WITCHCRAFT AND WICCA FROM WALES

WHAT IS WELSH WITCHCRAFT?

Witchcraft was founded over 700 years ago by the bards of Prince Llewellyn ap Gwyffes, the last true Prince of Wales. Their descendants were of the family which called themselves The Tribe of Dynion Mwyn and were from Northern Wales. Although we have only seen proof that it was in existence in the 1920's, there are written records of a Dynion Mwyn as far back as 1282 and we believe that it has components of an older surviving Mystery Religion. The principal legends of Dynion Mwyn, containing the language, symbols and main theme of our tradition, are said to be substantially the same as they were in Prince Llewellyn's time.

Y Tylwyth Teg (which means The Faerie Folk) is a clan of the tribe of Dynion Mwyn and was brought to the United States in 1966. The beliefs of Y Dynion Mwyn are veiled in allegory and illustrated by esoteric symbols that tell the story of the search for the Mystical Grail of Immortality. This is the eternal search by men and women for Love, Knowledge and Power.

We are an extended family from Dynion Mwyn, and a hereditary system of Worship, handed down to us through Sarah Wentworth Llewellyn and Taliesin Wynne.

Within our tradition, you will find simple human friendships and discover an empathetic and supportive community. You will experience a personal relationship with the Great Spirit and the Lord and Lady. This worship of the God and Goddess and the acknowledgment of their seasonal influences is the heart and soul of our philosophies.

We also place a great deal of emphasis on ecological and environmental concerns as well as demonstrating our LOVE for Mother Earth. Our overall purpose is to relink humanity with itself and Nature. Therefore knowledge of the world of Nature and the forces of Nature, are important in this tradition.

Our ultimate goal is the spiritual and psychic development of our members.   We give a seeker the tools to understand the Universe and all its myriad aspects; and we show a seeker how you can live in harmony with nature and its forces.   In our teachings, we emphasis the creative aspects of the Great Spirit and stress the respect that a initiate must have for these forces.

In days past, oral teachings were the basis for our tradition, but times change and many of our teachings have had to be written down or lost forever.    In 1933, there were 23 family members in North Wales, who followed the path of Dynion Mwyn.   In the year 2000 the last family member died, leaving it to outside initiates to carry on the Dynion Mwyn Tradition.

In 1965 eight outsiders were adopted into the tribe of Dynion Mwyn and these eight have gone on to establish hundreds of cenedl (covens) around the world and thousands of Gwyddoniad Cymreig. (Welsh Witches)

If a seeker studies our ways, they will learn various techniques of obtaining inner awareness such as meditation and rituals which will help them to induce a higher form of consciousness leading to spiritual enlightenment. These methods are also essential in the practice of Natural Magick.

We regard Natural Magick as an integral part of our workings. We believe that Magick can be used to heal and to help. Magick and psychic development are our tools for understanding the Universe and all living things and improving the conditions of our life. We believe that Magick is the essence of creativity, that it is the energy of the God/dess and the nature spirits.

We teach a healthy respect for Nature shown by our worship of the God and Goddess, the Lord and Lady. We celebrate the Turning of the Wheel at the Sabbat festivals, and meet together at Full Moons and at other times for ‘work’ as well as worship.   By these means we attune ourselves to the changing seasons and the phases of the Moon.

The first phase of our path is the study of herbology, learning to recognize different species of trees, plants, and wildlife in their natural state.     The student will learn to follow the animals into the OtherWorld. This involves experiencing ‘wild’ places in forests and mountains.   They will learn to use all their senses to observe and remember.   They will learn a kind of meditation in order to communicate with the living things around you.

A student will learn to appreciate the different forms of Weather and learn to dissolve clouds.   They will experience nature in different seasons and in all kinds of weather.   They will learn weather lore and bird migration patterns.

A student will be taught how to observe the stars and the Moon, and learn its four major phases.

A student will work with the five elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit and learn to control of the forces associated with each.

