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WELSH GODS (DIETIES)
The gods and goddesses in Welsh myths were like the Irish
deities living in Wales, England and Scotland. They inhabited
and ruled over the land with mortals. These Welsh deities were
powerful rulers of the isle of Britain, establishing mighty
dynasties. Major gods and goddesses known in
Welsh mythology, along with a listing of magical powers
associated with them: |
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THE GODDESSES:
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AER (AIR): Goddess of war and goddess of the River Dee. |
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ARIANRHOD (SILVER WHEEL / STAR OR SKY GODDESS / GODDESS OF
REINCARNATION / FULL MOON GODDESS): Her palace is
called Caer Arianrhod (Aurora Borealis). She is the Keeper of
the circling Silver Wheel of Stars, a symbol of karma. Mother
of Lleu Llaw Gyffes and Dylan by her brother
Gwydion. Her
original consort was Nwyvre (Sky or Firmament). Mother aspect
of the Triple Goddess, honored at the Full Moon. Beauty,
fertility, reincarnation.
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BLODEUWEDD (FLOWER FACE / WHITE FLOWER): Lily
maid of Celtic initiation ceremonies. Also known as the Ninefold Goddess of the Western Isles of Paradise. Created by
Math and Gwydion as a a wife for Lleu. She was changed into an
owl for plotting Lleu's death and for her adultery. She is the
Maiden form of the Triple Goddess; her symbol is the owl.
Flowers, lunar mysteries, initiations.
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BRANWEN: Sister of Bran the Blessed and wife of
the Irish king Matholwych. Daughter of Llyr; one of the three
matriarchs of Britain; Lady of the Lake (cauldron). Goddess of
love and beauty.
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BRID (BREED / POWER / RENOWN / FIERY ARROW / BREO-SAIGHEAD):
Called the poetess. Often called the Triple Brigids, the Three
Mothers; associated with Imbolc. She had an exclusive female
priesthood and an ever-burning sacred fire. The number of her
priestesses was nineteen, representing the nineteen-year cycle
of the Celtic Great Year. Goddess of fire, fertility, and the
hearth. Healing, inspiration, learning, divination, love,
witchcraft.
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CERRIDWEN (MOON GODDESS / GREAT MOTHER / GRAIN GODDESS /
GODDESS OF NATURE): Wife of the giant Tegid and mother of a beautiful
girl Creirwy and an ugly boy Avagdu. Welsh Bards called
themselves Cerddorion (sons of Cerridwen). The Bard Taliesin,
their founder, was said to be born of Cerridwen and to have
tasted a potent brew from her magic cauldron of inspiration.
This potion, known as 'greal,' was made from six plants for
inspiration and knowledge. Taliesin accidentally drank the
remaining three drops of the liquid. Her symbol was a white
sow. Death, fertility, regeneration, inspiration, magic,
astrology, herbs.
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CREIDDYLAD (CORDELIA) : Daughter of the sea god Llyr. Associated
with Beltane and often called the May Queen. Goddess of summer
flowers. Love, flowers.
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THE CRONE: One aspect of the Triple Goddess. She represents
old age, death, Winter, the waning Moon, all destruction that
comes before regeneration through her cauldron of rebirth.
Crows are sacred to her. Dogs would accompany her and guard
the gates of her after-world, helping her receive the dead.
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CYHIRAETH (KERHERRIGHTH): Goddess of streams. Later she became
like a banshee.
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DON (DONN / DEEP SEA / ABYSS): Goddess of sea and air.
Sometimes referred to as a goddess, sometimes a god. Control
of the elements, eloquence.
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ELAINE: Maiden aspect of the Triple Goddess in Arthurian
legend. |
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GREAT MOTHER (THE LADY): Female principal of creation. Goddess
of fertility, the Moon, love, healing, water. The index finger
was considered the "mother finger," the most magical which
guided, beckoned, blessed and cursed.
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IWERIDD: One of Llyr's wives. |
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MARGAWSE: Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess in Arthurian
legend. |
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MORGAN LE FAY (MORGAN THE FATE / DEATH GODDESS): Glamorgan in
Wales is considered to be her sacred territory. She can cast a
destroying curse on any man. Gawaine of the Round Table bore
Morgan's pentacle as a heraldic device on his shield.
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The MORRIGHAN (GREAT QUEEN / QUENN OF PHANTOMS / SPECTER
QUEEN): A shape-shifter. Reigned over the battlefield, helping
with her magic. Associated with crows and ravens. The Crone
aspect of the goddess; Great Mother; Moon Goddess; Great White
Goddess; Queen of the Fairies. In her Dark Aspect (the symbol
is then a raven) she is the goddess of war, fate and death.
The carrion crow is her favorite disguise. Goddess of rivers
and lakes. Patroness of priestesses and witches. Revenge,
night, magic, prophecy.
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PENARDUN: Daughter of the goddess
Don;
one wife of Llyr |
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RHIANNON: Her name translates into "The Great
Queen" or "divine." She is a symbol of fertility, but is also
a death goddess. She is a bringer of dreams, and is regarded
as a moon deity.
Goddess of horses and birds, enchantments and the Underworld,
she rides a white horse.
She was married both to Pwyll and Manann. Her stories appear
in the Mabinogion.
