From the Cauldron Born

by Kristoffer Hughes

  Pine imbues the ritual with cleansing, healing properties; the resin is useful in banishing unwanted influences or negativity. It can also promote financial stability and assist in keeping illness at bay. Its smooth, fresh fragrance clears the nose, breaks down congestion, and instils a sense of general well-being. In the Celtic Ogham system, the pine is known as ailm (pronounced aye-UM).

  Moon Water: Take some water from a source that is special to you or has some other significance—it may be a holy well, a river sacred to a specific deity, or a lake that has myth or legend attached to it. Perhaps you live by the sea and are drawn to the qualities of briny water. Whatever source you choose, collect the water in a glass vessel and place it on a windowsill or ledge during the gibbous phase of the moon (i.e., the three or so nights prior to the full moon). Here we collect the properties of the divine feminine and the wisdom that entails; we connect to the power of the moon, to beauty and serenity. Honour her movements and her pulling of the earth’s oceans and the water in our own bodies. She waxes and wanes and shares the cycle of menstruation. She is the essence of beauty and feminine wisdom that the brew requires.

  December

  Contemplation and Study

  Reread part 3’s section on Divine Intoxication, dedicated to Awen. If you can, find further references to it and immerse yourself in its study. The Barddas of Iolo Morganwg is recommended as a historical and influential study of Awen as a symbol and philosophy. Study the origin of Awen and what it means in your life. How do you creatively express it?

  Practical

  Holly Berries (Ilex spp.): In Welsh Celtic lore this tree is known as celynnen (kel-un-en); in the Ogham system of divination it is tinne (TEEN). The holly is the blood of winter, the promise of life amidst the darkness and cold of the dead time of year. Holly thrives in shadow; it is bold and powerful, and its thick leaves ensure its survival and ability to absorb sunlight even when very little of it filters through the canopy. Our Celtic ancestors believed nature spirits resided in the evergreens and as a gesture of goodwill would bring boughs of them into the home during the festive season, adorning the mantle with green and reds, which continue to be the traditional colours of Yuletide.

  There is a steadfast quality to holly, and it is a powerful aid in seeking balance; it is also traditionally associated with anti-lightning protection and was sacred to the Celtic god Taranis. Crushed holly berries bring to our potion the qualities of balance, good fortune, resilience, tenacity, and defence.

  Mistletoe (Viscum album): Use the entire plant: leaves, stalk, and berries. This is the all-heal, traditionally sacred to the ancient druids of Britain and Gaul. Due to its position between heaven and earth and the fact that it never touched the ground, it was believed to prevent epilepsy. Mistletoe is perhaps one of the most mystical plants revered by our ancestors. The perfectly formed berries that hang between paired leaves are filled with a sticky semen-like substance. For countless centuries fertility rites have been conducted beneath its green and white stare, and these continue in the Yuletide tradition of kissing beneath the mistletoe. The plant brings the gifts of symbiosis and magic to the potion; it is a powerful protector and the epitome of fertility and love. Reverence and humility are imbued into the liquid by this most magical of plants.

  Frost Water: December is the month when we frequently awake to be greeted by the serenity and stillness of frost. This enchanting quality of nature descends from clear skies, transforming the landscape upon which it settles. The whole world seems hushed into silence when it opens its eyes to frost-covered countryside. Observe the patterns on leaves and bark; you will note the most remarkable shapes, from brittle spikes to swirls and whorls of coldness. Frost exists between ice and snow; it is neither yet similar to each, its effect is different, its magic lies in its subtlety to amaze and bewitch. Awake early, and venture into the world with a small, clean vessel. Perhaps you have a sacred collecting vessel at hand; if not, use anything from a glass to an old yogurt pot. Gently skim the vessel over frost-covered grass until a sufficient amount has filled it. Remain outdoors and enjoy the qualities of frost. Remove your shoes and socks: feel the shocking cold of it, sense its caress upon your body as well as the land.

