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Pagan Portals - Blodeuwedd: Welsh Goddess of Seasonal Sovereignty
Like a gathering of flowers from hedge and field, or a cloak made of owl feathers, Blodeuwedd is a figure of great complexity. She is both Flower Maiden and Owl of Wisdom… unfaithful wife and representative of Sovereignty… fallen woman and feminist heroine… medieval cautionary tale and reclaimed divinity. Yet, for all of these seeming inconstancies, the key to understanding Blodeuwedd is being able to see her as a whole. Bringing together strands of Celtic lore, Welsh literature, British folk practice, and modern devotion, Celticist Jhenah Telyndru weaves a solid foundation from which scholars and seekers alike can come into deeper relationship with this oft-misunderstood figure. Ultimately, this journey to reclaim Blodeuwedd’s identity - a Sovereignty Goddess who ensured the cycle of the seasons by choosing, in turn, to partner with the Solar Hero of Summer and the Otherworldly Champion of Winter - reveals a transformational mythic pathway that can also guide us in the reclamation of our own sovereignty.
- GenresPaganism
136 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2021
17 people are currently reading
107 people want to read
About the author
Jhenah Telyndru
15 books88 followers Jhenah Telyndru has always felt called to dance with joy in that liminal space which straddles the realms of history and myth, of individuality and collectivity, of the seen and the unseen. A creative mystic who loves science and values fact, Jhenah embraces the conscious co-creation of the future, while immersing herself in an impassioned study of the past. The path between, she believes, is where the mysteries are revealed and where true magic happens.
Jhenah is an author, educator, and priestess who has devoted her life to exploring the spiritual and mythic traditions of Wales and the Iron Age Celtic tribes of Britain and Gaul. A formally trained Celticist, Jhenah holds an MA in Celtic Studies from the University of Wales, as well as a BA in Archaeology from Stony Brook University. She founded the Sisterhood of Avalon in 1995, and serves as Academic Dean of the Avalonian Thealogical Seminary. Jhenah hosts residential training retreats around North America and the UK, presents internationally at conferences and festivals, teaches online workshops and immersion programs, and facilitates pilgrimages to sacred sites in the British Isles and Ireland through Mythic Seeker Tours.
Her published works include Avalon Within: A Sacred Journey of Myth, Mystery, and Inner Wisdom (Llewellyn, 2010), The Avalonian Oracle: Spiritual Wisdom from the Holy Isle (Schiffer, 2016), Rhiannon: Divine Queen of the Celtic Britons (Moon Books, 2018), The Mythic Moons of Avalon: Lunar and Herbal Wisdom From the Island of Healing (Llewellyn, 2019), Pagan Portals – Blodeuwedd: Welsh Goddess of Seasonal Sovereignty (Moon Books, 2021), and The Ninefold Way of Avalon: Walking the Path of the Priestess (Llewellyn 2023).
Her writing has been featured in fiction and non-fiction anthologies; has appeared in a variety of magazines, literary journals, and periodicals including PanGaia, SageWoman, The Beltane Papers, Circle Magazine, Watkins Body, Mind, and Spirit, and The Tor Stone; as well as various annuals and datebooks from Llewellyn Worldwide and Ninth Wave Press.
A priestess in the Avalonian Tradition for over 35 years, Jhenah has been following a Pagan path since 1986.She is an Awenydd Druid of the Anglesey Druid Order (ADO), and is a certified Amicus Mortis (Friend of Death) through the Order. As a member of clergy, Jhenah performs rites of passage in her community, has trained in herbalism and a variety of alternative healing modalities, and is in service as a Transpersonal Tarot Counselor and teacher.
To find out more about her and her work, she invites you to visit www.ynysafallon.com.or https://linktr.ee/YnysAfallon.
Jhenah is an author, educator, and priestess who has devoted her life to exploring the spiritual and mythic traditions of Wales and the Iron Age Celtic tribes of Britain and Gaul. A formally trained Celticist, Jhenah holds an MA in Celtic Studies from the University of Wales, as well as a BA in Archaeology from Stony Brook University. She founded the Sisterhood of Avalon in 1995, and serves as Academic Dean of the Avalonian Thealogical Seminary. Jhenah hosts residential training retreats around North America and the UK, presents internationally at conferences and festivals, teaches online workshops and immersion programs, and facilitates pilgrimages to sacred sites in the British Isles and Ireland through Mythic Seeker Tours.
