Caer Ibormeith, Celtic Goddess of Dreams and Prophecy by Judith Shaw

Caer Ibormeith, Celtic Goddess of Dreams and Prophecy, is a pan-Celtic goddess who was worshipped in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.  In Scotland and Wales Her name was used to name places such as Caer Edin (Edinburgh). In Ireland Her name identified the homes of Goddesses and Gods, such as Caer Arianrhod, home to the Goddess Arianrhod.

Caer Ibormeith was the daughter of one of the Tuatha de Danann, Ethal Anbuail.  Scholars believe that over time these original Goddesses and Gods from the pre-Celtic days morphed into faery kings, queens and heros who retreated to underground mounds called sidhes. Caer and her father lived in Sidhe Uamuin in Connacht.  Caer (pronounced Keer) was known by other poetic names such as “Shapely Yew Berry” and “Yew Berry”. She was a shapeshifting goddess who spent one year as a beautiful woman and then the next year as a swan.

Caer, accompanied by 150 swans,  underwent this transformation every year on Samhain, a liminal time when the veil between the seen and the unseen worlds is thinnest.

Swans appear frequently in Celtic mythology, often connected with a goddess. They are associated with love, purity, the soul, and music.   Swans linked with a goddess can always be recognized as they appear with a gold or silver chain hanging around their necks.  Swans, associated with the Festival of Samhain, act as guides to the Otherworld.

Caer Ibormeith was a powerful goddess who made Her own way in the world.  She chose her man by appearing to him in his dreams.  The man she chose was Aengus Óg, son of the Goddess Bóann of Newgrange (Brugh na Bóinne) and The Dagdha, father of the Tuatha de Danann.  The tale of that union is another story for another day.

As Aengus, God of Love, Youth and Poetic Inspiration, lay sleeping one night he was visited by a beautiful young woman.  She seemed so real and he reached for her but she disappeared when he woke.  He was smitten and knew not what to do. He told no one of his experience.

Every night for a year, while Aengus dreamt, she visited him and played sweet music on Her timpan.  Aengus, having lost his appetite on the first night of this experience, fell ill. He wanted nothing more than to sleep his life away with his love by his side in the dreamworld.

Finally a physician was called.  He quickly understood the source of Aengus’ illness.  He solicited help from Bóann, Aengus’s mother, to find the young woman of his dreams.  She searched for a year but to no avail.  Then his father, the Dagdha was called on for help.

Aengus had now been afflicted for two years when the Dagdha solicited the help of Bodb, king of the Sídhe of Munster to find her.   He took yet another year to search and ultimately find Caer.

Now the  help of Medb and Aillil was sought as Caer’s sidhe was in their territory, Connaught.  They found her father, Ethal Anbuail, and demanded her hand in marriage for Aengus. But he replied that he could not comply as Caer’s power was much greater than his.

“I cannot force her into anything.” he said.  “She rules Her own life.” That is when he explained the shapeshifting between woman and swan that took place every Samhain.

Ethal Anbuail then spelled out Aengus’ only hope.  He was to go to the lake, Loch Bél Dracon, on the following Samhain, recognize Caer among Her swan companions and call to Her. Only then might She come to him of Her own free will.

And so Aengus went.  He found Her there with 150 swans all with silver chains around their necks.   Aengus despaired, not sure if he could find Her among all the swans. But then he saw one swan with a silver and a gold chain who shined even more brightly than the others swimming toward him.  He called to Her   She must have wondered why he took so long to answer the call of his dreams.  She replied that She would come to him if he promised that She could return to the water.  He agreed, turning into a swan himself for how else could he be with Her in the water.   Caer and Aengus embraced and returned to the lake, swimming around it three times.  Then they flew away to Newgrange, Aengus’ home, singing a song of transcendent beauty. There they became human again and lived together with great love and joy.  The song of their love cast an enchanted sleep of three days and three nights onto all those nearby.  Even today there are those who claim to hear this love song every year on Samhain Eve.

Call on Caer when you need guidance from the dreamworld. With Her help, open to receiving prophetic dreams.  Let Caer’s otherworldly music work its magic on you to create more loving relationships in your life.

Resources:  http://meadowsweet-myrrh.blogspot.com/2007/07/swan-maidens-story.html, http://amayodruid.blogspot.com/2010/09/caer-swan-maiden-of-aengus.html, http://www.shee-eire.com/Magic&Mythology/Myths/Tuatha-De-Danann/Aengus&CaerIbormeith/Page1.htm

Judith’s deck of Celtic Goddess Oracle Cards is available now.  You can order your deck on Judith’s website. Experience the wisdom of the Celtic Goddesses!

Judith Shaw, a graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, has been interested in myth, culture and mystical studies all her life.  Not long after graduating from SFAI, while living in Greece, Judith began exploring the Goddess in her artwork.  She continues to be inspired by the Divine Feminine in all of Her manifestations. Originally from New Orleans, Judith now makes her home in New Mexico where she paints and teaches part-time.  Her work, which expresses her belief in the interconnectedness of all life, can be seen on her website.

Author: Judith Shaw

Judith Shaw, a graduate of the San Francisco Art Institute, has been interested in myth, culture and mystical studies all her life. Not long after graduating from SFAI, while living in Greece, Judith began exploring the Goddess in her art. She continues to be inspired by the Goddess in all of her manifestations, which of course includes the flora and fauna of our beautiful Earth. Judith has exhibited her paintings in New York, San Francisco, Mytilene Greece, Athens Greece, New Orleans, Santa Fe NM, Taos NM, Albuquerque NM, Houston TX and Providence RI. She has published two oracle decks - Celtic Goddess Oracle and Animal Wisdom Oracle and is hard at work on an illustrated fairytale - Elena and the Reindeer Goddess. View all posts by Judith Shaw