The Gods and Goddesses of the Celtic Lands
The Celts were very religious and believed in reincarnation and the migration of the soul to the after life after death. They did not believe in punishment after death. The Celtic Pantheon held many female deities of primary importance ranging from war goddesses to mother goddesses to ruling goddesses. They also believed in 3 aspects of the God/dess, three aspects of a single god. The teachings of the Druids could be summed up quite easily: worship the gods, be strong, courageous and do no evil. Human sacrifices by the blade, burning, or drowning were done because it was believed that a life must be given for a life, as in murder, accidental killing, extreme illness, or to be spared from the horrors of battle. Generally, those who were killed were prisoners of war or criminals. This practice does not, however, seem to have been used much at all in Ireland and Britain.
Female were equal to males and held just as much power. The Priestesses were highly revered. Priestesses sang the dying to sleep, did charms, enchantments, prophecies, healing, etc. They knew the power of words, stones and herbs. One of the central features of their Groves was a cauldron, bowl or pool. Curses were cast for any mistreatment of women. Red-hair females were sacred to the war Goddesses, as their hair was the color of blood.
Abarta
Location: Ireland.
Description: A God of the Tuatha De Danann. “Performer of feats.”
Rules Over: Understanding the destructive nature of jealousy, teamwork.
Accasbel
Location: Ireland.
Description: A Partholan who is credited with making the first tavern (pub) in Ireland. Most likely was an early God of wine or meade.
Rules Over: Mabon vine harvest, Beltane’s blessing of the meade.
Achtland
Description: Goddess queen who no mortal man could sexually satisfy, so she took a giant from the faery realm as her mate.
Rules Over: Sex magick.
Addanc
Other Names: Affanc.
Location: Wales.
Description: Primordial Giant/God who created and rode the crest of the flood near his home on the Lake of Waves. Was once a deity worshipped by the people of the lake region but who is now reduced to faery or evil demi-god. In modern times the word Addanc is used to describe any evil fresh water-dwelling faery of Wales.
Rules Over: Erasing an event/person/etc from your mind, erasing unwanted thoughts so you can have a fresh start.
Adsullata
Location: Britain.
Description: Goddess of hot springs who came to Brittany from Celtic Gaul. A minor sun Goddess in her own right before the time when the Cels relegated the majority of their sun images to male deities and their moon images to female ones.
Rules Over: Purification, solar magick.
Aerten
Other Names: Aerfen, Aeron.
Location: Wales, Cornish.
Description: Goddess of Fate who presided over the outcome of war between several Celtic clans. She had a shrine at Glyndyfrdwy on the banks of the River Dee, where legend has it that three human sacrifices had to be made every three years to ensure success in future battles. Her symbol was the double-bladed axe.
Rules Over: Peace, overcoming enemies.
Aesun
Location: Ireland.
Description: Early Irish God whose name means “to be.” Most likely part of a lost creation myth. Aesun was also known by the Persians and Umbria and Scandinavia.
Aeval
Other Names: Aebhel.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess who in popular legend is a faery, who held a midnight court to hear the debate on whether the men of her province were keeping their women sexually satisfied or not. She commanded that the men bow to the women’s sexual wishes.
Rules Over: Lust, sex magick, wisdom in making judgements.
Agrona
Location: Wales.
Description: Slaughter goddess often equated with the Morrigu.
Rules Over: War, slaughter.
Aibell
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of Munster whose legends were almost lost until she was ‘demoted’ to a faery queen. She had in her possession a magickal harp which did her bidding, but which human ears could not hear or else the eavesdropper would soon die. She was associated with stones and leaves.
Rules Over: Protection, music, earth magick, ecological magick.
Aibheaog
Location: Ireland.
Description: Fire goddess who had a magick well that contained mighty healing powers, especially effective against toothache so long as the petitioner left a small white stone at the well to represent the decayed tooth. She is associated with wells and the number 5.
Rules Over: Healing, Midsummer well rituals.
Aife
Other Names: Aoife.
Location: Ireland, Scotland.
Description: Goddess and queen of the Isle of Shadow. She ran a school for warriors, but her school was less successful than her sister, Scathach’s, school. Aife was not vulnerable to magick, and commanded a legion of fierce horsewomen. She stole an alphabet of knowledge from the deities to give to humankind. For that infraction, she was transformed into a crane by the elder deities. Supposedly, she was accidently killed by hunters but yet others say she still haunts the countryside in this form today. She is associated with the three fold law and the crane.
Rules Over: Protection, general knowledge, teaching, pathworking, lessons of the threefold law.
Aimend
Location: Ireland, Scotland.
Description: Minor Sun Goddess who is thought to be the daughter of the king of the region known as Corco Loidhe.
Aine of Knockaine
Location: Ireland.
Description: Moon Goddess who was connected with the Summer Solstice.
Rules Over: Crops and cattle.
Airmid
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of medicine and all healing arts to the Tuatha De Danann. She was looked upon as a magician and herbalist of great reputation. She was also a craftswoman who, with her brother, helped create the famed silver hand of Nuada.
Rules Over: Magick, healing, learning, herbalism, understanding family loyalty, inspiration to craftspeople.
Albion
Description: Son of a forgotten Sea God who may have been part of a lost creation myth. Was once said to rule the Celtic world. His name became the poetic name for Britain.
Alisanos
Description: Gaulish God of stones about whom very little is known. Probably a deity of the standing stones of Brittany.
Rules Over: Fertility.
Almha
Location: Ireland.
Description: Basically all her myths are lost to us today. What is known about her is that she was a Goddess of the Tuatha De Danann and that a hill in southern Ireland was named for her.
Ambisagrus
Other Names: Bussumarus.
Location: Britain.
Description: Originally from Gaul, where his Celtic identity was lost during the Roman takeover where he took all the characteristics of the Roman God Jupiter. Weather deity who controlled the rain, wind, hail and fog.
Rules Over: Weather magick, leadership.
Ancasta
Description: A Goddess who survives only in her name through an inscription on a stone in Hampshire. It is a possibility she is related to Andraste.
Andraste
Location: Britain.
Description: War Goddess who was evoked on the eve of the battle to bring favor, and possibly ritual sacrifices were given to her. Queen Boadicea of the Iceni offered sacrifieces to Andraste in a sacred grove before fighting the Romans on her many compaigns against them.
Rules Over: Overcoming enemies.
Angus Mac Og
Other Names: Angus of the Brugh, Oengus of the Bruig, Angus Mac Oc, Aengus MacOg.
Location: Ireland.
Description: One of the Tuatha De Dannan who had a golden harp that could create incredibly sweet music. He had a brugh (fairy palace) on the banks of the Boyne.
Rules Over: Youth, love, music magick, protection of lovers, dream work, creativity and beauty.
Anu
Other Names: Anann, Dana, Dana-Ana, Catana.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Mother Earth, Great Goddess, Greatest of all Goddesses. Another aspect of the Morrigu. The fertility Goddess, sometimes she formed a trinity with Badb and Macha. Her priestesses comforted and taught the dying. Fires were lit for her on Midsummer. Guardian of cattle and health.
Rules Over: Fertility, prosperity, comfort, health, cattle.
Arawn
Other Names: Arawyn, Arrawn, Arawen.
Location: Wales.
Description: King of Hell, God of Annwn. Ruled the underground kingdom of the dead.
Rules Over: Revenge, terror, war, spirit contact, picking magickal names, strengthening friendships, reincarnation.
Ard Greimme
Location: Ireland, Scotland.
Description: Father of the famed warrioress sister Aife and Scathach. Once a Sun God.
Rules Over: Fire magick.
Ardwinna
Other Names: Dea Arduinna.
Location: Britain.
Description: Woodland and animal Goddess who haunted the forests of Ardennes riding a wild boar. She commanded a fine for any animal killed on her land, yet asked for animal sacrifices on her feast day.
Rules over: Animals, familiars, woodlands.
Ariadne
Description: The only Greek Goddess known to have been worshipped in Celtic Gaul. Her name is derived from the word arachnid. Ariadne spun the universe from the primordial darkness like a spider spins her web, a theme with echoes in the creation myths of many other cultures. She is thought to be very ‘unceltic’ and to have been brought with the Celts on their long journey across the European continent. She is associated with spider web, sulphur, thread, yarn.
Rules Over: Protection, magick, manifestation, time.
Arianrhod
Location: Wales.
Description: Keeper of the circling Silver Wheel of Stars, a symbol of time and karma. Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess. Honored at the Full Moon.
Rules Over: Beauty, fertility, reincarnation.
Arnamentia
Description: Goddess of spring waters who was once a minor solar deity.
Rules Over: Healing and purification.
Artaius
Description: God of sheep and cattle herders from Celtic Gaul. Later, the Romans identified him with Mercury.
Rules Over: Sheep, cattle.
King Arthur
Location: Wales, Cornwall.
Description: Most likely based on a seventh-century king named Artorius who led the fight to drive the Saxons from Britain, and later his legend was merged with that of a now-forgotten father/sacrificial God. Because of the strength of his legends, some consider him a God (even if only archtypically), father figure, warrior, leader, sacrificial king, protector and defender of justice and mercy. Son of King Uther Pendragon and Igraine, the Duchess of Cornwall. Taught and protected by the magician/Druid Merlin, married Guinevere, and was mortally wounded in battle by his son Modred (Morgan LeFay’s child). Arthur’s body was carried to Avalon to sleep and await the time when he is needed. He is a sacrificial God/king in the purest sense. The oldest legends surrounding him are found in The Black Book of Caermarthen.
