Storm Dragons Rising from Annwn

Description

Sulis is to me…

The goddess of healing. The lady of the hot springs cleansing with sacred fire and water. A healing light in dark days, uplifting and sustaining.

Sulis is to me…

This poem was not just about the goddess Sulis but also Arawn the Welsh god of the underworld, and through this story both deities remind us of the value of the seasons. 

I have depicted the dragons of Annwn rising up to break the drought and herald the coming change of season. They rise from within a stone circle and cairn, often thought as places connected to the underworld and portals between realms. 

The stone circle I chose is called Bryn Cader Faner and found in one of the more remote parts of Wales. The name roughly translates as something like “the hill crowned with the throne of the flag” or also known as “Crown of Thorns”, which implies a place of great power and prestige. This particular bronze aged stone circle, or ring cairn, I thought a perfect choice for my dragon portal from the underworld.

Below are the words from the poem ‘Sulis’ which inspired this piece

Two dragons slept beside the lake;

Arawn bade them rise:

“Take lightening spears and thunder bolts

To Bel up in the skies!”

The dragons battled in the air

And made the Heavens shake;

Storm clouds gathered all around

And then the skies did break.

Sheets of water drenched the World

The hard earth turned to flood

Now the people raised their arms

And danced in the mud.

(excerpt from the book Queens of Avalon)

The rest of the poem and many more old tales and artwork can be found in the Queens of Avalon book.