The Trials and Persecution of Rhiannon: The Dark Side of Welsh Witchcraft

Rhiannon is a mystical Welsh witch who is both revered and feared in Welsh mythology. She is often depicted as a beautiful and powerful woman with magical abilities. Rhiannon is known for her connection to horses and birds, which are seen as her sacred animals. One of the most famous stories involving Rhiannon is the tale of the Mabinogion. In this story, she is said to have married Pwyll, a prince of Dyfed, after he pursued her for many years. However, their happiness is short-lived as their son is stolen from their crib one night.

Unbeknownst to Gwawl, Pwyll’s bag could hold an infinite number of things, but he told Gwawl that it would stop devouring if a nobleman were to stomp on it. Rhiannon urged Gwawl to do just that, and when he did, Pwyll opened the satchel up and trapped Gwawl inside it.

Now, Pwyll is not portrayed as an intelligent man by any means and tells the bard that he will grant him whatever he asks, so long as it is in his power. That s that s what I wanted to get and that s what the band got really well was that uplifting of wings kind of a feel, you know when you feel like you see a seagull and she s, she s like lifting up.

However, their happiness is short-lived as their son is stolen from their crib one night. Rhiannon is falsely accused of killing her child and is sentenced to sit at the gate of the castle and tell her story to anyone who passes by. Years later, Rhiannon is finally reunited with her son when he returns to her as a young man.

Mystical Welsh witch Rhiannon

Ah, well, I got the name out of a, a book that I read last - let's see- not last - it was it was written right around Halloween ~ not the last Halloween but the Halloween before that ~ which was about two months before we joined Fleetwood Mac [1974]. And it was just about a lady that had two ~ a modern-day lady ~ who lived in Wales that had two personalities. One was called Branwen ~ which is Welsh name also ~ her real name was Branwen ~ and this other personality that came in and took over was Rhiannon.

And, um, so I wrote this song and made her into what I thought was an old Welsh witch. And then I had just, just found out ~ because somebody from Phoenix found a whole trilogy of books written in 1972 on Welsh mythology ~ that Rhiannon was a Welsh witch.There's a whole ~ there's a trilogy of books written about her called the song of Rhiannon.Which is pretty weird because I never saw that. And yet the song is exactly about that.

So it is ~ it's just about, it's just about a very mystical woman that is finds it very, very hard to be tied down in any kind of way ~ and she's uplifting all through the song. That's ~ that's what I wanted to get and that's what the band got really well was that uplifting of wings kind of a feel, you know ~ when you feel like you see a seagull and she's, she's like lifting up. Well, that's, that's Rhiannon. Rhiannon ~ yeah ~ she's moving up.
~Stevie Nicks, Jim Ladd, "Innerview" with Fleetwood Mac, 1976 or '77/radio

Rhiannon is the heavy-duty song to sing every night. On stage it's really a mind tripper. Everybody, including me, is just blitzed by the end of it. And I put out so much in that song that I'm nearly down. There's something to that song that touches people. I don't know what it is but I'm really glad it happened.
~Stevie Nicks, interview in Crawdaddy, November, 1976

Oh, I'm never tired of Rhiannon . It's a very ~ it's been a very heavy thing in the whole Fleetwood Mac trip. You know it's a very heavy part of the show.
~1976 KOME radio interview with Stevie Nicks and Robin Snyder

This legend of Rhiannon is about the song of the birds that take away pain and relieve suffering. That's what music is to me. I don't want any pain. [Nicks' own version of Rhiannon is softer, more emotional that Fleetwood Mac's] It's not a rock & roll song.

[She pulls out a collection of photographs] This is Rhiannon, without a doubt. [The picture, of Nicks, does not look like her] Well, you see, it turns. It goes right into. [she pulls out another photograph, of herself on stage with Lindsey] This is the killer. And the pale shadow of Dragon Boy, always behind me, always behind me. [She is speaking almost to herself, in a hoarse whisper] You see, I just want to make you realize that when I get carried off, really carried off into Rhiannon , it doesn't necessarily mean I'm not carried off into Fleetwood Mac. 'Cause I'm just as carried off into them. Rhiannon has to wait. She just has to wait; that's all there is to it.

[Answer to why she refers to Rhiannon as she ] Well, because. I don't know why. She is some sort of reality. If I didn't know she was a mythical character, I would think she lived down the street.
~Stevie Nicks, Rolling Stone, 1979

This is a story about a Welsh witch.
~Stevie introducing the song Rhiannon on the Fleetwood Mac Live album,1980

The tale of Rhiannon is told in The Mabinogion, a collection of Welsh folk tales translated by Lady Charlotte Guest. It is considered the oldest work of prose literature in Britain.

It is revealed that he was taken by a magical creature and raised in another land. This series of events highlights Rhiannon's resilience and her unwavering love for her child. Rhiannon's association with horses is also significant in Welsh mythology. She is often depicted riding a white horse, which symbolizes her role as a guide and protector of the spiritual realm. Rhiannon has the ability to call upon the horses of the Otherworld and use them for her own purposes. Overall, Rhiannon represents the power of love, forgiveness, and perseverance. She is a complex and multifaceted character who embodies both light and darkness. This makes her a fascinating figure in Welsh mythology and a source of inspiration for many who seek to connect with the mystical and magical..

Reviews for "Rhiannon: A Symbol of Female Empowerment in Welsh Witchcraft"

1. Sarah - 1/5 stars - I was extremely disappointed by "Mystical Welsh Witch Rhiannon". The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it hard for me to connect with any of them. The storyline felt predictable and unoriginal, with no surprises or unique twists. The writing style was also lacking, often repetitive and filled with cliches. Overall, this book was a letdown and I would not recommend it.

2. John - 2/5 stars - "Mystical Welsh Witch Rhiannon" had the potential to be a great story, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was slow, and I found myself bored for the majority of the book. The author's attempt at creating suspense and intrigue just didn't work for me, as I was able to see the "twists" coming from a mile away. Additionally, the dialogue felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult for me to engage with the characters. Unfortunately, I cannot say that I enjoyed this book.

3. Lisa - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Mystical Welsh Witch Rhiannon" based on the intriguing title, but I was ultimately disappointed. The plot had potential, but it lacked depth and complexity, leaving me wanting more. The characters were underdeveloped, leaving me feeling indifferent towards them. The writing style was also a letdown, with awkward phrasing and repetitive descriptions. Overall, I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the story and would not recommend it.

4. Mike - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Mystical Welsh Witch Rhiannon" but unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations. The storytelling felt disjointed and confusing, making it hard to follow the plot. The pacing was also off, with slow parts dragging on and moments of potential excitement rushing by. The characters lacked depth and their actions often felt inconsistent. While the premise was promising, the execution fell flat. I was left underwhelmed by this book.

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