Goddess, Aine, Queen of the Fairies

Áine is a goddess who exudes an aura of sensuality and passion. She is known as the goddess of summer, wealth, and sovereignty. Her presence is often felt during midsummer and is strongly associated with the sun, which shines bright and radiates heat during the longest days of the year.

• Pantheon: Irish Mythology
• Deity Title: Aine, Queen of the Fairies
• Deity Symbol: A red mare
• Home Plane: Arborea, the Olympian Glades of Arborea
• Deity Level: Lesser deity
• Alignment: Chaotic Good
• Aliases: Ana, Anu, Dana, Danu, Dana-Ana, Ana-Dana
• Superior: None
• Traditional Allies: Flidais, Mielikki, Titania
• Traditional Foes: Bres, Balor, Crom Cruach
• Divine Artifact: Aine’s Casket, a small wooden box decorated with carvings of fairies and filled with enchanted flowers
• Servants: Pixies, fairies, sprites, dryads
• Servitor Creatures: Faeries, unicorn
• Sacred Animal: Red mare
• Manifestations: Appearances of the red mare, sudden gusts of wind, sparkling lights in the forest
• Signs of Favor: Rainbows, a sudden burst of sunlight, sprouting flowers
• Worshipers: Bards, druids, farmers, hunters
• Cleric Alignments: CG, CN, NG
• Specialty Priests: Druids, bards, rangers
• Holy Days: Summer Solstice, Midsummer’s Eve, Beltane
• Portfolio: Love, fertility, wealth, crops, harvest, cattle, magic, seasonal changes
• Domains: Chaos, Charm, Earth, Good, Plant, Sun
• Favored Weapon: Whip
• Favored Class: Druid
• Favored Race: Elves
• Duties of the Priesthood: Celebrating seasonal changes, tending to crops, performing marriage ceremonies, protecting the forest, helping the needy
• Major Cult/Temple Sites: Aine’s Hill, Co. Limerick; St Ailbe’s Church, Emly, Co. Tipperary
• Benefits: Can cast faerie fire, charm person, plant growth and cure disease spells; immunity to charm effects; ability to call forth and control faeries and other forest creatures.

As a goddess of love and fertility, she possesses the power to control crops and animals, and is deeply connected to the earth and agriculture. Her symbol, a heart resting in a hand, embodies her essence as a goddess of love and desire. Her priests often wear gloves embroidered with hearts as a sign of their devotion to her.

She is also known to be the daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir, and she is closely linked to the fairies of Irish mythology. The feast of Midsummer Night was held in her honor, as she was revered as a Queen of the fairies.

One of the most well-known stories associated with her is the encounter with the King of Munster, Ailill Aulom. He was infatuated with her and forced himself upon her. In response, Áine bit off his ear as an act of revenge. This act also rendered him unfit to be King, effectively taking away his power of sovereignty.

Through her story, shereveals a side of love and passion that is not always neatly packaged in the bonds of marriage or commitment. Her priests believe that it is better to experience love passionately and gloriously, even if it is short-lived, than to simply be content with one’s partner for many years.

Áine is often described as a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair that glows like the sun, representing her association with the summer and fertility. Her eyes are said to be green like the lush foliage that grows in the fields she governs. She is often depicted wearing a crown of flowers or a golden diadem, symbolizing her status as the Queen of the fairies and the goddess of sovereignty.

She is typically dressed in a flowing white gown, which represents the pure and bountiful qualities of her nature as a fertility goddess. Her physical form emanates a powerful aura of warmth and light, signifying her connection to the sun and the abundance of the harvest season. In many depictions, she carries a whip, representing her aspect as the goddess of love and passion, reminding mortals that it is better to love passionately and intensely, even if only for a short time.

Her favored weapon is the Whip, which reflects her desire to unleash and express passion in all its forms. As a goddess, she strives to promote the idea that love, passion, and desire should be embraced fully and celebrated, rather than suppressed or denied.