The Avalonian Cycle
of Revealing
The Sovereignty of self-knowledge can be achieved in many ways, on many paths; in the Avalonian Tradition, this work begins by aligning oneself with the cycles of nature. The five-fold path of the Avalonian Cycle of Healing facilitates our exploration of the nature of the sacred landscape within us as a reflection of the sacred landscape around us. The Lunar Keys of the Avalonian Cycle of Revealing assists us in learning the mythic language of the Celtic Britons through the exploration of the lunar mysteries and their corresponding herbal energetics. Taken together, these are powerful tools to help us establish meaningful relationships with the goddesses revered in the Avalonian Tradition in a way that also results in spiritual insight and self-understanding.
The more we manifest our authentic selves and become the person we were born to be, the more the work we do and energy we hold reflect our innate divinity, that part of us that is and has always been connected to Source. Our gifts, our goals, and our dreams have purpose. When we live authentically and use our inner and outer resources in service to others, we not only co-create the world in accordance with the greater sacred vision, but we teach others that their gifts, goals, and dreams are not just important but vital.
Perhaps all this inward focus may seem overly self-involved, but the truth is that we can change the world by changing ourselves; indeed, we are the only person we can truly change. When we are content rather than resigned, when we come from a place of power rather than fear, when we make choices that are constructive rather than destructive, and when we give ourselves the reserves we need to act effectively in the world, we participate in the co-creation of the new reality coming into being every moment. When we are more authentically ourselves, we can put our gifts to work in service to our community. We empower others to do the same through the example of our lives and through encouraging others to pursue their dreams, take responsibility for their actions, and work to change their inner lives so they can transform what is around them. The more we are who we are meant to be, by using our skills and sharing our gifts, the more we become a clear vessel for the Divine. When we are sovereign and actively reclaiming our priestess selves, the goddesses are able to work in the world through us. What a humbling thought … and a huge responsibility!
There are similarities between the Cauldron of Annwn and the Cauldron of Ceridwen. Both are concerned with prophecy and wisdom, both require great feats of courage and soul challenges to obtain, and both are held in the keeping of women. If the fivefold paradigm of transformation in the Cauldron of Ceridwen informs the Avalonian Cycle of Healing, what can we learn from the Cauldron of Annwn? It is the description of this cauldron being rimmed with pearls that has inspired the Avalonian Cycle of Revealing, a lunar system of inner questing and personal transformation that nests within the overall Cycle of Healing. The Pearl-rimmed Cauldron, then, can be interpreted as symbolic of the annual cycle of moons which provides us with a monthly path of personal practice. This devotional discipline helps us harmonize with the universal tides, brings us closer to actualizing our sovereign and authentic selves, and draws us into an increased relationship with Source—the goddesses as they have revealed themselves to us.
The interplay between the Avalonian Cycle of Healing—which breaks the great cycle into five composite parts—and the Avalonian Cycle of Revealing, which harnesses the cyclic energy from a thirteen-fold lunar perspective, is one of mutual exaltation. The lunar cycle creates a monthly support system which assists in channeling the energies and focusing the intentions of the great inner work accomplished by the Avalonian Cycle of Healing. In this system, each moon has an overall lesson, a corresponding herbal energetic, and reveals an aspect of one of the goddesses of the Avalonian Tradition, all of which work in symphony with the five stations of the Avalonian Cycle of Healing. Aligning with both the solar and lunar energetics, as the wheel of the year turns and the moon does her cyclic dance each month, will ensure that there will always be a guiding energy present to assist in the work of personal transformation.
This very Avalonian philosophy of seeking the ways the greater patterns of the universe can be reflected within us informs this healing system and empowers its effects on all aspects of being—addressing energetic imbalances of the body, mind, and spirit. It does so because it operates on multiple levels at once, crafting a tapestry that builds upon the art of ancient herbal traditions, weaving in the weft of symbolic language transmitted to us through Celtic myth and language, and combining to create a pattern that reinvigorates the deep lunar mysteries at the heart of women’s magic and connection to the Divine Feminine.
The moons of the Avalonian Cycle of Revealing are:
1—Moon of Initiation: First full moon when sun is in Scorpio; full moon in Taurus
2—Moon of Distillation: First full moon when sun is in Sagittarius; full moon in Gemini
3—Moon of Transformation: First full moon when sun is in Capricorn; full moon in Cancer
4—Moon of Germination: First full moon when sun is in Aquarius; full moon in Leo
5—Moon of Evocation: First full moon when sun is in Pisces; full moon in Virgo
6—Moon of Activation: First full moon when sun is in Aries; full moon in Libra
7—Moon of Revelation: First full moon when sun is in Taurus; full moon in Scorpio
8—Moon of Liberation: First full moon when sun is in Gemini; full moon in Sagittarius
9—Moon of Dedication: First full moon when sun is in Cancer; full moon in Capricorn
10—Moon of Consummation: First full moon when sun is in Leo; full moon in Aquarius
11—Moon of Purification: First full moon when sun is in Virgo; full moon in Pisces
12—Moon of Reconciliation: First full moon when sun is in Libra; full moon in Aries
13—Moon of Reflection: Blue Moon: Second full moon in any sun sign
To these thirteen moons we add the Moon of Cycle, a fourteenth lunar energetic occurring during a total lunar eclipse. This total eclipse of the moon provides us with a rare opportunity to experience the moon moving through all of her phases in one night, creating a powerful lunar mirror into which we may look, seeking the meaning of the greater patterns that influence our lives.
