Awen

The Flowing Energy

The quest for Awen is a quest for the spirit of Druidry itself, and, as such, it brings together many paths. We may pursue the quest as historian, linguist, poet, philosopher, priest, magician, shaman, and in many other guises. Each, in its own way, helps us to gain understanding and, as we walk the Druid path, one of the things we discover is that in understanding lies strength.

To discover what Awen is, we should first look at what the word means. The feminine noun, Awen, has been variously translated as 'inspiration', 'muse', 'genius', or even 'poetic frenzy'. The word itself is formed by combining the two words, aw, meaning 'a fluid, a flowing', and en, meaning 'a living principle, a being, a spirit, and essential’. So Awen may be rendered literally as 'a fluid essence', or 'flowing spirit'.

"The Awen I sing,

From the deep I bring it,

A river while it flows,

I know its extent;

I know when it disappears;

I know when it fills;

I know when it overflows;

I know when it shrinks;

I know what base

There is beneath the sea."

Awen, the 'flowing spirit', is here referred to as a river, apparently drawn from the sea by the poet's singing. The 'sea' may be taken as a reference to the all-encompassing spirit that surrounds us, the 'river' being that portion of it which the Bard draws to himself through his invocation.

We know that Awen is a flowing spirit, a kind of life essence, a source of spiritual strength, prophetic insight and poetic inspiration associated with deities called Ceridwen and Taliesin and Brighid and the Dagda, all of whom are associated with magic cauldrons and intoxicating liquors. We have seen that Awen can manifest in a variety of forms such as liquid, a hawk, a woman, or the taste of honey on the lips. We also know that it can be contacted by drinking from the cauldron of the Goddess, by singing or chanting, by controlled trance induction, by vision quest, or by sensory deprivation.

It is for each individual to discover the way, or ways, in which Awen manifests for them, just as we must find our own creative talents through which to make manifest its gift of inspiration, and must each find our own relationship with Deity. And so we see that Awen lies at the heart of the Druid tradition, for it is Awen, the Holy Spirit of Druidry, that provides our true link, not only with the past, but with the deeper reality of the present, and with the infinite possibilities of the future, and which gives as its ultimate gift the recognition of our own divinity.

~One summer afternoon, I stood in a wood with about a dozen Druids. We joined hands and asked Spirit for guidance. A great silver bowl, about eight feet in diameter, appeared above our circle. Above the bowl a woman's hand, pale and slender, emerged from the air. From her fingers ran a stream of silver liquid that quickly filled the shallow bowl, which overflowed, sending streams of silver down upon the heads of those gathered in the circle. Such was my vision of Awen on this occasion.

Elder Supply

The Symbol of Awen

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We all have seen this particular symbol used in regards to the Druids - perhaps some of you have used it. I thought I would share with you its meaning and the relevance behind it.

It is said to be the sign which represents the name of Awen. Awen is considered to be the spirit of Nature by some or the spirit of inspiration and creativity ( however there are many different variations on the meaning of Awen).

The three strokes in this symbol represent three shafts of light. They can represent earth, sea and air; body, mind and spirit; love, wisdom and truth. Three separate parts that all work in together.

This sign ought to remind us of the three foundations of Awen;

To understand truth

To love truth

To maintain truth.

For a Druid within this Kingdom, this is especially important. For a Druid will tell no lie. We always speak the truth. A Druid is to be considered trustworthy by the community and one who will speak no falsehood, no matter what. It is important that we uphold this, and maintain our status as being true to our words.

Each time we sign this simple symbol... /|\... we ought to remember what it stands for, and what we as Druids stand for. Carry this knowledge in your hearts, and always act accordingly.

Nature's blessings,

Elder Aiyana