“Blodeuwedd” by Scarlettletters
“Blodeuwedd’s themes are beauty, relationships, charity, and hope. Her symbols are flowers and owls. This intensely beautiful Welsh Goddess’ name means ‘flower face’, because magicians fashioned Her visage from oak, meadowsweet, and broom flowers. Folktales say that Blodeuwedd was unfaithful to Her husband. As punishment for Her crime, the same magicians who gave Her a flower face chose to be merciful and transformed Blodeuwedd into an owl rather than inflicting some other punishment. She has forever remained in this form, mourning the loss of love and reminding people of two important lessons: relationships are fragile, and beauty is indeed only skin deep.
The English sell geraniums today to collect funds for charities, specifically those that support services for the blind, who cannot see Blodeuwedd’s radiance as we do. In the language of flowers, geraniums represent solace – which is what any act of charity stimulates today. It provides hope to those in need and inspires Blodeuwedd’s beauty within your soul. Even if your pocket is empty, extend assistance to someone or something in need. Offer to help an elderly friend with chores, give some returnable bottles to a homeless person, act as big brother or sister to orphans, give water to a stray cat. Benevolence had many forms, and it makes the world a much nicer place in which to live!”
(Patricia Telesco, “365 Goddess: a daily guide to the magic and inspiration of the goddess”.)
“Blodeuwedd in Bloom” by Selina Fenech
“Blodeuwedd (pronunciation: bluh DIE weth [“th” as in “weather”]) is the Welsh Goddess of spring created from flowers, and the wife of Lleu Llaw Gyffes, son of Arianrhod and is a central figure in the fourth branch of the Mabinogi. In the late Christianized myth, She was created by the great magicians Math and Gwydion to be Lleu’s mate, in response to a curse pronounced by his Mother that he would never have a wife from any race then on the Earth. They fashioned Blodeuwedd from nine types of blossom–oak, meadowsweet, broom, cockle, bean, nettle, chestnut, primrose, and hawthorn–and breathed life into Her. She proved treacherous to Lleu, and She and Her lover Gronw Pebyr plotted against him, killing the invulnerable Lleu by tricking him into the only pose in which he could be harmed. Blodeuwedd was punished for this by being transformed into the night-bird, the owl, though She kept Her name–in Welsh, blodeuwedd, meaning “Flower-face”, is a name for the owl.
She is the white Goddess of Death and Life in Her May-aspect, and part of a triad consisting of Arianrhod (virgin), Blodeuwedd (lover), and Cerridwen (crone).
She represents temporary beauty and the bright blooming that must come full circle through death: She is the promise of autumn visible in spring.
Alternate spellings: Blodeuedd, Blodewedd” [1]
“Many researchers and historians see Blodeuwedd as the symbol of betrayal (Amy Sophia Marashinsky in the “The Goddess Oracle”) or a representative of the May Queen, who was wedded ritually to the king who would be sacrificed to Her (Robert Graves in “The White Goddess”), but I believe that Her story can be interpreted in a different way.
Blodeuwedd was the Flower Maiden, made by men, for a man, in ‘the image of their own desires, feelings and ideas about what a Lover should be.’ Blodeuwedd married Llew and became the perfect wife and mate. When She meets Gronw, something deep within Blodeuwedd came alive. She embraces and declares Her feelings of love and makes a choice to be with Gronw. Blodeuwedd takes Her power back and in this act, becomes the Mother aspect of the Goddess– a woman who is strong in who She is and who embraces Her power; the power to nurture, to heal, and to love with abandon.
