And one day, towards the end of the year … three drops of the charmed liquor flew out of the cauldron and fell upon the finger of Gwion Bach. And by reason of their great heat he put his finger to his mouth … and he foresaw everything that was to come…

(from the myth of Taliesin, included in Lady Charlotte Guest’s translation of The Mabinogion)

Three Drops from a Cauldron is a quarterly online journal for poetry and flash fiction (or any hybrid of the two) and visual art involving myth, legend, folklore, fable and fairytale.

The roots of this journal sprouted from the editor’s long-term obsession with folklore and mythology – particularly of the Welsh variety – and literature. And who better to represent this than Ceridwen and her cauldron?

Ceridwen was a sorceress in Welsh legend, who has since been elevated to deity status – she is the crone goddess of poetry, magic and inspiration.

Ceridwen was also the accidental mother of Taliesin, the greatest of Welsh bards. According to legend, this is due to a mishap involving three stray drops from her cauldron of inspiration. These tiny drops of powerful potion turned her servant-boy Gwion Bach into the celebrated poet-storyteller, but not before a series of shape-shifting incidents that resulted in his being eaten by the sorceress.

But that’s another story.

Please see the submissions page, and have a read of what we publish, for a better idea of what we’d like to see here. If the shoe (made by elves, or otherwise) fits, please do submit.