Macha: Mighty Mother and the Curser of the Ulster Men

In this month's episode, we journey into the realm of dreams with Elen of the Ways, worshiped since paleolithic times and very likely the most ancient Goddess of mainland Britain and northern Europe. The guardian of paths, roads and liminal spaces, we follow her as in an aisling (dream or vision poem), and hear the story from the Mabinogion of the Roman emperor finding her through his dreaming tracks. We learn of how we can honour her best and receive her guidance, in both waking life and in dream, and then continue the journey into a meditative internal labyrinth where you have the opportunity to receive guidance or let go of something no longer serving you. The episode concludes with an original song called "The Way", for it's ok if you don't know the way, for the way it knows the way! Further reading: Finding Elen: The Quest for Elen of the Ways by Carolyn Wise Shaman Pathways, Elen of the Ways: British Shamanism - Following the Deer Trods by Elen Sentier If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie The Mabinogion: The Dream of Macsen Wledig https://www.historyfiles.co.uk/FeaturesBritain/BritishMabinogionStory5.htm Journal Prompts: At this time of Equinox, how can I honour the cycles of my own life right now and where can I find a balance between dark and light, between knowing and not knowing? Where might you like to be or how might you like to feel in your body by the time of the longest night of the year, the Winter Solstice? What is your relationship to change and transition? Are there are any areas of your life right now where you could embrace change more and take bolder action? Travelling through the labyrinth, what did you experience? What did you let go of and what did you receive? How easy it is for me to trust and follow my inner compass? What could I do/support could I receive that would help me listen to this better and be able to make more aligned decisions in my life right now? Watch "The Way" video here: https://youtu.be/t-yR3RXZz4I?si=bH-xFO2kWHZzf-yx Connect with Bronwyn: Website: www.bronwynclaireasha.com Instagram: @bronwynclaireasha_ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bronwynclaireashamusic Email: [email protected]

This episode of the podcast explores the realms of the Fae (fairy or fair folk) of Ireland through the stories of Áine, radiant goddess of summer, of sovereignty and of love. We hear the stories of Áine as she protects the land and dethrones those kings unable to respect it. We hear of her duties as a goddess of the Summer solstice, celebrated on Knockaine in Ireland and of her role as one of the ban sidhe, singing souls along the river of death to new life again. We learn of her historical and mythological contexts (with a little excerpt included from Sharon Blackie's book "If Women Rose Rooted" about Irish sovereignty goddesses), and we also learn how we can honour Áine in our own lives as she encourages us to shine our own light boldly and brightly, We then journey into a guided meditation beginning in a forest clearing to connect with the spirits and healing energies of the trees, which are often portals to messages from the Otherworld. We then end with an original song written and performed by Bronwyn on vocals, handpan and synths called “Fae Fairy Fair Folk.”

In this episode of “Journeys with the Goddess”, we travel to the ancient landscapes of western Wales to what was once the Kingdom of Dyfedd to meet with the fairy goddess of horses, the moon, endurance and forgiveness, Welsh goddess Rhiannon. Riding the green hills, she woos Prince Pwyll, a mortal and is treated with discrimination for her otherness by his people, which results in her being accused of infanticide and being brutally punished for her wrongful incrimination. But she bears her fate with her head held high and shows great grace, compassion and endurance despite this. We hear her tragic story and then learn some more context to her tale, as well as hear about some of my adventures through Wales and the lessons I have been learning myself along the way! The episode ends with a meditation where we journey to a sacred fairy mound to see what marvels have messages for us in them. The episode concludes with an original song inspired by Rhiannon’s story. Special track concluding the story thanks to the group Aislínn (Lunasa).

This month on “Journeys with the Goddess,” we travel to Dunscaith castle on the Isle of Skye in Scotland to meet the ruthless warrior queen of those lands, Sgáthach. Her story has been veiled in mystery in the lore, and we usually only hear of in her in reference to Cuchullin, the might warrior of Ulster who she is said to have trained. But her story has so much more to tell us about the powerful women of the Celtic world who were also warriors and leaders in their own right. This retelling of Sgáthach's story focuses on her academy of warriors and the three pillars of her school: mental focus, physical strength and second sight. We hear of her as a young woman, training herself by tapping into the ancient energies of past warriors and how she faced her own demons to become one of the most powerful and revered queens and warriors of her time. We find that her story carries its own potent medicine in a time of illusions and patriarchal collapse... And then journey into meditation to an ancient stone circle to be initiated as warriors ourselves, remembering our own power and strength when supported by other women and mentors. The song at the end of the episode is an original melody ("Enegeni Yalo or "Daughter of the Earth Prayer") and the lyrics are written in Proto- or Common Celtic. Their translation is below.

In this seventh episode of Journeys with the Goddess, we step into the wild, flowering magic of Beltane and the Flower Moon to meet Blodeuwedd: Welsh flower maiden, lover, shapeshifter, and owl. A woman born of blossoms, made by men and ultimately transformed by her own fierce and irrepressible nature. Together, we explore her story from the fourth branch of the Welsh Mabinogion, from the weaving of a woman from meadowsweet, broom, and oak blossom, her life as a queen behind castle walls, her awakening through love, and to her final transformation into the owl of the night. We touch on what her myth can teach us about authenticity, the wild self that cannot be tamed, the price of living truthfully, and the unexpected freedom that can be found in darkness. In a guided meditation we journey to meet her for ourselves to receive a special seasonal gift in a sunlit forest clearing. We talk about what she can teach us at this potent time of flowering and emergence, and the episode ends with an original song written by Bronwyn called "By the Bright Side of the Moon." Exploring Further: Books: The Mabinogion (trans. Sioned Davies) The White Goddess by Robert Graves Pagan Portals: Welsh Mythology by Danu Forest Celtic Myth and Magic by Edain McCoy Websites: https://druidry.org/resources/blodeuwedd https://www.maryjones.us/ctexts/t4mab.html https://www.learnreligions.com/blodeuwedd-welsh-flower-goddess-2561559