Another mysterious Goddess roamed these lands, the Celtic hag, the Cailleach, meaning veiled one. A nearby mountain, Beinn a' Bheithir is named for Her. The Irish and Scottish lore surrounding the Cailleach are marvelous. She was a crone Goddess, manifesting winter wind and snowstorms. She farmed and was a spinner, and challenged people to out-do Her in the fields or at the wheel. She was the winner in these contests, and collected many young lovers, and offerings of wool laid on hearths all over the land. She was born old at Samhain and became young by Beltane, or shape-shifted into a moist boulder. In some stories she was replaced by the maiden Goddess, Brigit in the spring season. As the wheel of the year turned, the Cailleach was once again, riding her wild pigs, and wolves, navigating through blinding snow-storms with only one eye. She often carried a magical slachdan made of aspen wood, similar to a shaman's staff, to challenge hunters for Her deer, bring frost over all the land and to both heal and curse. In some stories it was made of iron. She dropped boulders from Her apron, creating mountains and there were numerous man-made and natural shrines to her. She was also Sovereignty, and kings had to lie with an old hag, seeing through to Her inner beauty, and power, to prove they could reign.
In one of the legends, she forces a hunter to tie up his hunting dogs with one of her hairs. She then attacks him and says, " Long have you been the devoted enemy of my persecuted sisterhood." Such is the struggle between crones, and man, for all time. The Cailleach was thought to be as old as time, She was Creatrix of the landscape, and her very breath was the wind. The Celts took up worship of Her, already an ancient Goddess, when they came to the area now known as Scotland and Ireland; but it is unknown how long She was worshiped before that. The Christian Church attempted to wipe out worship of the Divine Feminine, but the Crone was too big for that! Even into the 19th century, the Cailleach was said to bring the end of winter snow squalls, save young boys that slipped from the mountains, foil hunters in their chase, and sing to people nearing death.
So I wonder, is the Ballachulish Goddess really a maiden or mother Goddess, holding a phallus near her womb? Or is she wielding, a slachdan? Perhaps, she is the even more ancient representation of the Crone Goddess; power and wise fierce beauty, lifted from her dark grave, so we can once again share in Her many mysteries!!!
The Ballachulish Goddess currently resides at The National Museum of Scotland, in Edinburgh |
Four foot tall and deteriorated since discovery |
Sources: The Goddess Path, Patricia Monaghan, and Max Dashu's Crones at http://www.suppressedhistories.net/secrethistory/crones.html
Such an interesting post! As a Recon, I can't get enough on ancient statues!
ReplyDeleteTo me, She looks more like a Crone figure with her long, lined face. I'll be waiting for more facts on Her!
Thanks! I agree she looks more like a crone. I am going to find out more about Her is possible!
DeleteWonderful post! I am constantly fascinated by ancient artwork, especially the Goddess symbols. And I have to agree - I can see the Crone representation in this piece. Thanks for sharing Her!
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog and the Ballachulish Goddess this morning. I dreamt of a hag and an extraction in a dental chair on a large slab of stone near water. Sometimes the water ran over the rock. The hag was alive and wise. I was asleep in the room beside her and her work. I knew when I woke up, it would be time...
ReplyDeleteIs there new news on Ballachulish? Whom would I contact? I am coming to Scotland in September.
Thank you!
Caren
Caren what an incredible albeit creepy dream! I don't think much is happening regarding the Ballachulish Goddess. She lives physically in The National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh- hope you can go see Her! And we will just have to keep Her alive in our imaginations! Blessings!
ReplyDelete