Gwyn, the Constellation

 

 

At night we observe the stars as tiny balls of light, however millions of miles distanced from us they are not dissimilar to our own sun, a giant mass of luminous hydrogen that is held together by its own gravity.

 

The stars we are able to see have been identified as picture patterns for thousands of years. They have acquired names and they have inspired stories, each sharing similar themes from all over the world. Now generally known as constellations, these imaginary outlines of men and animals were created to assist the memory. Because at any time of the year the night sky is clustered with stars, repeating an identical visual formation an exact year later, the ancients used them as mapping references or confirmation as when to sow seed. Like the gods themselves watching over them, if all else might change the stars always appeared the same.

 

In the winter skies over Glastonbury Tor the constellation of Orion has a profound tenancy. The alignment of these stars, including Betelgeuse, Rigel and Bellatrix, project an impression of an arm pulling a bow, another lifting an arrow from a quiver. This supposition gave rise to the Hunting theme which in time developed into many variations. Tracing the same theme as far back to the Hittites of about 1200 BC, the Greeks later explained the constellation as a hunter being chased by a scorpion. In their created myth Orion was the hunter/suitor of the goddess Artemis whose brother, Apollo, ensured there would never be a union by instigating a scorpion to chase Orion until he was killed. Therefore as Orion departs from the sky, conceding his position as the dominant constellation during winter, Scorpio rises from the east to take the summer rule over Glastonbury Tor. When Orion appears again at the end of summer, Scorpio is descending. It is as if the roles have been reversed and it is now the scorpion being hunted.

 

As Orion is Greek for Hunter (the spelling Latin), it is likely Gwyn was the ancient British reference for the same constellation. As the story of Gwyn, Gwythyr and Creiddylad is relayed in Lady Charlotte Guest’s Mabinogion, a 19th century translation of 11 medieval/native British folk tales, Gwyn as the abductor of Creiddylad is as Orion in his amour of Artemis. Similarly as Apollo is Orion's rival, it is Gwythyr who is Gwyn's.

 

Because the interpretation of any story is based on our developed concept of values, these can be influenced by time as well as our cultural perception, resulting in one tale having many meanings. As the story of Gwyn, Gwythyr and Creiddylad may be the ancient British version of Orion, Artemis and Apollo, it is not dissimilar to the story of Osiris, Isis and Seth. The ancient Egyptians built their pyramids to reflect the constellations and  Osiris was their term for the same cluster of stars as Orion or Gwyn ap Nudd.

 

To look up at Orion or Gwyn ap Nudd is to see the red star of Betelgeuse under his right arm and Rigel at his foot, the seventh brightest star in the heavens. There are two other bright stars near Orion known as Procyon in Canis Minor and Sirius in Canis Major. These have been called Orion's Hunting Dogs and therefore Gwyn's. As Canis is Latin for dog, this might explain where Gwyn's hounds, the Cwm Annwn, originated. Translated as the ‘Companions from the Underworld’, Gwyn’s favoured dog, Dormarth (which translates as Death’s Door) is Orion's 'Dog Star', Sirius. As the Hunter rises in the sky his dog soon follows after him.

 

How the ancients related their lives to the patterns in the sky can be similarly drawn from in the shapes of our own behaviour. If we observe what we do and become aware of how we affect others, we may become more effective in our own life engagements. The reward for our self development may improve our general outlook and in turn improve our relationships.

 

As you proceed with this part of the Gwynvyd Method you will work with Gwyn, the Constellation, to become more aware of your abilities, considering how you use them in your associations with others. To begin, you will:

  

1.    complete a task with no assistance.

2.    answer a series of questions honestly.

 

As the work you do is personal to your development it must be undertaken personally, however in respect of The Task (Part 2), please keep safe by doing this in the company of others. In respect of the questions that will follow afterwards, these are for you to answer alone.  

 

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The Task:

 

You task is in two parts:

1. Please read the following poem by WH Auden:

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.
How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.
Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.
Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total dark sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.

(The Poet, WH Auden, was born in England in 1907, moved to live in America and died in Austria in 1973.)

 

   2.  Using a sky map to locate the stars, find a safe area away from city  lights with a wide open sky:

 

       If is summer observe Scorpio/Gwythyr.

When you are ready ask yourself one of the following five questions. Allow yourself time to become conscious of your answer.

 

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The Questions:

 

1.  Am I in awe of life?

 

Do you feel it incredible to be alive? Do you think every day is an adventure?

 

We can go through our entire life without considering the subject of our existence, but if we allow ourselves to think about what it means we are likely to enlarge our concept of life. Could you shape your future plans into new opportunities and challenges? Could you see a problem as a prospect to learn about yourself?

 

There is nothing else to taste, hear, smell, touch, see and think about other than Life.

 

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2.  Am I insignificant?

 

Do you feel you unimportant? Does anything you do matter?

 

When we look up at the stars we can feel so small we may feel irrelevant. In the grand scale of the entire universe we may be very tiny, but our contribution is real enough and we can make it more significant. Could you be more appreciative of your existence? Could you put pride into what you do and try to make it a better effort?   

 

The more effective we become the greater is our capacity.

 

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3.  Am I a hopeful?

 

Do you think things will always turn out fine? Do you remain optimistic when others fail to?

 

If we can remain hopeful that an outcome will be positive we may endure extreme difficulties. Similarly as our hope can invoke courage, our wishes can evoke desires. Could you be more expectant of your own abilities? Could you look forward to what you want and work your way forwards towards it?

 

  

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Do you believe in anything? Do you put your faith in others?

 

We can find strength and love in putting our faith in another and we can feel empowered by our beliefs, however if a belief is an assumed truth then what we have accepted as our understanding of anything is subject to change if our world changes. Could you base your beliefs on what you know is true? Could you accept that in a world of change truth can change as well?

 

To assume we know enough will not ensure we know it.

 

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5.  Am I imaginative?

 

Do you identify images in other things? Do you think life can be reflected through symbols? 

 

When we can perceive more from the images around us we can draw more reference from our self created library. The images we hold on to can enlarge on our common abilities, enabling our perceptions to become super-sensible. Could you be more explorative of your imagination? Could you identify shapes of behaviour in others in the patterns of your own?

 

In subscribing to the stars we may read a starry scripture. 

 

Well done! You may continue to explore the subject of love by asking your own questions or you can return to this area again later, if you wish. Alternatively, you can now enter another area of the Gwynvyd Method.

 

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