Cerridwen, Triple Goddess of inspiration, and mother of witches. Most revered at the time near Samhain, and the Full Moon, she brings forth the energies of magick, spellwork, inspiration, fertility, and transformation. She is considered both a Welsh and Celtic Goddess with her legendary home in Wales at the magnificent Lake Bala where people often still go and pay her honor with offerings and rituals. There are many different ways to spell her name, including: Cerridwen, Cerrydwen, Kerrydwen, as well as Keridwen. She is also known as a witch or goddess of poetry because in Welsh, her name translates to: Divine Spirit of Poetry. Her cauldron of inspiration is mentioned in many poems, and she is linked to poetry through her son Taliesin, who is the father of poetry.
Cerridwen is a powerful sorceress and her cauldron holds power like no other, it is the womb of the eternal cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. In the Celtic Mysteries, there are three types of cauldrons: the Cauldron of transformation, the Cauldron of knowledge and the Cauldron of inspiration; Cerridwen’s Cauldron is the cauldron that is most powerful because it holds the energies from all three of the cauldrons. For this reason, there are theories that Cerridwen’s cauldron is in fact King Arthur’s Holy Grail.
Cerridwen is also known for her powerful potions, her shape-shifting ability, and gifts of prophecy and divination. She helps us face changes in life with both strength and purpose, reminding us that in order to make room for the new in our lives, we must first get rid of the old things that no longer serve purpose… it is only then that true change can take place.
The Cauldron is central in Cerridwen’s practice, as this is where she created potions to aid people which once utilized for the intended purpose the potion turned to poison.
Central to Cerridwen’s story is motherhood, and her desire for the best for her son who was disfigured and lacked intelligence. She created a potion that would take a year and a day to be finished. This required constant stirring and watching, so she got help from a young man to aid in watching. However, at the exact time where the potion would be ready, 3 drops fell on her newly hired assistant, causing him to be empowered with the beauty and wit that was once intended for Cerridwen’s son. A chase ensued, where both would shapeshift, as she chased the boy. He finally turned into grain, and she turned into a hen who swallowed him. The grain grew inside her belly into a baby which she plans to kill when born. But, when he is born, she can not pull herself to kill him, and instead sends him down the river in a leather bag. He is found by a prince, named Taliesin who becomes a prince and a great powerful druid and bard, a well known poet and advisor to numerous rulers of Britain, often thought of as the precursor of Merlin.
Cerridwen is a wonderful goddess to work with for inspiration, transformation, and when working with potions and spellwork of all kinds (herbs, spell bottles, baths, candle magick, etc.)
Her companions are the sow, which symblizes motherhood, good luck and spiritual growth; the hen, which symbolizes the ability to transform and shapeshift, and grain to symbolize abundance, fertility, perseverance and change/transformation of something bad into good.
“When Cerridwen calls your name, know that the need for change is upon you; transformation is at hand. It is time to examine what circumstances in your life no longer serve you. Something must die so that something new and better can be born. Forging these fires of transformation will bring true inspiration into your life. As the Dark Goddess Cerridwen pursues her version of justice with ceaseless energy so can you breathe in the power of the Divine Feminine She offers, planting your seeds of change and pursuing their growth with a ceaseless energy of your own.” – Judith Shaw, Feminism and Religion
Recipes Inspired by Goddesses
Apple Cinnamon Wheat Bread
Made with whole wheat flour and wonderful warm spices, this apple cinnamon wheat bread will help connect you to Cerridwen and fill your tummy!
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of whole wheat flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 3/4 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup apple cider
- 1 1/2 cup chopped apples
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 egg
- 1 3/4 tablespoons canola oil
- Preheat oven to 350 degress.
- Wash the apples prior to cutting into small cubes.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices and salt together. Whisk thoroughly before adding apple cubes.. The apple cubes should be covered in the mixed dry ingredients.
- Let the apples sit in the dry ingredients completely covered for 5 minutes. While waiting, lightly grease a 9×5 bread loaf pan.
- In a separate bowl, combine the milk, apple cider, egg, oil and honey. Whisk until there are no clumps and all ingredients are thoroughly mixed together. Add dry ingredients to this bowl slowly, folding the dry ingredients into the wet until combined.
- Pour combined mixture into greased loaf pan and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until brown on the edges.
- Allow to cool 3-5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack to finish cooling before slicing.
- Enjoy!
Tips:
Storing: Apple Cinnamon Wheat Bread can be stored in Saran Wrap on the counter for 5-7 days, if thoroughly covered after slicing! May be wrapped in Saran Wrap and foil to store in freezer for up to 2 months.
Flour: You can use all-purpose flour or bread flour if you do not want to use whole wheat flour. The measurements will still be the same.
Apples: You do not need to peel the apples unless that is what you want! You may also elect to use applesauce if you want to avoid using apples. The apple slices give the actual pieces of apple when taking a bite of the crisp and warm bread!
