Pagan Portals - Gwyn ap Nudd

This books was amazing a part with so many entertaining facts. I enjoyed the portrayal of and information given on Gwyn ap Nudd.

I started this book hoping to find out more about Gwyn ap Nudd, but (as mentioned by a previous reviewer), this is primarily a meditation guide. While that isn't a bad thing in itself, I think the author may be incorrect some of her assumptions about exactly what sort of a God Gwyn ap Nudd really is.Forest presents Gwynn ap Nudd as a reflex of the continental Celtic God Nodens. The reasoning (in short) is that Gwyn ap Nudd is equivalent to Lludd Llaw Eraint (the Welsh version of Nuada, who is a reflex of the continental Nodens). Combining what we know of Gwyn ap Nudd and what we know of Nodens, Gwyn ap Nudd would be the Lord of the Underworld, Leader of the Wild Hunt, A god of Healing, A God of the Sea, a God of mist (Liminality?), and maybe even of dreams and inspiration. That's a lot. Maybe too much. The reason it's too much is that Gwyn ap Nudd and Nodens aren't actually the same, nor do they share the same functions.Welsh mythology is already clear concerning the relationship between Gwyn and Lludd. They are not the same person at all, rather father and son. So if Gwyn ap Nudd isn't Llud Llaw Eraint, then Gwyn ap Nudd Isn't Nodens either and we can safely assume he isn't the God of healing or the sea. This makes a lot more sense in terms of the mass seemingly non connected functions between what we know of Gwyn from the Welsh sources, and the separate functions attributed to Nodens. Yet if we want to find a Continental God that accords with the known attributes of Gwyn ap Nudd, we need to look again.The most obvious choice is Cernunnos. Both are related to the Wild Hunt, both serve as guides to the dead and ruler of the underworld. A God of Liminality and change. A mediator between the realms and possibly a spiritual initiator. This brings an entirely different dimension to the image of what sort of deity Gwyn ap Nudd actually is. And, I hope, a more accurate one.

I don't ever write reviews but I have to say that this book is an amazing piece of art. It is honestly one of the best books I've ever read on topics such as the Wild Hunt. Without the overly complicated fluffs and languages presented by many occult books out there. This book is better than many elitist folkloric occult books out there claiming to sell a "true path of sorcery" and things of the sort. Its just raw and pure information right there and a very accessible price. Yes it is a thin book but it has everything it needs, it really does. What I liked the most about it is that the author leads you to develop your own experiences but guides you on how to exactly put the ideas into your personal practice. The folkloric information on welsh lore is captivating and fascinating. You won't find any other books like this. This book will lead you to truly feel Gwyn in nature all around you. I felt admiration for this deity for a very long time and knew of his connection to the fae and the underworld, but this book deepened my passion for Gwyn. Such a mysterious god, but ever so present. He has such a beautiful and intriguing mythology...This book is precious. I'm in love with it. I'm really impressed by it. And this review does not do it justice!

While it's nice to see how other people work with one's Deities, it is more useful to learn more of their ancient myths, the folklore and customs associated with them, and their connections with stories of place. This is how we learn how to recognise them when we meet them, wherever we meet them. While some of this background is mentioned, we need much more to really delve into experientially. Otherwise, it's only real in our imaginations. A fault with most books on Celtic spirituality, unfortunately. Hopefully, one day pagan authors will start addressing this gap in their readers' knowledge. Otherwise, a pleasant read, and probably great for those just setting out on their spiritual journeys.

Are you a Bard? A seeker of understanding? Herein, a treasure that holds true to its promise. Seeker, mayhaps you have found what you have been looking for- maybe it is also looking for you. This says so much for such a slim volume -rare, as many books merely reiterate other writers.

This is a very well written and well researched book on Gwyn ap Nudd and the lore surrounding him. The guided meditations are easy to follow. Thank you Danu for a beautiful journey!

This book was invaluable in researching the mythos of Glastonbury Tor and Gwyn ap Nudd. Although it isn't a large book, it does contain some valuable information (much of which is taken from original documents that are centuries old), as well as some easy to perform rituals and meditations to connect with the titular deity. Great for anyone researching Welsh mythology or the folklore of Glastonbury.

The book is ripped but other than that I am happy with the product the error was in shipping I believe not the book it’s self

Highly Recommended. Gwyn ap Nudd: Wild God of Faerie, Guardian of Annwfn, by Danu Forest, is a recent offering in Moon Books’ Pagan Portals series. Gwyn is well-known as the guardian of Glastonbury Tor displaced by St. Michael, but not widely understood. The author’s strategy is to explore Gwyn “through his various forms and tales, from King of the faeries, and lord of the forest, to guardian of the underworld and leader of the dead”. Deepening into her subject, she also suggests “ways to walk with our own darkness on our quest for our own Awen, our souls and our own self-knowledge, diving into the depths and drinking from the great cauldron until we arise at last reborn and radiant, filled with the light within the land”.Gwyn is divided into five chapters, each of which offers an account of some aspect of Gwyn based on the traditional sources available to us. Each also provides opportunities for personal practice, through guided meditations, prayer, the making of offerings, space cleansing, saining or some other means. The whole book ends with an initiation. Although short and introductory, it is a practitioner’s book and, for me, provides enough input for people to develop and customize their work on a continuing journey.The book includes a great deal of valuable information. The old sources are richly suggestive in images and themes, but difficult to organize into a coherent narrative. Indeed, coherent narrative is hardly true to the subject, and would likely miss the mark. I found that the chosen chapter divisions worked well for me as means of presenting the material without over-systematizing it. We begin by meeting Gwyn as the ‘white son of mist’, and are then taken into his connections with Annwfn and the Brythonic Faerie folk – the Tylwyth Teg. The other three chapters look at the imagery and meaning of the glass castle; Gwyn’s role in the Mabinogion; and at Gwyn, the Wild Hunt, and the dead.The author relies both on scholarship and intuition in making connections, and lets us know which method she is using in specific cases. I like her transparency of process and the permission it gives to readers to awaken their own Awen when engaging with this material. In this way Danu Forest honours the commitment to provide a portal, and not just a text. For readers willing to make the effort, this book has the power to come alive in their hands. For others, it will provide a wealth of material on Gwyn and demonstrate his continuing relevance for our time. Either way, it’s a skillfully crafted piece of work, and well worth adding to our libraries.

I have been fascinated with the archetype of the horned God for some time now and this book has added to my understanding of the subject.Before I have often only thought of Cernnunos or Herne, but the introduction of Gwyn ap Nudd into this grouping has expanded my thought boundaries on this subject, and the addition of the meditations within the text was most welcome.This is not an academic treatise on the character of Gwyn within the auspices of Welsh mythology, but I would highly recommend it if like me you have an interest in the horned God.

I have recently finished reading this fascinating book. It is informative, well researched and beautifully written. A must for anyone interested in this Faery King and God of the Brythonic underworld Annwfn. It takes us across unchartered lands and wild welsh countryside, leads us though beautiful meditations, and touches the heart with tales deep rooted in Natural wild magic, helping us to glimpse at what lies beyond the mists of space and time. There is so much to take in throughout this book I know I will be returning to read this again.

It came all new and fast. The contents of the book concentrates on faery lore and spiritual side and do not try to show it from a real historical side but anyone interested will figure out missing bits and pieces other ways. A great and very informative book otherwise and I would recommend it as really valuable