Musings on encounters with Rhiannon-Epona in the Welsh landscape

My reclaiming of relationship with the divine feminine began back in around 2015 while recovering from my back injury, and discovering how Brigid-Brighde-Brigantia may have lent her name to these islands of Britain. One of the first goddesses who spoke to me really strongly was Epona, who has very strong connections, given both their ‘horse goddess’ connotations, with the primarily Welsh goddess Rhiannon (although I know that the wonderful Ronald Hutton has doubts about the connections between Rhiannon and Epona. For me it feels valid though.)

We are currently in the season of Beltane, the cross quarter point on the wheel of the year mid-way between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice. Our ancestors would have felt the rising energy in nature at this time of year, built bonfires to celebrate this midpoint in the heavens, and embraced the feelings of sap rising in nature and indeed in their own bodies, to select a mate and maybe jump a Beltane broomstick to seal their relationship.

A few weeks back, my beloved took me out on a pilgrimage into the Welsh landscape to a place called ‘Wolf’s Leap’ in Cwn Irfon (the Irfon Valley). Look at this beautiful yoni- shaped rock, and can you see dragons hiding in the landscape in the second photo?

The curvaceousness and gushing wildness of this landscape really does speak to me of our fierce Celtic ancestors, who had a lived understanding of how to co-exist with the land and with the power of nature. Later in the day we ended up at Tregaron, where my beloved had previously bought my Welsh gold engagement ring, at the Rhiannon shop / art centre there, where we also saw this beautiful Rhiannon statue.

There is a story in the Mabinogion, the earliest surviving book of Welsh mythos, about Rhiannon and king Pwyll. The legend tells how Rhiannon is pursued on her shining white horse by the king and his horsemen for three days. Rhiannon rides at a steady, comfortable pace, but the king and his men only manage to catch her when the king expresses his wish for her to stop: Rhiannon, being fully in her own power, only accepts the king as her partner when he steps fully into his own power.

I can certainly imagine her riding and riding across this beautiful landscape, completely relaxed and in her power. And her story is a powerful reminder that we meet our equals when we stay in our own power and boundaries.

Rhiannon Arts Centre and Shop in Tregaron

I was inspired to share the medicine of this story at the Leicester Beltane Witch Festival - here are some photos from my workshop and the event. If you’d like to share in some more exploration of the mythos and medicine of Rhiannon, Sophia Blanton and myself are diving deep over a weekend retreat in July - check out details here or contact Donna for the details.

Blessings of the Beltane season ❤️

Some lovely feedback on my Leicester Beltane Witch Festival workshop:

A beautifully held ceremony with Donna to meet and journey with Rhiannon for Beltane. It was all pure magic. I loved the cards with no words as it meant I got to practise listening to my own inner voice. It all married together in such a perfect way and I got to join together my strength, my potential and my future self to help me step into my sovereignty. I felt much uplifted afterwards.