Her published works include Avalon Within: A Sacred Journey of Myth, Mystery, and Inner Wisdom (Llewellyn, 2010), The Avalonian Oracle: Spiritual Wisdom from the Holy Isle (Schiffer, 2016), Rhiannon: Divine Queen of the Celtic Britons (Moon Books, 2018), The Mythic Moons of Avalon: Lunar and Herbal Wisdom From the Island of Healing (Llewellyn, 2019), Pagan Portals – Blodeuwedd: Welsh Goddess of Seasonal Sovereignty (Moon Books, 2021), and The Ninefold Way of Avalon: Walking the Path of the Priestess (Llewellyn 2023).
Her writing has been featured in fiction and non-fiction anthologies; has appeared in a variety of magazines, literary journals, and periodicals including PanGaia, SageWoman, The Beltane Papers, Circle Magazine, Watkins Body, Mind, and Spirit, and The Tor Stone; as well as various annuals and datebooks from Llewellyn Worldwide and Ninth Wave Press.
A priestess in the Avalonian Tradition for over 35 years, Jhenah has been following a Pagan path since 1986.She is an Awenydd Druid of the Anglesey Druid Order (ADO), and is a certified Amicus Mortis (Friend of Death) through the Order. As a member of clergy, Jhenah performs rites of passage in her community, has trained in herbalism and a variety of alternative healing modalities, and is in service as a Transpersonal Tarot Counselor and teacher.
To find out more about her and her work, she invites you to visit www.ynysafallon.com.or https://linktr.ee/YnysAfallon.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 2, 2023
Thank you to the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review! This one was a real treat, as I have been following Jhenah for a few years, and also have honored Blodeuwedd Herself for a few years now. I have been eagerly waiting to dive into this book, and I think that others who are looking for more information on Herself will be very pleased with this shorter book that is packed with mythology and information on this more obscure Goddess.
We begin with an overview of mythology - and I quite like the way passages are often presented in Welsh and English, so that we have the source material on the page along with the translated material. The mythology is well discussed in an easy to understand manner, making this very accessible for those who may have trouble navigating the source material alone.
I found the chapter about culture and context to be very helpful at exploring my own internal bias - this will be helpful for those of you who might be triggered at Blodeuwedd's seemingly lack of power, or shame inducing actions in Her myth. Looking at the culture and context of when the stories were to be recorded is extremely helpful as it's vastly different from our modern day take on how a woman should be treated.
In fact, this has helped with my own personal spirituality and reclamation of personal power and I am curious to see if that happens with other readers of this book as well.
Sovereignty, and all it's different types and when these apply to Blodeuwedd are clearly outlined, and again is a very helpful chapter.
I wanted to note that those who have not read the Mabinogion will not find an issue following along with this book. Telyndru does a masterful job of explaining central characters in the mythology so that even complete beginners who have never delved into Welsh mythology will be able to follow along.
The book, like most Pagan Portals, are short introductory books to larger topics, and Telyndru does a great job of being precise and succinct while still being able to guide a new reader through this somewhat difficult and sometimes contradictory material.
5/5 Triquetras from me - this one will be for anyone who is looking to learn more about Blodeuwedd, those who have an interest in Welsh mythology, or for those who are looking to expand their Goddess devotional work or those who are interested in feminism within a spiritual/devotional context.
Seen on: http://triquetrareviews.blogspot.com/...
We begin with an overview of mythology - and I quite like the way passages are often presented in Welsh and English, so that we have the source material on the page along with the translated material. The mythology is well discussed in an easy to understand manner, making this very accessible for those who may have trouble navigating the source material alone.
I found the chapter about culture and context to be very helpful at exploring my own internal bias - this will be helpful for those of you who might be triggered at Blodeuwedd's seemingly lack of power, or shame inducing actions in Her myth. Looking at the culture and context of when the stories were to be recorded is extremely helpful as it's vastly different from our modern day take on how a woman should be treated.
In fact, this has helped with my own personal spirituality and reclamation of personal power and I am curious to see if that happens with other readers of this book as well.
Sovereignty, and all it's different types and when these apply to Blodeuwedd are clearly outlined, and again is a very helpful chapter.
I wanted to note that those who have not read the Mabinogion will not find an issue following along with this book. Telyndru does a masterful job of explaining central characters in the mythology so that even complete beginners who have never delved into Welsh mythology will be able to follow along.
The book, like most Pagan Portals, are short introductory books to larger topics, and Telyndru does a great job of being precise and succinct while still being able to guide a new reader through this somewhat difficult and sometimes contradictory material.
