Gods of the Emerald Isle

Since it is St. Patrick's Day, I think it is time to remind the gods of old.

Morrigan - goddess of war
Morrigan is known as the goddess of war, with her name loosely interpreted to mean “Great Queen,” “Phantom Queen” or “Queen of Demons.” She was believed to hover over a battlefield in the form of either a crow or a raven, and supposedly influenced or predicted the outcome of the battle. She appeared to Dagda on the feast of Samhain, had sex with him, and promised to aid him in the upcoming battle. With her aid, Dagda was victorious in his battle.

Aonghus - God of love and youth
Aonghus, also known as Angus, Aengus, or Oengus of the Bruig, is believed to be the god of love and youth. He is associated with the valley of the River Boyne.
His story is that he searched all of Ireland for a beautiful maiden. Aonghus eventually found Caer, who was with 150 other maidens destined to turn into swans on November 1, the feast of Samhain. Aonghus transformed himself into a swan so he could be united with Caer, who followed him back to his palace on the River Boyne, now modern-day Newgrange.

Danu - Matriarch of Power
Danu is best known for being the matriarch of the power Irish god family Tuatha de Danaan (People of the Goddess Danu). Some point to Dagda as her father.A Triple Goddess, which means she is able to take the form of the Maiden, the Mother or the Crone, and a Divine Lady who is the essence of the earth, the air and the essence of water, Danu is able to embody the form/energy suited the situation.  Here she brings the power of versatility and teaches us to honor and respect diversity within ourselves and within others and reminds us to honor each stage of our physical life.

Dagda - "The Good God"
Dagda is known as ‘The Good God.’ He is portrayed as having both super-human strength and appetite. Dagda is paired with goddesses Morrigan and Boann, and is the father of Brigit and Aengus Mac Oc. His attributions were a large club which had the dual power of killing men, as well as bringing them back to life, a set of two pigs – one roasting and one growing, a harp used to summon the seasons, and a great cauldron which provided an endless source of food

Brigit - Fire of Inspiration, Hearth, and Forge
Now remembered in Christianity as St. Brigit or St. Bride, Brigit has several associations. She is trifold, with her powers being Fire of Inspiration, Fire of Hearth, and Fire of the Forge. Her festival on February 1 is Imbolc, where she ushers in springtime.

Cernunnos - "the horned one"
Meaning ‘the horned one,’ Cernunnus is a Celtic horned god who is connected to fertility, wealth, and wild animals. He is depicted as having the antlers of a stag, most notably on the famous Gundestrup cauldron in Denmark. Paleolithic cave paintings found in France depict a figure with antlers, believed to be Cernunnus, which places his origin to that era.

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