This post was originally some notes for my book, but after my lead turned out to be a red herring, I decided to make it a short Tumblr post instead.
art by AledThompsonArt
The Alfanc is a Welsh water demon associated with the ILyn Cwm Ffynnon in Conway and the ILyn Barfog in Aberdovey, the first called “the lake Of The Green Well” and the former called “The Bearded Lake”.
The ILyn Cwm Ffynnon particularly had always been a place of mystery and myth, stories of stags or goats sinking themselves into it to hide from predators - leaving only their horns above the water, or of strange people leaving the pool for errands before sinking back into its depths never to be seen again surround it. Bedgelert in the Brython reported the pond to be 300 feet deep, though I cannot be sure of the accuracy of his claim, especially considering the stories of stag horns still visible when the stag had been standing presumably at the bottom of the pond. But the idea that the pond is far deeper than it's meant to be is a recurring theme throughout the many myths surrounding it, much like a portal.
“The Afanc am I, who, sought for, bides
In hiding on the edge of the lake ;
Out of the waters of Syfad'on Mere
Was he not drawn, once he got there.
So with me : nor wain nor oxen wont to toil
Me to-day will draw from here forth.”
- Lewis Glyn Cothi, Celtic folklore by John Ryhs, pg 135.
The Afanc is said to be a crocodile who lives in the depths of the pond, but that depiction was through word of mouth rather than historical evidence until Mr. Pughe of Aberdovey wrote a paper on The Alfanc in 1853.
“The lovers of Cambrian lore are aware that the Triads in their record of the deluge affirm that it was occasioned by a mystic Afanc y ILyn, crocodile - of the lake, breaking the banks of ILyn ILion, the lake of waters; and the recurrence of that catastrophe was prevented only by Hu Gadarn, the bold man of power, dragging away The Afanc by aid of his Ychain Banawg, or large horned oxen.”
Mr. Pughe, Celtic folklore by John Ryhs, pg 142.
He mentions Llyn Llion or The Lake Of Waters, where the “mountaineers of Aberdovey” in his words claimed the mythical King Arthur saved them from a creature Mr. Pughe associated with the Afanc.
The Afanc is also associated with romance and a young woman who was said to have enticed him out of the waters so she could trick and chain him in iron. She attached him to an oxen who pulled him out of the lake, during which he had been holding her breast and with claws dug into the flesh, ripped it from her.
This story mirrors the previous and another told about the ILyn Cwm Ffynnon where a beautiful nymph is caught by a man and she calls for her father, an old man who appears from under the water. He wants to marry her and after some consideration, she agrees, her father however demands he agree to never hit her. The man agrees yet after taking her home goes back on his word.
This theme of the Alfanc being abused by a mortal lover is the basis of their myth. They are the demon of the lake seduced by the human siren, the lover's naivety.
Whether the Alfanc is indeed a singular demon, the first who inspired the later myths, I cannot be sure. Regardless they are a character of the repeated folktales surrounding the lakes of Conway, a faerie who must be accounted for in the record of the Elphame folk.
Welsh Druidic Dates to Remember (Rhod y Flwyddyn):
Calan Gaeaf - 31st Oct/1st Nov
Ivy under the pillow, bonfires and apple bobbing. Jump the veil. If there’s a good time to smoke 🌱 or take 🍄, this is it. Walk barefoot through the woods and listen to the trees. Connect with Earth.
Gwyl Ganol Gaeaf / Alban Arthan - 19th/23rd Dec (Winter Sol.)
Mari Lwyd; engage a loved one in a battle of wits. Play some drinking games. Give thanks to the elements, offer alcohol. Cauldron and mistletoe. Stir it clockwise. Set your intentions. Honor Lleu, the lightgiver.
Gwyl y Canhwyllau - 2nd Feb
Candles and ale, wassail, drinking from a horn. Commune with a river spirit and banish negativity before it can even start. Consume salty foods (in moderation). Connect with Water.
Gwyl Ganol y Gwanwyn / Alban Eilir - 19th/23rd Mar (Spring Equ.)
