Blodeuwedd is the Welsh goddess of Spring, created by the sorcerer Gwydion and his brother Math. Her name means "flower face," reflecting her origin and nature. She was crafted from the blossoms of wild flowers oak, broom, and meadowsweet and brought to life to serve as the wife of Lleu, Gwydion's nephew, circumventing his mother's curse that he would never marry a mortal woman.
While Lleu was away, Blodeuwedd fell in love with another man named Gronw, and the two lovers plotted to murder Lleu. Blodeuwedd tricked Lleu into revealing how he may be killed, and with this information she arranged his death. Struck by a spear thrown by Gronw's hand, Lleu turned into an eagle and flew away, perching high in an oak tree. Gwydion tracked him down and restored him to his human form.
Then, as punishment for her betrayal, Gwydion transformed Blodeuwedd into an owl, a creature shunned and feared by other birds, and she is condemned to roam the night alone.
Visit my Redbubble shop to order Blodeuwedd products like coasters, t-shirts, art prints, phone cases, throw pillows and more!
Order my Badass Goddesses book in paperback, hardback and Kindle/tablet formats.
Listen to the Beltane episode of the Starzology podcast, co-hosted by yours truly, where we talk about the myth of Blodeuwedd and other rites of spring!
In 2018, I entered a costume design contest sponsored by Ragfinery, a fabric store in Bellingham that offers classes and reclaims unused textiles and used clothing to keep it from the landfill. Using my mother as my model, and in keeping with the theme "Flora & Fauna," I designed an ensemble based on the myth of Blodeuwedd. You can read the complete story here.
Watch the video about the design process here:
Watch the video of the full fashion show here: