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Taliesin

Ray attribution:- The Elohim of the First, Red Ray of Divine Will; which is an "expression of the male positive ego of our creative Deity. The First Ray controls the life, development and decay of the race." [1]. It is attributed to Saturn and so its day of enhancement is therefore Saturday.

Historical & Mythical:- Taleisin was a Welsh prophetic Bard of the early Fifth Century and of the Court of Maelgwn of Gwynedd circa 520 A.D. Accordingto Gardner's genealogy,Taliesin was the son of Lambord; of the line of the previous Merovingian "Fisher Kings." He was betrothed to Viviane del Acqs and their daughters were Ygerne and Maugause. From the Mabinogion he was the son of Gwreang of Llanfair Caereinion. Taleisin was not chief advisor to King Arthur as the literature suggests, he actually existed a little before Arthur's time [3]. He was married to Viviane, Queen of the Dragon Line of Avallon, although his first love was Gwenddydd (Ganieda), who nursed him back to health after the battle of Dun (Fort) Badon circa 514 A.D. The crises brought about by the subsequent betrothal of Gwenddydd to a northern Scottish king as well as his near-death scenario led him to search out The Mysteries. He took up Druidic training in Brittany and he also gained initiation into the mystery cult of Mithras. Taliesin returned to visit Gwenddydd in later life and it was she who helped him to compile his prophetic verses.

Taliesin's initiatic life has been mythologised as "The Story of Taliesin" in the early Welsh epic named " The Mabinogion", which contains the poem "Taliesin's song of his origins." Other verses have been translated from "The Four Ancient Books of Wales", which include "The Book of Taliesin." [ 12 ].

From memory: Taliesin is born as Gwion Bach around the year 480 AD and his parents are Ceridwen and Tegid Foel. Ceridwen is a tall blond-haired woman with blue eyes and the proud countenance of a Priestess. Gwion is a red-haired boy denoting that Ceridwen may only be his foster mother. Ceridwen however, is head of a tribal clan living along the foothills of Yr Wydffa ( Snowdonia) in Wales. Nearby, about a mile away, is the fortress of Dinas Emrys, now one of Brychan's holdings, following the death of Vortigern. However Ceridwen has her temple in the foothills of Snowdon. It is now part of the ruins of the ancient city of Emrys. One day young Gwion is set to watch a cauldron set by Ceridwen to see that it does not overboil, while she goes to fetch some fresh herbs. Gwion sees visions in the cauldron and when Ceridwen returns, Gwion is already deep in a trance. He sees himself change through many different animal forms while being chased by their natural predators. Ceridwen explains to Gwion the meaning of his visions and also something of the Mysteries of the Goddess.

Gwion is now about 15 years old and is courting Gwawr, one of Brychan's daughters. They spend much time together around the forest paths and share one another's dreams. They are soul-tied. There is a battle imminent and Gwion decides to join Brychan's men to prove his manhood. He is wounded in battle by an arrow and is nursed back to health by Gwawr, having narrowly escaped death.

Ceridwen explains to Gwion that it is not his destiny to marry Gwawr and that he must travel to Amorica (the Celtic Kingdom of Brittany in France) for his Druid training. Gwion parts with Gwawr who is later sent to be the wife of Elidyr, the King of South Rheged.

Meanwhile Gwion has arrived in Brittany and must wait another year for his Druid training. He now falls in love with Ygerne who is the same age, although the union is short-lived, as she is to be sent to be the wife of Gorlois in Cornwall. Ygerne is already pregnant with Gwion's daughter, Morgainne, and gives birth to her at the stronghold fort that is now called Tintagel. She pretends to Gorlois that it is really his own child.

Meanwhile, Gwion has commenced his Druid training under a very strict regime that lasts a whole 19 year star cycle. At the end of this he is free to take a wife and he chooses Viviane del Acqs. Viviane is High Priestess of the Line of Avalon.

Gwion now becomes Taliesin, taking that namewhich means "radiant brow", which is used to denote his Druid status. Merlin has also been in Brittany and tells to Taliesin his plans for a kingmaking. This concerns another son of Ygerne, who Merlin has himself fostered and educated here in Brittany. The boy's paternal line is of Cunedda through Merchion Meirionydd.

