| THE GODDESS AINE BY MORGAINE |
| Welcome to Tir inna mBan “The Land of Women” |
| Graphic is Copyright of Jessica Galbreth http://www.fairyvisions.com/index.html |
The land of the feay has many names, the summer
country, the otherworld, or the land of women.
Some believe if you got lost in the mist you could
end up in the land of the feay, others that they lived
beneath the hills in Ireland. Where ever their magical
and mysterious land might lie, it is ruled by a queen
by the name of Aine.
country, the otherworld, or the land of women.
Some believe if you got lost in the mist you could
end up in the land of the feay, others that they lived
beneath the hills in Ireland. Where ever their magical
and mysterious land might lie, it is ruled by a queen
by the name of Aine.
| I met a little Elfman, down where the lillies blow. I asked him why he was so small, and why he didn't grow? He slightly frowned, and with his eye he looked me though and though. I am just as big for me, "said he." As you are big for you! ~~John Kindrick Bangs |
| Graphic is Copyright of Jessica Galbreth http://www.fairyvisions.com/index.html |
This is a bit of herstory:
It is said that people first landed in Ireland about
nine thousand years ago. And the the cult of Aine
can be traced back as far. The Fomorians were
defeated by the Tuatha De Danann (the people of
Danu), only then to be conquered themselves by the
Milesians. The Tuatha De Danana were the deities
of the Milesians and upon their defeat they retreated
into the sid, or mounds, where they live to this day
as the race of feay (p.39 MacCulloch). The Tuatha
De Danann were deities of fertility, agriculture, the
arts of civilization and of war. Aine herself is
associated with all of these things, and this links
here to many other deities, as shown below. She is
said to live in the Cnoc d’Aine otherwise know as
the hill of Knockainey in Co Limerick, and is
believed to be the reason for Munsters rich
pastures. Most of the information on the Tuatha De
Danann is from mediaeval times, however Aine
herself dates back to archaic times as an Irish Sun
Goddesses.
Aine is considered to be the wife of Manannan the
sea god, though some stories say he is her father.
She is also said to have married Echdae the sky
god, connecting earth, sky and water. Most recently
she is considered a fertility Goddess, and to this
day is worshiped in Munster at summer solstice to
bring prosperity to the fields. Originally a Sun
Goddess as her name literally means ‘brightness’
over time she has been associated with the moon.
Also know by the name Anu, she is believed to be
the true form of Danu ‘the mother of all the Irish
Gods’. It is also through this connection to Danu
that she is associated with water. Danu is
considered by most to be a river Goddess. The
association to other Goddesses does not stop
there. She is considered to be the ancestral form of
Brighid, and as such gains association with the
Morrighan.
Morrighan was the red-haired goddess of battle and
procreation, whose name means ‘Phantom Queen’,
she is a classic case of the triple goddess. Her other
aspects include Nemhain which means frenzy,
Badhbh, which means crow or raven, and Macha.
Macha is considered the patroness of ritual games
and festivals but, more importantly as the horse
Goddess know as Edain Echraidhe in Ireland,
Rhiannon in Wales, and Epona in Gaul. (Dixon-
Kennedy)
It is said that people first landed in Ireland about
nine thousand years ago. And the the cult of Aine
can be traced back as far. The Fomorians were
defeated by the Tuatha De Danann (the people of
Danu), only then to be conquered themselves by the
Milesians. The Tuatha De Danana were the deities
of the Milesians and upon their defeat they retreated
into the sid, or mounds, where they live to this day
as the race of feay (p.39 MacCulloch). The Tuatha
De Danann were deities of fertility, agriculture, the
arts of civilization and of war. Aine herself is
associated with all of these things, and this links
here to many other deities, as shown below. She is
said to live in the Cnoc d’Aine otherwise know as
the hill of Knockainey in Co Limerick, and is
believed to be the reason for Munsters rich
pastures. Most of the information on the Tuatha De
Danann is from mediaeval times, however Aine
herself dates back to archaic times as an Irish Sun
Goddesses.
Aine is considered to be the wife of Manannan the
sea god, though some stories say he is her father.
She is also said to have married Echdae the sky
god, connecting earth, sky and water. Most recently
she is considered a fertility Goddess, and to this
day is worshiped in Munster at summer solstice to
bring prosperity to the fields. Originally a Sun
Goddess as her name literally means ‘brightness’
over time she has been associated with the moon.
