Ceridwen's Cauldron

by Yuri Leitch

Title

Ceridwen's Cauldron

Artist

Yuri Leitch

Medium

Drawing - Pencil And Ink

Description

A coloured diagram, drawn by myself, that illustrates the cosmology within the traditional story of Taliesin's initiation through the ordeal and tests of Ceridwen's cauldron of inspiration. Seen by many as a Celtic/Shamanic animal shape-shifting story (which it is) but many do not realise that the animals are very specific to the stars of the night sky and the cycle of the year. Some explanation of the image now follows. According to the original story (the Hanes Taliesin) Ceridwen's cauldron had to be stirred for 'a year and a day' (making it a Year Wheel mystery); specifically it is written, 'And she herself (Ceridwen) according to the books of the astronomers, and in planetary hours, gathered every day all charm-bearing herbs'. This is how I figured this pattern of Star Lore out - after the shape-shifting chase Ceridwen consumed the lad and 'she bore him nine months' and then he was born at Beltane. Nine months before Beltane is the cross-quarter festival of Lughnasadh which means that Ceridwen (as the hen) consumed the boy (as a single grain of wheat) during the Celtic harvest festival of Lugh. So, the animal chase has to conclude in August (which corresponds with Leo the lion and the 'Heavenly Grail', or cauldron, known as Crater) and Virgo, the cereal goddess of the zodiac; the brightest star of Virgo is Spica (which means an 'ear of wheat') then the rest just all fell into place. The boy (called Gwion Bach) after receiving the three drops of inspiration tries to escape the wrath of Ceridwen - he turns into a hare and she a dog (the constellations of Canis Major, the Great Hound, and Lepus the Hare, share the same section of the night sky (and time of year). Then the hare comes to a river and turns into a fish (the constellations of Eridanus the River and Pisces the Fish share the next section). Then they become a hawk chasing a non specified 'bird' (this third sections corresponds with the constellations of Cygnus the Swan and Aquila the Eagle). Finally, Gwion turns himself into a single grain and Ceridwen becomes a black hen (this is Spica the Ear of Wheat and Corvus the Crow that share the same section of sky (and time of year) as Virgo and her cauldron, Crater). This story is Shamanic shape-shifting but it is also much, much, more. It is old Mystery Tradition star lore remembered by Welsh/British folk lore; also each section is governed by the signs of the Royal Star Cross - Taurus/Beltane Hare and Hound, Aquarius/Imbolc Fish and Otter, Scorpio/Samhain Bird and Hawk; Leo/Lughnasadh Grain and Hen. The four elemental realms are also implied - the Hound and Hare are of the Earth Realm; the Fish and Otter are of the Water Realm; the Birds are of the Sky Realm; and Grain implies the fires of internal alchemy... nine months later (after Ceridwen has passed through the long dark months of winter) Tailiesin (meaning 'Radiant Brow', enlightened one) is born. I figured this all out over the winter soltice period of 2016/2017. Ceridwen thus corresponds with Virgo of the zodiac, which was, in the classical world, equated with the Roman goddess, Ceres and the Greek goddess Demeter - she of the mystery traditions.

Uploaded

October 22nd, 2017

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