5/5 Triquetras from me - this one will be for anyone who is looking to learn more about Blodeuwedd, those who have an interest in Welsh mythology, or for those who are looking to expand their Goddess devotional work or those who are interested in feminism within a spiritual/devotional context.
Seen on: http://triquetrareviews.blogspot.com/...
September 6, 2023
Title: Pagan Portals - Blodeuwedd: Welsh Goddess of Seasonal Sovereignty
Author: Jhenah Telyndru
Rating: 5/5
Pagan Portals - Blodeuwedd: Welsh Goddess of Seasonal Sovereignty is the first book I have read by author Jhenah Telyndru. The book is 122 pages long and includes an introduction and bibliography. I plan to purchase more of her works because I was pleasantly surprised by the writer's style. The author's writing is informative while being easy to read and comprehend. The Pagan Portals books are meant to be a small sample of a broader topic, and I believe Blodeuwedd is an excellent choice for a beginner in Welsh mythology.
Blodeuwedd's story is based on the 12th-century Welsh story Y Mabinogi. The reader does not need to be familiar with the medieval work since the author recounts the tale excellently. We begin in the fourth branch with the story of Arianrhod's embarrassing birth of twins and the follies of her son Lleu as he gains a name, a weapon, and ultimately a wife. It is when Lleu is cursed by his mother never to marry a woman of the race of the earth. So, his uncle decides to create a wife out of a flower for him. And thus begins the sad tale of the life of Blodeuwedd.
Anyone familiar with Welsh history will not be surprised to hear how important consent was. If one were to have a baby, it would not legally be allowed to wed until they were of age. So, it is appalling to read that a female was created and immediately married on the day of her birth. She had no choice, family, or knowledge of the working world. It was very much as if Gwydion said, "Well, she has all the body parts, so she's a woman." According to common sense, not to mention early Welsh clan law, this marriage was not valid. For me, the story of Blodeuwedd is one of discovering self-agency, finding true love, and escaping a captor.
The final half of the book revolves around Blodeuwedd's powers as a seasonal sovereignty and embracing cycles of change. Although the story was a quick read, it was delightfully insightful. I applaud Jhenah Telyndru's understanding of Blodeuwedd, and I believe she is a subject matter expert with her wonderful analysis. Telyndru gives both the original Welsh passages as well as an English translation. Welsh tales can be extremely difficult to decipher due to much of their history being orally shared instead of written. I especially enjoyed reading her thoughts on some passages that may have referenced older traditions now lost to us.
If you want more Pagan-related book reviews, check out my blog at FoxDenCurio.com/blog
Author: Jhenah Telyndru
Rating: 5/5
Pagan Portals - Blodeuwedd: Welsh Goddess of Seasonal Sovereignty is the first book I have read by author Jhenah Telyndru. The book is 122 pages long and includes an introduction and bibliography. I plan to purchase more of her works because I was pleasantly surprised by the writer's style. The author's writing is informative while being easy to read and comprehend. The Pagan Portals books are meant to be a small sample of a broader topic, and I believe Blodeuwedd is an excellent choice for a beginner in Welsh mythology.
Blodeuwedd's story is based on the 12th-century Welsh story Y Mabinogi. The reader does not need to be familiar with the medieval work since the author recounts the tale excellently. We begin in the fourth branch with the story of Arianrhod's embarrassing birth of twins and the follies of her son Lleu as he gains a name, a weapon, and ultimately a wife. It is when Lleu is cursed by his mother never to marry a woman of the race of the earth. So, his uncle decides to create a wife out of a flower for him. And thus begins the sad tale of the life of Blodeuwedd.
Anyone familiar with Welsh history will not be surprised to hear how important consent was. If one were to have a baby, it would not legally be allowed to wed until they were of age. So, it is appalling to read that a female was created and immediately married on the day of her birth. She had no choice, family, or knowledge of the working world. It was very much as if Gwydion said, "Well, she has all the body parts, so she's a woman." According to common sense, not to mention early Welsh clan law, this marriage was not valid. For me, the story of Blodeuwedd is one of discovering self-agency, finding true love, and escaping a captor.
The final half of the book revolves around Blodeuwedd's powers as a seasonal sovereignty and embracing cycles of change. Although the story was a quick read, it was delightfully insightful. I applaud Jhenah Telyndru's understanding of Blodeuwedd, and I believe she is a subject matter expert with her wonderful analysis. Telyndru gives both the original Welsh passages as well as an English translation. Welsh tales can be extremely difficult to decipher due to much of their history being orally shared instead of written. I especially enjoyed reading her thoughts on some passages that may have referenced older traditions now lost to us.
