Celtic Pantheon: Maeve

taMaeve (also spelled Medb or Meadhbh) is the legendary Queen of Connacht in Irish mythology and a powerful goddess of sovereignty, war, sexuality, and intoxicating power. Her name means “the intoxicating one,” a title that captures both her commanding charisma and her associations with mead—the drink of kingship and divine union.

In the Táin Bó Cúailnge (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), Maeve is fierce and cunning, leading armies, claiming lovers, and ruling in her own right. She embodies the untamed feminine force that demands equality and commands respect. Yet beyond the battlefield, Maeve is also a goddess of fertility, pleasure, abundance, and personal sovereignty, reminding us that true power lies in self-possession and passion.

Symbols & Colors

• Colors: Deep red (desire, blood, passion), royal purple (sovereignty, nobility), gold (abundance, authority), dark green (earthly vitality)

• Symbols: Crown, mead cup, bull, sword, apple, cauldron

• Animals: Bull, horse, raven, hare

• Plants/Herbs: Apple blossoms, heather, nettle, yarrow, rowan, rose

• Sacred Associations: Sovereignty rites, sacred kingship, intoxicating power, cycles of fertility and victory

Crystals & Stones

Maeve’s energy is fiery, magnetic, and empowering:

• Garnet – passion, courage, sensual vitality

• Ruby – leadership, heart power, regal energy

• Carnelian – motivation, sexuality, confidence

• Bloodstone – strength, endurance, queenly resilience

• Red Jasper – grounding, empowerment, life-force connection

• Goldstone – charisma, attraction, self-confidence

Rituals & Offerings

• Sovereignty Rituals: Stand barefoot upon the earth and affirm your authority; pour out a libation of mead, wine, or honey.

• Confidence Workings: Light a red or gold candle and invoke Maeve when reclaiming your power or sensuality.

• Leadership Ceremonies: Call upon her before taking charge or defending your boundaries; she empowers assertiveness balanced with grace.

• Offerings: Red wine, mead, honey, roses, apples, gold jewelry, or symbols of strength such as bull figures or crowns.

• Fertility & Passion Rites: Use rose petals, carnelian, and music to open the senses and celebrate embodiment.

Metaphysical Work with Maeve

• Sovereignty & Self-Empowerment: Invoke Maeve to stand in your full authority and claim your throne—literal or metaphorical.

• Passion & Pleasure: She encourages the embrace of desire without shame; her power flows through sensual experience and creativity.

• Leadership & Courage: Work with Maeve when stepping into commanding roles, defending your worth, or asserting boundaries.

• Balance of Power: She teaches that rulership requires wisdom and heart as much as strength.

• Shadow & Ego Integration: Maeve helps us face ambition and desire with honesty, transforming excess into purposeful power.

Invocation Example

"Maeve of the Mead Cup, Queen of Flame,
Ruler of hearts, commander of will,
Grant me courage to stand in my power,
To lead, to love, and to live unbound."