Mabon and the Guardians of Celtic Britain: Hero Myths in the Mabinogion

(Paperback)

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According to prophecy a liberator will come to bring light truth and freedom to every generation. His mythic title is Mabon but his identities are many - including Arthur the King whose coming we await. So says the mythic Welsh text the Mabinogion which includes some of the oldest magical stories from British mythology and which has been intriguing and beguiling readers for centuries. In MABON AND THE GUARDIANS OF CELTIC BRITAIN Celtic scholar Caitlin Matthews unlocks the encoded meanings of the Mabinogion and establishes it firmly as a precursor to other living myths of the West. From her fascinating study of these stories emerge two of the major figures of the Celtic tradition: the archetypal Mabon deliverer and liberator of the land and Modron his mother the Great Goddess herself. The initiatory pattern of Britain's inner guardians is revealed through the succession of the Pendragons as each rises through the ages from boy hero and king to the role of Mabon. As descendants of the ancient Celtic oral tradition the rich themes and archetypal underpinnings of the Mabinogion are stories for all time. * Thoroughly updated edition of Mabon and the Mysteries of Britain published by Arcana * * Illuminates the rich archetypal patterns and meanings in the Four Branches of the Welsh Mabinogion.

Reviews

"The Mabinogion is one of the great treasure troves of our Western spiritual heritage, but to truly appreciate and learn from it we need a guide who can elucidate not only its mythology, context, and history, but also its spiritual depths. Caitln Matthews expertly leads us into the heart of these Mysteries." * Philip Carr-Gomm, Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids and author of Druidcraft and Druid *
"I have found Mabon and the Guardians of Celtic Britain to be essential reading. Matthews makes valuable connections between myth and enduring cultural practices. No other study takes the reader through the Mabinogion more masterfully. This book is an indispensable guide to indigenous Celtic literature and myth." * Ari Berk, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Mythology and Folklore, Central Michigan University *
"Recommended for libraries that support strong folk studies collections." * Katherine Kaigler-Koenig, Library Journal, September 1, 2002 *

Author Bio

Caitln Matthews is internationally renowned for her research into the Celtic and ancestral traditions. She is the author of 36 books, including The Celtic Tradition, The Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom, and Sophia: Goddess of Wisdom. She is co-founder of the Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies, which is dedicated to oral, shamanic, and sacred arts. Caitln Matthews has a shamanic practice in Oxford, England, and teaches worldwide.