The Nine Morgens of Avalon
the Ninefold Sisterhood of Avalon
This sisterhood was first described by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his poem Vita Merlini. He gives us the first literary description of the Isle of Avalon. In this poem Avalon is not mentioned by name, but as the Fortunate Isle. It is a place where everything grows without needing cultivation, and the Ninefold Sisterhood can heal all sorts of ills. It is a place where humans can live over a hundred years easily, and there are apple orchards (giving us the first literary mention of apples being the fruit of Avalon). Merlin takes Arthur there so that his wounds can be tended by Morgen, the leader of the Sisterhood. It is said she is the most talented, and most beautiful of the nine. She is also able to shape shift, and “fly on strange wings, like Dedalus.”
The names of the Ninefold Sisterhood are Thitis, Cliton, Thetis, Gliten, Glitonea, Moronoe, Mazoe, Tyronoe, and of course Morgen le Fay. Kathy Jones, in Priestess of Avalon Priestess of the Goddess, compares them to the Greek muses. Specifically due to their training in several liberal arts. These arts include astronomy or astrology, mathematics, physic, music, dance, healing, herblore, prophecy, and shapeshifting. Jones also goes on to relate each of the nine to aspects of weather, and ages of a woman’s life.
Mazoe rules over the time we celebrate Samhain. Tyronoe rules over the time we celebrate the Winter Solstice. Thitis rules over the time we celebrate Imbolc. Cliton rules over the time we celebrate the Vernal Equinox. Thetis rules over the time we celebrate Beltane. Gliten rules over the time we celebrate the Summer Solstice. Glitonea rules over the time we celebrate Lammas. Moronoe rules over the time we celebrate the Autumnal Equinox. Each of these eight are elemental Faery Queens who can help in celebration of these natural holidays. Morgen le Fay is the Goddess in the center, and the Lady of Avalon. She rules over all of these days as the supreme leader of the sisterhood.
About the nine sisters a book has been written by Kathy Jones: – Re -membering the nine Morgens, Nine Sisters of Avalon
And here you may listen to a wonderful interview about this book by Maya Vassallo Di Florio,
a founder of Goddess Temple Rome :
https://www.facebook.com/giovanna.vassallo.3/videos/10224715359977507/
