Blodeuwedd II

Welsh virgin goddess of spring, made entirely of flower buds

Creation through magic

Because a curse of his mother Arianrhod (sky goddess) forbade the hero Lleu Llaw Gyffes to marry an ordinary human woman, the magicians Gwydion and King Math artfully created Blodeuwedd from 9 blossoms: primrose, broom, meadowsweet, corncockle, bean, nettle, oak, thorn and chestnut.

Mythological story

• The marriage with Lleu: She was created as the perfect companion and lived at Lleu’s side.
• Love and betrayal: When she met the hunter Gronw Pebr, she fell in love with him. Together they planned the murder of Lleu, who was then transformed into an eagle.
• Transformation into an owl: As punishment for her betrayal and the disgrace, Gwydion pursued Blodeuwedd and cursed her into an owl (blodeuwedd in Welsh), a shy night bird whose facial disc recalls flower petals.

Barbara G. Walker describes Blodeuwedd’s totem animal as the owl, the same bird of wisdom and of the lunar mysteries that accompanied or symbolised ancient goddesses such as Athena and Lilith.

Blodeuwedd was also the Ninefold Goddess of the western paradise, known elsewhere by the name Morgan, the Virgin who merges with the Crone of death.

She says of herself: “Nine powers in me combined, Nine buds of plants and tree. Long and white are my fingers, as the ninth wave of the sea.”