Sylvarwolf's Blog

Amielia talks to Santa

2020-12-04T14:02:00.001+00:00

Our roving reporter, Amielia, tracks down Santa Claus for an exclusive pre-Christmas interview. Santa, by his own admission, is 1700 years old and spends most of his year residing at the North Pole with the lovely Mrs. Claus and their magical elves. When Santa is not on duty, he is an accomplished actor, story-teller, and compere and you can find out more at gregdraven.com.

Amielia is 13 years old and goes to school in the Eastbourne, UK area. She is a very creative young lady and hopes to pursue a career in the Entertainment industry. She has appeared in several episodes of the Podshow. Keep an ear open for more interviews by Amielia in the future.

Christmas 2020: To catch up with Santa in the Eastbourne, UK area do go find out details at Santa's Grotto Experience.

Check out this episode!

Seal Skins & Sea Spray CMP SP44

2020-09-09T13:05:00.001+01:00

The Seals and Selkies of Celtic Folklore

This is a huge show all about that magical seal-people of Celtic myth, the Sekies. You'll hear five fantastic pieces of music, two old stories, and one lovely modern story from the Faerytale Apothecary. It also includes some fascinating Selkie folklore from Morgan Daimler's New Dictionary of Fairies.

Full show-notes, details, and Contributor pages over at our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com/sealfolk

Running Order:

Intro 0:39
News & Views 1:28
The Selkie - Damh the Bard 2:34
Tom Moore & the Seal Woman 8:48
The Seal Woman's Lament - Kate & Corwen 14:23
Selkies - Morgan Daimler 17:22
A New Dictionary of Fairies - Book Review 23:46
Wild and Stepping Sea - Raevyn 25:51
Selkie - The Faerytale Apothecary 30:16
The Seal-Woman's Sea-Joy - Kate & Corwen 58:16
The Mermaid Wife 1:02:46
Shore of Dreams - Paul Newman 1:08:45
The Seal-Wife - Signe Pike/Inciting a Riot 1:11:28
Listener Feedback - Dan Papworth 1:13:54

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x

Released: 8th September 2020, 1hr 17m

It's always great to hear from you! Email garyandruth@celticmythpodshow.com, or call us using Speakpipe

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Special Thanks

For incidental music:

Diane Arkenstone The Secret Garden. See the Contributor Page for details.

Kim Robertson, Angels in Disguise. See the Contributor Page for more details.

Jigger, Time Ticks Away. See the Contributor Page for more details.

For our Theme Music:

The Skylark and Haghole, the brilliant Culann's Hounds. See their Contributor page for details.

Additional Sources

And, of course, the Awen - inspiration and imagination!

Extra Special Thanks for Unrestricted Access to Wonderful Music

(in Alphabetic order)

Anne Roos Extra Special thanks go for permission to use any of her masterful music to Anne Roos. You can find out more about Anne on her website or on her Contributor page.

Caera Extra Special thanks go for permission to any of her evocative harping and Gaelic singing to Caera. You can find out more about Caera on her website or on her Contributor Page.

Celia Extra Special Thanks go for permission to use any of her wonderful music to Celia Farran. You can find out more about Celia on her website or on her Contributor Page.

Damh the Bard Extra Special thanks go to Damh the Bard for his permission to use any of his music on the Show. You can find out more about Damh (Dave) on his website or on his Contributor page.

The Dolmen Extra Special thanks also go to The Dolmen, for their permission to use any of their fantastic Celtic Folk/Rock music on the Show. You can find out more about The Dolmen on their website or on our Contributor page.

Keltoria Extra Special thanks go for permission to use any of their inspired music to Keltoria. You can find out more about Keltoria on their website or on their Contributor page.

Kevin Skinner Extra Special thanks go for permission to use any of his superb music to Kevin Skinner. You can find out more about Kevin on his website or on his Contributor page.

Phil Thornton Extra Special Thanks go for permission to use any of his astounding ambient music to the Sonic Sorcerer himself, Phil Thornton. You can find out more about Phil on his website or on his Contributor Page.

S.J. Tucker Extra Special thanks go to Sooj for her permission to use any of her superb music. You can find out more about Sooj on her website or on her Contributor page.

Spiral Dance Extra Special thanks go for permission to use Adrienne and the band to use any of their music in the show. You can find out more about Spiral Dance on their website or on their Contributor page.

SaveWe finish off by wishing you 'Hwyl Fawr', which is Welsh for 'Goodbye and have fun'!

