Cailleach The Goddess of Life and DeathWritten by Judi Singleton
Cailleach [COY-lck or CALL-y'ach] Author: Judi Singleton Cailleach [COY-lck or CALL-y'ach] Author: Judi Singleton Subject: A Light in Window Published: March 14th 2004 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
| | Sheela-na-gigWritten by Judi Singleton
Goddess of early Irish and British Celts, and Mother of all Life. Sheela-na-gig displays her vulva to symbolise Birth, Origins of Life, Gateway to Womb of Goddess, from whom all come, and to whom all return. She is inspired by numerous Sheela-na-gig plaques dotting early Irish and British churches and shrines, vibrant reminders of a proud celtic mother goddess. Sheela-Na-Gig The Goddess Displaying Her Parts. This Celtic archetype of Great Mother appeared in folk and church art by at least 1080 AD, but undoubtedly is of much earlier origin. She may be identical with war goddess Morrigan, consort to Dagda. One of her images is found near ancient goddess shrine of Avebury, where she symbolized fertility; displaying her sexual parts was believed to ward off evil. Carvings of Sheela-na-Gigs may have accompanied seasonal harvest custom of weaving corn dollies which dates from North European antiquity. Sheela Na Gig's are quasi-erotic stone carvings of a goddess figure , usually found on Norman churches but possibly of celtic origin. They consist of an old woman squating and pulling apart her vuvla a fairly strange thing to find on a church Ill think you'll agree when you consider puritanical attitudes of many christians. The carvings are very old and often do not seem to be part of church but have been taken from a previous older building (see weathering on Church Stretton Sheela as compared to surrounding masonry). This may have a connection with fact that many churches are built on previous pagan sites (for instance Kilpeck) and may have been incorporated into building from previous pagan shrine. Many of carvings are badly weathered and it is difficult to determine features. This would also seem to indicate an older origin than host church. They were placed on churches, castles and other important buildings of medieval period and, until quite recently in some instances, they acted as dedicatory or protective symbols promoting good luck and fertility.
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