Morrigan

morrigan_giclee.jpg

Morrigan: Morrigan is the Celtic goddess of war and death who can take the shape of a crow. Her aspects are Badb, Macha, and Nemain. Patroness of priestesses and witches. The Morrigan represents the Crone aspect of the Goddess, although she is sometimes considered a Triple Goddess equivalent to Brighid. She protects and gives strength. She is a Sovereign Goddess, warrior witch, and protector. She teaches confidence, self-assuredness, preparedness, and awareness. Often depicted with a spear in each hand, and with the ability to shapeshift into any form she pleases, often a crow. Lover of the Dagda, with an accompanying ritual on Samhain. She is represented as fully armed, carrying two spears in her hand, and wherever there is war, she is there. She sings runes and casts charms to strengthen her favorites. Her battle cry is said to be louder than that of a thousand men. She sometimes has red hair which is braided into nine long tresses. She was the ultimate woman to the ancient Celts.

 

Should you wish The Morrigan to come to your aid, She asks that you have a shrine to honor Her. Place upon it a raven or crow feather or a piece of red cloth. She is honored by a sacrifice of your menstrual blood, which is a perfect symbol of both life and death, fertility and war. Offer yourself to Her service, for She will come to your aid when you have need. She knows when to fight and when to nurture. She can warn you of what lies ahead. Watch for crows and crow feathers as her sign. But don’t betray or refuse this Goddess!


In her guise of Morgaine, she is High Priestess of Avalon and the Underworld. Morgaine is a very powerful Goddess who helps people to realize their own magic and shapeshifting skills.

She is a Celtic War Goddess who delights in setting men at war. She fought in many battles herself, and at times hovers like a crow over the warring men. She has a sort of love-hate relationship with Cuchulain, who refused her. She is a Danaan triune goddess of war who seems to have been triplicated as Macha, Badb, and Nemain. Equating each of these with more traditional triple goddess functions such as maiden, mother, crone, phases of the moon and so on is open to interpretation. Some mythographers have tried to work in the goddess Medb (or Maeve) into this equation.

The Morrigan uses Magick to assist her warriors, hovering over the battlefield to influence its outcome. Her character might recall battles when druidesses and other Celtic women would stand behind their men and scream, chant, and conjure incantations against the enemy. This was a strategy to embolden their warriors and unnerve and frighten the enemy.

Feedback, submissions, ideas? Email Khalin_ElvenStone@hotmail.com.