The Irish Celtic Goddess Macha (MAH-KA) is special to me for she gave me aide in discovering my Magickal name. Macha hails from the Celtic Pantheon of the Irish (particularly the province of Ulster) and Scotish Faerie traditions. Several figures called Macha appear in Irish mythology and folklore (four to be precise), all believed to derive from the same goddess. In the Dindsenchas Macha is called Grian Banchure, the or "Sun of Womanfolk" and is referred to as the daughter of Midir of Brí Léith. She is said to be one of three sisters known as 'the three Morrígna'. Like other sovereignty goddesses, Macha is associated with the land, fertility, kingship, war, Ravens and horses. Macha is named as the wife of Nemed as well, son of Agnoman, or alternately as the wife of Crund, son of Agnoman, which may indicate an identity of Nemed with Crund. Macha is also named as the daughter of Midir and Aed the Red ( another name for the God... The Dagda) also said to be a daughter of Ernmas (or Emmas) of the Tuatha Dé Danann, together with her sisters, "Badb and Morrigu, whose name was Anand (Anu or Aine)" The three (with varying names) are often considered a triple goddess associated with war.O'Mulconry's Glossary, a thirteenth-century compilation of glosses from medieval manuscripts preserved in the Yellow Book of Lecan, describes Macha as "one of the three morrígna" (the plural of Morrígan), and says the term Mesrad Machae, "the mast of Macha", refers to "the heads of men that have been slaughtered". A version of the same gloss in MS H.3.18 identifies Macha with Badb, calling the trio "raven women" who instigate battle.

Macha, daughter of Sainrith mac Imbaith, was the wife of Cruinniuc, an Ulster farmer. Some time after the death of Cruinniuc's first wife, Macha appears at his house. Without speaking, she begins keeping the house and acting as his wife. Soon she becomes pregnant by him. As long as they were together Cruinniuc's wealth grew. When he leaves to attend a festival organised by the king of Ulster, she warns him that she will only stay with him so long as he does not speak of her to anyone, and he promises to say nothing. However, during a chariot race, he boasts that his wife can run faster than the king's horses. The king orders Cruinniuc be held on pain of death unless he can make good on his claim. Although she is heavily pregnant, Macha is brought to the gathering and the king forces her to race the horses. She wins the race, but then cries out in pain as she gives birth to twins on the finish line; a boy named Fír ("True") and a girl named Fial ("Modest").For disrespecting and humiliating her, she curses the men of Ulster to be overcome with weakness—as weak "as a woman in childbirth"—at the time of their greatest need. This weakness would last for five days and the curse would last for nine generations. Thereafter, the place where Macha gave birth would be called Emain Macha, or "Macha's twins"

Sabbats: Litha, Beltane and Lammas. Moon phase: Full or Waxing Sun phase: midday, summer Colors:Red, brown, grey and black Stones/Gems: Red Garnet, clear quartz and citrine Welsh Counterpart Rhiannon Herbs and Botanicals: Vervain, Oats, coltsfoot and meadowsweet, Acorns, the Oak Leaf and Tree Animal totems: Raven/Crow, Horse or Colt Offerings:how to honor Macha, horseback riding and grooming, watch a horse Movie such as Black Stallion The Horse Whisperer and so forth, paint draw or carve a horse or Raven in her name, run a marathon or other race in her honor leave an offering of Acorns,meadosweet herbs and sweet grass in an open meadow or field,, work out run or jog while listening to music about horses. Donate to or volunteer at a horse shelter or farm, Aspect: Tri Fold Goddess of Power, Sun Goddess, Goddess of fertility and the land, Goddess of ravens/crows,horses, racing competetion and war. I have worked with the Tri Fold Goddess known as The Morrigan and all her varied emanations and The Tuatha De Dannan for going on a decade now and Macha was the first to appear to me and is a revered guide of mine. She is wise kind yet stern nurturing and loves a good race! "Hail Macha!"

"Macha who diffused all excellences...

The Sun of womankind."- Edward Gwynn The Metrical Dindshenchas ~RavenwinD~