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 A 4-Week Journey through Bardic Wisdom & Mythic Traditions of Wales & Britain

Discover grounded ancestral teachings through learning & embodiment

Starting: Tuesday 17th February - 10th March, 6-9pm

If you are late, catch the replays!

with Storyteller Stella Marie & Elder Bard, Ken Shapley

ALL SESSIONS RECORDED

ENROL IN THE COURSE

 A 4-Week Exploration of the Bardic Mysteries & Mythic Traditions of Wales & Britain 

Discover grounded ancestral teachings through learning & embodiment

 

Tuesday 17th Feb - 10th March

6-9pm GMT

If you are late, catch the replays!

 

with Stella Marie & Elder Bard, Ken Shapley

ALL SESSIONS RECORDED
Join Awen Awakens

I was conjured by the wisdom

of sages before the world.

Before I had being,

before the world began.

(anonymous medieval poem, signed with 'Taliesin')

What Happens During This 4-Week Journey

Engage with the historic sacred texts - From the Taliesin myth to the esoteric-poetry of the Bards. Not New Age interpretations, but the materials preserved throughout time.

Become a myth-weaver - Discover the role of the ancient storytelling wisdom keepers, the Cyfarwydd

Learn from a 30-year elder Bard - Ken Shapley shares living practices of opening to divine inspiration through sound, ritual, and land connection.

Work with sound as spiritual practice - discovering how voice, rhythm, and sound open us to creative flow and connection with the more-than-human world

Connect to your local land - whether you're in Britain or across the oceans.

Work with Cerridwen as divine muse - the Bardic path of discipline, devotion, and transformation.

Discuss what these teachings mean to YOU - we explore together, bringing our own insights into dialogue with the source materials, our experiences, and each other.

I'M READY TO DIVE IN

This journey is for you if you're tired of appropriating and ready to root into your own spiritual lineage from a place of confidence and respect; through magical Welsh myth and mystic poetry, woven into the mythic memory of Britain

 

We invite you to connect to the authentic spiritual crafts from your ancestral land while acknowledging that this work is about re-enchanting the world that we live in today.

We want you to become a wisdom keeper, weaving what you find within this mythology into your own spiritual practice through your own intuitive responses to the source materials, guided by methods and experiences that Ken & Stella have developed in our own practices. 

This is about learning from the original texts, the mystic poetry of the Bards of Britain and Welsh language sources, through discussion, practice, and reflection in community, with joy, merriment, creativity, devotion, and respect at the centre.

Connect to your ancestral lineage and remember what it means to live within the world of sound and story, with a wonder-filled relationship to your local landscape and the more-than-human, inspired by Welsh, Celtic myth.


Awen Awakens invites you to explore the Welsh tale of Taliesin through a mystic lens. This course will guide you through the history, the ancient, mythic archetypes, metaphysical spiritual teachings, practices, and your own land-based relationships.

In the course we look at original Welsh Bardic texts, sources and translations to discover their role for us as individuals and together as a community.

DIVE RIGHT IN
This journey is for you if you're tired of appropriating and ready to root into your own spiritual lineage from a place of confidence and respect; through magical Welsh myth and mystic poetry, woven into the mythic memory of Britain

We invite you to connect to the authentic spiritual crafts from your ancestral land while acknowledging that this work is about re-enchanting the world that we live in today.

We want you to become a wisdom keeper, weaving what you find within this mythology into your own spiritual practice through your own intuitive responses to the source materials, guided by methods and experiences that Ken & Stella have developed in our own practices. 

JOIN AWEN AWAKENS

Connect to your ancestral lineage and remember what it means to live within the world of sound and story, with a wonder-filled relationship to your local landscape and the more-than-human, inspired by Welsh, Celtic myth.

Awen Awakens invites you to explore the Welsh tale of Taliesin through a mystic lens. This course will guide you through the history, the ancient, mythic archetypes, metaphysical spiritual teachings, and your own land-based relationships.

In the course we look at original Welsh Bardic texts, sources and translations to discover their role for us as individuals and together as a community.

