Classes and workshops

Tales from the Old North
Starts 6th January

Intro to Celtic Mythology
Starts 3rd January
Click here for full class information.
I love the legends of the Old North. Not the stories of Arthur, which arise later, but that tales of Urien of Rheged and his kin. The poetry of the historical Taliesin, of Aneirin and Llwyarch Hen. The confused tales of Merlin, Lailoken, and Kentigern, which in turn circle back to Owain ap Urien, and find a new native expression in the tales of Owain (and his cousin, Peredur) in the Mabinogion.
Click here for full class information.
This class is designed to help you approach Celtic mythology with more confidence.
If you’re new to Celtic mythology (and even if you’re not so new) this course will help you to define things, and organise the information.
And stories! There will be stories!
Picture

    Please subscribe to my newsletter to find out about future classes.

Picture
Picture

Hedge teacher?

I sometimes call myself a hedge teacher. That has nothing to do with hedge witches, or anything like that. Instead, it refers to the spirit of the hedge schools of 18th and 19th century Ireland. Schools for ordinary people who cared deeply about learning, but who either couldn’t access education through official channels, or preferred to avoid them. The standard of scholarship was often high, but the regulation was informal, and teachers were supported by the community.  
Recreation of an Irish hedge school

Other classes

Shapeshifters and Magical Animals


In Shapeshifters and Magical Animals we will explore stories and poems from Britain and Ireland concerning the themes of transformation, wisdom, immortality, and time. Material will be drawn from folklore, myth, early bardic poetry, and relevant modern writers. This class is suitable for students who are new to Celtic material, but should add richness and insight for those who are not.
Picture
Irish-Brythonic Connections
A fun class covering a wide range of connections between Irish and Welsh/Brythonic mythology and deities.
  • Cognate deities
  • Parallel stories
  • Visiting the neighbours
Celtic Beginnings
A class about Celtic culture, myths, and deities aimed specifically at people interested in Celtic Paganism/Polytheism - especially newcomers.
Are you interested in Celtic Paganism, but don’t know where to turn for good information? Maybe it feels like the topic is impossibly big, or like every time you ask a question you get sent in a different direction.
This course is designed with you in mind!

Meeting the Tuatha Dé Danann in the Cath Maige Tuired

The Cath Maige Tuired (The 2nd Battle of Moytura) is a classic and central part of the Irish "mythological cycle". It is useful for introducing many of the Tuatha Dé Danann in clear characterisations, and tells a good story in the process.
Manannán and Beyond


In Manannán and Beyond we will explore Manannán mac Lir, the lord of the sea and the otherworld, in His many manifestations in myth, folklore and the landscape.

Celtic Poetry Workshop

Two weeks of intense dabbling
with Celtic poetry.
This class should give you a better appreciation of early Celtic poetry, plus tools and ideas for writing poetry.
What if you don’t speak any Celtic languages?
The question I’m asked most often about this work is what value it has to those who don’t speak the languages of the original poems. My answer is that it absolutely still has value. Poets who speak these languages have considered it worthwhile to translate their native poetry, and sometimes their own poetry, into English – giving us a window into the soul of that poetry. At the same time, by studying the techniques used by the original poets, we can find much to apply to our own writing.        

Women and goddesses in the Mabinogi


A series exploring the treatment of women, the male/female balance of power, mythological background, and symbolism in The Four Branches of the Mabinogi.

This class is a great entry point for studying the Mabinogi or for taking your first class with me - but I think it will also be of interest to those who know this material better.

Mabon, Modron, and Maponos



Maponos and Mabon were very important deities in Gaul and Britain, as were their mothers, Matrona and Modron, yet they don't get that much attention in Celtic Paganism. I aim to change that, if I can!

I will do my best to guide you with a sure hand as we delve deeply into many aspects or Celtic history and myth is search of these wonderful deities.

The Celtic Horse Goddesses



A six week class exploring the goddesses Epona, Macha, and Rhiannon in detail, as well as looking at the changing relationship between humans and horses.

Tales from Southern Scotland


A bit of a departure from my usual exploration of Medieval mythological texts, because, for the most part, Scotland doesn’t have them. It’s impossible to offer an overview of Scottish folklore in a three-week class, so I’ll be going for depth in areas where I know the territory. We'll look at folk-tales, ballads, and social history as I found it during the years I lived in Scotland.

Celtic Myths and Deities

What will you learn?
  • During the course we will take an overview of the main myths of Ireland and Wales, and their deities.
  • We will also study a few myths and deities in more detail.
  • My main goal is to give you the tools to study independently, with confidence, once the course has ended.
  • This is an enormous subject, so a ten-week course can’t cover everything!

I taught this ambitious ten week series several times in 2019 and 2020. It is a full-on "bootcamp" of a course, and I might need some convincing that it is really the best way forward, before I offer it again.