In February 2000, we were told that after an extended illness, Taliesin Winn, the sole surviving elder of the Dynion Mwyn Welsh Family Gwyddon (Witchcraft) tradition, died quietly in his sleep.  This is the tradition from which Y Dynion Mwyn Welsh Witchcraft tradition derives.  Taliesin always claimed that his family was related indirectly to the Gruffydd family which was that of Llewelyn, the last true prince of Wales.  He also variously spelled his name Winn, Wynn, or Wynne, which would lead one to believe that if indeed this was his last name, he didn't want anyone outside a select few to know who he really was.

We were told that for the last few years, Taliesin lived with a companion, on a small island off the coast of Scotland, writing and meditating.  It is also said that he survived the passing of his sister by only a few months.  The following information was extracted from his journals by "Robert" Brian Martin, and will serve as Taliesin's  brief eulogy and Biography:

"Taliesin Winn, was born in the forests of North Wales.   During his early years, because of his father's government position, the family traveled throughout Europe.   They returned to England in 1938, and the children were sent to live with relatives in Wales.  In September, 1940, their father and mother were killed in the Blitz bombing of London during the Battle of Britain.  He and his sister were take in and raised by an uncle and auntie in a small village near the town of Betws y Coed.  It was here they learned of his families heritage of Druidism, Templarism and Witchcraft as they met Y Tylwyth Teg (welsh fairies) at Fairy Ring near Betws y Coed, and swam with the water sprites in the local river.  He lied about his age and entered service with the British army in the early 1943, and was part of the D-day invasion at Normandy in June 1944. (we found a record of a James Winn who was wounded on July 4 1944) And took part in the battle of Epsom, the record says he fought for a few more days because there was no help forthcoming and then he was sent back to England to recuperate. 

The journal is reported to have said that "in November 1945 his uncle and auntie decide to visit relatives in the United States, obtained a work visa, and the family including Taliesin and Patricia, his sister, moved to the state of New Jersey.   Taliesin did not like that part of the United States, but he attended classes at a nearby college and after graduation, returned to England.  His sister, aunt and uncle soon followed.  They lived near Trenton until 1959.  After a year of traveling in Europe and England, he returned to North Wales in 1960 and says he was very happy to get back to his home. 

"Over the next few years in between working at various jobs, he continued his occult studies and spent a great deal of time with his auntie who was an herbalist and Offieriadess (something like a priestess or elder) of Dynion Mwyn.  He learned of the energy of the mountains through doing "Cave Workings" and hiking near Mt. Snowdonia.  Taliesin also says that his uncles were members of the Kibbo Kift during the 1920s. 

"There is also evidence that during the 1920s and 30s, family members migrated to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada.  It has been claimed by members of Gwen Thompsons's Celtic tradition that her ancestors were members of this migration.   We can't prove it, but we have compared a copy of Gwen's book of shadows which she sent to Rhuddlwm Gawr, with a book of Shadows obtained from Lady Boudicca who was of the Dynion Mwyn tradition and they are very similar.

"In 1961 while helping to renovate a ancestral home, a discovery was made while excavating for a burial crypt, under a chapel building that changed his life.   Taliesin said he found evidence of a Gwyddon or Welsh Mage or Witch who at one time used the Crypt for magickal workings.  He said he found manuscripts in terrible condition which he used as a basis for the Thirteen Treasures" (Our magickal workbooks).    Rhuddlwm Gawr mentions in The Quest, his first book, that when he studied at the farm in North Wales, he saw a library behind a chapel which was in the side of a hill, and that the Library was underground.  Can this be the same library described by Taliesin as a Crypt and magickal workroom?

There is evidence that Taliesin accumulated and consolidated a great deal of information, some which were acquired from his uncles, some which came from his herbalist aunt, some from ancestral sources, and some from magickal grimoires which he had contact with.  In 1962 while visiting friends, he met a gentleman named Roy Bowers who he says inspired him to begin teaching.  He says he organized the family's records and brought together the first class from outside the family.   He records that Ruth (Gwendolyn) Wynn Owens, a cousin, studied with the family and carried the religion to London where she taught the old ways until she passed on;   In the 1963, Taliesin traveled to the USA (California) and according to Robert Martin, was involved with a group of Pagans in California.  He briefly studied and was initiated by a Adam Kadmon who taught him something of a Pagan tradition which was popular at that time.  He returned to Wales and according to R. Martin, he incorporated what he had learned into the Dynion Mwyn tradition he had learned from his uncles and his aunt.

In 1965 Rhuddlwm Gawr met Sarah Wentworth while on holiday in Majorca.  She invited him to London and then they drove to Wales where he was introduced to Taliesin.  Rhuddlwm stayed in Wales and studied The Old Ways with the Wynn family.  In 1966 Rhuddlwm returned to the US and established the Coven and Church of Y Tylwyth Teg in Landover Maryland. 

Sarah (Cerridwen) Wentworth, a cousin, was his Offieriadess until 1987; R. (Math) Johnson, another cousin emigrated to Australia where he passed on the tradition until his death in 1989, and D. (Gwydion) Jones took the tradition to Patagonia (a region of Argentina) where it is said he teaches today.

"Taliesin taught the Old Ways until 1996 when he turned over the leadership of Dynion Mwyn to his sister who became chief elder until she died in 1999. 

"Taliesin was responsible for opening up the Welsh tradition to outsiders.  His dying wish was that the basic philosophy of the Welsh tradition be available to all through the internet, and that seekers be given a "Taste of Wales" through home study classes.  Y Dynion Mwyn sponsors his page on the net at: http://www.dynionmwyn.net/dynionmwyn/dynionmwyn23.html"

Lady Boudicca

"Taliesin, we never got along, but I respect you and hope that wherever you are, you are finally happy and content."...Rhuddlwm Gawr

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