A student will be taught the four cornerstones of Magick: Belief, Will, Secrecy and Imagination.   The most important tool you must develop is the ability to imagine or visualize.   This involves allowing the left or creative side of your brain to develop, and allows you to shut out the everyday thoughts which can interfere with your visualization.

A student will be taught techniques of healing, dowsing, Tarot, astrology,etc., and develop those gifts that we think is appropriate.

The mysteries of Dynion Mwyn will be found in a communion with the natural world and the study of the Welsh/Celtic mythological cycles.

If the seeker completes this training and is initiated, he or she will become a Gwyddon! (Witch!)   A Witch is a pagan who has dedicated him or herself to the service and worship of The Mother Goddess and The Father God in all the many forms and names they are known by. A Witch teaches the knowledge of the Mighty Ones, and lives by the philosophy of the Three Fold Law of Utterance and Return.   As in days of old, only true witches are involved in the most magickal aspects of the ancient ceremonies, though pagans and friends can celebrate the Great Sabbats together, feasting and reveling.   The title Gwyddon is exclusively reserved for those pagans who know the Craft well, who are knowledgeable of its many facets and who have been properly initiated.   A Witch is initiated by someone who has already completed the training and has gone on.   A Gwyddon by definition cannot be initiated by themselves.

A seeker can dedicate themselves to the Craft and do a great deal of reading by themselves. They can meditate by themselves.   They can worship the gods by themselves.   But they cannot become a Witch by themselves.

After initiation, a seeker can practice solitary and they can do rituals solitary, but the nature of the practice of Witchcraft makes it imperative that each initiate ground themselves and come together with others of their coven from time to time to balance their energies.   One of the old laws is "Thou shalt not be a Witch alone!"

The Craft of the Wise is rich with unspoken Secrets and Mysteries that are well guarded from the uninitiated.   The Mysteries cannot be expressed in words to those who are not ready, because they will not understand.   The Greater Mysteries are for those serious students who desire to know and search for the Mysteries of their being and discover why they are part of the All-In-One, the Great Spirit, the Divinity within everyone.

A NOTE TO THOSE WHO SEEK TO BE A WITCH

So you want to be a Witch?! Why? If you are interested in Witchcraft because you've just seen the film "The Craft", and want to have control over the person who's just ditched you, or you have seen "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" and want to be able to change your dress in an instant, or you've seen "Charmed" and want to win the lottery, or you were watching reruns of "Bewitched" and got excited about the prospects of twitching your nose, you've come to the right place; because we're going to do our best to discourage you!!!

If you came here because you are interested in Witchcraft for excitement, wild sex, large silver pentacles, black gothic clothing, turning your boy/girl friend in to a toad or your slave and being self indulgence, you'll be very disappointed!   That's not to say that Witches don't like excitement, large silver pentacles, black gothic clothing, turning your boy/girlfriend into your slave and having fantastic sex (after all I'm sure there are some wild Witches out there!), but that's not what Witchcraft is all about.

Witchcraft is about Enlightenment, Healing, Magick, Knowledge, and yes - Power, but its also about your Spiritual Growth. If you are not interested in your own Spiritual Growth, and not interested in doing all the hard work involved in becoming a Witch, we would encourage you to browse the Web until you find a tradition or religion, more suited to your needs. Come back when you are ready to work.

Oh, your still interested? Then read on: Once you start on the path, it will become an important part of your life. Being a Witch is a vocation, just as being a Doctor, Nurse or for that matter, the Priest of any other religion is, because that is what you are going to be: a Priest or a Priestess. In Christianity, a minister or Priest must work very hard to become the leader of a congregation. A Witch Priest or Priestess must work just as hard and just as long or even longer.

Once you are a Witch, you can't undo what you've learned. It will be with you for the rest of your life. You will always "know" things and understand things others won't. You will feel things more. You will truly walk in the other persons shoes.

There is a statement used during initiation; "thou must suffer in order to learn".   There are no truer words. If you are accepted as a student, you will soon find that during your year and a day study toward initiation, spiritual changes will occur in your life which may be very painful; for some it means their life being turned upside down for an entire year, after which they take their final vows to give service of the Gods, and yes, it does smooth out.

That year may hurt. But you will learn more about spirituality in that one year, than you would have in the previous twenty. And at the end of your training, you will KNOW you are a Witch without any doubt.

Being a Witch is about service to the Great Spirit through the Lord and Lady, so you have to go through that initial pain of spiritual growth. After all if there is No Pain: there will be No Gain! If you avoid the pain of initiation, who are you serving? The answer; no one but yourself. Uncomfortable yet? Having second thoughts? If yes, give up reading this now. If not, read further.

Some people make statements like: "Witches are born not made", and another that "Witches are made, not born". Neither is totally true. Yes, psychic ability does come easier to some people, but the majority of Witches learn the Knowledge of the Craft through hard work. If you can't do that, you can't be a Witch.

If you become a student, you will acquire this knowledge through hard work, study, and the practice of the Art through an ongoing craft structure preserved and continued in various forms and folkways from the days of our Pictish and Druidic ancestors, and before. You will learn that you never stop learning; that there is always more to learn, particularly about yourself.

Discipline and responsibility are cornerstones of our expectations.   We require them no less from our students than we do from ourselves. That is why we screen all who come to us looking for initiation into the Welsh Craft of the Wise.   That is also why you may not hear back from us for some time. We will do a psychometric reading of your photo and your handwriting. If you are not honest with us, you will never hear from us again.

Always keep in mind that every true Witchcraft tradition strives to promote perfect love and perfect trust among it's members. We will expect you to be honorable and reliable. If you can convince us that you have these qualities, are sincere, and ready to work, we will give you the opportunity to begin introductory training.

For our part, we will devote as much time and effort as it takes to help you become a Witch, but we will also expect certain things from you: we will expect you to complete your lessons in a reasonable length of time. If you are coming to local classes and we have asked you to do homework due in two weeks, we don't mean four weeks.   If we ask you to to return an exam in a month, we don't mean two.   If we ask you to perform an assignment a specific way, we do not mean YOUR way.

When it comes time to be taught in person by an individual teacher, we will expect you to give him or her your complete attention as well as the courtesy and respect due an elder of the Craft. Therefore we will expect respect, loyalty and honor to our Tradition to be your first mottoes.

These three words are part of the Twenty Three Virtues which you will taught in your first year.

Ancient Pictish Witches and Welsh Druids passed on their spiritual, mystical and magickal knowledge of the mysteries of Nature to our forefathers over a thousand years ago, and until this day it has existed in Wales. In 1967 it was brought to the U.S. by an Elder.

Since 1967, in the United States, our tradition has initiated thousands of Witches, trained hundreds of Elders, High Priests and High Priestesses, and started many Covens. But even though Witchcraft is a popular religion, this knowledge is not for everyone's eyes. Some people cannot handle the truth, or the power of Magick.   You don't share a loaded machine gun with a five year old child.

We will show you how to live in harmony with Nature and its forces.   In our teachings, we emphasis the creative aspects of the God and Goddess, the Great Spirit, and stress the respect that you must have for these forces. You will learn various techniques of obtaining Psychic Inner awareness, through such techniques as meditation and rituals. This process will help you attain a higher form of consciousness, eventually leading to Spiritual Enlightenment.

If you complete the training and become part of the Pagan Way Outer Circle, you will find an empathetic and supportive community, and you may begin oral and written study to become a WITCH! A Witch not only has mastered the above studies but is also working to become a High Priest or High Priestess in the service and worship of The Mother Goddess and The Father God in all the many forms and names they are known by. You will eventually teach the knowledge of the Mighty Ones, and live by the philosophy of the Laws of Nature.

Intrigued? Want more information?   Click on the Dragon Below and it will take you on a journey of wonderful delights!!!

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