Celtic pagan deities are an important aspect of the ancient Celtic religion. These deities were worshipped by the Celtic people, who inhabited various regions of Europe during the Iron Age and the Roman period. The Celtic pantheon consisted of numerous gods and goddesses, each associated with different aspects of life and nature. One of the most well-known Celtic deities is Cernunnos, the god of fertility and the underworld. Cernunnos is often depicted with antlers and is associated with animals and the natural world. He was worshipped by the Celtic people, who believed that he protected their crops and ensured the continuation of life.
Brighid – As Brigit, Brigid, Brighid, or Bríg, this Irish Goddess has been with the Irish Gods from pre-historic Ireland as one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, right through to modern Christian tradition in the form of our primary Catholic Saint. Her name is generally translated as ‘exalted one’, and she is a daughter of the Dagda. As one of the Irish Gods, she is associated with the Earraigh, the Spring (and particularly the Pagan Festival of Imbolg or Imbolc), and with fertility, and through her fire she brings healing, poetry and smithcraft. As Saint Brigid she shares many of the goddess’s associations, with a specific continuity of her sacred flame.
Áine An Irish Goddess of the seasons, wealth prosperity, and sovereignty, Aíne s name could mean any of the following brightness, glow, joy, radiance; splendour, glory, fame. The term Celtic is just a scholarly descriptor, when used correctly, to talk about Indo-European tribes in Europe who were grouped together by outside observers based on ethnolinguistic similarities so, mainly their language, art, and other cultural indicators.
He was worshipped by the Celtic people, who believed that he protected their crops and ensured the continuation of life. Another important Celtic deity is Brigid, the goddess of poetry, healing, and smithcraft. Brigid was revered by the Celts for her qualities of wisdom, creativity, and protection.
Irish Gods – Pagan Celtic Mythology
The Gods and Goddesses of the Irish were/are a little different from others in Celtic Mythology from Britain and Europe, and it is important to differentiate and understand what we mean by Irish Gods, specifically.
The term ‘Celtic’ is just a scholarly descriptor, when used correctly, to talk about Indo-European tribes in Europe who were grouped together (by outside observers) based on ethnolinguistic similarities – so, mainly their language, art, and other cultural indicators.
Basically what that means is that ‘the Celts’ doesn’t describe a single cohesive group of people, and it’s certainly not interchangeable with ‘the Irish’. Or even, ‘people who lived on the island we now call Ireland’!
Irish Gods, therefore, are their own unique thing. And that’s what we’ll be talking about here. This is just an intro article, so I’ll have to be brief, but you can also find a Pronunciation Guide for the Irish Gods on my YouTube Channel >>> Click Here.
An Mórrígan – The Morrígan or Mórrígan, also known as Morrígu, or Mór-Ríoghain in Modern Irish. Her name can be translated as ‘Great Queen’, or ‘Phantom Queen’. This Irish Goddess is mainly associated with prophecy, battle and sovereignty. She can appear as a crow, who we call the Badbh (who is another of the Irish Gods, at the same time as being a form of the Great Queen). In Neo Pagan terms she is often reduced to a ‘war goddess’, and misunderstood as a ‘Goddess of Sex and Battle’. Her primary function though, in my experience, is as a bringer of change, and a Guardian of Ireland – both in this world and the Irish Otherworld.
Áine – An Irish Goddess of the seasons, wealth/prosperity, and sovereignty, Aíne’s name could mean any of the following – ‘brightness, glow, joy, radiance; splendour, glory, fame’. She has a strong association with Samhraidh (Grianstad an tSamhraidh – Midsummer) and the sun in general, and can be represented by a red mare (McKillop, 1998). Some folk talk of her in terms of love and fertility, and she is definitely in the running as one of Ireland’s primary ‘Fairy Queens’. The hill of Knockainey (Cnoc Áine in Irish) is named for her, and up to as recently as 1879, it was recorded that local people were conducting rites involving fire, the blessing of land, animals and crops, in her honour.
Brighid – As Brigit, Brigid, Brighid, or Bríg, this Irish Goddess has been with the Irish Gods from pre-historic Ireland as one of the Tuatha Dé Danann, right through to modern Christian tradition in the form of our primary Catholic Saint. Her name is generally translated as ‘exalted one’, and she is a daughter of the Dagda. As one of the Irish Gods, she is associated with the Earraigh, the Spring (and particularly the Pagan Festival of Imbolg or Imbolc), and with fertility, and through her fire she brings healing, poetry and smithcraft. As Saint Brigid she shares many of the goddess’s associations, with a specific continuity of her sacred flame.
