Cailleach: Ancient Celtic Goddess

Cailleach: ( pronounced "kye-luhkh" ) Celtic Goddess

Loosely translated into more modern Gaelic and then English, Cailleach means "old wife," although some say that in the older Gaelic her name meant "one who is veiled". This seems to refer to one of her aspects as a dark goddess~one who can see within the worlds of both the living and the dead.

Of the Celtic goddesses, Cailleach is thought of as the strongest of the goddesses. Her time begins on Samhain, when she leaves the mountains and begins her walk across the lands bringing the winter storms, snow, and death. Other interesting accounts say that She rides on the back of a wolf and carries a wand covered with human skin, (some say made from human skin), used to strike down any growth. This wand ( at times referred to as "rod" or "staff" ) is said to made from either willow or birch and gives Cailleach powers over the weather and storms of winter. But dear Cailleach is not all-destruction and fear. She is also worshiped as a protector and steward of wild animals, (in particular, reindeer and wolves). It is also said that She is the guardian of wells and streams, a fishing Goddess and hunting Goddess. There are stories of hunters and their encounters with Cailleach.

Cailleachs' goddess form, well, she is known as the "Crone of the Celts". It is also said that within various incarnations some of her other names were known as; Blue Hag, Owl Goddess, Boar Goddess and Blue Crone Goddess. It is thought that the blue colour association is due to Cailleachs' time beginning at Samhain, in that she brings forth the bitter cold of winter. Other depictions of Cailleach speak of her as an old hag with boar's tusks protruding from a blue mouth. Another casts her image as one-eyed and blue-faced, with the size of a giantress.

There is a rich and abundant amount of old Celtic tales and lore of Cailleach, at times also refered to as The Cailleach Bheur. If you happen to be following some form of Celtic beliefs, I would respectively suggest that you dig deep into the mysteries and powers of Cailleach. She is after all, one of the True Ancients. And even if you are not within a Celtic pagan path of sorts, polytheistic knowledge of many different Gods and Goddesses is always, "food" for the inner spirit.