Celtic Warrior Women
Cry havoc and let slip the goddesses of war...
The Celtic Amazon
Scáthach (pronounced SKAH-hakh), whose name means “The Shadowy One” or “The One Who Strikes Fear,” is a legendary warrior queen and teacher of warriors in Celtic mythology. She lived in Scotland on the Isle of Skye in her fortress, Dunscaith Castle, where she trained heroes in martial arts, including spear combat.
In addition to combat training, she was considered a prophetess, a sorceress, and in some tales, a guide for the souls of warriors who died in battle, like a Celtic take on the Valkyries, the Norse death maidens who haunted the battlefields and shepherded the souls of the most valiant warriors killed in battle to Valhalla, where they lived out eternity drinking and feasting—surrounded, one assumes, by badass viking women.
In some stories Scáthach was portrayed as a rival to another legendary warrior woman, her sister Aífe.
Celtic mythology is chock full of badass warrior women. The rival sisters mentioned above were part of the Ulster Cycle, a body of Irish medieval legends featuring heroes and mythical kings set in what is now Ulster in northern Ireland, and Leinster in the east.
The Morrigan
The most famous of all the Irish war goddesses is actually a triple goddess called The Morrígan, also known as the “Phantom Queen” or “Great Queen.” She is a shapeshifting war goddess, associated with fate, prophecies, birth, death, sorcery and sovereignty over lands and livestock.
She is usually characterized as a trio of sisters named Badb, Macha and Nemain. Each aspect of the triad represents different facets of war and fate. Badb is associated with prophecy and can take the form of a carrion crow, foretelling death on the battlefield.
Macha is linked to sovereignty and may appear as a crow or a raven, and is considered a formidable protector of her people. Nemain is often associated with frenzy and panic in battle.
In her shapeshifting capacity, the Morrígan can take the form of a beautiful young woman, various animals, or warriors on the field of combat, but most often she appears as a crow, surveying the battle from above and predicting the violent deaths of her enemies.
Real Life Warrior Women
Perhaps it isn’t surprising that such formidable female figures exist in Celtic mythology, given the history of the regions that spawned these legends. In real life, famous Celtic female warriors include historical figures like Boudica, who led a massive uprising against Roman occupation in 60 AD.
Her rebel army was made up of around 120,000, and they killed an estimated 80,000 Romans and Britons, taking no prisoners as they fought against the invaders. After their eventual defeat, Boudica poisoned herself so as not to fall into the hands of her enemies.
Another is Princess Gwenllian ferch Gruffudd, a 12th century Welsh rebel who raised an army against the Norman invaders and was killed in battle, her death inspiring others to rise up in revolt.
And let’s not forget Grace O’Malley, the 16th century “Pirate Queen of Connacht,” who commanded three ships and two hundred men, plundering English ships on the high seas. She was so prolific that Queen Elizabeth I put a bounty on her head and considered sending the royal fleet against her.
She was captured in 1577, but after being released as part of a prisoner exchange, went back to a life of piracy, and ultimately became a privateer, committing legal piracy under the banner of the English flag.
Aries Season
April is of course Aries season, and this year there is a pileup of planets in Aries, not just the sun, which visits the fiery sign from March 20 to April 19 every year. This April, we’ll have the Sun, Mercury, Mars, Saturn, Neptune, and Chiron all in the sign of Aries. On the 17th, the new moon in Aries brings the count to seven.
So it’s only fitting that we celebrate some of the fiercest female fighters of myth and legend, who embody the fiery spirit of rebellion and the strength and skills required for battle. All of these are symbolized by the Mars-ruled energy of Aries.
For most of us, these martial qualities are metaphorical, such is the luxury of modern life. But we can all appreciate the discipline and dedication of the battle-ready warrior, and the selflessness of those who put their lives on the line to defend their people, their freedom, and their way of life.
War has always been a part of the human story, and women have traditionally fared very badly in times of war, bearing the burden of loss and grief, and rarely experiencing any of the glory.
But Aries is also the sign of the martial artist, the firefighter, the athlete, and the daredevil performing stunts and breaking records in sports like free climbing and deep sea diving. Aries women are also highly represented in stand-up comedy, who make their living doing something that is the stuff of nightmares for most normal people.
The lesson of Aries season is not “be fearless” because if you feel no fear, there’s no bravery in taking action. Face your fears, risk failure or ridicule, trust your training, and take the leap.
Buckle up, everyone. This April is shaping up to be a fiery one.