  Allow the frost to melt into water, then add it to the cauldron or store it in a dark glass vessel until ready to use.

  January

  Contemplation and Study

  Reread the section devoted to the cauldron. Research and study the importance of cauldrons in Celtic culture and their associations with the divine feminine. What does the cauldron mean in your current Pagan practise?

  Practical

  Yew Leaves (Taxus baccata): The majestic yew, its beauty tinged by the perilous nature of its poisonous qualities, adorns our landscape with a timeless presence. Its roots reach deep into the underworld; it sings of ancestors, of heritage, and of connection to place, time, blood, and breath. It teaches us that in the midst of life there is death, and that death is essential to the continuation of life. Its berries entice with their blood-red, attractive lustre, yet within its seeds hides the gift of death, for it takes only a few to ensure the rapid deterioration and ultimate expiration of the hapless consumer. Cemeteries and churchyards lay claim to some of the most ancient yews in the British Isles, some believed to be over 2,000 years old, whilst others claim that the yew is a true immortal, able to dampen its life force indefinitely and then reawaken at will.

  The mighty yew brings immensely powerful and transformative qualities to our brew; it harbours the true message of death and rebirth, and it teaches us the nature of immortality. It brings the qualities of fear, authority, and experience to our potion. In the Celtic Ogham system this is the last tree and is called ioho (eye-OH-HO). warning: The leaves of the yew are toxic. One single yew leaf is enough to imbue its qualities to the brew and will pose no threat to the well-being of an average adult. As an alternative, create an essence by allowing sunlight or moonlight to radiate a few leaves placed on a plane of glass above a small bowl of water. Add this water to the brew.

  Pine Needles (Pinus spp.): The qualities and attributes of pine needles, although of the same tree as the resin we used during November, have a slightly different gift. Its power and ability to heal is more apparent in that it can be digested by the human body with ease. A tea made from pine needles not only tickles the senses through its exquisite aroma but also calms the system and encourage a general sense of well-being. The needles are symbolic of good health and sovereignty and bring to our potion the quality of movement from weakness to strength.

  Snow Water: Yet again we take something directly from the elements themselves, this time from the divinely complex and magical substance that is snow. Its ability to utterly transform the landscape and thus our perception and sense of place is immense; it is beautiful yet destructive, and it epitomises the merciless power of nature. Snow has the uncanny ability to dampen sound; the world sounds different when blanketed in snow. This particular ingredient of our potion reminds us of the sometimes hostile conditions that the plant world endures whilst we retreat to the fireside. To find snow you may need to journey elsewhere, to venture into high mountains. Yet again, sense it in its entirety—step out of your comfort zone, feel its power, and greet it naked if you can. Collect sufficient snow for your brew to imbue it with the qualities of transformation, illusion, subtlety, and severity.

  February

  Contemplation and Study

  Reread the section devoted to Morfran Afagddu. What is the nature of your shadow? What do you understand of human psychology and mental health? What is the nature of mind in relation to the brain; are they inexorably interconnected? Study the functions of the brain and the mind. Read the second branch of the Mabinogi and meet the other shadow, Efnysien.

  Practical

  Snowdrop Flowers (Galanthus nivalis): The humble snowdrop serves to amaze and enchant with its simple beauty and yet is awe inspir
ing in its hardiness and strength. This tiny flower, indigenous to lands that have mild to cold winters, heralds the beginning of spring. Entire woodlands may be blanketed in these little flowers, whose heads bow almost in reverence to the powers of winter from which they sprang. Inadvertently trample a snowdrop, and it will spring back—they are resilient, powerful little creatures who serve to demonstrate that good things come in small packages. They are the true heralds of spring; they are the great song that is sung prior to the full blooming radiance of summer; they serve as the alarm clock for nature, for once the snowdrop arrives we can be assured that the whole of nature is yawning awake from its winter bed.

  The snowdrop imbues our rite with humility, innocence, hope, and new beginnings. It also epitomises resilience and the ability to survive hardship and severity with humble beauty and grace.

