Title: Pagan Portals: Blodeuwedd: Welsh Goddess of Seasonal Sovereignty Publisher: Moon Books Author: Jhenah Telyndru Pages: 136pp Price: $10.95 / $5.99 Release Date: 1 August 2021 She is Blodeuedd the Flower-Faced Bride. And she is Blodeuwedd the Owl in the Night. Wife of Lleu, lover of Gronw, she is a mysterious and complex figure. Ancient Goddess? Nature spirit? Legendary Queen? Adulteress? Sovereign woman? All of the above? And what are her connections to other figures from Welsh mythology, such as Arianrhod, Rhiannon, Math, and Gwydion? Telyndru explores all of these questions, and more, in this short but impressive and inspirational work. Over the course of nine chapters, Telyndru digs deep into the original written material about Blodeuwedd; its cultural context and connections to the local landscape; the mythical cycles and figures tied to the seasons; Blodeuedd the specially-created bride and Blodeuwedd the owl of winter and wisdom; and how modern seekers can draw Blodeuwedd into their lives and model their own search for personal sovereignty after that of the Goddess. My knowledge of Welsh mythology and contemporary polytheism is limited. As such, I have found previous Pagan Portals books such as Fairy Queens and Gods and Goddesses of Wales to be immensely informative. Telyndru, in particular, does an excellent job of explaining to the modern reader how the Four Branches of the Mabinogi (from which we derive most of our written information about Blodeuwedd) fit into medieval Welsh society; there is a lot that I never would have understood without reading an extensively annotated edition. I also loved her exploration of the Blodeuwedd/Lleu/Gronw triangle as a seasonal sovereignty myth with Lleu as the Solar Hero and Gronw as the Lord of Winter. Blodeuwedd: Welsh Goddess of Seasonal Sovereignty is a terrific addition to Moon Books‘ growing Pagan Portals series. Recommended to anyone with an interest in Goddess Spirituality, Welsh polytheism and mythology, as well as fans of Lugh by Morgan Daimler, Gwyn ap Nudd by Danu Forest, and Elen of the Ways by Elen Sentier. [Reviewed by Rebecca Buchanan.] ~ ev0ke, https://ev0kepublication.com/issues/july-2021/pagan-portals-blodeuwedd-welsh-goddess-of-seasonal-sovereignty

Jhenah Telyndru has succeeded in beautifully weaving the complex, paradoxical nature of one of Wales' most beloved deities into a clear and inspirational work. Beautifully written with passion and devotion, this book is as fragrantly delicious and divine as the flowers that went into the magical making of Blodeuwedd. This is a delightful tome that is sure to be a go-to classic, filled with the inimitable sagacity of Telyndru, and her love for the Goddesses of this magical land. ~ Kristoffer Hughes, Head of the Anglesey Druid Order, author of From the Cauldron Born: Exploring the magic of Welsh legend and Lore

With dedicated scholarship and awe-inspired storytelling, Jhenah Telyndru has gifted us with a richly textured honouring of a complex Goddess. Not with oak, broom, and meadowsweet, but with historical source material, modern texts, and her own talon-sharp insight, Ms. Telyndru has crafted a revisioning of Blodeuwedd that elevates Her to a central role as a seasonal sovereignty Goddess, rather than the uni-dimensional Goddess who was punished for the betrayal of Her hus-band. It is time for Blodeuwedd to be given Her respectful and compassionate due. This book does that in spades, offering a deep exploration for all the intricate facets of Blodeuwedd’s story, while weaving in significant contextual information such as the shifting social mores of medieval Wales. Balancing a scholastic appreciation for the depth of this myth with the invitation to enter into relationship with the Goddess, Blodeuwedd: Welsh Goddess of Seasonal Sovereignty includes powerful workings that not only deepen a visceral, embodied understanding of the Goddess, but open one to the experience of self that is complex, sovereign, and imbued with wisdom. The world is well familiar with the light/dark aspects of the Greek Persephone in her dual role of Kore and Queen. How wonderful that there is finally a book that recognizes that same profound duality in Blodeuwedd - not as the Goddess who betrays, but as the Sovereign seasonal queen around whom the sacred union with dark and light in turn hinges. In the spirit of the true bard-priestess she is, Ms. Telyndru ends with a poetic homage to Blodeuwedd that uplifts as powerfully as the owl’s wing. For the scholarship, for the poetry, for the brilliance, you want to read this book. ~ Tiffany Lazic, Psychotherapist and author of The Great Work: Self-Knowledge and Healing Through the Wheel of the Year

Pagan Portals - Blodeuwedd is an indispensable guide to this most beloved goddess from Welsh myth. Jhenah Telyndru makes excellent scholarly use of the sources, as well as drawing on her deep visionary experience to draw the spiritual wisdom from Blodeuwedd’s tale, showing us the goddess in all her power as well as her beauty. This book is both owls and flowers, grounded in the traditional lore, and a beautiful, insightful read. Valuable for all those devoted to a Celtic spiritual path, as well as an excellent devotional to one of our most misunderstood Goddesses of Sovereignty. ~ Danu Forest, Traditional wisewoman and Celtic scholar, author of several books including Wild Magic - Celtic Folk Traditions for the Solitary Practiti