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The Call of the Morrigan in 2025

The Call of the Morrigan in 2025

Last updated on: November 5, 2025 at 3:00 am by John Beckett

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The Call of the Morrigan in 2025 2025-11-03T18:40:31-06:00 John Beckett

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I was the leader for this year’s Denton CUUPS Samhain ritual. When I started thinking about what should be in it, I heard a familiar voice: the Morrigan wanted it. She had something to say and she wanted us to put people in a place where they could hear it.

I’ve been writing about – and for – the Morrigan for over a decade. She’s the Irish Goddess of sovereignty, of battle, and of the aftermath of battle. She’s one of the most active deities of our time.

The Call of the Morrigan (2013)

The Call of the Morrigan is Louder and More Urgent (2017)

An Oath to the Morrigan (2017)

When You Hear The Call of The Morrigan (2017)

Rathcroghan and the Cave of the Morrigan (2018)

In a recent Instagram reel, Courtney Weber – author of The Morrigan: Celtic Goddess of Magick and Might – said “the Morrigan is not coming to save us.” Those are familiar words. She’s always been very clear to me that reclaiming your sovereignty is something each of us has to do for ourselves, and that we have to do together for our communities. Earlier this year I heard her say “Lugh isn’t coming to slay Balor.”

If you’re waiting on a savior – politically, socially, financially, spiritually – you’re going to be waiting a long time. And you’re going to be losing time – time you could be spending making things better (or at least, more tolerable) for yourself and your community.

When I went into meditation to actively listen for and to the Morrigan about our Samhain ritual, there were four key concepts she wanted us to convey. I turned those concepts into a script. Denton CUUPS Coordinating Officer Cynthia Talbot edited the script and made several important suggestions.

[I’m a good ritualist. Cyn is a good ritualist. When we work together, the output is always far more than good. If you’re writing a ritual, find a good editor – someone who will provide not just gentle feedback, but who will challenge the weaknesses and offer helpful alternatives.]

I cannot accurately convey what it was like to be in that ritual. You had to be there to watch and listen and speak and move and participate. But I can share some of our words. I can share the Call of the Morrigan not for ancient Ireland or even for 2010 America, but for us here and now.

After our usual invocations, meditations, and offerings, this was our main working.

Sovereignty

The Morrigan is a Goddess of Sovereignty.

Sovereignty is the right to rule and the responsibility to rule rightly. When kings rule well, Sovereignty is pleased and the land and the people prosper. When kings rule poorly, Sovereignty withdraws her blessing and the land and the people suffer. What is true of nations is true of us as individuals. Who rules your life? Do they rule well?

The Morrigan calls us to reclaim our sovereignty: to live our lives the way we’re called to live them and the way we choose to live them, and not as politicians, preachers, and advertisers tell us we must live them.

Will you reclaim your sovereignty? Will you live your life your way, in virtue and in honor? If you will, proclaim it loudly.

“I will!”

Strategy

The Morrigan is a Goddess of Strategy.

History is full of kings and ordinary people who rushed to war in anger and pride but without a plan. Most were soundly defeated. When the Tuatha De Danann decided to overthrow their oppressors, they spent a full year planning and preparing.

The Morrigan calls us to form a strategy: to set a goal, to determine the best way to achieve it, to gather materials and supplies, to practice and train, and to prepare for victory. She calls us to deal with the world as it is, and not as we wish it was and not as we fear it might be.

Will you align your plans and actions with your goals, and with the environment in which we work? Will you move with intent and purpose? If you will, proclaim it loudly.

“I will!”

Magic

The Morrigan is a Goddess of Magic.

Though the Morrigan is often depicted with swords and spears, in the lore she almost always fights with magic: with shapeshifting, and with curses and imprecations. In our time, some magic is intended to refine the soul, but other magic – especially the magic of witchcraft – belongs to those denied access to ordinary forms of power. Magic is not a gift. It is a craft. And like all crafts it requires practice.

The Morrigan calls us to practice effective magic: to learn the power of stones and herbs, the power of the sun and the moon, the stars and the planets; the power of the symbol, the power of the voice, and the power of the will.

Will you practice your craft diligently? Will you create change in conformance with your will? If you will, proclaim it loudly.

“I will!”

Battle

The Morrigan is a Goddess of Battle.

When the Tuatha De Dannan were oppressed, it was the Morrigan who said “let us undertake a battle of overthrowing.” Oppressors rarely give up their power over the oppressed, and the days when Gandhi could shame the British Empire into doing the right thing are gone. What we will gain, we will gain by fighting: politically, legally, artistically, magically, and when we have no other choice, physically.

The Morrigan calls us to fight the battles in front of us: for our freedom and dignity, for our home and our community, for the Earth and all the creatures with whom we share it.

Will you fight the battles in front of you? Will you defeat those who would declare themselves your masters? Will you fight until peace is won? If you will, proclaim it loudly.

“I will!”

The Commitment

Sovereignty and strategy, magic and battle – will you answer the Call of the Morrigan?

“I will!”

Will you answer the Call of the Morrigan?

“I will!”

Will you answer the Call of the Morrigan?

“I will!”

And so it is.

The Peace Prophecy

After the Tuatha De Danann defeated the Fomorians at the Battle of Magh Tuireadh, the Morrigan pronounced this blessing:

Sky to earth.
Earth below sky,
strength in each one,
a cup overfull,
filled with honey,
sufficiency of renown.
Summer in winter,
spears supported by warriors,
warriors supported by forts.
Forts fiercely strong;
banished are sad outcries
land of sheep
healthy under antler-points
destructive battle cries held back.
Crops [masts] on trees
a branch resting
resting with produce
sufficiency of sons
a son under patronage
on the neck of a bull
a bull of magical poetry
knots in trees
trees for fire.
Fire when wished for.
Wished for earth
getting a boast
proclaiming of borders
Borders declaring prosperity
green-growth after spring
autumn increase of horses
a troop for the land
land that goes in strength and abundance.
Be it a strong, beautiful wood, long-lasting a great boundary
‘Have you a story?’
Peace to sky
be it so lasting to the ninth generation

Translation by Morgan Daimler

A Call to Review

Sovereignty and strategy, magic and battle: you have answered the Call of the Morrigan.

You have danced her dance, and you have drunk her wine.

Before we open our circle, take a moment to think about the commitments you have made: to the Morrigan, to your community, and especially to yourself.

Like most deities, the Morrigan is not a vengeful Goddess. Those who abandon their commitments are rarely cursed. They are simply… forgotten.

And they miss the opportunity of a lifetime.

Will you keep the commitments you have made tonight?

“I will!”

And so it is. And was. And will be.

Moving forward

The Morrigan is not coming to save us. No one is coming to save us. But if we live by her values and if we embody her virtues, we can save ourselves.

We closed with these words:

We have heard the Call of the Morrigan, and we have answered. We know the way forward will not be easy, but we choose sovereignty, strategy, magic, and battle. We will do what must be done, and we will not fail.

Hail Morrigan!

Happy Samhain.

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