Gwyddoniad is recorded from the mid-1600s, though some claim references dated to the 13th century.

At the end of the 18th century, some families emigrated to the USA.

These are dispersed into hierarchically organised patterns and can be found on the Internet.  In the last century, they abandoned Welsh in their rituals, excepting their titles.

Here in Britain the knowledge stayed closed within family groups, gradually creeping out in the latter half of the 20th century.

My own training in South Wales was in Welsh and descended from a family on Ynys Mon/Anglesey.  Gwyddoniad work closely with our Heneiriad/Old Ones, ancestral spirits, especially the Hen Anifeilaid, the Oldest Animals, who guide our spiritual growth.

We work to understand the elemental dynamics, balance them within ourselves and generate spirit in harmony.  This is central to our practices.  We work in white or simple natural coloured clothes.

Wellies and mud feature strongly in our work and lives, though in Gaeaf/Winter, we come indoors.  We are pragmatists.

We avoid crowns and magical ‘bling’ and prefer hudlathau/wands to swords.

Trees are our friends and guides.  Rocks/carreg, earth/ddaer and mountains/mynyddau our foundations.  Tan/Fire we love.

Our dragon emblem reminds us of the serpent lines, leys that surge with electromagnetic energy that we harness to heal people, animals, and land.  Ffynnon/springs, afon/river, llyn/lake, and mor/sea – all are our cauldrons of rebirth and inspiration.  Awyr/air blows mostly from the West, our poems hone emotion to serve Mind.

Magic must move with the times, based securely on ancient foundations.  Just as wildlife has adapted to city life, so the simple truth of Gwyddon Tradition is that when we balance the elements within our lives Spirit is spontaneously generated.  City folk are as dependent on the Earth that sustains us as those living in the wild.  Gwyddon who hope to remain on this planet in future incarnations cannot but be environmentally sound.

Bendigaid Byddoch

Blessed be