By Rebecca
In “Symbols and Their Meanings” Jack Tressidder says this of cauldrons, “The cauldron’
s ancient links with magic probably originated with its capacity to produce surprising
quantities of food and to turn everyday nourishing materials into gastronomic marvels.”
Anyone who has had stew made from leftovers knows that “gastronomic marvels” may
be an exaggeration, but in this modern era, it’s easy to forget that this now seemingly
magical tool was once a cook’s beast of burden.
So, in the beginning there was a big ole’ pot. Boy, who would have known where it would
end up! The cauldron has turned up in the tales of the Greeks (where under the
advisement of Medea, King Pelias’ daughters chopped him up and put him in a cauldron
in an attempt to rejuvenate him) and the Celts (for instance Undry, the life-giving
cauldron and prized possession of Dagda). Also, who hasn’t heard “Bubble, bubble, toil
and trouble. Fire burn and cauldron bubble”? It’s various cameo and starring roles in
all these tales lent a certain mythology to the once simple pot.
The cauldron can represent plenty, transformation, and rebirth. With the stories of
saints boiling in cauldrons, it can also be viewed as a tool of torture. Thus, the cauldron
can also symbolize punishment, trial, and initiation. Perhaps it’s these symbolic seeds
that have helped the cauldron blossom into it’s best known modern day
association…Wicca and witchcraft.
Cauldrons are a common tool/ritual item for Wiccans and other magic practitioners. This
once huge metal pot, is now much smaller in size. It’s size is better suited for the modern
user, who wants a cauldron for its symbolism and capability for brewing small quantities
of potions. You know, we all have crock pots for stew these days!
The cauldron is viewed as the womb of the Goddess and many times takes a central
symbolic place amongst a circle of Wiccans or Goddess worshippers. For the
knowledgeable magic practitioner the cauldron can be a scrying tool when filled with
water. It holds and burns incense or candles. Many burn requests in their cauldrons as
well.
Here’s Rebecca’s cauldron, forlorn and dusty from neglect.
Toil and Trouble? The Cauldron