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The Assembly of the Wondrous Head CMP054

2020-07-06T12:36:00.001+01:00

The Saga of Branwen reaches its conclusion

The Saga of Branwen reaches its conclusion in the company of the Head of Bran on the mystical island of Gwales. This time out of time is known as the Assembly of the Wondrous Head.

This episode is the 12th and final episode of the Second Branch of the Mabinogi.

Full Show-notes, with sources and credits, can be found on our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com/assembly

Running Order:

Intro 0:38
News and Views 1:05
Recap 2:47
Story 4:22
These Hollow Hills (Once More) - Damh the Bard 15:20

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

It's always great to hear from you! Email celticmythshow@gmail.com or call us with Speakpipe

We'd like to wish you 'Hwyl fawr!', which is Welsh for Goodbye and have fun, or more literally Wishing a Good Mood on you!

Get EXTRA content in the Celtic Myth Podshow App for iOS, Android & Windows

Contact Us:
You can leave us a message by using the Speakpipe
Email us at: celticmythshow@gmail.com.
Facebook fan-page http://www.facebook.com/CelticMythPodshow,
Twitter (@CelticMythShow) or Snapchat (@garyandruth),
Pinterest (celticmythshow) or Instagram (celticmythshow)

If you've enjoyed the show, would you mind sharing it on Twitter please? Click here to post a tweet!

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The Bed of Branwen CMP053

2020-06-29T12:33:00.001+01:00

Sorrow upon sorrow as the seven lonely knights return to Anglesey with their dying King...

After a great tragedy, the last surviving Seven Men go on towards Harlech in deep sorrow only to discover that the realm of Caradawg has suffered injury while they were away. They hear of the Battle of the Dancing Sword at which many nobles died.

This episode is the 11th episode of the Second Branch of the Mabinogi.

Full Show-notes, with sources and credits, can be found on our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com/betrayal

Running Order:

Intro 0:32
News and Views 1:12
Recap 4:13
Story 6:30
Listener Review - Tara 21:57
Paper Rainbow - George Nicholas 23:07

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

It's always great to hear from you! Email celticmythshow@gmail.com or call us with Speakpipe

We'd like to wish you 'Hwyl fawr!', which is Welsh for Goodbye and have fun, or more literally Wishing a Good Mood on you!

Get EXTRA content in the Celtic Myth Podshow App for iOS, Android & Windows

If you've enjoyed the show, would you mind sharing it on Twitter please? Click here to post a tweet!

Ways to subscribe to the Celtic Myth Podshow:

Check out this episode!

Betrayal and Redemption CMP052

2020-06-22T12:33:00.001+01:00

The gift of the Great House goes horribly wrong and war breaks out between the Irish and the Welsh.

Efnissien comes to an important decision and war breaks out amongst the celebrants in the Great House. The war between the Irish and the Welsh takes on a drastic turn as the Irish use the mystic Cauldron of Regeneration to bolster their numbers.

This episode is the 10th episode of the Second Branch of the Mabinogi.

Full Show-notes, with sources and credits, can be found on our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com/betrayal

Running Order:

Intro 0:32
News and Views 1:24
Recap 3:51
Story 5:56
Promo - Beneath the Long Man's Feet 25:15
The Soul of Nature - Jenna Greene 27:40

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

It's always great to hear from you! Email celticmythshow@gmail.com or call us with Speakpipe

We'd like to wish you 'Hwyl fawr!', which is Welsh for Goodbye and have fun, or more literally Wishing a Good Mood on you!

Get EXTRA content in the Celtic Myth Podshow App for iOS, Android & Windows

If you've enjoyed the show, would you mind sharing it on Twitter please? Click here to post a tweet!

Ways to subscribe to the Celtic Myth Podshow:

Check out this episode!

The Two Temptations CMP051

2020-06-15T13:06:00.001+01:00

Brân receives a very tempting offer from the Irish King, Matholwch.

Matholwch offers to build Brân the Blessed a house large enough to house him and offers him loyalty in exchange for peace. As a Client King of Brân's, Brân would become the King of the Two Islands.

This episode is the 9th episode of the Second Branch of the Mabinogi.

Full Show-notes, with sources and credits, can be found on our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com/temptations

Running Order:

Intro 0:35
News and Views 1:39
Recap 3:26
Story 5:34
Listener Feedback - Rodrigo 20:44
The Green Man - Jonathan Kershaw 22:29

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

It's always great to hear from you! Email celticmythshow@gmail.com or call us with Speakpipe

We'd like to wish you 'Hwyl fawr!', which is Welsh for Goodbye and have fun, or more literally Wishing a Good Mood on you!

