Danu

Danu Consulting embodies the spirit of the Celtic mother goddess Danu, a figure revered for her association with life, abundance, and the flowing waters that nourish the land. Just as Danu represents the source of creation and resilience, Danu Consulting is dedicated to fostering regenerative and efficient urban development solutions that nurture communities and ensure long-term sustainability. Our name reflects our commitment to creating resilient systems that adapt and thrive, mirroring the enduring power and life-giving essence of the goddess Danu.

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For the history pedants, there’s a longer story. Not appearing in surviving myths in her own right, Danu is reconstructed from the Irish pantheon, Tuatha De Dannan, which means the People of Danu. Or…

• Maybe Danu is a contraction of di Anu, meaning goddess Anu, which could be a different goddess, or an alias. Either way, she’s the mother goddess. Kind of like Gaia, but without the associated cliché. Confusingly, Anu is also known as Ana, Anann, or Anand, and Anand is AKA The Morrígan, who encourages brave deeds, which will be needed in the coming post-growth world. So that also works!

(OK, strictly, the Morrígan is a bit of a war bird, but let’s focus on the positives!)

• Danu might come from the Old Irish, dán, referring to an artisanal skill. And we’ll need lots of those as things go to custard, so that works, too!

• Danu might be the Vedic water goddess of the same name, who is remembered in the rivers Danube and Don. The theory here is that Danu gave rise to the other gods but didn’t make the journey all the way to Ireland.

• Danu is also believed to parallel the Welsh ancestral figure, Dôn, mother of the Children of Dôn. Unlike Danu, however, who was quite watery, the etymology of Dôn likely leads back to the earth. I like that one, too.

Regardless, here at Danu Consulting we recognise we are part of the one system of life on this planet and will do whatever we can to protect and enhance it.