Deities Part 3: Celtic Goddesses

I know I spoke a bit about my relationship with the Mórrígan in my post about changelings. So let's just get into this post, shall we! As I said before, I was picked by the top bitch of the Celtic Pantheon. The Mórrígan is THE sheboss before that silly word existed. She is nightmares made flesh, love, and fertility all in one. To quote the recent Dying Fetus album, she is the "wrong one to fuck with". The Mórrígan is a no nonsense Goddess. She also doesn't care what you want. You will do what you are told or you won't work with her. Perdiot. End of story. 

Here is a song from the album, "Wrong One to Fuck With" from Dying Fetus 

The Celtic deities are just as good with time management as the Norse ones. At least the Norse deities feel bad for disturbing humans. The Celtic ones give zero fucks. They do not care about what you are currently doing. You must pay them attention immediately or they'll just taunt or annoy you more. I will never understand why deities always came to me when I was in the middle of finals or sleeping. That's why there is a saying in the Pagan community: "You don't pick your Gods, they pick you." 

I must confess I am a fool for not connecting the dots sooner. I am a very logical person. If I see an animal frequently, I do not assume it is a message. I think of all reasonable or probable causes before jumping to conclusions. I've had to do this as a way to ease my emotional dysregulation. My second year living in DeKalb I became acquainted with the wildlife. In the long and hot summer of 2010 I started to feed all the birds that would live in the trees in my apartment complex. At the start of my sophomore year in college I noticed a bunch of corvids roosting. There was a nest inside the bus top near my apartment complex. I started to leave the crows and ravens presents. Shiny things, food or string for their nests. Birds are very intelligent. They like to pimp their homes out just like humans. Eventually, these corvids started to recognize me. One crow was very fond of me. He or she would fly with me while I walked to class. I swear on my ancestors, I am not making this part up. It was the end of autumn. I was sitting in my Victorian literature class. Tap. Tap. Tap. Our whole class becomes quiet. Tap. Tap. Tap. We all want to know where that sound is coming from. My teacher makes a joke. "Sorry this is Carlyle, not Edgar Allan Poe." My whole class turns to see the window. "Hello! It's you! Do you have something to show me. Sorry, I am in class right now", I said to the crow. My professor asked me if I knew the bird based on my comment. I said yes. "It seems we have Disney princess in our midst," my professor told the class. Corvids belong to both Odin and the Mórrígan. 

It is the end of my fall semester. Ryan and I have already started to date. In fact, he drove all the way from Chicago to see me. Since it's such a long drive he decides to sleep over. He does not have class on Fridays. It is Thursday evening. Earlier tonight we were hanging out in my living room when my candles were snuffed out.  I told him, "Did you see that? Or am I going insane." No, I am seeing the same thing," he replied. I feel creeped out. Let's go to the bedroom I said. I studied. I forced myself to go to bed early so I am fully rested and ready to take my exams. But in typical fashion, I cannot sleep. Ryan is laying next to me snoring. Midnight turns into one am. One am becomes two am. I don't want to move just in case I wake Ryan up. So I lay awake in my bed. Out of the corner of my eye I see a tall black shadow. I say to myself, "No, that cannot be right. Or maybe reddit is right and shadow people do exist." I chuckle to myself as I slowly get out of bed to go use the bathroom. I keep hearing noises in my room. It is impossible since it's only Ryan and I in my apartment. I don't want to talk, let alone yell. Just because I can't sleep doesn't mean I should wake Ryan up. I walk back into my room and close the door. Then I scream because the shadow is moving. 

"Holy Fuck It's real! It's not a figment of my imagination!" 

"Of course I'm real! Why wouldn't I be?! Calm down lass, I'm not goin' tah hurt ya. Honestly child, what did you think was goin' to happen when you have fuil na hÉireaan running in yer veins, climb trees, and feed crows. It's almost like ye summoned me on purpose. And I don't like to be trifled with. Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" 

"I have three exams tomorrow and I already have my deities. I just like animals, climbing trees, and being a changeling," I said, still scared. 

"You soond like a bloody druid to me. Ya canna fool me. Aye! Ahnd that temper! There's oonly one place on this whole green eaarth where i-t canna hav cume froom!

