have been here since ancient times such as making Brigid crosses, walking our labyrinth garden, learning tree lore and ogham language, songs and music with harp, storytelling and lunches in our traditional restored thatched cottage.

A wonderful way to launch your vacation in Ireland, or stay here longer if you wish!

As far as I’m aware, the Museum does not have a website I can point you to, but you can find John on the Celtic Ways website. He has also started a Celtic story-telling podcast with wonderful music from his partner, Claire Roche called the Celtic Dreamtime Podscape but we’ll have more about that in the future.

Last Minute Updates

Thanks to John of Celtic Ways, we now have a link to the Celtic & Prehistoric Museum.

Pic: Arcana XV

As you know, we are preparing to enter the realms of Welsh Mythology for our next set of shows. Welsh myth, specifically the Mabinogion, contains the stories that are possibly the origins of the Arthurian mythos. One of the ways in which to experience a mythology is to immerse yourself in its images and archetypes and there is no better way than with a set of Tarot cards. John & Caitlin Matthews, along with Miranda Gray designed and released this wonderful set of cards back in 1991. Now is a good time to have another look at them.

Hallowquest

The sacred quest for the Grail is central to the Arthurian story. Its parallels in earlier mythology (the quest for the Dagda’s Harp, the Golden Fleece etc.) are obvious and the theme continued throughout the ages finding reflection in Alchemy as the search for the Philosopher’s Stone, and even into modern times with the Great Work of Thelemic magic and the Adept studies of the Golden Dawn. The Quest is central to the growth of the human soul and the stages of the journey and the helpers that can be found along the way are brilliantly highlighted within the tales by this superb deck of cards.

The Aeclectic Review

Interestingly, the superb illustration of the Grail and its nine maidens brings to mind the guardians of Brigid’s Fire in early Erin. I wonder whether there are any parallels between what is essentially an archetpyal water symbol and an equally archetypal fire symbol? Fascinating! Anyway, the wonderful Tarot review site, Aeclectic Tarot, has a superb review of the deck by Cory Underwood which you can find on their website. This Australian website is possibly the best place to find images of Tarot decks to compare. Some of the highlights of the review are below.

Pic: Arcana XV

Since the deck was designed around the King Arthur Theme, as well as his court, a fairly large number of cards have been renamed. First, the Matthews renamed the major and minor arcane to the Greater and Lesser powers. They then changed the suits to better reflect the Celtic tradition during that time period. The suits they selected are: Spears (wands), Swords, Stones (disks), and Grails (cups).

I found the artwork on the Majors amazing; they really brought life to some of the people from the legends. I was particularly pleased with the Lady of the Lake. I admit a few of the choices confused me, but the book helped drastically with the understanding of the cards.

The book itself was very well written, I thought. Section One contained a nice introduction to the deck, a listing of the renamed cards and court orders, as well as a seasonal, traditional tarot, and color association for each of the suits.

Section Two goes on to provide a full listing for the Greater and Lesser powers. In this section each card entry contains a description of the picture, the background (and any history associated with it), and divinatory meanings. Majors also contain Archetypical meanings. Divinatory meanings are for the upright cards only, the authors want people to create their own reversal meanings.

Second Three describes how to read the cards, providing decent information on the differences between Greater and Lesser Powers, the importance of numbers, what the court cards stand for, as well as a section for Significators and how to gauge time with cards from the deck during spreads. The section concludes with some nice words about rading in person for people and things to consider and some suggestions on how to conduct a reading.

Section Four has some sample spreads with a sample reading using each one. The only drawback I found on this chapter was the sample readings do not always use all the cards. Contained within however, we get a spread which is more or less an alternate version of the Celtic Cross, a “Mirror” Spread which helps you see how you are seen both by yourself and others, as well as a few other spreads. One which may be of note to people is the Excalibur spread which deals with lessons from previous lives.

Section Five is the final section which is a quick reference to everything talked about in Section two without all the background and history for each card. [Source]

It is well worth reading the full review and the deck can still be bought on Amazon (and probably many other places as well!) You can find out more about John & Caitlin Matthews on their Hallowquest website.

