Timothy Roderick's WICCA: A Year and a Day is by no means a definitive text, but it is set up into accessible small entries on each major topic of Wicca and is one organizational approach. There are as many Wicca 101 books out there now as there are types of Wicca and then some more on top of that. NONE of them is 100 % accurate for you. AND what resonates with YOU may not be 100% accurate for me. This is the part about Wicca that drives some folks absolutely crazy. There are no absolutes. First, read the introduction to Roderick’s book and the story about Cerridwen in his introduction.
THEN, read this first article about Cerridwen written by Kerritwyn, a priestess in the Order of the White Moon. This is your first, small foray into learning about Celtic Mythology. Celtic thought is full of contradictions and with the rise of the Celtic Reconstuctionists, different schools of thought contradict one another. PLEASE always read with a critical eye and know that there is no ONE interpretation of any bit of knowledge. If you learn anything from me in these lessons, I hope you come away with the idea that nothing is carved in stone and no one should be your absolute guru. Figure out what is right for you and then the rest will fall in place for you.
The Legend of Cerridwen’s Cauldron
Historical Myth By Kerritwyn kerritwyn@yahoo.com
High Priestess; Charter Member of the Order of the White Moon She has her own Yahoo Group and School, The Sacred Three Goddess School
Cerridwen is one of the Old Ones, one of the great megalithic pre-Christian Goddesses of the Celtic World. Although, in her story, she embodies all three lunar aspects of the Goddess, Maiden, Mother and Crone. She is primarily worshipped in her Crone aspect, by and through her Cauldron of Wisdom, Inspiration, Rebirth and Transformation. The cauldron has an intimate association with femininity. Together with the cave, the cup and the chalice, and the association of femininity with justice, wisdom and intelligence; this association goes back to very ancient times.1-4
The people of Wales originally worshiped Cerridwen. It is told that she lived on an island, in the middle of Lake Tegid, named after her husband, with her two children, a beautiful daughter, Creidwy, and a very ugly son, Afagdu. To compensate her son for his unfortunate appearance, Cerridwen brewed a magickal formula, known as "greal" 5, which would make Afagdu the most brilliant and inspired of men. For a year and a day, she kept six herbs simmering in her magickal cauldron, known as "Amen" 6, under the constant care of a boy named Gwion.
One day, while Gwion was stirring the cauldron, a few drops of the bubbling liquid spattered on his hand. Unthinkingly, and in pain, Gwion, sucked his burned hand, and, suddenly, he could hear everything in the world, and understood all the secrets of the past and future. With his newly enchanted foresight, Gwion knew how angry Cerridwen would be when she found he had acquired the inspiration meant for her son.
He ran away, but Cerridwen pursued him. Gwion changed into a hare, and Cerridwen chased him as a greyhound; he changed into a fish, and Cerridwen pursued him as an otter; he became a bird, and she flew after him as a hawk; finally, he changed into a grain of corn, and Cerridwen, triumphant, changed into a hen, and ate him.
When Cerridwen resumed her human form, she conceived Gwion in her womb, and, nine months later, gave birth to an infant son, whom she, in disgust, threw into the water of a rushing stream. He was rescued by a Prince, and grew into the great Celtic bard, Taliesin 7.
Rebirth and Transformation.
Cerridwen's cauldron is an ancient feminine symbol of renewal, rebirth, transformation and inexhaustible plenty 8. It is the primary female symbol of the pre-Christian world, and represents the womb of the Great Goddess from which all things are born and reborn again 9. Like the Greek Goddess, Demeter, and the Egyptian Goddess, Isis, Cerridwen was the great Celtic Goddess of inspiration, intelligence and knowledge, and was invoked as a lawgiver and sage dispenser of righteous wisdom, counsel and justice 10.
Symbolism.
The image of her cauldron, holding the magickal potion of wisdom, is the mythical origin of the Halloween image of a cauldron-stirring hag, making up her witch's brew 11. The brew had to simmer for a year and a day, a common passage of time in Celtic lore, and a standard time before magickal initiation. Today, many Druidic pagans believe that her shape-shifting chase after Gwion was meant to represent the different elevations of Druidic initiation rites 12. The chase can also be seen as representative of the many changes our souls must make, into different forms, and over different human lifetimes, before we can discover the very reason for our existence 13.
The potent nature of her brew has, today, transformed Cerridwen, in some eyes, into a goddess of fertility, creativity, harvest, inspiration, knowledge and luck 14. A festival in her honor is celebrated on July 3rd, and the pink sow, a symbol of fertility, good fortune and enrichment, is said to be her matron animal 15.
Metaphor.
The story of Cerridwen is often interpreted as being fueled by anger, but it can also be seen as a metaphor for the relationship of teacher and student.
Cerridwen was the teacher, and Gwion the student, and it is the job of a teacher to challenge the student, when the student is ready. The random drops of Cerridwen's special brew, which flew out of her cauldron, and onto Gwion, can be seen as sparks of knowledge, which, when they hit our being, run through us like wild fire, exploding with sudden meaning 16.
