LLEU

the name Lleu means "bright" or "fair." Like the Irish god Lug, he was believed to be a solar deity and the model of a divine king. He was the master of many skills--a talented carpenter, poet, musician, healer, and magician. As a High Celtic God concerned with the land's fertility and welfare, it was Lleu's responsibility to oversee the saacred marriage between land and king. Buiding on the tradition established by Lleu, it is supposed that the coronation ritual of a king involved a druid-seer who prophesized the coming succession of kings. In this context the words of the soothsayer were thought to be teh words of Lleu and it is clear how Lleu's poetry and prophecy were held to bring peace and harmony out of chaos.

The festival of Lleu or Lug is known as Lughmasa, occuring on the first day of August. This celebration would take place amidst standing stones. Aside from the relevant rituals, there would be horse races, plays, dancing and games, all of which took on a religious significance. The design of prehistoric Avebury Ring, which stands not far from Stonehenge in the south of England has led some to speculate that it was a solar temple. In the magical tradition the circle affords protection, while the standing stones of mystical centres are thought to tap a higher energy. Thus Avebury Ring as a magic circle on the grandest scale, representing the energizing and protective qualities of the Sun.

A story in the Welsh Mabinogian tells of lleu's mother, Aranthod, and her desire to serve Math, greatest of magicians.. It was saaid that Math could only walk the land when his country was at war and in need of his aid. The remaining time he was required to sit with his feet in the lap of a virgin, or he would cease to exist. When asked, Aranrhod told Math that she was a virgin, but the magician devised a test ofr her. As she stepped across Math's magical wand. Aranrhod failed, giving birth to both Lleu and his brother Dyland ("son of the save"). Angry at being exposed, Aranthod refused to see her sons and lid three curses on Lleu: first, that he would never have a name unless it be given by her; second, that he would never bear arms unless invested by her; and third that he would never have a wife of the race that inhabits the earth.

It was Math's nephew Gwydion, who raised the boy; a child who, because of his connection to solar powers, grew at twice teh normal raate. Gwydion manged to trick Aranrhod into naming the child Lleu Llaw Gyffes--"Bright One of the Skillful Hand." He also managed to deceive her into equipping her son with arms. But in the matter of the wife, supreme arts Math conjured a maiden out of oak, broom, and meadowsweet blossoms. She was given teh name Blodeuwedd, meaning "Flower FAce." But as beautiful as she was, Blodeuwedd would later betray her hsuband, taking a lover named Gronw and with his help plotting Llue's death. Being of devine origin, Lleu was vulnerable only under teh most complex and unlikely circumstances. The cunning Blodeuwedd persuaded husband to confide in her these deadly details. He must be neither inside nor otuside, neither on foot nor horseback. He must stand with one foot in a cauldron that has been used as a bath and is covered with a thatched roof. The other foot must rest on the bodyof a he-goat; lastly, the spear that inflicts the fatal wound must have been made over a period of one year, and only when fok attend Sunday Mass.

A year passed adn Gronw finished the spear, according to the specifications. Blodeuwedd pleaded with her husband to show her the fateful position so seh would understand what she must guard against. The trusting Lleu agreed. Gronw hid in the woods awaiting the chance. He threw the spear but it missed Lleu's head and entered his side. A great scream went up: Lleu transformed into an eagle and disappeared into the sky. Gronw then claimed Lleu's wife and lands for himself. The news travelled to Math and Gwydion who set out in search of the wounded Lleu. A sow eventually led Gwydion to a tree where, high in its branches, the suffering eagle hid. Gwydion sung to the bird, coaxing it from its height, then touched it with his wand, restoring Lleu's shape. Once nursed back to health, he and Gwydion returned to avenge the betrayal. Gronw hid behind a stone, but this was of little use as Lleu's had found Blodeuwedd and transformed her into an owl, commanding her to only show her face at night. The owl would thereafter be known as Blodeuwedd-Flower Face.

From Ferguson, Anna-Marie. Keeper of Words. 1995 Llewellyn Publications. St. Paul, Minnesota. (106-107)