So what is ‘Awen?’ There’s a question. That intangible force, so intrinsic to Druidry as it is practised today. Hard to put into words, and often taken for granted or glossed over as a result.
Awen is the ‘Fire in the Head’ that made the Bards compose their immortal tales – including that of Cerridwen and Taliesin, the original brewer and taker of this tantalising elixir. Three drops inspired, any more would poison. The Romans then told of how it made the Ovates shake, their eyes black with visions. Awe-inspiring indeed.
I personally cannot imagine life without the touch of Awen, both from a Druidic and a general everyday perspective. I also sincerely hope that everyone has experienced such a thing at one time or another (ideally on a fairly regular basis): a glorious ‘Eureka!’ moment, when your chosen muse speaks to you and creativity pours forth by whatever medium suits you best, be it acting, music, baking or gardening.
This isn’t an ‘adrenaline rush’, by the way (although it can be). This is a moment of creative joy, where the truest possible expression of your own personal creativity comes to fruition. While ‘normal’ life can then seem a little duller in comparison, the connection with Awen buoys you up through the knowledge of its constant nearness and tangibility… although there are those who make it their mission to seek it out directly.
We need to create in life. Some more than others. To not feel this is a tragedy, and deep down, we know it.
As I mentioned in a previous post, I once asked on a Druid-based forum what the relationship is that people have with ‘Awen’. To me at the time, it seemed to be something to aspire to, to endeavour to maintain that constant connection with inspiration. Kind of like the New Age concept of ‘enlightenment.’
The response I got was not very inspiring. Awen as a concept seemed to be more attractive and palatable than Awen as a tangible reality. Understandable I suppose, but my Druid practice was and is about actual connection, finding joy in the spirituality and RE-ality of an actual practice. Intellectual ponderings are good brain-food, but they only go so far, after all. To truly feel, we must do. Awen is experiential, and enjoys being explored.
These days, I understand that maintaining a constant connection is not the best of plans – that way leads to madness, simply because we are not able to maintain such a state of being. However, Druid practice, to me, intrinsically involves the ability to link to Awen, whether that be for you as an individual, or when leading a group. Energy work, the creative flow, the inspiration which is something that we work with and bring back into our daily lives, both personally and for others. We seek, learn and teach, through the results of our creative endeavours.
When an author writes, where do the tales come from? When a musician composes, where were those words before they were first sung? The classical concept of the Chorus, the Muses, those who create that spark of idea, the lightbulb above the head – that’s the experience of Awen. Light from above, clarifying the way.
In the darkness of winter, we look even more than usual for the creative fire that keeps us warm and nourished. Please ask yourselves: how are you finding your Awen in your life? And how are you sharing?
The Catbox 
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