This week we look at Corra, the serpent goddess of the Celts. Corra was a new discovery for me when I visited Western Ireland; she is alternately described as a dragon, demon, “devil mother” or just otherwise monstrous, and her tale involves a battle with St. Patrick in which she swallows him and he has to cut his way out of her. She is then confined to Lough Na Corra, a lake at the bottom of the mountain now called Croagh Patrick. She is usually seen as representing the triumph of Christianity over paganism, as there have never been snakes in Ireland, but there are many more connections at play in this story.
Sources:
Michael Conneely of Starwheel Astrology, who also gives sacred tours of Western Ireland:
https://starwheelastrology.com/Corra stories:
Cheryl Stratton and Lana Jarvis on “Goddess Alive!"
https://goddess-pages.co.uk/galive/issue-28-home/corra-the-serpent-goddess-of-ireland/Emerald Isle storytelling site
https://emeraldisle.ie/the-saint-and-the-dragon