Also know by the name Anu, she is believed to be
the true form of Danu ‘the mother of all the Irish
Gods’. It is also through this connection to Danu
that she is associated with water. Danu is
considered by most to be a river Goddess. The
association to other Goddesses does not stop
there. She is considered to be the ancestral form of
Brighid, and as such gains association with the
Morrighan.
Morrighan was the red-haired goddess of battle and
procreation, whose name means ‘Phantom Queen’,
she is a classic case of the triple goddess. Her other
aspects include Nemhain which means frenzy,
Badhbh, which means crow or raven, and Macha.
Macha is considered the patroness of ritual games
and festivals but, more importantly as the horse
Goddess know as Edain Echraidhe in Ireland,
Rhiannon in Wales, and Epona in Gaul. (Dixon-
Kennedy)
| One Of Aine's Possible Family Trees |
With all these association it is no wonder there are so
many things considered sacred to Aine:
Patricia Telesco, associates Lunar items, the colours
silver and white as well as meadow sweet as sacred to
Aine in her book 365 Goddess. She associates here with
protection, healing, divination, luck, earth, and the moon.
It is also told that as a sun Goddess Aine she could take
the form of Lair Derg a red mare that no one could outrun.
There is a tale in which Aine is challenged when pregnant
with twins to a race. She wins and gives birth at the end.
It was an early birth and she cursed her challenger for
making her run.
While almost all the major pagan holidays have some
tribute to Aine, the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following
Lughnasadh Day (Aug 1st) were specifically sacred to her.
After doing my research I have come up with this list of
things associated with Aine:
o Sun
o Moon
o The Feay
o Mermaids (she is said to have been seen in the form
of a mermaid at lake of Lough Gur)
o Death
o Silver
o Rings
o Crops
o Cows
o Water
o Crows
o Fertility
o Red mare
o Rabbit
o Swan ( the last 3 are all forms she has been said to
take).
She was known to play a vital role in Imbloc, Mid Summer,
Lugnnsa, and Sanhain rituals. The following is an
example what the Mid Summer ritual might have been like.
many things considered sacred to Aine:
Patricia Telesco, associates Lunar items, the colours
silver and white as well as meadow sweet as sacred to
Aine in her book 365 Goddess. She associates here with
protection, healing, divination, luck, earth, and the moon.
It is also told that as a sun Goddess Aine she could take
the form of Lair Derg a red mare that no one could outrun.
There is a tale in which Aine is challenged when pregnant
with twins to a race. She wins and gives birth at the end.
It was an early birth and she cursed her challenger for
making her run.
While almost all the major pagan holidays have some
tribute to Aine, the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following
Lughnasadh Day (Aug 1st) were specifically sacred to her.
After doing my research I have come up with this list of
things associated with Aine:
o Sun
o Moon
o The Feay
o Mermaids (she is said to have been seen in the form
of a mermaid at lake of Lough Gur)
o Death
o Silver
o Rings
o Crops
o Cows
o Water
o Crows
o Fertility
o Red mare
o Rabbit
o Swan ( the last 3 are all forms she has been said to
take).
She was known to play a vital role in Imbloc, Mid Summer,
Lugnnsa, and Sanhain rituals. The following is an
example what the Mid Summer ritual might have been like.
| Graphic is Copyright of Jessica Galbreth http://www.fairyvisions.com/index.html |
No altar is needed.
What is needed is a nice clear night, and hill, and a place
for a bonfire.
Preferably close to a water source.
Each person is given a torch. A processional is started up
the hill with the high priest and priestess leading. The
processional is done while chanting mildly or humming to
start the raising of energy.
One at the top of the hill, a circle is formed around the
large pile of wood.
High Priestess “ Welcome all to this festival of light.
Today we honor Aine for bringing us the brightest day of
the year. And we ask her help in the guarantee of good
corps.”
Priest “To day is the high point of summer after which the
harvest will come. So today we honor both Aine’s life and
death, as she will start to fade towards Samhain”.
H. Priestess “At this time of year all comes to volitions. I
ask that each of you state what gifts you have and that
which you seek.”
Now around the circle each person thanks Aine for a
blessing, and asks for something before the end of the
year. Usually to do with fertility, in all its many forms.
