The Morrigan
The Morrigan
The Morrigan, the embodiment of power, a formidable prophetic Goddess who incites fear as a harbinger of death.
To me, she is the ultimate iconic representation of feminine strength, beauty, power and wisdom. I begin with her as I am obsessed, and she is the fundamental inspiration for my book. Although she is shrouded in darkness and death, the Morrigan may also be a symbol of hope during the frenzy of battle. She may appear to worthy worriers as a guiding light and incite courage to endure. This resonates with me on a deep level. The Morrigan is my inspiration; she is who I think of in challenging times to help get me through the darkness.
Attributes
The Morrigan is known as a triple goddess, the goddess of war, death and fate. Her associations include death, fate, healing, fertility, prophecy, spell casting, and ferocity. The symbols that represent The Morrigan are the crow, triskele, triquetra, and the triple moon.
It is said that the Morrigan favoured heroes and gods alike, offering prophecy to those she deemed worthy. She is a cunning shape shifter typically appearing as a raven. In her raven form, she may circle a battlefield while shrieking to strike fear into her enemies. Her shriek or cry (which may be likened to the Strauugah), represents a distressing omen of misfortune, and death. Legends state that hearing her cry, which is so terrifying, actually frightened 100 men to death. In conflict to this, she may also incite bravery or foretell great victory. Furthermore, she can transform into any living creature. This includes barn yard animals, birds that can soar high into the air, or she may simply embody the image of a beautiful woman to seduce formidable males. Her shape shifting abilities demonstrate an affinity with the living universe.
The Morrigan is connected to the land and all living creatures within it. This implies that she is more than war or death. She is the source of transformation, regeneration and life-giving, thereby enabling her to assist souls through life and death cycles. She is a healer, protector of the land and her people. This justifies implications that she comes in threes, a triple source of power; hence, she is represented by three spirals.
Reference List
Huanaco, F., 2021, ‘Morrigan: Goddess Offerings, Signs, Symbols & Myths’. Spells8, accessed 9th July 2025. Available at: <https://spells8.com/lessons/goddess-morrigan-signs/>
Nightbringer., n.d., ‘“Great Queen,” “Phantom Queen” Morrigan, Mórrighan’, Nightbringer The Arthurian Online Encyclopedia, accessed 9th July 2025. Available at: <https://nightbringer.se/the-legend-of-king-arthur/arthurian-characters/m-arthurian-characters/morrigan/>
