Is the Goddess of love calling to you? Aine (AHN-ya) is an Irish Celtic goddess who rules over love, fertility, summer, the self, the sun, wealth, agriculture, and the moon. Aine literally means bright, joy, radiance, and splendour. She is a goddess full of energy and generosity but can also bring justice through intellect when necessary. So, how do you work with Aine? Here we discuss who Aine is and how to work with her in your magickal practice.
Oils Used:
MEADOWSWEET BLEND:
Musk, Vanilla, Jasmine, Rose, Lemon, Orange, Honey, Wildflowers
Crystal used: Picture Jasper:
Picture Jasper is a landscape stone that's believed to help us find our place in the world. When we've stepped off the path or gone down a path we never intended, picture jasper is thought to give the time and space alone to sort through things.
It carries a strong connection to Earth energies and as such can help bring harmony to your life on many levels.
Picture Jasper is a soothing stone that brings peace and serenity, providing comfort to those who are grieving due to the loss of someone or something in their life.
It diminishes feelings of loneliness, guilt or anxiety by encouraging you to focus on the present moment while clearing your mind.
Picture Jasper is good for grounding the free-flowing emotions of those who have suffered a traumatic event.
Picture Jasper enables you to see the beauty in that which has been previously unknown or taken for granted, bringing delight to everyday living that you may have otherwise missed out on.
Picture Jasper is a stone of creativity and deep thoughts. It can help with any life transitions from birth to death, give you strength in making personal changes, and provide an extra boost in accomplishing goals.
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Who is the Celtic Goddess Aine?
Like many Celtic deities, Aine is known by many names and her lore is woven in and through many mythological tales. Most prominently, Aine is known as the Faery Queen of Munster whose home resides at Cnoc Aine. Munster is a province in Knockainey Co. (also named after the goddess) in Southwest Ireland while Cnoc Aine is her sacred faery hill. It’s interesting to note, in addition to being an earth goddess, she’s also connected to the water element. She’s the Lady of the Lake in some myths.
Aine is depicted as wearing a flowing yellow dress and having long red hair held in place by a headband full of stars. This is a nod to her association with both the sun and the moon. She also has shapeshifting abilities and is seen on occasion as a red mare, Lair Derg.
Aine’s Deity Associations: Mortals and Gods
Aine is present in many myths and is associated with a wide variety of mortals and deities within Celtic lore. In some stories, she is said to be coveted by the human Earl of Desmond who won her over with a magickal cloak. In others, it is said that the Earl forced himself upon her and in return she bit his ear so that he could no longer retain his power (you could not hold a position of power if you were physically imperfect). And still in others, it is said that instead of violence, she strikes a deal with the Earl that ultimately grants her freedom from the Earl. However, in every version of the story, the two produce a son who becomes ‘The Magician’ (some speculate Merlin himself).
She is also heavily associated with the sea God Manannan Mac Lir in one format or another. Some tales say she’s the sea god’s daughter, and in others she’s his wife. And in a third version of the myth, she is the daughter of Lir’s foster son. Her exact association with Manannan remains shrouded in mystery. Perhaps this is where her connection to the water element originated.
Aine as Divine Ancestress to Irish Clans
Her union with Gerald FitzGerald, the Earl of Desmond, is the beginning of a long line of FitzGeralds who claim Aine as their ancestor. Intriguingly, the FitzGerald clan wasn’t originally Irish as they came from Normandy. Yet they considered Ireland their home so much so that Aine became their ancestor. So, if you have FitzGeralds in your ancestry, you too can claim Aine as your divine ancestor!
On the Celtic Irish side, the clans that stem from the Eoganachta dynasty claim Aine as their ancestral goddess. This connection being through Aine’s forced union with the “unfit king” Ailill Aulom. Some of those clan names include MacCarthy, O’Callaghan, O’Keefe and MacAuliffe. So, if you or your ancestors claim these names, you can claim descent from Aine herself.
Aine, the Celtic Goddess’ Domains
Aine taught her human children how to love one another and how to express that love. She teaches sovereignty, bestows gifts upon her followers, and rules over land, sea, and sky. Aine is associated with the sun and moon, fertility, love, sex, agriculture, livestock, prosperity, abundance, luck, summer, wealth, healing, water, and air.
CREDIT ALLORAH RAINE