Rhiannon

Rhiannon, Daughter of Hyfaidd Hen, Wife of Pwyll Lord of Dyfed, and Mother of Pryderi Lord of Dyfed, is a major figure in Welsh mythology and the Mabinogion, as she appears in both the first and third Branches. She is/ was married to Pwyll, Lord of Dyfed and 'Pwyll Pen Annwfyn', also known as Pwll Head of Annwfn (Annwfn was basically the 'Otherworld', where Rhiannon and Arawn and such were from).

 With Pwyll, she has a son, later named 'Pryderi', or 'Anxiety/ Caution', who disappears under the care of his nannies/ ladies in waiting, and Rhiannon is framed for infanticide and cannibalism. While Pwyll does not divorce her - not for the lack of people demanding he does so - she is forced to endure punishment for seven years,  of explaining how she 'ate and killed her child' while seated on a mounting block (A block of stone with steps on one side used for mounting horses).

Eventually, the later named 'Pryderi' is returned, having been under the care of an ex-Horseman of Pwyll's, Teyrnon Lord of Gwent Is Ced, and his wife. Once Pryderi is returned, there is a period of time before Pwyll dies, becoming a 'God of the underworld/Otherworld', and Pryderi becomes Lord of Dyfed.

As a widow, Rhiannon marries Manawydan and has further adventures with enchantments and magic.

 Rhiannon is depicted as intelligent, highly beautiful, strong-minded, and strategic.

Rhiannon, while known deity-wise as many names ('The White Witch', 'Great Queen', 'Queen of Fairies', 'Horse Goddess', 'The Moon Goddess', and 'Fertility Godess' are just a few), she is also known to represent many things. To name just a few of her associations in this context are;

The Moon

Rhiannon is often associated with the Moon and is sometimes referred to as the Moon Goddess or The Goddess of Fertility. In this context, she’s seen as a deity that represents motherhood, rebirth, and creation. In modern paganism, the lunar symbology where the three phases of the moon, the waxing phase, the full moon, and the waning moon, refer to The Triple Goddess, representing the Mother, Maiden, and Crone. It symbolizes the cosmic cycle and the eternal processes of life, death, and rebirth. 

Horses

The Goddess is often depicted travelling the earth on a powerful and swift white horse. As free spirits, horses symbolize travel, movement, and freedom. Rhiannon’s white mare represents leadership, fertility, and the means to set in motion everything that may be stagnant. 

Singing Birds

Rhiannon is usually accompanied by a flock of magical singing starlings that possess supernatural powers and whose song can lull the living into slumber and wake the spirits of the dead from their never-ending sleep. In Celtic mythology, birds are a mighty force, symbolizing the journey of the spirits to the Otherworld. They represent the idea of freedom and reincarnation, as they guide the liberated souls of the dead to the afterlife.

The Gate

As the goddess has the power to wake the dead and lull the living into a permanent slumber, she’s seen as the keeper of the world in between and the gate that connects life and death. Symbolically, Rhiannon was sentenced to serve a 7-year-long punishment at the castle’s gate and was very forgiving towards those who wrongfully accused her. In this context, the gate represents righteousness, mercy, and justice. 

The Wind

As the goddess travels swiftly on her horse, she’s often associated with the air and wind. Invisible but powerful, the wind has strong effects on other elements. It represents movement, divine intervention, and the vital spirit of the universe.