H.Priest. “As a sun Goddess we honor you, and your kind,
my the feay join our celebration of light tonight.”
At this all participates throw their torches onto the pile of
wood.
H. Priestess “ It is with great honor that we celebrate the
high point of the year tonight. Join hands and sign as we
twirl around the fire, keep in mind that which you are
thankful for and that which ye would still like to have.
Send the energy out to return to you 10 fold.”
All participants hold hands and dance around the large
fire, singing.
H.P “ Please be seated. As the wheel of the year
continues to turn so to does the wheel of our lives. Take
the time now if need be to consider something in your life
you’d like to be without. Picture it burning in the great
flames before you. It will be gone by Samhain.”
Everyone together:
“ As children of the Goddess we are one, and as such we
love ourselves and our neighbours of this world and the
next as kin.”
Ground.
H. Priestess “ I thank you all for coming. And we all
thank Aine and her people for joining us. Those who want
can relight their torches, and use them to bless their
homes and fields. Or you may take a sacred swim in the
lack to honor Aine water attributes as bring of all life. Or
join us in our feast.”
Everyone “ Merry Meet again.”
What is needed is a nice clear night, and hill, and a place
for a bonfire.
Preferably close to a water source.
Each person is given a torch. A processional is started up
the hill with the high priest and priestess leading. The
processional is done while chanting mildly or humming to
start the raising of energy.
One at the top of the hill, a circle is formed around the
large pile of wood.
High Priestess “ Welcome all to this festival of light.
Today we honor Aine for bringing us the brightest day of
the year. And we ask her help in the guarantee of good
corps.”
Priest “To day is the high point of summer after which the
harvest will come. So today we honor both Aine’s life and
death, as she will start to fade towards Samhain”.
H. Priestess “At this time of year all comes to volitions. I
ask that each of you state what gifts you have and that
which you seek.”
Now around the circle each person thanks Aine for a
blessing, and asks for something before the end of the
year. Usually to do with fertility, in all its many forms.
H.Priest. “As a sun Goddess we honor you, and your kind,
my the feay join our celebration of light tonight.”
At this all participates throw their torches onto the pile of
wood.
H. Priestess “ It is with great honor that we celebrate the
high point of the year tonight. Join hands and sign as we
twirl around the fire, keep in mind that which you are
thankful for and that which ye would still like to have.
Send the energy out to return to you 10 fold.”
All participants hold hands and dance around the large
fire, singing.
H.P “ Please be seated. As the wheel of the year
continues to turn so to does the wheel of our lives. Take
the time now if need be to consider something in your life
you’d like to be without. Picture it burning in the great
flames before you. It will be gone by Samhain.”
Everyone together:
“ As children of the Goddess we are one, and as such we
love ourselves and our neighbours of this world and the
next as kin.”
Ground.
H. Priestess “ I thank you all for coming. And we all
thank Aine and her people for joining us. Those who want
can relight their torches, and use them to bless their
homes and fields. Or you may take a sacred swim in the
lack to honor Aine water attributes as bring of all life. Or
join us in our feast.”
Everyone “ Merry Meet again.”
| Graphic is Copyright of Jessica Galbreth http://www.fairyvisions.com/index.html |
A few Fun Stories:
One St.John’s night (mid summer), a number of girls had
stayed late on the hill, watching the clairs, and joining in
the games, when suddenly Aine appeared to them. She
thanked them for the honour that they had done her, but
said she now wished them to go home since her
otherworld friends wanted the hill to themselves. Some of
the mortals then looked through her ring, whereupon the
hill appeared crowded with fairies previously invisible to
them. (p.64, Dames)
It is also told that the Earl of Desmond saw Aine sitting by
the water combing out her hair after having bathed and
stole her cloak. He did so because he knew with it in his
hands he would have power over her. He then raps her.
After which she tells him she will bare him a son. She
warned him to bring the son up like any over gentleman
and to never be surprised at anything he could do. And he
did until one fated night. There was a great gathering and
a lovely young lady challenged Gerald. She had taken
one single leap and cleared guests, table, dishes and all
and then leaped back again. The Earl asked his son if he
could do such things, to which he replied “No”. His father
then told him he had better stand up and tries so as not to
be beaten by a women. At this fathers request he stood
up and jumped in and out of a bottle. He father was
amazed at the feat. And with this public show of
bewilderment he lost his son. He could no longer be live
among the mundane and was considered to be the demi-
god Iarla and therefore returned to his mother. (P.67
Dames).