Get EXTRA content in the Celtic Myth Podshow App for iOS, Android & Windows

If you've enjoyed the show, would you mind sharing it on Twitter please? Click here to post a tweet!

Ways to subscribe to the Celtic Myth Podshow:

Save

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The Hosting of the Island of the Mighty CMP050

2020-06-08T13:06:00.001+01:00

Brân receives some startling news and goes on a trip with his brothers to the green fields of Erin...

King Brân gets some very disturbing news about Branwen and gathers the Host of Prydein to avenge the insults done to his sister. A long and bloody war ensues but will Branwen be rescued?

This episode is the 8th episode of the Second Branch of the Mabinogi.

Full Show-notes, with sources and credits, can be found on our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com/hosting

Running Order:

Intro 0:38
News and Views 1:11
Recap 1:47
Story 3:52
Promo - Fun Without Flags 25:22
Maiden, Mother, Crone - Cernunnos Rising 22:29

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

It's always great to hear from you! Email celticmythshow@gmail.com or call us with Speakpipe

We'd like to wish you 'Hwyl fawr!', which is Welsh for Goodbye and have fun, or more literally Wishing a Good Mood on you!

Get EXTRA content in the Celtic Myth Podshow App for iOS, Android & Windows

If you've enjoyed the show, would you mind sharing it on Twitter please? Click here to post a tweet!

Ways to subscribe to the Celtic Myth Podshow:

Save

Check out this episode!

Of Kitchens and Kings CMP049

2020-06-01T13:03:00.001+01:00

Branwen goes to reland with her husband but her new bed of roses reveals a few sharp thorns.

Matholwch and Branwen set up home in Ireland and a son is born to them. After a while, the King hears whispers from his people and Branwen suffers a terrible fate.

This episode is the 7th episode of the Second Branch of the Mabinogi.

Full Show-notes, with sources and credits, can be found on our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com/kitchensandkings

Running Order:

Intro 0:25
News and Views 1:28
Recap 2:10
Story 3:45
Promo - Greg Draven 20:50
The Children of Lir - Spiral Dance 22:29

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

It's always great to hear from you! Email celticmythshow@gmail.com or call us with Speakpipe

We'd like to wish you 'Hwyl fawr!', which is Welsh for Goodbye and have fun, or more literally Wishing a Good Mood on you!

Get EXTRA content in the Celtic Myth Podshow App for iOS, Android & Windows

If you've enjoyed the show, would you mind sharing it on Twitter please? Click here to post a tweet!

Ways to subscribe to the Celtic Myth Podshow:

Save

Check out this episode!

The Cauldron of Rebirth CMP048

2020-05-25T11:37:00.001+01:00

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Blood on the Land CMP047

2020-05-18T12:13:00.001+01:00

A hideous and horrific act occurs and the Irish High King suffers a grave insult..

Nissien and Efnissien arrive home from Rome and Efnissien discovers that the marriage between Branwen and the Irish King Matholwch has been arranged without his knowledge or presence. He feels he has suffered a great insult and exacts a most horrific revenge.

This episode is the 5th episode of the Second Branch of the Mabinogi.

Full Show-notes, with sources and credits, can be found on our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com/bloodontheland

Running Order:

Intro 0:34
News and Views 1:10
Recap 2:56
Story 4:27
Listener Feedback - Chris 19:50
Promo - Crone's Porch Podcast 21:06
The Stones and Bones of Albion - Damh the Bard 22:58

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

It's always great to hear from you! Email celticmythshow@gmail.com or call us with Speakpipe

We'd like to wish you 'Hwyl fawr!', which is Welsh for Goodbye and have fun, or more literally Wishing a Good Mood on you!

Get EXTRA content in the Celtic Myth Podshow App for iOS, Android & Windows

If you've enjoyed the show, would you mind sharing it on Twitter please? Click here to post a tweet!

Ways to subscribe to the Celtic Myth Podshow:

Save

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The Price of Peace CMP046

2020-05-11T11:45:00.001+01:00

Bran the Blessed and the Irish High King Matholwch sit down to discuss the terms of Branwen's arranged marriage.

Is Matholwch going to be the right husband for Branwen? Will Bran and Matholwch agree on a policy of mutual aid should either the Kingdom of Erin or the Island of the Mighty be invaded? And if they do, will Branwen be happy and what exactly will be the Price of Peace.

This episode is the 4th episode of the Second Branch of the Mabinogi.

