Book excerpt: "The Morrigan is Pagan Ireland's dark goddess. Her name is translated as "phantom queen" or "great queen." The Morrigan is a goddess of war and sexuality, witchcraft and death, protection and retribution. This goddess of justice is classified among the Sidhe-Ireland's fairies-but she may have a mermaid incarnation, as well. The Morrigan dates back at least to Ireland's Iron Age, but she is as modern as she is ancient. With the possible exception of the witch goddess Hekate, the Morrigan is currently the most popular Pagan goddess. This book provides a guide to this complex, mysterious goddess that encompasses practical veneration with modern devotionals, entwined with traditional lore and Irish-Celtic history"--