Celtic pagan goddesses were an integral part of the religious beliefs and practices of the ancient Celts. These goddesses represented different aspects of nature, fertility, war, and the divine feminine. They played a crucial role in the daily lives of the Celts and were worshipped through rituals and offerings. One of the most well-known Celtic pagan goddesses is Brigid, also known as the goddess of fire, healing, and fertility. She was worshipped as a triple deity, representing three different aspects: poetess, healer, and blacksmith. Brigid was associated with the beginning of spring and was believed to bring renewal and growth to the land.
ship - a worship that is slowly being revived in our modern world through the emergence of Wicca and other spiritual practices. Of all the deities, both god and goddess, in the Celtic pantheon, Rhiannon and Aine are two of the most well-known, the former known as “The Night Queen” and the latter considered to be “The Queen of Faeries.”
An Dagda One of the Tuatha Dé Danann, whose name means the Good God , the Dagda is the Great Father Ollathair , chieftain, and druid of the tribe Koch, 2006. Another survivor among the seven is Manawydan, a good friend to Pryderi and an heir to the throne of England, a throne that was recently vacated due to the death of the king, Bran the Blessed, in the Irish wars Rhiannon.
Brigid was associated with the beginning of spring and was believed to bring renewal and growth to the land. Another prominent Celtic goddess is Danu, the mother goddess and the divine ancestor of the Tuatha Dé Danann, the mythical tribe of supernatural beings in Celtic mythology. Danu was associated with water, rivers, and fertility.
Irish Gods – Pagan Celtic Mythology
The Gods and Goddesses of the Irish were/are a little different from others in Celtic Mythology from Britain and Europe, and it is important to differentiate and understand what we mean by Irish Gods, specifically.
The term ‘Celtic’ is just a scholarly descriptor, when used correctly, to talk about Indo-European tribes in Europe who were grouped together (by outside observers) based on ethnolinguistic similarities – so, mainly their language, art, and other cultural indicators.
Basically what that means is that ‘the Celts’ doesn’t describe a single cohesive group of people, and it’s certainly not interchangeable with ‘the Irish’. Or even, ‘people who lived on the island we now call Ireland’!
Irish Gods, therefore, are their own unique thing. And that’s what we’ll be talking about here. This is just an intro article, so I’ll have to be brief, but you can also find a Pronunciation Guide for the Irish Gods on my YouTube Channel >>> Click Here.
An Mórrígan – The Morrígan or Mórrígan, also known as Morrígu, or Mór-Ríoghain in Modern Irish. Her name can be translated as ‘Great Queen’, or ‘Phantom Queen’. This Irish Goddess is mainly associated with prophecy, battle and sovereignty. She can appear as a crow, who we call the Badbh (who is another of the Irish Gods, at the same time as being a form of the Great Queen). In Neo Pagan terms she is often reduced to a ‘war goddess’, and misunderstood as a ‘Goddess of Sex and Battle’. Her primary function though, in my experience, is as a bringer of change, and a Guardian of Ireland – both in this world and the Irish Otherworld.
Áine – An Irish Goddess of the seasons, wealth/prosperity, and sovereignty, Aíne’s name could mean any of the following – ‘brightness, glow, joy, radiance; splendour, glory, fame’. She has a strong association with Samhraidh (Grianstad an tSamhraidh – Midsummer) and the sun in general, and can be represented by a red mare (McKillop, 1998). Some folk talk of her in terms of love and fertility, and she is definitely in the running as one of Ireland’s primary ‘Fairy Queens’. The hill of Knockainey (Cnoc Áine in Irish) is named for her, and up to as recently as 1879, it was recorded that local people were conducting rites involving fire, the blessing of land, animals and crops, in her honour.
Brighid – As Brigit, Brigid, Brighid, or Bríg, this Irish Goddess has been with the Irish Gods from pre-historic Ireland as one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, right through to modern Christian tradition in the form of our primary Catholic Saint. Her name is generally translated as ‘exalted one’, and she is a daughter of the Dagda. As one of the Irish Gods, she is associated with the Earraigh, the Spring (and particularly the Pagan Festival of Imbolg or Imbolc), and with fertility, and through her fire she brings healing, poetry and smithcraft. As Saint Brigid she shares many of the goddess’s associations, with a specific continuity of her sacred flame.
An Dagda – One of the Tuatha Dé Danann, whose name means ‘the Good God’, the Dagda is the ‘Great Father’ (Ollathair), chieftain, and druid of the tribe (Koch, 2006). He controls life and death through his magical club/staff (an Lorg Mór), and can manage the weather, crops, the seasons, and time itself. In general, his associations are the earthly ones of fertility, agriculture, strength, as well as the Otherworldly ones of magic, druidry and wisdom. He is the husband of the Mórrígan, and the Dagda’s Tools his other tools include the cauldron which never runs empty, and a magic harp which can control human emotions and change the seasons.
Manannán Mac Lír – This deity now, is not specifically Irish, I’ll admit, and definitely crosses the boundaries with the Celtic Gods of other nations. He does however, appear often in Irish mythology, and so has definitely earned his place amongst the Irish Gods. Manannán or Manann, also known as Manannán Mac Lir (‘son of the sea’) is, as you may have guessed, a God associated with the sea… but he also has very strong connections to the Otherworld as a guardian and guide, and so with Adventures or Journeys (Eachtraí nó Immrama) there. He owns a boat named Scuabtuinne (‘wave sweeper’), a chariot that is drawn across the top of the waves as if on land by the horse Aonbharr (‘one mane’, or possibly, ‘water foam’). He also carries – and sometimes loans out – a sword named Fragarach (‘the answerer’), and a cloak of invisibility (an féth fíada).
Alexandria Nora Franklin is a senior at East Carolina University majoring in cultural anthropology and religious studies with minors in history and gender studies. She is a member of four honor societies including Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society. She was born and raised in the Appalachian Mountains of N.C. but plans to move to the United Kingdom within the next two years, where she plans to attend graduate school and make it her home. She aspires to work for a non-profit that combats human trafficking and travel the globe.
She represented the life-giving force of nature and was revered as a protector and nurturer. Morrigan, the goddess of war and sovereignty, was another important figure in Celtic paganism. She was often depicted as a crow or raven and was associated with battle, fate, and transformation. Morrigan was believed to shape-shift and inspire warriors in battle, as well as influence the outcome of wars. Other Celtic pagan goddesses include Rhiannon, the goddess of horses and the underworld; Epona, the goddess of horses and fertility; and Aine, the goddess of love, growth, and prosperity. Each goddess had her unique attributes and significance in Celtic mythology. Celtic pagan goddesses were worshipped through various rituals and ceremonies, including offerings of food, drink, and flowers. Temples and sacred sites were dedicated to these goddesses, where people would gather to pray, seek guidance, and honor their deities. These goddesses played a vital role in the spiritual and cultural identity of the ancient Celts. Today, the worship of Celtic pagan goddesses is still practiced by modern pagans and followers of Celtic mythology. Many people draw inspiration from these ancient goddesses and incorporate their teachings and symbols into their spiritual practices. The reverence for nature, the divine feminine, and the interconnectedness of all life continue to resonate with those who seek a deeper connection with the spiritual realm..
Reviews for "The Queen of the Underworld: Celtic Pagan Goddesses and the Realm of the Dead"
1. Jane - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Celtic pagan goddesses." The book lacked depth and didn't provide enough information about the goddesses it claimed to cover. The descriptions were vague and it felt like the author only scratched the surface. I was hoping for a more comprehensive study on Celtic pagan goddesses, but unfortunately, this book fell short.
2. Mark - 1 star - I found "Celtic pagan goddesses" to be a complete waste of time. The information presented was repetitive and lacked any real substance. The writing style was dry and boring, making it difficult to stay engaged. As someone interested in learning about Celtic mythology, I was left unsatisfied and frustrated by the lack of depth and quality in this book.
3. Sarah - 2 stars - "Celtic pagan goddesses" was not what I was expecting at all. The content felt rushed and poorly researched. It seemed more like a collection of random information rather than a cohesive exploration of Celtic pagan goddesses. I had hoped to gain a deeper understanding of their significance and mythology, but this book failed to deliver.
4. David - 1 star - I cannot recommend "Celtic pagan goddesses." The writing was disjointed, making it difficult to follow along and understand the concepts being presented. The author also seemed to make generalizations without providing enough evidence or sources to back them up. Overall, this book left me with more questions than answers and did not meet my expectations in terms of quality and accuracy.
5. Emily - 2 stars - I was really looking forward to reading "Celtic pagan goddesses," but I found it to be a shallow and superficial overview. It lacked the depth and analysis I was hoping for. The book felt like a brief introduction rather than an in-depth exploration of the topic. I would recommend looking for other resources if you're truly interested in learning about Celtic pagan goddesses.