I’ve seen a lot of discussion lately surrounding the idea that the Welsh mythical figures are not “deities” and that Celtic pagans and Witches are “silly” for referring to them as such. So here’s a thread delving into my personal views on the topic of Welsh Celtic deities.

It’s true that according to most academic study into the literature that makes up most of Welsh Celtic myth, that figures such as Rhiannon, Cerridwen, Arawn, Gwyn ap Nudd etc. Are not considered “Gods”. Though it must be noted that most academics only look at the source material.

What I mean by that is, most academics delving into Celtic studies will not consider things such as syncretic development nor apotheosis. This is because academics in the realms of Celtic studies study culture - not religion.

Apotheosis is literally the process of something “becoming divine”. Take for example, the figure of Lucifer as portrayed in Paradise Lost. Paradise lost is basically fan fiction, but many people now worship Lucifer as he is portrayed in that iconic piece of literature.

Even if the Welsh Celtic mythical figures were never seen as deities in history - they certainly are today. They represent archetypes and ideas that play into modern paganism and devotional practice.

However, even when looking at the original manuscripts of the Mabinogi etc. We must remember these manuscripts were preserved by monks - and not pagan monks. Therefore we don’t necessarily know with absolute certainty where most of these characters originate from.

“Pwyll” may not be an ancient pagan God, but his character may have been influenced by something older. These stories were originally part of an oral tradition of story telling. Who knows how much they evolved before eventually being recorded onto paper.

But beyond the concept of them being seen as Gods in some ancient, antiquated cult - we cannot undervalue the fact that many people today do indeed worship many of these figures as deities. Them being modern deities does not make them any less authentic.

Jesus was new at some point. Yet no one would deny his divine status at this point in time. Yet, his rise to divinity was an accumulation of shifts in thinking, apotheosis, and syncretic development. He was not always considered such an integral divine entity.

As a Welsh woman, the figures in the myths and legends of Wales represent so much more than just “fun characters”. They speak of the character of the landscape itself. They are of the land, the people, and the “cynfyd” - the old world. They are divine.