Cauldrons of the Soul

The Cauldrons of the Soul

In much of the Celtic tradition today, the Cauldron is a very powerful symbol of initiation and wisdom. It has been seen as the womb of the goddess and earth, and represents rebirth and initiation. It appears in the Arthurian tales as the Grail, it is Cerridwen’s cauldron of wisdom from which Taliesin steals a drop and thus gains the wisdom of the earth, it is the Dagda’s cauldron of plenty, and in later texts the cauldron is marred, becoming the Witch’s cauldron to brew magickal potions and concoct spells, the place where eye of newt and wing of bat would be added to create a tincture of this or a potion of that. For the Celtic people the Cauldron was revered the same way the Hearth is revered, as the center of their culture, a symbol of enlightenment, fulfillment, and good will which seemed common to the people and therefore, it also became a metaphoric part of themselves.
Jason Kirkey, speaks of the cauldrons as they have been named by the scholarly community, and the poet Amhairghin.

With this text I would like to explore another context in which the cauldrons are used as a symbol for very similar themes: the cauldrons of the soul, more commonly known as the cauldrons of poesy to the scholarly community. In the 16th or 15th century a poem was transcribed in an Irish legal codex, appropriately told by Amhairghin, detailing the process by which poetry is made. In short, it describes three internal cauldrons, in which poetic verse and wisdom is incubated and dispensed.

By Amhairghin, the cauldrons are named Coire Goiriath, Coire Ernmae, and Coire Sois, which in plain English means the Cauldron of Warming, the Cauldron of Vocation, and the Cauldron of Wisdom. Very akin to the Eastern ideas of chakras, the Cauldrons of poesy, or Cauldrons of the soul were said to exist in parts of the body. Now, while the Celts system only contain three focal points of energy, they are yet still useful to the full energetic body that is described in the eastern traditions.
The Cauldron of Warming was located in the belly or womb, which is similar to the Sacral or Solar Plexus Chakra. The position of the Cauldrons was also rather important, and the Cauldron of Warming was always facing up, meaning it was always open. The Cauldron of Vocation was said to exist in the Heart, obviously in the same place as the heart chakra. Subsequently, this Cauldron is seen always on its side for those who have creative juices flowing, and upsidedown for those who do not. Our emotions move this cauldron from being upright in full creativity mode to being upside down in unawakenedness. The third Cauldron of Wisdom is held in the head, or the brow chakra. This cauldron is always upside down until through meditation it is activated, and thus begins to give either poets, seers, or druids the symptom of fire in the head, massive wisdom that permeates their being, the same wisdom that Taleisin stole from Cerridwen. The goal of the Druid, is to have all Cauldrons activated and upright, thus allowing wisdom, creativity and life forces to flow through them.

The Cauldron of Warming (Coire Goiriath)
No doubt the Cauldron of Warming is our connection to the physical earth, our primal instincts, our first personality and identity on earth. It is no secret why the Cauldron of Warming is located near the root chakra, which has been seen in Eastern traditions. The Cauldron of Warming in the Celtic Tradition is the life force, much like the chi, or ki, or prana of other cultures. The Cauldron of Warming is always upright, because our physical energy must always be moving, it must always be in check. The Celts saw this as our literal energy, what keeps us awake, what keeps us alive and breathing, it is our first life support. By activating this cauldron, one can learn more about their grounding, their instincts, and their driving motivations in life. Activation is like an awakening, bursts of primordial energy can begin to flow through the body from this cauldron, igniting the others like a stick of dynamite.

The Cauldron of Vocation (Coire Ernmae)
The Cauldron of emotion, located at the heart chakra, also the center in the Eastern traditions for the emotions. Great sorrow and great joy are said to emanate from this cauldron, along with longing, desire, compassion, creativity, and peace. In relation to the poem of Amhairghin however, this cauldron is what connects us to the very poetry that we may write. In this sense, it is truly the Cauldron of Beauty, for all poetry is a reflection of the world in as many beautiful ways we can describe it. Sometimes that beauty is in sadness, sometimes it is in wonder and joy, but both seem to be interconnected. This cauldron is activated by our truest desires in the world, by what our dan is. Dan is the irish word for both poem and destiny. Therefore, by embracing our destiny, we can open our hearts to see the beauty of the world through sorrow and joy, and see the path unto our destiny clearly through the paradox.

The Cauldron of Wisdom (Coire Sois)
The cauldron of Wisdom lies within the brow, which in eastern traditions denotes the location of the third eye, the individual intuition and yes, even wisdom of the soul itself. This cauldron represents the individuals connection to their own soul, their higher self, their wisdom, their inner strength and courage, and their deepest creativity. It is as though by awakening this cauldron one receives a sort of enlightenment, they feel awake, as though the world is simply opening up to them and pouring forth the wisdom they have been longing to find. This wisdom comes not only from this world, but from the Otherworlds, from the universe itself. Activation of this cauldron may take months or years to achieve, and for the time being, small tiny glimpses of the Cauldron’s wisdom can be gleaned from the newbie. Over time, the Cauldron of Wisdom shows the way in which the Cauldron of Vocation, the one that leads to the discovery of our dan, can be integrated into our everyday lives.

Cauldron Activation Ritual

This is a daily ritual to promote spiritual growth and wellness. I would suggest doing it once a day.

- Enter into a light state of meditation or trance.
- Face the West, and with your finger, or wand, or athame, draw from above your head, the upperworld, to the middleworld, to the lowerworld.
- Concentrate on the cauldron of warming at your womb, feel yourself being grounded, sense the middleworld, the earth's energy and the power of Gaia. Vibrate with this cauldron until you feel its energies are resonating within all of you.
- Concentrate on the cauldron of motion at your heart, feel it moving from on its side to right side up. Feel the power of the lowerworld, water energy and the strength of Manannan Mac Lir. Vibrate with this cauldron until you feel your emotions are peaceful and calm and resonating through you.
- Concentrate on the cauldron of wisdom in your forehead. Feel it moving from upsidedown to right side up, feel the activation of fire in the head. Feel the gateway to the upperworld opening, and the powers of air and the divine source of the universe vibrating within you.
- Align each of the cauldrons from top to bottom with one another, feeling yourself being aligned with the three worlds, and the three elements of the universe.
- From below your feet, a great fire begins to burn, and you are encompassed by the flames, at first they are orange, then they turn yellow, then blue and finally white. Vinrate with the energies as you feel the flame creating a protective shield around you.
- With your opposite hand (doesn't matter left or right, but just not the same hand you used the first time you did this.) draw down the upperworld, middleworld and lowerworld.
- Exit from the trance slowly.


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