Pagans: Is Cerridwen a Goddess? (or a Witch, or another sort of Spirit)?

Question

Not strictly recon from the Mabinogion, but Cerridwen very well could just have been Taleisin's Anima.

Answer 1

C o G, you're an A s S.





i've always understood that cerridwen is a goddess, [just by way of a legitimate answer, the way A s S did], the celts didn't have distinct demons the way they are understood today, because there's no such thing.



christians need to know that.

Answer 2

I love Welsh mythology and the tale of Gwion Bach where Cerridwen is mentioned. However, so far I haven't found any mention in any academic sources which say that Ceridwen was historically worshiped as a Goddess. So far, no archaeological evidence.



The Scottish had a hag deity called the Cailleach. The name is also found in Ireland and the Isle of Mann. Perhaps the Welsh had a hag deity also but so far we don't have any evidence that I know of.



The earliest mention of her is in 13th century poetry.

http://www.maryjones.us/jce/cerridwen.html

However, by the 13th century, much had already been lost of the indigenous beliefs of the Welsh. Christianity was well established by then.



Personally, I doubt that the ancient Welsh (or Britons before Wales became a separate entity) worshiped a hag deity named Cerridwen. Still, I keep an open mind about it. In general, the ancient Celts tended to blur the lines between Gods, heroes, and ancestors. She could have been any or none of the above. She could have been the essence of the spirit of poetry.



I have a hag deity that I honor that I sometimes refer to as Cerridwen. She doesn't seem to mind the name but I know that isn't her real name. Maybe someday she'll reveal her real name to me though I don't really need to know. And whether or not the Welsh also honored her doesn't effect my relationship with her.

Answer 3

Cerridwen,Caridwen,Ceridwen Wales: The Dark Moon Goddess; Great Mother

Goddess of the Grain and of Nature.Welsh Bards called themselves Cerddorion (sons of Cerridwen).

Her cauldron and the white corpse eating sow represents the moon.

Conected with Knowledge,spells,poetry,science,herbs,aastrology,Death,fertility,regeneration,inspiration,magick,enchantment,and divination.

I also connect her to the welsh faery's



Edit: Please do not put Welsh into the same cater gory as the Irish and Scot ts. My Background and Blood carry the Irish and Scottish lines yet Irish is where the Scot ts originated and the Welsh are quiet different those many Aeons ago.

Tuatha Dannaan the Irish Faery Raide who taught the celts and Picts etc the Magick of the Fae who seemed almost human yet of High rank. Welsh have a darker realm added to this. Althogh there is hardly any documentation. My past life regressions have affected me and I have remembered many things. Calleach is Irish nothing to do with the Welsh. Love and light.

Answer 4

Hmm... I certainly have no intentions of claiming that some people's goddess is not a goddess.



However, I will say that I don't recall ever coming across any historical evidence to support that she was worshiped as a goddess. That does not mean that there is no evidence (there is a lot I have not read) and it does not mean she was not worshiped as one.



My personal belief is that she was most likely not a goddess. Frankly, the only scholarly book I have seen describe her as such (off the top of my head) is Miranda Green and Miranda Green is often criticized - though I still really like her works. I don't know if her story in the Mabinogian is truly worthy of goddess status as her description is not even that of a goddess. What is she? Celtic myth is full of characters that are not gods and yet are not really humans either. Let's remember it's just a story too, and one dating from the 16th century (if I'm remembering correctly).



It seems there's someone on here who knows about Welsh myths.. but I can't remember who it is...



Edit - I though I might have a link stashed away, I had this which is a bit about the name http://medievalscotland.org/problem/names/ceridwen.shtml

It's kind of interesting and I notice the author describes her as a "supernatural character".

Answer 5

There's no evidence that Cerridwen was historically ever considered a goddess. Whether modern people have had encounters with a goddess they call Cerridwen is none of my business. But the historical claims many pagans make about Cerridwen have nothing backing them up.

Answer 6

Cerridwen is - (Scottish, Welsh) [KARE-id-ooín or KARE-id-win] Moon Goddess; Great Mother; Grain Goddess; Goddess of Nature. The white-corpse eating sow representing the Moon. Wife of the giant Tegid and mother of a beautiful girl Creirwy and two ugly boys Avagdu and Movran. Welsh Bards called themselves Cerddorion (sons of Cerridwen). The Bard Taliesin, founder of their craft was said to be born of Cerridwen and to have tasted a potent brew from her magic cauldron of inspiration. This potion known as 'greal' (from which to word Grail probably came), was made from six plants for inspiration and knowledge. Gwion Bach (later called Taliesin) accidentally drank the remaining three drops of the liquid. Her symbol was a white sow. Death, fertility, regeneration, inspiration, magic, astrology, herbs, science, poetry, spells, knowledge.



Cerridwen is the goddess of dark prophetic powers. She is the keeper of the cauldron of the underworld, in which inspiration and divine knowledge are brewed. She is often equated with the famous Greek crone, Hecate, and to the Irish Badb. She is also sometimes related to the Greek Muses, only in a more violent and dark form.



Also: Caridwen; Ceridwen; Cereduin

Answer 7

I know cerridwen is a Welsh name, I used to have a friend who was called that

Answer 8

Goddess.

Answer 9

I've always known her as a goddess from the Welsh.



# # #



CoG - keep your truth, it has no relevance to pagans. Most of us WERE Christian and are no longer. We know your mindless rantings already. Take it to someone who cares - like.... in your church, leave the rest of us alone.

Answer 10

I would say she is more of a witch than a Goddess but then I suppose she could be many things to many people.

Answer 11

I thought she was but I am not well versed in Celt lore.



Many people assume a great deal about Norse beings that are not correct so I won't do that to the Celts. :) Where is HC when you need her?

Answer 12

From what I understand, Cerridwen is the crone aspect of the Celtic triple goddess, so she is the goddess of witchcraft in that sense.

Answer 13

Not in my opinion, but that's because I believe in the whole races that aren't humans or gods thing.

Answer 14

PaganPoetess said it perfectly.

Answer 15

First thing, there's no goddess with a capital G...there's only one God with a capital G.



And Cerriweden would be some kind of mythical person or some evil spirit



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Pagans need to know the truth too ;)