#Eogabail

[brunette-historians-history]

AINE

CW mentions of rape

Ainewas the Irish goddess of love and fertility. She was the daughter of Eogabail, who was the foster son of the Manx sea god Manannan mac lir. Her main responsibilty was to encourage human love, although one mortal lover of hers, King Aillil Olom of Munster, paid for his passionate audacity with his life. When he attempted to force himself upon Aine and rape her, she killed him with her magic. Aine's worship was always associated in Ireland with agriculture, because, as a goddess of fertility, she had command over crops and animals. Even up to the 20th century were celebrations still being held in her honour on Midsummer Eve at Knockainy, or "Aine's hill", in County Kerry.

[tipsycad147]

Gods and Goddesses:Aine

Aine Celtic Goddess of Fertility and Goddess of Midsummer

We’re talking about the goddess Aine (pronounced awn-ya) the Celtic goddess of fertility and one of the Patron deities of Midsummer/Litha.

AINE: Goddess of fertility and summer

From ancient times all the way to modern times, Aine is one of the most powerful and token goddesses in Celtic paganism.

Called “the people’s goddess” due to her close interaction with the human kind; as well as her inspiration to the Irish woman to take control of their own feminine power.

There is a lot of history on Aine, however as with many histories and mythologies, they do vary depending on who you ask.

What we do know of Aine, is that she is the daughter of King Eogabail(Eoghanach), a member of the Tuatha de Danann. She has wed many times, and through a series of mortal lovers gave birth to a race of half human-half fairy, thus making her the Queen of Faerie, a moniker many know her by today.

Aine: The Sun and The Moon Goddess

Closely compared to Venus, Diana and Athena, Aine is the woman’s goddess, providing protection, love and radiance to her female followers.

Lair Derg: The Red Mare

Other Names for Aine

Aine is referred to by several other names. As a Moon Goddess, she is connected to the element of water and its healing abilities. She guards and protects lakes and wells, earning her the name Lady of the Lake.

She is also called Goddess of Earth and Nature, Goddess of Luck and Magic and Leanan Sidhe (Sweetheart of the Sidhe or the Faerie Lover).

All of these names connect to her magic and abilities. She represents and supports magics involving love, fertility, and summer. She is also revered as the goddess of sovereignty, deeming who is worthy to be High King. Aine stands for brightness, radiance, glow, joy, splendor glory and fame.

Aine during Litha/Midsummer

During Litha, natives of Limerick journey to Cnoc Aine aka Knockainy (Aine’s Hill). There Farmer’s hold a torch of straw and run down the hill through their fields and cattle, to ask for Aine’s blessing and abundance for the coming harvest.

Being the Queen of Faerie as well as a Sun Goddess makes Aine one of the best goddesses to invoke for Midsummer.

Midsummer is one of Aine’s two main festivals ,the other being Lughnasahd or Lammas(coming up in August). The influence of fae magic on Midsummer’s eve is the best time of year to catch a glimpse of them and their world.

Depending on the region, Aine is celebrated on the days surrounding Midsummer/Litha. As well as the Friday, Saturday Sunday after Lammas(August 1st). Not too shabby for a goddess.

(If you want to learn more about Litha or still need ideas, check out my post here.)

Aine’s not so nice history

Unfortunately, as with many of the goddesses of beauty and love, Aine’s backstory isn’t the nicest. Being beautiful and bright, someone is always going to try and bring you down. Her own history is what makes her such a fierce protector.

Aine’s most horrid situation involves the King of Munster, Ailill Aulom. Legend has it that when this king of Munster ruled, there was a famine. Every time the king slept, the grass would die, leaving nothing for the cattle to eat. Therefore killing him and his people because there were no livestock and no harvest. A druid told him to go to Knockainy for answers.

During the attack, Aine retaliated by biting off his ear, earning him the name Aulom or One ear. As the High King of Ireland, only an unblemished man will rule. Her revenge was to force him to step down and never be able to rule again. To this day his descendants claim relation to Aine.

After word spread, Aine was deemed the Goddess with the ruling power of deciding sovereignty. If you were deemed unworthy, Aine would make sure you did not make it to the throne. If she blessed you instead, you were looked upon with the highest of honors.

Aine’s Second Husband

If there was ever a quote that would fit Aine’s temper and power it would be “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

Unfortunately King Ailill was only one of several lords and kings that tried to have their way with this bright spark of a goddess. And as a goddess is fit to do, she made them all regret it.

Another legend surrounding Aine is the story of Gerald Fitzgerald, the Earl of Desmond. A human earl, stories alternate between him bargaining with her to marry him or him also forcing himself on her.

Regardless of the story, she bore him a son and made a deal. Their son would grow up to become “The Magician” and have immense power. His father,the Earl, was to never once show surprise at anything their son did. Human nature gave way and the Earl was forced to honor their deal.

Aine left forever, taking her son with her. Legend has it that the son protects the Lough Gur, Aine’s lake, assuming the form of a goose when humans are around.