The name Taliesin translates to 'Shining, Radiant Brow', and this is the name placed upon a young boy after he undergoes a transformative, mystic initiation.

Welsh mythology is rich in mystical, spiritual wisdom, with stories woven into the landscape of Britain, giving us clues into the mythic world of our ancestors, the Tale of Taliesin is more than just a story, it's threads weave us into core mythic traditions of these isles.

JOIN AWEN AWAKENS

By the end of 4 weeks, you'll have

Moved from being ungrounded and confused about how to engage with the old sacred texts and materials, to confidence and familiarity

Shifted from dipping your toes in to the spiritual work, to actively opening yourself as a channel for the Awen of divine inspiration

Transformed from disconnected to rooted with practical tools for land connection and seasonal practice (wherever you are)

Gone from isolated book-learning to being held in community with elder guidance

Stepped into your power as a divinely inspired creator of your own life and work, the true gift of the Bardic tradition

ENROL IN THE COURSE

Why Stella & Ken?

Ken has traveled the world, teaching in Tibet, trained by master storytellers from Japan, India, Scotland & beyond, with lived experience working with the Awen on the land of Britain for 30+ years, returning to his Welsh heritage again and again.

Stella is a young Welsh storyteller who has devoted her life to uncovering and sharing the Taliesin mysteries, based on spiritual experiences that nothing else could guide her through as much as this mythology. Her roots within rap, poetry and music weave her crafts into the Bardic world. She is re-claiming her ancestral Welsh culture with you.|

During this course you will:

Dive deep into the Tale of Taliesin. You'll know this tale intimately, not just as a story, but as a living myth that speaks to your own transformation.

Become a myth-weaver yourself and discover the ancient role of the Welsh wisdom keepers, the Cyfarwydd and the Bards along with the history of these roles.

Explore the rest of the story of Taliesin and go on the journey with him becoming Wales' greatest visionary-poet.

Explore Awen and Annwfn, the Welsh otherworld, through breath, voice, and sound. 

Awaken your inner Bard and your poetic power with ease, and explore old Welsh Bardic poetry and original texts.

Learn about Celtic animism and relate to the more-than-human world, the trees, weather and animals, through your own ecological landscape.

ENROL NOW

Why Stella & Ken?

Ken has traveled the world, teaching in Tibet, trained by master storytellers from Japan, India, Scotland & beyond, with lived experience working with the Awen on the land of Britain for 30+ years, returning to his Welsh heritage again and again.

Stella is a young Welsh storyteller who has devoted her life to uncovering and sharing the Taliesin mysteries, based on spiritual experiences that nothing else could guide her through as much as this mythology. Her roots within rap, poetry and music weave her crafts into the Bardic world. She is re-claiming her ancestral Welsh culture with you.

In the sessions you will

Learn about Awen - A source of divine inspiration and prophetic insight for the ancient Bards & modern practitioners.

Weave words -  Learn how to enter flow states to access your inner poetic expression.

Discover Annwfn - The realm of fae, giants, mythic creatures and Awen, accessible through the self and the land.

Meet Cerridwen - Goddess, sorceress, shapeshifter. Muse to the Medieval Bards.

Journey with Taliesin • Explore this visionary poet through history, the man, the myth & the channel.

"What a gorgeous triad of Awen Awakenings! I feel as though our circle was beginning to form a community, thanks to your wise and skilful leadership...not to mention the beauty and depth of your teaching." - Vici

You will learn:

About Awen - A source of divine inspiration and prophetic insight for the ancient Bards & modern practitioners.

How to weave words -  Learn how to enter flow states to access your inner poetic expression.

Discover Annwfn - The realm of fae, giants, mythic creatures and Awen, accessible through the self and the land.

Meet Cerridwen - Goddess, sorceress, shapeshifter. Muse to the Medieval Bards.

Journey with Taliesin - Explore this visionary poet through history, the man, the myth & the channel.