“Blodeuwedd” by Hrana Janto
After Llew is killed, She is pursued and as a punishment, turned into an owl. Owls are associated with wisdom. Blodeuwedd has become the Crone. She has learned what happens when She accepts Herself and turns against what others want Her to be. Blodeuwedd was ‘transformed into the diametrical opposite of her previous self. From a meek, gentle, smiling, benign, beautiful and perfect Mate, She became a solitary night predator, maw gaping in silent flight, screech cutting through the forest. In a positive sense, we may say that She became assertive, independent, self-realized – and wise.’ For me, the lesson of Blodeuwedd is that we must leave behind our youth and innocence and claim the Feminine Divine in order to transform and become wise.” [2]
ASSOCIATIONS:
Pantheon: Celtic/Welsh
Element: Water
Sphere of Influence: Promotion and Wisdom
Preferred Colors: White, yellow
Associated Symbols: Owl, lilies
Animals Associated With: Owl
Best Day to Work with: Monday
Best Moon Phase: Full
Suitable Offerings: Lilies
Associated Planet: Moon [3]
Festival Day: Beltane, 1st May
Associations: Nine flower blossoms of primrose, bean, broom, meadowsweet, cockle (burdock), nettle, oak, hawthorn and chestnut
Aspects: Goddess as Lover, Goddess as Sexual Love, Goddess as Virgin complete unto Herself
Names: Flower Goddess; Lady of Flowers; Lady of the Nine Buds of Plant and Tree; Lily Maid of Celtic initiation ceremonies. Also known as the Ninefold Goddess of the Western Isles of Paradise.
Associations: Elen, Olwen of the White Tracks, Rhiannon. [4]
A great 13 minute video discussing the Goddess Blodeuwedd
Sources:
Cross, Jamie. Order of the White Moon, “Blodeuwedd“.
Goddess Within, “Goddess Invocations: Blodeuwedd“.
PaganNews.com, “Blodeuwedd“.
Took, Thalia. A-Muse-ing Grace Gallery, “Blodeuwedd“.
Suggested Links:
Burning Snow. Order of the White Moon, “Blodeuwedd“.
DAlba, Mary, PaganPages.org, “Blodeuwedd“.
Elm. Tribe of the Sun, “Blodeuwedd“.
Kennelly, Patty. Daily Goddess, “Blodeuwedd: Betrayal“.
Monaghan, Patricia. Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore, “Blodeuwedd“.
Monaghan, Patricia. Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines, excerpt on Blodeuwedd
Oak, Broom and Meadowsweet, “Legend of Blodeuwedd“.
Revel, Anita. igoddess.com, “Blodeuwedd: wisdom, age (and vise versa)“.
Sisterhood of Avalon, “What We Believe: The Goddesses“.
Skye, Michelle. Goddess Afoot!: Practicing Magic with Celtic & Norse Goddesses, “Blodeuwedd“.
Took, Thalia. A-Muse-ing Grace Gallery, “The Tale of Blodeuwedd“.
Venefica, Avia. Whats-Your-Sign.com, “Celtic Symbols of Blodeuwedd“.
Wikipedia, “Blodeuwedd“.
“For me, the lesson of Blodeuwedd is that we must leave behind our youth and innocence and claim the Feminine Divine in order to transform and become wise.”
This is one of the things that I know intellectually but haven’t really realized in my heart yet. Perhaps this Goddess’ symbolism will be helpful to me. There is something about Her story that speaks to me strongly.
You and me both…It’s a long slow work in progress. To be honest, I didn’t know anything about Her before this entry – only that She belonged to the Welch pantheon and was included amongst Cerridwen, Arianrhod, Rhiannon, and Branwen specially worshipped by the Sisterhood of Avalon. Her story really struck a chord and spoke to me. I think She has a lot strong deep wisdom to offer if we only open ourselves and truly internalize Her lessons. Again, as it seems to be with many lessons the Goddess has to teach us, it’s not one that we learn overnight….
If it was simple or easy it wouldn’t be worth as much. At least, that’s what I’ve been told. I’ve slowly come to realize just how terribly, painfully, wonderfully true that is.
I am reminded of a quote, “Religion is for people who are afraid of hell. Spirituality is for people who have already been there…” – Running Hawk, Lakota Nation (PIne Ridge). And I agree with you 100% when you say that “If it was simple it wouldn’t be worth as much.” Don’t ya just love it?
Reblogged this on Nikki McDonagh – author and photographer and commented:
Great post about the mythical May Queen.