Rhiannon

When Stevie Nicks penned the words to her hit song Rhiannon she admits to having no knowledge of the goddess. Nicks was vacationing in Colorado when she ran across the name, Rhiannon, in a novel she was reading, Triad is written by author Mary Leader. Nicks recalls that the name sounded beautiful to her and she immediately sat down and wrote the words to the song Rhiannon. Stevie later said, “…we think that she was, in fact, Queen.” Nicks later discovered the history of the Welsh goddess and noted the uncanny similarities between the two Rhiannons. She acknowledges that something magical must have been happening in that room in Colorado years ago.

Rhiannon is the Welsh goddess of horses and birds. She is considered the goddess of fertility, called Rhiannon of the Birds, and is sometimes referred to as the Virgin Goddess of Sexual Love. Rhiannon was known as the Great Queen, Rigatona Goddess of the Underworld. Rhiannon symbolizes the moon, enchantement, charms and poetic incantations. Rhiannon was most known for the role as shape shifter.

The most popular legend of Rhiannon regards the way she met her husband. It is said that Rhiannon was a free spirited goddess that danced with the faeries, rode her white horse and made the hills her home. It was on one such occasion that Rhiannon was pursued by Summerland King, Pwyll, and his men. For three days Rhiannon allowed the men to chase her, but she never let them get close. She always remained just out of their reach. Finally, the King called out to her, “Rhiannon, stop for me.” Rhiannon gladly stopped the chase, and the love of the King and Rhainnon became the stuff legends are made of. In fact, it is one of the great love stories.

Although she was not human, Rhiannon married the mortal Pwyll. The couple were very much in love and the joy couldn’t have been greater when Rhiannon learned she was to give birth. Time passed, and soon Rhiannon gave birth to a son on a Beltaine night. The nurses were to watch over the child, but they failed miserably at their task. Rhiannon’s son was stolen away in the middle of the night. The nurses, fearing their own punishment, killed a puppy and smeared the blood all over Rhiannon making it appear as though she killed her son during the night.

Rhiannon was distraught, and even though she was innocent she was found guilty. Rhiannon’s punishment was to remain in the palance for seven years. She was forced to change into the form of a horse, and was made to carry people to court on her back. Rhiannon spent seven years telling her story to all that would give her an ear, and she was loved and respected.

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