Story of the Morrigan
Macha and the Horse Race
(There were three fabled Machas, and this story tells the unlucky fate of the third Macha)
"Macha appeared one day at the home of a widowed farmer and became his wife, and he soon became very prosperous. When he wanted to attend the Assembly of Ulster, Macha did not want him to go, but relented on the condition that he not mention her name. Unfortunately, the farmer boasted to the King of Ulster that his wife was faster than the king’s horses, and she was dragged to Ulster to race against the horses. Macha was heavily pregnant with twins at the time, but she still managed to beat the horses. After crossing the finish line, she went into labor, delivered the twins, and then died. As her dying words, she cursed the men of Ulster, saying that in the time of their greatest difficulty, they too would suffer the pains of labor and childbirth."
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(There were three fabled Machas, and this story tells the unlucky fate of the third Macha)
"Macha appeared one day at the home of a widowed farmer and became his wife, and he soon became very prosperous. When he wanted to attend the Assembly of Ulster, Macha did not want him to go, but relented on the condition that he not mention her name. Unfortunately, the farmer boasted to the King of Ulster that his wife was faster than the king’s horses, and she was dragged to Ulster to race against the horses. Macha was heavily pregnant with twins at the time, but she still managed to beat the horses. After crossing the finish line, she went into labor, delivered the twins, and then died. As her dying words, she cursed the men of Ulster, saying that in the time of their greatest difficulty, they too would suffer the pains of labor and childbirth."
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Description of the Morrigan
The Celtic deities of destiny are very similar to the Greek, Roman and Norse form of destiny and fate. Together, the three goddesses, Babd, Anu, and Macha make up the Morrigan. All three of the goddesses are separate from each other, apart from them being sisters, they are each their own entity, but some people believe that together that determine a being's fate.
Badb is one of the three sisters, she is the separate goddess is known for battle, in which she appears as a crow or raven. Her favorite form is the crow, however. This is why her name comes from the Celtic word for crow. Badb even has the battle field named after her. It was often called the "Land of Badb" after her. She is the war aspect of the Morrigan.
Anu, the second sister of the Morrigan. Anu is known as the mother-goddess because she is the mother of the mother of all the Celtic gods and goddesses. Anu is also known for being the goddess of manifestation magic, the moon, air, fertility and prosperity. People respect her for being plentiful of life, and giving others the same. She is the maiden aspect of the Morrigan.
The final sister making up the Morrigan is Macha. In the Celtic language, Macha means plain. She was also known as "The Red Macha". Together these goddesses make up the Morrigan, and a huge part of Irish and Celtic beliefs.
Badb is one of the three sisters, she is the separate goddess is known for battle, in which she appears as a crow or raven. Her favorite form is the crow, however. This is why her name comes from the Celtic word for crow. Badb even has the battle field named after her. It was often called the "Land of Badb" after her. She is the war aspect of the Morrigan.
Anu, the second sister of the Morrigan. Anu is known as the mother-goddess because she is the mother of the mother of all the Celtic gods and goddesses. Anu is also known for being the goddess of manifestation magic, the moon, air, fertility and prosperity. People respect her for being plentiful of life, and giving others the same. She is the maiden aspect of the Morrigan.
The final sister making up the Morrigan is Macha. In the Celtic language, Macha means plain. She was also known as "The Red Macha". Together these goddesses make up the Morrigan, and a huge part of Irish and Celtic beliefs.