The name Arianrhod can be split into Arian (meaning silver) and Rhod (meaning wheel or disk). The silver wheel has been associated with many things including the silver wheel of stars, the ever-turning wheel of the year and a spider’s web.
Arianrhod is a celestial goddess. Her realm is called Caer Sidi which some translate as meaning ‘revolving castle’ and her castle, Caer Arianrhod is said to be the constellation of Corona Borealis. Her home is a magical realm in the north. Caer Sidi is also a name for the realm of Annwn, the Otherworld which the Celts saw as a wonderful place of music, laughter and colour where there was no sickness or old age and where time stood still.
Arianrhod was the Goddess or Priestess of the Full Moon and the mother aspect of the triple goddess. She was also the Celtic Goddess of fertility, rebirth, time and karma.
Arianrhod was the daughter of the Goddess Danu. King Math, king, teacher and wizard was Arianrhod’s uncle who could only remain alive if his feet lay in the lap of a virgin at all times unless he was actively engaged in battle. During one battle, the virgin who had held King Math’s feet was raped and there was a need to quickly find a replacement. Gwydion, Arianrhod’s brother, recommended Arianrhod to take the virgin’s place. In order to prove her innocence, Arianrhod had to step over King Math’s magic wand and as she did this, she gave birth to a boy which King Math named Dylan. Arianrhod was so humiliated she ran for the door dropping another small object on the ground as she ran. It was another baby boy and Gwydion quickly wrapped the child in a cloak and hid it. Arianrhod’s first born, instantly ran towards the sea, blended with the nature of the sea and was never seen again.
Gwydion raised the second child in a magic forest but Arianhrhod, upset and outraged by what she had suffered, laid three curses on the boy, Lleu. (i) He shall have no name except one she gives him. (ii) He shall bear no arms except ones she gives him and (iii) He shall have no wife of the race that is now on earth. Her son succeeded by some clever and stealthy acts, to break all three curses.
Thwarted by her son, forsaken by her brother and humiliated by King Math, Arianrhod retreated to her castle Arianrhod.
Arianrhod is a celestial goddess. Her realm is called Caer Sidi which some translate as meaning ‘revolving castle’ and her castle, Caer Arianrhod is said to be the constellation of Corona Borealis. Her home is a magical realm in the north. Caer Sidi is also a name for the realm of Annwn, the Otherworld which the Celts saw as a wonderful place of music, laughter and colour where there was no sickness or old age and where time stood still.
Arianrhod was the Goddess or Priestess of the Full Moon and the mother aspect of the triple goddess. She was also the Celtic Goddess of fertility, rebirth, time and karma.
Arianrhod was the daughter of the Goddess Danu. King Math, king, teacher and wizard was Arianrhod’s uncle who could only remain alive if his feet lay in the lap of a virgin at all times unless he was actively engaged in battle. During one battle, the virgin who had held King Math’s feet was raped and there was a need to quickly find a replacement. Gwydion, Arianrhod’s brother, recommended Arianrhod to take the virgin’s place. In order to prove her innocence, Arianrhod had to step over King Math’s magic wand and as she did this, she gave birth to a boy which King Math named Dylan. Arianrhod was so humiliated she ran for the door dropping another small object on the ground as she ran. It was another baby boy and Gwydion quickly wrapped the child in a cloak and hid it. Arianrhod’s first born, instantly ran towards the sea, blended with the nature of the sea and was never seen again.
Gwydion raised the second child in a magic forest but Arianhrhod, upset and outraged by what she had suffered, laid three curses on the boy, Lleu. (i) He shall have no name except one she gives him. (ii) He shall bear no arms except ones she gives him and (iii) He shall have no wife of the race that is now on earth. Her son succeeded by some clever and stealthy acts, to break all three curses.
Thwarted by her son, forsaken by her brother and humiliated by King Math, Arianrhod retreated to her castle Arianrhod.