"What a gorgeous triad of Awen Awakenings! I feel as though our circle was beginning to form a community, thanks to your wise and skilful leadership...not to mention the beauty and depth of your teaching." - Vici

You Receive

4 Live Sessions Over 4 Weeks

(Thursdays 17th Feb - 10th March, 6-9pm GMT)

All recorded!

Community group chat with Stella & Ken

For questions and shared insights.

Embodied practices, rituals & prompts

To deepen your relationship with the work.

Bardic Storytelling and Music Performance of the Tale of Taliesin.

Accessible as soon as you enrol!

You're invited to connect to a living, breathing, spiritual lineage where you will dive deep into a core ancestral myth from Wales and Britain.

ENROL NOW

AWEN AWAKENS

£130

 Payment plans available!

Tuesday the 17th Feb - 10th March at 6PM GMT

If you are late, catch the replays!

JOIN AWEN AWAKENS

Embodying Awen; connect to a living, breathing tradition.

This course braids the many elements of the Bard: all that is fun, merry, enchanting and playful, with the devotional and disciplined.

We’ll get serious, and we’ll get silly, and most importantly, we’ll honour the sacred essence of this work, together in a community spanning across the seas.

The ancient Bardic craft of Awen is rooted within the poetic Welsh language, you will explore Taliesin’s Welsh poetry with modern translations.

Embodying Awen; connect to a living, breathing tradition.

This course braids the many elements of the Bard: all that is fun, merry, enchanting and playful, with the devotional and disciplined.

We’ll get serious, and we’ll get silly, and most importantly, we’ll honour the sacred essence of this work, together in a community spanning across the seas.

The ancient Bardic craft of Awen is rooted within the poetic Welsh language, you will explore Taliesin’s Welsh poetry with modern translations.

This is about Awakening Awen in today's world when we need it the most.

What will your personal insights and responses be to this work?

The biggest hurdle when discovering this work in today's world is coming across teachers and guides appropriating the Bardic culture of Britain and Wales, which is so prevalent in the mainstream world of Celtic spirituality. People want to have quick results that suit their personal beliefs, rather than working with the original Welsh sources in a community that's also walking the modern mystic path.

This is about Awakening Awen in today's world when we need it the most.

What will your personal insights and responses be to this work?

The biggest hurdle when discovering this work in today's world is coming across teachers and guides appropriating the Bardic culture of Britain and Wales, which is so prevalent in the mainstream world of Celtic spirituality. People want to have quick results that suit their personal beliefs, rather than working with the original Welsh sources in a community that's also walking the modern mystic path.

Dive deep into the Celtic story of Taliesin & the Cauldron of Awen.

 a magical Welsh tale woven into the mythic memory of Britain

MEET YOUR GUIDES - Why Stella & Ken?

Stella and Ken met shoulder to shoulder sat around an evening fire, basking in the magic of storytelling, music and poetry, later attending another gathering for Samhain, and connecting through their resonant creative and spiritual paths.

ENROL IN AWEN AWAKENS

Stella Sheppard

Stella is a young Welsh artist and storyteller, uncovering ancestral Earth-focused spiritual traditions and mythic history from Wales and Britain, she is currently studying an MA in Illustration, exploring visual storytelling traditions through practice and research.

By age 25, both of Stella's parents had passed away from mental health-related struggles, leaving her to navigate grief while transforming generational trauma into all that she does today. This profound initiation, including her mother introducing her to the spirit realm, became the foundation for everything that followed - her journey of re-enchanting the world through the keys she found within my ancestral spiritual lore.

Through deep research, embodied relating to her local landscape and ecology, and hosting workshops, she is constantly uncovering the animistic heart of British spirituality by uncovering Welsh folktales and stories of the land. Stella runs a podcast, facilitates workshops, ceremonies and hosts pilgrimages where she is from in South Wales.

Ken Shapley

Ken is a 61-year-old elder bard and Awenidd who has partaken of Ceridwen's cauldron for over 30 years. Since childhood, the world of lucid dreaming was stronger than waking life, a gift that fueled his lifelong exploration of how consciousness, sound, and magical intent work together.