The Avalonian Herbal Moons
Each of the thirteen moons plus the Moon of Cycle corresponds with an herbal energy. This herbal energy represents the vibrational tone of the Lunar Key while also serving as an ally on that cycle’s path to transformation. These plant allies match each moon’s energetic quality while working medicinally on the physical body and vibrationally on the etheric body. The result is a potent combination that assists in affecting change on all levels of being.
It is important to stress that this lunar herbal system is not traditional; it draws upon no historical or literary precedent. Instead, it has been developed over the course of twenty years as part of the modern Avalonian Tradition. All the herbs in this system are native to Britain and boast medicinal, energetic, and folkloric properties in alignment both with the energies of the time of year and the aspect of the goddess tale with which they have become associated.
The Lunar Keys of the Avalonian Cycle of Revealing
Moon |
Herb |
Botanical Name |
Welsh Name |
Astrological Reckoning |
1. Moon of Initiation |
Mugwort |
Artemisia vulgaris |
Y Ganwraidd Lwydd |
First full moon when sun is in Scorpio |
2. Moon of Distillation |
Yarrow |
Achillea |
Milddail, Llysiau Gwaedlif |
First full moon when sun is in Sagittarius |
3. Moon of Transformation |
Wormwood |
Artemisia absinthium |
Wermwd Lwyd |
First full moon when sun is in Capricorn |
4. Moon of Germination |
Vervain |
Verbena officinalis |
Cas Gangythraul, Llysiau’r Hudol, Y Dderwen Fendigaid |
First full moon when sun is in Aquarius |
5. Moon of Evocation |
Broom |
Cytisus |
Banadle (N. Wales); Banadlen (S. Wales) |
First full moon when sun is in Pisces |
6. Moon of Activation |
Meadowsweet |
Filpendula ulmaria |
Llys y Forwyn |
First full moon when sun is in Aries |
7. Moon of Revelation |
Nettle |
Urtica dioica |
Ddynhaden |
First full moon when sun is in Taurus |
Moon |
Herb |
Botanical Name |
Welsh Name |
Astrological Reckoning |
8. Moon of Liberation |
Red Clover |
Trifolium pratense |
Marchfeillionen |
First full moon when sun is in Gemini |
9. Moon of Dedication |
Burdock |
Arctium |
Y Cyngaw |
First full moon when sun is in Cancer |
10. Moon of Consummation |
Dandelion |
Taraxacum officinale |
Dant y Llew |
First full moon when sun is in Leo |
11. Moon of Purification |
Wild Thyme |
Thymus serpyllum |
Grywlys Gwyllt |
First full moon when sun is in Virgo |
12. Moon of Reconciliation |
Motherwort |
Leonurus cardiaca |
Llys y Fam |
First full moon when sun is in Libra |
13. Moon of Reflection |
Woad |
Isatis tinctoria |
Glasddu, Glaslys, Gweddlys |
True Blue Moon: Second full moon in any sun sign |
14. Moon of Cycle |
Queen Anne’s Lace |
Daucus carota |
Moronwyn, Nyth yr Aderyn |
Total lunar eclipse |
Over time, working with these herbs each month aids in creating connections with the Ladies of Avalon, assists in gaining insights from the lessons found in each of their stories, and helps to serve as doorways into the aspects of the Self upon which the mirror of the moon shines during each lunar cycle.
Honoring the Goddesses of Wales
Each of the five Welsh goddesses honored in the Avalonian Tradition have particular times associated with them during the cycle of the sun and the cycle of the moon; these are times when their energies are the most accessible. The herbal moons of the Cycle of Revealing are in energetic alignment with these goddess times, and following the monthly discipline outlined in this book will not only facilitate building connections with the ladies of Avalon, it can also serve as a guide for directing one’s personal inner work throughout the year.
In the Avalonian Tradition, the five goddesses we work with are divided into two energetic groups. The Cycle Goddesses—Ceridwen, Blodeuwedd, and Rhiannon—make up the bulk of the external wheel of the year, and each hold four moons in their care. The Polarity Goddesses, Arianrhod and Branwen, represent the active and passive energetics of the cycle respectively. Branwen is the still, quiet center, and hers is the thirteenth or true Blue Moon (here defined as the second full moon occurring while the sun is in the same sign), while Arianrhod is the spark which turns the whole of the cycle itself, and holds Sovereignty over the figurative fourteenth moon, the total lunar eclipse, called the Moon of Cycle in this system.
While the times of the Cycle Goddesses are more or less fixed in the cycle, those of the Polarity Goddesses are quite mutable; indeed, there may be years when they are not represented in the cycle of the moons at all. For example, the true Blue Moon only occurs once every two and a half or three years, while on the opposite extreme, a total lunar eclipse may occur multiple times in a year, or, like the Blue Moon, not at all.
Here, then, is a list of the moons of the Avalonian Cycle of Revealing, with their herbal correspondences and their relationship to the myths of the Welsh goddesses honored in the Avalonian Tradition. An image of the cycle in its entirety appears on page 53.
Time of Ceridwen
Mythic Source—“The Tale of Gwion Bach,” from Ystoria Taliesin
1—Moon of Initiation
Herb: Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Moon: First full moon when sun is in Scorpio; full moon in Taurus
Mythic Portion: Ceridwen gathers components to create brew of wisdom for her son, Morfran.
2—Moon of Distillation
Herb: Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Moon: First full moon when sun is in Sagittarius; full moon in Gemini
Mythic Portion: Ceridwen sets Gwion Bach to tending the cauldron for a year and a day. He takes the three drops meant for Morfran for himself.
3—Moon of Transformation
Herb: Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
Moon: First full moon when sun is in Capricorn; full moon in Cancer
Mythic Portion: Ceridwen discovers what has happened and chases Gwion through elemental animal transformations until she consumes him in the form of a piece of grain.
