Feeling the Power of the Celtic Goddess Danu!
Danu is the one of the most important Celtic goddesses, yet little is known about her.
Many years ago, when I started exploring my Irish heritage, I began to feel a strong connection with the Celtic goddess Danu. However, it wasn’t until I was in a mask-making workshop that I really got a clear sense of who she is.
Before we started creating our masks, we were instructed to take a shamanic journey to meet the god or goddess we wanted to portray. I was actually quite surprised when the face of Danu appeared before me very clearly – and it was blue! At first her eyes were closed, but when she opened her eyes I was blasted with a brilliant burst of light.
Having never read a description of her appearance, I had no idea what to expect. But after that experience I did some research and found some old descriptions that included both her blue face and her brilliant starburst eyes. Good validation that she had really shown me her face! One of her names is “Divine Waters,” so the blue color makes sense.
Once completed, we wore our masks and aspected the god or goddess it depicted to get a deeper experience of them.
Note: Aspecting is energetically stepping into another being and looking out through their eyes. It is important to set an intention for how much you want to be integrated with that being and for how long, since many of these gods and goddesses have very powerful energy that can be overwhelming. It is also important to have a human guide with you to watch over you while you are aspecting, because you will probably be walking around in a trance state.
Meet Danu!
Danu is the mother goddess of the Tuatha Dé Danaan (meaning tribe of Danu). The Tuatha are a group of deities (also known as faeries or Sidhe) in Irish mythology who ruled over ancient Ireland – including Brigid, Lugh and the Dagda. Legends tell us that they eventually moved into the hollow hills (also called Sidhe – pronounced “shee”) where they still live today.
She is associated with the land, fertility, abundance, and wisdom. Danu is also known as Anu, which means “the abundance of the earth.”
According to Irish mythology, Danu gave birth to the first human man, Bres, who later became king of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
She is also said to have given birth to the Morrigan, a triple goddess who is associated with war, death, and fate. The three aspects of the Morrigan are: Badb the Crow, Macha the Great Queen, and Nemain the Hag.
What Does Danu Look Like?
Of course, being a non-physical goddess, Danu can take on any appearance she chooses, but she is often depicted as a beautiful, mature woman with flowing golden hair and a serene expression. She is usually shown wearing a long, flowing robe of blue or red and she carries a wand or scepter. Her symbol is the river, which represents the flow of life and abundance.
In Celtic culture, Danu was revered as a powerful and benevolent goddess who can bestow blessings and protection on her followers. Her name is associated with many places, such as the River Danube that flows through 10 countries in Europe and the River Don in Scotland.
To recognize Danu, look for symbols associated with her, such as the river, the wand and the triple goddess. She appreciates offerings such as flowers, fruits, or plant milks (please avoid dairy products, due to animal welfare and environmental concerns – not the sort of energy you want to offer to a goddess!) as a sign of respect and gratitude.
Of course, once I met Danu I had to try to paint her. It was a real challenge to capture the brilliance of her eyes with paint, but I feel like her essence shines through. I wanted to convey both the watery aspect of her being and her connection with Earth.
It was one of the few paintings I did during my oil painting phase. I’ve since returned to painting with acrylics, because of their fast drying times – plus they don’t smell! Since I paint with many layers, the drying time makes a big difference!
The painting is called Danu’s Doorway.
Go here to view a bigger image, or to order a print – https://bernadette-wulf.pixels.com/featured/danus-doorway-bernadette-wulf.html
Want to learn more about Danu?
Check out these references:
- MacKillop, James. “Danu.” A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology. Oxford University Press, 2004.
- Monaghan, Patricia. The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore. Infobase Publishing, 2004.
- Sjoestedt, Marie-Louise. Celtic Gods and Heroes. Dover Publications, 2000.
- Danu, Guiding Light of Faehallows School of Magic: https://www.celticmysteryschool.com/about-magic-school/
New Earth Ambassador — Faery Emissary
Sharing Health, Wealth & Faery Magic to Uplift the World!
What I love best is activating the New Earth reality — a reality of harmony, cooperation and prosperity for all. I call it the New Camelot!
When I discovered how to move beyond the challenges of living in the 3D Matrix, I realized I had found something far more valuable than money or worldly success.
Since then I’ve been creating courses, workshops and blog posts to support people like you in your quest for vibrant health, abundant wealth and the uplifting magic of the faery realm.
I am passionate about protecting Nature, teaching people about healthy whole plant foods, artistic creativity, connecting with the faery realm, Celtic and Arthurian lore, writing, painting, family and gardening.