In magic, she aids in overcoming enemies, exercising patience,
moon rituals, and dream work.
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THE GODS:
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AMAETHON: God of agriculture. |
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ARAWN (KING OF HELL): God of Annwyn, the
underground kingdom of the dead. Revenge, war.
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ARTHUR (ARTH VAWR / HEAVENLY BEAR): King and leader of the
Knights of the Round Table. The Round Table symbolized the
goddess Arianrhod's Silver Wheel of rebirth, and the Grail the
sacred cauldron of inspiration and reincarnation.
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BRAN (THE BLESSED): A giant. Brother of the mighty Manawydan ap Llyr and
Branwen; son of Llyr. Associated with
ravens. God of prophecy, the arts, war, the Sun, music.
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CARQADAWC (STRONG-ARMED): Son of Bran. |
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CERNUNNOS (THE HORNED GOD): God of Nature; god of
the Underworld and the Astral Plane; The Druids knew him as Hu
Gadarn, the Horned God of fertility. He was portrayed sitting
in a lotus position with horns on his head, sporting a beard,
and wearing a neck torque; sometimes holding a spear and
shield. His symbols are the stag, ram, and horned serpent.
Virility, fertility, animals, Nature, reincarnation, wealth,
warriors.
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DYLAN: Son of the Wave; god of the sea. Son of Gwydion and
Arianrhod. His symbol was a silver fish.
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EVNISSYEN (LOVER OF STRIFE): A giant.
Half-brother of Bran. |
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GOVANNON (GREAT SMITH): One of a triad of
craftsmen (with Luchtaine the wright and Credne the brazier).
Similar to Vulcan. He forged weapons that always hit their
mark. God of blacksmiths, jewelry making, fire, metal-working.
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GREAT FATHER (THE HORNED GOD): Lord of the Winter, harvest,
land of the dead, animals, mountains, powers of destruction
and regeneration; the male principle of creation.
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GREEN MAN (CERNUNNOS): A horned deity of the woodlands.
In Old Welsh his name is Arddhu (The Dark One).
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GWYDION: Druid of the mainland gods; son of Don;
brother of Govannon, Arianrhod and Amaethon. Wizard and Bard
of North Wales. A many-skilled deity (like Lugh); a
shape-shifter. His symbol was a white horse. Greatest of the
warrior-magicians. Illusion, magic, healing.
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GWYNN AP NUDD (GWIN AP NEETHE): King of the Fairies and the
underworld. Later he became king of the Plant Annwn, the
subterranean fairies.
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GWYTHYR: Opposite of Gwynn ap Nudd. King of the
Upper World.
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KAI: A god of fire and smithing. |
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LLUD (HLOOD / THE CLOUD-MAKER / HE WHO BESTOWS WEALTH / OF
THE SILVER HAND): Similar to Neptune. He had an invincible sword.
God of healing, water, the Sun, youth, carpenters, historians,
writing, warfare, incantations.
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LLYR (THLEER): God of the sea, and possibly of the underworld.
The father of Manawyddan, Bran the Blessed, and
Branwen.
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LUGH (THE SHINING ONE / SUN GOD / GOD OF WAR / FAIR-HAIRED
ONE / MANY-SKILLED): A hero god. His feast is Lughnassadh, a harvest festival. Associated with ravens. His
symbol was a white stag. Son of Cian and Ethniu.
Lugh had a
magic spear and rod-sling. He was a carpenter, mason, smith,
harper, poet, Druid, and physician. War, magic, reincarnation,
lightning, water, journeys, poets, musicians, sorcerers,
healing, initiation
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MANAWYDAN AP LLYR: Dressed in a
green cloak and a gold headband; a shape-shifter. Son of the
sea god Lir. He had a palace called Emhain of the Apple Trees.
His swine constantly renewed themselves and were a chief
source of food that would keep people from aging. He had
famous weapons: two spears called Yellow Shaft and Red
Javelin; swords named The Retaliator, Great Fury and Little
Fury. His boat was called Wave Sweeper, and his horse Splendid
Mane. He had magic armor that prevented wounds and could make
warriors invisible at will. God of the sea, storms,
weather-forecasting, arts, commerce, rebirth.
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MATH MATHONWY: God of sorcery, magic
enchantment. |
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MYRDDIN: Great sorcerer; a Druid. Associated with
the fairy religion of the Goddess. Old Welsh traditions called
him a wild man of the woods with prophetic skills. He is said
to have learned all his magic from the Lady of the Lake.
Tradition says he sleeps in a hidden crystal cave. Illusion,
shape-shifting, herbs, healing, Nature, divination, crystal
reading, tarot, magic, artisans.
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NISSYEN (LOVER OF PEACE): A giant. Half-brother of Bran.
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OWEIN AP URIEN: God associated with ravens; Wisdom, magic,
war, reincarnation.
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PWYLL: Occasionally ruler of the Underworld. Also
known as Pwyll pen Annwn (Pwyll head of Annwn). Cunning.
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TALIESIN (PRINCE OF SONG): Chief of the Bards of
the West. Patron of Druids, Bards and minstrels; a
shape-shifter. Writing, poetry, wisdom, wizards, Bards, music,
knowledge, magic.
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A Brave man's weapon is his heart
Welsh Saying
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