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The Mother Goddess is an ancient visualization that was around
long before the invention of the gods. She appears with many
faces.
There are four
others Goddesses towards whom I reach. The earliest Celtic Goddesses had names that could not be
spoken. Some appear to be ancestors who have grown into legend. The Goddesses
and Gods of the Old Religion would tend to have dual natures: both helpful and
harmful. It is the modern gods that have a monolithic image.
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Danu, is a major Mother Goddess and ancestress of the Tuatha De
Danann.
She gave her name to the Tuatha De Dannan (People of the Goddess Danu). She rules over
rivers, water, wells, prosperity, abundance, magick, Wizards and wisdom. |
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Arianhrod is the Keeper of the circling Silver Wheel of Stars, a symbol
of time and karma. She is a mother aspect of the Triple Goddess and is honored at the
Full Moon. She rules over beauty, fertility, and reincarnation. |
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The Morrigan, is often portrayed as a Crone aspect of the
Goddess, although she shapshifts to Maiden.
In her dark aspect, she is the goddess of war, fate and death.
She reigns over the battlefield, helping with her magick, but does not join into the battle.
She is associated with crows and ravens. She is a shape shifter, and the carrion crow is her favorite disguise.
She is seen as a triple goddess when with her, Fea (hateful), Nemon (Battle)
encourage
fighters to battle-madness. She would be invoked for only the most serious and dark
situations. She rules over the night, revenge, prophecy, witches,
banishing magick, overcoming enemies, and violence. |
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The Caillech or the "Old Woman," is the Crone Goddess in her
Creatrix/Destroyer aspect. She
is the Veiled One and bears a
close resemblance to the Hindu Kali and possibly to the Greek Hekate. There is
also a resemblance to Cerridwyn with her cauldron. Her time is
winter and and her sabbat is Samhain. Her symbol is the owl. She rules over transformation, plague, disease,
curses
and weather magick. |
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Coventina, resting serenely on the river’s edge
surrounded by lush foliage with faery dust illuminating the night sky,
Coventina partakes of the healing waters. The ancient Celts worshipped
Coventina as the most potent of all the river goddesses. They often
made offerings of coins and trinkets to her in hopes of gaining inspiration
and prophetic powers. She is also associated with renewal, abundance, new
beginnings, life cycles, inspiration, childbirth, wishes and prophecy.
Being a river goddess, she is connected with the ebb and flow of time. |
In their brighter aspects, I contrast the Celtic Goddesses, Danu,
Brigid, and Arianhrod, to the Christian Mary Mother of God and
Mary the Magdalene.
This artwork is the copyrighted property of and available from
Jessica Galbreth.
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