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| In our last installment of Exploring the Mythic Reality, we looked at the Isle of the Mother Goddess and touched on some of the myths of the Holy Island, and the women who kept it. Most importantly we were asked where the pull to Avalon comes from. This is something that you will need to explore deeper on your own; however I will share with you some of the way in which to start. Like all humans, yearnings for a Utopia is normal and somehow ingrained in our memories. But this great desire for an Island Paradise where all things are perfect is as old as time. This is the same desire that all humans have, and it is the deepest heart of the Goddess that we seek. Peace from fear, peace from stress etc. The number nine is sacred to the Goddess and in Celtic lore. It is never ending, and always comes back to itself. The Nine Maidens is a very large research project; due to the huge amount of information on them I can only give you an overview. You can read more on them from the sources I will list at the end of the article. The myth of the Nine goes beyond the shores of Britain and into many other countries and cultures. I have been studying many sources about the Nine. Stuart McHardy, (author of The Quest for the Nine Maidens), is the most resent. McHardy suggests that these myths are possibly the original legends of the Goddess cults of Europe. The Nine has many aspects that can possibly be tied in with the legendary Amazons, as well as the cults of the Vestal virgins. It covers the areas of the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea, Rome, Greece, Scotland, Troy, Athens, and many others not mentioned in the histories that have been written in any school text that we are accustomed to. McHardy pulls much of his information from the oral traditions of different areas, and in his research has found a pattern of a Goddess cult that existed long before spread of Christianity in areas that were accessible by sea. The Nine were Priestesses that lived on an Island without men. However in some of the stories there is one man, perhaps a priest or guardian that lived among them. The most popular and well-known character of myth is the Lady of the Lake. The Lady of the Lake is a title, Like the Merlin of Britain. That is why so many names apply to it, Viviane, Nimue etc. There are the Nine Morgans of Avalon. There are Nine women in the book of the Mabinogion, a compilation of Welsh stories, and records of knightly deeds. They are recorded as the women of the otherworld and the powers behind the throne, however their powers are written about in a diminished way. These are but a few where you will find this connection. St. Bridgit in Scotland is associated with the Nine Maidens. In Boweres Scotochronicon, 13th century historical work, there is an entry that tells of St Bridgit coming from Ireland to Abernety at the request of Gartnait or Garnare: "King Brude was succeeded by Garnand, Son of Domnack, who founded and built the Collegiate Church of Abernathey, after the blessed Patric brought the Blessed Bridgit into Scotland together with her nine virgins. The nine virgins died within five years and were buried in the northern part of the said church.� St. Bridgit is the Pre-Christianized "Bride of Scotland", handmaiden to Mary in Gaelic lore, from the sixth century onwards. There are many places dedicated to the bride. Her central shrine was said tobe at Kildare, Bride was the keeper of the sacred flame and was tended by her Nine Maidens. According to the legend the flame was fenced in and no man was allowed to enter. Bride is found in oral traditions handed down from generation to generation, which is surprisingly largely intact. No matter the origin the story of the Nine is secured in the Pictish (Scottish) capital of Abernethy. From the sixth century to approximately the 11th century, Abernethy was a most important Christian center in the dare age of Scotland. There were also numerous sacred rivers and wells dedicated to Bride and her Virgins. The modern people still come and tie rags on branches of trees by the well and rivers. This is a tradition that is like Tibetan prayer flags. They are asking for healing and hope for their loved ones. They also leave mounds of small white rocks numbering nine, possibly as offerings of remembrances of the Nine. Roman antiquities speak of a coming of Bride and her Virgins from Ireland but her coming is from Glenesk, with its mountainous areas. This coincides with the stories of the sacred caves, were the knight must rescue the sleeping maiden in the deep cave or womb of the Goddess. Julius Caesar tells of 19 maidens on an Island who came to the mainland at certain times of the year to procreate with men in Pagan fertility rites. Not much has been explained why the number of 19 is mentioned. My theory is that maybe at the time that Caesar made his recollections of them, that this number could mean they were training new priestesses, for other tribes or other Islands. In the book Ladies of the Lakes by Caitlan and John Mattews the Nine are the Nine ladies of the Mabinogion (Igraine, Guinever, Morgan, Argante, Nimue, Enid, Kundry, Dindraine, Ragnell.) They form the Ninefold Sisterhood of Avalon. I myself am a Priestess of the Ninefold. They are the symbol of the Nine pointed star of the Goddess. Each point has a meaning of power and influences that the Goddess will put in your path to overcome or accept and experience in your life at any given time. The Ninefold Sisterhood in Celtic tradition clearly reflects the different faces of the Goddess in their own way. In understanding these influences, we can use this knowledge to understand our own basic nature. It mostly shows us that we are of the Goddess herself. Humans created lore and myths about the Goddess to give her more human qualities for our simple understanding. We put many names to her so that we as humans can use that information as a key to get a small understanding of her power all around us every day. The Ninefold star, can be found in the book, " Ladies of the Lakes� by Caitlin and John Matthews. It is a hard to find book that is out of print. But sometimes Amazon gets used copies. Well worth the search. Avalon is with us always as are the Nine. You do not have to yearn for a land far away. The Nine are wherever you are. The Goddess of the land is always all around you, waiting for your call to her. Many happy blessings to you on your journey. Chris Maher, Priestess of Avalon [email protected] Sources: Ladies of the Lakes, (Caitlin and John Matthews) The Quest for the Nine Maidens (Stuart McHardy) The Mabinogion, (translated by Gwyn Jones and Thomas Jones |
| Avalon Exploring the Mythic Reality The Nine Maidens By: Priestess of Avalon, Chris Maher |
| Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen: even so does inaction sap the vigors of the mind." - Leonardo da Vinci |
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