Mairwen
February 17th, 2001, 12:02 AM
Now, a lot of descriptions of Arianrhod portray her as "dark haired" and "dark featured", but I've known this Goddess for many years now, and this is not how she appears to me, at all ~ or to some of my Gwyddon brothers and sisters, too. To some of us, she appears as having very long, heavy, wavy blonde hair, and rectangular-shaped blue eyes, with a fair complexion. The first time I read a description that described her as a Crone with very dark features, I was totally shocked! ;)
Here is what Sirona Knight says about Arianrhod:
The goddess Arianrhod personifies the Chaste Moon. As a goddess of higher love and wisdom, she represents the elements air of water. Famous for her beauty, Arianrhod acts as a star and moon goddess, appearing fair, gentle, and powerful. Her skin glows translucent like starlight, and her midnight blue robes shimmer silver. The fabric looks transparent, decorated with star-like jewels and celestial designs.
Daughter of D'Anu ans sister to the powerful gods Gwydion, Gobannon, and Amaethon, the fertile goddess Arianrhod is associated with sacred kingship {mairwen's note: ie, she's considered to be a "Sovereign Goddess"}, Threefold Death, and reincarnation. In myth, she claims to be a virgin, but when the consort Math tests her, she gives birth to two magical twin sons, Llee Llaw Gwyffes and Dylan Eil Ton.
Her name still carries power as Corona Borealis is called Caer Arianrhod, also known as the Nothern Crown. {the Borealis is also considered the secret center of each initiate's inner being}. Arian means "silver", and rhod translates as "wheel" or "disc", so she portrays the noble queen of the weel, or silver wheel. Akin to the mythical Ariadne, who unravels the solar system, Arianrod acts as a stellar goddess of time, space, and energy. She is the Keeper of the Silver Wheel of stars which symbolizes time.
Carrying her magical tools of stars, moonbeams and crescent moons, Arianrhod travels on her eight-spoked wheel across the night sky to meet her lover and consort Nwyvre, who is a god of celestial sciences, astronomy and astrolog; rapport with Nwyvre gives you knowledge of the universe and the infinite patterns of all celestial bodies.
The beautiful goddess Arianrod and her cosmic mate Nwyvre impart the wisdom of the flowing cycle. Together they bring stellar secrets to those willing to venture with them through the night sky, touching upon the meanings of each celestial body.
Arianrhod moves with strength and purpose thought the night. Although a powerful and loving goddess, Arianrhod shapeshifts into an owl, a night predator ~ the only bird capable of defeating the swift falcon and then only at dusk. The owl symbolizes death and renewal, wisdom, moon magic, and initiations. The Goddess, through owl-eyes, sees even into the darkness of the human subconscious and soul.
She is called the Silver Wheel because the dead were carried on her Oar Wheel to Emania (the Moon-land, or land of death), which belonged to her as a deity of reincarnation and karma. She is considered the "Mother" aspect in her Triple form.
I know a woman who weaves the night sky,
See what she spins how her fingers fly ...
Here is what Sirona Knight says about Arianrhod:
The goddess Arianrhod personifies the Chaste Moon. As a goddess of higher love and wisdom, she represents the elements air of water. Famous for her beauty, Arianrhod acts as a star and moon goddess, appearing fair, gentle, and powerful. Her skin glows translucent like starlight, and her midnight blue robes shimmer silver. The fabric looks transparent, decorated with star-like jewels and celestial designs.
Daughter of D'Anu ans sister to the powerful gods Gwydion, Gobannon, and Amaethon, the fertile goddess Arianrhod is associated with sacred kingship {mairwen's note: ie, she's considered to be a "Sovereign Goddess"}, Threefold Death, and reincarnation. In myth, she claims to be a virgin, but when the consort Math tests her, she gives birth to two magical twin sons, Llee Llaw Gwyffes and Dylan Eil Ton.
Her name still carries power as Corona Borealis is called Caer Arianrhod, also known as the Nothern Crown. {the Borealis is also considered the secret center of each initiate's inner being}. Arian means "silver", and rhod translates as "wheel" or "disc", so she portrays the noble queen of the weel, or silver wheel. Akin to the mythical Ariadne, who unravels the solar system, Arianrod acts as a stellar goddess of time, space, and energy. She is the Keeper of the Silver Wheel of stars which symbolizes time.
Carrying her magical tools of stars, moonbeams and crescent moons, Arianrhod travels on her eight-spoked wheel across the night sky to meet her lover and consort Nwyvre, who is a god of celestial sciences, astronomy and astrolog; rapport with Nwyvre gives you knowledge of the universe and the infinite patterns of all celestial bodies.
The beautiful goddess Arianrod and her cosmic mate Nwyvre impart the wisdom of the flowing cycle. Together they bring stellar secrets to those willing to venture with them through the night sky, touching upon the meanings of each celestial body.
Arianrhod moves with strength and purpose thought the night. Although a powerful and loving goddess, Arianrhod shapeshifts into an owl, a night predator ~ the only bird capable of defeating the swift falcon and then only at dusk. The owl symbolizes death and renewal, wisdom, moon magic, and initiations. The Goddess, through owl-eyes, sees even into the darkness of the human subconscious and soul.
She is called the Silver Wheel because the dead were carried on her Oar Wheel to Emania (the Moon-land, or land of death), which belonged to her as a deity of reincarnation and karma. She is considered the "Mother" aspect in her Triple form.
I know a woman who weaves the night sky,
See what she spins how her fingers fly ...