Her Story
Cerridwyn is a Welsh nature Goddess. (1) Some say she was a nature
corn Goddess. (2)
She lived on an island in the middle of Lake Tegid. Others say she lived
at the bottom of Lake Bala.(3) She was the consort of the giant Tegid.
Cerridwyn had two children. One was a girl named Creirwy who was
light and beautiful and one was a boy Afagddu who was dark and ugly.
Cerridwyn decided that she needed to help her son become wise to
compensate for his ugliness. She decided to brew a potion of six herbs
(4) in her great cauldron for a year and a day to concentrate the mixture
and potentate the greal.(5) She had two helpers. One was a blind man
who tended the fire and one was a boy named Gwion who stirred the
brew.
One day, a few drops of the hot brew splashed onto the finger of Gwion.
He instantly put his finger in his mouth and received the inspiration and
wisdom that was intended for the other boy. Because of this new
knowledge, he realized what had happened and that now the brew would
be poison for the son and he would be blamed. He decided to run for his
life. Cerridwyn when she realized what had happened was furious and
madly pursued Gwion. Gwion with his new skills shape shifted into a
hare. Cerridwyn transformed into a greyhound. When Gwion reached a
river, he changed into a salmon and dove in. Cerridwyn changed into an
otter and pursued. Then when she was about to catch him, he fly up
into the air as a sparrow and Cerridwyn became a hawk. Finally he flew
into a barn and became a kernel of wheat and hide among the other
kernels. Cerridwyn became a hen and soon found him and gobbled him
up. Soon Cerridwyn realized she was pregnant and 9 months later she
gave birth to a child. Still angry, Cerridwyn threw the child into the sea
and some say a river, where he was rescued by a sailor or a fisherman
or a farmer or a prince and grew up to be the famous bard Taliesin.
SOURCES
1: www.covenofthegoddess.com/goddesscerridwyn.htm
2: www.gotojassminesitenow.com/goddesses/cerridwen.html
3: Ibid
4: www.covenofthegoddess.com
5: ibid
Other sites where I got my information, but did not quote exactly are:
www.hranajanto.com
www.goddess.com.au
www.paganwiccan.about.com
www.spiralgoddessgrove.com
1: www.covenofthegoddess.com/goddesscerridwyn.htm
2: www.gotojassminesitenow.com/goddesses/cerridwen.html
3: Ibid
4: www.covenofthegoddess.com
5: ibid
Other sites where I got my information, but did not quote exactly are:
www.hranajanto.com
www.goddess.com.au
www.paganwiccan.about.com
www.spiralgoddessgrove.com
Symbolism of the Story
The great cauldron of Cerridwyn is a metaphor for transformation. The
magical brew, potion or greal (Holy Grail) is the gift of inspiration and
wisdom. The dark son, who was the intended recipient of the potion,
represents the shadow and unconscious side of one’s life. The
beautiful daughter represents consciousness. The servant boy who
inadvertently received the gift realized the danger he was in receiving by
change, this gift. This could be likened to a sudden awareness that
what once was the truth for you, has now been totally destroyed. He
flees in terror for his life from the great Goddess.
The creatures he transforms into are prey to Cerridwyn’s predators.
They represent the elements and the seasons. The hound and hare are
winter and the element earth. The salmon and otter are spring and
water. The sparrow and hawk are summer and air. The kernel of wheat
and the hen are autumn and fire. He is consumed by the Goddess. He
dies. The Goddess and the cauldron are one and so are the son and
the servant. Stirred in Cerridwyn’s cauldron is the symbol for
transformation through death and rebirth.
The servant and the son become the creative inspirational poet. In
other words through the scary travels of the soul, integration is
achieved in the self. The fact that it was the servant boy and not the
son who received the gift is important. If the son represents the
unconscious side of oneself, the dark side of one’s self, then to
become totally enlightened would be becoming more conscious than
consciousness which is impossible.
There always has to be a bit of shadow to eat. The servant boy
represents the soul which is midway between consciousness and
unconsciousness. He becomes the mediator. The question remains as
to why would she throw him into the sea or the river? I think this
means that the boy becomes an independent being – a creature in his
own right. That he is rescued is also important. He is vulnerable like
any human is vulnerable.
