Macha
Macha is a name shared by several early Irish figures: the wife of Nemed, buried at Armagh (Ard Mhacha); Macha Mong Ruad, daughter of Áed Rúad and the only woman in the list of Tara's kings, who laid out Emain Macha with her neck-brooch.
The name covers distinct figures that medieval sources do not fully distinguish, and collapsing them into one sovereignty goddess is a scholarly and devotional synthesis rather than a single attested deity; the sovereignty-goddess reading (Mac Cana, Green) is an interpretation of the material, and there was no cult of Macha. The Moon, Mars and Saturn, the elements, zodiac, tarot, weekdays and sabbats are modern Hermetic and Wiccan overlays.
Correspondences
- Planetary Correspondence
- Moon
- Zodiac Affinity
- TaurusSagittariusCapricorn
Offerings
- Offerings
- OatsAleBreadA race run in good faithHonour given to a woman who rules
Sacred timing
- Sacred Timing
Symbols and forms
- Alternate Names
- Macha Mong RuadMacha MongruadMacha of EmainMacha the Red-Maned
- Gender Expression
- Feminine
- Titles
- The Sun of WomanfolkQueen of Emain MachaHorse-LadyBringer of the Pangs
- Symbols
- BroochHorseTwin coltsEmain macha
Practice
- Invocation Approach
- ToneProud and ungentleAddressMachaQueen of EmainSun of WomanfolkRelationshipThe land that answers contempt with a curseWarningMock her claim and the debility falls on the peopleResonanceThose who hold sovereignty those who keep horses and fairs
- Modern Practice
Called on in sovereignty and kingship work, at horse fairs and at Lughnasadh, and by those who will not accept contempt for a claim they have the right to make. The curse is worked with as the reminder that land and people answer mistreatment in kind.
Nature and meaning
- Domain
- SovereigntyThe landHorsesChildbirthKingshipWarThe raceThe curse
- Mythology Summary
Macha is a name shared by several early Irish figures: the wife of Nemed, buried at Armagh (Ard Mhacha); Macha Mong Ruad, daughter of Áed Rúad and the only woman in the list of Tara's kings, who laid out Emain Macha with her neck-brooch; and the Macha of Noínden Ulad, the farmer Cruinniuc's wife, forced by the king of Ulster to race his horses while pregnant. She wins, gives birth to twins, and curses the men of Ulster to be as weak as a woman in labour in their hour of need. The Dindshenchas calls her 'the Sun of Womanfolk' and names her among the Morrígna.
- Related Deities
- The MorriganThe DagdaRhiannonBrigidDanu
Details
- Correspondences
- ColorsRedBrownBlackScentsCedarMugwortApple blossomMetalsBronzeIronGoldAnimalsHorseCrowMare
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Referenced by 4
Every entry that names Macha, grouped by the system it comes from.
☥ Deities 4
- Medb Related Deities
- Fergus mac Róich Related Deities
- Cú Chulainn Related Deities
- Deirdre Related Deities
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