Rules Over: Nearly anything is said to be able to be helped by King Arthur.
Artio
Description: Bear Goddess whose shrine once stood in what is now Berne, Switzerland. She is usually depicted as being surrounded by full baskets and animals. Goddess of fertility and wildlife. She is associated with the bear, claws and teeth, geode stones.
Rules Over: Fertility, animals, strenght, courage.
Badb
Other Names: Badhbh, Badb Catha, Bellona, Cauth Bodva.
Location: Ireland.
Description: The cauldron of ever-producing life. War Goddess and wife of Net. Mother aspect of Triple Goddess. Associated with the cauldron, crows and ravens.
Rules Over: Life, wisdom, inspiration, enlightenment.
Baile of the Honeyed Speech
Location: Ireland.
Description: God of Blarney, the speech valued in Irish culture.
Rules Over: Quick and clear thinking, speeches, ideas, impressing someone, mental activity, speaking, love magick, protection for lovers, blessing magickal wands.
Ban-Chuideachaidh Moire
Location: Ireland.
Description: Old Goddess who appears in modern Irish legends as the midwife who assisted the Christian Virgin Mary with her birth, and was also a title applied to St. Bridget (very obviously referring to the goddess Brigit). A once forgotten goddess of childbirth.
Rules Over: Childbirth.
Banba
Location: Ireland.
Description: Part of a triad with Fotia and Eriu. They used magick to repel invaders.
Rules Over: Repulsion of invaders.
Barinthus
Location: Wales.
Description: Charioteer to the residents of the Otherworld who was most likely once a Sea or Sun God.
Bechoil
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess whose legends have been lost. Perhaps an early version of Dana.
Becuma
Location: Ireland.
Description: Tuatha Goddess who ruled over magickal boats and had a weakness for sleeping with High Kings at Tara. At that time, kings ruled by permission of their consorts and thus the act of her sleeping with them gave these human men permission to rule over the divine Tuatha De Danann. Becuma was an outcast among her own people because of her behavior and eventually the Milesians took over Ireland, supplanting the Tuatha altogether. She was also banished to the human world for having a torrid romance with Gaiar, a son of Manann. She married Conn of the Hundred Battles. She was fiercely jealous of his pride in his son, Art, and sought to banish him from Conn’s kingdom but her plans failed and she left. She now resides in the Otherworld.
Rules Over: Overcoming jealousy.
Bel
Other Names: Belenus, Belinos, Beli Mawr, Beli, Bile, Beltene.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Closely connected with the Druids. His name was seen in festivals of Beltane/Beltain. Cattles were also driven through the bonfires for purification and fertility.
Rules Over: Science, healing, hot springs, fire, success, prosperity, purification, crops vegetation, fertility, cattle.
Belisama
Description: Goddess of the Mersey River.
Berecyntia
Description: An Earth Goddess, perhaps a Gaulish version of Brid.
Rules Over: Elemental earth magick, fertility.
Bladud
Location: Wales.
Description: Sun God who is associated with the sacred English hot spring known as Aquae Sulis. Depicted as a very virile male figure with flaming hair.
Rules Over: Protection, employment, any endeavors governed by the Sun.
Blai
Location: Ireland.
Description: A Faery Queen with a burgh of her own Drumberg. Represents a personal or mascot deity to Ossian.
Rules Over: Faery contact.
Blathnat
Location: Ireland.
Description: Probably a form of the more popular Welsh Goddess, Blodeuwedd. She traveled the island with three cows tied to her cauldron and commanded that warriors perform feats of superhuman proportions for her amusement. Associated with Roses, cauldron and cow trinities.
Rules Over: Abundance, fertility.
Blodeuwedd
Other Names: Wlodwin, Blancheflor.
Location: Wales.
Description: Lily maid of Celtic initiation ceremonies. Known as the Ninefold Goddess of the Western Isles of Paradise. Created by Math and Gwydion as a wife for Lleu. The Maiden form of the Triple Goddess, her symbol was the owl.
Rules Over: Flowers, wisdom, lunar mysteries, initiations.
Bo Dhu
Location: Ireland.
Description: Black cow Goddess who helped bring fertility to barren Ireland.
Rules Over: Fertility, anti-hunger, prosperity.
Bo Find
Location: Ireland.
Description: “White cow.” This is how she manifested long long ago on the barren and fruitless mass that would become green Ireland. She came from the Western Sea with her sisters, the Red Cow Goddess (Bo Ruadh), and the black cow Goddess (Bo Dhu). These colors are also those of the Celtic Triple Goddess, which they obviously represent. The black cow went to the south of Ireland and the red traveled to the north while Bo Find came to the center. When Bo Find came to the site which is thought to be near modern-day Tara, she gave birth to twin calves, a male and female who would feed her people forever and ever. Then she and her sisters returned to the sea. They are honored at Mabon.
Rules Over: Fertility, anti-hunger, prosperity.
Bo Ruadh
Location: Ireland.
Description: Red cow Goddess who helped bring fertility to barren Ireland.
Rules Over: Fertility, anti-hunger, prosperity.
Boann
Other Names: Boannan, Boyne.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of the river Boyne.
Rules Over: Healing, fertility, water magick.
Bodua
Description: War Goddess much like the Irish Badb.
Rules Over: War.
Bormanus
Description: Thought to be one of the earliest Celtic Gods. Nothing is known about him today though he may have later surfaced as Borvo, a Breton God of hot springs. His name appears in cameo in old manuscripts and carvings.
Borvo
Location: Britain.
Description: God of hot springs who replaced his mother, Sirona, in this function when her story was patriarchalized. The spring he ruled had great healing powers.
Rules Over: Healing.
Bran The Blessed
Other Names: Benedigeidfran, Bran, Bran MacFebal.
Location: Wales.
Description: A giant associated with ravens.
Rules Over: Prophecy, the arts, leaders, war, the sun, music, writing.
Branwen
Other Names: Branwyn.
Location: Manx, Wales.
Description: Venus of the Northern Seas, of the the three matriarchs of Britain. Lady of the Lake.
Rules Over: Love, beauty.
Breasal
Location: Wales, Cornwall.
Description: High King of the entire planet who made his home in the Otherworld which is sometimes called Hy- or I-Breasal in his honor. Some believe Breasal and his mystical western island might not have been the legendary continent of Atlantis. His world is visible to humans on only one night every seven years. When Portuguese explorers reached South America they mistakenly thought they had landed on Breasal’s world and named the land they discovered “Brazil” in his honor.
Rules Over: Namespirit contact, guidance and protection for travelers and explorers.
Bregon
Location: Ireland.
Description: Minor Celtic figure who plays a role as either the human son of Milesius or the divine father of Bile and Ith.
Brenos
Description: War God to whom the victories at Allia and Delphi were attributed.
Briant
Description: Goddess of the river which holds her name.
Rules Over: Water magick.
Brigantia
Other Names: Britannia.
Location: Britain.
Description: A Goddess of sovereignty and often thought of as the Brigit of England. In 1667 Charles I had her face placed on the coinage where it remains today, reviving an old custom, first instated by the Romans who adopted her as their own.
Rules Over: Sovereignty, self-control, leadership, protection of your land, prosperity.
Brigit
Other Names: Brid, Brig, Brigid, Brighid, Brigindo.
Location: Ireland, Wales, Spain, France.
Description: Associated with Imbolc. She had an exclusive female priesthood at Kildare and an ever-burning fire. She had 19 priestesses representing the 19-year cycle of the Celtic “Great Year.”
Rules Over: Fire, fertility, the hearth, all feminine arts and crafts, martial arts, healing, physicians, agriculture, inspiration, learning, poetry, divination, prophecy, smithcraft, animal husbandry, love, witchcraft, occult knowledge.
Bronach
Location: Ireland.
Description: Crone Goddess linked to forgotten Samhain rituals. Reclaim this forgotten Samhain Goddess at your own seasonal rites.
Caer Ibormeith
Location: Ireland.
Description: Usually thought of as a Goddess of sleep and dreams and a less violent version of Mare. She usually took the form of a swan who lived on a lake called Dragon’s Mouth and she wore a golden chain with one hundred and thirty golden balls on a silver chain worn around her neck. Aengus MacOg fell in love with her in a dream and sought her when he awoke. When he found her he, too, became a swan and they flew to Bruigh na Boinne to Aengus’ megalithic site north of Tara where they sang the most beautiful song which put all of Ireland into a peaceful slumber for three days and three nights. She is connected to the horse and the moon.
Rules Over: Dreams, prophetic dreams, falling asleep, music magick.
Caillech
Other Names: Cailleach, Carlin, Mala Liath.
Location: Ireland, Scotland, Manx.
Description: Goddess in her Destroyer aspect.
Rules Over: Disease, plauge, cursing, wisdom, seasonal rites, weather magick.
Caireen
Location: Ireland.
Description: Once a protective Mother Goddess, a defender of you and patron of children. Associated with holly leaves.
Rules Over: Children, protection.
Cally Berry
Location: Ireland.
