The family, as far as I am aware, were incolae of the Vale of Conwy - one can no longer be more precise regarding the locus.   I can but be guided by names and narratives of my grandparents' nearest and dearest but no genealogy was ever recorded.   This is probably true of every average person today now that the nuclear family has replaced the extended family in sociological importance.

To some, it would be wonderful to impress by recounting how an ancestor had fought in the Battle of Hastings or had made a last glorious stand against the Roman legions.  I have read on a Wiccan website an American's account of his lineage as follows:- " I am a descendant of Celtic royalty from the county of Donegal in Ireland.   My family goes all the way back before 300 B.C."  (I never knew family trees grew to such a length!)   Well,  I ask you!!!

Be all that as it may, I'm afraid the sole document of antiquity which I possess is my great grandmother's death certificate! ( In the last few years my younger son has volunteered for the task of researching the family tree and has arrived at one Thomas Morgan born 1644 and  William Morgan, born 1677 who married a Euphemia Mathey, born 1683.  So perhaps this gives you some satisfaction - it gives me none whatsoever.)

Strange as it may seem to some, the minutiae of my ancestors’ history are of little importance to me as these do not affect my quality of life directly and it is the 'here and now' that deserves my attention.  On the other hand, genetic strengths and anomalies do as they affect my physical well-being - and for these my blessings and curses respectively are given freely to my progenitors.  Having now passed the mid point of my eighth decade and am aware of the molestiae senectutis encompassing me in upon every side (like the black bulls of Basan?), I am more concerned with the above maledictions flying toward both my forebears and those elusive ever-hungry white hounds held on leash by Gwynn and snapping at the heels of the unwary geriatric - Entropy.

A great many generations ago, according to family tales, the Conwy brood bifurcated and relocated, perhaps for economic reasons - some working their way northwards, others remaining in the Bristol area.

The shortest answer to your question, therefore, is "I don't really know."
 

 2. "How much material in the rituals you present in ‘The Portal’ is traditional?"

On page 77 of the book 'Portal of The Keltic Gods' I have explained that the texts of the festivals are my own work BUT based upon a far older structure.   The symbolism and legends which are the basis of Y Gwyliau are traditional as are a handful of Old Welsh terms. many words and phrases which were omitted, e.g. "Ef molir pawb  wrth y weith" (everyone is praised according to his work), "Ry phrinom-ne di gerenhit" (May we be worthy of thy friendship).    These are in Middle Welsh.   Others such as "Un bont gan y gilyd" (bridge to bridge) are in Modern Welsh - quite a hotch-potch really.

The aspects of vocabulary were passed on by word of mouth during the recounting of old legends or in the observance of a seasonal celebration.  I was first introducted to the legends when I was c. 10 years of age - about 67 years ago.  As no family members were Welsh speakers by the time I was first exposed to these tales, the pronunciation of a considerable number of words, phrases and proper names, as I realised later, was becoming an absolute travesty and much of the spirit of the festivals was in danger of becoming relegated to the realm of quaint folk custom.

For example, Penarddun, the Moon Goddess (pronounced Pen-ar-theen) had become 'Pen-ur-d'n' and Llyr (pronounced Chleer) had become 'Lyre'!  The Corn God Lleu (Chley) was now 'Loo' and Perthynasau (Per-thun-as-aee), the High Kindred, was barely recognisable as 'Pir-sine-as-oo' - the bold text denoting the accented syllable.  For these reasons I resolved in my early 20s to piece together the disintegrating patchwork over a fifteen to twenty year period into a coherent structure with texts which would provide an appropriate emotional trigger.  My grandmother and mentor had passed on when I was 20, so this was a spur to give ample thought to the structure.

To this end it was essential that some working knowledge of Modern and Middle Welsh be assimilated to stabilise the majority of this input.    Although the writer of these texts, I feel it is incumbent upon the reader to decide whether the content stimulates spiritual fervour or no.

One curious phenomenon appeared from time to time during the penning of these and other texts.   One example should suffice:-   When writing one Ceremony to Gwydyon ap Dôn, I began one stanza with the words "Loud resound y korn refelgar" (which means 'the war horn').   Before  realising the obvious problem of finding a suitable rhyme, a second line suggested itself immediately: "In answer hear the royal ychyngar".   This latter word was completely unknown to me, the translation being unobtainable in the standard Welsh dictionaries apart from words beginning 'ychy' (e,g. 'ychydig' = a little, a few:) which denote a diminution.  On questioning an authority on Middle Welsh at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, who was a valuable contact in these matters, I discovered that the word meant "battle cry".

Instances like these I cannot explain in any logical way.   The promise that material required would be returned in future generations if the requisite links were forged (vide p. 42 of 'The Portal') seems to be the only answer.   What the 'well' or ‘awen' of such inspiration is I know not - the collective portion of the subliminal gnosis or other inner-plane contacts, who knows?

The house, then, is traditional, the interior decoration and landscaping of the environs are my doing.  It is not, however, an exercise in 'reconstruction' as is the trendy term but a loving task in restoration of an unique, invisible yet multi-dimensional family canvas.
 

 3, "How was this information passed on?"

This has been covered by the last answer.
 

 4. "Can non-family members be admitted to your tradition?"

Indeed yes, by 'Y Mabwysiad' (The Adoption).   This appears to be the only way in which the heritage may now be perpetuated.   What is a little perturbing in the 21st century is the number of deaths of elderly members of The House which includes two in past years - a middle-aged gentleman and an old lady of 93 and no young entrants to replace them.  Perhaps this is a universal fact of modern life.  When a local Muslim shopkeeper was bewailing his teenage sons' absence from the local mosque I asked both boys in what were they interested.  The answer came back swift and brief, "Heavy metal!"  (Integration & assimilation?)

Although one may be born into what is now called a 'hereditary' family, this is no guarantee whatsoever that the person will be accepted into the 'hidden side' of things.  This happened in my own case where my mother, rest her soul, was never taken into the Mysteries on account of her vicious and violent personality.  This allowed a far older tradition to reappear - the bringing up of a child by its grandmother, returning it to its birth parents on or after puberty.  And so my grandmother adopted the mother role (as her grandmother had done in her own childhood) which was ideal considering we inhabited the same triplicity. Where was my father, one may ask.  Heaven only knows as I was born "without benefit of clergy" as was the old euphemism for illegitimacy.

It was also traditional many many generations ago for one. who had allied himself to The Warband in time of trouble or battle, to become a member "by Brother Right".  I have known this to happen on but two occasions in my lifetime.

The first occasion was when I had undergone major heart surgery in 1992 and a compounding of complications had left me on the brink of death.  A close friend who was an excellent healer elected to remain with my wife every evening for a number of weeks adding her considerable skills entirely to my recuperation.  Now as this lady's work was always heralded by certain side effects - the 'blowing' of electric light bulbs in the vicinity of her concentration of energy, when I was rudely shaken from my drug-induced coma by the insertion of a subclavian mainline infusion directly into the superior vena cava and noted not only the improvement in my condition but also the many sudden fusing of lights in my private room and in the surrounding area, I rested happy in the knowledge that reinforcements had joined the fray.

Yes, she took on death and resolutely defeated it on my behalf and from then on was looked on as a member of Y Plant with the decision that at any time in the future, "whatever this lady ever needs - she gets"!

The second occasion was in 2011 when I was approached for help by a lady whose mother's line was fully Keltic and her father's line 100% Cherokee.   The problem was complex in the extreme but, while living in an Indian community which had had its traditions ripped out by two evils - 1. Christian lies and 2. alcoholism, there were no Elders left with spiritual functionality to provide assistance or advice.  The lady had been under psychic attack for some long time and, with no end in view of this uniquely distressing scenario, decided to seek Keltic assistance.

The problem involved exiting a strategy of rewarding evil with love and recognising that a full-frontal attack was necessary.  As Y Plant Dôn was still a warband with all the necessary skills in place, I formulated the battle-plans in fine detail and guided the lady and her helper in how to proceed.  Although simply promising to give mental support, two of us took the sudden decision to advance our rôle by one hour prior to the assault to perform an essential 'softening up' foray, debilitating the target unexpectedly and thus simplifying and enhancing the final attack.

In this event, the death of a vicious creature was involved and for that I make no apology whatsoever and the battle, for that is exactly what occurred, was joined with the young Cherokee, her friend and members of Y Plant united against a now common enemy.  In this case, therefore, the lady later accepted becoming a member "by Brother Right" - the only member of Y Plant Dôn outwith the British Mainland as she was domiciled in Canada at that time.
 

 5. "What role, if any, have covert traditions to play in  the modern world where some 90% of the techniques (if not the subtle substance which cannot be communicated) of Craft/Magic etc. are in print?"

Techniques have indeed been published and practical working for the masses has been disseminated perhaps too freely by the proliferation of instruction manuals.

Unfortunately too many of the down-market books of this genre tend to encourage the reader to believe that he has before him  a simplistic method of obtaining his heart's desire - "Do and say x + y and the result will = z in a short time scale."   The interface between man and Spirit, however, can be easily the victim of neglect.  An obvious counteractant is the encouragement of the individual to seek beyond the mere manipulation of power for the Source of that power in a manner devoid of selfish aims to offer of one's service to the Source.  This is one basic tenet that I shared among many with Ruth Wynn Owen of Y Plant Bran in our all too infrequent meetings in the 1970s.  This is why I may publish Festival texts, prayers, rites of passage, analytical instruction, etc., but will never include serious working methodology.

Should certain traditions become more  overt, permitting access to a wider tapestry of inspiration, then these once covert traditions will have assisted in some small measure.
 

 6. "Can such traditions face the challenge of the rapidly changing social conditions in the next century?"

What rapidly changing social conditions will have to be faced next century, next decade  or even next year?    I am neither a seer with visions obtained from a privileged view of the Hindu Akashic Records nor are my balls fashioned of crystal!    When viewing mankind's general development, bearing in mind he is one of Nature's  animals, there have always been predators and prey.

The nobles of Imperial Rome had their slaves and the Christian victims in the arena while the similar hierarchy of Ancient Greece had their douloi (slaves).    British warlords exploited the serfs, the Supreme Soviet their satellite states and, at the terminal phase of the 20th century, the Serbs were exercising ethnic cleansing while the Butcher of Baghdad perfected his art on Kurd and Shi'ite alike.  And in all our years, 'The Great Satan' implements its cunning and not so cunning machinations to foment régime change and function as a self-determined facile international terrorist when its greed and subtle sordid motivation prompts it!  And when thousands are slaughtered in the process, all is rationalised with the new nicely voiced phrase "collateral damage".

Will the this century, albeit with lip service to a new world order, be different?   I know not.   Will these conditions change rapidly?   If so, will it be for the better or worse?   Should our planet enter a century of absolute peace, will the predators remain behind the scenes in the form of international financiers - those who already thrive on war, rebellion and human misery while maximizing profit from marketing the hardware of battle?

Perhaps a 21st century  avatar will appear to redirect humanity's future.   Would such an avatar be another male, or would one of womankind be assigned the task?    Or will our planet experience accelerated moribundity by the intensification of mankind's rape of earth's resources and by the continuing disregard for the health of The Mother of all species?   Indeed a major publication would be unable to discuss fully a projected view of the next one hundred years.

Nevertheless, those of ALL traditions and persuasions could, by example, heighten spiritual awareness and, by regular positive spiritual input, effect some measure of amelioration in the group soul of the nation.   There are many many instances of social cancer in the nature of rape, child abuse (which is usually perpetrated by baptised Christians NOT by Satanists or the pagan-minded, as New Scotland Yard statistics confirm), organised crime and drug abuse which could be curtailed by inner-plane working if the multitude of practical groups in Britain today would only agree to cooperate in concerted and repeated operations.

Alas, few seem interested when this proposal is made. Many times I hear bleated "We can't change the world, dear".  No but a start can be made in one's own backyard.
 

 7. "Just because it is a 'tradition' does  that make it more valid than the work of someone in a revivalist or 'new' tradition?"

The choice made by each individual is valid for him alone, irrespective of whether that choice embraces a traditional, hereditary, revivalist or New Age innovative system.  The motives and ethics of the person, together  with the spiritual harvest and results obtained are the bench-marks of validity.

However, it is much easier to cultivate indigenous plants than to attempt the exercise with a foreign species in one's own garden.

So it is with the indigenous Deities of Britain in preference to Diana, Pan, Aphrodite and Isis, for example, all of whom are neglected in Their respective countries.  The perpetuation of such neglect of British pantheons could continue to sap the vitality of the associated telesmic images, perhaps inflicting necrosis upon this endangered Species.  I have no wish to be involved in parochial Deicide.
 

 8. "Are you in communication with other traditional groups in the UK/elsewhere?  Are there any  marked similarities between their working methods?"

Yes, a link with a limited number of similar groups is maintained in this country and Brittany.

As I mentioned, the contrapuntal rules are similar - we all write subjects, answers, coutersubjects, free parts, redundant entries, pedals and strettos.    The tunes are different, however, and unique to each but sometimes there are strange similarities.

A letter from Ruth Wynn Owen, the late leader of another Cymreig group, Y Plant Bran, is before me now and dates from c. forty years ago.   The writer is commenting on what I had described of our own tradition in relation to hers, saying:- "Your explanation of why groups resemble each other (i.e. ours & yours) might have been written by me!  I've explained the differences of names of gods and goddesses so many times in almost the same words - & the emphasis being on one or another aspect of the whole, likewise.  No, I was only wondering (& hoping) that there might be a closer link.  One gets the impression that they are rather alike - well, more than rather, and one wonders where is the common link."

On the other hand, when taking part as a visitor in  the celebrations of another group, you may sometimes think "I don't quite understand why they portray concept X in this way", or "I feel that that type of meter is a little too light-hearted for this occasion".   But the instances are legion when you hear a specific phrase, witness a different portrayal of an aspect of a legend or even feel yourself wrapped around by the atmosphere generated and you think, "My God, that is beautiful!"   The important fact is we all agree to differ and exult in the absence of standardisation.
 

9.  "Has any part of the system you outline in ‘The Portal’ been published before?

The system is not outlined in "The Portal". I have simply skated over concepts, giving examples of ceremonies either to touch the heart of the reader or to be rejected by the reader.  The system which houses a taxonomy involving the hierarchal domains of Y Kaerau (The Castles) relating to the  natural and aberrant specificity of the human organism at all levels, the psychodynamics of attainment, the philosophy behind practical methodology which is highly individual and the varied aspects of working were not given.   This system has never been published until now in this website.   What is available in most books on the mythology of these islands is the pantheon - usually with many inaccuracies.
 

10.  "Do you plan to write anything further, have you revealed 'too much' of the tradition?   Or is this just the first step in us hearing more from you or others?

No, I do not feel that "too much" was revealed in the book, but I have no immediate intention of publishing 'the  system'.   Nevertheless, my position could change in a few years.   Perhaps others be encouraged to give an exposition of similar ceremonies to demonstrate the diversity of substance which in reality is complementary.   This statement can be portrayed succinctly in poetic form:- "Beauty in unity is the rainbow's arch.   Each band, in meekness framing the glory of another, hails and marries the other yet remains of different hue.  And when all shimmer bright in this lofty panoply, The Mothers smile."
 

11.  "Why did you publish this work?"

This has been covered loosely in the answers to questions 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10.  The work done to give 'the system' structure now stands at c. ninety megabytes preceded by years of laborious  writing and rivers of ink.   It would be disappointing if these efforts were to slide to perdition.   Although those 'adopted' may continue, I have no immediate heirs who have intimated their willingness to continue the heritage.  This is all in the hands of the First Parents of The House.

I certainly have no desire to make, or intention of making, a living from writing about The Keltic Deities as others do with their respective branches of The Mysteries.  I have a comfortable professional life with all thanks to the Deities who also look after my material welfare.

It would be nice to think that "The Portal" may offer some encouragement to anyone on a British quest.    Perhaps they can take things even further.   Should that be achieved, then I am happy.   The book, therefore, was not for the expert but for the beginner.

12. "Has your system any connection with what is known as 'Wicca.?"

Definitely not.

That with which we do have an affinity is 'The Children of Danu and Bile' in Gaelic traditions and, to a certain extent, the Northern heritage found in the Odinic Rite and the 'Circle of Ostara'.  We also feel similar affinity with 'Y Plant Bran' for which reason this website is dedicated to the memory of the late Ruth Wynn Owen or Gwenfran (White Crow) as she was known to those who knew and appreciated both her and her bright spirit - the one time head of that family.
 

13. "How then would you describe yourself?"

I think my writings have already described my inner self.   I do not refer to myself as a pagan as the pagani were those from the pagus or village who gleaned a living in the fields and I have never worked in the agricultural industry.    (I suppose I am an oppidanus - a townsman, living and functioning in a high-tech society with all its appurtenances, but what Latin has to do with all this is a mystery to me!)

Nevertheless, if you wish me to provide some philosophical jargon, I suppose I would call myself a Keltic Cosmotheist or a Keltic metaphysician and mystic.

Cosmotheism is the belief that the entire Cosmos is what most people call 'God' and, within the Cosmos, all things are godlike or part of Divinity - you, me, the land, mountains, oceans, galactic clusters, the herbs in the garden a DNA spiral and even our pet cats whom we treat with the love, respect and consideration that any member of the family deserves and receives.
 

14. "You seem to be quite comfortable in discussing other world religions.  How far does your interest in religions in general and philosophy go?"

My M.A. is in Theology, my Ph.D. is in Comparative Religion, my second doctorate - Metaphysics.

I have visited Hindu temples on many occasions and was at one time invited to speak at a local temple - an event which I considered a privilege and honour and which demonstrated the wide-ranging tolerance and vision of that great people.  Indeed I have cooperated with Hindus in fund-raising events for the Indian continent.

Within the local community I have Muslim acquaintances and appreciate the spirituality and devotional intent in their religion although not the intrinsic patriarchal unipolarity.

Many are the discussions I have enjoyed with an old friend who is both a minister of The Church and a renowned scholar of Hebrew and Canaanite.  One such exchange of ideas became shrouded in mirth when he showed me an engraving of Jehovah with a figure following the god which he announced represented the 'shekinah', a feminine principle or, as he said, 'Mrs. Jehovah'.  I replied swiftly, "I don't think so!".  I quickly pointed out that the second figure had male genitalia - not ithyphallic but "at the droop" and a penis notwithstanding.  "So Jehovah had a catamite", retorted I, to the laughter of us both.

It can be a revelation to speak with a devotee of Krishna on a street corner in mid-December and realise that this young person, still in his twenties, is highly fluent in Sanskrit and Tantrik philosophy.  The winter chill is then soon forgotten.

One may not appreciate the ring of another, the setting or the arrangement of stones but within that ring may be one or two gems which are a perfect joy to behold!
 

15. "This out of curiosity - if you were to emigrate, would you continue to use this form of worship?"

This form of worship and the intrinsic Keltic Deities are valid for the Keltic group mind, collective unconscious, group soul (call it what you will) within this island, nowhere else.

Should I relocate to another country I should attempt to honour the Elder Deities of the chosen land with help from the indigenous people who are devotees of such Deities, provided they were willing to assist me in making my home within their midst spiritually as well as physically.  To do otherwise and try to import a Keltic system into  a foreign land would just be acting out a personal hobby - playacting, if you wish, and dishonouring a land in which I have chosen to live and make my Alma Mater.   (A veritable down-to-earth approach reveals the following incongruity:- Why pretend to be an ancient British Druid somewhere in the USA, trying to organise a 'grove', purchasing a sickle with which to cut mistletoe from the oak trees, when you are surrounded by poplars, firs or giant redwoods with not one oak in sight!?)

For example, should I relocate to India, I would become a Hindu and be absorbed into that branch of parochial spirituality.  Should my new home be  Scandinavian or German, then the Teutonic pantheon would be my inner-plane guide.

If Canada, one would humbly ask guidance and advice at the feet of a genuine member of the  ethnic First Nation - provided he could forgive the Europeans of old  for the pillage and theft of his country!  The same would apply in Australia or New Zealand.  And here I reinforce the terms 'guidance' and 'advice', as I do not expect those races to hand over details of their spiritual heritage to foreigners.  Let us  be prepared to leave the spiritual treasures of these countries where they belong - in the hearts and minds of the indigenous elders who are the rightfull.custodians of these riches.  We may but live respectfully 'neath their shadow.

The Classical pantheons would be my mentor in Italy or Greece and the Kalevala in Finland.  I think that makes my position as clear as the "roebuck in the thicket."
 

16."One last question - why do you spell Keltic with a 'k' and not a 'c'?

In English the word 'Celt' is pronounced 'selt' (as in the name of the Scottish soccer team Celtic which is vocalised as 'Seltic').   This was the name foist upon the peoples of Western Europe by the Romans and Greeks.  The Latin 'Celtae Celtarum' [mpl] was pronounced with a hard 'c'.   There is no 'k' in Latin.  ('c' only became a soft 'ch' before the soft vowels 'e' and 'i' once Latin had been transmuted into Italian.)

The Attic Greek for these races was Keltoi, again with a guttural sound as  there was only one such letter in Greek - kappa.   (The letter 'c' did not exist for them.)  So, whether you look to the Latin or Attic Greek for the derivation, the initial letter always has a hard sound.

This is why the word at one time was written traditionally as 'Kelt'.  Being a bloody-minded old Classics scholar, the product of a private alma mater whose history predates Eton College by 201 years, Fettes College in Edinburgh by 631 years and is but 30 years younger than the University of Cambridge, I am content with the 'K'.  (Oh dear me, I just love being so disgustingly modest!  lol)  Here is a picture of the old school which was founded in 1239 as a Latin Grammar by the Abbot and monks of a local abbey.

Re Q.11 - Which brings us to a caveat - should anyone purport to having been given control of Y Plant Dôn and show any form of document, it will have no validity unless it bears the signatures of both myself and my wife.  Furthermore news of such transfer of control will be intimated on this site.

Alas there are very few who want the onerous task of assimilating all that Y Plant entails and has to offer, with continued analysis of Middle Welsh texts and creativity.  In the past few years the branch in mid Wales disappeared when Ian died and his widow returned to Yorkshire to live out her old age,  Mary, at age 92, died three years ago and James remains in a care home following a stroke.  Esther died in her old age over twenty years ago.  Andrea died quite young in a battle with cancer while Maggie ended her life tragically as a murder victim.

And so the list could continue but these few should demonstrate how no young blood has entered to replace what has been taken by the ravages of time.  A great deal of culpability falls unfortunately at our feet, as we have kept Y Plant Dôn out of sight for a long long time - in my case for nearly 40 years.  Some will ask why was there never any mention of groups such as Y Plant in previous generations.

The answer is that no one was in any position to adopt different identities nor to be seen to be involved in  anything that was not establishment compatible.  That was dangerous.  I was taught that extremely well, even being thrust into the role of cathedral chorister at age 6.  With Christian bigotry being what it was in previous generations, any hint of being 'different' could result in loss of friends, loss of jobs, perhaps loss of rented accomodation, loss of children, smashed windows or personal attacks or ostracism by society.  So you kept your mouth firmly shut!  The adoption of a pseudonym will be explained near the end of this page and thanks to the 20th century's world wide web, this has this become a quite facile exercise.  Although hovering on the perimeter of the internet, only since January 2011 has my site been given its own very obvious URL.

Ergo, we welcome sincere seekers from the UK.  It does seem a trifle strange that I found myself in a position to resurrect the spirit of Y Plant Dôn in some small measure, stabilizing its structure and devoting all my spare hours to The Pantheon to see it eventually disappear to oblivion.  It has been said that the cosmos is a "joke played on itself" but I cannot believe that the High Gods would have such a wicked sense of humour.

In addition, there are far too many tree-huggers and fluffy-bunny types who prefer to have a social gathering in suburbia on certain weekends, drink a bottle of sherry, get their 'duds' off and think they are being pagans.  Even Gareth has joined in home-bound revels since he realised the old hill & woodland paths which led to our Spring and Summer festivals are the enemies of the wheelchair!  (Alas, entropy is an ever-present factor which accelerates with linear time!)

Now heading for the age of 77, it may be time to comment on the persona of Gareth Pengwerin which has served me well for over 50 years in assisting me in preserving anonymity.  This was essential in order that my work in The Mysteries be kept apart from my professional life.  In fact it has all worked very well, indeed better than I could have hoped.

None of my professional colleagues with the exception of but one lady (my assistant departmental head) knew of my involvement with the work of Y Plant Dôn.  Indeed my wife, two sons and daughter are the only members of my family who know the facts.  My wife is my stalwart partner in the work but alas The Portal has never opened to my children for various reasons.  My neighbours, whether long term or more recent since we moved to Edinburgh over some fourteen years ago, are quite unaware of my dual identity.  Friends and acquaintances likewise remain unaware.  I must thank all those who play(ed) a part in Y Plant (and the late Alex Sanders, rest his soul) for having maintained silence all these years and who joke(d) at my 'multiple personalities'!   "Why was this necessary", one may ask?

My profession was that of Head of Department in a city's large high school and lecturing weekly to final year student teachers in methodology at the local College of Education.  The subject?   Music (a graduate of Trinity College of Music, London and an M.Mus. in composition) - as recitalist, conductor and composer of organ & choral music.  On the left is a photo from the 1980s in my department taken by a student.

(I appear in "A Directory of Composers for Organ" by Dr. John Henderson, hon. librarian & archivist to the Royal School of Church Music and remain a member of the Association of British Choral Directors,)

My instruments were piano, clarinet, recorders, saxophones, timpani, pedal organ and into the age of techmology, digital & vector sythesizers.   It was the pedal organ that had me regularly exposed to the public gaze as director of festivals & of church music for 46 years and, at one period in my life, as Master of The Music at an Anglican Cathedral.   On the right is the cathedral organ loft which provided a part of my 'bread and butter' in the 1980s.

The inset here is a bank of synthesizers  programmed to replicate the sound of a large cathedral organ and which I still use in my forays into composition. This 'organ loft' as I call it is the west end of the office and is ideal for fulfilling commissions for choral & organ works for .festivals and recitals.  This is over and above the work of Y Teulu and gives me the opportunity for sonic creativity.

Now the reason for enforced anonimity or pseudonimity becomes abundantly clear. - an essential dichotimic state of affairs, firstly having  to protect my means of livelihood in one sphere of function without the fear of 'exposure' by Christian zealots and poisonous bigots and secondly because the opportunity to earn a living via Keltic Metaphysics, Mediaeval Welsh and Comparative Religion is limited indeed.  So there I stand, half out of the lecture room, organ loft and conductor's podium!  lol   This allowed the Gareth Pengwerin persona to freely walk the corridors of The Mysteries, contributing to various New Age publications unmolested, while interacting and building a rapport with similar figures in other groups.

Regarding my mundane incarnational identity (as I call it), therefore, all will have to keep wondering and now, bowing to the second law of thermodynamics or molestia senectutis, I must paraphrase Galadriel in The Lord of The Rings and simply say: "I shall diminish and go into the West and remain Gareth".   The gif at the bottom of the 'Runes' page says it all very succinctly:-

Knot_Eye  = "Not I"
...