Cerridwen in Her Aspect Calon o Gariad: Heart of Love

It is said that the Druids would speak about unconditional love for all existences. It certainly goes back to Iolo Morganwg’s Barddas, 1862 but he reputedly found mentions of this concept in many manuscripts he read over his life in pursuit of the original Welsh history. Certainly, the fragments of poetry that go all the way back to the 6th century and are accredited to Taliesin, PenBardd of Wales, the head poet of the tribes, speak about love and honour and celebrate all existences. The Celtic people believed that all beings on this planet, including the rocks and crystals, had a consciousness, had an awareness, were awoken to life. Therefore, it stands to reason that they can love, that they have feelings and emotions, that they can feel pain and suffering.

The concept of soul travel through lifetimes, to gather information through experience, is one of the most honoured and treasured beliefs the Celts held.

Another was that we all have soul-bonded relationships. We’re not talking here about the soul mate, the twin flame, the sacred beloved. These soul-bonded relationships could be formed in order for the soul to learn about itself, about its capabilities, about the way it held both love and suffering. Sometimes they can be with people who teach us how not to live. Whatever the soul needs to experience, it will attract the soul that can give the experience needed. 

It is sometimes hard for people to understand this concept. Why would the soul attract someone who makes it suffer? This is a question I’m often asked. My answer is, and I do not pretend to know the whole of the picture, I do think that there is a repository of knowledge and wisdom created by the souls on this planet. I believe that each night our souls ascend to that repository, download the information they have gathered on that day, upload a possible solution or understanding, and return to the body for integration with our personality. Often clients tell me that when they are struggling with a problem or situation, it is in their dreams that the solution becomes apparent.

Why would the souls do this? Each life experience is a variable of similar scenarios, eventually we will have gained enough knowledge so we may be the ‘lived embodiment’ of the Cariad Enaid: the soul beloved of all existences.

 

The Calon o Gariad (Heart of Love) has the part of our soul which is eternal, and often we recognise other souls when we meet again in this life. They come in different bodies, but our soul bond is still present. When we lose a loved one, we who follow this faith, know that this is not the end of the relationship. Often a soul remains in this reality to communicate with the ones it has loved in this life, to give advice, comfort, love, protection and care. Death is but a doorway. Love does not end with death.

So very often, when I’m in Goddess House with a client, I see the souls of those who love that client, despite being in the spirit world. Love does not die. It is the one certainty that I have in life.

When you reach with your soul to another soul, when you create that bond of connection, when you feel the burgeoning love for another being, regardless in what body they are, celebrate! To be soul-bonded with another being who loves you unconditionally, is the greatest gift the goddess can ever give you. Do not fret in what body that soul may appear. Ideally it will be something that you can wrap your arms around, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be. The feelings of unconditional love will be there, in your heart, and the presence of those feelings is what lifts you, gives you purpose, and asks you to step into your highest vibration: pure love, never expectant or demanding, just accepting: love.

On this beautiful Beltane day, I wish you all that you may taste love, enjoy love, and embrace love.

Blessed be.

Bee

 

In the video below, I speak in greater depth about Beltane and the celebrations in Avalon before diving deeper into Calon o Gariad (Heart of Love). I speak about the difficulties in human relationships, the art of forgiving, the importance of self-love and self-knowledge. Calon o Gariad loves unconditionally. Look in the mirror – is she speaking to you through your eyes? Are you able to practise self-reflection and bring love, healing and joy at this time of Beltane?

 

Bee Helygen

Adoratrix of Cerridwen

Priestess of the Llwyth

Avalon

Website: cerridwen.co.uk

Bee is the creatrix and course tutor for the Priestess of Cerridwen training which has been running as part of the Glastonbury Goddess Temple since 2015. She also runs the Death Priestess training and is a celebrant and Avalon Soul Healer. Full bio