Watch the rising sun. Plant seeds. Gather daffodils and snowdrops.
Calan Mai - 1st May (Ysbridnos is the eve)
Divination, decorate with hawthorn, drink mead, eat honey. Climb a mountain and speak to its bones. Tell your secrets and wishes to the blistering winds at its summit. Connect with Air.
Gwyl Ganol yr Haf / Alban Hefin - 19th/23rd Jun (Summer Sol.)
Bonfire of 9 woods, storytelling and poetry. Dance until you drop. Watch the sun rise. Another great opportunity to smoke 🌱 or take 🍄. Commune with the fair folk. Spirit yourself away for a while. Get debaucherous with it. Drench yourself in honey. I tend to wash my face with honey-water and eat as much of it as possible: freezing a squeezy bottle and eating it cold is an ✨experience✨. Drink honey mixed with milk, melted butter and rum. Chew up some raw honeycomb.
Calan Awst - 31st Jul/1st Aug
Gathering mistletoe, mugwort tea, honey, baking. Bask in the sun. Connect with Fire.
Gwyl Ganol yr Hydref / Alban Elfed - 19th/23rd Sept (Autumn Equ.)
Welcome in and honour Arawn. Feast. Create a spiral of stones in a sacred place, obtain a black and a white candle. Obtain a stone from a special place, and an apple. Place the white candle at the outer spiral, and the black candle in the centre. Meditate on balance and equilibrium, lighting the white candle and walking the spiral inward to the black. Light the black candle. Place your stone and your apple between them, and sit down. Find your balance. Then devour the apple. Eat it as your body dictates. Do not pussyfoot; give in.
The Otherworld is a realm not quite separate from our own, all around us and yet not always accessible or visible to us. It has been interpreted as one expansive world and as having numerous realms and kingdoms within the one Otherworld, and is home to many beings – gods, fairies, and spirits of all sorts, along with some of the most honored and beloved dead.
It is described in ‘the Fairy-Faith in Celtic Countries’ by W.Y. Evans-Wentz:
‘But this western Otherworld, if it is what we believe it to be – a poetical picture of the great subjective world – cannot be the realm of any one race of invisible beings to the exclusion of another. In it all alike – gods, Tuatha De Danann, fairies, demons, shades, and every sort of disembodied spirits – find their appropriate abode; for though it seems to surround and interpenetrate this planet even as the X-rays interpenetrate matter, it can have no other limits than those of the Universe itself.’
This cosmological concept descends from the ancient Celtic religions, and the Otherworld (by its many names) is found throughout the lands in which the Celtic tribes resided and lives on within the traditions preserved by reconstructionist and traditional Celtic pagans and Celtic folk magic practitioners. The Otherworld, along with other Celtic pagan beliefs, can also be found within many neo-pagan and neo-druidic practices and movements.
NAMES OF THE OTHERWORLD
The Otherworld bears many names across the Gaelic and Brythonic mythologies and cosmologies.
Irish
In Irish tales, the names of the Otherworld or realms within the Otherworld include:
Tír na nÓg – ‘the Land of the Young’ or ‘the Land of Youth’
Tír Tarngire – ‘the Land of Promise or ‘the Promised Land’
Tír-Innambéo – ‘the Land of the Living’
Tír N-aill – ‘the Other Land’ or ‘the Other World’
Tír fo Thuinn – ‘the Land Beneath the Wave’ (meaning a land underwater)
Mag Mell – ‘the Plain of Delight’ or ‘the Plain of Happiness’
Mag Már – ‘the Great Plain’
Mag Réin – ‘the Plain of the Sea’ or ‘the Sea Plain’
Emain Ablach – ‘the Isle of Apple Trees’
Ildathach – ‘the Many-Colored Land’
Welsh
In Welsh narratives, the Otherworld has been called:
Annwn or Annwfn
DESCRIBING the OTHERWORLD:
In Irish Cosmology & Mythology
Beliefs as to what the Otherworld is like and where it is located range widely. It’s been described as a world beneath our own that can be entered through some portals in caves or at the base of hills and mountains. In many old Irish manuscripts, it’s described as being located somewhere in the Western Ocean. The phantom island of Hy-Brasil is believed by many to be part of the Otherworld. Irish myth tells of Hy-Brasil being cloaked in mist (perhaps féth fíada, a magical mist) or fog which renders it invisible. However, once every seven years the island becomes visible to the human eye for a whole day.