Full Show-notes, with sources and credits, can be found on our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com/peace

Running Order:

Intro 0:32
News and Views 1:00
Recap 2:30
Story 3:48
Listener Feedback - Michael 25:09
Promo - The Faerie Folk Podcast 27:37
Brighid - Spriggan Mist 28:55

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

It's always great to hear from you! Email celticmythshow@gmail.com or call us with Speakpipe

We'd like to wish you 'Hwyl fawr!', which is Welsh for Goodbye and have fun, or more literally Wishing a Good Mood on you!

Get EXTRA content in the Celtic Myth Podshow App for iOS, Android & Windows

If you've enjoyed the show, would you mind sharing it on Twitter please? Click here to post a tweet!

Ways to subscribe to the Celtic Myth Podshow:

Save

Check out this episode!

Dreaming the Crow CMP045

2020-03-31T12:19:00.001+01:00

A huge Irish fleet arrives on the shores of Wales with an interesting proposal for Bran, the Welsh High King.

Matholwch, the Irish High King, arrives on the shores of Wales with a proposition for Bran the Blessed, the High King of Wales. He suggests a marriage between the two islands: the Emerald Isle and the Island of the Mighty by arranging a marriage between Branwen and the Irish High King, Matholowch.

This episode is the 3rd episode of the Second Branch of the Mabinogi.

Full Show-notes, with sources and credits, can be found on our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com/dreaming

Running Order:

Intro 0:39
Recap 3:13
Story 4:45
Listener Feedback - Lane 26:47
Promo - Fabulous Folklore 28:22
These Hollow Hills - Damh the Bard 29:34

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

It's always great to hear from you! Email celticmythshow@gmail.com or call us with Speakpipe

We'd like to wish you 'Hwyl fawr!', which is Welsh for Goodbye and have fun, or more literally Wishing a Good Mood on you!

Get EXTRA content in the Celtic Myth Podshow App for iOS, Android & Windows

If you've enjoyed the show, would you mind sharing it on Twitter please? Click here to post a tweet!

Ways to subscribe to the Celtic Myth Podshow:

Save

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The Eagle Strikes CMP044

2020-03-03T12:03:00.001+00:00

Llyr and Penarddun are married with a huge wedding feast, but their joy is short-lived.

The great King Llyr marries Penarddun in a great feast attended by the High King, who has a special plan for him. Their marriage is full of joy but sadly interrupted by a terrible tragedy. Penarddun faces a horribe decision.

This episode is the second episode of the Second Branch of the Mabinogi.

Full Show-notes, with sources and credits, can be found on our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com/eaglestrikes

Running Order:

Intro 0:37
Promo - In Bed With A Druid 2:12
Recap 3:02
Story 4:12
Listener Feedback - Julie 35:50
Promo - Myth, Legend & Lore Podcast 37:05
Woebetide Hill - Kim Thompsett 38:20

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

It's always great to hear from you! Email celticmythshow@gmail.com or call us with Speakpipe

We'd like to wish you 'Hwyl fawr!', which is Welsh for Goodbye and have fun, or more literally Wishing a Good Mood on you!

Get EXTRA content in the Celtic Myth Podshow App for iOS, Android & Windows

If you've enjoyed the show, would you mind sharing it on Twitter please? Click here to post a tweet!

Ways to subscribe to the Celtic Myth Podshow:

Save

Check out this episode!

The Fostering of Pryderi CMP043

2020-02-02T12:06:00.001+00:00

The young Pryderi is to be sent away from his parents.

Part 1 of the Second Branch of the Mabinogion story. Dyfed's chief Druid, Pendaran has some serious news for Pwyll and Rhiannon. Their young boy Pryderi has to be sent away to be fostered in the the court of Bran the Blessed.

Running Order:

Intro 0:37
Recap 3:01
Story 5:29
Listener Feedback - Renee 31:02
Promo - Inciting a Riot Podcast 32:16
Dancing in Nature - George Nicholas & Cernunnos Rising 33:48

The full Show-notes for this show can be found at http://celticmythpodshow.com/fostering

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

It's always great to hear from you! Email celticmythshow@gmail.com or call us Speakpipe

We'd like to wish you 'Hwyl fawr!', which is Welsh for Goodbye and have fun, or more literally Wishing a Good Mood on you!

Get EXTRA content in the Celtic Myth Podshow App for iOS, Android & Windows

If you've enjoyed the show, would you mind sharing it on Twitter please? Click here to post a tweet!

Ways to subscribe to the Celtic Myth Podshow:

Save

Check out this episode!

Celtic Myth Podshow Promo Long

2020-01-30T12:18:00.001+00:00

Grab this promo if you are looking for a slightly longer (1m 23s) version of our promo. Email us at celticmythshow@gmail.com if you would like WAV versions of our promos.

