I adore The Cailleach. She connects me to my Celtic roots, and always welcomes the weary traveler, offering shelter from the winter's storms.
The Cailleach[i]is an expression of The Crone, a healing spirit that offers respite along the journey through the cave. There are stories regaling The Cailleach as the eternal wise woman healer. Sometimes denigrated as a mean-spirited hag, The Cailleach of various locations, such as the Cailleach Béara (Cally Berra)[ii], were Goddesses of Winter to ancient Celts. The importance of place is central to the tales of The Cailleach, where she typically be based in a specific location, such as Béara. Being linked to places signifies how deeply she is connected to the land and its people. She is of the earth itself. This connection of place also speaks to her message of reconnecting to the land, of treating the earth well so that we can be nourished.
[i] Sorita d'Este and David Rankine. Visions of the Cailleach: Exploring the Myths, Folklore and Legends of the pre-eminent Celtic Hag Goddess (2009).
[ii] Leanne O'Sullivan. Cailleach: The Hag of Beara (2009)
