The Dolman Arch describes the hunan (the Personality) as being composed of meddwl (Thought), bryd (Will), and cof (Memory). All humans have a hunan. Animals do not have a hunan, but they do have a nwyd (the Irrational Self). (And humans, being animals, also have a nwyd.) All living things have a bywyd (the body, senses, and basic biological forces of drives and instincts). Animals and humans also have a bywyd.
These aspects can be aligned to the Cantrefs that are within.
| bywyd | the body, senses, and basic biological forces of drives and instincts | Daear |
| nwyd | the Irrational Self (passions) | (unawakened) Ufel |
| meddwl (part of hunan) | Thought | Awyr |
| bryd (part of hunan) | Will | Ufel |
| cof (part of hunan) | Memory | Dwr |
For the Cantrefs that surround:
| Spirit Below | Intuition | Maen |
| Spirit Above | Inspiration | Nef |
| Spirit Within | Life/Imagination | Byw |
When pondering how to understand the First Branch of The Mabinogion, I realized that one of the meanings of Pwyll is sense, which corresponds to Bywyd and the Cantref Daear. I then considered if the other main characters of the First Branch could correspond to the other Cantrefs.
Pwyll’s relationships with the other main characters can be categorized into those he united with and those he conquered. The characters he united with should align to the Cantrefs that surround; the characters he conquered should align to the Cantrefs within.
The first character that Pwyll meets is Arawn, the Winter King of Annwn (the Underworld). After conquering Hafgan, the Summer King of Annwn, Pwyll and Arawn are united in friendship. Pwyll meets Arawn while traveling in South Wales. “South” seems related to “below”, and the Underworld feels Saturnine, so Arawn corresponds to Maen, Cantref of Spirit Below.
Pwyll doesn’t unite with Hafgan; rather, Pwyll conquers him. Hafgan, as the Summer King, represents Fire and Passion. Hafgan corresponds to unawakened Cantref Ufel, the Nwyd.
Next, Pwyll meets Rhiannon, the daughter of Hefeydd Hen (“Old Summer”). Pwyll (eventually) unites with Rhiannon. She frequently gives him advice on how to handle situations; she represents Inspiration. Rhiannon corresponds with Nef, the Cantref of Spirit Above.
Hefeydd Hen’s kingdom is to the east of Dyfed. East corresponds to Air; Summer corresponds to the Sun. Hefeydd Hen corresponds to the Cantref Awyr, which aligns with meddwl and Thought. (Awyr is a Cantref within. Pwyll did not conquer Hefeydd Hen, but he did accept his advice about not slaying Gwawl.)
Gwawl, Son of Clud (Radiance, Son of Burden) was Rhiannon’s original betrothed. Gwawl, who wanted to wed Rhiannon even though Rhiannon wanted to wed Pwyll, represents bryd and Will. Gwawl corresponds to the Cantref of Ufel.
Rhiannon and Pwyll have a son, Pryderi. Pryderi was kidnapped as a newborn and was rescued by Teyrnon Twrfy Liant, the Monarch of the Host of the Sea. The Sea is Water, which corresponds to the Cantref of Dwr. Teyrnon Twrfy Liant aligns with cof and Memory.
When Teyrnon Twrfy Liant returns Pryderi to Pwyll and Rhiannon, Pwyll decides that Pryderi will be raised by Pendaran Dyved (the Chieftain of Dyved). Pendaran Dyfed, as Pryderi’s foster father, surrounds Pryderi as the Cantref of Byw, the Spirit Within. The Spirit Within corresponds to the Law of Circularity. Pwyll dies, leaving Pryderi the Mabon to continue The Mabinogion.
| Pwyll | Bywyd | Basic biological forces/ body/ senses | Venus | Daear | North | Earth | Law of Causation |
| Hafgan | Nwyd | Passion/ irrational self | Mars | Unawakened Ufel | South | Fire | Law of Polarity |
| Hefeydd Hen | Meddwl | Thought | Sun | Awyr | East | Air | Law of Unity |
| Gwawl | Bryd | Will | Mars | Ufel | South | Fire | Law of Polarity |
| Teyrnon Twryf Liant | Cof | Memory | Mercury | Dwr | West | Water | Law of Balance |
| Arawn | Intuition | Saturn | Maen | Below | Spirit | Law of Vibration | |
| Rhiannon | Inspiration | Jupiter | Nef | Above | Spirit | Law of Correspondence | |
| Pendaran Dyved | Life/ Imagination | Moon | Byw | Within | Spirit | Law of Circularity |