Meet Rhiannon, Celtic Goddess of the Moon and Inspiration
The name Rhiannon means ‘Divine Queen of the Fairies.’
This is Rhiannon’s story, a story of love, magic, tears and forgiveness. Goddess Rhiannon remains steadfast and offers comfort in times of crisis, hurt and loss.
Pwyll Penn Annfwn, The King of Dyvet while standing on a Tor (a mound thought to be a magical place covering the portal to the otherworld) noticed a young girl wearing golden clothing and riding a pale white horse. He was intrigued and enchanted by the vision and sent one of his knights after the girl but she vanished. A similar incident occurred on the next day and then on the third day Pwyll rode after her himself but could not catch her. He called to her and she eventually stopped. She told him her name was Rhiannon, daughter of Hyveiddd Henn. She admitted that she loved him and told him that if he did not reject her, she would not want anyone but him. The King agreed to marry Rhiannon and the wedding was fixed for a year later. Rhiannon then returned to the forest where she disappeared.
Rhiannon returned one year later dressed in gold, to meet Pwyll on the Tor. He was accompanied by a troop of his men ready for the wedding. As Rhiannon approached on her horse, she gestured that they shoul follow her into the forest. They complied and as they rode the trees parted, clearing a path for them then closed in behind them as they rode.
They entered a clearing, joined by a flock of small songbirds that played happily around Rhiannon’s head. Their singing helped to calm the nervous men. They continued their journey and arrived at her father’s palace which was of silvery crystal with spires that soared into the heavens which was surrounded by a lake.
After the wedding, a banquet was held to celebrate the marriage of the goddess. A disturbance occurred during the festivities. This was instigated by an older man whom Rhiannon had been promised to in marriage but whom she found repugnant and did not love. She quietly slipped away to deal with the situation and using magic, she turned the older man into a badger, caught him, put him in a bag and threw him into the lake. Unfortunately he managed to escape and would later reap havoc in Rhiannon’s life.
On the day after the wedding, Rhiannon left her father’s kingdom with her new husband and his men. As they emerged from the forest and the trees closed behind them, she took a moment to glance lovingly back, knowing that the entrance of the Otherworld was closed to her forever. She would never be able to return to her childhood home but she had married for love and had no regrets.
Rhiannon was welcomed in her new home and was popular among her husband’s people. Two years passed without her becoming pregnant and the question of fitness to provide an heir to the throne was raised. In the third year of their marriage she produced a healthy son.
Servants looking after the baby worked in shifts so Rhiannon could sleep and regain her strength. One evening they all fell asleep and when they woke up, the cradle was empty. They devised a plan in order to have Rhiannon blamed for the disappearance. They smeared the blood of an animal on the sleeping Rhiannon and accused the Goddess of eating her own baby. Although Rhiannon swore her innocence, her husband, shocked by what had occurred and faced with the anger of his people, did not defend her very strongly. He decided not to divorce her but her punishment would be that for the next seven years, the goddess Rhiannon was to sit by the gates of the castle, bent under the heavy weight of a horse collar, greeting guests and telling them of her crime. She then had to offer to carry them on her back into the castle.
Through the cycle of the seasons, Rhiannon quietly endured this punishment for a crime she had never committed. Visitors admired her courage and very few would accept her offer to carry them into the castle. Respect for her spread throughout the country. In the autumn of the fourth year, three strangers appeared at the gate: a nobleman, his wife and a young boy of no more than five years. Rhiannon greeted them as they approached and offered to carry them into the castle. Instead, the man lifted Rhiannon onto his horse and the boy handed her a piece of an infant’s gown. To her surprise, Rhiannon saw that it was cloth that she had woven and then looking into the boy’s eyes, she recognised them as being the same as her husband’s, Pwyl.
Four years ago, during the night of a great storm, the nobleman had been called out to help a mare in labour. He’d heard the sound of an infant’s cries and went to investigate. He found the baby lying abandoned and he and his wife subsequently raised the child as if it were their own. When they’d heard the rumours of the goddess Rhiannon’s fate, they realised who the child was and set out to return him to his parents. It is thought the badger had stolen the child.
Rhiannon resumed her place at her husband’s side. Her honour was restored. She had suffered immensely but forgave all those who had thought ill of her.
In some legends, Rhiannon was the Celtic goddess (the Lady of the Lake) who gave Arthur the sword of Excalibur, empowering him to become King in the legends of Camelot.
