Cerridwen:
The Witch Goddess
Where Rhiannon represents the sovereignty of the land and the connection between the people and the land in her guise as horse goddess, Cerridwen offers us the route to empowerment, magic, and transformation. She is the one who opens the door of mystery and offers us a glimpse to our point of origination. She is the mother in the guise of magician—the great witch. I extensively explored Cerridwen in my book From the Cauldron Born: Exploring the Magic of Welsh Legend and Lore, but for the purpose of this book a little recap is in order.
Various poems within the Book of Taliesin refer to Cerridwen as the keeper of the cauldron; she is the goddess of the brew of inspiration, the initiator; she was the muse to the bards of mediaeval Wales and continues to be regarded as the mother of Awen. She is simultaneously a powerful magician and a humble mother, and yet her human guise acts as a conduit for the magic—she is the feeling, loving mother who is moved to magic in order to save her son from shame owing to his ugliness. But of course there is more to the tale of Cerridwen than meets the eye. Her tale, which may appear human on the surface, is full of allegories that relate to deep mystery and transformation.
In the tale of the birth of Taliesin, also known as Hanes or Ystoria Taliesin, Cerridwen took to brewing Awen, which she intended to be consumed by her son, but the Awen had other plans—and it was a young innocent employed to stir the cauldron who received the drops. In her fury Cerridwen chased the young innocent, Gwion Bach, through the three realms of land, water, and air, pushing the innocent further and further into mystery. In her anger she consumed the innocent, only to find that she was with child. The child, when born, was of such beauty that her heart broke with compassion. She set the child free in a coracle of skin to sail a river in the laps of the gods. This child became the prophet and bard Taliesin, whose name means “he with the radiant brow.” He is the embodiment of Awen—the sum totality of its power coalesced into a single being. Cerridwen acts as the initiatrix.
In a similar manner to Rhiannon, Cerridwen is representative of the mother who suffers on account of her offspring, but the manner by which they respond is quite different. Rhiannon simply accepts that her child is dead and takes to her punishment, whereas Cerridwen shows no sign of surrender; instead, she reverts to the arts of magic. Rhiannon’s response is passive; she displays humility and wilfully accepts her situation. Cerridwen, on the other hand, is assertive; she responds in a manner that is indicative of strong-willed determination.
We are informed that she is versed in the acts of sorcery, conjuration, and divination, 31 but we are also told that she seeks out another, older form of magic in the halls of the elusive, enigmatic magicians known as the Pheryllt. Her brew of Awen is created according to their wisdom.
Cerridwen is the transformer; she is the source of magic and the great witch queen. Her symbol is the cauldron, that stereotypical emblem of the witch. Together with the demigod Gwydion, she is perhaps one of the most powerful allies in magic that is available to the Celtic magician. She is a helpful aid for the gaining of inspiration, for clear sight and vision, and for the wisdom of the plant, tree, and animal kingdom.
Exercise
on the shores of cerridwen’s lake
Read the tale of Cerridwen; versions of it can be found online. Take to sitting comfortably with your journal and contemplate the function of Cerridwen as witch goddess. Consider the many aspects of Cerridwen in the tale and her various roles:
- a caring mother, the concern for her son being the primary motive for her magic
- a learned witch
- a mother’s fury in defense of her offspring when her potion is imbibed by another
- an initiator and instigator of transformation, forcing Gwion Bach ever further into mystery
- a vengeful mother who is determined to bring punishment to the thief of the brew
- a blossoming mother who acts on instinct and becomes a goddess, offering the child to the sea rather than killing him
Contemplate these things and then begin your meditation.
You stand in a woodland; the trees thin ahead of you, and you can see the reflection of the full moon on water. Wandering forward, your ears pick up the faint crackling of burning wood, and your nose twitches to the smell of smoke and sweet herbs. With the denseness of the trees behind you, your feet crunch gravel as you step from grass to lakeshore.
Before you is a large black cauldron; it hangs from a tripod of metal, a roaring fire licking its belly. Beside it in a gown of deepest blue is a lady, a basket about her right arm. She utters a spell that you cannot fathom; the words of the incantation seem to hang in the air, heavy with power. Her left hand sweeps into the basket and gathers the herbs that lie within it. Her words grow louder—they are old and heavy with energy. She casts the herbs into the belly of the cauldron. Steam rises, the liquid hisses, and the plumes of steam reach your nostrils; they are thick with scent and magic.
The lady is silent; her spell is cast and she turns, sensing your presence. With a brush of her hand she sweeps the gown’s hood from about her face and turns to look at you. Her face is wise beyond words and in her eyes are the watery depths of the lake. Her skin is as white as the moon and her lips curl upwards in a smile. She nods her head in acknowledgment.
Speak to the lady of the cauldron: tell her who you are, be in her presence…
When your spirit senses it, bid the lady farewell and offer your thanks for her company. The woods behind you call you to return to your world. Take to your feet and walk away from the cauldron, hailing farewells as you do. Wood smoke wafts in your wake as you enter the silence of the trees, into darkness, away from the moon and the lady of the cauldron and back to your physical form.
Arise and breathe deeply; partake of a little food and go about your business. Think of your encounter no more. Take to your bed as usual and sleep; on the morrow, recall your meditation and record your impressions in your journal. Continue to perform this exercise to strengthen your bond to Cerridwen.
Cerridwen
Spiritual Function: Lessons in inspiration and transformation, listening to the land and responding to it in a proactive manner. She is assertive, not passive, and this quality is reflected in her teachings.
Magical Ally Function: For acts of magic that require deep transformation, inspiration, and clarity. She is useful for all acts of magic as a teacher, assistant, and guide. She is particularly effective in helping with herb and plant lore.
31 Ford, Ystoria Taliesin, 65.