Blodeuwedd was created by Her husband and his uncle, after Arianrhod (Lleu's mother) swore he would never have a wife of the race of humans. (Visit Arianrhod's shrine for more information about Her.) And so, She was created, by two men, from the blossoms of nine plants -- all chosen for their magickal properties. Of these nine, Oak, Broom, and Meadowsweet were the most abundant.
In the Avalonian tradition, Blodeuwedd's season is Spring.
She is honored by the rites of Spring that are seen between the Moon after
Imbolc until Beltane Moon. She is the Maiden, a Goddess of Air. Her gift
is transformation, and the lesson She teaches is knowledge of one's true
self.
"The Ballad of Blodeuwedd"
But wait, I jump ahead too far.
Her story needs more time to share.
The song is sad and sweet, and yet
the lessons learned are true and fair.
Nine flowers -- buds and leaves and petals --
used to make a woman there.
Each with its own special purpose:
to make Her strong and sweet and fair.
Eight flowers, though, were male in gender.
Only one was feminine.
What other should have been expected?
A woman can't be made by men!
But Lleu Llaw Gyffes, still Her spouse,
would to Her no freedom give.
She knew Her love would find no refuge,
long as Llew Llaw Gyffes lived.
Blodeuedd arranged it thus --
the bath, the goat, peculiar stance --
knowing that behind the rock
Her love was waiting with a lance.
Gwydyon saw this change as punishment
for the wrong that She had caused,
but Blodeuwedd knew She was now free
from man's dominion and his laws.
"Who are you to have created
a girl for Lleu, oh Gwydyon?"
"Who are you, Lleu, to have taken
a girl whose heart you did not win?"
"The
Maiden's Lament" Listen to aclip from a song by Crystal
Roze about Blodeuwedd.