The name Rhiannon means ‘Divine Queen of the Fairies.’
This is Rhiannon’s story, a story of love, magic, tears and forgiveness. Goddess Rhiannon remains steadfast and offers comfort in times of crisis, hurt and loss.
Pwyll Penn Annfwn, The King of Dyvet while standing on a Tor (a mound thought to be a magical place covering the portal to the otherworld) noticed a young girl wearing golden clothing and riding a pale white horse. He was intrigued and enchanted by the vision and sent one of his knights after the girl but she vanished. A similar incident occurred on the next day and then on the third day Pwyll rode after her himself but could not catch her. He called to her and she eventually stopped. She told him her name was Rhiannon, daughter of Hyveiddd Henn. She admitted that she loved him and told him that if he did not reject her, she would not want anyone but him. The King agreed to marry Rhiannon and the wedding was fixed for a year later. Rhiannon then returned to the forest where she disappeared.
Rhiannon returned one year later dressed in gold, to meet Pwyll on the Tor. He was accompanied by a troop of his men ready for the wedding. As Rhiannon approached on her horse, she gestured that they shoul follow her into the forest. They complied and as they rode the trees parted, clearing a path for them then closed in behind them as they rode.
They entered a clearing, joined by a flock of small songbirds that played happily around Rhiannon’s head. Their singing helped to calm the nervous men. They continued their journey and arrived at her father’s palace which was of silvery crystal with spires that soared into the heavens which was surrounded by a lake.
After the wedding, a banquet was held to celebrate the marriage of the goddess. A disturbance occurred during the festivities. This was instigated by an older man whom Rhiannon had been promised to in marriage but whom she found repugnant and did not love. She quietly slipped away to deal with the situation and using magic, she turned the older man into a badger, caught him, put him in a bag and threw him into the lake. Unfortunately he managed to escape and would later reap havoc in Rhiannon’s life.
On the day after the wedding, Rhiannon left her father’s kingdom with her new husband and his men. As they emerged from the forest and the trees closed behind them, she took a moment to glance lovingly back, knowing that the entrance of the Otherworld was closed to her forever. She would never be able to return to her childhood home but she had married for love and had no regrets.
Rhiannon was welcomed in her new home and was popular among her husband’s people. Two years passed without her becoming pregnant and the question of fitness to provide an heir to the throne was raised. In the third year of their marriage she produced a healthy son.
Servants looking after the baby worked in shifts so Rhiannon could sleep and regain her strength. One evening they all fell asleep and when they woke up, the cradle was empty. They devised a plan in order to have Rhiannon blamed for the disappearance. They smeared the blood of an animal on the sleeping Rhiannon and accused the Goddess of eating her own baby. Although Rhiannon swore her innocence, her husband, shocked by what had occurred and faced with the anger of his people, did not defend her very strongly. He decided not to divorce her but her punishment would be that for the next seven years, the goddess Rhiannon was to sit by the gates of the castle, bent under the heavy weight of a horse collar, greeting guests and telling them of her crime. She then had to offer to carry them on her back into the castle.
Through the cycle of the seasons, Rhiannon quietly endured this punishment for a crime she had never committed. Visitors admired her courage and very few would accept her offer to carry them into the castle. Respect for her spread throughout the country. In the autumn of the fourth year, three strangers appeared at the gate: a nobleman, his wife and a young boy of no more than five years. Rhiannon greeted them as they approached and offered to carry them into the castle. Instead, the man lifted Rhiannon onto his horse and the boy handed her a piece of an infant’s gown. To her surprise, Rhiannon saw that it was cloth that she had woven and then looking into the boy’s eyes, she recognised them as being the same as her husband’s, Pwyl.
Four years ago, during the night of a great storm, the nobleman had been called out to help a mare in labour. He’d heard the sound of an infant’s cries and went to investigate. He found the baby lying abandoned and he and his wife subsequently raised the child as if it were their own. When they’d heard the rumours of the goddess Rhiannon’s fate, they realised who the child was and set out to return him to his parents. It is thought the badger had stolen the child.
Rhiannon resumed her place at her husband’s side. Her honour was restored. She had suffered immensely but forgave all those who had thought ill of her.
In some legends, Rhiannon was the Celtic goddess (the Lady of the Lake) who gave Arthur the sword of Excalibur, empowering him to become King in the legends of Camelot.