If you want more Pagan-related book reviews, check out my blog at FoxDenCurio.com/blog
August 10, 2021
This is a short, but surprisingly in depth study of the Welsh mythic figure and Brythonic deity Blodeuwedd.
Beginning with a presentation of the myths involving her, the reader is introduced to Blodeuwedd as she is seen in the fourth branch of the Mabinogi.
Written from a staunchly feminist viewpoint, it starts with the usual arguments for a matriarchal heritage, and just why Blodeuwedd might have been well within her rights to act as she did. It involves a lot of patriarchy bashing, and an unconvincing argument as to the legalities - unconvincing simply because the betrayal and murder involved are never quite shown as legal, even within the medieval legal context provided.
It’s a shame the book begins that way, because the far better argument for why someone might actually want to honour Blodeuwedd is examined in the second part of the book. Here Telyndru showcases her conviction that Blodeuwedd is a Sovereignty goddess, and argues it with convincing strength.
A study of the owl follows, then the author’s suggestions for working with Blodeuwedd today.
There is the expected shadow-work application of working with Blodeuwedd, followed by some guidance that has a distinctly feminine flavour, and may not be something all male readers could appreciate.
Then we come to a guided visualization, which is lovely, and I only wish it were an audio version!
Ultimately, it’s a good introduction to Blodeuwedd, with some interesting philosophical points and ideas. The feminist approach may alienate some who don’t resonate with it, or who don’t want to read modern political views, but there is still some good information in the book.
I think there is a lot more to Blodeuwedd that wasn’t discussed, and some aspects that could have been investigated further, but as the author points out, there is room here for the interested to study further themselves.
The fact that Blodeuwedd is a subject that isn’t found in many books, makes the value of this one that much higher, especially to those who follow a Brythonic path.
Beginning with a presentation of the myths involving her, the reader is introduced to Blodeuwedd as she is seen in the fourth branch of the Mabinogi.
Written from a staunchly feminist viewpoint, it starts with the usual arguments for a matriarchal heritage, and just why Blodeuwedd might have been well within her rights to act as she did. It involves a lot of patriarchy bashing, and an unconvincing argument as to the legalities - unconvincing simply because the betrayal and murder involved are never quite shown as legal, even within the medieval legal context provided.
It’s a shame the book begins that way, because the far better argument for why someone might actually want to honour Blodeuwedd is examined in the second part of the book. Here Telyndru showcases her conviction that Blodeuwedd is a Sovereignty goddess, and argues it with convincing strength.
A study of the owl follows, then the author’s suggestions for working with Blodeuwedd today.
There is the expected shadow-work application of working with Blodeuwedd, followed by some guidance that has a distinctly feminine flavour, and may not be something all male readers could appreciate.
Then we come to a guided visualization, which is lovely, and I only wish it were an audio version!
Ultimately, it’s a good introduction to Blodeuwedd, with some interesting philosophical points and ideas. The feminist approach may alienate some who don’t resonate with it, or who don’t want to read modern political views, but there is still some good information in the book.
I think there is a lot more to Blodeuwedd that wasn’t discussed, and some aspects that could have been investigated further, but as the author points out, there is room here for the interested to study further themselves.
The fact that Blodeuwedd is a subject that isn’t found in many books, makes the value of this one that much higher, especially to those who follow a Brythonic path.
June 10, 2023
Prospettiva interessante del famoso mito gallese che la vede in relazione con Lleu.
Il collegamento con "la dea della sovranità" non mi ha particolarmente convinta, ma anzi mi ha spinto a riflettere sul concetto e a elaborare un pensiero personale a riguardo. Resta il fatto che la figura di Blodeuwedd è interessante e il testo le rende assolutamente giustizia.
Il collegamento con "la dea della sovranità" non mi ha particolarmente convinta, ma anzi mi ha spinto a riflettere sul concetto e a elaborare un pensiero personale a riguardo. Resta il fatto che la figura di Blodeuwedd è interessante e il testo le rende assolutamente giustizia.
April 26, 2022
Wonderful book on a great goddess
This was a great insight into Blodeuwedd. This goddess is much misunderstood and this book unpacks her mythology in an accessible way. If you like owls or flowers or both, this book is for you
This was a great insight into Blodeuwedd. This goddess is much misunderstood and this book unpacks her mythology in an accessible way. If you like owls or flowers or both, this book is for you
February 3, 2022
a wonderful insight into a fascinating Goddess
December 17, 2023
Outstanding analysis of Blodeuwedd‘s story and significance as the sovereignty Goddess.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews