In ancient Ireland, before the arrival of the Celts, prehistoric worshippers erected stone cairns, rock structures constructed to commemorate something.
Modron had a son whose name was Mabon, which means Great Son. Mabon glistened and glimmered with his mother’s love. Within him, his own heart also shone with love in return. Those who looked upon Mabon were dazzled by his great energy and his youth.
But while Mabon was still just an infant, a tragedy occurred. Mabon had not yet slept three nights at his mother’s side, suckling at her breast and nuzzling into her arms, when he was stolen away into the darkness! But Mabon was restored and tonight I will tell you of the search for, and the restoration of Mabon. …
You see, Mabon was born at the beginning of time, so long ago that even in the time of King Arthur, hardly anyone had even heard of Mabon or his mother Modron. The only thing that anyone remembered of Mabon was that when He was but three nights old, He was mysteriously stolen from His mother's side and was lost.
The story of the return of Mabon begins with a young man called Culhwch (KESH’-lookh).
Culhwch (KESH’-lookh) was a brave young knight, who one day came across the lovely Olwen, the daughter of Ysbaddaden (iss-pa-THAW-then). Ysbaddaden (iss-pa-THAW-then) was the Giant Chieftain, who was under a doom, a judgment. Ysbaddaden (iss-pa-THAW-then) knew that he would meet his death upon the day his daughter was married. Consequently, Ysbaddaden (iss-pa-THAW-then) set 39 impossible tasks, which included so many heroic tasks and dangerous quests that it would take an army of heroes one hundred years to finish them. This he told to each would-be suitor, if such suitor was able to survive the initial meeting with Ysbaddaden (iss-pa-THAW-then). As a result Olwen remained unwed.
Culhwch (KESH’-lookh) was fearful, but determined that he would wed Olwen. Ysbaddaden (iss-pa-THAW-then) then told Culhwch (KESH’-lookh) if he were able to complete each task, THEN he would have to bring the head of the Great Boar, Tyrch Trwth (terkh trooth), for between the ears of this boar lay a mirror, comb and razor, the items which must be used to prepare Ysbaddaden (iss-pa-THAW-then) for his daughter's wedding. The only one who could kill Tyrch Trwth (terkh trooth) was Mabon the son of Modron. He had been stolen from his mother's side at only three nights old, and he could not be found.
Culhwch (KESH’-lookh) accepted each challenge and confidently vowed to complete each quest victoriously. When he then came to the task of slaying Tyrch Trwth (terkh trooth), he thought to himself, "I need help." "This quest is too much for one young knight to do alone. I must go to the court of my cousin, King Arthur, and ask him to send some of his champions with me."
Culhwch (KESH’-lookh) was greeted warmly at King Arthur's court. Culhwch (KESH’-lookh) told the court of his great mission, and King Arthur, who had always loved a good love story, was touched by his young cousin's resolve. Arthur promised: "I will send three of my most trusted companions to help you find Mabon and rescue him." He chose Cai (kay), Arthur's foster brother; Eidoel (AY-dol), who was called Mabon's kinsman; and Gwrhyr (GOOR-hear), Interpreter of Tongues, who could speak all the languages of all the peoples and animals of the world.
"Ouzel (Ooze-el) of Cilgwri (kil-GOOR-ee)," Gwrhyr (GOOR-hear) said, "we are King Arthur's messengers, come to ask you in the name of all that is sacred if you have news of Mabon, son of Modron, who was taken from His mother's side when he was only three nights old."
The Blackbird told them "I have been on this Earth a long time. When I first came here, there was a smith's anvil. I was a young bird and no work was done on that anvil except for when my beak lay upon it in the evening. Today there is not even a small bit of that anvil that has not been worn away. But in all that time, I have not heard of Mabon, son of Modron. But since you come from King Arthur, I will guide you to a place where there is an animal older than I."
"I have been on this Earth a long time,” the Stag said. “When I first came here, there was only one small antler point on each side of my head, and there were no trees here except for a single oak sapling. That grew into an oak of a hundred branches, and the oak fell and wore away and today there is nothing left of it but a red stump. But in all that time, I have heard nothing of Mabon, son of Modron. But since you come from Arthur, I will guide you to a place where there is an animal older than me."
"I have been on this Earth a long time," the "Eagle of Gwernabwy (gwer-NAH-bwee) replied. "When I first came here, I had a stone so tall and high, that from its top I could peck at the stars, and now it is worn away so small that your hand could cover it. And in all that time, I have heard nothing of Mabon, son of Modron."
Discouraged, the Companions prepared to leave, the Eagle had been their last hope in finding what happened to Mabon son of Modron. Wherever He was, He was imprisoned forever. But then the Eagle spoke again.
The Eagle guided them down the mountain, through the valleys, and finally along the river until they came upon the shores of Llyn Llyw (shlin shloo). There they saw the great Salmon swimming in the clear water. To the Celts, the Picts, the Druids and a number of other human cultures, the humble salmon has stood as a symbol of wisdom and held sacred.
"Salmon of Llyn Llyw (shlin shloo)," the Eagle said, "I have come with Arthur’s messengers, seeking news of Mabon, son of Modron, who was taken from His mother's side when He was only three nights old. In the name of all that is sacred, tell us what you know."
"This is what I know," the Salmon told them, "On every high tide I go up the river to Caer Loyw (care loy), the fortress of light. There I hear the sounds of such suffering that never in my life have I heard such distress before. Two of you come on my back, and I will take you there."
It was not surprising that the wise old Salmon would know the way, they are infamous for their grueling aquatic odysseys that they undertake annually having learned to navigate by their sense of smell AND by the Earth’s magnetic fields. Not only that, but they have the capability to live in two worlds. They can live in both salt water AND freshwater. They migrate towards the ocean between March and June after they have undergone physiological changes that allow them to live in salt water. Then, after about a year at sea, they return between November and February to breed.
The salmon then took Gwrhyr (GOOR-hear) and Cai (Kay) on his shoulders to the walls of Caer Loyw (care loy), it seemed to be a a dark and terrifying edifice of stone, and on the other side of the walls, they could hear the sound of crying and wailing.
"Who is that crying and wailing in this house of stone?" Gwrhyr (GOOR-hear) called.
"It is I, Mabon, son of Modron," they heard in reply, "and I have reasonto cry, for no one was ever so miserable as I am, imprisoned here."
"How can you be freed? Can you be ransomed for gold and silver or worldly wealth, can you be freed with peaceful talking, or must you be freed by fighting?"
"No gold or silver or worldly goods, nor even peacefultalking can free me," came the answer, "I can only be freed by fighting and battle."
"Don't despair! We will go and get aid from King Arthur, and surely we shall free you!"
Gwrhyr (GOOR-hear) and Cai (Kay) returned with the Salmon to where Eidoel (AY-dol) waited with Culhwch (KESH’-lookh). They thanked the Salmon and make their way back to King Arthur's court, where they told their story.
"How can I ever thank you?" Mabon asked them when the battle was over and He at long last stood on the outside of His prison.
"Help me with my quest," Culhwch (KESH’-lookh) said, "Only You can succeed in hunting the Great Boar Tyrch Trwth (terkh trooth) and winning from him the mirror, the comb and the razor that lie between his ears." So they set off into the deepest forest any of them had ever seen. Day and night they traveled, and always, Mabon led the way, guided by His instinct. At last, as the sun set on the third day, they heard a great snorting and bellowing and stamping in the woods. Quickly they took their places on either side of the path. Then, with a roar like a hundred lions, the giant boar came rushing out of the forest. He was big as an elephant, with tusks as long as a small tree and sharp as a knife, and between his ears was a mirror, a comb, and a razor.
Ysbaddaden (iss-pa-THAW-then) turned pale when he saw that Culhwch (KESH’-lookh) had returned successful. Sighing, and with tears running from his eyes, he allowed Culhwch (KESH’-lookh)’s companions to comb his hair and shave his beard while he gazed at himself in the mirror. A great feast of pork was held and then Culhwch (KESH’-lookh) and Olwen were married. When all the feasting and rejoicing was done, they cut off the giant’s head.
Thus the Great Son of the Great Mother, both of whose love shone like light, was restored from seemingly being forever constrained in the other world, to shine light into the world.
So when it seems that the light of love has been lost forever, know that from the cairn of the grave love returns into the world to shine it’s light for sharing with others during the darkening days ahead.