In the Irish tale ‘Immram Brain maic Febail’ (‘the Voyage of Bran mac Febal’), Bran embarks upon a quest to the Otherworld via a sea voyage. Some days into their journey, Bran and his company encounter Manannán mac Lir upon his chariot. Manannán informs them that though their surroundings appear as the sea to them, to the god it appears as a great field of flowers. In this tale, the realms of the Otherworld are depicted as individual islands somewhere in the Western Sea.
In the story ‘Echtrai Cormaic I Tir Tairngiri’ (‘the Adventures of Cormac in the Land of Promise’), Cormac enters the Otherworld and encounters great bronze palaces, houses of white silver that are thatched with the wings of birds, and a courtyard, in the center of which is a great fountain or well with five streams flowing from it. There is said to be a fairy palace beyond the fountain, and there Cormac encounters ‘the loveliest of the world’s women’.
In many tales and poems, the Otherworld is depicted as being incredibly beautiful and as having very many apple trees, hazelnut trees, and great oak trees. It’s said to have plains filled with colorful flowers and dew of honey. And of the food available in the Otherworld, there is nothing that is not irresistibly delicious. Those who dwell within the Otherworld do not age, nor do they feel pain or take ill. Some believe that it is the fruits that grow within the Otherworld that provide its inhabitants with their everlasting youth and good health. Others believe that it’s the Otherworld itself that keeps one young and well.
In modern day, the Otherworld is most known for being the realm of the fairies and their courts. It is less commonly – outside of Irish historians, practitioners of Celtic paganism and Druidry, and keepers of the age-old tradition of Celtic storytelling – understood as the realm of deities, as the realm of all the Sídhe-folk. Here, the Tuatha dé Danann are believed to reside.
The Tuath dé Danann are a tribe of gods and goddesses descended from the goddess Danu. The Tuatha dé Danann are said to have moved from our physical realm to the realm of the Otherworld after facing defeat at the Battle of Tailte. Manannán mac Lir – a famed warrior, sea god, and king over the surviving Tuatha dé Danann – conceals the Otherworld from humankind via féth fíada, a magical mist that is used by the Tuatha dé Danann to render themselves invisible to humankind. Though, it is believed that seers or those with the gift of second sight can see Otherworld portals and entrances, as well as being able to see those that dwell within the Otherworld.
Time moves differently within these realms. Many tales state that one could spend what felt like a few days in the Otherworld, only to return to this world and find that their friends and family had all died, and many years had passed whilst they were away.
In Welsh Cosmology & Mythology
In Welsh tales, the Otherworld (called Annwn) is not ruled over by Manannán mac Lir but by Arawn and, later, Gwyn ap Nudd. In many of the Welsh legends, Annwn is described as a world of eternal youth, free of illness and disease, where no one could ever go hungry for there were endless supplies of food and drink. It was a realm of incomparable beauty where the gods, fairy folk, great ancestors, elves, and spirits reside. Like in Irish myth, Annwn is believed to be either a subterranean realm, under the sea, or on an island to the west. It is also a magical realm hidden from humankind.
Some tales depict a paradise-like world that is like all the best and most beautiful things within our own world with sprawling gardens, plainlands, and orchards, while others describe a ‘hellish’ place (most likely an outcome of the Christianization of the Welsh culture and beliefs). Both interpretations, though, speak of Annwn as the land of the dead.
The Welsh epic ‘Cad Goddeu’ (‘the Battle of the Trees’) tells of a battle between Arawn’s army and the forces of Gwynedd. The army come forth from Annwn is described as being made up of unearthly creatures, such as enormous beasts bearing one hundred heads, great serpents, and giant toads with claws.
