First Impression: My
first impression of Cerridwen was that this card was really beautiful. I liked
it a lot because I love Goddess Mythology and the animals pictured here.
Description: Here we
see Cerridwen, with a glowing aura, standing by a water source surrounded with
curious animals. She holds by her heart a wand and her other hand touches her
stomach by a medicine pouch at her side. The tree behind her buds with the
first signs of spring.
Gender: Feminine
Colors: Mint Green,
Lavender, Orange, Cafe Brown, White, Light Blue, Black.
Senses: I feel one of
my feet touching the cool water, and the heavy cloth of my robe on my skin. I
can hear all the forest sounds and the animals that surround me. I can see
clearly my intentions, and taste anticipation for the work I am about to
perform. I smell the grass, water, and animals.
Symbols: Cerridwen,
Fox, Boar, Deer, Budding Tree, Water, Roots.
Story [Intuitive]: She
walks steadily through the forest. Already she knows the work that will be
done. She has prepared a long time for this moment. When she reaches the
designated spot she stands gathering her focus and grounding herself. Her foot
reaches out and touches the cool, clear spring drawing from the waters of life.
Her aura begins to radiate power and strength. Curious some of the forest
animals draw near. The do not fear her, they know her spirit and it is good.
Sighing peacefully she takes the wand from her side and places it at her heart.
Here she will state her intentions clearly. The other hand gently touches her
stomach at her womb. Here she will birth the magic necessary to create change.
The wind stirs gently as the magic begins to flow, she smiles confidently...the
time has come.
My Experience as the
Magician: This card reminds me of spell work. Being a witch I have often used
intention to create change in my life. I have also found without focus a lack
of intention or direction can create a lot of chaos.
Astrological
Reference: Planet - Mercury, and for one year and a day, Cerridwen added herbs
at all the correct astrological times to her potion for her son. Story below...
Cultural Reference:
The Welsh Goddess Cerridwen is the goddess of wisdom, rebirth, transformation,
and inspiration. She is often worshiped in her crone form and pictured with her
cauldron of knowledge. She teaches us all the power of feminine knowledge, and
how inspiration can lead to beautiful transformation in our lives.
* According to the
late medieval Tale of Taliesin, Morfran was hideously ugly, so Ceridwen sought
to make him wise. She had a magical cauldron that could make a potion granting
the gift of wisdom and poetic inspiration. The mixture had to be boiled for a
year and a day. Morda, a blind man, tended the fire beneath the cauldron, while
Gwion Bach, stirred the concoction. The first three drops of liquid from this
cauldron gave wisdom; the rest was a fatal poison. Three hot drops spilled onto
Gwion's thumb as he stirred, burning him. He instinctively put his thumb in his
mouth, and instantly gained great wisdom and knowledge. So Ceridwen chased
Gwion. He turned himself into a hare. She became a greyhound. He became a fish
and jumped into a river. She turned into an otter. He turned into a bird; she
became a hawk. Finally, he turned into a single grain of corn. She then became
a hen and ate him. When Ceridwen became pregnant, she knew it was Gwion and
resolved to kill the child when he was born. However, when he was born, he was
so beautiful that she couldn't do it. She threw him in the ocean instead,
sewing him inside a leather-skin bag. The child did not die, but was rescued on
a Welsh shore. The reborn infant grew to became the legendary bard Taliesin.
[story source Wikipedia]
Elemental Reference: I
see the waters at her feet and the earth of the budding trees and raised roots.
Numerology Reference:
1 - Leader, Independent, Original, Determined, Self Assured, Creative,
Ambitious.
Keywords: Creation,
Confidence, Magic, Channel, Intention
Possible Meanings:
Making one's dreams a reality, being a pure channel for ideas, having the
confidence to create change, knowing one's intentions clearly.
Reversed: Making
mountains out of molehills, Using one's power unwisely, creating chaos, feeling
powerless to "do" anything about a situation.
Quote: "Life
isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself." ~ Anon
BIRCH. Budding Tree. It is the first tree to put out new leaves in Spring. Vernal Equinox. Moon of Cerridwen.