4—Moon of Germination
Herb: Vervain (Verbena officinalis)
Moon: First full moon when sun is in Aquarius; full moon in Leo
Mythic Portion: After spending nine moons in Ceridwen’s womb, Gwion is reborn as Taliesin—the fully realized Shining Brow. She places him in a coracle and casts him out into the waters. He is later found in a salmon weir by a Welsh prince.
Time of Blodeuwedd
Mythic Source—“Math, Son of Mathonwy,” the Fourth Branch of Y Mabinogi
5—Moon of Evocation
Herb: Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Moon: First full moon when sun is in Pisces; full moon in Virgo
Mythic Portion: When Arianrhod prohibits her son, Lleu, from marrying a woman of any race on the Earth, Blodeuwedd is “created” from nine flowers by Math and Gwydion.
6—Moon of Activation
Herb: Meadowsweet (Filpendula ulmaria)
Moon: First full moon when sun is in Aries; full moon in Libra
Mythic Portion: Blodeuwedd is wed to Lleu, and he comes into his own, ruling over lands granted by Math.
7—Moon of Revelation
Herb: Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Moon: First full moon when sun is in Taurus; full moon in Scorpio
Mythic Portion: Blodeuwedd falls in love with Gronw Pebyr and chooses him over Lleu.
8—Moon of Liberation
Herb: Red Clover (Trifolium pretense)
Moon: First full moon when sun is in Gemini; full moon in Sagittarius
Mythic Portion: Blodeuwedd is pursued by Gwydion as Lleu retakes his kingdom, and she is transformed into an owl.
Time of Rhiannon
Mythic Sources—“Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed,” First Branch of Y Mabinogi; “Manawyddan, son of Llyr,” Third Branch of Y Mabinogi.
9—Moon of Dedication
Herb: Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Moon: First full moon when sun is in Cancer; full moon in Capricorn
Mythic Portion: Rhiannon appears from the Otherworld on her white mare and is pursued by Pwyll, who is unable to catch up with her until he asks her to stop.
10—Moon of Consummation
Herb: Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Moon: First full moon when sun is in Leo; full moon in Aquarius
Mythic Portion: After several challenges overcome by her cleverness and quick wit, Rhiannon marries Pwyll, her choice of husband.
11—Moon of Purification
Herb: Wild Thyme (Thymus serpyllum)
Moon: First full moon when sun is in Virgo; full moon in Pisces
Mythic Portion: Rhiannon’s newborn son disappears; she is betrayed by her women and punished unjustly.
12—Moon of Reconciliation
Herb: Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
Moon: First full moon when sun is in Libra; full moon in Aries
Mythic Portion: Rhiannon is reunited with her lost son, rejoins her husband, and is restored to her queenship.
Time of Branwen
Mythic Source—“Branwen, Daughter of Llyr,” Second Branch of Y Mabinogi
13—Moon of Reflection
Herb: Woad (Isatis tinctorial)
Moon: True Blue Moon—second full moon in any sun sign
Mythic Portion: The whole of the tale of Branwen, sister of the king of Britain, whose mistreatment at the hands of her husband, the king of Ireland, catalyzes a devastating war between the two nations.
Time of Arianrhod
Mythic Source—“Math, Son of Mathonwy,” Fourth Branch of Y Mabinogi
14—Moon of Cycle
Herb: Queen Anne’s lace (Daucus carota)
Moon: Total lunar eclipse
Mythic Portion: The whole of the tale of Arianrhod, lady of her own island. Publicly humiliated by being made to undergo a virginity test that results in her giving birth to two sons, Arianrhod refuses to have anything to do with motherhood. She lays three destinies upon her second son, which her brother Gwydion helps him overcome with his magic.
It is important to note that when we speak of these moons we are talking about an entire lunar month, from the moment the moon enters into the full moon phase, to the moment before the next full moon phase. Similarly, the goddess times run from the moment the moon is full in the first month of her four moons (or her single moon as in the case of Branwen and Arianrhod) until the moment just before the moon of the next goddess comes into fullness. There is never, therefore, a time when there is no goddess in ascendance or when an herbal energetic is not active; one energy flows seamlessly into the next.
The Cycle Within the Cycle
A transformational way to work with the interlocking processes of the Cycle of Healing and the Cycle of Revealing is to consider the ways in which each cycle contains the seeds of the other within itself. The Cycle of Revealing breaks the year up into either twelve or thirteen lunar months depending upon the presence of a Blue Moon in that year. The Cycle of Healing takes that same year and breaks it up into a five-fold system of stations which correspond to the four Celtic fire festivals and are centered around the energies of Integration which are the whole of the cycle, not fixed to any given time. Overlaying these two systems upon each other results in an overlap of energies as each of the five stations of the Cycle of Healing also corresponds with one of the moons of the Cycle of Revealing:
Station |
Holy Day |
Moon |
Station of Descent |
Calan Gaeaf |
Moon 1—Moon of Initiation |
Station of Confrontation |
Gwyl Mair |
Moon 4—Moon of Germination |
Station of Emergence |
Calan Haf |
Moon 7—Moon of Revelation |
Station of Resolution |
Gwyl Awst |
Moon 10—Moon of Consummation |
Station of Integration |
No Set Holy Day |
Moon 13—Moon of Reflection |
There is no redundancy or conflict in this correspondence; the work of the Station aligns perfectly with the Lunar Key associated with it, as illustrated in the glyph below. Navigating these compound energies will be discussed at length in Chapter 4.
