Divine Friday

Cerridwen

(Welsh)

   Cauldrons have always served as important symbols in Celtcic Mythology and are frequently associated with wisdom, knowledge, life and death. Seen as the archetypal witch, Cerridwen's cauldron is no different as the Cauldron of Inspiration. Even her name is derived form the celtic word cerru meaning cauldron.

   Married to Tegid the Bold, Cerridwen had three children with him; Ceirwy, Morfan, and Taliesin. Her most popular story involves her third child Taliesin. The Goddess uses her knowledge of magic and herbs to create a potion to transform her ugly son Morfan into a wise boy. The potion needs to be boiled in her cauldron for a year and a day. She leaves her servant Gwion in charge of the mixture until on eday when he accidentally spilt three drops on his hand and licked it off, empowering him with the brews knowledge and power.

  

   Frightened of the Goddess's reaction he turned himself into a rabbit. Cerridwen gave chase in the form of a greyhoud. He then became a fish and jumped into the river and she became an otter. He tunred into a bird and she followed as a hawk. Eventually Gwion transformed into a grain of corn and is eaten by the Goddess who had become a  hen. The grain took seed in her womb, and nine moons later, she gave birth to Taliesin. She is unable to kill the child; instead she wraps him up in a leather bag and sets him out to sea. He survives and becomes the famous Welsh poet Taliesin.

   Her name has various translations: "fair and loved", "perfect love", "crooked woman" but she is still however regarded as both beautiful and frightening.; She is a goddess of inspiration, wisdom, enchantment, divination and prophecy, and is connected with the Autumn Harvest through her association with grain and its thrashing. Candles and altar decorations in black, red and white as well as a small cauldron with a candle in it are great beginnings to meditate on her mysteries. Working to transform yourself into the best conduit of divine spirit you can be is the most important way to show devotion as well.