The male rescuer points to a positive male role model. Being
transformed in the cauldron of Cerridwyn is not a romance. It is about
transcending fears especially of death and finding that inner inherent
wisdom. Being eaten by the Goddess or going through the fire, is being
stirred in her cauldron, is change that is essential to growth. This is my
interpretation of this myth and what it means for me. It is in no way
intended to be the definitive interpretation, but it works for me.
The great cauldron of Cerridwyn is a metaphor for transformation. The
magical brew, potion or greal (Holy Grail) is the gift of inspiration and
wisdom. The dark son, who was the intended recipient of the potion,
represents the shadow and unconscious side of one’s life. The
beautiful daughter represents consciousness. The servant boy who
inadvertently received the gift realized the danger he was in receiving by
change, this gift. This could be likened to a sudden awareness that
what once was the truth for you, has now been totally destroyed. He
flees in terror for his life from the great Goddess.
The creatures he transforms into are prey to Cerridwyn’s predators.
They represent the elements and the seasons. The hound and hare are
winter and the element earth. The salmon and otter are spring and
water. The sparrow and hawk are summer and air. The kernel of wheat
and the hen are autumn and fire. He is consumed by the Goddess. He
dies. The Goddess and the cauldron are one and so are the son and
the servant. Stirred in Cerridwyn’s cauldron is the symbol for
transformation through death and rebirth.
The servant and the son become the creative inspirational poet. In
other words through the scary travels of the soul, integration is
achieved in the self. The fact that it was the servant boy and not the
son who received the gift is important. If the son represents the
unconscious side of oneself, the dark side of one’s self, then to
become totally enlightened would be becoming more conscious than
consciousness which is impossible.
There always has to be a bit of shadow to eat. The servant boy
represents the soul which is midway between consciousness and
unconsciousness. He becomes the mediator. The question remains as
to why would she throw him into the sea or the river? I think this
means that the boy becomes an independent being – a creature in his
own right. That he is rescued is also important. He is vulnerable like
any human is vulnerable.
The male rescuer points to a positive male role model. Being
transformed in the cauldron of Cerridwyn is not a romance. It is about
transcending fears especially of death and finding that inner inherent
wisdom. Being eaten by the Goddess or going through the fire, is being
stirred in her cauldron, is change that is essential to growth. This is my
interpretation of this myth and what it means for me. It is in no way
intended to be the definitive interpretation, but it works for me.
Sacred Animals White sow and the raven Sacred Stones Carnelian, coral agate, brown jasper, aquamarine Sacred Herbs Lavender rosemary lemon balm mandrake chickweed wormwood |
| The above information is from www.covenofthegoddeess.com which has a lovely ritual to Cerridwyn. |
My Ritual for Cerridwyn
The alter has the following tools. Artemis for the east has a knife for
discernment, a plant, a yellow candle and an image or statue of an
animal.
Cerridwyn for the south has a green candle, a cauldron, a rock or earth
Kwan Yin for the west has a white candle, a bowl of water, a feather
and a mirror.
Sophia for the north has a red and a blue candle and a wand.
After the alter is set up, each participant is blessed and purified by the
priestess, by smudging incense. The circle is cast and the priestess
calls thee directions as follows.
Artemis, Queen of the East. Here my call. Princess of the mind’s acuity,
guardian of the wild and the dynamic processes of earth, seeker of
truth and discernment, rest a while here with us and ease our
confusion. Light her candle.
Cerridwyn, Queen of the South, hear my call. Your black cauldron
transforms everything – the trees, the plants, the insects, the animals
and us. Your daughter Brigit shines with energy. Your mother Cailleach
Bhera forms the mountains and the valleys and you change them over
time. Be with us and transform us also Light her candle.
Kwan Yin, Queen of the west, hear my call. Mother of grace and mercy,
on our dark waters shine forth and let us see to the depths of our
consciousness. Please shine your moonlight soul on us. Light her
candle.
Sophia Queen of the north, hear my call. Open our hearts and prepare
us for your message so that we may grow in understanding and caring
for each other. Light her candles.
