Lleu Llaw Gyffes
Lleu Llaw Gyffes : The Bright One of the Skillful Hand
Lleu Llaw Gyffes, the divine warrior, is the Welsh path of the Celtic spirit, Lugh. Lleu Llaw Gyffes is the subject of a complex, mysterious myth, which begins with his surprise birth to the lunar goddess, Arianrhod. She is not a nurturing, welcoming mother but subjects him to harsh taboos, which restrict his power and growth. She denies him a name, weapons and a wife: three rites of passage required for a man of this culture.
The myth portrays Arianrhod in an unflattering light unless one interprets it in the context of an older lunar goddess desperately attempting to maintain her own power in the face of a tricky, skillful, brash, aggressive solar spirit. Lugh was among the most significant Gaulish deities. His Welsh and Irish myths describe his entry into their societies, the relationships he forms with some pre-existing local spirits and the resistance with which other spirits greet him.
Lleu Llaw is a master magician. He is clever and crafty, in all senses of that word. He is invoked to find solutions for insoluble situations and for victory when the odds are against you. In myth, Lleu Llaw does not have a lot of luck with women. His mother, Arianrhod, seems to wish he would just go away. His wife, Blodeuwedd, plots to kill him. It’s likely that he’s a better ally for men.
ORIGIN:
Celtic; Wales
SACRED BIRD:
Eagle; raven
SACRED TREE:
Oak
SEE ALSO:
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by: Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.