"I'm 100 percent sure my temper is from my Mother. And she's not Irish at all, I replied." 

"I never sahd yer Mum was Irish. Bu-t, she is Celtic. Honestly girl, dunna ye know yer history?" 

"I thought I did. My boyfriend is mostly Celtic. Shouldn't you appear to him instead?" 

"Ahll in good time. He's not important right nuw. You are. Dunna worry he canna hear us. He's in paralysis", the Mórrígan told me. 

"Is that supposed to be comforting?! Because it's not! I thought bloodly was a British word. I am so confused." 

" Those cunts stoole our land, murdered our peaple. Excuse me, if I steal a word of theirs. If anybody should be bloody, it is us! I will teach ye a grand many things, if ya let me. I also expect that you will learn your ancestor's tongue. I won't spread honey on yer toast! Working with me is challenging. But, I think ya gat the right stuff. All that maaers is in here. The black figure puts her finger on my heart." 

Then she was gone. Ryan sat up in my bed. I asked him if he saw the same thing as I did. He said he saw the black figure before I did. Ryan tried to scream or warn me, but no sound came out. He told me he could not move. It was the most horrifying thing he has ever witnessed. He's had sleep paralysis before, but not like that. This was too extreme for his body to conjure up. Too be fair, if I saw a towering black figure talking to my girlfriend I'd be frightened as well. And thanks to Letterkenny, every time I type or say the phrase "to be fair" I sing it in their voices. 

Clearly loving this how is a sign of my Midwesternerness. 

There is debate in the Pagan and scholar community whether the Mórrígan

is one goddess or a trifecta. In Irish, her name means "Phantom Queen" or "nightmare".  She definitely appeared to me as a dark phantom. So as Letterkenny says, "Can confirm." The Mórrígan is featured in both the Ulster Cycle and the Mythology Cycle. In the Ulster Cycle she is the daughter of Ernmas. She has two sisters: Badb and Macha. I don't like her in the Ulster Cycle. She appears vapid and unkind. That is not the Goddess I know. In the mythology cycle, the Mórrígan is seen as a trinity of: Badb, Macha, and Anand. Anand is also Danu's daughter so that makes sense. She is a dual goddess of death and fertility. In Celtic tradition, women are seen as incarnations of the land. A fertile land, meant the kingdom is prosperous. All Celtic fertility deities were seen as sovereignty. In order for a man to become a leader he was chosen by the people. Then he had to consummate his marriage to the land. If the land did not see this person fit, then another person would be picked to rule instead. The Celts like the Norse also believed their gods were their ancestors. All their heroes were human. They were not perfect. That's what I love about Irish mythology! Bards don't make style="font-size: medium;">

Altar/Offerings: The Mórrígan loves smokey quartz, rutilated quartz, obsidian, onyx, ruby, garnet, and any crystal that is black, red, or opaque. She prefers smokey flavors and smells. Dragonsblood and sandalwood is her favorite. Red wine, ales, stouts, or whiskey are preferred. Red meats, red fruit, or traditional Irish food make good offerings. 

My tattoo dedicated to The Great Queen 

Altar for the Mórrígan. 

Next up, is the Phantom Queen's daughter. Similar to Freya, the Mórrígan has no consort or husband. She's an independent woman, who needs no man. But one deity she did have some fun with is the Dagda. And from that relationship Brighid was born. Brighid is usually known as the Dagda's daughter. Many people do not know that the Great Queen is her mother. Brigid came to me on her holiday, Imbolc. I was at Circle Sanctuary, celebrating with my NIU Pagan group. A fire was created and in that fire she spoke to metheir gods infallible. They create gods and heroes who are flawed. Because humans are not perfect. We have to make mistakes in order to become better. Morgan Le Fey from Arthurian lore is inspired by the Mórrígan. Her breast can be sustenance or death. Waterways in Celtic lore are seen as gateways to the underworld. She is a guardian of life and death. The Mórrígan appears to all her people from their birth to their death. This is why she is called "Queen of the Banshees".  She can shapeshift into a cow, crow, raven, or a hag called Morrigu. The Mórrígan is a Goddess of destruction and chaos. But in order for new things to be born, the old ways need to be shed. 

t. 