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Celtic Myth Podshow Promo Short

2020-01-30T11:43:00.001+00:00

Grab this promo if you are looking for a short 30-second promo for the Celtic Myth Podshow

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Another Writer's Journey

2018-12-12T04:02:00.001+00:00

Please accept my apologies for writing about myself. I generally try and avoid this as I feel I am nowhere near as important as the stories I tell (and those that we tell as far as the Celtic Myth Podshow is concerned). That having been said, let's plunge on in!

When I moved from Primary School to Secondary school (after the now legendary 11+ examination), one of my favourite lessons was the English class. At 11 years old I was far too young to understand much about Grammar or story/poem analysis, but I loved the act of creation involved in summoning imagery and meaning from words. Plain and simple words that when strung together could create pictures in my mind and feelings in my chest.

One memory that sticks in my mind as significant because it told me, even at that tender age that I had an intense desire to write, was a class exercise that progressed over an entire term. We were each asked to write a single-page, short and concise story and then read it to the entire class. I was in heaven! I wrote an adventure story involving a dangerous trek in the jungle and eventual possible rescue. My story stretched the limits of our allotted time as I had filled well over a dozen pages of the small A5 exercise books that we used to be given at school. After I had finished - I don't remember exactly what the teacher said - my fellow class-mates were asked to give their feedback to the teacher and they all asked for more detail about my story and for the tale to be completed. The teacher, perhaps bowing to popular pressure, asked me to complete the story and for the next couple of weeks I wrote continuing episodes and read each out in turn to the class. The joy I felt in entertaining my peers with my my writing is a joy that has never left me. To give pleasure with mere words is something that can never be underestimated.

As my relationships with my school-mates developed, I played many games and don't remember writing much other that the allocated tasks that we were all set. Our play-ground games however were rapidly becoming increasingly complex. A small group of my intimate inmates decided to each take on the role of a particular leader/hero/ruler on a planet in some imaginary Science Fiction universe that we had decided upon. My own planet of bio-mechanical inhabitants acquired technical drawings of the transport system within its major cities, biological descriptions of the alien inhabitants (vaguely resembling cones on wheels as I recall!) and each city having its own history mapped out. Hours and hours of work. It never got used in our games of course, but for me the creation of back-story was as essential as the game itself.

Writing after Leaving School?

As my school-years were coming to an end, my close-knit circle of buddies discovered the very first 3 volume box-set of an imported game from America, ridiculously named "Dungeons & Dragons". The game was what later came to be known as a 'role-playing game' with one person acting as a story-teller come referee come guide and the other players taking on a role of a character within a Fantasy-based universe.

The big difference between this and other traditional methods of story-telling was that the actions that the players decided to take determined the future course of events within the story. The Fantasy universe moulded itself around us as we played. We were living in the story! I had come home! What an amazing discovery.

It wasn't long before I, myself, took on the part of the Dungeon Master (as the referee was called) and was creating my own interactive stories with a group of players. My own game had maps (based on hex-paper) that were filled in as the players explored the world I had created plastered all over one wall of my very small flat and the remaining space in my flat taken up with as many chairs as I could fill into the space. At one stage, our story had over ten people meeting weekly to continue their adventures and the whole story arc carried on for over a year.

That was something that required almost constant attention and a vast amount of time and energy to complete. Something that I would never advise anyone of even half-sane mind to contemplate doing!

Turning to Myths & Legends

Coming into my early 20's, my daily reading consumption increased and although I didn't put pen to parer at this time not only did my love of fiction grow and evolve but my love of mythological and religious stories also grew. My interests spread into a more academic and factual direction in order to find out where these stories came from and to seek answers as to why some versions of the same story were different and why there were similarities between stories from widely different cultures around the world. This was a long time before I discovered Joseph Campbell! My love of story, mythology and comparative religion eventually lead me to study ritual and magic - which, in my opinion, is yet another variety of living story. But that is really a different tale that I shall save for another day.

One of my greatest loves from my first days at Secondary schools was Tolkien's Lord of the Rings and the whole Middle-Earth mythos. To be fair, it is a love that I carry with me to this day. Back in 1977, I found the Silmarillion to be hard reading at my first attempt, but I fast grew to love it. In particular, the Song of Creation found in the first part, Ainulindalë, tells of the creation of Eä, the "world that is" struck a deeply resonant chord within my soul.

What happened next is something that I look back on with great awe and wonder. Without realising it, my next actions were to act as a prelude to the type of story-telling that I was to take up again 30 years later! I recorded myself reading the Ainulindalë accompanied by music by Tangerine Dream (I think the album was Phaedra) and loved every minute.

