A Devotional Poem for The Mórrígan

This poem is written in devotion to The Mórrígan, based in a combination of my own practice and UPG, as well as references and understanding of the myths and legends we have passed down. In a future post I may go through some of my understandings, particularly of the names and epithets referenced here and why they’re of relevance to me and in what ways. But first the poem itself, which I wrote for love of the Goddess who has walked with me for a very long time.

For Sovereignty She guides us forward now,
Though never did She plan to lead at all,
But still She holds with honor to the vow
She gave An Badb to answer Foresight’s call.
A lasting peace She’ll forge with skill and Sight,
She holds the key to navigate the fray
Milennia pass and with undaunted might
She watches as her plans unfurl – To stay
The course An Mórrígan sets for vict’ry strong
Though many times it seemed that hope was lost
Her Vision showed the road both rough and long
Still battle turned at last – but at great cost
And yet her people always heed her call
Our Queen makes plans and moves the pieces all.

She makes the plans and moves the pieces all,
But counts us more than weapons in Her store,
She grieves when even one of us must fall,
And sends Redemption’s Path to health restore,
For Scénbgairit is patient with Her plans,
Adjusts to give us all a chance to rise
And when we’re healed She welcomes back to chlann
Each one who learns that Tuath is the prize —
The goal, the aim, the love that leads the way
For all Her plans one purpose do they have
To find the way to fin’lly seize the day
And gather us within protected Rath
For when She looses armies swift we fly,
With strong heart pounding hear Her vict’ry cry!

Her heart so strong, and never will She bow,
But proud She stands and in Her sacred hall,
Unconquered, True, and Honest is Her vow,
To lead her people, listen to their call.
She names her Court, in regal manner hosts
Her enemies and allies — welcomes all
By turns, She listens to their pleas and boasts,
And never will She let expression fall.
For She knows well the politics they need
To navigate the turning of the tide,
And when our Cuimdiúir Fort speaks we all heed
Her words — and by her just decrees abide.
For our Beloved Leader casts a pall
On any who would try to conquer all.

To foes who try to conquer, try to maul,
Be warned for soon will come the angry dark,
And on the lips of phantoms your names call
With terror in your heart you’ll turn to hark
Your doom on bloody wings — your fortunes known
She’ll guard your deaths and perched atop your skull
A glad cry loose when enemies are shown
Adorning fields with broken, lifeless hulls
For hÚath cares not for your hopes and dreams
When Sovereignty you spit on — throw away,
And then attack those who your shadow seems
To think are weak, believe are easy prey.
Then ego with Her sharpened talons pierce,
Her Tuatha sheltered by protection fierce!

Her Tuatha cherished, sheltered ‘neath Her wings,
She stays the course through thick and thin to see
The end of war — and when She vict’ry sings
She is our Sceo — safe harbor will She be.
Aloft She circles, with Her sharpened Sight
She’ll spy the danger long before it shows
For even when there’s peace She takes to flight
To guard in case of evil’s crafty blows
That wait until we think to pause and sleep,
And find our joy with those we love the best,
Then trap us when we only want to keep
Our family’s comp’ny while we take our rest.
But She provides safe harbor we adore
With goal of peace She’ll fly through every war.

She flies through war, Her goal is endless peace,
Though long the battle raged — the bloody fight
Seemed never to resolve and conflict cease
But Faebor guarded us with all Her might.
Her shield with sharpened edges dripping blood
For though She raised her defense all the while
She knows to use the edge to bring a flood
Of foes down to their knees in blood and bile
Mistake not when She takes the battlefield
With sword and shield She’ll turn the tide of war
For though her draíocht strong results will yield,
She too knows martial ways to even scores
And then as clang of sword on shield will ring
The final blow is Hers — for then She sings.

For at the close of battle when She sings,
We lay down arms — we know the war is done,
Then harken we to hear Her list the things
That happen next now that the conflict’s won.
We hope for peace and She does too we know
For though she is as fierce as raven black
She tires of endless war — the to and fro
That tears asunder hearts — the peace we lack
Is waiting for us when we find the way
At last to free those who have long been bound
And chained in parts unknown, or led astray
And stuck in prisons far beneath the mounds.
On freedom’s wings at last we grasp Her peace,
And in our sheltered space she finds release.