Myself and the PSA group I was a part of were all lost in our ritual. Selena Fox called Brighid into the circle. All participants were standing in the barn room. Then we all exited outside to the bonfire. People were singing, chanting, crying, and dancing. Meanwhile I felt compelled to sit next to the fire and stare into it. In the fire I saw a girl who looked like she was kissed by fire. She was tall, had an athletic build, and had amber eyes with green in them. Her hair is the color of mahogany and calendula. She wore an emerald green cloak with a golden raven brooch. When our eyes met she smiled at me. 

"Ye are me, aand I am ye. I am ye, aand ye are me. We are one. We are tagether. Aand, we always will be. Mah darlin' lass I am hare. Do not despair little one, my Marm hath told me that, ye are so sassy, witty, and fun. I cannot wait to work with ye. We shall reach such heights that ye hath never believed. Beloved, I am inspiration, warmth, and joy. Mah Marm can be a lo' tah handle. But that is why she gave birth to me. Marm isn't just a "scary" bean sidhe. Marm says I am all her goodness."

I nod. Maybe it was my friend's homemade mead, but I was speechless. There was nothing I could say. For the first time in my life, I knew what happiness was. I was grinning like an idiot. Circle Sanctuary has a spring dedicated to her. So the next day, I threw some mugwort that I was given as an offering into the spring. 

Her name comes from the Irish word, brig or "Elevated One". Her parents are part of the Tuatha de Dannan. In some myths, Brighid has sisters. In, others she is the only daughter. Brighid has many brothers through the Dagda. I only know Brighid as Brigid, the kind woman. Brighid is both a fire and water Goddess. Not many people know this, but Brighid is the Goddess of smiths because she is guardian of the sacred flame. Like her Mother, Brighid is also a guardian of streams and rivers. Because as stated before, water was believed to be the entrance into the underworld.  She is also the goddess of inspiration. Bards, writers, and all creative Celts or Pagans worshipped her or asked her to favor them. Both her parents are fertility and death gods. Because of this, Brighid is also a goddess of healing. Like Frigga, Brighid loves arts and crafts. When Ireland became Catholic Brighid was transformed into a saint. 

Altar/Offering: If you want to honor Brighid, sewing, knitting, and crocheting is an activity one can dedicate to her. I have a ton of coloring books. I like to color in them and dedicate the images to her. I keep her altar next to my computer so she may continue to inspire me. Everything I write, sing, or create is for my pleasure. In addition my deities love the arts. So I basically live to create for them. Brighid loves pearls, amethyst, citrine, and any blue crystal. Her favorite colors are blue, green, purple, pink, and orange. Style and temperament she is the opposite of her parents. Brighid is slow to anger and has immense patience. Her favorite drinks are herbal teas and cider. She hates any food or drink that is bitter or smoky. Those are her parents' preferences. Her favorite scents are also floral. Incense with cinnamon, rose, lavender, vanilla, or jasmine are her favorite. Her favorite food is toast with butter. Or any dairy products. 

In this illustration, Brighid is turned into a triple Goddess like her Mother. 

Here's a photo of my altar to Brighid. 

The last Celtic goddess I work with is not Irish. She is Welsh. Ceridwen is her name. Ceridwen is a prominent figure in the Mabinogin. The Mabinogin is a book of Welsh stories. They are connected to each other. These stories were compiled in the medieval period. Arthurian literature is heavily influenced by the Mabinogin. Ceridwen is the Goddess of witches and sorcery. She is the owner and guardian of the Cauldron of Awen. Her name can also be spelled as Kerdwin or Cyrrdven. Ceridwen's name in Welsh means, "Fair woman". Wen means women. But it could also mean, fair, pure, or white. In addition, Cerd means twisted, bent, or musical. She could make potions of any kind. Shapeshift into any animal, plant, or person. As long as the object is living she can become it. Ceridwen is often seen singing while she works. She is a protective Mother. I will talk more about that later. 

Ceridwen came into my life a couple months after Imbolc. She appeared to me during Beltane. Beltane means May in Irish. This experience also happened at Circle Sanctuary. This time I took Ryan with me. Most people camp at the festivals because it is cheaper. Unless you rent a hotel or own an RV. May first in Wisconsin is still ridiculously cold. I love the cold! Yet the nights and mornings are brutal even for me. Especially doing the walk to the bathroom in the cold. Because who in their right mind is going to change out of their pjs. My favorite part of Pagan festivals is always the labyrinths that are made. I love to walk through them at night. There's usually candles or a light on the path. If you're naturally a klutz like me you won't fall too much. It was a full moon. I remember because the Moon looked gorgeous. I think I tried to take a photo on my phone too. But the quality of photos back then were terrible. 

