Unveiling the Celtic Goddess, Aine

One of the most beautiful, feminine, and powerful Celtic goddesses was the goddess of love, light, and fertility - - Aine. She was one of the goddesses who eventually suffered at the hands of Christian monks who sought to do away with all of Ireland's pagan beliefs. Although her legend did survive, she was transmogrified into a fairy queen.

As is often the case with gods and goddesses, Aine is the subject of some controversy regarding her lineage. Most agree that she was the daughter of King Egobagal. Some, however, believe that she was in fact the daughter of the dark sea god, Manannan McaLir. While still others connect her to him as his wife rather than his daughter.

Also like many goddesses, Aine had different aspects to her personality and was associated with several different things. She was connected to both the sun and the moon at different times in her life. Some claimed she was also the goddess of fertility and, as such had command over all of the crops and animals. It is said that she even sometimes took animal form, as a red mare, in order to walk among her people.

In any case, Aine was quite popular with the Irish people. In fact, her fame spread so far that it eventually reached the Western Isles of Scotland.

The goddess was credited as a muse capable of inspiring great works of poetry. However, if her chosen writers failed her in their artistic expression, it is said that she was equally capable of driving them mad.

Often referred to as a mother deity, Aine was credited with both creation and healing. Some even claimed that she possessed life-restoring powers, which earned her yet another title; that of the goddess of life and death.

In a few Celtic stories of myths and legends, Aine is even equated with being the Merlin's "Lady of the Lake." In any case, whichever version you believe, it is obvious that she was not a goddess to offend.

It was Aine's blatant sexuality that brought her into disfavor when Christianity began to take hold in Ireland. The goddess, like many of her Roman and Greek counterparts, believed in free love and wasn't about to be bound by the ties of matrimony.