So let us not forget the fairies, sometimes called ‘the good
people’, for “they symbolize an endangered vital
relationship –the cohesion of Culture-in-Nature, and the
sense of a sacred whole” (P.69, Dames).
One St.John’s night (mid summer), a number of girls had
stayed late on the hill, watching the clairs, and joining in
the games, when suddenly Aine appeared to them. She
thanked them for the honour that they had done her, but
said she now wished them to go home since her
otherworld friends wanted the hill to themselves. Some of
the mortals then looked through her ring, whereupon the
hill appeared crowded with fairies previously invisible to
them. (p.64, Dames)
It is also told that the Earl of Desmond saw Aine sitting by
the water combing out her hair after having bathed and
stole her cloak. He did so because he knew with it in his
hands he would have power over her. He then raps her.
After which she tells him she will bare him a son. She
warned him to bring the son up like any over gentleman
and to never be surprised at anything he could do. And he
did until one fated night. There was a great gathering and
a lovely young lady challenged Gerald. She had taken
one single leap and cleared guests, table, dishes and all
and then leaped back again. The Earl asked his son if he
could do such things, to which he replied “No”. His father
then told him he had better stand up and tries so as not to
be beaten by a women. At this fathers request he stood
up and jumped in and out of a bottle. He father was
amazed at the feat. And with this public show of
bewilderment he lost his son. He could no longer be live
among the mundane and was considered to be the demi-
god Iarla and therefore returned to his mother. (P.67
Dames).
So let us not forget the fairies, sometimes called ‘the good
people’, for “they symbolize an endangered vital
relationship –the cohesion of Culture-in-Nature, and the
sense of a sacred whole” (P.69, Dames).
| Graphic is Copyright of Jessica Galbreth http://www.fairyvisions.com/index.html |
| Morgaine's Original Work |
| Faery Entrance to Summer Land Copyright ©Morgaine,2006 |
| Mystical Mist of Faery Realm........ Copyright ©Morgaine,2006 |
| Beyond the Mundane....Faery Sun........ Copyright ©Morgaine,2006 |
Sources:
Dames, Micheal. Mythic Ireland. Thames and Hudson LTd;
London, UK, 1992.
Dixon-Kennedy, Mike. Celtic Myth and Legend, “An A-Z of
People and Places”. Cassell Illustated, London, UK, 2005.
Mac Cana, Proinsias. Celtic Mythology. Peter Bedrick Books,
New York, USA, 1983.
Telesco, Patricia. 365 Goddess, “a daily guid to the magic and
inspiration of the goddess”. HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., New
York NY, 1998.
Westwood, Jennifer. ALBION, “A guide to legendary Britan”.
Granada Publishing, London, UK, 1985.
Websites Read;
Aine, Avalible; http://www.shee-eire.
com/Magic&Mythology/Fairylore/Queens/Aine/Page1.htm
Celtic Mythology, “Aine”. Avalible; http://www.uark.
edu/studorg/stpa/aine.html
The Goddesses. Avalible; http://www.gotojassminesitenow.
com/goddesses/aine.html
Dames, Micheal. Mythic Ireland. Thames and Hudson LTd;
London, UK, 1992.
Dixon-Kennedy, Mike. Celtic Myth and Legend, “An A-Z of
People and Places”. Cassell Illustated, London, UK, 2005.
Mac Cana, Proinsias. Celtic Mythology. Peter Bedrick Books,
New York, USA, 1983.
Telesco, Patricia. 365 Goddess, “a daily guid to the magic and
inspiration of the goddess”. HarperCollins Publishers, Inc., New
York NY, 1998.
Westwood, Jennifer. ALBION, “A guide to legendary Britan”.
Granada Publishing, London, UK, 1985.
Websites Read;
Aine, Avalible; http://www.shee-eire.
com/Magic&Mythology/Fairylore/Queens/Aine/Page1.htm
Celtic Mythology, “Aine”. Avalible; http://www.uark.
edu/studorg/stpa/aine.html
The Goddesses. Avalible; http://www.gotojassminesitenow.
com/goddesses/aine.html
| Copyright ©Morgaine,2006 |
