Cauldron Lore
"The cauldron or pot symbolizes cyclical time and the lunar calendar.
This
is because the cauldron represents the womb of rebirth, the bowl of
blood
held by the Hindu Kali and other goddesses. This blood is the Wise
Blood
from the Cosmic Womb. It has been called soma by the Hindus, red
claret by
the Celts, and greal by the Welsh Bards. In Vedic myth, Indra stole
the soma
so that he could rule over all the gods, a reference to the stealing
of
importance and power from the Goddess for a patriarchal god.
The Goddess and Her cauldron is the center of all feminine power and
every
female group. Spiritual transformation can only come through Her
cauldron,or
belly-womb. Ancient tradition says that only women can tap into the
great
power of the cauldron, for only women are made in the image of the
Goddess
with Her all-renewing womb of rebirth and transformation. This
tradition
remains in the figure of the witch and her cauldron.
The cauldron is also the repository of inspiration and magick, as
seen in
Cerridwen's cauldron which was sought by the Bards. The Goddess has
long
been considered to be the source of inspiration and the Mistress of
Magick.
When a true initiation takes place, the initiate willingly descends
into the
cauldron, she is often filled with ecstatic emotions when she returns
to her
present state. She may sing, play music, dance, prophesy, see
visions, or
become creative in poetry and prose. In short, she is filled with
Goddess
spirit and inspiration, the type of power that only comes from the
sacred
cauldron. Such Bards as Taliesin stated that they regularly "drank"
from the
cauldron to promote their creativity and divine inspiration.
Magickal Meaning: development of psychic gifts; creative talents
being used
Coming to terms with physical death, either through the death of
someone
close to you, or a very personal experience in dreams and/or
meditation."
