Pantheon of Goddesses: Mórrígan

Welcome to Tursan Tuesdays, where I take you on a journey through the Celtic world…

Today’s post kicks off my new series on Celtic goddesses. Mórrígan, or Morrígu, is my personal favorite so of course I’ll begin with her.

You may recall my last post featuring this powerful deity. I’ve taken the bit of information there and expanded. Enjoy!

Some of the information I’ve gathered came from The Goddess Guide by Priestess Brandi Auset ~ a must read for anyone interested in Goddesses of all flavors!

The Morrígan, Mórrígan, Morrígu, Morrígna, Morríghan or Mórríoghain

The Mórrígan, or Great Queen, is the Irish warrior goddess of prophecy, battle, strife and fertility. Also called the Witch Queen of Death, she is known for being one of the most beautiful and sexual of all Goddesses, as well as being quite deadly. She has no problem using her sexuality to get what she wants, and can be ruthless in her pursuits. She can determine the outcome of wars, as well as predict when warriors will meet their end.

There is some debate over whether Mórrígan is part of a triple deity or the sum of three separate deities (Morrígna). Many believe that she, along with her sisters Macha and Anu make up the Great Goddess, or The Goddess, the Great Mother of all the land. Still others say Mórrígan is a triple goddess made by the aspects Badb, Macha, and Nemain.

Mórrígan is a shapeshifter; she can take the forms of raven, eel, cow, or wolf. The raven, or Carrion Crow, is a harbinger of death. It can frequently be seen flying above a battlefield, circling and casting spells to determine the victor. She will use the other animal forms in whatever way best benefits her agenda.

Mórrígan can also take different human forms. She can appear as a Crone, bringing news of death and destruction, or warnings of such. Less well-known is her form as a young maiden. Here, she will cast praise and love upon her chosen hero. Turns out she has a softer side…

She is the great sorceress of the Celts, her magical powers of prediction and enchantment are beyond compare. Mórrígan rules passionate love and sex, predominately affairs that tend to have negative consequences.

So maybe that side isn’t so soft.

 Mórrígan rules over the following attributes:

Addictions, Arts & Crafts, Authority, Blood, Brewing (Magical), Cemeteries, Courage, Crossroads, Darkness, Death, Deceit, Decisions, Destruction, Diplomacy, Disaster, Divination, Dreams, Enchantments, Endings, Exorcism, Fate, Fear, Fertility, Foresight, Grief & Sadness, Hindsight, Illusions, Initiation, Intuitive Abilities, Jealousy, Judgment, Justice, Love (Healing a Broken Heart), Magick (Dark), Magick (Light), Magick (Lunar), Magickal Arts, Memory, Men, Menopause, Mischief, Moon, Mysteries, Negative Habits (to Overcome), Night, Oaths, Oceans (Rivers & Bodies of Water), Pleasure, Poetry, Power, Prophecy, Protection, Regeneration, Retribution, Revenge, Seduction, Sensuality, Sexuality & Sexual Activities, Shapeshifting, Sorceress, Spirits & Ghosts, Strength, Vengeance, Victory, Violence, War & Battles, Warrior Goddesses, Wisdom, Witchcraft, Women & Femininity

Mórrígan’s colors are Red, Blue, Purple, Black, and Silver ~ All of my favorite colors

Mórrígan rules over the elements of Fire and Water.

Mórrígan is associated with the following sabbats or festivals: Midsummer & Samhain

See…don’t you just dig her?

So talk to me. What do you think of Mórrígan? If anyone knows of any symbols associated with her, please let me know…I’m researching art for my blank canvas.

If you have a specific Goddess you would like to see featured here ~ even if she isn’t Celtic ~ let me know!

And for Thursday, it’s Author Spotlight: James Hutchings. Don’t miss it!

Fertility Goddesses

Welcome to Tursan Tuesdays, where I take you on a journey through the Celtic world.

I’m back, and I’m healthy! No more bronchitis, the head cold is pretty much gone. The stitches from oral surgery have dissolved…what, too much? Ok, fine.

Let’s do this…

Fertility Goddesses

Wikipedia offers a lovely list of fertility deities…far too many to compare here in this little blog, but feel free to peruse at your leisure.

For the purposes of this blog, we’ll compare Macha, from Celtic mythology, Anahit, from Armenian mythology, and Freyja, from Norse mythology. Ooooh, this is gonna be good!

Macha

courtesy of forum.baby-gaga.com

Daughter of Áed Rúad and Ernmas the ban tuathid, or female druid, Macha is said to portray the Fertile Woman aspect of the Celtic goddess, Danu. She hales from Ulster, one of the four provinces of Northern Ireland.

Known as a Triple Goddess herself, Macha has aspects to her other than fertility. She is also goddess of agriculture, war, and death. In fact, you may recall she is sister to The Morrígan.

It is interesting to note, Macha is listed as a fertility goddess, but is mostly known for her powers in war, death, and battle. Her fertility aspect may have come from the traditions of Celtic warriors in Northern Ireland collecting the severed heads of their foes, calling them “Macha’s Acorn Crop”…grisly.

Anahit

courtesy of armenian-history.com

She is the goddess of fertility, water, wisdom, and healing. Anahit is quite beloved and cherished by her people, and is considered their mother-goddess. In this respect she is similar to the Celtic goddess, Danu or Anann.

Known as the “Great Lady Anahit,” ancient Armenians believed the world existed at her will alone. She has many temples in her honor, and an entire mountain in Armenia is her throne.

Like Macha, Anahit is also known as a goddess of war.

Freyja

courtesy of momsawitch.blogspot.com

The patron and protectress of the human race, Freyja, or The Fair One, is goddess of fertility, love, beauty, war and death. I believe I see a trend here…

Daughter to the sea-god, Njord (some sources say his sister is Freyja’s mother!), Freyja is part of the Vanir ~ a group of gods of fertility and wisdom able to see the future.

It is said that Freyja and Odin split the courageous dead from the battlefield, Odin taking his half to Valhalla and Freyja taking her half to Fólkvangr. Some speculate that Freyja’s oft absent husband, Odur, of whom little is known, is in fact the battle god, Odin.

And did I mention Freyja has a chariot pulled by cats?

So talk to me. What do you think of these lovely ladies? I find it interesting that these fertility goddesses have such strong connections with war. Do you see the mother quality in each of these goddesses? Can you relate them to the mother in you? Do you know of other interesting fertility goddesses? Do you have stories of one of these portrayed here?