Cailleach was an ugly, crone and hag. She had teeth of wild bear and tusks like a boar The meaning of word "cailleach", is old woman or veiled one. She only has one eye. see beyond duality of things to She oneness of life. She is a weather Goddess controlling winds, Winter cold. She is winter Goddess. . Cailleach is a dark Goddess. She represents winter and a going within. She kills all that s no longer needed, But she holds in frozen earth seeds of a new beginning. For all things are born in darkness into light. Cailleach is about transformation in some stories just before Spring appears she washes in a stream and becomes young again. Cailleach to be 'other' face of Goddess Brighid. In this legend, on eve of Latha Fheill Bride, Cailleach goes to Well of Youth. There at Well she drinks of water and emerges as youthful fair Brighid, whose touch turns grass to green once more. In Scottish folklore, An Cailleach is born old and ugly and grows younger as year turns to Spring and Summer Cailleach teaches us that there is a time to let go and let die even our most cherished. We must look at things we are most attached to and let them go. Cailleach prunes that which is no longer beneficial to each of us. Ultimately, we must let go of all.

Every culture has an underworld, dark, hag goddess, whose primary fnction is to facilitate transformation from one state of being to next. We are in time of letting go and making room for new. Wee cannot create that which we want without room in our lives to do that. So we must let go of old to have room for new. Goddess I am experiencing a time of transformation help me to know what to let go of and how to be reborn. gleaned from: Celtic Goddesses: Warriors,Virgins and Mothers Miranda Aldhouse Green Clan of Goddess: Celtic Wisdom & Ritual for Women By C. C. Brondwin The Red-Haired Girl from Bog: Celtic Spirituality & Goddess in Ireland By Patricia Monaghan The Celtic Goddess: Great Queen or Demon Witch? By Claire French

Interpretations of figures generally fall into four main categories: fertility icons, warnings against sins of flesh, representations of a figure from old Celtic goddess trinity, and protection from evil.

gCioch" ("sheela of breasts") or "Sile-ina-Giob" ("sheela on her hunkers"). In Encyclopedia of Sacred Sexuality, Rufus Camphausen notes that in Mesopotamia term "nu-gug" ("the pure and immaculate ones") referred to sacred temple harlots, and he postulates that name may somehow have had its origins there. Kathryn Price Theatana outlines an interesting etymological study of name on her website-- well worth a look. Even though image is overtly sexual representation is always grotesque, sometimes even comical. They are usually associated with "hags" or "old women". The carvings often incorporate ribs showing on torso and sometimes facial scaring as well, although this feature seems to be more common in Ireland than in mainland Britain.

Anderson, Jorgen. The Witch on Wall: Medieval Erotic Sculpture in British Isles. Rosenkilde and Baggen, Copenhagen, 1997

Camphausen, Rufus. The Encyclopedia of Sacred Sexuality. Inner Traditions: Vermont, 1999.

Cherry, S. A Guide to Sheela-na-gigs. National Museum of Ireland, Dublin, 1992

From Beyond Pale: Art and Artists at Edge of Consensus. Irish Museum of Modern Art, Dublin, 1994 (This was catalog that accompanied exhibit of same name that ran from September 1994- January 1995 at Irish Museum of Modern Art)

Kelly, Eamonn P. Sheela-na-gigs: Origins and Functions. Country House, Dublin, 1996

Marron, Fiona. "Sheela-na-gig: A Letter from Fiona Marron". The Beltaine Papers. Issue #10, Lammas 1996

McGarry, Greg. Sheila Na Gig: A Celtic Treasure Hunt. Preas An Phuca, Donegal, 1993