Cauldron

Cauldron a symbol of Samhain

The witches cauldron is a symbol  of Samhain. The witches cauldron — a staple of any witches work and magic — is an important magical tool that combining symbolism of the elements of air, fire, water, and earth. Its shape is representative of Mother Nature, and its three legs correspond to the three aspects of the Triple Goddess, the three lunar phases — waxing, full and waning, and to three as a magical number. Additionally, the cauldron is a symbol of transformation both physical and spiritual, enlightenment, wisdom, the womb, the Mother Goddess, and rebirth. Cauldrons are a feminine magical tool, and when placed on your altar should be placed on the female side.

Cauldrons have held a magical significance in many cultures throughout the centuries. Since early times, cauldrons have been used not only for boiling water and cooking food, but for heating magical brews, scrying, and healing potions. They have also been utilized by alchemists and by Witches as tools of divination, containers for sacred fires and incense, and holy vessels for offerings to the Goddesses and Gods.

The cauldron and its powers are associated with many Goddesses including Hecate as the Protector of all Witches, Demeter and Persephone, and the Greek Goddesses Circe and Medea. Also linked to the cauldron is Siris, the Babylonian Goddess of Fate and Mother of the Stars, whose cauldron was made of lapis lazuli, and the Celtic goddess Cerridwen, from whose cauldron bubbled forth the gifts of wisdom and inspiration.

Although the cauldron has traditionally been a symbol of the divine feminine since the earliest of times, there exist a number of male deities from various pantheons who also have a connection to it. Among them are the Norse God Odin who acquired his shape-shifting powers by drinking from the cauldron as well as the Hindu sky God Indra whose myth is similar to Odin’s. Bran the Blessed, is the Welsh God of the sacred cauldron, and In Irish lore, Eochaid Ollathair, also known as the Dagda, possessed a cauldron that was one of the four sacred objects brought to Ireland by the Tuatha De Danaan. Its name was Undry and it had the magical capability of providing infinite sustenance doled out by each man’s merit.