"Sangreal" Pic: Wiki

Arthur Rackham was born in 1867 into a Victorian age that he perpetuated and documented by way of his art. He was one of twelve children. He studied at the City of London School where he won prizes and a reputation for his art. At the age of 18, he became a clerk. It was, after all, a Dickensian world as well, where clerks played a significant role in both fiction and real life. He clerked and in his spare time studied at the Lambeth School of Art. He made occasional sales to the illustrated magazines of the day like Scraps and Chums. In 1891 and 1892, he had a close association with the Pall Mall Budget as one of this weekly’s main illustrative reporters.

Most obvious, in retrospective, is the calm and good humor of the drawings. They seem imbued with a gentle joy that must have been reassuring to both the children and their parents. Rackham had found his niche. His drawings would convey a non-threatening yet fearful thrill and a beauty that was in no way overtly sexy or lewd. It was a perfect Victorian solution and he seems to have taken to it with an impish delight.

Through the teens and twenties he continued to create wonderful images and books. Many of vellum-bound limited editions of the era are from Rackham. Many of his books were revised and re-released. There was even a Peter Pan portfolio. It seems like every classic was fair game for him. Through 1940 he did versions of Aesop’s Fables, Mother Goose, A Christmas Carol, The Romance of King Arthur, English Fairy Tales, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, Irish Fairy Tales, A Fairy Book, The Allies Fairy Book, Comus, A Wonder Book, The Tempest, The Vicar of Wakefield, The Chimes, The Night Before Christmas, The Compleat Angler, The Arthur Rackham Fairy Book, Tales of Mystery and Imagination, The King of the Golden River, Goblin Market, The Pied Piper, Peer Gynt, The Wind in the Willows and more. Note how many of these same titles were also issued with illustrations by Edmund Dulac. [Source]

Rackham and Mythology

Although most famous for his work on Norse, Wagnerian myth and the Rheingold, he also illustrated many of the myths of Celtic lands. Illustrtating works like English Fairy Tales and Irish Fairy Tales. The latter link contains the text of the book but sadly not the Rackham illustrations. As the book contains the story of Tuan the Immortal which we covered in Episode 16, we still haven’t seen these images and cannot show any of them to you! His Arthurian imagery, as seen above and in the book The Romance of King Arthur is haunting and beautiful.

"Norns Weaving" Pic: Wiki

Last minute update: I have just found an incredible collection of Rackham art, including the illustrations from Irish Fairy Tales! Pop over to ArtPassions.net and see them! 

Rackham’s Fairies, Elves and Goblins 

"Fairies never say, "We feel happy"; what they say is, "We feel dancey." " Pic: Wiki

From our point of view, his illustrations of the Fey are the key-note of his life and work. Moving away from the cutesy images of Fairies with gossamer wings and fairy-dust, his images are often full of tricksters, ethereal fey and dark trees. He captures the wild beauty of the fey, as seen in the ‘dancey’ image to the left. The best example of his Fey art can be found in the book, Rackham’s Fairies, Elves and Goblins [Amazon] about which we learn: The great Victorian illustrator is at his most radiant in this beguiling collection of otherworldly illustrations from magazines, periodicals, and novels such as Milton’s Comus and Hawthorne’s Wonder Book. Rackham’s unmistakable artistry and style bring life to a phantasmagoric parade of more than 80 creatures from both dreams and nightmares.

Most recently, we learn (from Wiki) that Rackham’s work influenced the creation of the Faun in the disturbing modern fairy/horror tale, Pan’s Labyrinth. To finish off, let’s have a look at some of his most characteristic Fey work!

"Often Mischief You" Pic: Art Passions

Elderberry chatting with a quince Pic: Artsy Craftsy

Arthur Rackham died of cancer in his home on September 6, 1939. The most distinctive qualities of his illustrations was the way in which he told the story through his illustrations. His eye for detail and gift of imagination and creativity, which are characteristic of his illustrations, were an influence of the sixteenth century German artists Albrecht Durer and Albrecht Altdorfer. The illustrator left behind a legacy of over 60 illustrated books including the works of Shakespeare, Charles Dickins, James Barrie and Lewis Carroll. He is known and beloved internationally for his work in Classic fiction and Children’s literature. [Source]

Sources listed:

Wikipedia
The Illustrator’s Project
Sur La Lune Fairy Tales
Amazon
Project Gutenberg
Art Passions