During the chase, Cerridwen forced Gwion to acquire new wisdom, as she shape shifted into the predator that could catch and kill the prey whose form Gwion had assumed. Cerridwen forced him to use the knowledge he acquired, as they ran, together, and, in the end, she devoured him, to bestow upon him a new and greater identity, that of the legendary poet, Taliesin. Thus, was he initiated into the mysteries. 17
Transformation.
Transformations of all kinds are an integral part of Celtic mythology, and the center of this mythical element is often a cauldron. In the Celtic Mystery Tradition, there are three types of cauldrons, the Cauldron of Transformation, the Cauldron of Rejuvenation and Rebirth, and the Cauldron of Inspiration, and Cerridwen's cauldron symbolizes the merging of all three of these aspects into one archetypal cauldron 18. The Celtic afterworld is called the Land of Youth, and the secret that opens its doors is found in Cerridwen's cauldron: the secret of immortality lies in seeing death as an integral part of the cycle of life, where every death brings rebirth, every ending a new beginning 19 .
Random Inspiration.
Gwion's sudden absorption of the three drops of brew from Cerridwen's cauldron also shows what appears, to humans, to be the random nature of greatness and inspiration. The three drops of Cerridwen's brew are an encryption of primal creative power. Gwion appeared to be a random recipient of the cauldron's bounty, yet, when he was reborn, he became the famous poet, Taliesin. The impact on Gwion was such that he literally had to be transformed, several times, and reborn, in human form, to assimilate the knowledge he had unwittingly gained 20.
The ancient cauldron of the Goddess was reinvented, by patriarchy, as the Holy Grail of Arthurian legend 21, and was transformed into a solar symbol, the Chalice used by Yeshua, or Jesus Christ, at the Last Supper 22. Very little of its mystical meaning was changed, however, and it is still, today, a symbol of enlightenment and spiritual transformation 23.
Notes.
1. Farrar, Janet and Stewart, A Witches' Bible, Phoenix Publishing, Inc., Custer, WA. p. 79.
2. Grimassi, Raven, The Wiccan Mysteries, Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN., p. 195.
3. Ibid., fn. 1, p.157.
4. Eisler, Riane, The Chalice and the Blade, Harper San Francisco, Harper Collins, New York, NY., p. 69.
5. Farrar, Janet and Stewart, The Witches' Goddess, Phoenix Publishing, Inc., Custer, WA., p. 209.
6. Ibid
7. Monaghan, Patricia, The New Book of Goddesses and Heroines, Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN., pp. 82-83.
8. Ibid., fn. 4, p. 265.
9. Ardinger, Barbara, Ph.D., Goddess Meditations, Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN., p. 53.
10. Stone, Merlin, When God was a Woman, Harvest/HBJ, New York, NY., p. 4.
11. McCoy, Edain, Celtic Myth and Magick, Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN., p. 191.
12. Ibid.
13. Matthews, Caitlin, The Celtic Spirit, Harper San Francisco, Harper Collins, N.Y., New York, p. 316.
14. Telesco, Patricia, 365 Goddess, Harper San Francisco, Harper Collins, N.Y., New York, July 3rd.
15. Ibid.
16. Matthews, Caitlin, The Celtic Spirit, Harper San Francisco, Harper Collins, N.Y., New York, p. 385.
17. McCoy, Edain, Celtic Women's Spirituality, Llewellyn Publications, St. Paul, MN., pp. 39-40.
18. Ibid., fn. 2, p. 195.
19. Starhawk, The Spiral Dance, Harper San Francisco, Harper Collins, N.Y., New York, pp. 97-98.
20. Matthews, Caitlin, The Celtic Spirit, Harper San Francisco, Harper Collins, New York, NY., pp. 148, 375, 385.
21. Starhawk, The Spiral Dance, Harper San Francisco, Harper Collins, New York, NY., pp. 97-98.
22. Ibid., fn. 14
23. Ibid.
(PLEASE NOTE THAT I HEARTILY RECOMMEND READING ANDY AND/OR ALL OF THE ABOVE BOOKS. I HAVE SOME WHICH YOU MAY BE ABLE TO BORROW.)
***Question—How does the historical version of the legend compare and contrast to what is in Roderick’s book? Which do you prefer? WHY?***
Definitions of Wicca
Remember that there are as many definitions of Wicca as there are Wiccans. This is, to many of us, exactly how it should be. Each of us should create our own version of our path and then walk it. Wicca is a shamanic path to some, a magickal path to others, and spiritual path to yet another group. To some it is all three or any derivative thereof.
***Question—Which is it to you? Alternatively, is it something else altogether?***
Witch Defined
The concept of "witch" can be found in just about every world culture and language in some form or another. Be it kahuna, hexe, strega, bruja, baobh, bacularia or makhsheyfe; the thought that lies behind it is still the same.
So -- Where did the word come from? What does it exactly mean? How did it become such a universal principle?
Etymology
Etymology traces the development of a word-form from its earliest recorded occurrence in a language to the present day. Because language is a living entity, words, spellings and meanings are constantly changing. This means that the history of a word and its possible etymology *may not* necessarily coincide.
