The Morrigan: Balefire Banshee

The central character finds another shapeshifter: The Morrigan, the Irish War Goddess.

The character passes through the protective circle or womb that is guarded by the Morrigan and two Dearg-a-daols.

Artist’s Insight

The Morrigan can shapeshift in and out of many forms and through many names. Historically, she shifts into a sister goddess trinity, a maiden, a hag, a crow, and/or a raven. She is called War Goddess, Goddess of Sovereignty, Phantom Queen, Protector of Birthing Mothers, Prophesier, and Guardian over the threshold of life and death.

In this composition there are two faces of the Morrigan. One is cropped, with white hair and face, creating a spirit of watching and guiding. This is light in value to contrast the dark shapes below. For balance, I finished her face with touches of orange and green.

Down the bridge of the Morrigan’s face is the faint orange figure of a second Morrigan. She is not intended to be seen right off. In fact, it also works for her not be noticed at all. Noticed or not, she conceptually represents a constant power.

The remaining shapes and forms that are black, green, and orange abstractly define the silhouette of the orange Morrigan’s body.

The horizontal U shapes are abstract forms of raven heads, one looking left and one looking right, symbolizing one of the identities of the Morrigan.