Blessed Be, Dear Lady, Blessed Be.
Everyone sits comfortably or lies down on the floor or ground for the
meditation.
We are gathered together in this our sacred space to meditate and go
under consciousness to touch the ineffable and move our hearts to
awareness.
Wanting love we turn and turn down the staircase of the Goddess. The
road narrows and widens. We see all with our inner eye. Into the
woods of our souls we go, deeper and deeper as the inner light shines
on a place to rest. There, on that mossy restful mound, we hear the
lapping of water, leveling us to become one with it; Back and forth in
the cradle and cauldron of the Goddess. We catch the scent of earth
and wisp of fragrance of a flowering bush nearby. Perhaps it is a wild
rose with it delicate odor that only a nose touching the stamens and
pistil will decipher. We breathe it in and spy a greenness growing near
the water. Without thinking we pluck it and taste it. The wild bitter/sweet
taste of peppermint stimulates all the body as we relax and feel the
firmness of the rock beneath our bed of moss.
And as we wallow in this sensuous epiphany, we realize that we are
connected to all this in a most exquisite relationship. It is not defined by
us, nor by the environment but in the actual phenomena of meeting
nature on her terms. A receptivity and a participation requires us never
to forget. Let us stay here awhile in loving communion with nature.
(everyone remains silent and meditates for a while)
Having made that connection we gently rise and slowly walk to the
staircase that takes us back to the hustle and bustle of daily life. We are
refreshed and content and more than willing to do what the Goddess
requires of each of us.
Let us raise the cone of power by chanting as we rise to our feet.
By your will
By your grace
Sophia, Artemis, Cerridwyn
By your will
By your grace
Artemis, Cerridwyn, Kwan Yin
By your will
By your grace
Cerridwyn, Kwan Yin, Sophia
By your will
By your grace Kwan Yin, Sophia, Artemis
By your will
By your grace
Sophia, Artemis, Cerridwyn
Repeat until the energy is high enough to send out to the Goddess
On a signal, by the priestess, the chant is stopped for a moment and the
last name of the Goddess is thrown or projected to the moon.
After a moment of silence the priestess says the following:
Kwan Yin, by your grace, we will know you.
Artemis, by your smile, we will know you.
Cerridwyn, by our transformation, we will know you.
Sophia, by your light, we will know you.
Blessed be and merry meet.
The Goddess speaks
Then each participated swoons gently to the floor like a feather falling
to the ground.
Gentle sounds like oooh and aaaah are expired.
Then once everyone is on the floor, everyone places their legs towards
the centre and rumbles their legs on the ground or floor laughing and
smiling. They could also put their arms around each person on either
side.
The circle is opened and then - feast .
The alter has the following tools. Artemis for the east has a knife for
discernment, a plant, a yellow candle and an image or statue of an
animal.
Cerridwyn for the south has a green candle, a cauldron, a rock or earth
Kwan Yin for the west has a white candle, a bowl of water, a feather
and a mirror.
Sophia for the north has a red and a blue candle and a wand.
After the alter is set up, each participant is blessed and purified by the
priestess, by smudging incense. The circle is cast and the priestess
calls thee directions as follows.
Artemis, Queen of the East. Here my call. Princess of the mind’s acuity,
guardian of the wild and the dynamic processes of earth, seeker of
truth and discernment, rest a while here with us and ease our
confusion. Light her candle.
Cerridwyn, Queen of the South, hear my call. Your black cauldron
transforms everything – the trees, the plants, the insects, the animals
and us. Your daughter Brigit shines with energy. Your mother Cailleach
Bhera forms the mountains and the valleys and you change them over
time. Be with us and transform us also Light her candle.
Kwan Yin, Queen of the west, hear my call. Mother of grace and mercy,
on our dark waters shine forth and let us see to the depths of our
consciousness. Please shine your moonlight soul on us. Light her
candle.
Sophia Queen of the north, hear my call. Open our hearts and prepare
us for your message so that we may grow in understanding and caring
for each other. Light her candles.
Blessed Be, Dear Lady, Blessed Be.
Everyone sits comfortably or lies down on the floor or ground for the
meditation.
