The Cailleach

The Cailleach is a divine hag, creator deity, weather deity, and ancestor deity. In modern Scottish folklore studies, she is also known as Beira, Queen of Winter. She rules the winter, while Brigid rules the summer. Her name is pronounced coyluck, but also like you're clearing your throat. When I painted The Cailleach as part of a Goddess painting challenge, at the beginning of my painting journey, that was about all I knew about her. I painted her in blue with white and silver - winter colors, in contrast to Sunna, who I had painted in yellow two days early. I added ski tracks.

The Cailleach, original painting by Echoing Multiverse. Available via Saatchi Art. Stickers, greeting cards, and other merch available through RedBubble or Fine Art America.

Since the original Goddess painting challenge, I have discovered some excellent sources for more detailed information, including Barbara G. Walker's very well researched Women's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets. There, she writes that Caillech is an "Old Celtic name for Kali-the-Crone, the Great Goddess in her Destroyer aspect. Like Kali, the Cailleach was a black Mother who founded many races of people and outlived many husbands. She was also a creatress. She made the world, building mountain ranges of stones that dropped from her apron."

She continues, "Scotland was once called Caledonia: the land given by Kali, or Cale, or the Cailleach. 'Scotland' came from Scotia, the same Goddess, known to Romans as a 'dark Aphrodite'; to Celts as Scatha or Scyth; and to Scandinavians as Skadi." I confirmed that the Romans called the land north of Hadrian's wall Caledonia, after the people who lived there. I also confirmed that Skadi is indeed the Norse Goddess of skiing.

In addition to being the creator and the Goddess of Winter, Walker also writes that she controlled disease and healing. "Like the Hindus' destroying Kalika, the Caillech was known as a spirit of disease. One manifestation of her was a famous idol of carved and painted wood, kept by an old family in County Cork, and described as the Goddess of Smallpox. As diseased persons in India sacrificed to the appropriate incarnation of the Kalika, so in Ireland those afflicted by smallpox sacrificed sheep to this image. It can hardly be doubted that Kalika and Caillech were the same word." Walker referenced a Celtic Myths book for this story. I requested it from the library. I want to know more.

And Walker has found even more: "In medieval legend the Cailleach became the Black Queen who ruled a western paradise in the Indies, where men were used in Amazonian fashion for breeding purposes only, then slain. Spaniards called her Califia, whose territory was rich in gold, silver, and gems. Spanish explorers later gave her name to their newly discovered paradise on the Pacific shore of North America, which is how the state of California came to be named after Kali."

Detail of mural titled "California's Name" depicting Queen Calafia. Originally located in the California Capitol building. Since moved to the State Senate. Painted by Lucile Lloyd in 1937.

A more complete view of the mural. This is amazing.

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Asherah

An inscription from Khirbet El-Qôm (near Jerusalem) dated to the 700s BCE and translated by archaeologist Judith Hadley reads, "Uriyahu the Rich wrote it. Blessed be Uriyahu by Yahweh for from his enemies by his Asherah he has saved him by Oniyahu by his Asherah and by his A[she]rah.” ( Source ) Asherah was the Great Goddess of the Ancient Near East. From this inscription and other evidence, it is surmised that Yahweh, the God of the Jews, once had a wife - Asherah. Asherah was also sometimes known as Astarte and was associated with lions and the planet Venus, like her relative, Ishtar/Inanna. Asherah's symbol was the tree of life, and her worship involved sacred groves and asherah poles. Asherah original painting available through Saatchi Art . Stickers, prints, and other merch available in shop or through RedBubble or Fine Art America. All of the Asherahs in my painting are based on figurines housed in the Isra...

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Nuwa is the great mother goddess of Chinese mythology, credited with creating humanity. She molded the first people out of clay by hand. Then she got tired, dipped a rope in the mud, and swung it around her head to make more. Thus were made the nobles and the peasantry. She has the body of a serpent. Nuwa, original painting by Echoing Multiverse. Available via Saatchi Art .

Hannahanna

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Echoing Multiverse

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