This compound cycle glyph above also illustrates several other ways to divide the wheel of the year. If we divide the year horizontally into halves, we can see the dark and light halves of the year; while if we divide the year vertically, the waning and waxing halves become evident. (Figure 3 and Figure 4.)
Dividing the year into threes permits us to see the overlay of the Avalonian Cycle Goddesses onto the twelve moons of the standard year; each of the three goddesses has four moons in her purview:
Time of Ceridwen: Moons One–Four
Time of Blodeuwedd: Moons Five–Eight
Time of Rhiannon: Moons Nine–Twelve
The Polarity Goddesses, as discussed above, are represented by the two moons that are less fixed, and so are outside of the division of the year. These moons are:
Time of Branwen: True Blue Moon—Moon of Reflection/Moon Thirteen
Time of Arianrhod: Total lunar eclipse—Moon of Cycle
As true Blue Moons only occur every two and a half or three years, the Moon of Reflection is not always present, but when it is, it inserts itself into the Cycle of Revealing wherever there is a second full moon in a sun sign, thereby adding a thirteenth moon to the year. For example, if one year there are two full moons that occur while the sun is in Gemini, the first of the two would be Moon Eight—the Moon of Liberation, and the second would be Moon Thirteen—the Moon of Reflection. The very next full moon, occurring while the sun is in Cancer, would be Moon Nine—the Moon of Dedication.
The Moon of Cycle, however, does not add a moon to the year, but instead, overlays itself onto any full moon that experiences a Total lunar eclipse; the energies of Arianrhod and the Moon of Cycle in essence overtake and augment a moon from whichever goddess would otherwise have been presiding over it. For example, if there was a total eclipse during Moon Nine—the Moon of Dedication—it would become the Moon of Cycle, and Arianrhod would take energetic precedent over Rhiannon for this month. Now, every Moon of Cycle is going to have a slightly different energy depending upon what other moon it overlays; the energy of the natural moon is modified by the lessons of the Moon of Cycle, so that when reflecting upon our inner patterns and the places we need to learn deep lessons, which is the core energetic of the moon of cycle, we should focus on the lessons of the overlain moon, examining our work in the context of the natural moon. This will be examined in greater detail in Chapter 9.
Each of the moons in the Cycle of Revealing represents a specific energy on our path to wholeness, encapsulated in the energetics of its corresponding herb as well its associated portion of the presiding goddess’s story. Within each of these moons, representing an entire lunar month, is also an iteration of the Cycle of Healing with its stations and goddess correspondences, aligning with the main phases of the moon:
Station |
Moon Phase |
Goddess Correspondence |
Station of Descent |
Third Quarter |
Rhiannon |
Station of Confrontation |
Dark Moon |
Ceridwen |
Station of Emergence |
First Quarter |
Blodeuwedd |
Station of Resolution |
Full Moon |
Arianrhod |
Station of Integration |
Sovereign Moon |
Branwen |
We can harness the work of the Cycle of Healing throughout the lunar month by using the tools of the five stations in alignment with the waxing and waning of the moon phases (Figure 5). Doing so brings us insight into the issue which is being examined through the filter of the energy of the current moon in the Cycle of Revealing. Using the smaller cycle (the Cycle of Healing through the phases of the moon) within the context of the larger cycle (the Cycle of Healing through the seasons of the year), which is concurrently broken down into the Lunar Keys of the Cycle of Revealing, provides us with a powerful system for self-examination, personal growth, and inner understanding.
Self-Reflective Questions for the Phases of the Moon
It can be helpful to guide our inner work by periodically examining the aspect of Self being focused on through the filter of the moon phase energetics. When considering the aspect of the Self that you are working on right now—either a sovereign aspect you wish to bring into greater manifestation or a shadow aspect you wish to heal and reclaim—what insights come up for you when viewed through the energetic filter of each moon phase?
Third Quarter Moon
Elemental Alignment: Water
Aspect of Being: Emotional
Station in the Avalonian Cycle of Healing: Descent
Self-reflective Questions for Third Quarter
Moon Work: What emotions does this issue trigger in you? How does it make you feel about yourself? What is your overall emotional state when this issue is triggered? Does this issue stem from or cause an imbalance of emotion—too much or too little? How connected are you to your emotions about this situation? How connected are you to your emotions in general? In what way are these affected by this issue? What insights can you gain by immersing yourself into the emotion of this issue?
Dark Moon
Elemental Alignment: Earth
Aspect of Being: Physical
Station in the Avalonian Cycle of Healing: Confrontation
Self-reflective Questions for Dark Moon Work: How does this issue manifest in your life? Can you pinpoint where this issue lives in your body? Where do you most carry its energy? In what ways does this issue affect your health? In what ways does this issue affect your abundance? What things in your environment contribute to this situation? What is your resistance to releasing or manifesting this aspect of yourself?
First Quarter Moon
Elemental Alignment: Air
Aspect of Being: Mental
Station in the Avalonian Cycle of Healing: Emergence
Self-reflective Questions for First Quarter Moon Work: How are your perspectives influenced by this issue? How does this issue color how you think about yourself? What do you hold to be true about this issue? What do you suppose is actually true about it? What is the most logical way to approach this issue? What is a new way to think about this issue? How clear are you about the truth of this situation? What is a new way of thinking about this situation? How much of what you believe about this situation is something you were told by someone else? How would this situation change if you were to change your mind about it?
Full Moon
Elemental Alignment: Fire
Aspect of Being: Spiritual
Station in the Avalonian Cycle of Healing: Resolution
Self-reflective Questions for Full Moon Work: What stimulates a response about this issue? What form do these responses take? What are your immediate reactions to this issue when it is stimulated? How does this issue affect your energy? Is this a situation that saps your energy or leaves you with an abundance of energy? Does this situation prevent you from an action, or cause you to act? When you do act, do you regret that action at a later time? Does this issue stem from or cause an imbalance of will? Too much or too little? What actions can you take in your life to correct this issue? How would resolving this issue affect what you are able to do?