Description: Often equated with the Caillech Bheur of Scotland althought in northern Irish legends she appears as a maiden Goddess, representation of spring, the hunt and guardian of animals. It is thought that she might be a derivative of Artemis/Diana and that the crone images were later slapped onto her at a later date when the churchmen were attempting to purge her image. She sometimes took the form of a crane to fly about and predict storms. She is credited with being the creatrix of the Irish mountains, traditionally seen as the crone’s earthly home.
Rules Over: Weather forecasting, animal magick, ecological magick.
Campestres
Description: Campestres is the Roman name of a lost Goddess of fields that was probably a fertility or harvest Goddess in Celtic Gaul.
Rules Over: Fertility.
Camulos
Description: War God from the region of Colchester which was once called by the Latin name Camulodunum in his honor.
Rules Over: War.
Canola
Location: Ireland.
Description: Believed to be one of the oldest of the Irish deities, Canola was the inventor of Ireland’s long loved symbol, the harp. Lore has it that she fell asleep outdoors one day while listening to beautiful music and that upon waking she realized the music was being made by the wind beating upon the sinews of a gutted whale. She was then inspired to craft the instrument and recreate that wonderous sound.
Rules Over: Music magick, dream work, inspiration.
Caolainn
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess who was the guardian/queen of a magickal well in County Roscommon in western Ireland. She helped grant wishes, usually ones which taught the wishers that they didn’t really want what they thought they did. Her myth is the origin of the well known ‘wishing well’ which is an image taken from the birth canal of the great mother earth from which all existence is created. She is associated with wishing wells and falling stars.
Rules Over: Wisdom, healing, fertility.
Carman
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of County Wexford and source name for Loch Garman, who was once honored at Lughnasadh. It is believed she has roots in the Greek grain Goddess, Demeter. Modern legend portrays her as a Goddess of black magick, one who can destroy anything by thrice chanting a spell. This is also the way that the Morrigu, particularly Badb, can destroy. However, this is not a manifestation of evil intent, but an end of the world prophecy common to many cultures.
Rules Over: Banishing magick.
Carne
Location: Britain, Cornwall.
Description: Most likely another version of Herne. See Cernunnos.
Carravogue
Other Names: Garbhog, Gheareagain.
Location: Ireland, Britain.
Description: Local Crone Goddess from County Meath who was transformed into a huge snake for eating forbidden berries. Her original purpose is basically lost in modern times because her stories became so absorbed by Christian legends which attempt to make her a Celtic Eve. It is believed St. Patrick tampered with her legends, which show that St. Patrick killed her with holy water that melted her, but from which she will arise from again. One of the many legends St. Patrick tampered with was that she was originally a virgin Goddess of spring who banished each year the crone she would eventually become in order to further his own aims. She is associated with the number 9.
Rules Over: Self-responsibility, reincarnation, earth magick.
Cathubodia
Description: Occasionally seen as a a Breton version of the Irish earth Goddess Banbha, most likely with origins in Gaul. Thought to be a war Goddess who shares Badb’s energies.
Rules Over: War, earth magick.
Cebhfhionn
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of inspiration who was usually found next to the legendary Well of Knowledge from which she filled an endless vessel. She kept this sacred water from humans, feeling they could not handle its power. To merely taste of the waters meant to instantly possess great knowledge, wisdom and divine inspiration.
Rules Over: healing, mental powers, knowledge.
Cernunnos
Other Names: Cernowain, Cernenus, Herne The Hunter, Hu Gadarn, Belatucadros, Vitiris.
Location: Known to all the Celtic areas in one form or another.
Description: The Horned God, God of Nature, God of the Underworld. The Druids knew him as Hu Gadarn, the Horned God of Fertility. Usually depicted as sitting in a lotus position with horns/antlers on his head, a beard, naked except for a neck torque and sometimes holding a shield and spear. His symbols included the stag, ram, bull and horned serpent.
Rules Over: Virility, fertility, animals, physical love, Nature, woodlands, reincarnation, crossroads, wealth, commerce, warriors, hunt, magick, sacrifice.
Cerridwen
Other Names: Caridwen, Ceridwen.
Location: Wales, Scotland.
Description: Moon Goddess, Grain Goddess. Welsh Bards called themselves Cerddorion (sons of Cerridwen). The Bard, Taliesin, founder of their craft was said to be born of Cerridwen and to have tasted a potent from her magick cauldron of inspiration. In her magickal cauldron, she made a potion called greal (from which the word Grail most likely came from). The potion was made from six plants for inspiration and knowledge. Her symbol was a white sow.
Rules Over: Death, fertility, regeneration, inspiration, magick, astrology, herbs, science, poetry, spells, knowledge, wisdom, past lives, divination.
Cessair
Location: Ireland.
Description: Of the race known as the Partholans who were among the first to occupy Ireland, she is the first ruler of Ireland. Well known pre-Celtic Mother Goddess figure much like Dana. She led a journey of Partholans to the “western edge of the world” forty days before the great flood. Among her were her husband and one hundred and fifty mothers of the world. This legend shows how Pagans saw the Mother Goddess as a source of regeneration and life renewel. Cessair’s “I was here first” image was so strong among Irish Pagans that when the Christians could not eliminate her, they made her the granddaughter of their flood savior, Noah. Because the native myths say Ireland was spared by the ravages of the great flood, Cessair perhaps was once seen as a water deity who had the power to save Ireland from the flood. She is associated with the rising sun and the cauldron.
Rules Over: Strength, perseverance, leadership, foresight, water magick, new beginnings.
Cethlion
Other Names: Cetnenn.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of the Formorians who was called “crooked teeth.” She prophesied the fall of her people to the Tuatha De Danann.
Rules Over: Prophecy, divination.
Chlaus Haistic
Location: Ireland.
Description: Ancient Goddess of unknown function who came down to earth as a powerful witch. Probably a crone Goddess.
Rules Over: Magick, druids.
Cian
Location: Ireland.
Description: God of medicine who went to retrieve a cow which had been stolen by Balor. Father of Lugh. Son of Diancecht. Husband of Ethne.
Rules Over: Love magick.
Cliodna
Other Names: Cleena, Cliodhna, Cliodna of the Fair Hair.
Location: Ireland, Scotland.
Description: Tuatha De Danann Sea and Otherworld Goddess who usually took the form of a sea bird and therefore symbolized the Celtic afterlife. As a Goddess of the waves, she was believed to be embodied in every ninth wave that broke on the shore. This wave was believed to break higher and stronger than any other.
Rules Over: Spirit contact, appreciation, beauty, water magick.
Clota
Other Names: Clud, Cludoita, Clwyd.
Location: Scotland, England, Wales.
Description: Well known Goddess and namesake of the River Clyde. The waters in which she governed were believed to be especially useful in controlling seizures.
Rules Over: Water magick.
Coinchend
Description: A semi-divine warrioress whose home was in the Otherworld.
Rules Over: Spirit contact.
Condatis
Description: God of confluence whose sacred places were wherever two rivers or bodies of water met.
Rules Over: Water magick.
Condwiramur
Location: Wales.
Description: Goddess of sovereignty who appears shortly in the Grail legends as the wife of Sir Percival in which she is wedded and then bedded by Percival who then immediately sets off for the Grail castle to which he is finally admitted.
Rules Over: Discovering your own feminine power, help in discovering the ancient grail mysteries, sovereignty.
Corchen
Location: Ireland, Manx.
Description: Ancient snake Goddess in which very little is known. She was probably once a regional mother earth Goddess, or Goddess of rebirth. Others conceive that her lost legends were once part of forgotten creation legends.
Rules Over: Past lives, earth magick, reincarnation.
Corra
Location: Scotland.
Description: Prophecy Goddess who regularly appeared in the form of a crane. She symbolizes transcendent knowledge and transitions to the Otherworld.
Rules Over: Divination, prophecy.
Coventina
Location: Scotland.
Description: One of the most potent of the Celtic river Goddesses. Most likely Roman in origin. She was also the Goddess of featherless flying creatures which may have symbolized some type of blockage to passing into the Otherworld. There is evidence she was worshipped in Celtic Gaul where reliefs have been found showing her reclining on a floating leaf.
Rules Over: Time, new beginnings, life cycles, wishes, protection of birds, divination, inspiration of self.
Cred
Other Names: Creide.
Location: Ireland, Scotland.
Description: Faery Queen Goddess who is associated with Dana’s mountains, the Paps of Anu. She vowed never to sleep until she found a man who could create for her the most majestic poem ever penned. It not only had to be perfectly crafted, but describe in vivid detail her home and all its contents. The catch 22 was that no man was allowed within her dwelling’s guarded walls (possibly a reference to one of the Otherworld realms known as The Land of Women). Coll, a warrior of the Fianna, succeeded and Cred married him. She is associated with Yew, rose oil, the color pink.
Rules Over: Love magick, searching for the perfect mate, keeping secrets, spirit contact.
Credne
Location: Ireland.
Description: God of metallurgy and smithing who worked in bronze. He created all the Tuatha’s weapons with the goldsmith Goibniu and the woodworker Luchtain.
Rules Over: Self-defense, inspiration of artistic endeavors, blessing tools.
Creiddylad
Other Names: Creudylad, Cordelia.
Location: Wales.
Description: Connected with Beltane and often called the May Queen. Goddess of summer flowers.
