Gawain and the Green Knight

Gawain and the Green Knight is a fascinating tale, full of esoteric lessons. A similar story is found in Irish mythology: This pre-dates
the Gawain version and is, probably, the source from which Gawain and the Green Knight derives.

Apart from the Green Knight version, other variants exist ; notably, Sir Gawain and the Carl of Carlisle and Turk and Gawain.

It is also interesting to note that the original “grail” story, from the Mabinogion, has a severed head on the platter as the main object in the procession. The importance of the head in Celtic mythology is to extant to venture into here, but mention of Bran (a Fisher King aspect) and his links to Arthur are worth mentioning.

Gawain’s importance among the Knights of the round table can not be ignored, he is the most significant despite efforts of later writers to denegrate him. Forget Galahad and Lancelot for a moment who are, to some extent late additions in the form that we receive them, and they gloss over the true importance of Gawain who is described by some later writers as a womaniser by some Christian variants of the Arthurian cycle. He is in fact a significant aspect of the feminine principle in spirituality, or more specifically the feminine principle within the male psyche. He also represents nature and I believe he represents the “natural state” of man, which is why he is of such importance. (I would recommend a great book which does service to Gawain, details of which can be found on my lens at

A sun god, a golden haired boy…Mabon. Arthur’s cousin (or in some variants, his son), but Arthur’s tanist all the same. Summer Prince to Arthur’s Winter King.