Book Description:

Taliesin sits in a firelit hall. He tells the story of his initiatory transformations to two children who sit at his feet listening intently. The golden links of tradition pass from his hands into theirs. Background from Book: The legend of the transformations of Gwion Bach into the poet Taliesin is told in the Hanes Taliesin. We read how Gwion was set to tend the magical cauldron of Ceridwen. This cauldron of inspiration was intended for the drinking of Afagddu, Ceridwen's son, who was so ill-favoured that his mother wished to compensate for his lack of natural beauty by the gift of wisdom. However, young Gwion's fingers were splashed with liquid from the cauldron and, to cool them, he thrust them into his mouth and so acquired the cauldron's wisdom for himself. Realizing his own danger through his new-won omniscience, Gwion transformed himself into a hare but Ceridwen pursued in the form of a hound; he changed into a fish and she into an otter; he changed into a bird and she into a hawk; lastly, he became a grain of wheat and she scrabbled him up into her crop as a hen. He was reborn of her womb nine months later as the infant Taliesin. The story is a parable of bardic initiation in which the young poet establishes his essential links with the Otherworld. By means of his totemic associations with the different birds, beasts, and fish -- each of whom represent a level of knowledge -- the poet is able to participate simultaneously in every part of creation in an omniscient way. He knows what has happened in the deep past and what will happen in the times to come. Although Taliesin is primary chief bard to Elphin in this legend, he is associated closely with Arthur in other texts.

According to the ninth-century poem Preiddeu Annwn, Taliesin accompanies Arthur on his quest to Annwn; while in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Vita Merlini, Taliesin helps Merlin bear Arthur to Avalon to be healed by the Goddess, Morgen.

...Taliesin is the guardian of tradition. By means of his insights he is able to impart wisdom by means of song and story so that the youngest child can hear and understand. It is by such means that the mythic impact of the Arthurian Powers has been transmitted to our own century, for the living links of tradition pass into our keeping. While there will always be special guardians, traditional lore is embodied by the people who tell and listen to the stories.

Those who seek earnestly and sincerely for wisdom will encounter Taliesin who, though his real dwelling place is the 'region of the summer stars', is nevertheless ready to aid the seeker and help him or her to contact the living wisdom of the Otherworld.(Readers wishing to learn more should consult Taliesin, the Shamanic Mysteries of Britain and Ireland by John Matthews; Unwin Hyman, 1990.)

Archetypal Meaning from the book:

Taliesin is the guardian of tradition. By song and story, by prophecy and far memory, he can instruct and guide the seeker. His is an interpreter as well as a teacher, well able to represent images to the receptive mind and forge connections in the waiting heart.

Divinitory Meaning from the book:

Tradition; revelation; inspiration; insight; preservation of heritage; initiation; advice or counsel; transformation of the mundane into the spiritual.

My comment:

I've always felt a kinship to Taliesin. I've been a chronicler of my family's past, genealogies and memories through the written word and pictures both photographic and drawn. I remember growing up in my grandparents home listening to lore of the past generations and thrilled to hear of others who had similar experiences in different time periods. When this card appears in a reading I usually get the message: search for your roots, pay attention to the family and gain the wisdom necessary by learning from others who have gone before.

Shaelin-Margras