Rules Over: Love, courage, strength of will and flowers.
Crobh Dearg
Other Names: Crove Dairg.
Location: Ireland.
Description: “the red claw.” War Goddess who is possibly a form of the crone Goddess of battle Badb. A Leinster fortress was named for her.
Cromm Cruaich
Location: Ireland.
Description: Ancient deity about which little is known about today. Seen as a harvest, death and sacrificial God. It is thought human sacrifices were once made to him at Samhain. The Dinnshenchas tells that once at Meg Slecht, a standing stone of pure gold was erected to him with twelve stone idols surrounding him (13 is still the traditional number for members in a Celtic coven). King Tigernmas led the worship at this stie.
Rules Over: Harvest, dark festivals, death, passing over rituals, otherworld contact.
The Crone
Description: Third aspect of the Triple Goddess. She signifies old age or death, winter, the end of all things, the waning moon, post-mentrual phases of women’s lives, all destruction that comes before regeneration through her cauldron of rebirth. Crows and other black creatures are sacred animals to her. Dogs accompanied her usually and guarded the gates of her after-world, helping her to receive the dead. It was thought that true curses could be cast with a dog’s help.
Cronos
Description: Minor harvest and Sun God with Greek roots who was imprisoned with his subordinate deities on a western island which could have been a Land of the Dead. He seems to have no connection to the Greek God of time who has the same name.
Cyhiraeth
Location: Wales.
Description: Goddess of streams who later became thought of as a faery spirit who was a portent of death, very similar to Ireland’s Beansidhe or Cornwall’s Washer at the Ford.
Rules Over: Water magick, passing over (death), faery contact, inner-transformation.
Cymidei Cymeinfoll
Location: Wales.
Description: War Goddess who is always paired in stories with her husband, Llasar Llaesyfnewid. They own a magickal cauldron into which they would cast warriors killed in battle. From the cauldron these deceased soldiers would come forth to life again, but minus their power of speech. She is one half of the creative principle. As Wales’ prime War Goddess she gave birth to its warriors, one every six weeks.
Rules Over: Strength, war, past-lives, creative magick.
Dahud-Ahes
Other Names: Dahut.
Location: Britain.
Description: Goddess of “debauchery” by her detractors, while some recent legends go so far as to make her the destroyer of her own realm through her excesses and her worship of “idols.” By her followers, she is hailed as a Goddess of earthly pleasure. Fishermen of Britain claim to occasionally see her city beneath the French seas, and believe that she will indeed return someday.
Rules Over: Pleasure, courage, water magick, sex magick, sea faery contact.
The Dagda
Other Names: Daghdha, Eochaidh Ollathair.
Location: Ireland.
Description: High King of the Tuatha De Danann. God of death and rebirth, master of all trades, lord of perfect knowledge. He had a cauldron called the Undry which gave unlimited food. He also had a living oak harp which caused the seasons to change in their order. He was usually pictured wearing a brown, low-necked tunic which just reached his hips and a hooded cape that barely covered his shoulders. On his feet he wore horse-hide boots. Behind him he pulls his massive 8-pronged warclub on a wheel.
Rules Over: Protection, warriors, knowledge, magick, fire, prophecy, weather, reincarnation, the arts, initiation, patron of priests, the Sun, healing, regeneration, properity, plentymusc, harps, magicians, artisans, all knowledge.
Damara
Location: England.
Description: Fertility Goddess associated with Beltane.
Rules Over: Fertility.
Damona
Description: Cow Goddess which little is known about.
Rules Over: Fertility, abundance.
Danu
Other Names: Danann, Dana.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Major Mother Goddess, ancestress of the Tuatha De Danann. She gave her name to the Tuatha De Dannan (People of the Goddess Danu). Another aspect of the Morrigu.
Rules Over: Wizards, rivers, water, wells, prosperity, abundance, magick, wisdom.
Daronwy
Location: Wales.
Description: In The Book of Taliesin, The “Song of Daronwy,” relates adventures of this God who does not appear elsewhere in Celtic mythology. Many think Daronwy is actually Ossian.
Deae Matres
Location: Britain.
Description: “mother Goddesses.” A triune of earth Goddesses given this singular Latin name on the continent. None of the legends about her survive though there are many inscriptions and scultpures which attest to the strength of her worship. It is believed her following was destroyed by the Romans when they took Gaul. The Trio are shown as robed figures bearing baskets of flowers, fruit, and grain, items which represent the bounty of three non-winter seasons.
Rules Over: Harvest, fertility, prosperity.
Dechtere
Other Names: Dechtire.
Location: Ireland.
Description: A triplicity unto herself, this Goddess throughout her myth say she alternately takes on the images of maiden, mother and crone. She is one of three women in myth who is credited with being the mother of Cuchulain, an honor usually only given to Taillte by Celtic Pagans. A stray mayfly, containing the “soul” of Lugh, fell into her wine glass. When she drank it she became impregnated with Cuchulain. However, she birthed Cuchulain by throwing him up and therefore always remaind a “maiden.” Described as a woman of “large proportions,” a detail which reveals she had attributes of a mother, fertility and abundance Goddess. She could shape-shift herself and her followers into birds for swift travel and, predictably, they could fly to the Otherworld and back in this form. However, wherever they stopped to feed they nearly destroyed the land, and this links her to the daker side of the Goddess of abundance, that of teh devourer.
Devona
Description: Goddess of the rivers of Devon.
Diancecht
Other Names: Dian Cecht.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Physician-magician of the Tuatha.
Rules Over: Healing, medicine, regeneration, magick, silver-working.
Dil
Location: Ireland.
Description: Very old cattle Goddess about whom nothing is known about today. She could possibly be a derivative of the nearly forgotten Damona of Gaul.
Rules Over: Fertility.
Dispater
Other Names: Dis Pater.
Description: Gaulish God, whose name means “the father,” was a primordial God of creation who later merged with both Don and Cernunnos. The Gauls all believed they themselves to be descended from him.
Rules Over: Fertility magick, magick.
Domnu
Location: Ireland.
DescriptioN: Goddess of the Formorians, who are sometimes referred to as the Fir Domnann (Men of Domnu) in her honor. The Formorian race was one of the occupiers in the five-fold Invasion cycle of Irish mythos. Her name means “the deep,” making sense because the Formorians were banished by the Tuatha De Danann to become grotesque sea monsters off the Irish coast.
Rules Over: Leadership, sea faery contact.
Don
Other Names: Donn, Dhonn.
Location: Ireland, Wales.
Description: Sometimes called a Goddess and sometimes called a God. Ruled over the land of the dead.
Rules Over: Control of the elements, eloquence.
Druantia
Description: “Queen of the Druids.” Fir Goddess.
Rules Over: Fertility, passion, sexual activities, trees, protection, knowledge, creativity.
Dubh Lacha
Location: Ireland.
Description: Early Irish Goddess of the sea which little is known about. Possibly another version of the Druidess Dubh.
Dunatis
Description: Gaulish Celtic God of fortifications. Protector of sacred spaces.
Rules Over: Protection of sacred places and hiding places during rituals.
Dylan
Other Names: Dyonas.
Location: Wales, Britain.
Description: Guardian deity of the mouth of the River Conway. Symbol was a silver fish, son of Gwydion and Arianrhod.
Eadon
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of poetry who may have also been a bard.
Rules Over: Creativity.
Easal
Location: Ireland, Manx.
Description: God of abundance and prosperity who came into legend as King of the Golden Pillars. He gave the sons of Tuirrean seven magickal pigs, which would reappear the day after they were eaten.
Rules Over: Prosperity, abundance.
Ebhlinne
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of Munster who was until recent times honored at the Midsummer Sabbat in her mountain home in County Tipperary. Since all her legends have been lost except for a few minor references, she was probably once a sun or fire Goddess.
Rules Over: Fire magick.
Echtghe
Other Names: Aughty.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Believed to be another form of Dana by some, the first Great Mother Goddess of Ireland. Her lover gave her the hills which bear her name to this day: The Slaibh na Echtghe. She was the daughter of Nuada of the Silver Hand.
Eibhir
Location: Ireland, Manx.
Description: First wife of Ossian who is described as being a yellow-haired “stranger from another land.” She is most likely a forgotten Sun Goddess.
Eithne
Other Names: Ethleen, Ethlinn, Ethniu.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Old Goddess whose original form likely traveled with the Celts across the continent over many generations from the Middle East. It is said she lived off nothing but the milk of a sacred Indian cow and was protected by a spirit who chased away all would-be suitors. Some tend to think she is the same as the Goddess Ethne, who is one of the several women credited with being the mother of Lugh. Her last pregnancy was ended along with her life when she was drowned by her jealous sister, Clothru. A minor fertility and moon Goddess.
Rules Over: Beauty, fertility, reincarnation.
Elaine
Location: Wales, Britain.
Description: Maiden aspect of the Goddess.
Queen of Elphame
Other Names: Elphlane, Elphane.
Location: Scotland.
Description: Goddess of death and disease who is often equated with the Greek Goddess Hecate. More recently, in the past few hundred years, she has been seen as a Faery Queen and assocaited with Beltane. Thomas and Rhymer always maintained that she appeared to him on a May Eve dressed in green silks and riding a white horse with fifty-nine silver bells tied in its mane (odd association since Celtic faeries have always been thought to shun the ringing of bells).
