Moon 5
The Moon of Evocation
Moon Five of the Avalonian Cycle of Revealing is called the Moon of Evocation and is associated with the herb broom (Cytisus scoparius). It is the first of four moons during the Time of Blodeuwedd. The lunar month begins on the first full moon when the sun is in Pisces; the full moon is in Virgo.
It is the time of Blodeuwedd. Just as the mysteries of the dark moon give way to the marvel of the first silvered crescent of the new moon, so must we begin the work of bringing the reclaimed seeds of wisdom from out of the fallow darkness up into the waxing light. While we are still in the process of coming to a deep understanding of these seeds and the matrix of shadow which held the treasure of them for so long, we pivot from being fully receptive in our search for meaning to considering new ways of being which will bring about lasting change. This is indeed an evocation, a calling forth of new beginnings from out of the slowly weakening entanglements of shadow. We may not yet have the complete blueprint that will guide us from our present state of being to a place of greater balance and consciousness of Self, but we can start the process of change by harnessing the upward swing of the newly waxing cycle to commence creating a container to hold and concentrate the energies of our sovereign intention.
The Mythic Portion
Forbidden by his mother Arianrhod to take a wife from among the women of the Earth, the guardians of Lleu Llaw Gyffes—his uncle Gwydion and great-uncle Math—use their magic to create a bride for him out of the flowers of oak, broom, and meadowsweet. Conjuring forth the most beautiful woman anyone had ever seen, the magicians name her Blodeuedd, whose name means “flowers.” 12
The Work of the Moon of Evocation
Just as Math and Gwydion call Blodeuedd forth from the Otherworld, we are charged to bring the changes demanded by the revelations of Confrontation into manifestation. The lunar cycle has begun to wax, moving back up toward the light half of the cycle, and bringing with it the renewed energy reclaimed from the darkness. Possessing this new wisdom and increased clarity, we must now find the strength of purpose needed to call forth the potential revealed in the reflection at the bottom of the cauldron. Much like Gwydion and Math were able to call forth the essence of a goddess into physical manifestation, we must also learn how to incorporate the wisdom of the dark time into our lives in order to become the physical plane reflection of our Higher Self potential. Remember to appreciate the sweetness and beauty of this renewal, but know that there is more that needs to change than what is apparent on the surface.
The shift in energy between the Time of Ceridwen and the Time of Blodeuwedd is a powerful one—a jump from the emptiness of the Void to the promise of renewal. Here we see mirrored the transformation of the Loathly Lady from hag to beauty when she is given what she most desires—Sovereignty. Indeed, finding the root of the shadow in the darkness is the key to self-mastery.
Searching Deeper
Blodeuedd is conjured into being through the enchantments of Math, Lord of Gwynedd, and his nephew Gwydion, both of whom are powerful magicians. She is created in order to circumvent the third tynged, meaning “destiny” or “fate,” placed upon Lleu by his mother, Arianrhod; this tynged declared that he was forbidden to marry a woman of the race of the Earth. As Lleu’s manhood and future kingship depended on his taking a wife, it was critical for his uncles to secure one for him, even in the face of his mother’s prohibition. (Arianrhod’s tale is covered in detail in Chapter 9).
The tale was very specific about the flowers used to create Blodeuedd; these particular blooms may well have held a significance that would have been immediately understood by the contemporary medieval audience—a significance we can only guess at but which may well have influenced specific information about the nature of Blodeuedd’s character. The oak is a tree closely associated with the Solar Hero in many cultures, and it is this very tree which houses the wounded Lleu when he is in eagle form (yet another solar association) later on in the tale. The oak was, of course, sacred to the Celts and holds strong druidic associations; its inclusion may reflect a druidic origin of the magics of Math and Gwydion.
The broom is used as a descriptor for Olwen’s yellow hair in the medieval Welsh tale Culhwch ac Olwen, and while it may be mentioned to likewise allude to Blodeuedd’s hair color, it is also a herb used in the materia medica of the Physicians of Myddfai to cool fevers. Broom was used to cleanse the house on May Day and was often included in brides’ bouquets, as was meadowsweet (which is also known by the name “bridewort”). Interestingly, meadowsweet has also been used as a funerary herb; perhaps its presence here presages the role Blodeuedd will play in Lleu’s “death.”
The fourteenth-century Welsh manuscript Llyfr Taliesin (The Book of Taliesin) contains a poem called “Cad Goddeu” (“The Battle of the Trees”), which has several lines that appear to refer to the creation of Blodeuedd by Math and Gwydion:
When I was made,
Did my Creator create me.
Of nine-formed faculties,
Of the fruit of fruits,
Of the fruit of the primordial God,
Of primroses and blossoms of the hill,
Of the flowers of trees and shrubs.
Of earth, of an earthly course,
When I was formed.
Of the flower of nettles,
Of the water of the ninth wave.
I was enchanted by Math,
Before I became immortal,
I was enchanted by Gwydyon
The great purifier of the Brython
If this poem, said to be written by the historic bard Taliesin, does indeed refer to the creation of Blodeuedd, he includes some alternative components in her creation. The nettle plant that grows so wild and abundantly in Britain is also called “stinging nettle” due to the painful reaction caused by the venom on its hair-like spines when it comes into contact with skin. It is a plant with powerful healing qualities with the ability to cause hurt as well—an apt representation of the darker side of Blodeuedd.
