Morrighan is an Irish- Celtic Goddess going back to the Stone Age or maybe more accurately, in the Bronze Age. Her name translates into “Phantom Queen” or “Great Queen”. She often is viewed as a patron Goddess of war, warriors/warrioress, battles and strife. She is a shining example for women today as a role model for sovereignty, fertility, prosperity and of course, Magick.

The GREAT QUEEN or "Specter Queen", "Supreme War Goddess" or "Queen of Phantoms or Demons", are titles given to Morrighan that have an affinity with The Darker aspect of a Goddess. In her Dark Aspect, she is the Goddess of War, Fate and Death. As a War Goddess, she reigned over the battlefield, helping with her Magick. Legend has it that she enchanted by singing, which created a fog on the battlefield in order to keep the enemy (Fir Bolg) at bay.

 I’m sure she earned each of these names as her stories continue as being the “Queen of the Witches and Goddess of Magick”. She displays acts of venom, hence the name, “Nemon” and acts of fury, hence the name, “Badb” and shows courage on the battlefield, hence the name “Macha”. These traits reflect feminine aspects that we all possess from time to time, when necessary.

Her rulership over our Earthly cycle at Samhain comes from the legend that she married Dagdha at Samhain, and carries with her the symbol of the raven or crow. This appears evident from the most well known story of the Goddess Morrighan that deals with her association with the Greatest Irish hero of the Ulster Cycle: Cu Chulainn. Their relationship was one of acceptance, love, rejection, indifference and hatred. The most common theme in their story, is of Morrighan’s attempts to seduce him (which is the ultimate greatness), and his failure to recognize her or what she offered him, which was his downfall. As the story continues, She told him She would hinder him in battle and when he was eventually killed, She shaped shifted into a crow (Macha) and settled on his shoulder (that’ll teach him).

 In Mytho-History she is portrayed as a member of the Tuatha De Danann or People of the Goddess Danu (fairy people ). It is also thought that she was the consort of the Dagda or Lugh or both at different times. Hence her name or title as,” Queen of the Fairies”.   Our Irish Goddess/Queen has an affinity with the color Red, for blood, black for the crow, and her stone is the obsidian.  Her legend is survived and carried into medieval times as Morgan Le Fay, the witch who haunted King Arthur and his knights. Here is where I feel she is portrayed incorrectly, but that’s another story.

Information sources:
Barbara Walker, The Women’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets
Elessacar.com
Epstein Celtic Journals
Dutchie.org
Sacred Fire on Celtic Deities

 This page is the intellectual and creative property of Tera Lane
December 2008

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