—WITCH—
Word's Origin
witch [1] n. -es [ME wyche, from OE wice, wic; probably akin to OE wïcan to yield, give way-more at weak]: any of several trees having pliant branches.
[2] n. -es [ME wicche, from OE wicca, masculine, wizard and wicce feminine, witch; akin to OE wiccian to practice witchcraft, MHG wicken to bewitch, to divine, OE wigle divination, wiglian to divine, wïg idol, image ON yé temple -- more at victim] 1.a dialect British : Wizard, Sorcerer b.(1) : a woman practicing c. (1) : one supposed to possess supernatural powers especially by compact with the devil or a familiar (2) : a magic spell : hex (it's) d. or witcher -s: dowser 2 : one that bewitches
[3] adjective : of , relating to, or used against witches <~cult> <~ doors used to ward off evil spirits>
[4] verb -ed /-ing/-es [ME wicchen, from OE wiccian to practice witchcraft] 1: bewitch 2 : dowse. [1]
Definitions and Meanings
Generic A witch is a person who practices sorcery. Sorcery can include a variety of aspects such as healing, divination, magic, alchemy, necromancy, spells, herbs, meditation, etc. These practices are often an avenue within an established spiritual structure. It is the Generic interpretation that is the common link among the cultures worldwide.
Christian A witch is a person who practices the black arts and possesses supernatural powers due to a pact with the devil -also known as Satan. The origins of this definition came from the medieval period circa 1500 when it also included heretics, eccentrics, lepers, Jews and anyone else who didn't conform to the Christian Church. During this time 'witch' usually referred to women, evidenced by words like hag and crone.
Modern A witch is a member of a particular spiritual construct often based on an amalgamation of different religious concepts and practices -and- who practices magic/sorcery within the scope of this faith. The Pagan community and other Earth based spiritualities make it clear that the practice of magic is the distinguishing factor for the description of witch. Basically, it is a mutually exclusive relationship that states: not all Pagans are witches and not all witches are Pagans.
Notes
1. Webster's Third New International Dictionary of the English Language Volume III
2. A History of Witchcraft—Jeffrey B. Russell; p. 24.
3. Encyclopedia of Occultism;Parapsychology 4th ed. Vol.2
4. Drawing Down the Moon, —Margot Adler
***Question: Once again—what is Wicca to you?***
A Short Dictionary of Terminology Necessary to our Studies
WICCA - A modern tradition of witchcraft based on the old earth religions of Europe. The term comes from an Old English word meaning “to bend” or “to have wisdom.”
SHAMAN - A word derived from the Tungas language of Siberia, it is a generic term for healers and spiritual leaders in tribal societies. Traditional shamans induced trance states through drums, dancing, ingesting hallucinogens, self-mutilation and deprivation and virtually any means by which one might achieve an altered state of consciousness. While in such a trance, the shaman crosses over into another world to get information for his people such as the cause of illnesses and other misfortunes. The shaman is the peoples’ link to the spirit world.
PAGAN A practitioner of an Earth Religion; from the Latin a country dweller. Also considered any religion that is not Christianity.
ANIMISM Belief that a spirit or force residing in every animate and inanimate object, every dream and idea, gives individuality to each. The related Polynesian concept of man holds that the spirit in all things is responsible for the good and evil in the universe.
ARCHETYPES Universal symbols that speak in the language of the subconscious. They are the ideal images of deities and other powers.
EARTH-CENTERED SPIRITUALITY- In Earth-Centered Spirituality, it is the Earth and Nature that is sacred. This sacred power is called the Divine Spark, Higher Power, Great Spirit, God, and/or Goddess. Those who practice Earth-centered Spirituality find Divinity in the natural world and because they love, honor, and respect the environment, many Earth-Centered practitioners work to protect Mother Nature.
EARTH MAGICK - A form of magick in which the powers of the Earth are sought and used to conduct ritual and magical workings.
EARTH RELIGION A religion whose main tenet is that the worshipper is in harmony with the Earth and with all life. Such religions oppose the idea that the world is a resource to be subdued and exploited.
IMMANENT (ĭm'ə-nənt) adj. Existing or remaining within; inherent: believed in a God immanent in humans.
IMMANENCE (ĭm'ənəns) [Lat.,=dwelling in], in metaphysics, the presence within the natural world of a spiritual or cosmic principle, especially of the Deity. It is contrasted with transcendence. The immanence of God in the world is the basic feature of pantheism.
KABALA - Mystical teachings from the Jewish-Gnostic tradition that formed the basis of ceremonial magick and the Alexandrian tradition of Wicca as put forth by Alex and Maxine Sanders. An elaborately structured Tree of Life is central to the system of study. Also Qabalah and Cabala.
PANTHEISM - literally means "God is All" and "All is God". It is the view that everything is of an all-encompassing immanent God; or that the universe, or nature, and God are equivalent.
***Question: Which of these terms appeal to you? Which do not? Why?***
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