In rest and sheltered space She finds release
For Croí Ccithainbhthenaigh needs a place to heal,
And in Her Dagda’s arms her worries cease
As He provides a sheltered place to feel
The pains She bears for sake of Tuatha dear
And all the barbs and arrows shot to hurt
When those who should know better turn to fear
And hide Her truth — Her nature to subvert
For though Her skill at war is ne’er in doubt
She’s so much more — far fuller than they see
What happens after battle ends in rout,
Is then Her skills and fierce heart can be free
She’ll dance and sing and bound throughout the Rath
In braids of red we’ll see Her happ’ly laugh.

Nine braids of red undone each Samhain night
As at the Ford Her hair She brushes out
And waits for Brúach’s present to ignite
Her body fair — He knows what She’s about
Thus in the gloaming takes the journey long
To find Her way through time’s unfolding truth
As Brogail limns Her borders, passion strong
When bodies writhe Her vision starts to smooth
Completion’s cry is when at last She comes
To know the options set before them all,
And in His arms She finds the best way home
Around them their companions likewise call
And ask Begbeoil to guide them straight ahead
From vision true received in Couple’s Bed.

When Couple’s Bed she visits every year
She finds the future on that joyous night
But prophecy’s not all we need to hear,
Her laughter proves that everything is right
Luchtcoire Lúth knows how with joy to turn
The cauldrons that are vital to our ways
And in Her joy our home-fires start to burn
For She knows well to mix the work and play
With Goibhniu at Her side She finds Her stride,
Together guard the joy of Tuatha dear
And spreads Her satisfaction far and wide
With Hospitality She bids us near
To gather round Her hearth as people free
And celebrate with song and poetry.

Through prophecy and poetry Her might
Will navigate the shifting winds of fate,
Our Treathan Dán knows well just how to fight
And bring to bear the strands of time — the weight
Of what should be will shift the future’s weave
A gath’ring storm to sweep away the webs
Of spider’s bindings from those who believe
Control will triumph — but when fate-storm ebbs
Unbinding through the universe will rush
And all those bound unjustly then will be
Awake and risen, soon to rightly push
For all worlds’ restoration, souls to free
Then universe rejoice as Storm of Fate
Will herald in decisive vict’ry great!

Shall vict’ry great and cherished peace draw near,
Though oft it seems as though ’twill not arrive,
Yet She knows well that is but shadow’s fear
And what a time at last to be alive,
When Cath Maige Tuired ended then She spoke
Of sorrows turned to joy forevermore
Thus in that telling She a future woke
That took the skills of Tuatha to ensure
For Sith Suaimhneas will forge the lasting peace,
She knows the sacrifice that ends the war
An off’ring made — the battle then will cease
Fulfillment of the prophecy before
And with the brilliant outcome of Her plans
Then happ’ly now we praise our Mórrígan!

Thus praise our Sovereign Queen throughout the land,
She is most rightly due for great Renown
Her deeds as num’rous as the grains of sand
On Inis Mór — beyond the things we’ve known,
Recount Her Deeds! Restore what we have lost,
For though the monks did strive to hide Her strength
Her character shines through in beauty most
Admired and praised — let filídh sing at length
Of all Her wondrous glory, let Her shine
And do not spare your tongues, but let them slide
Across Her bravest deeds and beauty fine
With boasts deserved Her greatness never hide
Her craftiness defeated Red Right Hand,
So sing Her praises, well-loved warrior grand!

An Mórrígan, belovéd Ríon grand!
Mere words cannot describe your depth of grace,
You made a Choice unique in all the lands
And changed the fates of all — you made a place
That offered ancient powers space to roam
And live entwined with Tuatha we hold dear
You welcomed us so warmly — made a home
And kept us close as fam’ly, kept us near
You changed the world with Flaitheas truly meant
Before? This story always ends in war
You chose with heart, and with your Tuatha spent
Your lives to find a way to peaceful shore.
Now endless blessings on you, we decree
Forever as the Flame of Sovereignty!

For Sovereignty – She guides us forward now,
She makes the plans and moves the pieces all,
Her heart so strong, and never will She bow,
To foes who try to conquer, try to maul.
Her Tuatha cherished, sheltered ‘neath her wings,
She flies through war, Her goal is endless peace,
For at the close of battle when She sings,
In rest and sheltered space She finds release.
Nine braids of red undone each Samhain night
When Couple’s Bed She visits every year
Thruogh prophecy and poetry Her might
Shall vict’ry great and cherished peace draw near.
Thus praise our Sovereign Queen throughout the land,
An Mórrígan, belovéd Ríon grand!
Dunta.