Aine’s Third Husband

Not including her many human lovers, Aine was also married to the Sea God Manannan mac Lir. ( Some say she was his daughter, see what I mean about contradictory and confusing??) Manannan was a lord and guardian over the Blessed Isles, as well as the king’s overseer for the Tuatha de Danann. There’s not a whole lot of info on their union, but it’s definitely better than some of her other unions.

Written in Aine’s History these are the most mentioned, but I’m sure there were others we may never know. But these situations she went through made her encouraged to protect her people from the same.

Aine and Magic Spell Work

Aine’s bright magic and personality lends its self well to power magic work. Being a Sun and Moon goddess allows her to show you a balance in all things.

Some things you can include on your Altar to honor Aine includes things like; faerie statues, glitter, colored glass, wands, flowers, amber and natural treasures such as stones, seeds, leaves and feathers found on a nature walk.

Aine’s sacred animals are the red mare, rabbits and swans, horses and cattle.

Pantheon: Celtic

Element: Air.

Planets:Sun and Moon.

Direction: South and Southwest.

Colors: Red, gold, green, blue and tan.

Incense: Dragon’s blood, Fairy dust, Orchid,Lavender.

Herbs/Trees:

Healing: Angelica, Balm, Blackberry, Cowslip, Elder, Fennel, Flax, Garlic, Goat’s Rue, Mug-wort, Nettle and Oak.

Fertility: Hawthorn, Mistletoe and Oak

Prosperity: Alfalfa, Ash and Elder.

Protection: Agrimony, Angelica, Ash, Birch, Blackberry, Bladder-wrack, Broom, Elder, Fennel, Flax, Holly and Lavender.

*She is also connected to the Herb Meadow-sweet and it’s sweet aroma.

Representations include torches and poppets made from hay and straw, bonfires and faerie sculptures.

Aine invoking crafts

I found a few tools and recipes you can make up that invoke Aine and her power. Feel free to adjust them how your guidance tells you.

Aine Incense Blend

(14gram)1/2 oz meadowsweet flowers and leaves( picked while in full bloom)

1/2 oz Finely Chopped Pine needles

1/2 oz Lemon Verbena Oil( or 3-30 drops of essential oil)

Love and Beauty Anointing Oil

Check out this etsy listing at Delight and Havoc for an Aine Anointing oil that’s ready to purchase.

Feel free to use your guidance on what to pick. Use the herbs and plants listed for Aine, Herbs for selflove and beauty or essential oil blends to make it custom to you.

Some essential oils that work well with love, beauty and allure are: grapefruit, jasmine, ylang ylang, geranium, orange, clary sage and siberian fir.

So there you have it! A complete info guide for beginners on Aine the Queen of Faerie. Feel free to write down this info or use the printable for your Book of Shadows. Any questions, send me an email or comment below.

What was your favorite thing to learn about Aine? Who would you like to learn about next?

[magis-stuff]

Aine- Irish Goddess of Summer, Wealth, Sovereignty, Love, and the Faery Queen.

Pronounced- On-ya

She is the daughter of Eogabail and is married to the sea God Manannan Mac Lir.

The heart of her cult was located in Limerick, Ireland.

Many of her myths are more grim than one would expect, with many centering around rape and murder. Yet, she was known as the Goddess who taught humans the meaning of love.

She is associated with both the sun and the moon, and can be regarded as one of the aspects of the Triple Maiden in Wicca.

Her Oracle Card Meaning: Inner Strength. You are a stronger individual than you may realize. Remember, not all strength is external and shown by your muscles. Some strength is within, it can be mental or emotional strength. The task before you is not an easy one, but you have what it takes to get through it. You just have to believe in yourself.

OFFERINGS AND ASSOCIATIONS BELOW THE CUT

Colors: Red, Gold, Green, Blue, Tan

Incense: Dragons blood, Orchid, Lavender

Plants: Mistletoe, Oak, Ash, Holly, Lavender, Fennel, Blackberry, Nettle, and Mug-wort

Crystals: Quartz, Bloodstone, Sunstone, Moonstone, Garnet, Pearl, Gold, Silver

Animals: Horse, Cattle, Rabbit, Swan

Festivals: Midsummer/Litha/Summer Solstice

[myvirgo-moon-blog]

