CAILB The Cailleach Print ~ by Votive Illustration

Votive Illustration - Fine Art Illustrations of Folklore and Mythology
 
"On one foot, and holding up one hand, and breathing one breath she sang.."
 
Cailb - augur, banscál, cailleach figure of the doom filled mythological saga 'Togail Bruidne Dá Derga', an ancient oral tale transcribed in the medieval manuscripts of Old and Middle Irish tradition.
 
Although never named specifically as a Cailleach in the saga, Cailb is described as tall 'as a weaver's beam' and with a 'greyish, wooly mantle' - both motifs used to describe Cuimne, Cailleach an Mhuilinn, and Buí, Cailleach Bheara, respectively
 
She proclaims herself with a chant of evocative, mythical names, and prophesies the demise of those she encounters while standing on one leg with one eye closed and one arm outstretched - a Corrguinecht cursing pose of crane magic
 
Her giant shrouded form, prophetic powers, many names, and specific pose are all tradition dependent motifs that demonstrate her powerful, ancient and otherworldly stature
 
She is no mere old lady - she is Cailb, she is Cailleach, she is Dáirine, she is Nemain, she is Badb

* A3 Archival Ink Print. Supplied on 420 x 594mm (A2) mounted board *