Rules Over: Death, destruction, plague, battle, Otherworld, rebirth, faery contact.
Eostre
Description: Goddess for whom the Ostara Sabbat is named for a.k.a. Easter. She is viewed as spring personified. The word for animal menstruation, “estrus,” meaning “fertile period,” is derived from her name, and therefore she is a Goddess of animal reproduction.
Rules Over: Ostara, Great Rite, Fertility of pets/livestock, new ventures, reincarnation, new life.
Epona
Location: Britain, Gaul.
Description: “Divine Horse.” Goddess of horses, Mother Goddess, Mare.
Rules Over: Fertility, maternity, protectress of horses, horse-breeding, prosperity, dogs, healing springs, crops.
Epos Olloatir
Description: Horse God often seen as either a male form of Epona or as her consort.
Rules Over: Night, dream magick, horses.
Erce
Description: Earth Mother and Harvest Goddess represented by a womb or over-flowing Horn of PLenty who is believed to be Basque in origin.
Rules Over: Harvest festivals, earth magick.
Eri of the Golden Hair
Location: Ireland.
Description: Virgin Goddess of the Tuatha De Danann. In one legend, Eri was at the bank of a river when a man in a silver boat floated down to her on a beaming ray of the sun. She was so overcome with emotion at the sight that the two of them fell into the boat and made love right there and then. The man, most likely an unnamed sun God, left Eri impregnated with Bres. He also left her a golden ring (a sun symbol) to remember him by.
Rules over: Creation, moon.
Eriu
Other Names: Erin, Eire.
Location: Ireland.
Description: One of the three queens of the Tuatha De Danann and daughter of the Dagda.
Essus
Other Names: Esus.
Location: Britain.
Description: Harvest God worshipped in Brittany and in Gaul by the people known as the Essuvi. He died by being hung on one of his sacred trees like the Norse God Odin with whome he is often compared to. His own legends are lost.
Rules Over: Fertility, harvest, spirit contact, passing over rites.
Fachea
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of poetry and patron of bards.
Rules Over: Creativity.
Fea
Location: Ireland.
Description: War Goddess whose root name means “the hateful one.” She is a subordinate deity of the Morrigu. Daughter of Brugh and Elcmar.
Rules Over: War.
Finncaev
Location: Ireland.
Description: Minor Princess among the Tuatha De Danann. Thought to be a Goddess of love and beauty.
Rules Over: Love and beauty.
Finvarra
Other Names: Fionnbharr.
Location: Ireland.
Description: A strong God who became known as a faery king of the Tuatha De Danann.
Rules Over: Competitions, mental powers, faery contact.
Fionn MacCumhal
Other Names: Finn MacCool, Finn McCual, Fin on the Isle of Man, Fingal, Demna (original name).
Location: Ireland, Manx, Scotland.
Description: Legendary giant God/Warrior of ireland who foresaw the coming of the Milesians and banished an invading giant from Scotland.
Rules Over: Wisdom, overcoming enemies, creation, protection, knowledge, divination.
Fland
Location: Ireland.
Description: Daughter of woodland Goddess Flidais. A lake Goddess who is viewed in modern folklore as an evil water faery who lures swimmers to their death.
Rules Over: Water magick, lakes.
Flidais
Location: Ireland.
Description: She rode in a chariot drawn by deer. Ruler of wild beasts, forests, woodlands.
Rules Over: Forests, woodlands, wild things, wild beasts, shape-shifting.
Garbh Ogh
Location: Ireland.
Description: Giantess and Goddess of the hunt whose chariot was drawn by elks. This Goddess built herself a triple cairn of stone and heather, and went inside to die. Her names means “rough youth.”
Rules Over: Ecological magick, seasonal rites involving the sacrificial God.
Garmangabis
Location: Britain.
Description: Goddess who was brought to Britain with the Romans and survives only through cryptic inscriptions. She was worshipped in the Lancashire region of northwestern England, though her function is now unknown.
Gavida
Location: Ireland.
Description: Minor God of the forge.
Goewin
Other Names: Goewyn.
Location: Wales.
Description: Goddess of sovereignty who held the feet of Math while he reigned. She was only exempt from doing this when he went to war. In old northern and western European cultures kings were often seen as semi-divine beings having need to rest their feet in the lap of a queen by whose grace they ruled. When Goewin was kidnapped by Gilfaethwy, he also captured the means of stealing the throne. A May Queen.
Rules Over: Sovereignty.
Gog
Description: Consort of Magog.
Rules Over: Fertility.
Goidniu
Other Names: Gofannon, Govannon.
Location: Ireland, Wales.
Description: One of a triad of crafsmen with Luchtaine the wright and Creidne the brazier. He forged all of the Tuatha De Danann’s weapons which always hit their mark and every wound created by the weapons were fatal. His ale gave the Tuatha invulnerability.
Rules Over: Blacksmiths, weapon-makers, jewelry making, brewing, fire, metal-working.
Goleuddydd
Location: Wales.
Description: Sow Goddess, mother of Culwch who ran in an insane rush to the deep woodlands to give him birth. Aunt of King Arthur.
Rules Over: Family ties, independence.
Grainne
Location: Ireland, Manx, Scotland.
Description: Master herbalist and sun Goddess who was the daughter of King Cormac and who married Fionn MacCumhal.
Rules Over: Herbs, knowledge, sun, fire magick.
Great Father
Description: The Horned God, The Lord. Lord of the winter, harvest, land of the dead, the sky, animals, mountains, lust, powers of destruction, regeneration. Represents the male principle of creation.
Great Mother
Description: The Lady. Represents the female principle of creation. Goddess of fertility, the Moon, summer, flowers, love, healing, the seas, water.
The Green Man
Other Names: Arddhu (The Dark One), Atho, Horned God.
Description: See Cernunnos.
Grian
Location: Ireland.
Description: Faery Goddess from County Tipperary is still thought to live in a burgh beneath Pallas Green Hill. Her name means “sunny” and was most assuredly at one time a long past potent regional sun deity. Though her legends have been lost, some think she is a twin of Aine who represented the waning year, while Grian was queen of the waxing year.
Rules Over: Seasonal rites, sun.
Guaire
Other Names: Guary.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Guardian God/spirit of Bruigh na Boinne and father of Ebhlinne.
Rules Over: Protection.
Gwawl Ap Clud
Other Names: Gwawn.
Location: Wales.
Description: Son of the Goddess Clug. Thought to be a minor sun God.
Rules Over: Solar magick.
Gwen
Location: Wales.
Description: A young female who was so beautiful that almost no one could live if they gazed upon her for long. She was perhaps a minor sun or moon Goddess or a Goddess of light.
Gwydion
Other Names: Gwyddion.
Location: Wales.
Description: Druid of the mainland gods, son of Don. Brother of Govannon, Arianrhod and Amaethon. Wizard and Bard of North Wales. A many-skilled god. Prince of the Powers of Air, a shape-shifter. His symbol was a white horse. Greatest of the enchanters. A warrior-magician. Brought pigs to humankind.
Rules Over: Illusion, changes, magick, the sky, healing, music magick, help, learning, mental powers.
Gwyddno
Location: Wales.
Description: At one time was a sea God. Came down in legend as a monster or faery of the ocean.
Rules Over: Water magick.
Gwynn Ap Nudd
Location: Wales.
Description: King of the Fairies and the underworld. Later became Plant Annwn (subterranean fairies).
Rules Over: Spirit contact, strength, passing over rituals, seasonal rites.
Gwethyr
Other Names: Gwyrthur Ap Gwreidawl.
Location: Wales.
Description: Opposite of Gwynn Ap Nudd. King of the Upperworld.
Habetrot
Description: A “spinning” Goddess who is thought to either be a goddess of spell casting or the wheel of the year since “spinning” refers to them both. She is best known for her powers of healing which were linked to her skills with weaving fiber. All who wore her clothes never became ill.
Rules Over: Healing, seasonal rites, commemoration.
Habondia
Other Names: Abondia, Abunciada, Habonde.
Description: Goddess of abundance and prosperity who was later demoted to a mere witch in medieval English lore in order to strip her of her great power in the minds of the rural folk who depended upon her benevolence for their crops and herds. She is descended from a Germanic Goddess of the Earth.
Rules Over: Seasonal harvest rites, fertility, prosperity, earth magick.
Harimella
Other Names: Viradechthis.
Location: Scotland.
Description: Goddess of Tungrain origin who used to be worshipped in Dunfriesshire. Most likely a Goddess of protection.
Rules Over: Protection.
Henwen
Description: Sow Goddess much like her Welsh counterpart, Cerridwen. She is the deity who brought abundance to the land by giving birth to an array of “litters” throughout England. For example she left a litter of bees in one spot, wheat in another, barley in another, etc. She produced everything except dogs, pigs or other animals thought to be the sole possession of the Otherworld inhabitants.
Rules Over: Fertility, childbirth, prosperity.
Hevydd Hen
Location: Wales.
Description: Father of Rhiannon. Once part of a very old oral tradition which has been lost.