We are gathered together in this our sacred space to meditate and go
under consciousness to touch the ineffable and move our hearts to
awareness.
Wanting love we turn and turn down the staircase of the Goddess. The
road narrows and widens. We see all with our inner eye. Into the
woods of our souls we go, deeper and deeper as the inner light shines
on a place to rest. There, on that mossy restful mound, we hear the
lapping of water, leveling us to become one with it; Back and forth in
the cradle and cauldron of the Goddess. We catch the scent of earth
and wisp of fragrance of a flowering bush nearby. Perhaps it is a wild
rose with it delicate odor that only a nose touching the stamens and
pistil will decipher. We breathe it in and spy a greenness growing near
the water. Without thinking we pluck it and taste it. The wild bitter/sweet
taste of peppermint stimulates all the body as we relax and feel the
firmness of the rock beneath our bed of moss.
And as we wallow in this sensuous epiphany, we realize that we are
connected to all this in a most exquisite relationship. It is not defined by
us, nor by the environment but in the actual phenomena of meeting
nature on her terms. A receptivity and a participation requires us never
to forget. Let us stay here awhile in loving communion with nature.
(everyone remains silent and meditates for a while)
Having made that connection we gently rise and slowly walk to the
staircase that takes us back to the hustle and bustle of daily life. We are
refreshed and content and more than willing to do what the Goddess
requires of each of us.
Let us raise the cone of power by chanting as we rise to our feet.
By your will
By your grace
Sophia, Artemis, Cerridwyn
By your will
By your grace
Artemis, Cerridwyn, Kwan Yin
By your will
By your grace
Cerridwyn, Kwan Yin, Sophia
By your will
By your grace Kwan Yin, Sophia, Artemis
By your will
By your grace
Sophia, Artemis, Cerridwyn
Repeat until the energy is high enough to send out to the Goddess
On a signal, by the priestess, the chant is stopped for a moment and the
last name of the Goddess is thrown or projected to the moon.
After a moment of silence the priestess says the following:
Kwan Yin, by your grace, we will know you.
Artemis, by your smile, we will know you.
Cerridwyn, by our transformation, we will know you.
Sophia, by your light, we will know you.
Blessed be and merry meet.
The Goddess speaks
Then each participated swoons gently to the floor like a feather falling
to the ground.
Gentle sounds like oooh and aaaah are expired.
Then once everyone is on the floor, everyone places their legs towards
the centre and rumbles their legs on the ground or floor laughing and
smiling. They could also put their arms around each person on either
side.
The circle is opened and then - feast .
My Goddess Art))o((
I thoroughly enjoyed doing artwork through this course. The following
pictures are some of the things I did. Because I did it for me and for
fun, they are no where near any professional standard. In fact they are
very primitive. For me, it was the process of doing it that was
important. I had a vision, but unfortunately, my skill level is not up to
rendering them as I saw them. Perhaps some day, I will be able to do
that. These pictures and sculptures are what came out when I tried to
make concrete, the vision I had.
They are approximates only.
The other pictures are of alters that I have around my home. I am in
the process of constructing something outside.
I thoroughly enjoyed doing artwork through this course. The following
pictures are some of the things I did. Because I did it for me and for
fun, they are no where near any professional standard. In fact they are
very primitive. For me, it was the process of doing it that was
important. I had a vision, but unfortunately, my skill level is not up to
rendering them as I saw them. Perhaps some day, I will be able to do
that. These pictures and sculptures are what came out when I tried to
make concrete, the vision I had.
They are approximates only.
The other pictures are of alters that I have around my home. I am in
the process of constructing something outside.
| My Salt Goddesses Creations The ideas come from the text books we used and from Marija Gimbutas' "The language of the Goddess." |
I made these Goddesses over the years.
The witch on the right is the oldest and was made years ago when first
started exploring the image.
She is made of paper-mache over a bottle and of course cloth.
The next one is my Medusa. Her head is made of river clay and painted.
Her body is a bottle. She has snakes in her hair, but I put the halo there
to indicate her holiness.
The next Goddess was my attempt with salt dough to make Coatlicue.
She does not have a dress of snakes but does hold two in her hands.
