What is Cymry Gwyddoniad?
Gwyddon Old Craft is the Fated path of the Cunning Man, Wise Woman, and Seer of the Dewiniaeth Cymry who perpetuates Ancestral Lore, seeks wisdom and truth of the Mysteries of the Cymry Nameess Arte (that which lies beyond knowledge and understanding), and power of Cunning Fire of the Cunning Arte - while being mindful of gratifying the ego (which is overcome by courage, yet humbleness), being courageous and honorable, and overcoming one's own Fate - "to be like the Gods". The Serpent-Dragon Cunning Fire rises to the Fires in the Head is the basis of the Cymry Cunning Arte, whereas Truth and Wisdom is the basis of the Nameless Arte of the Cymry Mysteries- all of which are of great significance to the Gwyddon.
Celtic Cunning Folk of the Cymry have always called themselves Gwyddon, not Welsh Witches. Gwyddon translates in several concepts, but the most common renderings are Wizard, Sorcerer, Necromancer, Wise Woman and Cunning Man. Its masculine form is Gwyddon and its feminine form if Gwidden, both of which are Gwyddon of Dewiniaeth Cymry, or Cunning Folk of Pagan Cymry Celts. Although most historical references ascribe that t was the Druids, Ovates and Bards, who were centralized in the island of Anglesey between Cymru and Eire, and that they were Celtic priests, healers and storyteller classes in Celtic Society, these contemporary misconceptions are based on the writings by half-wise foreigners who little understood the various Celtic Tribes. It was the Celtic Cunning Folk who taught the Druids the Celtic Mysteries and Spirituality, and taught them little of the Celtic Cunning Arte. Ancient Druidry was not ethnically Celtic and came from a land elsewhere. Over several ages in Abred, Druidry became culturally Celtic by adopting the Mysteries and spirituality of the Britains.
After the Roman invasion of Britain, Eire helped preserve the Celtic culture, later spreading its influence back into the areas populated by the Cymry, Cornish, Devon, and Brittany Celts who previously had the Mysteries and Cunning Arte. From this it is easy to see a reference to the Irish in relation to the educated class. After the Romans left Britain, the direction from and to which Celtic spiritual and cultural trends traveled was defined by the location of Eire.
The Cymry Celtic Mysteries were also preserved in Eire for other reasons as well. During the collapse of the Roman Empire, many educated Gaulish Celts escaped the invasions of the Goths and Vandals by fleeing to Eire and Southern Britain. Thus, major portions of Amorican Druid knowledge were reinforced through the Q-Celtic language of Eire, and the direct connection to the Tree Ogham. Although the Gauls had become P-Celtic speakers like the Cymry and Britons, the Irish and Gauls were the source that invented the Ogham alphabet and encoded all its knowledge into it. So despite no longer using it as a common alphabet for everyday speech, the learned class still understood how it worked. Needless to say, students seeking knowledge and opportunity would take the short trip to Eire, whereas they would not have ventured to continental Europe. Eire came to be known as the source of education, the source of knowledge, and certainly the source fo the knowledge of the trees. The Cymraeg root word for alphabet is the same as knowledge and tree because of the connection of Ogham and its alphabet to Gwyddon; and that same word for that knowledge of the trees became the Cymry word and root word for science and the scientist today.
It is important to understand, that although other Old Craft Traditions may be similar in practice and beliefs, the differees between Gwyddon Old Craft and other traditions of Traditional Witchcraft are important. Although Cymry Cunning Folk acknowledge other Pagan-Heathen Tribal Traditions, Gwyddon do not substitute their Cunning Arte of magic, their Nameless Arte of the Mysteries, or their Ancestral Lore of the Cymry Celts from other traditions. Gwyddon maintain their own Celtic Tribal "Ways of the Witch" as unique for the purpose of keeping their way of life alive in Abred, just as Dewinaieth Cymry Ancestors do in Annwn and Gwynfyd, by the Passing of their Power and Wisdom to Gwyddon and ancient traditions to Dewiniaeth Cymry.
To seek Wisdom and Truth is to attain a deep understanding of one's tradition and honoring one's Pagan-Heathen tribal uniqueness. As each Pagan-Heathen tradition is encountered and experience their uniqueness, one will find that other than being different and similar, they reveal Truth, Power and Wisdom. But if one were to focus only on the similarities, the uniqueness would be missed and not acknowledged- thereby loosing Power, Truth and Wisdom. The similarities enable a purpose to occasionally unite towards a common goal, but it is the differences that have created the various Pagan-Heathen tribal traditions from the beginning- from the Ancient Gods and Ancestors themselves.
