Cynefin

Cynefin (Welsh): "A place where an animal or human feels it ought to live and belong; it is where nature around you feels right and welcoming."

This second book of the trilogy holds the other two together like a bridge that helps prepare the reader for third book. Hiraeth and Cynefin have nearly parallel sequences, which is why you see common themes even though the books read differently.

Cynefin has multiple themes because a person can feel like they belong in many places or with many people. Each person or place makes you feel uniquely 'at home'. The themes of Cynefin come from it being written in different locations, in a few different phases and states of mind.

The beauty of Cynefin is that it was written in the monsoon with the mist and rain of the Himalayan Mountains. Between thunderstorms and months of fog there were unexpected moments when the fog lifted and clouds vanished, opening up views of the valley and majestic snow peaks that inspired odes. no matter how cryptic.

Cynefin is written from the perspective of the reaper and the ferryman. The reaper holds a lamp guiding people through the darkness, while the poems with the voyage theme are like the ferryman's journey. The lamp is seen in the mild silver lining throughout the book: its light may seem dim, but it does the job.

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