THE GUISES OF THE MORRIGAN
The Celtic Irish Goddess of Battle & Sovereignty: Her Myths, Powers and Mysteries
By David Rankine and Sorita d’Este
The Morrígan is probably one of the most magical, formidable and mysterious figures among the Irish gods. She embodies female power and frequently employs her sexuality in the stories told of her. The prevalent image of the Morrígan as a powerful goddess of battle and sovereignty only scratches the surface of this complex and popular goddess.
She is the earth goddess, the lady of the beasts and the faerie queen; she is the shapeshifter, an enchantress and the goddess of war. More than any other Celtic deity the Morrígan embodies the resurgence of the divine feminine, appearing in a wide variety of guises to express the full spectrum of feminine power. The strength and control the Morrígan displays, as well as her ferocity and tenacity, and her ability to control events to ensure the desired result are all displayed repeatedly in the myths. As a liminal goddess, the Morrígan connects not only the different realms of earth, sky, sea and otherworld but also many of the legends of the British Isles through her numerous forms.
The Guises of the Morrígan presents a collection gathered from folklore, mythology and literature about the attributes of this formidable, resilient and timeless goddess. Her legends, history and presence in the landscape and folklore of Ireland (and further afield) continue to inspire strength and admiration today.
“…it is our hope that this book will awaken a renewed interest in the Morrígan” – Rankine & d’Este, 2005
2019, 180 pages. Paperback & Kindle editions available.
ISBN 978-1-910191-27-9
B&W 6.14 x 9.21 in or 234 x 156 mm (Royal 8vo) Perfect Bound on Creme w/Gloss Lam
The Guises of the Morrigan by David Rankine and Sorita d'Este
Introduction
Who is the Morrígan?
The Morrígan in Celtic mythology
The war with the Fir Bolgs
The war with the Fomorians
The victory prophecy
Encounters with Cú Chulainn
Badb‘s mockery
Scáthach
The Morrígan‘s offer
The cow theft
The battle of Cú Chulainn and Lóch
Nemain’s assistance
The downfall of Cú Chulainn
The breaking of Cú Chulainn‘s geis
The morrígan’s last attempt to save Cú Chulainn
The death of Cú Chulainn
Cú Chulainn‘s demise
The avenging of Cú Chulainn
Nemain, Badb & Macha
Badb
Macha
Nemain
Wise crone: tales of the Cailleach
Cailleach Bearra
Winter goddess
Wells, water, stones
Mistress of animals & birds
Gyre carling
Three silver rods
The queen of battle
The Morrígan’s landscape
Scotland
The cooking spit
Shaping the land
Goddess of earth
The faerie queen
Táin bulls
The banshee’s comb
Baobhan sith
Faerie birds
Faerie ravens
Glaistig
Leanan sídhe
The morgens
Princess Mis
Queen Mab
Tales of Thomas the Rhymer or True Thomas
Liminal goddess
Lady of the beasts
Bestower of sovereignty
Ériu as sovereignty
The lover & the mother
The witch goddess
Shape-shifter
Magical use of words
The geis
Magical warfare
The Washer at the Ford
Banshee
Bean nighe
Caointeach
Cyhyraeth
Gwrach-y-rhybin
The laundresses of night
The washer
The prophetess
The prophecy
Fedelm
Scáthach‘s prophecy
Morgan le Fay and Arthurian myths
Divine disguises?
Áine
Andraste
The Morrígan and Danu
Aoibheall
Banshee
Bean Nighe
Bé néit
Black Annis
Boand & Bovinda
Búanann
Cailleach
Cathobodua
Don
Epona
Ériu
Fea
Fedelm
Glaistig
Grián
Gwrach-y-rhybin
Gyre carling
Lamia
Mab
Mala lia
Medb
Modron
Morgan le Fay
Muilidheartach
Nantosuelta
Rhiannon
Scáthach
Valkyries
Appendices
1. Cailleach to Sheela-na-gig
2. Lacnunga
3. Flint arrowheads
4. Corvid lore
5. Numbers of the Morrígan
Bibliography
Index
David is an author, researcher and qabalist based in Glastonbury, UK. He is the author or co-author of numerous books published by Avalonia, including The Complete Grimoire of Pope Honorius, The Grimoire of Arthur Gauntlet, A Collection of Magical Secrets, The Book of Treasure Spirits, The Book of Gold, Climbing the Tree of Life, The Cosmic Shekinah, Practical Qabalah Magick, The Isles of the Many Gods, and The Guises of the Morrigan.