The last one on the left is my wild women of the woods. She is made
from twigs that are articulated with wire. Her head is a wooden ball. Her
clothes are moss and lichen from the woods. She carries a wooden hook.
The witch on the right is the oldest and was made years ago when first
started exploring the image.
She is made of paper-mache over a bottle and of course cloth.
The next one is my Medusa. Her head is made of river clay and painted.
Her body is a bottle. She has snakes in her hair, but I put the halo there
to indicate her holiness.
The next Goddess was my attempt with salt dough to make Coatlicue.
She does not have a dress of snakes but does hold two in her hands.
The last one on the left is my wild women of the woods. She is made
from twigs that are articulated with wire. Her head is a wooden ball. Her
clothes are moss and lichen from the woods. She carries a wooden hook.
These are Goddess figurines that I have collected. It is an alter in
my bedroom.
my bedroom.
| This is my attempt to portray the image I had of Cerridwyn. I call it Cerridwyn Calling |
This picture is an attempt to put my vision I had of my uterus
into form. At first she was anger. The image at the bottom left
is deliberately left unfinished at this point. It is me looking at
this huge "otherness" When I had this vision, it was not
scary, but awesome. I had used masking tape to block off the
area when I painted the board red.
Looking at the image now left. I sort of get the feeling it is a
broken or fragmented image -legs not even etc.- looking for
healing in the other image.
The whole image is made from blobs of tissue paper
into form. At first she was anger. The image at the bottom left
is deliberately left unfinished at this point. It is me looking at
this huge "otherness" When I had this vision, it was not
scary, but awesome. I had used masking tape to block off the
area when I painted the board red.
Looking at the image now left. I sort of get the feeling it is a
broken or fragmented image -legs not even etc.- looking for
healing in the other image.
The whole image is made from blobs of tissue paper
Sharing My Personal thoughts
I want to thank Freya for her unconditional support. This course has truly
transformed me. I have been stirred in Cerridwyn cauldron and come out
regenerated. Some times, I wondered why I was taking it, but there always
was a little voice that said I was to continue. It was like a whisper from the
Goddess, saying you need to do this. This will help. This is the direction that
will lead to what you need to know. Thank you Freya.
I kind of knew at the beginning, when Freya sent the first lesson before she
had received my cheque. That made me take notice. Usually, you do not get
anything, until your cheque is cleared. This was indeed different. That she
trusted my word was a very special feeling to me. Something I had not felt for
a while. I felt she must be a very caring person to extend that trust to a
stranger. Again, thank you Freya. It is those seemingly little things that count
so much. Over the course she was also, so supportive. When I said things
that perhaps were not the usual route in this course, or that I felt I was taking
a divergent course, she remained supportive and accepting. That made all the
difference and opened me up to acceptance of others who do not see things
exactly as I do. I think that this is what the Goddess is all about. Opening up
to the wondrous world and letting the joy of living reflect in your very being.
Blessed Be.
Rhondda
I want to thank Freya for her unconditional support. This course has truly
transformed me. I have been stirred in Cerridwyn cauldron and come out
regenerated. Some times, I wondered why I was taking it, but there always
was a little voice that said I was to continue. It was like a whisper from the
Goddess, saying you need to do this. This will help. This is the direction that
will lead to what you need to know. Thank you Freya.
I kind of knew at the beginning, when Freya sent the first lesson before she
had received my cheque. That made me take notice. Usually, you do not get
anything, until your cheque is cleared. This was indeed different. That she
trusted my word was a very special feeling to me. Something I had not felt for
a while. I felt she must be a very caring person to extend that trust to a
stranger. Again, thank you Freya. It is those seemingly little things that count
so much. Over the course she was also, so supportive. When I said things
that perhaps were not the usual route in this course, or that I felt I was taking
a divergent course, she remained supportive and accepting. That made all the
difference and opened me up to acceptance of others who do not see things
exactly as I do. I think that this is what the Goddess is all about. Opening up
to the wondrous world and letting the joy of living reflect in your very being.
Blessed Be.
Rhondda
| This Project is Intellectual Property of Rhondda (c) 2006 |
THE GODDESS CERRIDWYN BY RHONDDA |