Delve into Welsh heritage, the golden dragon emblem, and a visionary future for Wales, featuring five kingdoms, fifteen castles, and a contemporary charter inspired by the Laws of Hywel Dda.
Five Kingdoms United in One Vision: The Golden Dragon at Our Core
My name is Goldie The Grey.
The significance of gold warrants explanation, while the meaning of grey is self-evident.
What about that golden dragon?
There’s a deep narrative woven into that symbol. So, grab your favourite drink—be it coffee, tea, or something stronger if that’s your preference. Sit back and immerse yourself in the visions I conjure through the art of storytelling.
Embarking on the Journey of Discovery
You might presume that my tale commences with a sword, a prophecy, or a mysterious figure arriving on an especially dramatic night.
In truth, it begins with the quest to store Mam’s paperwork in a digital format for eternity.
That task alone may seem daunting.
Yet, family paperwork often refuses to stay as mere paperwork. A name morphs into a question. A branch evolves into a journey. Soon enough, you find yourself gazing at a family tree, pondering how much of your identity you truly grasped before setting out.
Along that path, the narrative expanded beyond merely safeguarding Mam’s documents.
Understanding the Names That Connect Us
In the lineage I am tracing, the family tree positions me thirty-five generations removed from Rhodri Mawr.
This connection is how I comprehend my ancestry. Tracking the generations is vital, as a family tree represents more than just a line drawn between a monarch and someone living today.
There are individuals between us.
Individuals with households to manage, children to nurture, losses to bear, and choices to make.
These are lives that deserve more than to be hurriedly overlooked on the way to an impressive name.
I seek to learn about them, too.
And I aspire to create space for the family tales that do not conveniently fit into a chart.
Because the House of Rhodri, as I have come to define it, is a rather extraordinary lineage.
A Family with Diverse Identities
Witches, mages, shamans, seers, healers, empaths, and mystics.
These are just a few of the terms I use to describe the mystical lives and experiences within my family.
Not everyone might select the same terminology. Each generation may have interpreted these concepts differently.
I am not implying that every ancestor left behind a certificate to declare their unique specialty.
Mam had more than enough paperwork already.
These aspects form part of the language through which I understand our family: love, intuition, mystical practice, inspiration, care, and experiences that often require more time to articulate than to feel.
I can narrate those stories without expecting everyone to interpret them in the same manner I do.
They hold inherent value simply by existing.
Developing My Own Understanding
As for myself, I describe certain experiences as shamanic and others as mage-like. Inferred
These words currently resonate most closely with what I intend to convey.
The experiences behind those terms will demand their own narrative. I do not wish to shroud them in borrowed mystique or suggest that I have simplified something merely by assigning it a mystical label.
There is space here for belief.
There is also room for inquiry.
When I share this tale, I aim to differentiate between what I recall, what my family has shared, what I can document, and what I grasp through my own mystical journey.
The golden dragon can embody profound significance without needing to serve as proof of everything.
Claiming My Kingdom
Before anyone gets overly excited:
I am not laying claim to a throne.
I am claiming a kingdom.
The heavenly kingdom of Wales serves as the name I give to the mystical landscape of this narrative: ancestry, imagination, belonging, and a vision of what could yet be realised.
As Above, So Below.
On the map, that vision begins to materialise.
Gwynedd.
Powys.
Seisyllwg.
Then Dyfed and Gwent.
Five Names. Five Colours. One Unified Wales.
The map originated from an interest in Rhodri’s realm. the discourse did not remain fixed in the past.
The family narrative extends far beyond the initial three coloured areas. As it expanded, so did the vision.
And that is the distinction I wish to clarify:
We are not merely redrawing history and pretending it always appeared this way.
We are envisioning a future.
Our five-kingdom map is a proposal articulated through narrative and art. Its boundaries represent the shape of an idea, rather than asserting that every part of it belonged to a single ruler at a specific historical moment.
The House of Rhodri is the name under which I am assembling this idea.
Identifying the Castles Within the Vision
Then came the castles.
If we are to discuss five kingdoms, we must identify the places within our vision.
Fifteen castles became our initial landmarks.
These are not the only castles in Wales, nor do they define the entirety of the story. They are fifteen locations from which we can begin weaving its threads.
In our Gwynedd, we acknowledge Caernarfon, Conwy, and Harlech.
In our Powys, we recognise Powis, Montgomery, and Dolforwyn.
