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!

Welcome to the Otherworld

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

“…the Otherworld is a beautiful and happy land of feasting, hunting, and lovemaking, similar to this world, but perfect…It is beautiful, but with a hint of danger, since its delights may lure mortals away from friends, family and responsibilities.”

~ Decoding The Celts

There are countless tales of the Celtic Otherworld, many of its legends have even been adapted in stories from other religions and traditions.

The Otherworld is the realm of the faeries, the gods and goddesses, and the place where the soul travels to rest its weary tuckus after yet another reckless and wild ride (hopefully!) on this side of the mist.

Some say you can find the Otherworld in one of the myriad Sídhe mounds located around the world. Some say the Otherworld is a realm that exists alongside our own and can only be reached by either dying (an extreme approach), or by kidnapping invitation by the fae. Still others believe the Otherworld can be found beneath the ocean.

To my mind, where ever it is, the Otherworld is a place of savage beauty, endless magic and timeless dreams.

So talk to me. What do you know of the Otherworld? Have you read stories of it? What would be the first thing you did once you got there?

Warrior Gods

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

Last week kicked off my series on comparisons of the Celtic Gods & Goddesses to those of other traditions. We began with The Mórrígan, and it was a lot of fun. You can check it out here.

We’re going to mix it up today. Rather than start with the Celtic warrior god, we’re going to get to know Ares, the Greek warrior god, a little better. While researching Athena, I got to know her brother and found him fascinating. You may have noticed I gave you a hint of him in my last post.

Ares

 Ares is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. Unlike his sister, Athena, Ares can be brutal, violent, and destructive. He is a Greek god of war and battle. His particular level of violence seems similar to that of The Mórrígan or Sekhmet.

Ares is fascinating because in one aspect he is regarded with contempt. Due to his affair with Aphrodite, and her husband, Hephaestus’s, clever way of dealing with the incident, Ares is pitied, and often in mythology he faces humiliation and disgrace.

Yet, in another aspect he is compared to the Roman warrior god, Mars. Often they are regarded as one and the same. Mars is said to be just as savage as Ares, yet he is shown with more dignity and grace than his Greek counterpart. Why is this so, if they are the same god?

In further contradiction to the afore-mentioned disdainful view, in some lands, namely Sparta and Macedonia, Ares is revered. He is described as victorious, with superior military skills and physical strength. Indeed, his physical strength, military genius, and resilience are said to be unmatched.

Ares had temples erected in his image, rituals and hymns performed in his honor, and companions with names like “Fear,” and “Dread.”

One bad love affair ruined everything it would seem. A lesson can be learned from this…

Camulus

Camulus, or Camulos, is the British and Gaulish Celtic warrior god. Like Ares, he has been equated to the Roman warrior god, Mars – only, Camulus is considered to be even more dangerous, if that is possible. Interestingly enough, his godly traits are the antithesis to the meaning of his name, Heaven.

Not a lot is known about this illusive god. His symbol is the wild boar, and he is known to wield an invincible sword.

Some say that the Roman town of Camulodunum, now Colchester, England, was named in his honor. Others say it was Camelot that was named after him. Who is to say which is right?

You may think that not knowing much about this particular god makes him less interesting, however I would argue it is this mystery that makes him fascinating. There is so much potential here, so much is open to interpretation and imagination. Just think what stories could be told about him, what journeys he may have, what battles he may wage. Perhaps he is destined for a great love…imagine the type of goddess that would capture this warrior god’s heart. Very interesting..

So talk to me. What do you think of Ares? Is he a pitiful, immature boy – or a magnificent warrior whose reputation has been smeared by jealous adversaries? What do you know about the Roman warrior god, Mars? Have you ever heard of Camulus? What do you know of him?

Please share – I love learning more about these traditions!