This is the first in a series of blogs drawing on the first book published by Avalonia back in 2005, The Guises of the Morrigan by David Rankine & Sorita d’Este.
For those readers unfamiliar her, we decided to introduce this powerful Goddess by reproducing the Authors’ Introduction from the book here in full. This is from the 2005 print edition:
INTRODUCTION
The Morrígan is probably the most powerful yet mysterious figure amongst the Celtic Gods. The popular image of the Morrígan is as the Goddess of Battle and Sex, a perception that only scratches the surface of this complex and manifold Goddess.
From Bestower of Sovereignty to Earth Goddess, from Lady of the Beasts to Faery Queen, from Lover to Witch Goddess, the Morrígan stands out as one of the pre-eminent Celtic Goddesses. More than any other Celtic deity the Morrígan embodies the resurgence of the divine feminine, appearing in a wide variety of guises to express the full spectrum of feminine power.
The strength and control the Morrígan displays, as well as her ferocity and tenacity, and her ability to control events to ensure the desired result are all displayed repeatedly in the myths. As a Liminal Goddess the Morrígan connects not only the different realms of earth, sky, sea and otherworld, but also the myths of the British Isles through her different guises.
The major references to the Morrígan working with the other gods occur in the battle between the Túatha Dé Danann and the Fir Bolgs (The First Battle of Moytura), and the later battle between the Túatha Dé Danann and the Fomorians (The Second Battle of Moytura). In the former she acts as both magician and warrior, and in the latter her roles as Battle Goddess and Prophetess are given more emphasis.
As the tutelary Goddess of the hero Cú Chulainn she displays a number of her qualities and roles. Her role as instigator of conflict is emphasised, by stealing the cow which precipitates the events leading to all the conflicts described in the Táin (Táin Bó Cúailnge). The Morrígan appears in a wide range of forms during this tale, as a maiden and a crone, as a crow, and in the eel, wolf and cow forms which she uses to attack Cú Chulainn.
As well as her shape-shifting ability, the Morrígan again uses her power to prophesy, both as a crow and as the Washer at the Ford when she foretells the hero’s death. She also uses spells and enchantments to achieve her desired results, and her terrible shriek to kill Cú Chulainn’s enemies.
By considering the different versions of the Celtic myths and legends together, the number of guises the Morrígan assumes becomes much more evident than has previously been credited. This includes her links and similarities to other Goddesses, like the Welsh Rhiannon, Don and Modron; the Irish Boand, Danu, Ériu, Fea and Grian; the British Goddess Andraste, and the Gallic Goddesses Epona and Nantosuelta.
The different guises she assumes in the tale of Cú Chulainn are also more numerous than has been previously credited. By exploring the symbols and roles of the female figures within this myth it becomes clear that the warrior women Búannan and Scáthach, the warrior queen Medb and the prophetess Fedelm are all guises of the Morrígan.
In other tales the Morrígan appears in a whole range of guises. She is the Cailleach (crone) who bestows sovereignty on a worthy king, or takes it from an unworthy one. As the Faery Queen we see a whole range of faery beings across the British Isles and France deriving their qualities and appearance from her.
The Morrígan also assumed a number of disguises in literature. The best known of these is probably as Morgan Le Fay in the Arthurian myth cycle. However as the Faery Queen she also inspired many poets and writers throughout the centuries, from William Shakespeare to W.B. Yeats. Her effect on the literature of the last thousand years is explored through reference to the breadth of her influence.
This book, which is the result of many years of research and exploration of the myths, mysteries and guises of the Morrígan, makes available for the first time in one place a body of material which demonstrates the full extent of her importance from the ancient Celtic world through to modern times.
It is our hope that through this work the reader will come to a greater appreciation of the many and diverse guises of the Morrígan.
(c) David Rankine & Sorita D’Este, March 2005. All rights reserved.
For more information on The Guises of the Morrigan, visit the publishers’ website http://avaloniabooks.co.uk/catalogue/celtic-myth-folklore/the-guises-of-the-morrigan or search for the book on your favourite online retailer.
What follows is an extract from the introduction of this wonderfully practical work, in which the authors discuss just some of the ways in which the spells in the book use different substances – which illustrates the breath and practical nature, both in a historical context and of course, for the modern practitioner interested in putting these spells and charms to work today:
That the Biblical Psalms have been used in magic for many hundreds of years is a well known fact amongst knowledgeable occult students and practitioners. The authors of 
Dear Readers,