One of the recurring themes in the Fourth Branch of Y Mabinogi is circumventing expected gender roles, especially where it comes to birth. The first part of the Fourth Branch sees Gwydion and his brother Gilfaethwy punished by their uncle Math for starting an unjust war and committing rape; for three years they are transformed into different animals, taking turns swapping genders, and bearing each others’ sons while in animal form. Later, their sister Arianrhod rejects the role of mother of the children she was forced to birth, and Gwydion takes what the text describes to be a “small thing” that falls from Arianrhod’s body to place it in a chest at the foot of his bed. There it incubates and becomes an infant boy, who would later be named Lleu. Finally, to overcome the last of the tynghedau put upon Lleu by his mother, Math and Gwydion work together to create life, “birthing” Blodeuedd out of flowers, thereby completely claiming the progenitive powers of women for their own.
Seeking Sovereignty Within:
Journaling Prompts and Self-Reflective Questions
Moon Five
The Moon of Evocation
The Time of Blodeuwedd
Mythic Focus: When Arianrhod prohibits her son, Lleu, from marrying a woman of any race on the Earth, Blodeuwedd is “created” from the flowers of oak, broom, and meadowsweet by the magicians Gwydion and Math.
Personal Insights Around This Moon’s Mythic Portion: Meditate upon the portion of Blodeuwedd’s story associated with this moon, and reflect it within yourself. Her story is your story.
The Focus of the Moon of Evocation by Phase
Seek the lessons of the Moon of Evocation at each moon phase by using the Stations of the monthly Cycle of Healing; be sure to journal all of the insights, symbols, and guidance you receive from each goddess at each moon phase. As you work with the information you receive between each phase, perhaps following the daily process outlined in Chapter 3 of this book, and using tools such as trance postures and doorways as detailed in Avalon Within, be sure to record those insights in your journal as well.
Full Moon: Connect with Blodeuwedd at the full moon. Review the work of the previous month and the insights it brought to you, set up your work for the coming month, and ask for insights on the issue of focus which may have shifted or deepened due to the work you have done.
3rd Quarter: Station of Descent in the cycle of the moon. Bring the issue of focus to Rhiannon to explore through the filters of the Station of Descent and the Moon of Evocation.
Dark Moon: Station of Confrontation in the cycle of the moon. Bring the issue of focus to Ceridwen to explore through the filters of the Station of Confrontation and the Moon of Evocation.
1st Quarter: Station of Emergence in the cycle of the moon. Bring the issue of the focus to Blodeuwedd to explore through the filters of the Station of Emergence and the Moon of Evocation.
Night before the Full Moon: Station of Resolution in the cycle of the moon. Bring the issue of focus to Arianrhod to explore through the filters of the Station of Resolution and the Moon of Evocation.
At any point in the month, bring the issue of focus to Branwen to explore through the Station of Integration and the Moon of Evocation. Some women will do this on the night after the dark moon in counterpoint to working with Arianrhod on the night before the full moon.
Herbal Ally for the Moon of Evocation
Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Creating the Mother Elixir: On the night of the full moon, create your Broom Lunar Elixir using the directions found on page 105 of Chapter 4. Be sure to label and date the bottle you are using to store the Mother Elixir. Journal any of your experiences around the creation of the broom elixir.
Prepare the Daughter Elixir: After you have made the Mother Elixir, use the directions found on page 107 of Chapter 4 to prepare a dosage bottle for use in the daily experience of this elixir throughout the month. Remember to use a blue or amber dropper bottle for this purpose, and to clearly label your Daughter Elixir.
Daily Work with the Broom Elixir: As discussed in Chapter 4, begin your daily exploration of the broom elixir. Be sure to journal everything you can about how the elixir makes you feel, what you think it its energetic actions are, where it sits in your energy body, and any and all impressions, insights, symbols, visions, and memories it presents to you:
Week One of Moon Five: Immerse yourself in the lunar elixir by taking it every day, reflecting upon how it makes you feel, and journaling all of the insights that come to you when you meditate upon the energies of the elixir.
Week Two of Moon Five: Continue to take the lunar elixir daily, but this week spend time experiencing and comparing the energetic impact of broom as an essence, and broom as a magical herb that you burn, as detailed in Chapter 4. Again, reflect upon how each makes you feel, and journal all of the insights that come to you when you meditate upon the energies of the elixir and the energies of the herb itself.
Week Three of Moon Five: Continue to take the lunar elixir daily, but this week spend time researching the medicinal, folkloric, and magical uses of broom, beginning with the information provided in Part Three of this book. Compare your findings this week with your direct experiences, being sure to journal all of the insights and connections you’ve made.
Week Four of Moon Five: Continue to take the lunar elixir daily, but this week meditate upon the mythic portion of the month and reflect upon the ways in which the energies of broom are related to the present portion of Blodeuwedd’s tale, and how it helps you to build a relationship with Blodeuwedd herself.
End of Moon Reflections: Under what circumstances could you see yourself using the Broom Elixir in support of your work and personal process? If you had to describe the actions of this lunar elixir using one word, what would it be? What about using one sentence? What about using a whole paragraph? Again, be sure to journal everything.
12. Blodeuedd’s name changes at the end of the tale, becoming the more familiar Blodeuwedd, “flower-face,” as a reflection of her transformation into an owl.