It was only when I listened to the cassette recording that I was over-whelmed and the hairs on my arms stood up and my heart raced with some form of excitement that I had never felt before. Something magical had happened. When I was reading about the Horns of Ulmo, resounding in the Deep Waters, there were horn blasts in the music. So much synchronicity happened in this reading whose true significance I missed at the time. This was something unique and wonderful. But hey-ho! - I was 18 years old, and forgot all about it in the rush of rapidly expanding teenage hormones in the following months.

Time for a Quick Break

Let's take a small break in the narrative here, while I grab a glass of water, you get to wonder what on earth you are doing wasting your time reading the drivel that I have written and I skip forward in time. As we go, we can jump over several failed attempts at both fiction and non-fiction writing, and arrive at the point in my life where my long-suffering wife (the gorgeous Ruthie) and I decide to start a podcast about Celtic Mythology. The Celtic Myth Podshow was born at Imbolc, 2008 - it seemed to us a suitable birthing time. Reading the complex Irish myths out aloud seemed to us an excellent way of learning them, understanding them and perhaps help other people out with the same tasks. It was only natural that eventually we would want to cover all the stories of the Celts that we could find.

For two years, I scripted the ideas we came up with and along with friends and family we recorded and released shows every fortnight. There was no way in this or any other universe that we could maintain this pace and were it not for my becoming seriously ill and requiring major surgery due to Cancer at the end of 2009, I think I/we would have burned out and never carried on making any shows or telling any more stories.

Health is something that when you are healthy you can often take for granted. I certainly did. Without it, each physical movement initially and later any focus or concentration became something that rapidly drained my energy. I learned about Spoon Theory very quickly indeed. Google it - it's worth it.

Life events (family, career, housing, finances etc.) began to overtake us in 2015-2016, and the rate at which we could produce shows dwindled as more and more of our focus and attention had to be placed on far more immediate concerns. I think we only managed to get out one show in 2016 and another in 2017. Early in 2017, I discovered that I had Leukemia and we were again forced to focus on health and the need to rapidly find a new home.

Patience, Pacing and Priorities

It is strange that no matter how important your writing is to you, or how much you value your creative work and no matter how much pleasure you get from seeing or hearing the joy that other people have from hearing or reading your work, there is no way that the inspiration will flow when your life's basics are under threat. I thought that writing and creating would be a great distraction form the more serious problems in our lives. I was, however, totally wrong. It just wouldn't happen. It took time - a long time - for me to even begin to accept this. Starting a new podcast, Celtic Tomes, was my refusal to accept that I could do nothing creative during this time. Eventually this podcast too had to come to a halt as life's needs escalated. This was a frustrating time that I am glad we seem to have passed through. It is over and I hope I have learned some very important lessons about patience, pacing and the priorities in our lives.

At the height of the Summer heatwave in this year (2018), we moved and began to unpack and settle. I could feel the relaxation beginning to seep into my bones. Despite the mountains of boxes around me, the presence of inspiration began to make itself felt.

For me, inspiration works in a very strange and yet defined way. It seems I have to make space in my life and my head, start the process off by moving a little way towards an idea and then whatever it is that comes from outside of myself, from the wider universe, from the Realms of the Fae or the Gods or whatever (be it Awen or Imbas or just plain Inspiration), I begin to feel its breath rushing into me towards a new creation. They say the word 'inspiration' comes from from the Proto-Indo-European root *en "in" + spirare "to breathe". Breathing in the Spirit of creation from the cosmos perhaps? It is interesting that the word 'spirit' also has the same roots....

Flexing My Muscles (as if!)

I felt I needed to flex my writing muscles again. "If you don't use it, you lose it" is a common expression, but I am not sure it means you forget how to write, but I think it may mean you lose contact with that flow of "spirit" or whatever that brings a creation into life and full being. I had been listening to podcasts about the Craft of Writing for some time and as October was approaching, I began to hear more and more about NaNoWriMo. NaNoWriMo stands for the "National Novel Writing Month" and it always takes place during the 30 days of November. In this time you do your best to write 50,000 words to create a novel (novella perhaps?). Success or failure is not strictly the main goal. The main goal of #NaNoWriMo is to get you writing.

So I made a decision to write a novel. Research and preparation of that novel has been one of the most enjoyable and rewarding pastimes that I have encountered in the last few years and I am incredibly excited to start writing on November 1st. My novel is going to be a ghost story set in the middle of a disaster zone at a place I know well in Hastings - the town where I was born.

