Cerridwen is the Welsh Goddess and Sorceress that is the owner of the powerful cauldron of inspiration, Amen. She is also the birth Mother of the famous bard, Taliesin, although She abandons him at birth. See the additional story this week directly from the Mabinogion on the birth of Taliesin which also gives us important information on the shape-shifting abilities of Cerridwen.
Cerridwen is a Goddess that likes to mix it up, literally. The Welsh Dark Mother is an Enchantress, an Initiator, and a potent Mistress of Wisdom with a dark side. She inspires us to take a sip from the brew of transformation that leads to a complete shift within and without. The areas of our lives that have been ignored or that have become stagnant are the focus of Cerridwen’s offer of renewal. Through Her story, we can connect deeply to Her ability to transform, identify and channel our inner rage, and release that which does not serve us.
She is the catalyst for inspiration, enlightenment, and evolution into our True Selves and, as happens with initiatory experiences, all of the shadows arise to be cleared. What patterns of behavior are blocking the true expression of your spirit? How do you need to shape-shift to become that which you know yourself to be?
One sip from the cauldron of transformation will change your world irrevocably.
CERRIDWEN & THE BIRTH OF TALIESIN
From the Mabinogion:
IN times past there lived in Penllyn a man of gentle lineage, named Tegid Voel, and his dwelling was in the midst of the lake Tegid, and his wife was called Caridwen. And there was born to him of his wife a son named Morvran ab Tegid, and also a daughter named Creirwy, the fairest maiden in the world was she; and they had a brother, the most ill-favoured man in the world, Avagddu. Now Caridwen his mother thought that he was not likely to be admitted among men of noble birth, by reason of his ugliness, unless he had some exalted merits or knowledge. For it was in the beginning of Arthur’s time and of the Round Table.
So she resolved, according to the arts of the books of the Fferyllt, to boil a cauldron of Inspiration and Science for her son, that his reception might be honourable because of his knowledge of the mysteries of the future state of the world.
Then she began to boil the cauldron, which from the beginning of its boiling might not cease to boil for a year and a day, until three blessed drops were obtained of the grace of Inspiration.
And she put Gwion Bach the son of Gwreang of Llanfair in Caereinion, in Powys, to stir the cauldron, and a blind man named Morda to kindle the fire beneath it, and she charged them that they should not suffer it to cease boiling for the space of a year and a day. And she herself, according to the books of the astronomers, and in planetary hours, gathered every day of all charm-bearing herbs. And one day, towards the end of the year, as Caridwen was culling plants and making incantations, it chanced that three drops of the charmed liquor flew out of the cauldron and fell upon the finger of Gwion Bach. And by reason of their great heat he put his finger to his mouth, and the instant he put those marvel-working drops into his mouth, he foresaw everything that was to come, and perceived that his chief care must be to guard against the wiles of Caridwen, for vast was her skill. And in very great fear he fled towards his own land. And the cauldron burst in two, because all the liquor within it except the three charm-bearing drops was poisonous, so that the horses of Gwyddno Garanhir were poisoned by the water of the stream into which the liquor of the cauldron ran, and the confluence of that stream was called the Poison of the Horses of Gwyddno from that time forth.
Thereupon came in Caridwen and saw all the toil of the whole year lost. And she seized a billet of wood and struck the blind Morda on the head until one of his eyes fell out upon his cheek. And he said, “Wrongfully hast thou disfigured me, for I am innocent. Thy loss was not because of me.” “Thou speakest truth,” said Caridwen, “it was Gwion Bach who robbed me.”
And she went forth after him, running. And he saw her, and changed himself into a hare and fled. But she changed herself into a greyhound and turned him. And he ran towards a river, and became a fish. And she in the form of an otter-bitch chased him under the water, until he was fain to turn himself into a bird of the air. She, as a hawk, followed him and gave him no rest in the sky. And just as she was about to stoop upon him, and he was in fear of death, he espied a heap of winnowed wheat on the floor of a barn, and he dropped among the wheat, and turned himself into one of the grains. Then she transformed herself into a high-crested black hen, and went to the wheat and scratched it with her feet, and found him out and swallowed him. And, as the story says, she bore him nine months, and when she was delivered of him, she could not find it in her heart to kill him, by reason of his beauty. So she wrapped him in a leathern bag, and cast him into the sea to the mercy of God, on the twenty-ninth day of April.
**The babe cast in the sea was the infamous bard, Taliesin
RELEASING WITH CERRIDWEN
You may not think you are ready, but Cerridwen gives us a knowing smile as She offers a cup of Her potent brew. Spend time in deep meditation during a Full Moon to think about what needs to be released and then burn it in your own cauldron.
Offer it up to Cerridwen and perhaps have an herbal brew on hand to toast Her. You are releasing the old and making way for the magic of Cerridwen to take you to the next level.
Shungite was the crystal that came to me for Cerridwen … powerful healing and ancient knowledge combined. Combine with garnet for an extra boost.
CERRIDWEN RESOURCES
The New Book of Goddesses & Heroines by Patricia Monaghan
Ancient Mirrors of Womanhood by Merlin Stone
The Mabinogion by Anonymous
Gods of the Celts by Miranda Green
Articles:
Cerridwen Tale by Thalia Took
GODDESS VENDORS WE LOVE!
- DaughtersOfIsis.com with Gwen Barry – Magical Essential Oil Blends & Incense
- GailJessenDesigns.com with Gail Jessen – Sacred Jewelry Design
- MurphysEssentials.com with Kim Murphy – Healing & Magical Essential Oil Blends & CBD
- Red Priestess with Brandi Auset – Goddess Sprays and Crystals
- SacredWell.com with Yeshe Matthews – Crystal and Treasure Shop
GODDESS SPIRITUALITY RESOURCES
MOTHERHOUSE GODDESS TEMPLE – Goddess Calendar & Free Community Events
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