Taliesin and Viviane leave Brittany for Wales and Taliesin becomes employed at the court of the newly appointed King of Gwynedd, who is called Maelgwn. The date is now 517 AD. Maelgwyn is not a popular leader and has trouble gaining the allegiance of the other kings, princes and earls of Gwynedd and of the western realms. Taliesin calls for a meeting of the clans under Maelgwn. This is held on the summit of the Great Orm, at Llandudno, in Wales. The tribes do not recognise Maelgwn as a Dragon Leader or Pendragon, which causes Maelgwn to use tyrrany in order to uphold his realm. He later tries to seduce Viviane, but luckily Taliesin has been called to a meeting of the Realms of Albion at Chester by Merlin. Taleisin takes Viviane with him, away from Maelgwn.

In Chester, Taleisin finds a court full of bards, each contesting the supremacy of their own King. Taliesin silences the bards in what is recorded as the "Contention of the Bards"….. (for Arthur's kingmaking see Merlin's page).

On their return to the Court of Maelgwn, Viviane dies on the road and Taliesin has her buried near a stone circle that now lies near Prestatyn in Clwyd, Wales. Taliesin later travels to Cadwaladyr's new court at Wandlebury, on a hill overlooking the City of Cambridge. He becomes Cadwaladyr's chief adviser for a time, having now left Maelgwn because he would not submit his allegiance to King Cadwaladyr. After a while it is evident that Cadwaladyr is neglecting his oath to serve the needs of the clans and tribes. He is becoming increasingly interested in upholding a military martial law only and exacting tributes where they are not due.

Niniane, of the Line of Avalon, now returns to Cadwaladyr's court from the Glastonbury Isle. She has become a Priestess of the Isle, having been sent there for training because of her Avalonian lineage. She returns to remind Arthur of his oath concerning his Sacred Marriage to the land. Niniane and Taliesin meet for the first time and afterwards decide to leave Arthur's court and return to Avalon. Niniane, having completed her priestess training, decides to found a "new sacred isle" and talks Taliesin into becoming her partner. They travel north together until they reach Pendle in Rheged where the new Avalon is to be set. Niniane calls for the help of Morgainne, who comes to assist from the Court of Urien at Carlisle. She has her novice Priestesses with her. A mighty ritual is performed upon the hill, whereby Taliesin is taken into a trance state and prophecies for the Island of Britain. This is later composed as "The Chair of the Sovereign," "Defence of the Chair" and "Protection of the Honey Isle".

Taliesin is once more reminded of his destiny as prophetic bard, having previously become enamoured by Ninianne. He now shakes himself free of this and leaves for the court of Urien, along with Morgainne who is now Urien's wife. Ninianne is left heartbroken and later moves to form or join the Priestess order upon the Isle of Man.

Taliesin begins to write down his prophetic verses for the Court of Urien and becomes famous as a bard around those Northern courts. He soon forgets himself once more and becomes enamoured by his own popularity. He spends his time wandering from court to court, relating his bardic lore and tales. One day, Taliesin meets with Merlin coming the other way along the old packhorse trade route that connects south Rheged (Rochdale- Rheged-dale) with Elmet, near York. They climb the nearby Pennine Boulsworth (Bull's Well) Hill together and relate their news and also their memories.

Merlin and Taliesin's meeting upon the hill is later composed in " The Dialogue between Myrddin and Taliesin." Merlin, however, has news of his sister Gwawr, who he has now left at the Court of Dunadd with their other sister Gwen. Taliesin decides to travel there and finds that she has taken to the new religion. She helps to redeem Taliesin of his boastful ways using the grace of her new faith. Together they put together their collaborated prophetic insights into a proper context, which includes "Taliesin's story of creation," Merlin and Gwawr's (Ganieda's) prophecies etc.

After the death of King Arthur, Taliesin retires to the Isle of Man and joins Morgainne and Ninianne as guardian of the Grail Mysteries, for any seeker who would quest for the truth.

Click onto the Grail to journey to the Etheric Retreat of Taleisin