12 - stars gwynfyd module

Module 12 STARS At night we observe stars as tiny balls of light, however millions of miles distanced from us they are not dissimilar to our own sun, a giant mass of luminous hydrogen that is held together by its own gravity. The stars we are able to see have been identified as picture patterns for thousands of years. They have acquired names and they have inspired stories, each sharing similar themes from all over the world. Now generally known as constellations, these imaginary outlines of men and animals were created to assist the memory. Because at any time of the year the night sky is clustered with stars, repeating an identical visual formation an exact year later, the ancients used them as mapping references or confirmation as when to sow seed. Like the gods themselves watching over them, if all else might change the stars appeared the same. In the winter skies over Glastonbury Tor the constellation of Orion has a profound tenancy. The alignment of these stars, including Betelgeuse, Rigel and Bellatrix, project an impression of an arm pulling a bow, another lifting an arrow from a quiver. This supposition gave rise to the hunting theme which in time developed into many variations. Tracing the same theme as far back to the Hittites of about 1200 BC, the Greeks later explained the constellation as a hunter being chased by a scorpion. In their created myth Orion was the hunter/suitor of the goddess Artemis whose brother, Apollo, ensured there would never be a union by instigating a scorpion to chase Orion until he was killed. Therefore as Orion departs from the sky, conceding his position as the dominant constellation during winter, Scorpio rises from the east to take summer rule over Glastonbury Tor. However, when Orion appears again at the end of summer, Scorpio is descending. It is as if the roles have been reversed and it is now the scorpion that is being hunted. As Orion is Greek for Hunter (Latin spelling though), Gwyn ap Nudd was the ancient British reference for the same constellation. As the story of Gwyn, Gwythyr and Creiddylad is relayed in Lady Charlotte Guest’s Mabinogion, a 19th century translation of 11 medieval/native British folk tales, Gwyn as Creiddylad’s abductor is as Orion’s amour with Artemis. Similarly as Apollo is Orion's rival, it is Gwythyr who is Gwyn's.

Because the interpretation of any story is based on our developed concept of values, these can be influenced by time as well as our cultural perception, resulting in one tale having many meanings. As the story of Gwyn, Gwythyr and Creiddylad may be the ancient British version of Orion, Artemis and Apollo, it is not dissimilar to the story of Osiris, Isis and Seth. The ancient Egyptians built their pyramids to reflect their most important constellations and Osiris was their term for the same cluster of stars known as Orion or Gwyn ap Nudd.

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To look up at Orion or Gwyn ap Nudd is to see the red star of Betelgeuse under his right arm and Rigel at his foot, the seventh brightest star in the heavens. There are two other bright stars near the constellation known as Procyon in Canis Minor and Sirius in Canis Major. These have been called Orion's Hunting Dogs or Gwyn's red eared hounds. As Canis is Latin for dog, this might explain where Gwyn's hounds, the Cwm Annwn, originated. Translated as the ‘Companions from the Underworld’, Gwyn’s favoured dog, Dormarth (which translates as Death’s Door) is more commonly known as Orion's 'Dog Star', Sirius. As such, as the Hunter rises in the sky his dog swiftly follows after him. How the ancients related their lives to the patterns in the sky can be similarly drawn from in shapes of our own behaviour. If we observe what we do and become aware of how we affect others, we may become more effective in our own life engagements. The reward for our self development may improve our behaviours and in turn improve our relationships.

abilities and what they mean to you. To begin, you will:

1. complete a task with no assistance. 2. answer a series of questions.

The Task: You task is in two parts:

1. Please read the following poem by WH Auden:

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well That, for all they care, I can go to hell, But on earth indifference is the least

We have to dread from man or beast. How should we like it were stars to burn

With a passion for us we could not return? If equal affection cannot be,

Let the more loving one be me. Admirer as I think I am

Of stars that do not give a damn, I cannot, now I see them, say I missed one terribly all day.

Were all stars to disappear or die, I should learn to look at an empty sky

And feel its total dark sublime, Though this might take me a little time.

2. Using a night sky map to locate the stars, find a safe area away from

city lights with a wide open sky:

If it is winter observe Orion/Gwyn ap Nudd.

As you proceed with this part of Gwynfyd Thinking you will journey to discover your


If is summer observe Scorpio/Gwythyr. Our feelings can be considerable in our consideration of the night sky at any time of the year. As the ancients saw the constellations reflected in their behavioural patterns they imagined their behaviour could be observed in watching the stars. Inspired by great acts, deep feelings and innovative ideas man was able to draw his next idea from an endless resource for enhancing any way of looking at life. Therefore if the earth had a parallel connection to the sky it wasn’t inconceivable that the earth was its topographical reflection - 'as above so below'. When you are ready ask yourself each of the following five questions. Allow yourself time to become conscious of your answer. The Questions:

1. Am I in awe of life?

Do you feel it incredible to be alive?

Do you think every day is a special adventure? We can go through our entire life without considering the subject of our existence, but if we allow ourselves to think about what it means to be alive we may enlarge our concept of life and value it even more.

Could you shape your future plans into new opportunities and challenges?

Could you see a problem as a prospect to learn more about yourself? If Life is an experience of senses then using them well may add quality to our lives.

2. Am I insignificant?

Do you feel you are unimportant?

Does anything you do really matter?

When we look up at the stars we can feel so small that we may feel irrelevant. In the grand scale of the entire universe we may be very tiny, but our contribution is real enough and we can make it more significant, most importantly, to ourselves.

Could you be more appreciative of your existence?

Could you put pride into what you do and try to make a better effort?

The more effective we become the greater is our ability. 3. Am I hopeful?

Do you think things will always turn out fine?


Do you remain optimistic when others fail to? If we can remain hopeful that an outcome will be positive we may endure extreme difficulties. Similarly as our hope can invoke courage, our wishes can evoke desires.

Could you be more expectant of your own abilities?

Could you look forward to what you want and work your way towards it?

To believe our situation is hopeless may ensure it is.

4. Am I a believer?

Do you believe in anything?

Do you put your faith in others? We can find strength and love in putting our faith in another and we can feel empowered by our beliefs, however if a belief is an assumed truth then what we have accepted as our understanding of anything may be subject to change if our world changes.

Could you base your beliefs on what you know is true?

Could you accept that in a world of change truth may change as well? To assume we know enough is not knowledge in itself.

5. Am I imaginative?

Do you identify images in other things?

Do you think life can be reflected through symbols? When we perceive more from the images around us we can draw more reference from our self created library. The images we hold on to can enlarge our common abilities, enabling our perceptions to become super-sensible.

Could you be more explorative of your imagination?

Could you identify shapes of behaviour in others in the patterns of your own?

In subscribing to the stars we may learn to read their script.

of your natural thinking practice it is recommended you complete all 13 modules. Continue to learn, change and enjoy! Morgan Wyche AMAC

Well done, you have now completed this module and used Gwynfyd Thinking in order to consider the questions. Should you wish Gwynfyd Thinking to become part


12 - stars gwynfyd module

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