It's only 10 days away now and I find myself 'itchy' to start writing. As I can't start on my novel until November, I found my mind drifting to other projects. Perhaps I could start thinking about the next book for the Celtic Tomes? So, I totaled the votes cast for the next book and started some preparation. Fantastic!

And yet, still the Universe had not finished with me.

Unfinished Business

Last week, I woke up wondering where my work period that day could be directed, opened my laptop and found myself opening up the Script for the Branwen story! The Second Branch of the Mabinogion is the next story to be told in our main podcast, the Celtic Myth Podshow, and the script is about half-way completed and stands at about 22,000 words. I found myself re-reading and editing what I had already written, suddenly aware that I was mentally preparing myself to finish the script. I sent my prayers of thanks up to the Gods or whoever was helping me with the inspiration and went to bed a very happy Gary.

A few days later, the realities of the situation began to sink into my dense, Neanderthal brow and I realised that if I were to avoid the same burn-out problems that I had hit before then I would have to heed the lessons of Pacing that I had tried to learn previously. I would have to take things very slowly indeed. I would have to work in tune with Life and not separate from it.

November is, for me, fully booked with NaNoWriMo and Life events, but after that, in the New Year, I can turn my attention back to the Branwen story and do some editing of my novel, some recording for Celtic Tomes and any other project that leaps into my mind. The important thing I have to remember, and I really must drive this home into my thickest of heads, is that I can only focus fully on one major project at a time. To do otherwise would be to tread, stagger and eventually fall on the stony path to a barren plain where nothing gets written.

Thank you for listening to the story so far.

Check out this episode!

CMP031 Face to Face with Death

2017-04-29T14:44:00.001+01:00

The ashen face of Death turns his gaze upon our hero!

In the last episode, Pwyll had gone hunting in the Woods of Glyn Cuch and had been beaten to the kill by a stranger pack comprising even stranger dogs. Having decided that the kill was rightfully his, he had driven off the other pack and set his own dogs upon the prey. It was at that moment that a stranger, the Shadowed Hunter, has appeared and was even now turning his dread gaze upon Pwyll. We'd also like to introduce our Special Surprise Guest Actor, Damh the Bard, who plays an important role in this show!

This episode is the second episode in our Welsh Mythology series and continues with the story of Pwyll, the Prince of Dyfed.

Full Show-notes, with sources and credits, can be found on our main Website at http://celticmythpodshow.com/welsh2

Running Order:

Intro 0:41
News & Views 1:15
DigVentures on the Radio 3:05
Story 9:30
Listener Feedback - Sean 126:12
Promo - Druidcast 20:33

We hope you enjoy it!

Gary & Ruthie x x x

Released: 12 May 2012, 32m

We love to get your feedback, please email garyandruth@celticmythpodshow.com, or call us on Speakpipe

News & Views

We talk about the Flag Fen Rescue project, Flag Fen Lives, organised by DigVentures and the charity that manages Flag Fen, Vivacity. We also re-play the interview that Paul Stenton of BBC Camridgeshire's breakfast show had with Sarah Stannage of Vivacity and Lisa Westcott-Wilkins, the Managing Director of DigVentures.

Built by Bronze Age people as a place of worship and ritual, the causeway contains 60,000 upright timbers and 250,000 horizontal planks buried underground along with many swords and other personal 'offerings' to the watery fen. Now under threat of being lost to the elements, it is a matter of urgency to Rescue and research as much as possible within the remaining time. See how you can help the project and get involved on the DigVentures site.

Face to Face with Death: Part 2 of the First Branch and Part 2 of the Mabinogion

Names Used in this Story

Listed in order of appearance

Pwyll
Dyfed
Cuch
Glyn Cuch
Arawn
Annwn
Hafgan the Summer-White
"Storm"
Tylwyth Teg

Places mentioned in the Story

Episode 2 is also the second episode of the First Branch: Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed. The area of the Wales that Pwyll rules is called Dyfed, and at the estimated time of the writing of the First Branch (during the Medieval period). There is some debate as to the area of the original seven cantrefs, and Wiki provides us not only with a revised version but also names the seven areas. This is the area as it was known in the 7th Century and although the tales were not written down until the early medieval period, there is much evidence - linguistic and political - to suggest that the events recounted in the Mabingion, based on real events and/or mythology, took place at this time.

Click on the image to see it enlarged.

The actual journey that Pwyll makes in this episode is derived from clues given within the various translations and is, essentially, an educated guess! :) However, below you can see the path that Pwyll would have taken in traverlling from Arberth to Glyn Cuch, and also from the map above that he would actually have been travelling from one Cantref to another in the journey.

