Macha is an Irish war goddess, strongly linked to the land. Several
goddesses or heroines bear Her name, but She is generally thought
of as one aspect of the triple death-goddess the Mórrígan
(the "Great Queen" or "Phantom Queen"), consisting
of Macha "Raven", Badb "Scald Crow" or "Boiling",
and Nemain "Battle Fury". Macha is associated with both
horses and crows.
The Mórrígan is both sex and battle goddess, and
Her personality is usually described as both war-like and alluring.
She is known to be a prophetess: the Washer at the Ford is said to
be one aspect of Her, who appears to those about to die. She is commonly
shown washing bloody clothes at a river ford; when approached, She
tells the enquirer the clothes are theirs. Like the bean sidhe (banshee),
who She is believed related to, She is an omen of death.
As goddess of the land, the Mórrígan are said to
be cognate with Ana or Danu,
and Macha is said to be one of the Tuatha
De Danann.
Three other aspects of Macha feature in Irish folklore, which likely
derive from a common goddess, as they are all said to have a mother
named Ernmas (also considered to be the mother to Eriu, Banba, and
Fódla, sacred names for Ireland). One Macha, a seeress, was
the wife of Nemed "Sacred", who invaded Ireland and fought
the Fomorians in Irish legend. Emain Macha, a bronze-age hill fort
in Northern Ireland, and legendary capital of Ulster, is said to
have been named for Her.
The second Macha, titled Mong Ruadh ("red-haired"), was
a warrior and Queen, who overpowered Her rivals and forced them to
build Emain Macha for Her.
The third Macha, and probably the most well-known, was said to
be the wife of Crunniuc. Like many supernatural lovers, She warns
him to tell no one of Her existence; but he boasts to the king of
Ulster that his wife can outrun the fastest chariot. The king then
seizes the very pregnant Macha and forces Her to run a race, against
Her protests. In spite of this, she does win, and as she crosses
the finish line she gives birth. In her dying pain and anger She
curses the men of Ulster to nine times nine generations, that in
their time of worst peril they should suffer the pain of childbirth.
This card in a reading indicates an omen of change, as the wheel
turns to a period of both darkness and fruitfulness.