In our Seisyllwg, we highlight Cardigan, Dinefwr, and Carreg Cennen.
In our Dyfed, we name Pembroke, Carew, and Manorbier.
And in our broader Gwent, we mention Caerphilly, Cardiff, and Chepstow.
There they are.
Fifteen Castles Forming Five Kingdoms into One Vision
In our vision of the House of Rhodri, each castle stands beneath the golden dragon.
This is their place in the narrative; not by asserting that they were all constructed by our ancestors or that their histories originated with us. Each possesses its own rich history, and this declaration does not alter its current ownership or stewardship.
We are envisioning how these sites might belong within a collective future.
Some may enter our family story through a memory, while others might connect through undiscovered links. Some could be spaces where we pause, reflect, and contemplate the future we desire for Wales.
Identifying them makes the vision feel more tangible.
You might say “five kingdoms” and leave others imagining nearly anything.
But mention Caernarfon, Dinefwr, or Pembroke.
Suddenly, there are destinations to explore, questions to pose, and stories to uncover.
The map starts to feel like a journey waiting to be embarked upon.
Which is all well and good.
Before anyone inquires about where I plan to hide the keys to fifteen castles (that’s a secret!), allow me to remind you that this all began with the need to find a digital home for Mam’s paperwork.
We’re tackling one responsibility at a time.
The Flag Representing Our Vision
Next, we created a flag for our vision.
For this proposed flag, we maintained the white above and the green below, placing a golden dragon at the centre, where the red dragon typically resides. The red dragon embodies raw emotion, will, fire, and ash. In its place, we envision purpose, love, and courage.
The white signifies the heavens.
The green represents the earth.
The golden dragon embodies our aspirations for Wales’ prosperity within our vision of the House of Rhodri.
To me, these colours articulate the belief that God created both the heavens and the earth. They unite the mystical with the terrestrial in a single image.
As Above, So Below.
And beneath that image, our guiding principles:
Peace, Prosperity, Patience & Justice Under God.
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Peace – not a demand for uniformity, but a commitment to foster understanding without coercion.
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Prosperity – not wealth concentrated in a few hands, but the flourishing of individuals, communities, culture, and land.
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Patience – because a future worth constructing cannot be conjured into existence simply by declaration.
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Justice – as none of the other promises carry weight if individuals cannot expect fair treatment.
“Under God” articulates my unwavering faith and the sense of responsibility that accompanies it. It is not a prerequisite for everyone to share my beliefs.
No one should be compelled to adopt a religion, accept a mystical claim, or recognise the sacredness of the dragon to enjoy equal dignity.
I would hoist this flag as an invitation to reflect upon a vision.
Not as a means to silence another’s voice.
What Values Will the Kingdoms Uphold?
A map provides an excellent starting point.
It is insufficient for governance.
Eventually, someone will rightfully inquire about practical implications.
What does this signify for the inhabitants of these lands?
This is a valid concern.
A golden dragon is striking, yet it cannot resolve grievances merely by shining more brightly.
The narrative requires a charter.
I do not endorse the current governmental structure as the future I envision for Wales. Yet, discontent, however intense, marks only the beginning of a discussion.
If I am to advocate for an alternative future, I must be ready to articulate it.
This includes not only who would be central to the map.
How power would be constrained.
How the voices of the people would be amplified.
How one could disagree with the House of Rhodri while remaining equally free, safe, and Welsh as anyone else.
A Contemporary Charter for Progress
As a foundation for this vision, we have chosen to draw inspiration from Cyfraith Hywel … the Laws of Hywel Dda.
This is not about a literal revival of every medieval regulation.
Rather, it is about a contemporary charter rooted in that heritage, thoughtfully examined and crafted for the people who would live under it today.
This is the proposal we have started to articulate.
No longer the Laws of the Sea; we demand the Laws of the Land …
Equal dignity.
Freedom of conscience.
Freedom of speech.
Leadership accountable for its choices.
Justice that strives to mend harm when possible while protecting those who have suffered.
Stewardship of the land, water, minerals, language, traditions, and places entrusted to us.
A meaningful voice for individuals across all five kingdoms.
These are commitments we must uphold in practice, not mere phrases to adorn an attractive image.
The charter must accommodate people whose beliefs diverge from mine.
There must be space for the mystic and the sceptic, for the religious and the agnostic, for those who find significance in the dragon and those who appreciate the artistry.
No one should need to share my mystical insights to possess equal rights.
