Praise Arianrhod by Diane Finkle Perazzo

Divine Arianrhod, Beloved Goddess.
Your truth is an inspiration to all living beings.
As you weave the light and the dark so do you scatter.
Joy is in our hearts while you live among the heavens

Celestial Arianrhod, Your crown shines among the stars.
You are the Goddess of the silver wheel upon which all magic is bound together.
Fortunate are we that you are a child of the land and the sky
and mother of the sea and the sun.

Generous Arianrhod,
Your beauty is greater than the greenest fields in the fairest weather.
You bring the bounty of Beli Mawr’s blue seas
and the nourishment of Dôn’s fertile lands.
Your feet rest on the ground, not in the lap of kings.
Your mortal children know this as we reap the rewards you offer.

Defender of truth, You know not other than you are.
When Gwydion betrayed you, your anger was potent and fierce;
tempered only by your affection for Dylan that flowed from your love of the sea.
And your curses of Lleu were to protect us from the sun’s arrogance.

Unbounded Arianrhod,
Joy surrounds you at Caer Sidi as you dance with your maidens on the rocky shore.
You share your love freely with the people of the dark waters.
Your wisdom tempers the thrice imprisoned Taliesin
so he may intwine your magic into his words and bring us hope for our future.

Inspired Arianrhod, spin your shining wheel.
Weave us a tapestry of sun and moon, bound by celestial threads and glittering stars.
Summon the waters of the seas and the glaciers to cleanse our broken planet.
Call the winds of change to manifest healing.
Bring the fire of inspiration to our leaders.

And till I die old, with death’s constraint upon me
I’ll not be happy, save to praise Arianrhod.

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This poem was crafted in the form of a praise poem in the style of those written by the renowned Welsh poet, Taliesin (c. 534 – 599) to Urien Rheged a late 6^th century warrior monarch of the Old North. In his praise poems, Taliesin hailed Urien’s prowess in battle, his bravery and his generosity. It seemed to me that it was high time to use a similar format to honour a divine Goddess such as Arianrhod who represents less patriarchal attributes.

Of all the women in the Welsh tales, Arianrhod is one of the most beloved among modern pagans. Her name is a combination of the two Welsh words arian, “silver,” and rhod, “wheel.” As Goddess of the “silver wheel” she is associated with the ongoing cycles of the Moon. Judith Shaw points out in this FAR post from 2013 that Arianrhod connects us with the collective consciousness of our ancestors–she rules death and rebirth.

In addition to her celestial associations, Arianrhod is also linked with the land through mother Dôn (land) and to the sky though her father as Beli Mawr (sky). But the story doesn’t end here. In the fourth branch of the Mabinogi, Arianrhod magically gives birth to two sons, Dylan ail Don (associated with the sea) and Lleu Llaw Gyffes (possibly associated with the sun). Dylan flees to the ocean when he is still a baby and Lleu is taken by Arianrhod’s brother the magician Gwydion who secretly raises him and eventually tricks Arianrhod into naming him and agreeing that he would have the ability to bear arms and a have a wife (Blodeuwedd).

Arianrhod was said to live at Caer Sidi, a legendary fortress where the great Bard Taliesin (c. 534 – 599) claimed to have served three periods of imprisonment.

Note: This poem is dedicated with gratitude to my “Women in the Mabinogi” writing group.

May these words bring truth and healing through open hands and hearts. And then let it flow back to our Mother Earth for the love of all her Beings.

BIO: Diane Perazzo is a writer, editor, poet and Reclaiming “eco witch” who lives in Ottawa Canada — unceded original territory of the Algonquin, St Lawrence Iroquoian and Anishinabewaki, (ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᒃ) people. For many years Diane has written and edited resources to enhance wellness and improve health equity for those at risk of physical and mental health challenges. As she eases into her crone years, her writing has become more focused on crafting words that strive to echo the magical and mythic voices of the living land, especially plant beings. Her poetry and stories can be found at www.dianeperazzo.com.