awen

[Alora]

What is awen? I've seen it written as if it were in the place of amen. Is that right?

[KellyP]

Thank you Alora for posting an absolutely wonderful question. Awen is something that is truly difficult to describe and many people will hopefully share many views on the matter.

Just to give you a brief overview I think the Wikipedia article does a fairly good job of getting the ball rolling: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awen.

What say you Druids, Celtic Recons and such? How do you introduce someone to Awen?

[ap Dafydd]

What say you Druids, Celtic Recons and such? How do you introduce someone to Awen?

I'd suggest that the awen introduces itself to you!

The only way I can describe it is when the creative gift takes hold of you and sweeps you away.

gwyn eich byd

Ffred

[Alora]

So then is awen the same thing as imbus?

[Nitefalle]

In my estimation, yes - imbas (Irish) and awen (Welsh) are the same thing. I've never seen anything to tell me otherwise.

The best phrase I've ever heard to describe this is "fire in the head". It's that divine spark of inspiration, creativity, epiphany, clarity, divine understanding.

[KellyP]

The only way I can describe it is when the creative gift takes hold of you and sweeps you away.

So would you suggest that having awen is much like "being in the zone" that athletes report experiencing?

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Note: 2500th post :cheers:

[Faol-chù]

So would you suggest that having awen is much like "being in the zone" that athletes report experiencing?

I am going to speak of what I know of imbas, because I am coming from a Gaelic perspective. It has been explained to me that the words awen and imbas are describing basically the same phenomenon.

That said, I would have to say that, NO, an 'athletic' "being in the zone" and imbas are NOT the same things.

There are similarities between this 'athletic' state and imbas, starting with the fact that there is concentration involved...Not a forced concentration, but one that just kind of happens as you are involved in an activity (in the case of athletes, 'athletics'; and in the case of those whom experience 'imbas', just the act of seeking and then allowing your to mind wander). Both happen in what I would call a meditative-type state. (Not necessarily deliberate "meditation".) Imbas usually is associated with 'prophetic', or 'occult' knowledge. ("Occult", as in 'hidden'.)

Also, I would say that, physically, during both of these type of things, the body will produce endorphins...which, of course, make us feel good...:).

Imbas is most often associated with poetry, and other mental pursuits.
I am going to assume (you know what that does--somebody correct me if I'm wrong) that awen is similar in that way.

Here is an article about Imbas Forosnai, which is a particular type of Imbas...but perhaps it will give you a mental jumping off point.

http://www.geocities.com/athens/delphi/4715/imbasforosnai.html

[Alora]

When I am in trance during ritual often a song will just comes to me and I start to sing with original words and tone. It is very powerful and my whole body tingles. Is this awen/imbus? If not does this have a name?

When I am in a drum circle and the beat pours through me is this awen/imbus? During a drum circle the energy becomes very intense and it feels as if all the participants become one. You do not think to drum, but simply flow with the community and energy. If this is not awen/imbus does it have a term?

One more. Trance dancing. When I dance and become one with music allowing my body to flow freely I feel as if I am one with the song. Time has no meaning. I just "am" with the music. Is this awen/imbus? If not does it have a name.

[odubhain]

When I am in trance during ritual often a song will just comes to me and I start to sing with original words and tone. It is very powerful and my whole body tingles. Is this awen/imbus? If not does this have a name?

When I am in a drum circle and the beat pours through me is this awen/imbus? During a drum circle the energy becomes very intense and it feels as if all the participants become one. You do not think to drum, but simply flow with the community and energy. If this is not awen/imbus does it have a term?

One more. Trance dancing. When I dance and become one with music allowing my body to flow freely I feel as if I am one with the song. Time has no meaning. I just "am" with the music. Is this awen/imbus? If not does it have a name.Awen is the ecstasy of being in an elevated state of being and consciousness. It is standing at the crossroads of creation and being connected to everything while maintaining a perfect awareness of self and others. As such it allows one to know and experience almost anything. It also allows one to create. Those who've developed memory disciplines can often bring this knowledge to this world and their people. Those who can't do that but who can speak between the two levels of attention/consciousness do so but the language is garbled and difficult to understand. Sometimes others are needed to interpret these things. "Speaking in tongues" is like that in its truest forms. It's a change in inner consciousness that allows one to get outside of the limited reality box.

Searles O'Dubhain

[omar]

Awen, means LIGHT,dawn first light. But to the Driuds it was more like seeing the light or inlightinment or begining of consious awakining.

[Myrddyn Emrys]

Awen, means LIGHT,dawn first light..

Interesting, I've not run across this definition. The Cardiff University site lists the following in it's Welsh language lexicon;

awen [-au, f.] (n.) poetic gift, muse, genius; rein (genius) Awen is the quality of genius, especially in arts.

The three dots that are sometimes placed above the three rays of the Awen Symbol /|\ are usually correlated to the tale of Gwion Bach and Ceridwen.

For a bit more on Awen, look up the tale of Einigen and Menw.

As well, the three rays in the evoking form.../|\...also correlate to the shadows cast by a monolith at summer/winter solstice, the spring eqionox, and the autumnal equinox.

When the "invoking" form...\|/...is placed atop the evoking form.../|\...they form what is known as the tribann;
\|/
/|\

The word itself has much symbolism and meaning connected with it, and the symbol itself has just as much meaning to it...