Cerridwen

Janto, Hrana. Cerridwen. Digital image. Hranajanto.com. N.p., 1997. Web. 3 Dec. 2012. <http://hranajanto.com/goddessgallery/GGF-home.html>.jpg

Cerridwen is known by many nicknames such as “Goddess of Death & Transformation,” “Goddess of Witchcraft and the Underworld,” “Keeper of the Cauldron of the Underworld” or “Goddess of Inspiration, Intelligence and Knowledge.” Cerridwen is the mother of two, a beautiful girl by the name of Creidwy and an ugly boy by the name of Afagdu. As a caring mother she wanted the best for her children, she knew that her daughter was going to do well in life due to her being beautiful however her son didn't run the same fate and she knew that his ugliness would make it hard for him in life. So she decided to make a magical formula that would make Afagdu a wise and brilliant man. Every day for a year and a day (366 days) she prepared the potion with six different herbs at precise astrological times to give to her son to hopefully overcome his ugliness, however not all the potion would be useful as only the first three drops of the potion would bring the knowledge and wisdom and the rest would be poison. Unfortunately on the day the potion was ready the first three drops accidentally landed on Gwion Bach, a servant boy assigned by her to watch the cauldron's fire, Gwion instantly became wise and in fear of Cerridwen's wrath he ran away. Cerridwen chased Gwion and as Gwion, but every time Gwion changed into a prey shape Cerridwen changed into a predator shape (hound following a rabbit, an otter chasing a salmon, a hawk flying after a sparrow) on the last transformation Gwion changed into a kernel of wheat and Cerridwen into a black hen and ate him. Nine months later Cerridwen gave birth to Taliesin who was actually a reborn phase of Gwion. Cerridwen planned to kill Taliesin but couldn't do it so she threw him into the sea in a pouch, he was found by a welsh prince and would later become one of the greatest poets of all time. Cerridwen’s ritual pursuit of Gwion Bach symbolizes the changing seasons. Her cauldron contains awen, meaning the divine spirit, or poetic or prophetic inspiration. Her link as the Mother of Poetry is seen in her reborn son Taliesin, and in the Welsh word that makes up part of her name, cerdd, which also means poetry. Cerridwen signifies inspiration from an unexpected corner.

"Cerridwen: A Cymric Goddess (Blessed Poet or Beloved)." Cerridwen: A Cymric Goddess (Blessed Poet or Beloved). Celtnet.org, n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2012. <http://www.celtnet.org.uk/gods_c/cerridwen.html>.