The well-known ‘Preiddeu Annwfn’ (‘the Spoils of Annwn’) is another tale mentioning the Otherworld. It is the story of a journey into the Otherworld led by King Arthur. The tale depicts various realms or kingdoms within the Otherworld, including the Fortress of the Mound, the Fortress of Hardness, the Fortress of Mead-Drunkenness, and the Glass Fortress; though some interpret these names to be alternate names for the Otherworld in its entirety and not of individual lands traversed by Arthur within the Otherworld.
The legendary island of Avalon is also seen as a later interpretation of Annwn. Avalon famously features in Arthurian legends as the paradisical Isle of Apples.
ENTERING the OTHERWORLD:
Many of the old tales speak of humans gaining access to the Otherworld. Sometimes they were invited or summoned there by some god or spirit (as Manannán mac Lir was known to do), sometimes they were stolen away or kidnapped by one of the Otherworld’s inhabitants, and some folk entered the Otherworld of their own design during those times of year when the walls between their world and the Otherworld were lowered, such as during Samhain and Beltane. There are also many tales of folk (some quite famous, such as Cuchulainn, Lanval, and Ossian) being lured or enticed away by a fairy to the Otherworld to live as the fairy’s lover. It is also believed that musicians would be stolen away to the Otherworld to entertain its inhabitants.
As mentioned already, many believe openings at the base of hills and mountains to be entrances to the Otherworld. So, too, are ancient burial mounds, bogs, and caves seen as Otherworld gateways. It is also believed that patches of mist or fog could have within them some opening to the Otherworld, as in the Irish tale ‘Echtra Cormaic I Tir Tairngiri’. In this story, King Cormac sets out from Tara with many soldiers to find his way into the Otherworld to take back his wife, daughter, and son (whom he lost in a trade-off for a magic silver bough). On his way, a thick fog befalls the party. When the fog is lifted, Cormac is alone in the plains of a foreign land, having been taken into the Otherworld.
In some tales, one could enter the Otherworld after they were gifted an apple or a branch bearing apples (such as the magic silver bough mentioned in the story above) from a sacred apple tree. The apple or branch was magical and acted as a key, allowing one to pass into the realm of the Sídhe-folk so long as the apple or branch was in their possession.
Sídhe, though now commonly used in reference to those inhabitants of the Otherworld, are the mounds, hills, or places believed to provide access to the Otherworld. Previously, the term sídhe was used specifically to mean the palaces, courts, or halls in which the spirits of the Otherworld resided.
TECH DUINN:
In Irish lore, there is a separate Otherworld where one goes after death. This realm of the dead is Tech Duinn, the domain of Donn – an ancient god of the dead and ancestor of the Gaels. Tech Duinn means ‘the House of the Dark One’ (‘Donn’ means ‘the dark one’).
There is a 9th-century poem which states that Donn’s dying wish was to have his descendants gathered to him when they died – “To me, to my house, you shall all come after your deaths.” While the Otherworld is often described as being a paradise of great beauty, that is not how Tech Duinn is usually depicted. Rather, it is most commonly portrayed as a frightful place of darkness and dread. Why, I do not know. Perhaps this is simply due to it being the home of Donn, the Dark One.
Tech Duinn is said to lie at or beyond Ireland’s western coast. It is believed that the entrance to Tech Duinn lies on, within, or beneath Bull Rock, an islet bearing a natural tunnel and resembling a portal tomb. Bull Rock lies off the western point of the Beara Peninsula.
A line from Yeats comes to mind in regard to the Otherworld in general, but specifically when speaking of Tech Duinn and Donn’s dying wish -
‘In Ireland, this world and the world we go to after death are not far apart.’
Suffice it to say, the Otherworld has inspired numerous poems and exciting and moving tales, pieces of a time long gone by preserved (hopefully) forever through art. And today it is the source of much scholarly exploration and debate. How much of the Otherworld as we understand it now has been altered by Christianization? How many of the old tales were twisted and reinterpreted to suit the narratives of the Church? We do know that a great deal of this occurred within the preservation of Celtic lore and history, and what tales we have of the Otherworld were not left untouched by this. I hope that this piece, as brief as it is, might inspire others to explore the old Celtic tales in their many interpretations, for there is much to be enjoyed there, as well as much to be learned.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING:
'Cad Goddeu'
'Celtic Culture: A Historical Encyclopedia' - Koch, John T.