An initiated bard through OBOD, Ken has studied with shamans, monks, and master storytellers across Japan, Canada, India, and Scotland, weaving together the threads of First Nations ceremony, Tibetan Buddhist practice, and ancient sound healing. After decades walking the paths of other traditions, he discovered that returning to his Welsh Celtic roots felt like finding "his bunch of nutters", a people cozy with one foot in each world, where humour dances with ceremony and creativity flows like the sacred rivers of the land.

Born in Llantwit Major, Wales, ancient home of eternal choirs, Ken bridges generations as a healer, musician, poet, and maker of wands and staffs. The Awen has called him home, and he brings the wisdom of an elder who knows the Bardic path from deep, lived experience. 

Join Awen Awakens

MEET YOUR GUIDES

Stella and Ken met shoulder to shoulder sat around an evening fire, basking in the magic of storytelling, music and poetry, later attending another gathering for Samhain, and connecting through their resonant creative and spiritual paths.

Stella Sheppard

Stella is a young Welsh artist and storyteller, uncovering ancestral Earth-focused spiritual traditions and mythic history from Wales and Britain, she is currently studying an MA in Illustration, exploring visual storytelling traditions through practice and research.

By age 25, both of Stella's parents had passed away from mental health-related struggles, leaving her to navigate grief while transforming generational trauma into all that she does today. This profound initiation, including her mother introducing her to the spirit realm, became the foundation for everything that followed - her journey of re-enchanting the world through the keys she found within my ancestral spiritual lore.

Through deep research, embodied relating to her local landscape and ecology, and hosting workshops, she is constantly uncovering the animistic heart of British spirituality by uncovering Welsh folktales and stories of the land. Stella runs a podcast, facilitates workshops, ceremonies and hosts pilgrimages where she is from in South Wales.

Ken Shapley

Ken is a 61-year-old elder bard and Awenidd who has partaken of Ceridwen's cauldron for over 30 years. Since childhood, the world of lucid dreaming was stronger than waking life, a gift that fueled his lifelong exploration of how consciousness, sound, and magical intent work together.

An initiated bard through OBOD, Ken has studied with shamans, monks, and master storytellers across Japan, Canada, India, and Scotland, weaving together the threads of First Nations ceremony, Tibetan Buddhist practice, and ancient sound healing. After decades walking the paths of other traditions, he discovered that returning to his Welsh Celtic roots felt like finding "his bunch of nutters", a people cozy with one foot in each world, where humour dances with ceremony and creativity flows like the sacred rivers of the land.

Born in Llantwit Major, Wales, ancient home of eternal choirs, Ken bridges generations as a healer, musician, poet, and maker of wands and staffs. The Awen has called him home, and he brings the wisdom of an elder who knows the Bardic path from deep, lived experience. 

Join Awen Awakens
ENROL IN THE COURSE

"You’re a beautiful teacher ~ deeply grateful for all you’ve shared today <3 it’s been so soothing. The discussion has been sooooo special, deeply resonant, thank you everyone!! You are all so valued!!! Much love and blessings!" - Awen Awakens Atendee 

"The music is very transformative... transportive to another realm. Works beautifully." - Philip

"Thank you, the story was riveting and beautifully related" - Jacqui Carroll

"I met Ken while teaching English in a Tibetan Monastery tucked in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. It didn't take long before I realised he wasn't and ordinary EL teacher, but an old soul who was carrying in him old wisdom stories from time immemorial.

In his spare time he was experimenting with healing properties of sounds and vibrations while resonating 7 or 8 Tibetan bowls, of all sizes. He taught me how to make a didg out of a bamboo cane and bee's wax. He became a good friend over the years and I wish I could spend some more time with the old cheeky bard." - Geronimo 

"With his warm personality and easy-going nature, Ken creates a welcoming atmosphere and a strong connection with his audience. He also helps others to develop and deepen their own connections - to themselves, to story, to the land, and to each other.
His stories are sometimes mystical and magical, sometimes mischievous and humorous, but always from the heart. He carries the wisdom of the tradition bearers, and also brings learning from his own experience and journeyings." - David