Celtic Mythology Blog
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Boot Camp with the Badb
The Badb is listed as a Goddess of battle and death in Ireland's ancient lore. Said to take the form of a hooded or scald crow the Badhbh flies over the battle fields of Éire, and that her raucous cries cause the weak of heart to quail in terror. -
Macha - Justice Always Follows
In ancient times Ireland was ruled by chieftains and kings, but the rule of land was not a birth right. One had to prove ones worth by skill of thought, word and deed even to be considered for such a role. Even those aspirants were not guaranteed to rule for the last, and some might say most important, step in the process was to connect with the sovereignty of the land itself, for only in a union with the Goddesses of the land could a rightful chieftain rule. -
'Níl fadhb agam. Tá Badhbh agam' - 'I don't have a problem. I have a Badhbh'.
Amongst the Tuatha Dé Danann we find mention of the Badb, or Badhbh in modern Irish. She is listed, along with her sisters Macha and The Mórrígan, as a Goddess of battle and death. Said to take the form of a hooded or scald crow the Badhbh flies over the battle fields of Eireann and that her raucous cries cause the weak of heart to quail in terror. -
Brighid - Drop the Hammer
No matter which Brighid you choose to explore you will find someone who is not adverse to doing what's needed, bringing about the change whether it's with the airs of poetic inspiration, the turning of a cursed word, or with the pounding purifying works of the forge. Whatever your personal view of this Goddess, there can be no doubt that when time comes, Brighid can drop the hammer. -
Seal an Cailleach - Season of the Witch.
In Irish, the word Cailleach originally signified a nun, coming from the latin word 'pallium' which means veil. Over time it came to mean 'old woman' or 'hag'. MAybe its not hard to see how this, added to the ancient beliefs of power and mysticism, then filtered through the lens of the popular media representation, leads us to it's current use for 'witch'. -
Medb of Cruachán - Warrior, Queen, Priestess, Judge of Heroes.
Medb is a multi-faceted figure of Irish lore, linked with priestess work in the Otherworld, the sovereignty of Ireland itself as a goddess, and the rites of judgement and right rule. The Banshenchus (the Lore of Woman) manuscript, may have described her best; "Glorious, perverse, extravagant and liberal". -
Go Deep with the Mórrígan - When Working with the Great Queen, Be Prepared
The Mórrígan is an expert at the long game - for her perspective is not measured in days or months, but in decades and indeed centuries. She will always take that which is of use to Her, but for those she calls there is greater personal work required. To achieve that which She expects, one must gather their valour and be ready to gaze upon the battlefield, for in Her service we can gain glimpses of fate to aid in the manifestation of Her design.
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Goibhniu - Warrior Smith of the Tuatha Dé Danann
Goibhniu's story is one of the power of creation; for in the act of crafting an item is the intimate knowledge of that item, as it comes into being with your own hand. When one possesses complete and intimate knowledge of a thing, then there is no mystery to it... and in a way, no harm that can come from it. -
A Body Made of Daggers - The Mórrígan by An Scéalaí Beag
We had a recent question from our community regarding the source of the text for one of our best selling T-Shirts and I realized that, though it stands on its own, sometimes the back story adds to the appreciation.
So, 'What is the background to this quote?'...
“A Body Made Of Daggers. Forged In The Heat Of Her Rage. Sharpened Upon The Wheel Of Her Intent.”
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The Mórrígan - A Beginners Guide to Irish Celtic Mythology
The Morrigan or Mórrígan, also known as Morrígu, is an Irish (Celtic) Goddess associated with battle and destiny, fate, or change. She is seen in t...