'Celtic Myths and Legends' - Rolleston, T.A.
'Dictionary of Celtic Mythology' - MacKillop, James
'Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore' - Monoghan, Patricia
'the Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries' - Evans-Wentz, W.Y.
'Hy Brasil: the Metamorphosis of an Island' - Freitag, Barbara
'Immram Brain mac Febail'
'Irish Fairy Tales' - Stephens, James
'the Lord of Ireland' - Ó hÓgáin, Dáithí; Prof.
'the Mabinogi and Other Medieval Welsh Tales' - trans. Ford, Patrick K.
'the Mabinogian - A New Translation' -Davies, Sioned
'Myth, Legend, & Romance: An Encyclopedia of Irish Folk Tradition' - Ó hÓgáin, Dáithí
'the Mythology of Ancient Britain and Ireland' - Squire, Charles
'Otherworlds: Fantasy and History in Medieval Literature' - Byrne, Aisling
'Preiddeu Annwn'
'the Religion of the Ancient Celts' - MacCulloch, J.A.
‘the Sacred Isle: Belief and Religion in pre-Christian Ireland’ - Ó hÓgain, Dáithí; Prof.
drinking green tea with herbs and such depending on how moody i am: chamomile, mint, ginger, cinnamon, rosemary, honey, lavender... based on spiritual and ¿medical? correspondences. i also try to eat as healthy as possible during the weekdays and do some kitchen witchcraft on time to time.
on that sort of same line (and don't take this advice if you're not already a smoker) making my own herbal cigarettes, rolling like 40 cigarettes by hand is a whole meditative process i swear. i do have access to ethically buy some tobacco straight from natives in my area but that and the herbals are not my main smoking choice.
cleaning before going to bed, not even cleansing just cleaning the mess I've made during the day.
lighting candles or incense on my altar: candles are expensive tho so its more common i light different incense sticks during the day. (yes i reek of tobacco and incense).
at least shuffle my comfort tarot deck. i think this is relatable but some of my decks have super strong cut throat energies (we love a no bullshit straight to the point reading but maybe not everyday), but my first tarot deck is always comforting idk.
journal the shit out of my feelings because some days i have a lot of them and I can't even keep up with my own brain being annoying like that. also my therapist appreciates it.
i do wear some protective jewelry but i make sure that the pieces are not easily seen. same with crystals around the house, they are concealed just in case. on time to time i do also stain my skin with protective symbols, but again always concealed.
and shout out to self care, keeping up with my schedule and my mundane tasks. i swear i get so weirded out by free time, like i started this blog because i got a few extra hours to do something other than my job and studying.
Today is my Grandmother’s birthday. She passed away when I was 14 years old only. Yet, I have fond memories with her that I’ll always keep in my heart. She was always in good spirits, and though very quiet (like me), she expressed her love with small gestures, like baking my favorite chocolate cake.
I remember she liked having afternoon tea or coffee breaks, so I’m offering her some coffee tonight as I read some tarot in her presence.
I didn’t know what to read, so I looked on Pinterest for tarot spreads to connect with your ancestors, and I found this one I liked:
It’s from @LeahBurkley from leahburkley.com.
My tarot deck app doesn’t have a 5-cards tarot spread lined up like that, so this is the order for me:
So, let’s start:
1. A message from my Grandma Antonieta:
Ten of Pentacles: Own, this message is so her ❤️. She wishes me a comfortable and happy life together with our family. Like me, she's a Capricorn, so the best card of the Suit of Pentacles means how important it is for her that I have the material means to have a happy life. I remember she gave me money on my birthdays, and I loved it because I could choose whatever I wanted from the toy shop instead of asking any grown-up to get it for me.
At the moment, I am working hard to build my financial independence, and I know she's looking after me!
2. The best way to connect with her:
Five of Pentacles: My grandma was born into poverty, and she was raised by an affluent German immigrant family here in Brazil. Her brothers were given to different families, as her parents couldn’t afford to provide them with a good life.
