The Cailleach's Dance
Moving with the Great Hag Goddess
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A Chairde, Friends,
Tá an Chailleach ag teacht… the Cailleach is coming, the old ‘Veiled One’ or ‘witch’ in modern Irish. It may feel a bit early to speak about a goddess of Samhain, of the dark months, but change swirls in the air here in Ireland. This week the forecast is set to dip and with the fresh slap of wind on your face, you can almost hear the Cailleach sing, ‘Táim ag teacht’, ‘I’m coming’.
And sure, the autumn equinox is almost upon us, which heralds our descent into the hag’s realm. Each equinox, many of us are drawn to Sliabh na Calliagh, the ‘Cailleach's Mountain’ at Loughcrew in Co. Meath. There, nestled into the ancient mound of Cairn T—a megalithic temple over five thousand years old—sits the Cailleach’s throne, facing steadfastly northward.
This sacred tomb with its cosmic alignment, captures the equinox sunrise. As dawn breaks, a shaft of sunlight pierces the chamber, illuminating a womby wonder of ancestral art, a dance of carved symbols in stone, light and shadow. This celestial event marks more than the changing seasons; it announces the arrival of the woman, the goddess herself—the Cailleach.
The Cailleach’s Dance
Today, I share a movement practice I created over three years ago, one I invariably find myself returning to at this time of year. In this practice, you’ll invite the image of the Cailleach to rise from the unconscious and into your body. As the Cailleach symbolises eternal wisdom—the bean feasa or ‘wise woman’ archetype—you'll explore through her resonance where wisdom resides in your body today.
I did this practice myself just before crafting this creative ritual for you. In response to sensing where wisdom dwells in my body today, I saw a candle burst into flame at the centre of my heart, prompting me to move my body in ways that amplified my heart centre. It took 10-minutes of my time and has already created a notable energetic shift in my day. 💚
