Have you ever wondered about the notion that if you only have faith the size of a mustard seed you could move mountains?

Does this mean that with just a small shift in our perception, a tiny movement in our belief system and there is nothing impossible?

This Biblical statement, echoed in other texts and expressed by clerics of all spiritual paths in one way or another, seems to say that we can change reality with a word.

Can this be true?
This article draws on an old Welsh Legend. Taking just one lesson from that tale, a path is shown. A way of life which, if followed, builds such a positive aura that there is no doubt in your mind, or in the mind of others, that nothing is impossible for you.

 

Lleu llaw Gyffes was wounded by a magic arrow thrown by Gronw, his wife’s lover. Transformed into an Eagle he flies away. Gwydion, his foster father searches for him in vain. Until, reaching a great oak tree, Gwydion finds an old sow eating something on the ground. Looking high up into the tree he sees a large Eagle sitting on the top branch with his flesh and feathers rotting away and falling from him. So Gwydion sings to the tree. The words are known as Englynion Gwydion.

Here is the song with an English translation;

 

Derwen a dyf rhwng dau lyn

yn cysgodi'n dawel awyr a glyn                                                

oni ddywedaf i gelwydd

o flodau Lleu y mae hyn.

Derwen a dyf mewn maes uchel

nis gwlych glaw, nis tawdd gwres

cynhaliodd ugain dawn

ar ei brig Lleu Llaw Gyffes.

Derwen a dyf dan lechwedd

noddfa tywysog hardd

oni ddywedaf i gelwydd

fe ddaw Lleu i'm harffed.

 

 

'Oak that grows between two lakes;

Darkening gently sky and glen

Unless I tell a lie,

From the flowers of Lleu are these.

Oak that grows in upland ground,

Rain wets it not, heat burns it not

It contained twenty gifts

It bears in its branches Lleu of the Skillful Hand.

Oak that grows beneath the slope

Shelter of a fair prince

Unless I tell a lie

Lleu will come to my lap.'

 

After the first verse the Eagle dropped to the middle branch. After the second verse he dropped to the lowest branch. After the third verse the eagle fell into the arms of Gwydion. Then Gwydion spoke the words of power and the Eagle was transformed back into Lleu.

 

 

The ancients taught in story and song. Quite logical, when the people being taught have little or no reading and writing skills, there is no better way to have lessons committed to memory.

Though there are many lessons in the tale of Lleu and so much can be gleaned from this small section of the tale. The one to focus on lies in the song. Here lies one of the secrets of Druid magic and the secret of how they obtained and kept their powers.

It lies in the phrase “Oni ddywedaf I gelwydd’   (Unless I tell a lie). To fully understand what is being said here, remember it is Welsh poetry, the words express themselves slightly differently than the English translation might suggest. To understand what is being said, change the third and fourth lines around. To read; “From the flowers of Lleu are these, unless I tell a lie.” And “Lleu will come to my lap, unless I tell a lie.”

This is a commitment to truth. Nothing will happen unless Gwydion does not tell a lie. The concept expressed here is a very important one that explains the power of the Druid.

 

Druids were taught, from the beginning of their training to always speak with authority and only speak truth. Never say a thing unless it was going to happen. For example; to say “I will be there at noon” would mean just that. If there was any chance of not making it the words would not be spoken. Similarly, “We will meet at noon” would not be said because there is no way to guarantee the other person being there.

As time goes on this tendency to speak truth and only declare things that actually would happen, builds an aura of certainty. When a Druid spoke everyone knew it would happen just the way it was said because there had never been a time when anything else happened. Under these circumstances it is very easy to suppose that if a Druid wanted to move a mountain, all he would have to do is speak and it would move.

 

Here are the two big questions;

Are there people alive today who can be totally trusted to tell the truth about every circumstance and never say a thing unless it is so?

Are there people who have taken this truth telling to such heights that when they speak it happens?

Yes to both questions.

Those who have reached this level have the power and the Magic of the Druid. The ability to shape reality.