So, I guess this card means the best way to connect with her is to understand her pain.
Her life experiences molded her into the generous and kind Grandmother she was.
3. A generational lesson:
Page of Swords: I must confess this card got me a little confused. I think the Page of Swords is constantly alert for enemies. Though he looks innocent, he’s an observant who’s ready to act. In a certain way, just like my grandma, I’m like that too. Though I look calm, I could say I’m anxious because I’m always on alert mode, and I don’t express it to anyone. I think that’s why I’m shy, just like she was too.
So, I suppose a generational lesson this card is telling me is to sharpen my social skills and talk more to the people you love, so you let go of your anxiety.
4. An ancestral gift I possess:
Death: This card is about reinventing yourself after a symbolic death. It can mean perseverance and continuing a cycle after a cycle. I think I’m like that too. I’ve been to many traumatic events that I thought were the end for me, but then I grew anew and even found myself in better places than I was before. So thank you, grandma, for passing me this gift! I know you’re like that too.
5. A way to honor her:
Five of Cups: The best way to honor her is to look to the bright side of life. She doesn’t want me to feel sad, and she’ll always be there for me, even if I think that the loss is more significant than what’s left. She was always in a good mood. I never saw her sad or complaining. So I think that I should remember her whenever I feel like that and move on. Just like there’s a castle on the other side of the river, we must go on so we’ll reach a better place. The bridge is always there.
The best way to honor her is to be resilient just like she was.
And last but not least: Happy birthday Grandma 🎂☕️!
sexting on discord and changing my status to the last thing i said every time i say something to simulate for others the experience of hearing your roommate fucking in the other room
This will visually remove your deadname from any webpage. Obviously switch it off if your parents wanna check up on your work, but yee here's the link fam!!!! BOOST THIS!!! SEND THIS TO ANY TRANS PERSON YOU KNOW WHO WILL NEED THIS
An easy to use Google Chrome plugin to automatically remove and replace deadnames
If your school has blocked this I recommend using ‘InteractiveFics’. Its originally used for changing Y/N to your own name but it has a separate option where you can change any word/name to what you want.
It has a less likely chance of being blocked so I thought I’d mention it.
You will drink more water if it tastes good. I’m dead serious. Throw some mint in there, throw some lemon or strawberry or a little flavor packet. Your brain likes things that taste good.
People like flavored water. Brains like flavored water. It’s like being forced to choose between a rock or a rock with glitter on it. You want the glitter rock
if you are looking for a sign to go to sleep, this is it. it is time to rest. you’re allowed to take advantage of it. there are no monsters under your bed and nothing in the darkness. you are safe in your current space. no bad luck emails or horror stories can harm you. your responsibilities can wait until the morning. shelve your worries. you have permission to let them go.
unclench your jaw. take your medication. set out a glass of water to drink when you wake up thirsty. grab your favorite stuffed animal. let your shoulders relax. breathe in. breathe out. keep breathing.
it’s okay. you can rest now. let me shoulder your burdens while you sleep.
Option 1: Love
1 - 2: You and your crush / significant other
3 - 4: What you need to know
5, 7: Things to look forward to
6, 8: Things to look out for
Option 2: Making a decision
1, 3: Choice 1
2, 4: Choice 2
5: Pro of Choice 1
6: Con of Choice 1
7: Pro of Choice 2
8: Con of Choice 2
Add more pro/con cards as necessary
Option 3: Short Term Future Reading
1 - 4: Overall tone of short term future
5 - 8: Timeline of events
Option 4: General Reading
1 - 4: General situation
5, 7: Pros / high points
6, 8: Cons / low points
My name is Eira. I’m an eclectic witch of nine years, a tarot reader of seven, and I’m selling paid tarot readings! I read on pretty much anything that isn’t health related. You can shoot me a direct message or an ask for a reading!
Your basic three card spread is $5, and I charge $13 for a ten card Celtic Cross spread. Tips are always appreciated and never expected! I’ll also happily offer small discounts if you leave me a review!