One danger faced is that a person could justify disregarding one's ancient rites, virtues and laws by declaring them old or "passe". For this reason one should not disregard the Wisdom of Cymry Celtic Tribal Elders lightly. Before one disregards or alters any texts or traditions, one must demonstrate that one understands the meaning and intent of the Wisdom. Ironically, after this rigorous examination, the would-be reformer most often finds there is no reason to alter the teachings after all, because the desire to radically alter Cymry traditions is from a lack of understanding and Wisdom.
The Nameless Arte of Gwyddon Old Craft is of personal interpretation and expression of core traditional Dewiniaeth Cymry Old Faith and Cymry Cunning Folk Mysteries, which is the nature of the Gwyddon Tradition itself. This website, and our written manuscripts serve only as a foundation to the common understanding and lore of the Gwyddon Tradition within the Dewiniaeth Cymry Celtic Tribe, and it is the ability to understand and express Knowings, Understanding, and Wisdom that marks the true initiate of Gwyddon Old Craft. That ability comes only through the revelations of personal transformation on the Crooked Path. It is not gained by participation in a community festival, Old Craft Rite, or academic study- for it cannot be faked. It is an initiation granted by the Cymry Mysteries themselves, not just by our Cymry Celtic Ancestral Lineage. There is a spiritual initiation, an introduction to certain spirits and Cymry Ancestors in the Otherworld. It doesn't come about solely as a result of physical ritual in Abred; it comes about by actual contact with Otherworldly Spirits and Otherworldly Initiation.
Gwyddon Old Craft brings us into contact with our Cymry Gods, Dark Cymry Ancestors and Light Cymry Ancestors. Cymry Cunning Folk believe that this allows us to relink ourselves with Nature, with our Gods, with ourselves, and our Ancestral Lineage. Why do we say relink? Because many contemporary Pagans have lost their connection to the Ancient Gods and their Ancestors. When we relink to Nature, we offer trust and honor to them, and receive Gifts, Truth and Wisdom of their existence by becoming part of Nature itself and our ancestry.
Gwyddon, or Gwidden, exist as an Awakened state of being and state of existence simultaneously in all Three Worlds, honor our Cymry Gods and Ancestors, and interact with Spirits of the Land in our rites. Cymry Cunning Folk and Dewiniaeth Cymry Celts are polytheists; understanding each God, Goddess, and deity as distinct individuals with unique likes, dislikes, and spheres of influence. Among Cymry Cunning Folk it is considered rude to call Gods or deities from different spiritualities and cultures together at once. Every effort it made to work with genuine Cymry Celtic Gods and Goddesses.
Gwyddon Traditional Craft is also concerned with the inner truth, the nature of the Cymry Mysteries, and the mystical experience of Nature. Similar to other Traditional Craft of Traditional Witchcraft tribal traditions, Gwyddon Old Craft has an inner journey and an outer journey not just the Bent Path (Left Way Road or Left Hand Path), or the Straight Path (Right Way Road or Right Hand Path), or the Winding Path (Middle Road)- but on the Crooked Path. Although the mystical experience of the inner journey of the Crooked Path is greater than that found in this world of Abred, the outer mystical journey of the Crooked Path is just as important and equal in experience, creating an enriched holistic experience (which most humans cannot experience) from birth, to life, to death, to rebirth, and beyond. Understanding the Mysteries of the Gwyddon Old Craft creates a light within Cymry Cunning Folk and reveals truth by embracing darkness. After understanding the Cymry Mysteries and Ancestral Lore, it can truly never be lost and forgotten. Gwyddon Old Craft becomes the thoughts, breath and beating heart of the Cymry Cunning Folk. Without it, he or she is nothing- with it, he or she becomes Nature itself as Gwyddon or Gwidden.
The Gods of the Cymry Celts honor our relationship with them, therefore Gwyddon rites exists to give form to that relationship. It s possible to understand the Gods of the Cymry without rites, since the First Principle (First Cause) is present at all levels and in all things at all times, thus Gwyddon Old Craft rites become a method of increasing our relationship until the Wisdom of the Cymry Mysteries is revealed in our existence and becoming one with our total being. The Wisdom attained is integrated into our daily life as part of a spiritual, mental-emotional and physical existence.
