THE STORY OF BRAN
Bran's sister, Branwen, is Goddess of the Land, and as such, She is Bran's reason for being. As Faery King and Gaudian of the Cauldron of Rebirth, Bran is committed to his role as champion of Her cause. The Cauldron of Rebirth, originally from Ireland, has the power to bring dead warriors back to life and is a symbol of the law and power of the land. In the story Branwen marries Matholwch, the King of Ireland, in order to form a bond between Britain and Ireland. Branwen's brother, however, is upset by the marriage and dills all of Mathowch's horses. Bran replaces the horses, but Matholwch is not satisfied. In order to heal thebreac, Bran must also give Matholwch the Cauldron of Rebirth. Despite so generous a gift, Matholwch is still notappeased. He mistreats Brandwen so badly that Bran must march into Ireland and save Her. To prevent his arrival, Mathowch burns the bridge leading across the Shannon River. But Bran shapeshifts into a giant and acts as his own bridge,k carring his men on his enormous shoulders through teh sea. We find the important line, which serves as a lesson to all future leaders, "He who would be chief, let him make himself a bridge."
Without the Cauldron of Rebirth, Bran's forces are defeated and Bran is wounded. He orders his own beheading and while his men transport his head to be buried, Bran teaches his people everthing he has learned from the Goddess's Cauldron of Rebirth, passing on his wisdom to all future generations. This image of Bran's head is one of many foundin Celtic mythology adn Witchcraft of the skull as a symbol of power and wisdom. The skull is not to be feared!
YULE
FEAST OF BRANWEN