Gods & Goddesses of Ireland: Aine

☀️ Aine’s Backstory: (pronounced Aw-nyah ) Aine is often associated with the sun, as her name means “brightness” or “splendor.” Celtic legends say that Aine was the daughter of Eogabail, who was a member of the legendary Tuatha Dé Danann. In folklore, she was also recognized as the wife of the sea god Manannan Mac Lir – a deity who was very important for Celtic warriors. In ancient Irish myths and legends, Aine is described as a Faery Queen, a goddess of the earth and nature, and a lady of the lake. It was believed she brought luck and good magic to her worshippers. Some identify her as a brighter side of the famous goddess Morrigan. Aine is also known as the goddess who taught humans the meaning of love. She had many human men as lovers and bore many Faerie-Human children. There are several Irish families today that claim to be descended from her. In early tales she is associated with the semi-mythological King of Munster, Ailill Aulom, who is said to have raped her, an assault ending in Áine biting off his ear, hence the name Aulom "one-eared". By Old Irish law, only an "unblemished" person can rule; by maiming him this way, Áine rendered him unfit to be king. As an embodiment of sovereignty, she can both grant and remove a man's power to rule.  The descendants of Aulom, the Eóganachta, claim Áine as an ancestor. In other tales Aine is the wife of Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond, known popularly as "Iarl Gearóid". Rather than having a consensual marriage, he rapes her (thought to be based on the story of Ailill Aulom), and she exacts her revenge by either changing him into a goose, killing him or both. The FitzGeralds thus claim an association with Aine; despite the Norman origins of the clan, the FitzGeralds would become known for being "More Irish than the Irish themselves." The feast of Midsummer Night was held in her honor. 

☀️ Important Possesions/Symbols: Aine is associated with the sun and it is often said she may take the shape of a red mare when she pleases. She is also associated with animals and agriculture. 

☀️ Connection to Modern Witchcraft: Aine is looked to as a Goddess of love, fertility, abundance, and sovereignty. Colors associated with her include orange, green, yellow, and red. Crystals associated with Aine are moonstone, sunstone, pearl, gold, silver, garnet, quartz. Her elements are Earth and Fire. Incense associated with Aine include lavender and orchid. Her planet is the sun. Offerings may include produce (especially home grown), milk, cream, or baked goods. 

(also the photo used is NOT a depiction of Aine. I could not find one that was free for my usage. This photo is close to what she is depicted as though!)

[blessed-aine]

Hi there! I'm doing research on the fae but I'm stuck bc I've read about two different Irish goddesses that are BOTH apparently queen of the fae? Aine and Oonagh, can you please tell me the difference or which came first please, I can't find it online 😢

From what I’ve learned, the differences between them are primarily that Oonagh is the wife of Fionnbharr, who is the king of the Daione Sidhe, which can be considered to later turn into the Tuatha De Danann once they came to the Otherworld. She is quite literally the Queen of Fae since she is married to Fionnbharr. Aine, on the other hand, is thought to be the daughter of a member of the Tuatha de Duanna, King Eogabail (also called Eoghanach, although not royalty of the Tuatha De Danann). She is considered a Queen of Fae because of her relations with human men, to which she birthed a new magical Fae-like race. Because of their background, I personally believe Oonagh came first. Use with this information what you will, I hope that I was able to offer some guidance!

Blessed be, and thank you for the question!

[broomclosetwitches]

Celtic Gods and Goddess

The Celtic world included Ireland, Britain, and a large section of the mainland

Aine: Goddess of love and fertility; encouraged human love; has command over crops and animals; daughter of Eogabail  

Amaethon: God of agriculture 

Anu or Danu/Dana: Mother goddess 

Aonghus: God of love; son of Dagda and Boann

Badb: Irish goddess of battle; could influence the outcome of conflict by inspiring fear or bravery in warriors

Balor: The one-eyed god of death, everyone he looked upon was destroyed

Belenus or Bel: Sun god; appears throughout the Celtic world in different forms; Beltaine celebrates him 

Boann: Water goddess; mother of Aonghus

Brigantia: Chief goddess of Brigantes tribe; associated with water, war and healing

Brigid/Brigit: Goddess of healing and fertility; said to help women during labor; possibly same goddess as Brigantia 

Camulos: God of war mostly worshiped in Belgium areas; said to wield an invincible sword

Ceridwen: Goddess of fertility

Cernunnos: God of wild animals, forest, and plenty; possibly also the god of death; known as the horned one

Cliodhna: Goddess of beauty; her three birds could sing the sick to sleep and heal them 

Dagda: The great god; could restore the dead to life

Dian Cecht: God of healing 

Don: Welsh version of Dana

Donn: God of the dead

Dylan: Sea god

Epona: Horse goddess

The Formorii: Sea gods; violent and misshapen

Goibhniu: Smith god 

Lir: God of sea, healing  and magic 

Lugh: Sun god (Ireland)

Lugus:  Sun god (France and Britain) 

Mac Cecht: God of eloquence

Macha: One of the war goddess

Manannan Mac Lir: Sea god; could stir up or soothe the sea

Manawydan: Welsh sea god, extremely similar to Manannan

Morrigan/Morrigu: Goddess of death on the battlefield 

Nechtan: Water god 

Nemain: Goddess of war

Nemglan: Bird god

Nodens: God of healing; owned magic healing hounds

Ogma: God of eloquence; creating of Ogham, the oldest writing system in Ireland

Taranis: Name means thunderer; Romans equated him to Jupiter; symbol was the wheel

Teutates or Toutatis: Romans equated him to Mars

**Not all inclusive 

All information gathered from “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Mythology by Arthur Cotterell and Rachel Storm