PLEASE support me on Ko-fi! (or take a class). With the political and economic uncertainty at the moment, my teaching income has dropped. Please support me on Ko-fi at: ko-fi.com/krishughes Thanks! ONLINE CLASSES: Intro to Celtic Mythology starts 4th January tinyurl.com/ICM25 Rashiecoats starts 15th January tinyurl.com/rashie25 You can always find out about upcoming classes at: tinyurl.com/GDclasses
Bran represents the archetypal hero- curious, noble, and open to exploring the unknown. His invitation can be seen as a call to spiritual awakening and transformation. The Otherworld is a realm of deep mystery, often seen as a metaphor for enlightenment or the inner journey of the soul. Bran embodies the traits necessary to embrace this journey - curiosity, courage, and inner strength.
This isn't my response to your question but your comment at the end of the live session about feeling like we've got a jigsaw puzzle but half the pieces are missing made me laugh and harkens back to my comment on the first day about the one of the sources of my frustration--how much is missing. And I wanted to add that someone came along and threw in a bunch of pieces from a knock-off puzzle dressed up to look like this one that kiiiind of fit but you have to squint your eyes a little to make it work. 😂 I'll leave my response to today's question in a separate comment but I did want to share this as well. Really loved the opportunity to join the live session and I hope I can make it to at least a few more of them! Hope you got stocked up on your veggies!
I feel like the answer for me lies somewhere between sovereignty, desire, and destiny. Of all those gathered, it is Bran the otherworldly maiden calls to make the voyage. We see in some tales the perils that befall those who either do not answer the invitation or engagement of the denizens of the other world. In others we see devastation descend on those entering unbidden or who fail their encounter in some capacity. Denizens of the Otherworld may have been need (Arawn) or desire (Rhiannon) of a mortal they feel meets their criteria. Perhaps Bran was simply the right man for the job.
One theory I have is that Bran is chosen because he is the leader who is able to take the journey and learn what the Otherworld and/or Manannán want to be known. Thinking about King Cormac’s journey, I wonder if a good leader or king must be receptive to Otherworldly wisdom. The worthy one does not just hear the calling of sweet music, but answers it and takes the journey that will lead to wisdom (though granted Cormac got a nudge when his family members were whisked away). Also, I wonder if Bran is invited because he is the king who must be in a good relationship with sovereignty, the land, and the Otherworld for his people to prosper. Maybe the first Bran story is a version where he makes the unwise choice to steal and the land is flooded. In the second story, he heeds the words of the Otherworldly women and the land is safe.
For me, the comment about democracy is useful in thinking about the question 'why Bran'? Society in the Celtic myths isn't democratic but hierarchical. And the theme of Kings being in right relationship with the gods and ungods as well as the land reoccurs. It seems like there is a balance or a bargain that must be struck between the king and the Otherworld for the land and people to prosper. The king has to be brave and courageous but must also display knowledge to make right judgements.
HI, This is actually jenny on my mums computer. Why Bran?- he is the ruler. it is the ruler of the land who needs a link to the otherworld in order for the country to prosper. I feel it goes along with the idea of the ruler "marrying the land". it is his responsibilty as the ruler to link the people to the land-he is the one who will determine what the people of the country/tribe do with the land -will they nuture it, will they farm it, will they destroy it, will they be peaceful or warlike. All that would affect the land and the otherworld is closly linked to the care of the land. he must make the pact with the otherworld for the whole land to prosper.
Why Bran? I must be quite honest, this question is leaving me a bit stumped. Why Bran? Why, I had not even thought to question this choice. “He’s the main character” is certainly not the answer. “He’s a ruler” also feels a bit on the nose-the story tells us he is already set apart from others as important, so of course the invitation is for him. The people in charge stand in for all of us whether we like it or not, and their mistakes have consequences for everyone and not just themselves. It isn’t just Bran who is submerged by the end. Is this a warning to those in high places not to offend the spirit world, lest they doom us all? An invitation extended to a ruler acting as a test of an entire people? Bran’s people’s fate lies in Bran. This makes me think of the other stories in Celtic Myth where men of the ruling class have dealings with the other world, go to the other world, learn things there, make trades, get wives, all there doings there effect the wider makeup of their outer world. Of course, there are folktales where there are simple farmers having these encounters, women, children, but if it is going to be a big story that deals with the gods the ruling class tend to be involved. This is only slightly related, but I can’t help but go down this rabbit trail… we have these men dealing with the otherworld, and while there are male figures in the other world there seems to be a lot of Femme forces there. And then, in children’s literature of the 1800’s and 1900’s we have several male authors sending little girls to other worlds and being invited by male figures and primarily dealing with males. The While Rabbit brings Alice to Wonderland, the Nutcracker brings Marie/Clara to lands of sweets, Peter Pan brings Wendy to Never Never Land, Dorothy lands in Oz and travels with three male companions, Lucy first meets Mr.Tumnus in Narnia…I know this is the influence of “fairytales” as they came to be defined by antiquarians…but I just find the contrast interesting between the ruling male who goes to the otherworld and the “ordinary” little girl who goes to the otherworld and becomes sovereign within it. The intentional thrust and massive several hundred year difference of culture, religion, and psychology between the questions of “Why Bran?” and “Why Dorothy?” fascinates me. I hope that answer was okay, because I don’t have an answer I just have a brain exploding with more questions that lead to more doors in my head that I can’t help but open. I love myth, I love the gods, I love the otherworld, and I love how humanity finds ways to keep little hidden pathways to them open despite all the pressure from those who would try to close the way to the other worlds forever. They can never do that-our hearts will not let them.