Dedication to the Cymry Mysteries requires proof that these Mysteries are real and useful within Gwyddon Old Craft. The nature of this proof cannot be explained, since understanding of the Mysteries can only be engendered by awareness and participation- not only by intellectual reasoning and discussion. As revealed by Robert Cochrane, the nature of this proof takes several forms:
* A Magickal Vision, in which Cymry Cunning Folk are able to contact the Old Ones and Cymry Celtic Gods. This is a part of true initiation and results in devotion by the member towards a mystical purpose, one's path in life, one's Fate.
* A Past Life Vision, in which the Witch remembers his or her past incarnations.
* A Poetic Vision. An example of a poetic vision is The White Goddess written by Robert Graves. He reportedly wrote a substantial portion of the work in one day and night. He had to access and interpret certain archetypal dream images and symbols, which resulted in his awareness and unconscious mind being profoundly stimulated. Certain images are taught as part of our Celtic tradition, and also exist in their own levels. They are, when understood properly, means by which a part of the greater Truth, or Wisdom, can be understood.
* An Initiatory Vision, in which the Witch undertakes a spiritual death and rebirth, and therefore contacts further levels and attains deeper wisdom of the Mysteries.
* A Mystical Vision, in which Cymry Cunning Folk make a Blood Oath and enters into a binding union with the Cymry Celtic Gods.
When Cymry Cunning Folk truly experience these visions, they do not doubt the nature of the experience. Although humankind may suffer from doubt from time to time, Gwyddon who participate in the visionary experiences become aware that their doubt now centers on the reality of the external world, not inner Truth and Wisdom. The reality of such an experience influences one's entire life. Therefore it can be shown that Gwyddon Old Craft is a complex magical-spiritual tradition dealing with the nature of truth, power, transformation and wisom. It requires discipline, courage, patience, effort, utter certainty, trust, honor and a commitment to the Cymry Celtic Ancestors and Cymry Celtic Gods. This state of being and state of existence can only be fulfilled by which Cymry Cunning Folk take years, decades, or possibly several incarnations to complete to become Gwyddon or Gwidden. Gwyddon Old Craft tolerates no self-created illusions, and those who would come to it must come empty handed saying, "I know nothing, I seek everything". For within Gwyddon Old Craft, the Mysteries of Dewiniaeth Cymry Celts are contained.
Gwyddon Old Craft has survived persecution, indifference and misrepresentation. It has survived in secret, because only those who are worthy may experience the Mysteries of the Cymry Celts. It is nearly impossible to experience unless Cymry Cunning Folk show unmistakable signs of past memory, a genuine magical ability, and is willing to undertake the challenges that will force him or her to finally acknowledge that which is most secret to oneself. Although Gwyddon Old Craft has secrets, all Cymry Celtic tribal lore is contained in Wisdom and certain methods, which can be understood and taught by those who prove their worthiness. Cymry Cunning Folk read on subjects such as Cymry Celtic Clan and Tribal history, philosophy, poetry, mythology, spirituality, healing methods and music- all of which are traditional. They use these studies to create rites that honor Nature and Cymry Ancestors, create relationships with Otherworldly Spirits and Spirits of the Land, and honor Cymry Goddesses and Gods. Although being Gwyddon is a lonely journey, it is not a solitary path; nor entirely isolated from the community, clan, tribe, kingdom, our Ancient Gods, or our Ancestors.
It is honorable and deeply desireable for Dewiniaeth Cymry to live a traditional way of life similar to their Cymry Celt Ancestors. Gwyddon Old Craft and tribal Dewiniaeth Cymry has become an opportunity for those who wish to abandon contemporary society of the Empire of the United States. Unfortunately, Wiccan has become an attempt by 20th Century humanity to deny the responsibilities of the 20th Century. They have developed the secure and naive belief that Nature is always good and kind. They also have the belief, or so it would appear, that a certain segment of our society has tried to make Paganism, or Heathenism, be all things to all people, thinking that all people are equal and should have equal opportunities. Because of this misunderstanding, Wiccans have tried to define Witchcraft as a simple Pantheistic Nature Religion and no in any way complicated.