Research for Final Show

After looking at the mind map for Identity Parade, I have decided to look at religion. I had a look at those mentioned on the first mind map and chose to do Paganism, as it is a religion that consists of many different religions and beliefs, giving me lots to look at and research.

Within this mind map I have looked into some general beliefs and practises, and also religions such as Celtic and Norse, which withheld Pagan beliefs.

What strikes me most from looking further into Paganism is the belief into the ‘Divine’, which is seen as the Gods or spirit beings, and the way in which they worship them. In historic Paganism, sacrifice was a common practise, where they would burn the offerings to give something back to the Divine, and to also strengthen their bond with it. All of these beliefs have come from the middle ages, medieval and the Iron Age, giving me the freedom to look at the arts and culture around that time.

My research into paganism whilst creating this mind map, naturally led me to look more into Celtic Paganism. I am particularly interested in their Gods, as they were a strong focal point in the Celtic culture. Upon research on Celtic Gods, I came across this triple deity of war:

Holy Trinity/Triple Deity

‘Morrigan’ by David Gillet, 2012. (Gillet, 2012)

Morrigan

• ·      Morrigan is a Goddess of War and fertility. She appears as both a single Goddess and a trio of Goddesses, creating a Holy Trinity of War.
• ·      She is a shape changer. She is often seen as a hag, a crow, eel, wolf or a cow. (EncylopediaMythica, 2013)

Badb

• ·      Badb is a part of the Holy Trinity Morrigan
• ·      Another Goddess of War
• ·      Appears as a Crow
• ·      Caused fear and confusion in battle to move the flow to her favoured side
• ·      Appears prior to battle
• ·      Predicts the death of a notable person

Macha

• ·      Third member of the Holy Trinity Morrigan
• ·      Goddess of War, Horses, Sovereignty
• ·      Feeds on the heads of slain enemies (Godchecker, 2013)

All three Goddesses have imagery of crows, death and magic. I am really interested in pursuing these ideas to create an image of a strong, formidable Goddess.

EncylopediaMythica. (2013). Morrigan. [Online]. Available at: http://www.pantheon.org/articles/m/morrigan.html [Accessed: 16 March 2014].

Gillet, D. (2012). Celtic Mythology. [Online]. Available at: http://ipowder.tumblr.com/post/27996577431/morrigan-by-davidgaillet-in-celtic-mythology [Accessed: 16 March 2014].

Godchecker. (2013). MORRIGAN: the Goddess of War from Celtic mythology. Godchecker: Your Guide to the Gods. [Online]. Available at: http://www.godchecker.com/pantheon/celtic-mythology.php?deity=MORRIGAN [Accessed: 16 March 2014].