Holly King and Oak King
Description: Two sacrifical Gods who, in the manner of such deities, are two aspects of the same being. Holly King represents the waning year, and battles the Oak King at Midsummer (probably at Beltane sometime in the past) for rulership. The Oak King is the God of the waxing year and fights the Holly King at Yule (perhaps at one time Samhain) for the same honor. Today most celtic witches see these two as faeries or spiritual energies rather than as divine beings since only pieces of folklore and custom, rather than mythology, define them.
The Horned God
Description: Opener of the Gates of Life and Death. Known by many names, herne the hunter, cernunnos, green man, lord of the wild hunt. The masculine, active side of Nature. Earth Father. Animals sacred to him were the stag, bull, goat, bear.
Rules Over: Growing things, the forest, Nature, wild animals, alertness, annihilation, fertility, panic, desire, terror, flocks, agriculture, beer and ale.
Ialonus
Description: Fertility God who governed over all cultivated fields.
Rules Over: Fertility, gardens.
Ibath
Location: Ireland
Description: A Nemed who is belieoved to be a Tuatha ancestor/father God.
Inghean Bhuidhe
Other Names: Crobh Dearg.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Her name means “yellow-haired girl.” Much of her story has been lost, however, we do know that she was the middle girl of three sisters who made up a Triple Goddess. She represented the coming of summer, or Beltane, and for many years was honored with rituals involving a sacred well on May 6, the original date of the Sabbat. Her younger sister was named Latiaran. Her elder sister is named Lassair.
Rules Over: Beltane, flower festivals, spring planting.
Iubdan of the Faylinn
Location: Ireland.
Description: An Ulster God usually known in popular legend as the king of the Ulster faeries.
Rules Over: Faery contact, wisdom.
Keevan of the Curling Hair
Other Names: Cebhain.
Description: Lover of Cliodna who may have been a God of fertility and of the hunt. All myths aside the ones of Cliodna have been lost.
Rules Over: Fertility, hunting.
Kele-De
Other Names: Ceile De.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Very old Goddess whose early all-female following was allowed to flourish by the early church. They were known as Kelles. Their High Priestess reserved the right to take any and all lovers they chose. Strangly enough, she was probably a crone image in Ireland and linked in popular mind as a counterpart to the male creation concept. Some even believe she is a corruption of the Indian Goddess, Kali. In an effort to destroy her memory, an early sect of Irish and Scottish monks adopted her name.
Rules over: Feminine power and sex magick.
The Lady Of the Lake
Location: Wales, Britain
Description: To some she is a faery woman, to others she is a potent deity of life, death and regeneration. She was the possessor of the sword Excalibur (called Caliburn in Brittany), the magickal blade given to King Arthur. A Sovereign Goddess, it is this act of taking the offered sword which grants Arthur the right to rule, and it is she who claims the blade again, when his role as sacrificial king must be fulfilled. The Bretons claim she was a Breton addition to the Arthurian legends and that she never appeared in the original Welsh versions of the myths. Contradictory to the “sword in the churchyard stone” stories, the Breton version tells us that Merlin and Arthur rowed out to the center of the Dosmary Lake in Cornwall and that it was there that Excalibur was presented to him, the sword embedded in a floating stone. When he pulled it out, it was an act of reversal of the Great Rite, separating the female and male concepts of creation which were not to be united again until Arthur’s death. The Lady of the Lake is also said to have been the foster mother of Sir Lancelot, one of Arthurs knights, also a Breton addition to the tale. She is pictured as sitting on a throne of reeds in the center of the lake’s depths. Among her MANY magickal credits is that of a healer. She is associated with the crane, water lilies and marble.
Rules Over: Purification, healing, Great Rite, any other magickal acts associated with the feminine elements.
Lassair
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of Midsummer, part of a triune with her sisters Latiaran and Inghean Bhuidhe. Her name means “flame.”
Rules Over: Seasonal rites.
Latiaran
Location: Ireland.
Description: The youungest of the three sisters who made up a Triune Goddess. Latiaran represented the first harvest of Lughnasadh. The only surviving story about Latiaran tells us that her apron caught fire and she melted into the ground, her place marked by a heart-shaped stone.
Rules Over: Seasonal rites, fire magick.
Latis
Location: England.
Description: Lake Goddess who later became a Goddess of ale and meade. Evidence of her worship still remains at Birdsowald, England. Latis fell in love with a salmon, which represents knowledge, and out of pity for her, the other deities turned him into a warrior. However, each winter he must submit to becoming a salmon again until spring.
Rules Over: Understanding the wheel of the year, samhain rites, mourning.
LeFay
Location: Wales.
Description: Goddess of the sea and of the Isle of Avalon. She was an excellent healer and drinking water bles her provided an instant cure for all illnesses.
Rules Over: Healing.
Leucetios
Description: Thunder and storm God.
Rules Over: Weather Magick
Litavis
Location: Britain.
Description: God of the forge.
Rules Over: See Goibniu.
Llasar Llaesgyfnewid
Location: Wales.
Description: Battle God who is always paired with Cymidei Cymeinfoll, his wife.
Rules Over: Strength, past-lives, creativity.
Llyr
Other Names: Lear, Lir.
Location: Ireland, Wales.
Description: God of the sea and water.
Rules Over: Water, sea.
Logia
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of the Lagan River.
Rules Over: Water magick.
Lot
Location: Ireland.
Description: Hideous Formorian War Goddess. She is said to have lips on her breasts and four eyes on her back. She often led the Formorians into battle.
Luaths Lurgann
Description: Warrior Goddess whose name means “the speedy-footed one,” and she was known to be the fastest runner of all Ireland. She is associated with the Thistle.
Rules Over: Overcoming enemies, family, loyalty, teaching, physical fitness, astral projection.
Luchtain
Other Names: Luchtar.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Minor war and death god.
Rules Over: Creativity, spirit contact, energy, magickal tools.
Lud
Other Names: Llud, Llud Llaw Ereint, Llud of the Silver Hand, Nuada, Nudd, Nodons, Nodens, Lludd.
Location: Ireland, Wales.
Description: Chieftain God. He had an invincible sword, one of the four great treasures of the Tuatha De Danann.
Rules Over: Healing, water, ocean, fishing, the Sun, sailing, childbirth, dogs, youth, beauty, spears, slings, smiths, carpenters, harpers, poets, historians, sorcerers, writing, magick, warfare, incantations.
Lugh
Other Names: Lugh Lamhfada, Llew, Lug, Lugus, Lug Samildananch, Lleu Llaw Gyffes, Lleu, Lugos, Llew, Llew Llaw Gyffes, Lugus, Ioldanach, Samhioldananach, Lamhfada.
Location: Ireland, Wales.
Description: A hero God. His feast is Lughnassadh, a harvest festival. He is associated with ravens. His symbol is a white stag in Wales. Lugh had a magick spear and rod-sling. One of his magick hounds was obtained from the sons of Tuirenn as part of the blood-fine for killing his father Cian. He was a carpenter, mason, smith, harper, poet, Druid, physician and goldsmith.
Rules Over: War, magick, commerce, reincarnation, lightning, water, arts and crafts, manual arts, journeys, martial arts, blacksmiths, poets, harpers, musicians, historians, sorcerers, healing, revenge, initiation, prophecy.
Mabb
Location: Wales.
Description: Warrioress believed to be a Welsh version of Ireland’s Queen Maeve. Today in Welsh folklore she is a faery who brings nightmares and is a midwife to the Welsh faery folk, the Twlwwyth Tegs.
Mabon
Other Names: Maponos, Maponus.
Description: Minor sun got who also ironically represness. Some traditions view hiim as the original being, the first God, first life carved out of the primal void of the divine womb.
Rules Over: Any endeavor, seasonal rites, fertility rites, the hunt, death, spirit contact.
MacCecht
Location: Ireland.
Description: Son of Oghma. God of the plough for the Tuatha.
Rules Over: Fertility, crops, protection magick.
MacCuill
Location: Ireland.
Description: Minor sea God of the Tuatha De Danann.
Rules Over: Water magick.
MacGreine
Location: Ireland.
Desscription: Son of Oghma, minor sun God of the Tuatha De Danann and husband of Eire.
Rules Over: Sun, prosperity.
Macha
Other Names: Mania, Mana, Mene, Minne.
Location: Ireland.
Description: One of the aspects of the triple Morrigu. Associated with ravens and crows. She is honored at Lughnassadh. Protectress in war as in peace. Goddess of war and death.
Rules Over: Cunning, sheer physical force, sexuality, fertility, dominance over males, childbirth, wisdom, overcoming enemies, past-lives.
MacKay
Location: Scotland.
Description: MacKay’s legend is possibly a reworking of an old story about a fire God.
Rules Over: Faery contact, sun.
Queen Maeve
Other Names: Medb, Medhbh, Madb.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Queen of Connacht who personifies the heights of feminine power. No doubt, she was once a powerful Goddess who merged with a later historical figure. Her name means “intoxicated woman,” and she was known for her long golden hair, fiery temper and strong will. She boasted that she could sexually exhaust thirty men each night. As evidence of her feminine power, battles would pause while she menstruated. Ancient peoples believed this time to be the peak of a woman’s power. She was not only a powerful leader, but also an expert warrioress, huntress and horsewoman. Usually animals, especially horses, are often depicted with her.
Rules Over: Sex magick, leadership, perseverance, strength, warding off enemies, feminine power.
Magh Mor
Location: Ireland.