Working the Lunar Cycle
What follows is a way to approach the work of personal evolution and spiritual transformation from the perspective of the Avalonian Tradition, particularly as it concerns coming into alignment with the cycles of nature, building discernment, and learning to trust our inner wisdom. I like to refer to the entirety of the tradition as the loom upon which we weave our way to wholeness; what we create and the patterns we express are completely up to us, in accordance with our will and as an expression of our personal Sovereignty. The process outlined here is not meant to be constraining or inflexible; it is offered as a way to embrace a discipline using a structure follows the natural tides as a way of staying on track with our inner work. It’s therefore possible to jump into the work at any time; there is no need to wait for the “beginning” of any cycle. It also accommodates the natural ebb and flow around personal work. We must remember to give ourselves permission to take time off to integrate what we have learned, adjust to the new energies we have opened, and acclimate to the changes we have made in our life. It is particularly important for us to honor where we are in our process and not punish ourselves for needing to take a break. This work is intense and sometimes life gets very full. After we acknowledge and honor this reality without judgment, we can go back to the work when we are ready.
The most important thing to understand about this template is that it harnesses the Cycle of Healing as it reveals itself through the year (the cycle of the sun) as well as how it unfolds each month (the cycle of the moon). The Cycle of Revealing connects these two iterations of theCycle of Healing; it is the string of pearls that encompasses the circuit of the year from a lunar perspective. What follows is an example of what working with these integrated cycles can look like. (Also refer to Figure 6 on the next page.)
Monthly Guide to Daily Work for Each of the Lunar Keys
Key
Days 1–3: Process insights from previous Moon Phase and Station (For example, through meditation and doorway work.)*
Days 4–6: Immerse in energy for forthcoming Moon Phase and Station (For example, through trance postures and scrying.)*
Full Moon: Ritual Work with Presiding Goddess of current Moon (For example, using Avalonian Solitary Ritual.)*
Third Quarter: Engage in Station of Descent Work (Immram to connect with Rhiannon.)
Dark Moon: Engage in Station of Confrontation Work (Immram to connect with Ceridwen.)
First Quarter: Engage in Station of Emergence Work (Immram to connect with Blodeuwedd.)
R: Engage in Station of Resolution Work (Immram to connect with Arianrhod.)
I: Engage in Station of Integration Work (Immram to connect with Branwen; this can occur at any point in the month.)
*These tools are presented in detail in “Avalon Within”
We consider the full moon to be the moment that begins the new cycle: completely revealed, totally illuminated, and openly embodying the energy of the month. According to Caesar, the Celts of Gaul considered the setting of the sun to mark the ending of one day and the beginning of the next. We do not know for sure which lunar phase was considered to be the start of a new month for the Celts; however, since the full moon rises as the sun is setting and is a very clear and visible marker, this energetically feels like a good place to consider the beginning. And so it is at the full moon that those who follow the Avalonian Tradition do a working to connect with the goddess who presides over the current moon. For our example we’ll use Moon Nine, the Moon of Dedication, occurring during the time of Rhiannon.
After meditating on the section of Rhiannon’s story that corresponds with the Moon of Dedication (see Chapter 7) and considering its lessons in the context of our own spiritual journey, we perform a full moon ritual to honor and connect with Rhiannon in order to seek out the wisdom and counsel of this goddess. The solitary ritual outlined in Avalon Within is ideal for making this connection. The guidance we obtain can come to us in several ways: we may see a symbol, hear words spoken, recall a memory, receive a vision, experience a shift of energy, or come into a place of knowing that has no direct sense associated with it. However it unfolds, this information is the seed of the work for the month to come, the thread that will be followed around the energetic loom formed by the phases of the moon.
Using tools such as the doorway, scrying, trance postures, and immrama to sacred sites on the island of Avalon (all of which are detailed in Avalon Within, although we will discuss a different iteration of the immram journey later in this chapter) the information received at the full moon is examined nightly as the moon cycles down into the third quarter, the waning half-moon aligned with the Station of Descent in the Cycle of Healing. At this time, the insights gained from the work between the full moon and the third quarter are brought in immram to Rhiannon, the goddess who holds energetic correspondence to the Station of Descent, to examine through the filter of the energies of Descent. New symbols, visions, and working goals may be presented to us at this time, setting up the work between the third quarter and the dark moon, when the insights gained from these internal inquiries are brought before Ceridwen to be examined through the filter of the Station of Confrontation.
As polar opposite of the full moon, the dark moon is a time when we look into the deep mirror of our shadow and seek out the lesson in the challenge presented by the energies of the current moon cycle—again in our example, the Moon of Dedication. From this point, the lunar energies begin to wax once more, and using our tools, we unpack the insights received in our work with Ceridwen, until we reach the first quarter moon, the waxing half-moon associated with the Station of Emergence. At this time, we bring our work before Blodeuwedd to examine them from the perspective of Emergence and receive insights on how to affect the change we are called to manifest.
We work on these insights and any other symbols or visions we have received around them until we reach the night before the full moon to work with the energies of the Station of Resolution, at which point they are brought before Arianrhod. The full moon is properly the moon phase associated with the Station of Resolution, but as we will work with the goddess associated with next moon in the Cycle of Revealing at the full moon, we connect with Arianrhod the night before. This permits us to harness the insights of Resolution and build a relationship with Arianrhod while also honoring the goddess that presides over the next moon in accordance with the Cycle of Revealing.
