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Morrigan
The Morrigan is a goddess of battle, strife, and fertility. Her name translates as either "Great Queen" or "Phantom Queen," and both epithets are entirely appropriate for her. The Morrigan appears as both a single goddess and a trio of goddesses. The other deities who form the trio are Badb ("Crow"), and either Macha (also connotes "Crow") or Nemain ("Frenzy"). The Morrigan frequently appears in the ornithological guise of a hooded crow. She is one of the Tuatha Dé Danann ("Tribe of the goddess Danu") and she helped defeat the Firbolg at the First Battle of Mag Tuireadh and the Fomorians at the Second Battle of Mag Tuireadh.
Origin
The origins of the Morrigan seem to reach directly back to the megalithic cult of the Mothers. The Mothers (Matrones, Idises, Disir, etc.) usually appeared as triple goddesses and their cult was expressed through both battle ecstasy and regenerative ecstasy. It's also interesting to note that later Celtic goddesses of sovereignty, such as the trio of Eriu, Banba, and Fotla, also appear as a trio of female deities who use magic in warfare. "Influence in the sphere of warfare, but by means of magic and incantation rather than through physical strength, is common to these beings." (Ross 205)
"The Great Queen"
Morrigan was one of the greatest "negative"
archetypal Mothergoddesses of the irish celtoi.
She is a goddess of war, death, prophecy and passionate love.
Together with Badb and Macha
she build a triad of three warlike goddesses.
Areas of Influence: The Goddess Morrigan represented the circle of life, she was associated with both birth and death.
Her name means great queen or phantom queen. It is spelt in several different ways including Morrigu, Morgane, Morrighan and Morgan le Fay in the Arthurian legends.
She is one of the triple Goddesses, her different aspects are represented by Anu (the fertility maiden), Badh (the boiling mother cauldron) and either Macha (the death crone) or Nemain.
As the battle Goddess she appeared on the battlefield in the form of a crow and returned later to feed on the dead.
Morrigan is also a water Goddess, ruling over rivers and lakes. In one myth she appears as an old washer woman at the ford and offering her love to Cu Chulainne. He failed to recognize Morrigan on this occasion and on several others. Enraged she threated to hinder him in battle, when he is killed as a result of this she appears on his shoulder as a crow.
This Goddess also grants monarchs the power of sovereignty.
Origins and Genealogy: I can find no mention of her parentage but in some myths she was said to be the consort of Dadga
Morrigan was also one of the Tuatha de Danann (The tribe of the Goddess Danu). She protected her people by blowing a fog over the land, the lack of visibility discouraged invading armies.
Strengths: Fearsome and strong.
Weaknesses: She is vindictive, killing the person she loves when he fails to recognize her.
Morrigan's Symbolism
As a symbol of death the Goddess Morrigan is linked with the festival of Samhain.
Sacred Bird: Crows and ravens.
Sacred Plants: Mugwort, yew and willow.
Morrigan's Archetype
The Shape-Shifter:
The Shape Shifter has the ability to change her physical appearance. They are also able to adapt easily to different environments by altering there behavior.
Shadow Shape shifter is fickle, lacking conviction and constantly reinventing themselves, like politicians trying to appeal to more people.
Morrigan is a bird Goddess who shape-shifts into the form of a hooded crow and a washer woman at the ford.
How to Work With This Archetype
A useful Goddess Archetype to have if you need to be flexible or perform lots of different roles.
The shadow side asks whether your chameleon like tendencies reflect a deep insecurity and inability to commit to any particular path.
This is what I have on Morrigan.
Blessed Be
Origin
The origins of the Morrigan seem to reach directly back to the megalithic cult of the Mothers. The Mothers (Matrones, Idises, Disir, etc.) usually appeared as triple goddesses and their cult was expressed through both battle ecstasy and regenerative ecstasy. It's also interesting to note that later Celtic goddesses of sovereignty, such as the trio of Eriu, Banba, and Fotla, also appear as a trio of female deities who use magic in warfare. "Influence in the sphere of warfare, but by means of magic and incantation rather than through physical strength, is common to these beings." (Ross 205)
"The Great Queen"
Morrigan was one of the greatest "negative"
archetypal Mothergoddesses of the irish celtoi.
She is a goddess of war, death, prophecy and passionate love.