An Dagda – One of the Tuatha Dé Danann, whose name means ‘the Good God’, the Dagda is the ‘Great Father’ (Ollathair), chieftain, and druid of the tribe (Koch, 2006). He controls life and death through his magical club/staff (an Lorg Mór), and can manage the weather, crops, the seasons, and time itself. In general, his associations are the earthly ones of fertility, agriculture, strength, as well as the Otherworldly ones of magic, druidry and wisdom. He is the husband of the Mórrígan, and the Dagda’s Tools his other tools include the cauldron which never runs empty, and a magic harp which can control human emotions and change the seasons.
Manannán Mac Lír – This deity now, is not specifically Irish, I’ll admit, and definitely crosses the boundaries with the Celtic Gods of other nations. He does however, appear often in Irish mythology, and so has definitely earned his place amongst the Irish Gods. Manannán or Manann, also known as Manannán Mac Lir (‘son of the sea’) is, as you may have guessed, a God associated with the sea… but he also has very strong connections to the Otherworld as a guardian and guide, and so with Adventures or Journeys (Eachtraí nó Immrama) there. He owns a boat named Scuabtuinne (‘wave sweeper’), a chariot that is drawn across the top of the waves as if on land by the horse Aonbharr (‘one mane’, or possibly, ‘water foam’). He also carries – and sometimes loans out – a sword named Fragarach (‘the answerer’), and a cloak of invisibility (an féth fíada).
She was also associated with fire and domesticity, and her festival, Imbolc, marked the beginning of spring and the return of the light. The Celtic pantheon also included gods and goddesses like Morrigan, the goddess of war and sovereignty, Lugh, the god of skill and craftsmanship, and Danu, the mother goddess. Each deity had a specific role and domain, and the Celtic people would often offer prayers and sacrifices to them in order to gain their favor and blessings. The worship of Celtic deities was deeply ingrained in the daily lives of the Celtic people. They would offer offerings and sacrifices, build sacred sites, and celebrate festivals and rituals in honor of their deities. These practices reflected the importance of the natural world and the interplay between humans and the divine in Celtic culture. With the arrival of Christianity in the Celtic regions, the worship of pagan deities declined and many of their stories and traditions were replaced by Christian beliefs. However, traces of Celtic paganism can still be found in modern-day Ireland, Scotland, and other Celtic regions, where certain practices and customs have persisted. In conclusion, Celtic pagan deities were an integral part of the ancient Celtic religion and played a significant role in the lives of the Celtic people. Their worship and reverence of these deities shaped their spiritual beliefs and practices and contributed to their understanding of the natural world and their place within it..
Reviews for "The Triple Goddess in Celtic Paganism: Understanding the Power of Maiden, Mother, Crone"
1. Emily - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to read "Celtic Pagan Deities" as I've always been interested in learning more about ancient civilizations and their belief systems. However, I found this book to be quite disappointing. The content felt shallow and lacking depth. It only provided a surface-level overview of the deities without delving into their stories and significance. Additionally, the writing style was dry and uninspiring, making it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone seeking a comprehensive and enlightening exploration of Celtic pagan deities.
2. John - 3/5 stars - As someone who has studied Celtic mythology extensively, I had high hopes for "Celtic Pagan Deities." While the book did provide some interesting information about the deities, I found it to be lacking in terms of scholarly research and references. Many of the claims and interpretations seemed more like personal opinions rather than supported by historical evidence. I also wished it included more in-depth analyses of the deities' roles and relationships within Celtic mythology. While it is an okay introduction to the topic, I would suggest looking for more reputable and well-researched sources for a more comprehensive understanding of Celtic pagan deities.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - "Celtic Pagan Deities" failed to meet my expectations for several reasons. Firstly, I found the organization of the book to be confusing, with the chapters often jumping back and forth between different deities without clear transitions. This made it difficult to follow and understand the overall narrative. Secondly, the author's writing style was convoluted and overly verbose, making it hard to grasp the main points. I also noticed several spelling and grammatical errors throughout the book, which further distracted from the content. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others seeking a coherent and well-written exploration of Celtic pagan deities.
4. Michael - 1/5 stars - I found "Celtic Pagan Deities" to be extremely misleading in its title and content. The book barely scratched the surface of the topic and did not delve into the rich mythology and stories associated with Celtic deities. Instead, it seemed more like a collection of random facts without any clear structure or organization. The lack of references and sources to back up the claims made me question the credibility of the information presented. Overall, this book was a letdown and did not provide the in-depth exploration of Celtic pagan deities I was hoping for.