The energies of the Station of Integration are not associated with any particular time in the cycle, and so we can bring our work before Branwen at any time during the month, particularly when we need to recenter ourselves, take a step back in order to look at the big picture of our process, and regain the perspective that comes with spending time at rest. Integration helps us to incorporate the insights we have received and changes we have made. Some women like to do the work of Integration on the night after the dark moon as a counterbalance to working with Arianrhod and the energies of Resolution on the night before the full moon. This is a good practice to adopt if you find yourself forgetting to take the time to Integrate or aren’t feeling strongly drawn to do so internally. If you do choose to work with Branwen on the night after the dark moon, do so with the understanding that this isn’t a proscribed practice or direct energetic correspondence, simply a matter of choice. It is also important to keep in mind that you can choose to work with the energies of Integration more than once a lunar cycle if you feel so drawn.
Coming around again to the full moon, we return to work with the goddess who presides over the next lunar cycle; in keeping with our example, the next night would begin the Moon of Consummation, which is the second moon in the time of Rhiannon. We go to the goddess once more with the insights, shifts, and changes we have set into motion when we examined the issue of focus from the last month through the Cycle of Healing based on the work she gave us at the last moon. At the present moon, we ask for the next step in our journey, and, open to her guidance, we start the process again, taking our work through the Cycle of Healing, but this time through the filter of the energies of Consummation.
Perhaps this entire process feels overly complicated or constraining; that is not its intention. Having a focus for every moon phase each month, and suggested work for the nights in between, helps us to build a consistent and dedicated practice. When we can determine exactly where we are in the cycle of the year and the cycle of the month, we can also identify the work we can be doing that will help us to align our personal work with the natural energetic tides around us.
The chart that follows gives a key to the work of focus for each of the moons of the Avalonian Cycle of Revealing, broken down into the composite moon phases corresponding with the Avalonian Cycle of Healing. More specific information is given for eaach of the Lunar Keys in Part Two of this book.
Full Moon |
3rd Quarter Moon Descent Rhiannon Gorsedd Arberth |
Dark Moon Confrontation Ceridwen Llyn Tegid |
1st Quarter Moon Emergence Blodeuwedd Llyn Morwynion |
Night Before Full Moon Resolution Arianrhod Caer Arianrhod |
Monthly, Any Time Integration Branwen Bedd Branwen |
Moon 1— Ceridwen Llyn Tegid Holy Day: Station of |
Work of Initiation through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Initiation in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Initiation through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Initiation through the Energy body: Actions, |
Work of Initiation through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Moon 2— Ceridwen Llyn Tegid |
Work of Distillation through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Distillation in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Distillation through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Distillation through the Energy body: Actions, |
Work of Distillation through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Moon 3— Ceridwen Llyn Tegid |
Work of Transformation through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Transformation in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment. |
Work of Transformation through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Transformation through the Energy body: Actions, expressions of will |
Work of Transformation through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Moon 4— Ceridwen Llyn Tegid Holy Day: Station of |
Work of Germination through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Germination in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Germination through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Germination through the Energy body: Actions, expressions of will |
Work of Germination through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Moon 5— Blodeuwedd Llyn Morwynion |
Work of Evocation through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Evocation in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Evocation through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Evocation through the Energy body: Actions, |
Work of Evocation through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Moon 6— Blodeuwedd Llyn Morwynion |
Work of Activation through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Activation in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Activation through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Activation through the Energy body: Actions, |
Work of Activation through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Moon 7— Blodeuwedd Llyn Morwynion Holy Day: Station of |
Work of Revelation through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Revelation in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Revelation through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Revelation through the Energy body: Actions, |
Work of Revelation through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Full Moon |
3rd Quarter Moon Descent Rhiannon Gorsedd Arberth |
Dark Moon Confrontation Ceridwen Llyn Tegid |
1st Quarter Moon Emergence Blodeuwedd Llyn Morwynion |
Night Before Full Moon Resolution Arianrhod Caer Arianrhod |
Monthly, Any Time Integration Branwen Bedd Branwen |
Moon 8— Blodeuwedd Llyn Morwynion |
Work of Liberation through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Liberation in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Liberation through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Liberation through the Energy body: Actions, |
Work of Liberation through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Moon 9— Rhiannon Gorsedd Arberth |
Work of Dedication through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Dedication in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Dedication through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Dedication through the Energy body: Actions, |
Work of Dedication through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Moon 10— Rhiannon Gorsedd Arberth Holy Day: Station of |
Work of Consummation through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Consummation in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Consummation through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Consummation through the Energy body: Actions, expressions of will |
Work of Consummation through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Moon 11— Rhiannon Gorsedd Arberth |
Work of Purification through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Purification in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Purification through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Purification through the Energy body: Actions, |
Work of Purification through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Moon 12— Rhiannon Gorsedd Arberth |
Work of Reconciliation through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Reconciliation in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Reconciliation through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Reconciliation through the Energy body: Actions, expressions of will |
Work of Reconciliation through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Moon 13— Blue Moon Branwen Bedd Branwen Station of |
Work of Reflection through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Reflection in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Reflection through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Reflection through the Energy body: Actions, |
Work of Reflection through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Moon 14—Moon of Cycle Total Lunar Eclipse Ariarnhod Caer Arianrhod |
Work of Soul Patterns and Lessons through the Emotional body: Attachments, hopes, fears |
Work of Soul Patterns and Lessons in the Physical plane: Manifestation, embodiment |
Work of Soul Patterns and Lessons through the Mental body: Perspectives, understandings |
Work of Soul Patterns and Lessons through the Energy body: Actions, |
Work of Soul Patterns and Lessons through the Spiritual body: The big picture, soul purpose |
Building Personal Relationships with the Divine
Consistent inner work brings the greatest insights and deepest changes. Harnessing the energies of the Cycle of Healing throughout the month provides a process that will also assist in building relationships with the goddesses Rhiannon, Ceridwen, Blodeuwedd, Arianrhod, and Branwen. In addition to catalyzing our personal work, engaging in the devotional practices further elaborated upon in Part Two of this book (as well as those discussed in greater detail in Avalon Within) helps us forge respectful and reverent connections with these ancient and powerful deities.
