Song Description

Within Celtic Mythology the wolf was revered as the companion of Cerridwen, godddess of the Moon and fertility. The wolf was also one of the four sacred animals of the goddess Brighid. Further to this, the wolf has the status of being one of the totem guardians of Britain. Within Celtic belief the wolf ruled over the winter quarter of the year. From Samhain (Halloween) to Imbolc, festival of the Goddess, Brighid. This festival takes place in Februrary - this month was known to the Celts as Faoilleach, month of the wolf. This time of year was equated with death and purification. Death had to occur in order that life could not only continue, but be re-born. Therefore, death did not have the gloomy and hopeless associations that it has for many of us today. People did grieve when they lost a loved one, but there was also joy and celebration that their spirit was free and living a better life. But the wolf was not only the companion of goddesses. The Celtic gods as well had the wolf as their symbol. In particular the Celtic horned god, Cernunnos, Lord of the Animals. In many Celtic works of art, including the Gundestrup Cauldron, Cernunnos can be seen with one or more wolf companions. The Arthurian figure Merlin was also associated with wolves. In the period of his life when he was living as a hermit, he took with him as a companion, an old grey wolf. I mention Merlin here due to an interesting association. That Merlin, along with the wolf is, viewed as one of the ancestral guardians of Britain. Not only that, but as with the horned god Cernunnos, Merlin was also called, Lord of the Animals and Lord of the Earth.