Cerridwen’s Cauldron
A Celtic Crone Goddess, Cerridwen presides over the Cauldron of Knowledge, the contents of which must brew for a year and a day. She is known to shape-shift in the form of a sow.
Cerridwen creates the potion of knowledge which brews for a year and a day in her magick cauldron. A few drops of the potion and one gains all wisdom including the ability to see into the past and the future. Legend says that Cerridwen asked her servant, Gwion, to watch over the cauldron. Some of the potion splashed on his fingers which he licked without thinking. He immediately possessed all knowledge and ran away. Cerridwen pursued him as he shapeshifted into many forms, lastly becoming a small grain. Cerridwen changed into a hen, consumed the grain and became pregnant, giving birth to the great bard, Taliesin.
The origin of the witch stirring her cauldron of brew is most likely the image of Cerridwen.
8in x 10in (20.32cm x 25.4cm) Print
11in x 14in (29.72cm x 41.91cm) Print
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MagickMermaid 
Beautiful! She is such an interesting goddess.
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Thank you so much, Christine! I only wrote the very short version. There are so many stories. 🙂
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Yes, I have read some of the Cerridwen myths, they do get complicated! But very interesting 🙂
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Cool picture and interesting story to go with it. There was a lot of shapeshifting and miraculous pregnancies in those days 🙂
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Thank you so much,Ali! Shapeshifting is definitely a good magick to possess! 🙂
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She looks divine–and powerful! An ancestor of mine, Mary Bradbury, was accused in Salem of turning herself into a blue boar. I always thought that was an odd choice. I mean, of all things to shapeshift into, why a boar? Now that I know about Cerridwen, it doesn’t seem so strange.
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That’s fascinating! Cerridwen shapeshifts into a boar as well.
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Gwion clearly hadn’t played paper scissors stone.before.
Another Magick Mermaid classic painting. These would brighten up anyone’s home and be a talking point for visitors. I want them all.
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Thank you so much, Sir Doubtpuppet! 🙂
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Lovely Cerridwen is certainly patient brewing her concoction for a year and a half! Splendid artwork as always… the phases of the moon looks fantastic, as well, and ties in nicely with your story.
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Thank you so much, Rose! 🙂
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Enchanting story and art, Mer!!
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Thank you so much, Ellie! 🙂
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