Aynia
ORIGIN:
Irish
Aynia, powerful, ancient Irish goddess, Fairy Queen of Tyrone, may or may not be the same spirit as Aine. Aine is a solar spirit and Aynia a lunar one, but it is possible that once upon a time these were two paths or sides of the same goddess.
Aynia is a spirit of the moon, death, stones, the tides, and the sea. Moonlight allegedly bestows fertility and psychic ability but may also confer madness, hence the term lunatic. Aynia is profoundly tied to each of these gifts. Among her sacred sites was a large stone near Dunany called Aynia’s Chair or the Chair of the Lunatics, believed to exert a magical magnetic force that drew rabid dogs and mentally unstable people who stayed until forced to leave or until another mysterious compelling force lured them into the sea, Aynia’s domain. It was considered dangerous for those who were mentally fit to sit in Aynia’s chair as they, too, might lose their wits.
Aynia teaches master classes in herbalism and healing to Fairy doctors. She sponsors healers. It was considered dangerous to let blood or operate surgically on Aynia’s sacred day; death of the patient was considered likely. Aynia serves as a psychopomp, leading those she loves and admires to the next realm.
Aynia is associated with death by drowning. On her holy days near Lughnasa, people were advised to stay out of the water and fishermenavoided plying their trade lest they drown, possibly a vestigial memory of ancient human sacrifices. Post-Christianity, Aynia was reclassified as a dangerous Fairy or Witch Queen.
FAVOURED PEOPLE:
Healers; Fairy doctors; poets, authors, and playwrights; she may perceive those who ply their trade on the sea (fishing, research, diving, and so forth) as obligated to pay her tribute.
PLANET:
Moon
ELEMENT
Water
Sacred place: County Tyrone in general; a stone formation at Knocknanny called Aynia’s Cove is believed to be her special haunt. Although generally considered a reasonably benign spirit (as long as you stayed out of her chair!), she is protective of her territory and allegedly punishes those who remove as much as a pebble. (
SEE ALSO:
Pelé.)
Sacred days: Midsummer’s Eve; the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday following Lughnasa (1 August) are dedicated to her; this is the tail end of what was once a much longer festival than the modern Wiccan sabbat.
Animal: Dogs; rabid dogs—once perceived as moonstruck—are believed to act under her control. If confronted with a rabid dog, she’s the one to quickly petition for help.
OFFERINGS:
Anything to do with the sea or moon. Give her moonstones, silver charms, moon-infused water, or botanicals associated with the moon like moonwort (Botrychium lunaria), native to Northern Ireland.
SEE ALSO:
Aine; Endymion; Fairy; Fairy Queens; Lugh; Mania; Mari (1); Pelé; Psychopomp
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses – Written by : Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.