Together with Badb and Macha
she build a triad of three warlike goddesses.
Areas of Influence: The Goddess Morrigan represented the circle of life, she was associated with both birth and death.
Her name means great queen or phantom queen. It is spelt in several different ways including Morrigu, Morgane, Morrighan and Morgan le Fay in the Arthurian legends.
She is one of the triple Goddesses, her different aspects are represented by Anu (the fertility maiden), Badh (the boiling mother cauldron) and either Macha (the death crone) or Nemain.
As the battle Goddess she appeared on the battlefield in the form of a crow and returned later to feed on the dead.
Morrigan is also a water Goddess, ruling over rivers and lakes. In one myth she appears as an old washer woman at the ford and offering her love to Cu Chulainne. He failed to recognize Morrigan on this occasion and on several others. Enraged she threated to hinder him in battle, when he is killed as a result of this she appears on his shoulder as a crow.
This Goddess also grants monarchs the power of sovereignty.
Origins and Genealogy: I can find no mention of her parentage but in some myths she was said to be the consort of Dadga
Morrigan was also one of the Tuatha de Danann (The tribe of the Goddess Danu). She protected her people by blowing a fog over the land, the lack of visibility discouraged invading armies.
Strengths: Fearsome and strong.
Weaknesses: She is vindictive, killing the person she loves when he fails to recognize her.
Morrigan's Symbolism
As a symbol of death the Goddess Morrigan is linked with the festival of Samhain.
Sacred Bird: Crows and ravens.
Sacred Plants: Mugwort, yew and willow.
Morrigan's Archetype
The Shape-Shifter:
The Shape Shifter has the ability to change her physical appearance. They are also able to adapt easily to different environments by altering there behavior.
Shadow Shape shifter is fickle, lacking conviction and constantly reinventing themselves, like politicians trying to appeal to more people.
Morrigan is a bird Goddess who shape-shifts into the form of a hooded crow and a washer woman at the ford.
How to Work With This Archetype
A useful Goddess Archetype to have if you need to be flexible or perform lots of different roles.
The shadow side asks whether your chameleon like tendencies reflect a deep insecurity and inability to commit to any particular path.
This is what I have on Morrigan.
Blessed Be
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Aideen Ailbe Tiger on
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The Morrighan - Celtic Goddess of War and Sovereignity
By Patti Wigington, About.com
In Celtic mythology, the Morrighan is known as a goddess of battle and war. However, there's a bit more to her than this. Also referred to as Morrígu, Morríghan, or Mor-Ríoghain, she is called the "washer at the ford," because if a warrior saw her washing his armor in the stream, it meant he was to die that day. She is the goddess who determines whether or not you walk off the field of battle, or are carried off upon your shield. In later Irish folklore, this role would be delegated to the bain sidhe, who foresaw the death of members of a specific family or clan.
The Morrighan often appears in the form of a crow or raven, or is seen accompanied by a group of them. In the stories of the Ulster cycle, she is shown as a cow and a wolf as well. The connection with these two animals suggest that in some areas, she may have been connected to fertility and land.
In some legends, the Morrighan is considered a triune, or triple goddess, but there are a lot of inconsistencies to this. She often appears as a sister to the Badb and Macha. In some Neopagan traditions, she is portrayed in her role as destroyer, representing the Crone aspect of the Maiden/Mother/Crone cycle, but this seems to be incorrect when one looks at her original Irish history. Some scholars point out that war specifically is not a primary aspect of the Morrighan, and that her connection to cattle presents her as a goddess of sovereignty. The theory is that she can be seen as a deity who guides or protects a king.
In modern literature, there has been some linking of the Morrighan to the character of Morgan Le Fay in the Arthurian legend. It appears, though, that this is more fanciful thinking than anything else. Although Morgan le Fay appears in the Vita Merlini in the twelfth century, a narrative of the life of Merlin by Geoffrey of Monmouth, it's unlikely that there's a connection to the Morrighan. Scholars point out that the name "Morgan" is Welsh, and derived from root words connected to the sea. "Morrighan" is Irish, and is rooted in words that are associated with "terror" or "greatness." In other words, the names sound similar, but the relationship ends there.
There's an excellent page with plenty of scholarly information on the Morrighan from Reverend Gwynarion Elessacar at http://www.elessacar.com/the_morrighan.php. -
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