Rhiannon's association with horses, magical birds and the island "Otherworld" place her in a well established tradition with the Celtic world, as does her mysterious origins and her unjust treatment at the hands of her host community. She also exemplifies the medieval author's artistry at it's very best...wherein mythic archetypes are also represented in the human dimension....with distinct emotional and social characteristics which can touch us even today. Through the figure of Rhiannon, a powerful prescence is evoked. We come to know and respect this unique personality through her power of words and wisdom of forbearance. But like any three dimensional character she is not without her occasional flaws. Some of her less thoughtful actions carry serious repercussions. However, so carefullly does the author create this synthesis of the deeply human with the divine, that her endurance of the tragic yet redemptive fate as the Horse Goddess carries an unusually psycho-dramatic affect. Rhiannon bore her suffering and injustice with a patience that still seems remarkable.In the mythological story Rhiannon came to our world and she met a human man and fell in love....she broke the Goddess rules so basically her punishment for breaking those rules was to lose her powers that she had...however the one power she never lost was the power to know what would happen down the road in the near future..and also her intuition to "pick up on" and know what is happening in the present before most others do.. a bit "ahead of her time" and yet "an old soul"....yet Rhiannon no longer had the power to change what would happen...even though she "knew"...the good and the bad..
Rhiannon was also cursed for something she did not do.....and her punishment for her so called "crime" was to sit every day at the court of "Arberth" castle entrance for 7 years near a horse-block outside the gate, telling her story to all that passed by. In addition Rhiannon was to carry any willing guest to the court on her back as a horse would.
Rhiannon was also always surrounded by three birds...a healing presence that brought peace and serenity to others in their suffering.
*When I first heard the song "Rhiannon" long long ago by Stevie Nicks I loved and related to it but didn't know why I just did.. Then in the late 90's I read about how Stevie came to write this song and what she read and learned about Rhiannon the Welsh Mare Goddess. So I started reading up on all the Mythological stories of Welsh Mare Goddess "Rhiannon" (about 11 years ago) and immediately was able to relate to so much of her mythological tale and what Rhiannon went through. Which is why I then gave myself the nickname of "Rhiannon" 10 year ago...some people in person call me by this name as they know "her story" and "my story" also and understand....and online I am basically known as Rhiannon. I certainly feel more like Rhiannon in my heart, spirit and soul...I'm part of her story...I've known what her story is like I've felt it in my own life. And I'm more comfortable wtih her name than my real name. So Rhiannon I am and so the "memory remains the same" as Stevie Nicks would say.
So now you know a bit more about why I gave myself the name Rhiannon....it was also a "spiritual growth name" in my learning and growing process...a new name for all the new changes and what I've experienced in my life....and I continue with the ever evolving changes as each day passes.
"Take me with the wind take me with the sky"
Love and Blessings,
Rhiannon.
