Creating Circles and Ceremonies: Rituals for All ... - reading...

270 Creating Circles & Ceremonies
Appendix B: Pantheons of Various Cultures & Religions
By Oberon & Morning Glory Zell-Ravenheart
A fro-Caribbean Pantheon
Afro-Caribbean religions are a mixture of Roman
Catholic ritual elements from the period of
French colonization, and African theological and
magickal elements brought to Brazil, New Orleans,
Haiti, and Cuba by African slaves formerly belonging
to the Yoruba, Fon, Kongo, Benin, and other
tribes. These blendings created many regional
variations, including Voudun, Santeria,
Candomble, Catimbo, Umbanda, Palo Mayombe,
Batuque, and Xango. The common name for these
faiths is Ifa. The Loa or Orisha/Orixa are a group
of African Nature divinities who are concerned with
the lives of humans. Fon/Vodouisants believe all
Loas originate from the Goddess-God co-Creators,
Mawu-Lisa. The Loa are invoked by vévé
(magickal sigils) drawn on the ground, and by singing
and dancing, during which they may possess
certain of their worshippers.
Here are the Orixa, with their feast days:
Ayida Weddo— Rainbow goddess and wife of
Damballa.
Damballa— Serpent god who is the father and
leader of all the Loa.
Elegua (Legba, Exu)— Orixa of crossroads,
doorways, and gates, he is the messenger of the
gods. He loves all things in excess: wine, spicy
foods, singing, dancing, sex, and big cigars.
June 29, Sept. 29.
Erinle— Healer of the sick and injured. Oct.24.
Ghede— Loa of the dead. Nov. 1-2.
Mama Watu— Mermaid goddess of the sea.
Obatala/Babalu Aye— The creator god, of whom
all the Orixa are but aspects. Bringer of peace
and calm, and protector of the crippled and deformed,
he wears all white and drinks no alcohol.
June 21, Sept.24, Dec. 17.
Ogun— Metalsmith and warrior, he is the patron
of civilization and technology. Jan. 17, April 23.
Orunmila— Orisha of wise counsel and protection.
Oct. 4.
Osanyin— Orisha of deciduous vegetation. March 19.
Oxosi— Lord of the forest, the Horned Hunter and
Green Man. May 15.
Oxun (Urzulie)— Beautiful river queen of fresh waters,
she is the goddess of love, sexual passion,
fertility, sensuality, and luxury. March 25, Sept. 8.
Oya— Goddess of storms, tornadoes, lightning,
and cemeteries. She epitomizes female power
and righteous anger. Feb. 2, Nov. 25
Pomba Gira— The sacred whore, and feminine
face of Elegua.
Xango— Orixa of lightning, dance, passion, and
virility. He is the epitome of all things masculine,
and the dispenser of vengeance on behalf of the
wronged. Sept. 30, Dec. 4.
Yemaya (Yemoja, Iemanja)— Loving sea-mother
and goddess of the moon, and guardian of women,
childbirth, fertility, and Witchcraft. She rules the
subconscious and creative endeavors, and is worshipped
by millions in Brazil. Dec. 31.
Celtic-Gaelic Pantheon
The gods of the Welsh and Irish Celts were
called the Tuatha de Danaan (“children of Dana”).
Dana or Danu was Mother Earth and the Lady of
Fresh Waters, and her husband was Bilé, a god of
the Underworld. The Tuatha were a group of people
who migrated into Ireland from their original homeland
in the area of the Danube River. They were
the fifth in a series of waves recorded in the Irish
Book of Invasions.
The Tuatha de Danaan are:
Angus— God of youth and love. He plays sweet
music on his golden harp, and his kisses become
little birds which hover around lovers.
Boann— Cow goddess, wife of Daghda. She bore him
Brigit, Angus, Mider, Ogma, and Bodb the Red.
Bodb the Red— He succeeded his father, Daghda,
as king of the gods.
Brigit— Goddess of fire, forge, hearth, poetry, inspiration,
healing, sacred wells, gold, wealth, and
midwifery.
Camulus— War god who delights in battle and
slaughter.
Daghda (“good god”)— Father god of the Earth,
who succeeded Nuada as king. His harp changes
the seasons, and his cauldron is always full.
Known for his prodigious appetites, his wife is
Boann.
Dian Cecht (“swift in power”)— God of medicine.
He has a spring of health in which wounded gods
are healed.
Goibnu— Metalsmith of the gods. He forges their
weapons and brews a magick potion which renders
them invisible.
Lugh— Grandson of Dian Cecht, and god of the
sun. He is the master of all arts and crafts.
Lyr— God of the sea.
Manannan/Manawyddan— The son of Lyr, he is
the great Wizard of the Tuatha, and patron of
merchants and sailors.