Bendigedig Gwilmor! "Cain awen gan awel bylgaint,.." The awareness of Awen and its connection to Awel, the wind & breath is an undoubted source of wisdom. The awareness of what is Awen is of course subjective and something that goes beyond the literary definition of “flowing spirit” or "creative inspirational muse". I once captured my own definition by connecting with the flowing spirit following a moment of quiet contemplation: - Awen is the chill of the night air. Awen is the wind within the trees. Awen is what carries the song and flight of the bird. Awen is the smell of the seasoning wood. Awen is the liminal silhouette of the tree against the sky at dusk. Awen is the creative inspiration of the senses. Awen is an awareness, in the silence of the mind of, the beauty of the land, the whirling wind, the wonder of light, the calling of the sea and the vastness of the night sky. Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr it admittedly is not. Hopefully an elegant capture from the breeze nonetheless.
It Awen life source? It sounds beautiful I just learned about it from searching my Scottish heritage and different locations. I am trying to learn more and want to visit
Lovely video , interestingly in the Tibetan tradition wind has the meaning of energy channels also that are known as Lung or wind channels. There is a tantric saying that the mind rides on the wind 💨 one of the many links for me I see between Druidry and Ancient Indian, Tibetan and Chinese traditions and many others. Such is the wind of inspiration.
As a Druidic bard in training, a believe this man’s thoughts and interpretations on Awen are quite accurate. I have been trained to seek Awen for many different uses; for inspiration, for focus, for blessing, and many more. Sometimes it is bestowed by The Source in times of need, and other times I must invoke or request it.
Croeso. Glad you like them The book is coming, it just takes time. The publisher says yes, the manuscript is done. Just need a release date, probably next year . . .
Really helpful explanation - thank you. Understandable that breath should come to equal spirit since, when someone stops breathing, it's clear the spirit has left the body. By the way: you should consider becoming a voice-over artist; you have a great voice.
After watching a good handful of your videos and only previously hearing a vague new-age wishy-washy usage of awen, I'm starting to interpret it differently, especially given the usage in some of the poems you present. I'm starting to think that awen is a force or etheric substance that passes between Annwn and the ordinary mortal world. Perhaps this substance serves to deliver souls to and from these places and also to preserve the presence of the ancestors, after death, in both realms. Perhaps it is woven intonits useful form with the art of bardic poetry. Does this description seem too specific?
What an interesting information you are telling !!! I can't find any information about this Ai poet. How was his name spelled? Thanks for everything on the Taliesin story! I'm an art-therapist using myths and this is incredibly valuable for me !
Reminds of the teachings of the Eastern Masters : Sass , or Breath is the tie that connects Spirit and Body. All depends on the rythm in which the Breath flows through the body..' A calm peaceful breath is very different in its effect on the body than a not so well-rythmic breathing. Awen is perceived by those that are breathing in a deep slow, intense , well-regulated pattern. They are the ones that can ''see'' , or access into the ''deeper'' world that you call Annwfn .It's all about the Breath and its intensity. (More absorbsion of negative ions ?)
Yes, although perhaps there's more overlap with the more general term 'ynni' which is roughly 'energy' or 'force'. In the Welsh bardic tradition, awen is certainly more inspiration than what the Vedic tradition calls 'prana'.
@@CelticSource Had to think this over, I must not have been unclear. Indeed prana means energy and breathing exercises are done to increase this . It can be used in any way the person wants, it can also serve the warrior to fight better, the dancer to dance better, etc. That is not the ''Breath'' I mean, as it is just energy, not Awareness or Consciousness. It is more the ''aura'' seen with Kirlian photography. Awen is not ''normal'' breath, for we all breathe, just as people in ancient times were all breathing, but only few could express the ''inspiration'' of those famous bards like Taliesin. In a book about Glastonbury, it is said that Druids revered the Awen, ''White Wings'', which inspired their bards to say: ''Duw Dovydd (God's Dove) gives me a ray of inspiration, as it were from the Cauldron of Ceridwen.'' Awen is that link with a Higher Realm, that allows those that it inspires to transmit visions and concepts that ordinary men cannot perceiveMore like a vibration that allows access to a higher level of Awareness. The fact that the phenomena of a White Dove , or White Wings was perceived and recorded in the Middle East and was well known as well by civilisations in the West seems to indicate that this was once something that truly happened to some people . Its symbol with 3 pillars and 3 drops are intriguing, but I have not fully understood it, yet.
Bendigedig Gwilmor!
"Cain awen gan awel bylgaint,.."
The awareness of Awen and its connection to Awel, the wind & breath is an undoubted source of wisdom. The awareness of what is Awen is of course subjective and something that goes beyond the literary definition of “flowing spirit” or "creative inspirational muse".
I once captured my own definition by connecting with the flowing spirit following a moment of quiet contemplation: -
Awen is the chill of the night air.
Awen is the wind within the trees.
Awen is what carries the song and flight of the bird.
Awen is the smell of the seasoning wood.
Awen is the liminal silhouette of the tree against the sky at dusk.
Awen is the creative inspiration of the senses.
Awen is an awareness, in the silence of the mind of,
the beauty of the land,
the whirling wind,
the wonder of light,
the calling of the sea and
the vastness of the night sky.
Cynddelw Brydydd Mawr it admittedly is not. Hopefully an elegant capture from the breeze nonetheless.