Description: A FirBolg princess/Goddess. Grandmother of Lugh.
Magog
Description: Mountain Deity of which her consort was Gog. She was the more important. Britain’s Megg’s Hills are named for her, and several hillside chalk effigies portray her. She is usually depicted as a four-breasted woman astride a horse. It is thought her name may mean “mother deity,” and that she was once a fertility and motehr Goddess. In patriarchal times she became England’s St. Margaret.
Rules over: Fertility, couples, earth spells.
Mal
Location: Ireland.
Description: Hag’s Headland is the most famous of Ireland’s jagged cliffs along the western coast. Mal was the Goddess who ruled over them, deciding the fate of all who ventured there.
Manannan MacLir
Other Names: Manawydan Ap Llyr, Manawydden, Manann, Oirbsen.
Location: Ireland, Wales.
Description: He dressed in a green cloak and gold headband. He was a shape-shifter. Chief Irish sea God. His swine magickally renewed themselves, were the chief food of the Tuatha De Danann and kept them from aging. He had famous weapons that included two spears called Yellow Shaft and Red Javelin; swords called the Retaliator, Great Fury and Little Furty. He had magick armor that prevented wounds and could make the Tuatha invisible at will.
Rules Over: Sea, navigators, storms, weather at sea, fertility, sailing, weather-forecasting, magick, arts, merchants and commerce, rebirth.
Marcia Proba
Location: England.
Description: Celtic Warrior queen Goddess who lived around the third century B.C.E. Her laws, known as the Marcian Statutes were similar to Ireland’s Brehon Laws in that they were very fair and gave equal status to women.
Rules Over: Judgment, justice, fairness, equality.
Margawse
Location: Wales, Britain.
Description: Mother aspect of the Goddess.
Math Mathonwy
Other Names: Mathu, Math Ap Mathonwy.
Location: Wales.
Rules Over: Sorcery, magick, enchantment.
Mathonwy
Location: Wales.
Description: Father God who became the single being from whom the family of the great Welsh mother Goddess Don was descended.
Rules Over: Prosperity.
Matrona
Other Names: Modron.
Description: Goddess of the Marne River. “Divine mother.” Early name of Modron.
Rules Over: Water magick.
Melusine
Other Names: Melsuline.
Location: Britain, Scotland.
Description: Serpent Goddess brought to common awareness though the writing of French author Rabelais. She and her sisters, Melior and Palatina, are a triplicity.
Rules Over: Compassion, knowledge of when vengeance is not right or just or just none of your business.
Melwas
Other Names: Meleagant.
Location: Cornwall.
Description: A Dark God who lay in wait for an entire year to carry of Guinevere to his palace in Avalon. God of the Summerland (Otherworld).
Rules Over: Spirit contact, passing over rituals.
Merlin
Other Names: Merddin, Myrddin, Merlyn, Emrys.
Location: Wales, Britain.
Description: Great sorcerer, druid, magician. Associated with the fairy religion of the Goddess. A wild man of the woods with prophetic skills, according to the Old Welsh traditions. It is said he learned all his magick from the Goddess under her many names of Morgan, Viviane, Nimue, Fairy Queen and Lady of the Lake. He is thought to sleep in a hidden crystal cave.
Rules Over: Illusion, shape-shifting, herbs, healing, woodlands, Nature, protection, counseling, prophecy, divination, psychic abilities, foreseeing, crystal reading, tarot, magick, rituals, spells, incantations, artisans and smiths.
King Midhir
Other Names: Mider, Midir, Midhir of Bri Leith.
Location: Otherworld/faery God/king, Son of the Dagda and Boann. Owned 3 birds, the Cranes of Denial, Despair and Churlishness, who refused hospitality to travelers, a definite breach of the Celtic rules of social intercourse. He had a magick cauldron which his daughter Blathnat helped Cuchulain steal from him. Today is viewed as both an Otherworld God and a faery God compared to Pluto.
Rules Over: Faery contact, prosperity spells.
Moccus
Location: Britain.
Description: Pig God of the continental standing stones who had his cloudy origins in Celtic Gaul. Perhaps a masculine version of or consort to the popular goddess known as Cerridwen. He had his own feast day in Celtic Gaul.
Rules Over: Sacred Spaces.
Modron
Location: Wales.
Description: “Great Mother,” she is one of the most powerful of the Celtic mother goddesses. She is also a fertility and harvest deity. She was the Mother of Mabon who was stolen away from her when he was three days old and rescued later by King Arthur.
Rules Over: Mother Goddess Magick & Ritual, Harvest rites, childbirth beds, sex magick.
Momu
Location: Scotland.
Description: A Goddess of wells and hillsides.
Morgan LeFay
Other Names: Morgause.
Location: Wales, Britain.
Description: Daughter of LeFay, half sister of King Arthur, possibly was once a Goddess of Glastonbury Tor, a sacred Pagan site. Today she is generally thought of as a Death Goddess, equated with The Morrigu. As a Goddess of sovereignty, she backed the Green Knight to take over the kingdom of Camelot.
Rules Over: Music magick, sovereignty, passing over rituals, spirit contact, water spells, gossip, bigotry.
Morgay
Location: Scotland, England.
Description: Harvest Goddess from the Scottish/English border region.
Rules Over: Seasonal Rites.
The Morrigu
Other Names: Morrigan, Morrighan, Morgan.
Location: Ireland, Wales, Britain.
Description: Reinged over the war-field, helping with her magick, but did not join in battles. Associated with crows and ravens. The Crone aspect of the Goddess. In her dark aspect, she is the goddess of war, fate and death. The carrion crow is her favorite disguise. With her, Fea (hateful), Nemon (Battle) encouraged fighters to battle-madness.
Rules Over: Rivers, lakes, fresh water, priestesses, witches, revenge, night, magick, prophecy, banishing magick, passing over rites, overcoming enemies, battles, warriors, service wo/men, violence.
Muireartach
Location: Ireland, Scotland.
Description: Battle Goddess whose name means “eastern sea,” and she personified the storm-tossed seas between Ireland and Scotland. In modern times an entire race of unpleasant Scottish sea faeries bears her name. She is depicted as a one-eyed crone with a black and blue face and a scaled body. The Fianna said she would occasionally fly in from over the sea and fight on their side in battle.
Rules Over: See The Morrigu.
Mullo
Location: Britain.
Description: Patron Deity of teamsters. He is associated with jackassess and with the Roman God Mars.
Rules Over: Protection in travel, animals.
Murigen
Location: Ireland, Scotland, Manx.
Description: Lake Goddess associated with the deluge legends.
Rules Over: Water magick.
Naas
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess. Wife of Lugh, she died in County Kildare at a site which still bears her name.
Nair
Location: Ireland.
Description: This Goddess is best-known for escorting High King Crebhan to the Otherworld where she gave him great treasures. Her name means “modesty.”
Rules Over: Spirit contact, Samhain rites, prosperity.
Nehalennia
Location: Britain.
Description: Dog Goddess who was the patron deity of sea traders, perhaps an image derived from Sirius (The Dog Star, which was once an important navigational star.
Rules Over: Protection on the water.
Neit
Other Names: Net.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Tuatha De Danann War God who is seen as both the husband of Nemain and of the entire Morrigu triune.
Rules Over: Fertility rites.
Nemain
Other Names: Neman, Nemhain, Nemontona, Nemona.
Location: Ireland.
Description: “Venomous one.” She is one of the triune crone Goddesses of battle and strife which make up The Morrigu.
Rules Over: See The Morrigu.
Nemetona
Location: England.
Description: Guardian Goddess of all sacred places such as circles or magickal groves. A shrine to her was created at Bath, England, where she was shown as seated and surrounded by three hooded figures and a ram. The three figures symbolize the Triple Goddess and the ram is a male fertility representation linked to Cernunnos.
Rules Over: Protection of circles/groves/sacred grounds.
Nemglan
Location: ireland.
Description: Bird God who fathered Conaire Mor.
Rules Over: Divination, fertility, spirit contact.
Niamh
Location: Ireland.
Description: An aspect of Badb who helps heroes at death.
Rules Over: Naming rites, spirit contact, love magick, passing over rituals.
Nicevenn
Location: Scotland.
Description: Crone Goddess associated with Samhain. In modern times she is called a “witch” or “evil faery.”
Rules Over: Samhain rituals.
Noctiluca
Location: Gaul.
Description: Goddess of Magick from Celtic Gaul about whom nothing else is known. It is a possibility she was originally Roman.
Rules Over: Magick.
Nwyrve
Location: Wales.
Description: Husband of Arianrhod about whom nothing is known aside his name. Most likely a father sky god at one time.
Oanuava
Location: Britain.
Description: Very old Earth Goddess from Celtic Gaul. A Mother Goddess who was regionally worshipped as the source from which all life flowed.
Ogma
Other Names: Oghma, Ogmios, Grianainech, Cermait.
Location: Ireland.
Description: A champion of the Tuatha who carried a huge club. He invented the Ogam script alphabet.
Rules Over: Eloquence, poets, writers, physical strength, inspiration, language, literature, magick, spells, the arts, music, reincarnation.
Pwyll
Other Names: Pwyll Pen Annwn.
Location: Wales.
Description: Sometimes the ruler of the underworld.