As part of establishing and developing authentic relationships with these divinities, it is a beautiful act of ongoing devotion to create either a single shrine to all of the Avalonian goddesses, or else create five separate spaces dedicated to each of them individually. A shrine, unlike a working altar for ritual, is a place where we can spend time in daily meditation, light a candle in support of the intention of our work, place offerings to honor the goddesses (things like apples, stones, feathers, mead, and bread are examples of types of offerings), and generally engage in mindfulness of practice with a visual reminder of the presence of the sacred in our everyday lives.
While we can make these shrines as large or small as we desire or have the space for, they need not be an elaborate undertaking. While niches filled with devotional statuary and beautiful images of the goddesses, their associated animals, and photos of their sacred sites are wonderful, a simple symbol and a heartfelt self-crafted representation is just as powerful … or perhaps even more so. As with all things, our intention counts for so much, and it is not the external manifestation of our devotion which helps us to build that bridge of relationship with these goddesses. It is the time spent in inner work, in study and contemplation of their myths, and the effort expended to connect with them through immrama and ritual that is the true measure of our devotion.
Beyond the Ninth Wave
In Celtic traditions, water has a very strong association with the Other-world, serving as a boundary between the worlds, as well as a portal from one world to the next. When making a journey across the water, the ninth wave from the shore marks the boundary between known and unknown territory, and it is by crossing over the ninth wave that one can reach the islands of the Otherworld.
In Irish literary tradition, tales which feature journeys to the Otherworld over water are collectively known as immrama (singular immram), and although there are these types of tales in Welsh tradition, there is no corresponding term in Welsh. Because of this, in the Avalonian Tradition we have adopted the Irish term immrama to refer a specific type of inner journey that we perform to visit the Island of Avalon. When we seek to visit other islands in the Welsh Otherworld, we set up our immrama to take us over the sea, rather than across Avalon’s lake.
A third variation of this journey is called the Ninth Wave immram; it is a very useful tool in general but is especially helpful to use when on pilgrimage to sacred sites. What makes it different is not only can we use this journey to visit places in the Otherworld, we can set it up so that we can journey anywhere through different layers of time, stopping at specific points to explore a landscape in different cultural and temporal contexts. Before beginning the journey work, the waves are set up to hold the energy of different time periods; we can set up any assignations we’d like beforehand, tailoring our work to suit our specific needs in the moment or aligning with particular areas of interest or study.
For example, if we were at Tomen y Mur, the modern-day site of Blodeuwedd and Lleu’s court of Mur y Castell, and we wanted to journey to the site as it was during the Celtic Iron Age, we would assign ages to each of the waves and then undergo the journey in order to move back in time by counting back through the waves. When arriving at the time period of interest, we would simply stop the journey there, disembark, and explore the area in that temporal context. When we are done, we can return to the vessel and come back across the waves to the present, or else visit another time period by visualizing ourselves moving forward or backward over the waves as needed. When out in the sacred landscape with pilgrims, I generally set the waves up in the following manner, but as this is a flexible tool, we are able to assign the waves however we wish. What is most important is for us to have set the waves up ahead of time.
First Wave: Present
Second Wave: Pre-Industrial Period
Third Wave: Medieval Period
Fourth Wave: Dark Age
Fifth Wave: Roman Occupation
Sixth Wave: Celtic Iron Age
Seventh Wave: Bronze Age
Eighth Wave: Stone Age
Ninth Wave: Mythological
Beyond the Ninth Wave: The Otherworld
Throughout the course of this book, we will be journeying into the sacred landscapes of each of the goddesses: Llyn Tegid for Ceridwen, Llyn Morwynion for Blodeuwedd, Gorsedd Arberth for Rhiannon, Bedd Branwen for Branwen, and Caer Arianrhod for Arianrhod. As we are not on the sites in person, we will be journeying beyond the Ninth Wave to connect with each of the goddesses in the Otherworld. Once a degree of facility with this technique has been gained, exploring different waves is greatly encouraged.
The journeys presented in this book are specific and quite detailed in their guidance; once good discernment and clarity with this tool has been developed, I highly recommend using the induction and return for the Ninth Wave immram to journey to these sacred sites and connect with each of the goddesses without performing the specific working presented with the journeys in this book. For example, when traveling to Llyn Tegid to meet Ceridwen, the working intention can be set up to meet her on the shores of the lake in order to commune with her and receive her guidance rather than interact with her cauldron as directed in the working presented here.
We can also undertake these Ninth Wave immrama to connect with the goddesses in ritual during the times of their moons (see the Avalonian solitary ritual in Avalon Within for guidance) as well as each month during their particular moon phases. What follows is the procedure for embarking upon these journeys; until they are memorized, making an audio recording of someone reading the immram is recommended. (Alternatively, professionally produced downloadable files of these journeys will be available for purchase on my website as well; I know a lot of people are distracted by listening to the sound of their own voice.)
