Also called Flower-face, Blodeuedd.
Their story
After Arianrhod swore that her son Lleu would never have a human wife, Math and Gwydion made a woman from the flowers of oak, broom and meadowsweet and named her Blodeuwedd. She fell in love with Gronw Pebr, and together they learned the one way Lleu could be killed: neither indoors nor out, neither on horseback nor on foot, standing with one foot on a goat and the other on the edge of a bath by a river. Gronw struck him with a spear and Lleu flew away as an eagle. When Gwydion found Lleu, he punished Blodeuwedd by turning her into an owl, shunned by all other birds.
Best times to give to them
- Calan Mai
- Midsummer
- dusk
What they like being given
- wild flowers, gathered sparingly
- meadowsweet or broom in season
- support for an owl sanctuary
How to honour them
- Listen for owls at dusk and give thanks for them.
- Reflect on the choices you make for yourself rather than for others' expectations.
- Plant flowers for pollinators in her honour.
How they can help you
- self-discovery
- owning your choices
- transformation
- wild beauty
Symbols
- the owl
- oak, broom and meadowsweet
- the bath by the river
In the Mabinogi she is a wrongdoer; modern readings that see her as a goddess reclaiming her freedom are a later interpretation.
Sources
- Math fab Mathonwy (the Fourth Branch of the Mabinogi)
More Celtic goddesses
- Brigid Keeper of the sacred flame
- The Morrígan Great Queen of battle and prophecy
- Danu Mother of the Tuatha Dé Danann
- Rhiannon The queen on the white horse
- Cerridwen Keeper of the cauldron of inspiration
- Epona Great Mare, protector of horses
- Arianrhod Lady of the silver wheel
- Airmed Keeper of the healing herbs