The Morrigan Celtic Raven Goddess

[Wendy (Admin)]

The Morrigan A Celtic Raven Goddess

The Morrigan was a shape-shifting Celtic Goddesses of War, Strife, fertility, death

and passion. She also presided over rivers, lakes and fresh water, in addition to being

the patroness of revenge  to night, magic, prophecy, priestesses and witches. 

 

Her name is interpreted in various forms..."Great Queen,"  "Phantom Queen" or 

"Queen of Demons."  she was said t hover over battlefields in the form of a raven or

hooded crow and frequently foretold the out -come of the fray. The Morrigan

was also depicted as a Triune Goddess whose other aspects were manifested in the

Goddess Badb ~ meaning Vulture Goddess and the the Goddess Nemain ~ meaning~

Fury Goddess. The Morrigan was one of the Tuatha De Danaan ("People of the Goddess Danu")

and she aided in the defeat of the Firbolgs at the First Battle of Magh Tuireadh and the 

Fomorii at the Second Battle of Mag Tured. 

 

The Celtics believed that as they engaged in warfare, the Morrigan would take flight 

overhead shrieking  in the form of a raven, summoning a host of slain soldiers to a macabre

spectral bane. When the battle had ended, the warriors would leave the field until dawn in

order that the trophies of heads, euphemistically known as "the Morrigan's acorn crop". 

 

The origins of the Morrigan appear to be directly linked to the megalithic Cult of the Mothers,

who usually appeared as triple Goddesses. Her role in Celtic legend is similar to that of the

Valkyries in Norse folklore in that both used magic to cast fetters on the warriors and  the

decision regarding who who live and who would die. The Morrigan is also closely associated with the horse 

symbolism and may, on occasion have been linked with the equine Goddess Epona. 

 

Another guise of the Morrigan is that of the "Washer at the Ford". who could usually be found

washing the clothes of the men about to die in battle. In effect, she is thus choosing those whose 

lives will be lost in the upcoming conflict. An old English poem entitled "Exodus"

also refers to to ravens as previously mentioned one of the Morrigan's other chosen 

manifestations as choosers of the slain. 

 

In one legend concerning the Morrigan, she appears to the hero Cuchulainn son of the God Lugh 

and offers her love to him. When he fails to recognize her and rejects her, the Morrigan is deeply

wonunded and informs Cuchulainn that she will hinder him while he is in battle. When 

Cuchulainn finally perishes, she settles on his shoulder in the form of a crow... the hero's 

misfortune being that he never realized the feminine power of sovereignty that the Morrigan 

offered to him.

 

Once the Goddess of Strife and Fertility , as well as Battle, modern Pagans view the role of the 

Morrigan in a somewhat different light from that of the Ancient Celtics, but she remains an 

appropriated deity for a strong and independent individual. Many followers of the Goddess

Morrigan erect a permanent shrine in her honor, using such items as bowls, of brine and blood, t

the feather of a crow or raven or even a piece of red cloth to symbolize the Washer at the Ford.

 

This is another look at the Morrigan.. So many believe she is a strong women from the past 

to follow into now the future as a role model...

 

Wendy

[Michelle Volino]

Thanks for putting this info down. I was reading a book about the Morrigan when I had NOOK but I had to sell my NOOK so that I could eat. I'm planning on buying the book in February along with a Morrigan statue.

[Wendy (Admin)]

Michelle Volino I am so glad that you enjoyed the morrigan, she is one of my favorites too.

Wendy