Rules Over: Cunning, loyalty, fraternal love, spirit contact.
Ratis
Description: Goddess of protective fortifications whose name means “of the fortress.” Ratis’ most notable worship sites were near the towns of Birdoswald and Chesters.
Rules Over: Defenses, protection.
Rhiannon
Location: Ireland.
Description: “The Great Queen.” Goddess of birds and horses. She rides a swift white horse.
Rules Over: Horses, enchantments, fertility and the Underworld, overcoming enemies, patience, magick, moon rituals, dream work.
Rosmerta
Location: Celtic Gaul and Roman Gaul.
Description: Goddess of both Celtic and Roman Gaul. After Rome conquered the region, Rosmerta was taken into the local Roman pantheon where she became a consort of their God Mercury. She is depicted carrying a caduceus wand, which indicates she was adept in the healing arts. In Celtic Gaul her images are confused, and she is considered to be a Goddess of either water or the sun, which is indicative that she may have been associated with hot springs.
Rules Over: Healing, communication.
Saitada
Description: She is known only from one inscription in the Tyne Valley. It is thought she was a Goddess of mourning.
Rules over: Passing Over rites, mourning.
Scathach
Other Names: Scota, Scatha, Scath, Scathach nUanaind, Scathach Buanand, Skatha.
Location: Ireland, Scotland.
Description: Underworld Goddess, Goddess in her Destroyer aspect. A warrior woman and prophetess who lived in Albion, most likely on the Isle of Skye and taught the martial arts.
Rules Over: Blacksmiths, healing, magick, prophecy, martial arts, protection, teaching.
Segomo
Description: War God called by the name Cocidius. His image is always seen with birds of prey such as the hawk or falcon.
Sequana
Other Names: Sequena.
Location: Britain.
Description: Earth Goddess who lived beneath the rivers of Britain and could only be seen if the rivers were drained or low from drought. Goddess of the many other River Goddesses.
Rules Over: Prosperity, earth magick, water magick, purification.
Sheila-Na-Gig
Location: Ireland.
Description: Not much is known about this deity aside the fact that she was most likely a protective or blessing deity. She has been found on the doors of early Irish convents. The nuns adorned the doors with her figure. When the churchmen found this, they were horrified and broke them off. She is depicted as a woman holding wide her vulva in a triangular pattern. Today she is viewed by the Celtic Pagans as a Goddess of regeneration.
Rules Over: Feminine power, past/future-lives.
Shoney
Location: Scotland, Ireland, Manx.
Description: Today, the Shoney are now though tto be sea faeries living off the coast of Scotland and northern Ireland, but were originally a single God of the North Sea.
Rules Over: Faery contact, sea.
Sin
Location: Ireland.
Description: At one time she was a Patron Goddess of warriors who has been reduced to being a minor faery who feeds on battle. The very oldest legends about her portray her as a potent Goddess who could make wine from water and swine from leaves in order to feed and fortify her fighting legions.
Rules Over: Stamina, strength, legal matters, overcoming enemies, protection, prosperity, hunger, homelessness.
Sionnan
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of the River Shannon. Queen of the well spirits of Ireland.
Rules Over: Faery contact, well rituals.
Sirona
Other Names: Dirona.
Location: Britain.
Description: “Star.” Goddess of many of the beneficial hot springs in southern France from which her few legends came. Also a Sky Goddess and most likely deity of the Sun. Mother of Borvo, who took her position in patriarchal times.
Rules Over: Healing, purification.
Slaine
Location: Ireland.
Description: Thought to be a deity of healing and the medical arts. Son of Partholan.
Rules Over: Healing.
Somhlth
Location: Ireland, Scotland, Manx.
Description: God who had no corporeal incarnation. Symbolizes pure masculinity, divine energy.
Rules Over: Masculine powers.
Sucellos
Description: A river and death God about whom nothing but his name is known about. However, some claim he was the consort of Nantosuelta, whose name means “of the meandering stream.” Others see him as a representation of death.
Rules Over: Water, death.
Sul
Other Names: Sulla, Sulis, Sulevia.
Description: Goddess of hot springs whose sacred waters always were hot. Prince Bladud built a shrine to her near Aquae Sulis where the popular modern-day spa is located. The waters were once thought to hold powerful healing magick, and a perpetual fire was burned near them in her honor. She is depicted in bas-reliefs with a foot of an owl, and wearing a hat made of the head of a bear. Later, the Romans adopted her and called her Sul Minerva, a deity later associated with Imbolg and Ireland’s Brigit.
Rules over: Imbolg rites and healing rituals.
Taillte
Other Names: Taultiu, Tailtu, Telta.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of Lughnasadh associated with the harvest of the first grains, especially wheat. It is cryptically said she is the foster mother of light. Perhaps in reference to Lugh). But it also may be in reference to an old creation myth in which the Goddess gives birth to the Sun. This Goddess lived at Tara and was revered there as an earth deity and patron Goddess of competition. Annual games festivels were held at Plain of Oenach Taillten (which was cleared at her behest for a playing field), now called Teltown, until 1169. Many consider these to be the Irish Olympics (Though many others think it was associated with Passing Over rites). These games were revived in the late inneteenth century when a renewed interest in Irish culture flourished. Trial marriages, for a duration of a year and a day, were held on her sacred site to promote fertility.
Rules Over: Seasonal and harvest rites, fertility magick, enhancing strength for competitive games.
Taliesin
Location: Wales.
Description: A poet, Prince of Song. Chief of the Bards of the West. Patron of Druids, bards and minstrels. A shape-shifter.
Rules Over: Writing, poetry, wisdom, wizards, bards, music, knowledge, magick.
Taliesin
Location: Wales.
Description: Minor barley God worshipped through the 16th century. Do not confuse him with the bard, Taliesin, though some of the famous bard’s attributes were grafted onto him.
Rules Over: Fertility, Barley.
Tamara
Description: Goddess of the River Tamar which divides the Duchy of Cornwall from the rest of England. Most likely as much a protective force as she was a water deity.
Rules Over: Creation or fortification of boundaries.
Tamesis
Description: Goddess of the River Thames, later replaced in patriarchal times by Llud, for whom Ludgate Hill in London is named.
Rules Over: Water magick.
Tannus
Other Names: Tinnus, Taranus.
Location: Britain.
Description: Thunder God. In early Gaul human sacrifices were offered to him to influence the weather. He was also God of the wheel as well as God of Fertility and a Sky God.
Rules Over: Seasonal rites, weather magick, fertility spells.
Taranis
Description: Death Goddess to whom human sacrifices were offered.
Rules Over: Passing Over rituals.
Tethra
Location: Ireland.
Description: King of the FirBolgs after they were banished into the sea. He is now seen as a minor death God.
Rules Over: Water magick, faery contact, weather magick, sea.
Tlachtga
Location: Ireland.
Description: Goddess of sacrifice. She died giving birth to triplets fathered by three different men. Associated with Samhain, and her rites were once held on her sacred hill in County Meade, a site which held her name. Today it is known as the Hill of Ward.
Rules Over: Samhain rituals, Croneage rites of passage.
Triduana
Location: Scotland.
Description: Goddess of Edinburgh who plucked out her eyes to erradicate her own beauty rather than submit to the advances of Nechtan, King of the Picts. Some believe she is an eastern Scottish version of the Irish Goddess brrid.
The Triple Goddess
Description: The Triple Goddess is known and worshiped in Pagan cultures all over the world. She is eternal, yet always in a state of change. Her colors are white for the maiden, red for the mother and black for the crone. The Symbol of the Triple Goddess is the Waxing, Full and Waning Moons.
Tuan MacCarell
Other Names: MacCairill.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Nephew of Partholan was a hero who was created a God of animals and the woodlands by the mother Goddess Dana.
Rules Over: Past-lives, shape-shifting, animals, ecological magick, woodlands.
Turrean
Other Names: Tureann.
Location: Ireland.
Description: Beautiful Goddess who was transformed into the first large, shaggy Irish Wolfhound by a jealous faery queen named Uchtdealbh. The spell had a flaw. Not only did it turn Turrean into a dog, but quite literally, she became the most beautiful dog ever seen on earth. She was kept prisoner at Uchtdealbh’s home in Galway Bay until her brother, the warrior chief Fionn MacCumhal, saved her and her two sons, Bran and Sgeolan, who stayed in the shape of the dogs for the rest of their lives. (The sons are often depicted as guard dogs seated near Fionn.)
Rules Over: Making the best of bad situations, dog, dog familiars, New Year rites.
Uairebhuidhe
Location: Ireland.
Description: Bird Goddess whom little is known about today. Most likely a goddess of death or Otherworld. Maybe even a consort of the better-known bird God Nemglan.
Uathach
Location: Ireland, Scotland.
Description: Goddess who trained warriors to fight. One of the many mistresses Cuchulain had over his life.
Rules Over: Proteciton and strength.
Vaga
Description: Goddess of teh River Wye.
Verbeia
Description: Goddess of the Wharfe and Avon Rivers.
Wachilt
Description: Minor sea Goddess later called a “witch” in English mythology. Mother of Wayland the Smith who is a German God honored in England.
White Lady
Location: Known to all Celtic countries.
Description: Dryad of Death. Queen of the Dead. The crone form of the Goddess.
Rules Over: Death, destruction, annihilation.
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