Wodin’s Day—often recognized as a day to honor Odin, the Norse Allfather and seeker of wisdom—isn’t just about looking outward to ancient gods for guidance. It’s also about looking inward. It’s a sacred pause in the week to honor our own pursuit of wisdom, the roots that ground us, and the magic that pulses through our bloodlines.

For me, Wodin’s Day is as much about honoring myself as a spiritual practitioner as it is about honoring the divine. I see it as a bridge between the old ways and the here and now—between my DNA and the deities that walk with me. We’re not just drawing from one stream of tradition. Many of us are patchwork tapestries of ancestry and practice. Our magic is older than us, yes—but it’s also alive through us.

In that spirit, today I’m turning my gaze toward the Emerald Isle and my Celtic ancestry. (Yes, for those who are curious—my DNA says I’m 25% Irish!) So let’s take a deeper look at one of the most powerful and enigmatic goddesses of that land: The Morrígan.

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A Deep Dive: Introduction to The Morrígan

The Morrígan is not a goddess to be taken lightly. She is powerful, primal, and multi-faceted. Known as the Phantom Queen or the Great Queen, she is a deity of war, sovereignty, prophecy, and transformation. Some fear her; others revere her—but all who work with her come to understand her as a mirror of truth and a catalyst for personal power.

Often portrayed as a singular goddess and also as a trio (Badb, Macha, and Nemain), The Morrígan embodies the complexity of life, death, and rebirth. She is the battle cry on the wind, the crow on the battlefield, the whisper of fate as it weaves around us. But beyond the blood and bone of her mythos, she is also a goddess of deep, fierce feminine power, protection, and justice.

The Morrígan: Phantom Queen of War, Fate, and Sovereignty

The Morrígan (also spelled Mórrígan, Morrígu, or Mór-Ríoghan) is a complex and multifaceted figure from Irish mythology. Her name is commonly translated as either “Great Queen” or “Phantom Queen”—the former stemming from mór (“great”) and rígan (“queen”), and the latter from a Proto-Celtic reconstruction (Moro-rīganī-s) meaning “terror” or “phantom queen.” She is one of the most powerful and enigmatic deities in the Irish pantheon, intimately associated with war, fate, sovereignty, prophecy, death, and the land itself.

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Symbolism and Iconography

The Morrígan is most famously known as a goddess of war and fate, often appearing before or during battles to foretell death or inspire warriors to greatness—or doom. Her primary animal form is the crow or raven, particularly the badb (an Irish word for crow and also a divine persona in itself), which flies over battlefields and acts as an omen of carnage and prophecy. She is also known to shape-shift, becoming an eel, a wolf, or a cow, depending on the tale and her purpose.

Her appearances are both physical and symbolic. In some myths, she washes the bloodstained armor of warriors fated to die, echoing later folklore surrounding the banshee (bean sí), which is sometimes used interchangeably with her name in regional lore.

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The Triple Goddess

The Morrígan is often described as a tripartite goddess, sometimes appearing as a trio of sisters collectively known as the Morrígna. These usually include:

• Badb – the battle crow, who spreads fear and confusion in warfare.
• Macha – associated with war, horses, sovereignty, and childbirth.
• Anand (also called Morrígan in some texts) – sometimes considered another face of the goddess herself.

In some traditions, Nemain or Fea may replace or accompany these figures. The lines between these personas are blurred, and scholars debate whether these are separate deities or different aspects of one powerful goddess.

The Morrígna are said to be the sisters of Ériu, Banba, and Fódla—the triple goddesses of Ireland—further linking them with the sovereignty of the land.

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Etymology and Linguistic Roots

There is rich debate surrounding the origin of the Morrígan’s name. Some scholars believe Mor- refers to “greatness” (mór in Old Irish), while others argue it stems from an Indo-European root implying monstrosity or terror, tying her to nightmarish beings across cultures (like the Old English maere and Slavic mara). The suffix -rígan clearly denotes “queen,” reinforcing her regal and sovereign stature.

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Mythological Appearances

Ulster Cycle

The Morrígan appears frequently in the Ulster Cycle, particularly in stories involving Cú Chulainn, the great warrior of Ulster. In Táin Bó Regamna, she confronts Cú Chulainn but is dismissed by him, resulting in a series of mystical and tragic encounters. She later attempts to assist or hinder him in Táin Bó Cúailnge, appearing in different animal forms during battle—only to be wounded by him in each guise. In a powerful scene near his death, she appears washing his bloody armor, an unmistakable omen of his impending demise.

Mythological Cycle

In the Cath Maige Tuired, the Morrígan is a key figure in the battles of the Tuatha Dé Danann against the Fomorians. On Samhain, she meets with the Dagda near a river, straddling it with one foot on each bank—symbolizing both a sexual union and the connection between land, fertility, and battle. She later chants spells and leads the charge, routing the enemy. After the battle, she recites a prophetic poem foretelling the end of the world and cycles of renewal.

In another tale, she leads the soul of a woman named Odras into the Otherworld through the cave of Cruachan, turning her into a river, a reminder of the Morrígan’s dominion over life, death, and the natural world.

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Roles and Interpretations

Though commonly called a goddess of war, modern scholarship suggests that the Morrígan’s true domain is sovereignty, fate, and the protection of her people. Her warlike nature is often a means of defending the land and ensuring its fertility and order, not violence for its own sake.

Máire Herbert and Patricia Lysaght emphasize her tutelary role, protecting the land, its livestock, and its people. She embodies the chaotic yet nurturing forces of nature, and her fearsome presence ensures the balance between civilization and the wild.

She is also linked with the fianna, youthful warrior bands who lived on the fringes of society. These groups may have seen her as a guardian or patroness, connecting her to themes of liminality, transformation, and personal initiation.

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Places and Legacy

There is a burnt mound site in County Tipperary called Fulacht na Mór Ríoghna (“The Cooking Pit of the Morrígan”). Fulachtaí are often associated with wilderness, the fianna, and transformation. They may hint at real-world cultic practices honoring her, especially in isolated or sacred places.

Her name endures in folklore, place names, and spiritual practices, and she remains one of the most compelling goddesses in Irish mythology. She is revered today by many neopagans, witches, and spiritual practitioners who honor her as a guide through transformation, challenge, and sovereignty.

To honor her is to honor the raw truths of our path: the endings, the beginnings, and everything in between.

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Wodin’s Day reminds us to seek truth. The Morrígan reminds us to live it. So today, I honor them both—Odin in his quest for knowledge, and The Morrígan in her demand for authenticity and power.

May we always walk in wisdom, with one eye on the past and one foot in the present, drawing strength from both.

Much love and many blessings,
Mrs. B