  A Liminal Object: February’s intercalary day resets the limitations of our calendar every four years, and with her short days and cold, dark nights she is the epitome of magic and liminality. For your second object of the month, find a natural object that grows in a liminal place. This item can be anything that catches your attention. It may grow between the bank and its river; it may occupy wasteland or common land or another liminal location. Seaweed trapped between the lines of the tide may add significant liminal qualities to the brew. The item may be something that you pluck during a liminal time or something that catches your attention within the circle of ritual, perhaps a flower or blade of grass that sings to you. Use your imagination, and cast the item into the cauldron’s belly.

  March

  Contemplation and Study

  Reread the section devoted to Creirfyw. By means of study, introduce yourself to the various goddesses of Celtic mythology. What are their attributions? What are their tales? What are your most beautiful qualities, and how are they imparted to the world?

  Practical

  Wild Garlic Bulb, Leaves, and Flowers (Allium ursinum): A carpet of wide green leaves adorns woodlands and hedges as the wild garlic, or hedge garlic, erupts from the dark soil. The breath of spring summons this delectable creature from the realm of darkness; soon its fragrant white flowers will burst forth to adorn the woodland air with a heady, pungent aroma. The dark March leaves with their deep green colouration bring warmth and hope to the undergrowth. They herald the coming of the spring and the wakening powers of the sun as he strengthens on his journey ever higher towards his zenith. Deep beneath the soil the small bulbs, infused with volatile healing oils, sing in praise of the coming warmth. Traditionally used as a protective charm, garlic has an established folkloric association and has long been used as a device to defend, protect, and heal.

  The garlic bulb and leaves—and perhaps the flowers, if open—bring to the rite the gifts of protection and deep healing. The volatile oils of the plant provide a powerful remedy that soothes the spirit of damage and heals aspects of the self that have become compromised. It brings to the brew qualities of the underworld and the realms of the ancestors and the Fey.

  Primrose Flowers (Primula vulgaris): Perhaps these are the true sentinels of springtime. Their flowers erupt in a display of sheer abundance and determination; many have been flowering since the snow initially retreated. Others are yawning into life, bursting forth from the sanctuary of their roots to raise their glorious heads in praise of the sun. The common primrose (Vulgaris), with its short stems and dense foliage, expresses sheer feminine beauty and vitality, whilst its long-legged counterpart the cowslip (Primula veris) stands tall and proud, demanding attention and adoration.

  Their properties are as varied as they are abundant, but primarily they bring to the rite the gifts of femininity and love. They also bring a subtle sedateness to the brew and the ability to invoke restful sleep and relaxation. Medicinally they are powerful antioxidants and provide effective pain relief.

  April

  Contemplation and Study

  Reread the section dedicated to Tegid Foel. Contemplate your physical location and its qualities; find places you have never visited before in your own locale. How psychically healthy and defended is your home? What rites do you partake of to protect your property and the well-being of your family?

  Practical

  Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta): These incredible, stunningly beautiful plants are indigenous creatures of deciduous woodlands. They may abound in millions, their delicate blue, bejewelled heads bowing in reverence to the sun. Woodlands can appear to be filled with a blue-tinged smoke when bluebells are viewed from a distance. Their heady hyacinth-like scent demands attention. In the islands of Britain they are the symbol of summer’s arrival. They abound wherever woodlands stand, and to lie amidst them, breathing in their heady aroma, is to lie in the lap of the spring goddess in all her vibrant glory.

  In the United Kingdom, the Wildlife and Countryside Act of 1981 deemed the bluebell a protected species, and their removal or harvesting is strictly prohibited by law and punishable in a British court of law. Bear this in mind.It may not have been something that Cerridwen would have worried about, but in the twenty-first century we must be mindful of the law, which is there to protect this wonderful species. British folklore continues to perpetuate the idea that it is bad luck to bring bluebells into the home, which thankfully prevents idle picking of the plant. A meditative walk in a bluebell wood will connect you to this magical plant, which brings to our brew the qualities of adoration, truth, and good fortune. Find a plant that has been naturally damaged by wind or animal, or one that is nearing the end of its cycle of display. From a damaged stem pick three bells of flowers; do so gently, and sing your praise to its spirit and speak of your intention. Do not pick flowers from a healthy plant.

  Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): The dazzling yellow flowering head of the dandelion reflects the radiant light of the sun, and regardless of them being the blight of many a gardener, they are undeniably beautiful. A bed of deep green leaves forms an oval mattress from which springs a tall, slender stem, upon which the flowers burst into song. The “Pee the Bed,” as it is often called, has a bitter aroma and taste but can make a glorious tea and its leaves an adornment to any salad. Its folklore is widespread and is in direct relation to its diuretic properties. It was commonly believed that a child who would pick a dandelion would wet the bed that very evening. The vibrant flowers eventually give way to a circular head of fluffy seeds; typically the blowing of the seed heads predicts the future in relation to love, longevity, or simply to tell the time of day.

  Their diuretic and laxative properties make them excellent candidates for healing; crushed, they provide anti-inflammatory qualities and also act as a digestive aid. It is said the milky substance within the stem will cure warts. Dandelion brings to our brew the gift of divination, wishes, and banishing. Use all parts of the plant.

  May

  Contemplation and Study

  Reread the section on Morda. Dedicate the month to studying the magic of liminality and its usage in the magical arts. Record your senses during liminal times or when visiting liminal places.

  Practical

  Hawthorn Blossoms (Crataegus spp.): “Ne’er not a clout till May be out,” this typical English proverb advises not to remove any winter clothing until the arrival of the May flowers. In the Pagan traditions the May flowers herald the arrival of Beltane and the true beginning of summer. In the Ogham system it heads the second tribe, or aicme, of trees and is called huath (WHO-ath). Branches of May flowers would adorn the wreath atop the May pole, a fertility ritual in its own right. The staggering white flowers boldly stand against the green leaves of the hawthorn bush, but use caution: the flowers draw one in, but be mindful of her thorns that may pierce and infect their victims. It is still considered bad luck to bring May flowers into the home, and there has been some speculation that this is due to their direct association with the pre-Christian traditions and the crowning of the May Queen. Other suggestions ref
er to the chemical trimethylamine, present in the flowers and also in rotting animal tissue, being indicative of the pungent aroma of a decaying corpse as it lay awaiting burial. To bring the flowers into the home was to imbue it with the smell of death.

  Collect the flowers of May and cast them into the cauldron to infuse it with powers of fertility and magic. Their medicinal properties include powerful cardiac diuretics that can sympathetically be utilised to alleviate heartbreak, grief, and melancholy.

  Elder Flowers (Sambucus nigra): Perhaps the most enigmatic tree of British and American plant lore, essentially identified as divinely feminine, elder’s folkloric associations are as numerous as the flowers she bears on a single stem. Elder’s folkloric attributions are indicative of locality-specific associations, and each region may have completely contrasting lore and traditions in relation to her. Often identified with witches, it was considered acceptable to harvest her flowers and berries but never to cut or burn the wood and certainly not to bring the wood indoors for fear of being cursed by the witches. The Wiccan Rede states that “elder be the lady’s tree, burn it not or cursed ye’ll be,” further implying its sacred nature and traditional associations. Traditions in the south of Wales prevented the building of anything next to or near an elder tree, whilst in other parts of the country elder was actively planted near outdoor toilets due to the insect-repellent properties of the flowers.

  The elder’s flowers are highly fragrant, giving way in the autumn to a dazzling array of deep-purple berries. Both flower and berry are edible, yet paradoxically they are surrounded by toxic leaves that contain cyanogenic glycosides. To our potion they bring the gifts of the Goddess and the wisdom of Witchcraft, as well as prosperity, exorcism, and protection. The alluring powers of adoration and enchantment seep from the flowers to imbue the liquid with immense power. In the Ogham she is known as ruis (ROO-SH).