Cerridwen: The Celtic Goddess Of The Human Spirit

Cerridwen is the Celtic goddess of the moon, magic, agriculture, poetry, music, art, science, inspiration, intelligence, and knowledge. She is the universal goddess of inspiration. Cerridwen 's name comes from the Celtic word “cerru” which means cauldron. She is the keeper of the cauldron of knowledge and wisdom. Her name has been translated to mean “crooked woman” or “chiding love”. Cerridwen is described as being unattractive, selfish, and endowed with magical knowledge which is how we got our stereotypical witch standing over a bubbling cauldron witch. As the Celtic Goddess of inspiration, rebirth, and transformation all change and transformation are under her control. Cerridwen represents the crone aspect of the goddess because of her wisdom.

To help Morfran in society because he was so hideous she decided to brew a wisdom potion. She had a blind man tend the fire and had Gwion to stir and watch the potion. It had to brew for a year and a day. While Gwion was watching it three drops splashed on his finger and he licked them off. With the knowledge and wisdom from the potion, Gwion knew he had to flee. He turned into a hare and Cerridwen became a greyhound and she gave chase. Then he became a fish and jumped into the river and she became an otter and still gave chase. Finally he turned into a single grain of corn and she turned into a hen and ate him. After eating him she found out she was pregnant and nine months later she gave birth to Taliesan, who became a legendary bard and poet. What I learn from this myth is to never give up. If you never give up good things will happen to you. It may take awhile and you may have to go through several trials but to never give

The cauldron, in olden times, was the center of the home. It was were the meals for the family were made, it often was how bath water was heated, and it was often the most important possession a family owned. Cerridwen 's cauldron is known for being a keeper of knowledge and wisdom, just as Cerridwen is herself. How much knowledge is passed on in our kitchens now? At my home, the kitchen is the center (heart) of our house. It was this way at my own Mother 's home also. Problems were discussed, decisions were made, and questions were answered; all while dinner was being prepared or cookies were being baked. At my Mom 's it wasn 't unusual for my dad to come home from work to find us all sitting on the kitchen cabinets discussing everything from school, to boys, to sex. When my children were still at home, it was the same way at my own kitchen, children sitting on the counters asking me any number of questions or just telling me about their