PLEASE support me on Ko-fi! (or take a class). With the political and economic uncertainty at the moment, my teaching income has dropped. Please support me on Ko-fi at: ko-fi.com/krishughes Thanks!
ONLINE CLASSES: Intro to Celtic Mythology starts 4th January tinyurl.com/ICM25
Rashiecoats starts 15th January tinyurl.com/rashie25
You can always find out about upcoming classes at: tinyurl.com/GDclasses
Fascinating 🍏 🐍
Bran represents the archetypal hero- curious, noble, and open to exploring the unknown. His invitation can be seen as a call to spiritual awakening and transformation. The Otherworld is a realm of deep mystery, often seen as a metaphor for enlightenment or the inner journey of the soul. Bran embodies the traits necessary to embrace this journey - curiosity, courage, and inner strength.
This isn't my response to your question but your comment at the end of the live session about feeling like we've got a jigsaw puzzle but half the pieces are missing made me laugh and harkens back to my comment on the first day about the one of the sources of my frustration--how much is missing.
And I wanted to add that someone came along and threw in a bunch of pieces from a knock-off puzzle dressed up to look like this one that kiiiind of fit but you have to squint your eyes a little to make it work. 😂
I'll leave my response to today's question in a separate comment but I did want to share this as well. Really loved the opportunity to join the live session and I hope I can make it to at least a few more of them! Hope you got stocked up on your veggies!
I feel like the answer for me lies somewhere between sovereignty, desire, and destiny. Of all those gathered, it is Bran the otherworldly maiden calls to make the voyage.
We see in some tales the perils that befall those who either do not answer the invitation or engagement of the denizens of the other world. In others we see devastation descend on those entering unbidden or who fail their encounter in some capacity.
Denizens of the Otherworld may have been need (Arawn) or desire (Rhiannon) of a mortal they feel meets their criteria. Perhaps Bran was simply the right man for the job.
One theory I have is that Bran is chosen because he is the leader who is able to take the journey and learn what the Otherworld and/or Manannán want to be known. Thinking about King Cormac’s journey, I wonder if a good leader or king must be receptive to Otherworldly wisdom. The worthy one does not just hear the calling of sweet music, but answers it and takes the journey that will lead to wisdom (though granted Cormac got a nudge when his family members were whisked away).
Also, I wonder if Bran is invited because he is the king who must be in a good relationship with sovereignty, the land, and the Otherworld for his people to prosper. Maybe the first Bran story is a version where he makes the unwise choice to steal and the land is flooded. In the second story, he heeds the words of the Otherworldly women and the land is safe.
For me, the comment about democracy is useful in thinking about the question 'why Bran'? Society in the Celtic myths isn't democratic but hierarchical. And the theme of Kings being in right relationship with the gods and ungods as well as the land reoccurs. It seems like there is a balance or a bargain that must be struck between the king and the Otherworld for the land and people to prosper. The king has to be brave and courageous but must also display knowledge to make right judgements.
HI, This is actually jenny on my mums computer. Why Bran?- he is the ruler. it is the ruler of the land who needs a link to the otherworld in order for the country to prosper. I feel it goes along with the idea of the ruler "marrying the land". it is his responsibilty as the ruler to link the people to the land-he is the one who will determine what the people of the country/tribe do with the land -will they nuture it, will they farm it, will they destroy it, will they be peaceful or warlike. All that would affect the land and the otherworld is closly linked to the care of the land. he must make the pact with the otherworld for the whole land to prosper.
Why Bran? I must be quite honest, this question is leaving me a bit stumped. Why Bran? Why, I had not even thought to question this choice. “He’s the main character” is certainly not the answer. “He’s a ruler” also feels a bit on the nose-the story tells us he is already set apart from others as important, so of course the invitation is for him. The people in charge stand in for all of us whether we like it or not, and their mistakes have consequences for everyone and not just themselves. It isn’t just Bran who is submerged by the end. Is this a warning to those in high places not to offend the spirit world, lest they doom us all? An invitation extended to a ruler acting as a test of an entire people? Bran’s people’s fate lies in Bran.
This makes me think of the other stories in Celtic Myth where men of the ruling class have dealings with the other world, go to the other world, learn things there, make trades, get wives, all there doings there effect the wider makeup of their outer world.
Of course, there are folktales where there are simple farmers having these encounters, women, children, but if it is going to be a big story that deals with the gods the ruling class tend to be involved.
This is only slightly related, but I can’t help but go down this rabbit trail… we have these men dealing with the otherworld, and while there are male figures in the other world there seems to be a lot of Femme forces there. And then, in children’s literature of the 1800’s and 1900’s we have several male authors sending little girls to other worlds and being invited by male figures and primarily dealing with males. The While Rabbit brings Alice to Wonderland, the Nutcracker brings Marie/Clara to lands of sweets, Peter Pan brings Wendy to Never Never Land, Dorothy lands in Oz and travels with three male companions, Lucy first meets Mr.Tumnus in Narnia…I know this is the influence of “fairytales” as they came to be defined by antiquarians…but I just find the contrast interesting between the ruling male who goes to the otherworld and the “ordinary” little girl who goes to the otherworld and becomes sovereign within it. The intentional thrust and massive several hundred year difference of culture, religion, and psychology between the questions of “Why Bran?” and “Why Dorothy?” fascinates me. I hope that answer was okay, because I don’t have an answer I just have a brain exploding with more questions that lead to more doors in my head that I can’t help but open. I love myth, I love the gods, I love the otherworld, and I love how humanity finds ways to keep little hidden pathways to them open despite all the pressure from those who would try to close the way to the other worlds forever. They can never do that-our hearts will not let them.