Tool: The Ninth Wave Immram
1. Be in a place and at a time when you are not likely to be disturbed.
2. Use your breath, visualization, and intention to cleanse and center. (See page 91 in Chapter 4 for details).
3. Know where you are going, who you are visiting, and what you are seeking from them before you begin. (This will make sense once you have read all of the forthcoming chapters on the goddesses).
4. It is helpful to have looked at images of the site you are going to be visiting beforehand. You might want to print up a few so that you have a visual focus to start you on your journey.
5. When you are ready, perform the Ninth Wave induction below by listening to, or memorizing this working. This is the process which will take you to the sacred site of the goddess you are currently working with; again, know the who, where, and why before you begin.
6. Next, follow the journey through the sacred landscape you are visiting; these can be found at the end of every goddess chapter.
7. Once you have done all of your work at the site and are ready to return, listen to or memorize the Ninth Wave immram return segment and bring yourself home.
8. As always, be sure to journal your insights and experiences.
Please note: if you are going to use a recording, it is helpful to create a playlist for each journey in your media player to give you a seamless experience. For example, a playlist for the journey to visit Ceridwen at Llyn Tegid would look like this:
1. Ninth Wave Immram Induction
2. Journey to Llyn Tegid
3. Ninth Wave Immram Return
Envision yourself standing on a rocky shoreline, looking west over the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The sky is gray and the waters tumultuous; the waves hiss at you as they strike at the shore, over and over again. Match the rhythm of your breath with the rhythm of the tides and feel all resistance to this journey and the work you will be doing simply fall away.
You become aware that to the left of you, glinting and wet on a large stone boulder is a branch with nine cleverly wrought bells in the shape of small apples. You have a sense that you are being awaited, and with confidence you reach down to pick up the silver branch. You begin to shake the branch; nine times you ring it, and with each shake, you feel the bells take on a greater and deeper resonance. After the last shake rings out, you place the branch on the boulder again and fix your eyes on the horizon and wait.
It does not take long for your call to be answered. Moving more quickly than you could ever think a craft of this kind could, an enchanted boat comes into view. Within the space of three heartbeats, it comes to rest on the beach before you, in that place where the waves meet the sand. When you are ready, enter the craft and take the place in the boat that is waiting for you. As soon as you are settled, the boat begins to move again, this time out to sea. Become aware of the waves over which the small craft is sailing, and with your mind focused on your destination, begin counting down the nine waves that, when crested, will see you firmly in the Otherworld.
And so you sail over the first wave.
And now the second. All resistance falling away.
Smoothly you move, without hesitation over the third wave.
And now the fourth. You breathe into this journey, feeling yourself move deeper and deeper in.
Cresting the fifth wave. Feeling clear, feeling present, feeling safe.
Farther and farther away from the shore, you move over the sixth wave. The shore that you departed from is no longer in sight.
And now the seventh wave. Breathing deeply, you feel yourself getting lighter, moving farther.
You are completely surrounded by ocean as you go over the eighth wave.
And finally, the Ninth Wave.
You crest over the Ninth Wave.
And passing over the Ninth Wave, you feel yourself someplace altogether different.
Take three, deep, anchoring breaths. Feel yourself fully centered, fully present, and fully open.
The boat slides up onto a distant shore and comes to a full stop once more.
Work with the goddess at her sacred site; the specific journeys can be found at the end of each goddess chapter. Once you have fully explored the directed journeys and lain the pathway through the mythic realms to connect with each of the goddesses and build relationships with them, you can use this Immram process to meet them in their sacred landscapes to connect with them about your personal work, as with each of the Stations of the Cycle of Healing during their corresponding moon phase each month. When you have completed your work at the sacred sites, and have thanked the goddess for her guidance, use the Ninth Wave Immram Return segment that follows to bring yourself home.
Take three deep centering breaths. Remember all that you have seen, and received, and committed to in this moment. When you are ready, follow the thread that connects you to the vessel which brought you to this Land Beyond Wave, taking your place in the boat once more, to begin the journey back over the nine waves.
And so you sail over the Ninth Wave.
And now the eighth. Remembering everything you experienced.
It’s easy to pass over the seventh wave, releasing any excess energy as you go.
And now you crest over the sixth. You breathe into this journey, feeling yourself moving closer and closer to all that is familiar.
Cresting the fifth wave. Feeling clear, feeling present, feeling safe.
Closer and closer, you can make out the outline of the shore in the distance as you move over the fourth wave.
And now the third wave. Breathing deeply, you feel yourself getting lighter, returning home now …
The shore where this journey began is so close now.
The whole of the beach where you began this journey is clearly in view as you pass over the second wave.
And finally, the first wave.
You crest over the first wave.
And passing over the first wave, you feel like you are back in familiar territory, with your mind and heart at ease.
The boat pulls up to the shore almost as if by magic, and comes to a full stop once more.
Take three deep, anchoring breaths. Feel yourself fully centered, fully present, and fully open.
And when you are ready, open your eyes … return to the place that is here, and the time that is now.
Centering and Closing
Once you have returned from the immram, be sure that you are in a place of balance. With your breath and intention, put your hands on the ground and breathe out any excess energies or emotions that may have returned with you and potentially put you in a space of imbalance. If you still feel like you aren’t centered and in your body, with your breath and intention visualize a clear and cleansing stream of rich, vital earth energy coming up from the planet that passes through the layers of the ground, moves through the floor, and enters into your energy field. Guided by your breath and intention, the stream of energy moves up through your seat, rises along your spine to revitalize your energy centers, before fountaining up through the top of your head, surrounding and filling your auric body. Continued to cycle the energy up, around, and through you until you find yourself in a place of centered and balanced clarity. As with all workings, be sure to journal your experiences.