Listener Feedback

Sean

We play some audio feedback from our friend Sean who runs the IRFT Celtic Radio show as often as he can. Thank you for your thoughts Sean and we wish you the best of luck with keeping your station on the air.

Promo - IRFT Celtic Music ... with a Twist

Sean

Music from the seven celtic nations, and the Americas. We play Folk-Rock radio and Rock radio. Sadly, Sean has had some problems keeping the show on the air but you can still visit his Myspace page and read his blogs. He has deliberately left the page as a tribute to the great musicians he has featured. IRFT Celtic Music ... with a Twist

Promo - Druidcast

Damh the Bard & O.B.O.D.

Druidcast

Your host is Damh the Bard and each episode he will feature poetry, story and song offered by Bards throughout the world. There will also be interviews with people from the Druid tradition, seasonal thoughts, explorations of Celtic mythology and history, reviews, and competitions.

You can hear the full podcasts at: http://www.druidcast.libsyn.com/ or subscribe through your podcatcher, or through iTunes.

Huge Thanks to our Guest Actors

Damh the Bard

We also would like to say a really big 'Thank you' to Damh the Bard for playing the part of Arawn in our Tale, and would like to remind you that you can find him and his wonderful music on his website or listen to him on Druidcast podcast.

Sources used in this Episode

The Mabinogion, pp ix-xxxvi, 3-21, 227-232, Sioned Davies , Oxford, 2007, ISBN 978-0-19-283242

The Mabinogion, pp 9-41, 45-65, Jeffrey Gantz, Penguin, 1976, ISBN 0-14-044322-3

The Mabinogion, pp ix-xliv, 3-24, 275-278, Gwyn Jones & Thomas Jones, Dent & Dutton, 1977, ISBN 0-460-01097-2. Can also be found online at www.donaldcorrell.com

Pwyll Pendeuc Dyfed, Lady Charlotte Guest, Mary Jones

Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, Lady Charlotte Guest, 1877, Sacred Texts

Notes to Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed, Lady Charlotte Guest, 1877, Sacred Texts

The Mabinogion, Lady Charlotte Guest, 1849, Project Gutenberg

The Mabinogi of Pwyll, W. M. Parker, mabiongi.net. Notes at mabinogion.info

'The Lord of Dyfed', from Legends of the Celts, p.134ff, Frank Delaney, HarperCollins, 1991, ISBN 0-586-21151-9

Tales from the Mabinogion, Gwyn Thomas & Kevin Crossley-Holland, Gollancz, 1984, ISBN 0-575-03531-5

Celtic Myths & Legends, p.147ff, Michael Foss, Selectabook Ltd., 1998, ISBN 0-75252-402-X

Prince of Annwn, Evangeline Walton, Del Rey, 1974, ISBN 0-345-27060-6

Encyclopaedia of Celtic Wisdom, p.117, 156, Caitlin & John Matthews, Element, 1994, ISBN 1-85230-560-6

The Celts, p.211, Frank Delaney, Grafton, 1989, ISBN 0-586-20349-4

Women in Celtic Myth, Moyra Caldecott, Arrow, ISBN 0-09-955920-X

Celtic Heritage, p.41 ff, Alwyn & Brinley Rees, Thames & Hudson, 1978, ISBN 978-0500110089

Pagan Celtic Britain, p.288, Anne Ross, Constable, 1967, ISBN 0-09-472330-3

'Myth in the Mabiogion', from A Celtic Reader, p.151, John Matthews, Aquarian, ISBN 0-85030-935-2

Celtic Myths and Legends, p.356 ff, T. W. Rolleston, 1995, ISBN 978-1859580066

Celtic Folklore: Welsh & Manx Vol.2, pp 499ff, John Rhys, Wildwood House, 1980, ISBN 0-7045-0406-5

The White Goddess, p.215ff, Robert Graves, Faber, 1952

And, of course, the Awen - inspiration and imagination!

Special Thanks

For incidental music:

Seraphic Panoply, Tribesman from The Darkshore Collection. See the Contributor page for more details.

Silence, Cellule from his album L'autre endroit. See the Contributor page for more details.

Roger Subirana, Jugant amb les estrelles from his album L'indret prohibit and A piece of heaven from his album Point of No Return. See his Contributor page for more details.

DIY-Note, Un from their album Ruptures. See the Contributor page for more details.

Diane Arkenstone The Secret Garden. See the Contributor page for details.

Kim Robertson, Angels in Disguise, All or None . See the Contributor page for details.

Jigger Time Ticks Away. See the Contributor page for details.

For our Theme Music