Queen all the Gods of Ireland, there existed the Morrigan. Her name can be translated into “Great Queen” or “Phantom Queen” in old Celtic. When the Tuatha De Dannan came to Ireland, it was The Morrigan who caused a great swirling mist to rise up, obscuring their arrival from the view of the terrible Fomorians who came from the sea. She was among the first of the Tuatha to set foot on the shores of Eire and the land accepted her gladly. Some say she existed on the island long before that, the daughter of the island itself.
Together with the Dagda, the Morrigan would create new life once a year, but this was not the only power she wielded. She also was a powerful goddess of war and strategy, able to alter the course of battle to whatever side she favored more. Thus was The Morrigan goddess of life and death. Before the battles of Maige Tuired, it is said that The Morrigan chanted her blessing upon Lugh to ensure victory for the Tuatha over the Fomorians.
The Morrigan is often depicted as the three goddess faces: The Maiden, The Mother, and The Crone. She has also been known to shapeshift into crows or wolves. Many saw her in the crows that would flood the battlefields after the clash, feeding upon the dead. In this way, she resembles the Norse Valkyries, and is thought to fortell of death, yours or your enemies.
In the Book of Invasions, The Morrigan is seen most often in the stories of CuChulain. Time and time again, she appears to try and teach CuChulain or warn him of grave dangers ahead. I will expand these tales further in a separate article about the tales of CuChulan.
The Morrigan is fierce and often feared, but much like a Mother Bear, she is simply trying to protect those she cares about. She isn’t so scary when you realize that she is simply trying to teach and guide you towards the best version of yourself that you can be. Seek her aid when the fight is at hand.
