The Myth Of Cerridwen

It was in the beginning of Arthur's time there lived in Penllyn a man named
Tegid Voeland his wife Cerridwen. Born to him and his wife a son named
Morvran ab Tegid, a daughter named Creirwy, and another son, the most
ill-favored man in the world, Avagddu. Cerridwen, his mother, thought that
he was not likely to be admitted among men of noble birth by reason of his
ugliness, unless he had some exalted merits or knowledge. So she resolved,
according to the arts of the books of the Fferyllt, to boil a cauldron of
Inspiration and Science for her son, that his reception might be honorable
because of his knowledge of the mysteries of the future state of the world.
Then she began to boil the cauldron, which might not cease to boil for a
year and a day, until three blessed drops were obtained of the grace of
Inspiration. And she put Gwion Bach, the son of Gwreang of Llanfair in
Caereinion, to stir the cauldron, and a blind man named Morda to kindle the
fire beneath it.

She charged them that they should not suffer it to cease
boiling for the space of a year and a day. She, herself, according to the
books of the astronomers, and in planetary hours, gathered every day of all
charm-bearing herbs. One day, towards the end of the year, as Cerridwen was
culling plants and making incantations, it chanced that three drops of the
charmed liquor flew out of the cauldron and fell upon the finger of Gwion
Bach. By reason of their great heat he put his finger to his mouth, and the
instant he put those drops into his mouth, he foresaw everything that was to
come, and perceived that his chief care must be to guard against the wiles
of Cerridwen, for vast was her skill. In very great fear he fled towards his
own land. The cauldron burst in two, because all the liquor within it except
the three charm-bearing drops was poisonous. The horses of Gwyddon

Garanhir  were poisoned by the water of the stream into which the liquor of the
cauldron ran, and the confluence of that stream was called the Poison of the
Horses of Gwyddon, from that time forth.

There upon came in Cerridwen and saw all the toil of the whole year lost.
She seized a billet of wood and struck the blind Morda on the head until one
of his eyes fell out upon his cheek. He said, "Wrongfully hast thou
disfigured me, for I am innocent. Thy loss was not because of me." "Thou
speakest truth," said Cerridwen, "it was Gwion Bach who robbed me." She went
forth after him, running. He saw her and changed himself into a hare and
fled. So she changed herself into a greyhound and turned him. He ran towards
a river, and became a fish. She, in the form of an otter-bitch, chased him
under the water, until he was fain to turn himself into a bird of the air.

She, as a hawk, followed him and gave him no rest in the sky. Just as she
was about to stoop upon him, and he was in fear of death, he spied a heap of
winnowed wheat on the floor of a barn. He dropped among the wheat, and
turned himself into one of the grains. Then she transformed herself into a
high-crested black hen, and went to the wheat and scratched it with her
feet, and found him out and swallowed him. As the story says, she bore him
nine months, and when she was delivered of him, she could not find it in her
heart to kill him, by reason of his beauty. So she wrapped him in a leather
bag, and cast him into the sea to the mercy of God, on the twenty-ninth day
of April. So, the great poet, Taliesin made an entrance into this world.

© Jessica Galbreth

Element: Water of Fire

Colors: Indigo Ray, green

Dinivnation: Animal Cards & Water Scrying

Totems: White sow,otter hawk, red crested hen, & salmon

Trees: Apple & Hazel

Plants: Vervain, Acrons, sows thistle

Stones: Hawks eye, lolite,lapis luzuli, sodalite

Crafts: Astrology, science, poetry, spells & pottery

Music: Rattles or rain stick

Incense and oils: Blue Chamomile & Jasmine

Magickal Tool: Cauldron

Sense: Clairvoyance the ability to see clearly and to see with the third eye names, symbols, & visions.

Healing Techniques: Herbal Brews

Cerridwens Teachings

The Mead of Inspiration Rite

This rite is based on both the Celtic and Nordic tradition of brewing mead. Both mythologies use mead as an elixir of inspiration. In the Celtic Myth, Taliesin was born after drinking out of Cerridwen's cauldron. She brewed a mead for a year and a day for her son, who was quite stupid. It was to give him instant and total knowledge. However, the caretaker for the mead, Gwion, accidentally took the mead instead. Gwion was thereafter know as Taliesin, the greatest Bard of all times. In the Nordic legend, Odin brewed Othroenir, or Mead of Inspiration. Oethroerir is also the name of his cauldron. Following this tradition, this rite brews a mead of inspiration.

This rite has two stages, the first is the actual brewing of the mead and the second is the consumption. The following is for the first stage only.
 

Materials

• A Large Cauldron or Pot
• Water
• Honey
• Almonds, Hazelnuts, Vervain and Horehound
• Wine Yeast
• Campden Tablets
• Sigils of Inspiration (These should be drawn on white paper with non-toxic markers

The Rite
Begin the mead brewing approximately one hour before the rite begins. This will entail bringing a gallon of water to boiling over an open fire. Once the water is boiling, add 3½ pounds of honey and dissolve. Bring to a boil again. Boil for approximately 45 minutes. During this last boiling, the rite should begin.

1. Opening - All participants gather round the cauldron and open with The Rite of Three Rays or The Rite of ALU.
2. Statement of Intent - "It is our will to brew a mead of inspiration."
3. Preparatory Statement - Repeat the following thrice

To bathe in the waters of life
To wash off the not-human
I come in self-annihilation
And the grandeur of inspiratio

4. Charging of the Sigils
   All participants slowly circle the cauldron deosil nine times whilst chanting Ansuz, Perthro, Ing. Concentrate on your sigil. After the ninth circuit, remain stationary, but continue chanting until gnosis is reached and then anoint each sigil with saliva. Hold onto the sigils.
5. Invocation

Hail Mimir!
Guardian of the dark waters of wisdom.
Hail Kvasir!
Son of the unity of the Gods.
Hail Cerridwen!
Crone of ancient wisdom.
We brew this mead seeking inspiration.
Come Mimir, Come Kvasir, Come Cerridwen
Infuse this mead with your knowledge. (Toss in 12 Almonds)
Enchant this mead with your power. (Toss in 12 Hazelnuts)
Fill this mead with your wisdom. (Toss in some Horehound/Vervain mixture.)

6. At the end of the invocation, each participant should toss in their sigil stating "So mote it be" or "It is done" or some such statement.
7. Banish with laughter and merriment.

The mead should be allowed to cool to a blood warm temperature. Add the yeast and the campden tablet and let sit over night. In the morning, strain the contents into a large vessel and store in a cool dark place for at least three months. Bottle and use when desired.

       Cerridwen AFFIRMATIONS:
          
            What's next?! 
            Success comes easily to me
            I feel absolutely supercharged
            My vital energy resurfaces naturally
            My insecurity is replaced with wisdom
            I am filled with energy to achieve my goals
            I have abundant energy, vitality and well-being

Sources:

http://www.owlsdottir.com/goddess/fire/cerridwen.html

Celtic Goddesses  By Miranda Green

Graphics with permission : Jessica Galbreth http://www.enchanted-art.com/

Gold Cerridwen : Made by Angela in paint shop pro 8 from photograph of statue she owns.

Emails from friends of yahoo group Enchanted Circles

Original Source of information unknown to them.