Inspired. x
Awen is the smell of seasoning wood in Broceliande. It's like the finest incence.
It Awen life source? It sounds beautiful I just learned about it from searching my Scottish heritage and different locations. I am trying to learn more and want to visit
The similarities to sanskrit texts, Sufi poetry all seemingly pointing to the ineffable non dual divine reality.
Lovely video , interestingly in the Tibetan tradition wind has the meaning of energy channels also that are known as Lung or wind channels. There is a tantric saying that the mind rides on the wind 💨 one of the many links for me I see between Druidry and Ancient Indian, Tibetan and Chinese traditions and many others. Such is the wind of inspiration.
It's an old idea, dare I say almost universal.
As a Druidic bard in training, a believe this man’s thoughts and interpretations on Awen are quite accurate. I have been trained to seek Awen for many different uses; for inspiration, for focus, for blessing, and many more. Sometimes it is bestowed by The Source in times of need, and other times I must invoke or request it.
This is the best explanation of Awen I have heard. I am an artist and found this much more relatable than some. Thank you.
Thank you. I think awen can get a bit bogged down in the mystique of "spiritual power". It may be mysterious, but its not inaccessible.
Best explanation I've heard of Awen!!!
Glad it was helpful
Awen also works for art projects. Not just for poetry and magic. And it is divine in its origin. It has a powerful affect on the weather sometimes.
I'd love to know more about how the bards were taught how to work with the awen ❤️
These are brilliant talks! Gwych iawn! They should be taught in Welsh schools! It's been a long time coming. Where is the book Dr G?
Croeso. Glad you like them The book is coming, it just takes time. The publisher says yes, the manuscript is done. Just need a release date, probably next year . . .
@3:14 =*Pneuma is used for a Medical Term, for breathing difficulties.
At a later date, yes, of course.
Thank you for this...do you know of any translations of the Mabinogion, written then as a story tale book...? Thank you 🙏
Siond Davies, The Mabinogion (Oxford World Classics 2007)
Really helpful explanation - thank you. Understandable that breath should come to equal spirit since, when someone stops breathing, it's clear the spirit has left the body.
By the way: you should consider becoming a voice-over artist; you have a great voice.
Thanks! I do actually narrate stories sometimes: gwilmor.com/4-tales
Thank you very much, sir.
Warm wishes, and Bright Blessings.
/|\
Pleasure
After watching a good handful of your videos and only previously hearing a vague new-age wishy-washy usage of awen, I'm starting to interpret it differently, especially given the usage in some of the poems you present. I'm starting to think that awen is a force or etheric substance that passes between Annwn and the ordinary mortal world. Perhaps this substance serves to deliver souls to and from these places and also to preserve the presence of the ancestors, after death, in both realms. Perhaps it is woven intonits useful form with the art of bardic poetry. Does this description seem too specific?
Tinfeadh in Irish also means inspiration and breathing in.
I hadn't heard of that. Thanks for letting me know.
What an interesting information you are telling !!! I can't find any information about this Ai poet. How was his name spelled? Thanks for everything on the Taliesin story! I'm an art-therapist using myths and this is incredibly valuable for me !
Aí's story is translated in The Celtic Heroic Age (p.222) ed. John Koch. Glad it was of some use to you.
Reminds of the teachings of the Eastern Masters : Sass , or Breath is the tie that connects Spirit and Body. All depends on the rythm in which the Breath flows through the body..' A calm peaceful breath is very different in its effect on the body than a not so well-rythmic breathing. Awen is perceived by those that are breathing in a deep slow, intense , well-regulated pattern. They are the ones that can ''see'' , or access into the ''deeper'' world that you call Annwfn .It's all about the Breath and its intensity. (More absorbsion of negative ions ?)
Yes, although perhaps there's more overlap with the more general term 'ynni' which is roughly 'energy' or 'force'. In the Welsh bardic tradition, awen is certainly more inspiration than what the Vedic tradition calls 'prana'.
@@CelticSource Had to think this over, I must not have been unclear. Indeed prana means energy and breathing exercises are done to increase this . It can be used in any way the person wants, it can also serve the warrior to fight better, the dancer to dance better, etc. That is not the ''Breath'' I mean, as it is just energy, not Awareness or Consciousness. It is more the ''aura'' seen with Kirlian photography. Awen is not ''normal'' breath, for we all breathe, just as people in ancient times were all breathing, but only few could express the ''inspiration'' of those famous bards like Taliesin. In a book about Glastonbury, it is said that Druids revered the Awen, ''White Wings'', which inspired their bards to say: ''Duw Dovydd (God's Dove) gives me a ray of inspiration, as it were from the Cauldron of Ceridwen.'' Awen is that link with a Higher Realm, that allows those that it inspires to transmit visions and concepts that ordinary men cannot perceiveMore like a vibration that allows access to a higher level of Awareness. The fact that the phenomena of a White Dove , or White Wings was perceived and recorded in the Middle East and was well known as well by civilisations in the West seems to indicate that this was once something that truly happened to some people . Its symbol with 3 pillars and 3 drops are intriguing, but I have not fully understood it, yet.
interesting... agus i nGaeilge 'an-domhain'
I gather that Taliesen can be seen as a welsh bard.
In many ways he is THE Welsh bard