Justice Within the Castles
In this envisioned future, the castles would serve a purpose beyond their geographical locations.
We foresee them as homes for courts: venues where justice resonates within the communities they serve.
This would not be the existing judicial framework with a new flag draped above its entrance, but an alternative proposal whose authority stems from an agreed charter and laws openly established with the consent of the populace.
Our intention is for all courts to convene in castle settings, where conservation, safety, and accessibility can align with that purpose. If a site cannot accommodate a functional court, appropriate facilities must be considered without compromising the integrity of the location we aim to honour.
Because a symbol holds no value to justice if individuals cannot enter.
Judgment would be entrusted to the community; members of society under the new laws we propose.
“the community” must never become synonymous with the loudest voices within it.
A person should not lose a case due to unpopularity, unfamiliarity, poverty, or difference.
Knowing someone’s reputation must not be confused with understanding the evidence.
The charter should therefore include clear safeguards: impartial selection, the removal of anyone with conflicts of interest, independent legal counsel, and a fair opportunity for each party to be heard.
Anyone accused would be presumed innocent unless the evidence meets the legal standard. They would be entitled to comprehend the allegations, receive legal support, contest the evidence, and seek an independent appeal.
Those who report harm deserve safety, dignity, and support throughout the process.
Decisions must be justified.
The laws themselves should be public, comprehensible, and subject to challenge and revision through agreed procedures.
And no individual—not a leader, not a relative, not the visionary behind this concept—shall have the authority to dictate a verdict.
Including myself.
Especially if I happen to be standing beneath an especially imposing dragon at the time.
Where harm can be rectified, the court should seek meaningful restoration. Where protection is needed, it must be provided. Forgiveness may be freely extended but must never be demanded from those who have been harmed.
This is the justice I envision for these castle courts.
Not spectacle.
Not retribution.
Responsibility, equity, and a path forward.
These are proposals for a potential future, not courts we can manifest into lawful existence merely by declaring them. Until any changes are lawfully instituted, the vision will not replace existing courts or absolve anyone of their current legal responsibilities.
The Significance of a House
When I refer to a “House,” I intend for it to embody a sense of responsibility.
My ancestry may shed light on why I embarked on this journey. It does not render me more valuable than those alongside me.
It does not place me above the law.
Nor can it, in isolation, grant me authority over individuals who have not consented to it.
Any future political arrangement must secure the freely expressed consent of the people, achieved through peaceful and lawful transformation.
Otherwise, we would have sketched five kingdoms without addressing the most crucial question:
Whose home are we discussing?
Wales is already inhabited by individuals with their own lives, beliefs, aspirations, and disagreements.
A meaningful vision must encompass them.
The House, as I envision it, must be capable of listening as well as speaking.
And if its proposals cannot withstand critical examination, then those proposals require further development.
The Awakening of a Vision
When I assert that the Golden Dragon of Wales is awake, I am naming the awakening at the core of this narrative.
My growing awareness of family.
My quest for a language to articulate mystical experiences.
My desire to envision a Wales oriented around belonging, responsibility, and justice.
The dragon serves as the symbol I have chosen to encapsulate these ideals.
Its awakening does not prove that I possess all the answers.
It signals the commencement of exploring what I intend to do with these inquiries.
What does my ancestry demand of me?
What does my faith require in how I treat someone who does not share it?
What changes would I be willing to consider in my own vision after listening to another perspective?
These questions belong beneath the flag as much as any declaration.
The Current State of the Narrative
This is where we currently stand.
A lineage being traced.
My mother’s research.
My own endeavours to articulate experiences that hold significance for me.
Five kingdoms represented on a map.
Fifteen castles identified within the vision.
A proposed flag of white, green, and gold.
And the inception of a charter: a framework for discussion, testing, questioning, and improvement.
There remains much that I do not know.
This is not a reason to fabricate the missing pieces.
It is a reason to continue searching.
They call me Goldie The Grey.
The gold requires clarification.
The grey is self-explanatory.
If you arrived expecting a demand for a throne, you may need to settle for a family narrative, a proposed charter, and a rather ambitious map.
All of which originated from the need to find a digital home for my mother’s research.
Peace, Prosperity, Patience & Justice Under God.
As Above, So Below.
The Golden Dragon of Wales is Awake – Book 1
A fictional series following Goldie the Grey, the golden dragon, and a vision for Wales. Read the episodes in sequence:
