Cerridwen ("White Sow", or "White Crafty One") is the Welsh grain and sow-goddess, keeper of the cauldron of inspiration and goddess of transformation. Called "the White Lady of Inspiration and Death", Cerridwen's ritual pursuit of Gwion Bach symbolizes the changing seasons. Her cauldron contains awen, meaning the divine spirit, or poetic or prophetic inspiration, and from which she could produce a brew of inspiration and wisdom. Her link as the Mother of Poetry is seen in Her reborn son Taliesin, and in the Welsh word that makes up part of Her name, cerdd, which also means poetry. Cerridwen signifies inspiration from an unexpected corner. Plans may go awry; projects may change. Do not be too quick to hold a project to its course--instead let it take its shape as it will.

Cerridwen was closely related to the Greek Goddess, Demeter, as a Goddess of fertility, and the harvest. She also represented renewal, transformation, change and rebirth. Cerridwen is most often considered to be a Crone, but in some ways she represents all three aspects of a triple Goddess. As a white sow, she also is connected with the Moon. Cerridwen was also associated with divination, death and the underworld, in many ways like Hecate.

Correspondences
General: cauldrons, the dark moon, the crone, death, fertility, regeneration, inspiration, enchantment, divination, herbs, science, poetry, spells, knowledge, wisdom
Animals: pigs, hens, sows
Plants/Herbs: vervain



Chants

Hecate, Cerridwen
Hecate, Cerridwen,
dark mother take us in,
Hecate, Cerridwen,
let us be reborn


Honored Maiden Huntress
Artemis, Artemis
Maiden, come to us

Silver shining wheel
Of radiance, Demeter
Mother, come to us

Ancient Queen of wisdom
Hecate, Cerridwen
Old one, come to us

Holy shining sunlight
Radiate, radiate
Brother, come to us