I remember walking through the labyrinth. Trying to take it all in. My senses were overwhelmed. I also brought some of the mead I made. My mead is potent. It's as strong as whiskey, gin, or vodka. I remember because so many of my friends were stumbling or crawling back to their tents. I was definitely drunk. Which is why I was caught so off guard when I heard a woman's voice guiding me through the trails. 

"Follow mae! Imm ova hare! Follow mae vuice!" 

"Who's there?!" I blurted out. 

"Don't be scared, girl. I won't hurt you. Couldn't, even if I tried! You are filled with promise, young witch. You oooooozzze power." 

"Uh, is that good or bad?" 

"Both! Depending on who you ask", Ceridwen replied to me. "I see your magic ability, as a good thing. You have a violet aura. That means your third eye is strong. Would you like to learn how to control your magic properly. If it continues to go unchecked, you will burn yourself!" 

"You sound like my other deities!" 

"Well maybe they're not wrong. We always talk about you."

"What?! I thought I'd have a teacher-student or "daughter" confidentiality!" 

"We're not doctors you know. Who's goooing toooo sue a God?! Besides witchcraft deities have to stick together. We're always being blamed for everything. And it's usually not our fault to begin with. But we aaallwwways have to fix the problems. How typical?! Weeeeelll, what do you say? You in? Just look up the name Taliensin, okay. Baaahhh-aye!" 

In the story of Talensin, Ceridwen is brewing a potion for her failed abortion. That's what I am calling her son. In Welsh mythology, Morfran Afaggdu is both deformed, ugly, and stupid. Poor guy. His sister is the opposite of him. She is the most beautiful woman in the land. Ceridwen loves her son. She doesn't want him to suffer or to be lonely. That's fair. I would not want my child to live a sad life. I most definitely would do anything in my power so my children do not inherit my terrible temper or any of my diseases. So I completely understand why Ceridwen creates a potion for her son. This potion takes a whole year to brew. Her potion cannot overcook or else it will be ruined. In addition, the potion must not spill. All it takes is one drop for the spell to work. Due to all these risk, Cerdiwen hires two servants to look after the potion. An old man who is lazy and is always sleeping and a boy. The potion has been brewing for almost a year until it boils. The potion spills. The boy is trying to clean up the mess. But as soon as his hand makes contact, the spell is transferred to him. Ceridwen enters the magic room and see what happens. Enraged, Cerdiwen chases the boy to punish him. The boy knows he's in danger and escapes. The boy shapeshifts into several animals. So does Cerdiwen. Eventually, the boy turns himself into a grain of rice. Ceridwen transforms into a hen and eats him. When she transforms into her human body she realizes that she is now pregnant with the boy. Ceridwen plans on killing the boy when he is born. But after giving birth to him and seeing how beautiful he is, she names him Talensin. Talensin grows up to be the first bard and poet of Wales. Talensin has all of his Mother's powers: spellwork, shapeshifting, divination, and prose. Talensin is Merlin's precursor in some myths. In other stories, Talensin is Merlin's teacher. 

Altar/Offerings: Witches love quartz. They're amplifiers of energy. On my altar Ceridwen has clear, smokey, and rutilated quartz. As well as moonstone and sunstone. Cerdiwen loves to brew. So if you're into microbrewing call on her. She likes all forms of alcohol. She doesn't have a favorite scent. She likes all candles and incense. Birds, bears, and boars are her favorite animals. Chicken is her favorite meat. Before I had Celiac I used to leave her a small piece of the chicken pot pie I would make. She likes beef and pork. Sometimes I like to leave some bacon as an offering. Ceridwen loves music. Especially music played on woodwinds. 

Best illustration I found.

Altar for Ceridwen. 

Now it's over. Thank you for reading my poor impression of Irish and Welsh accents. To my ancestors and Ryan's I am so sorry. I probably made your ears bleed.