recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Dryad

**Origin:** Greece

Dryads are female woodland spirits. Attendants of Artemis, they are the guardians of trees, groves, and forests. The dryads live in trees but should not be confused with hamadryads who are stationary spirits of individual trees and who die when a tree is felled. Dryads, on the other hand, move around quite easily. To see them was considered unlucky, but this may be because as vigilant guardian spirits they most frequently made themselves visible when displeased and intent on inflicting disciplinary action.

* If trees must be cut, Dryads should be given due notice and propitiatory offerings.
* If trees have already been cut, erect an altar by the tree with lavish offerings and hope for the best.

Paracelsus used the name Dryad to classify a group of Elemental Spirits.

**Offerings:** Milk, water, wine, oil, and honey

**See Also:** Artemis; Nymph; Ondine

## Appearances in Modern Media

From Kamihime ProjectFrom Blood BrothersFrom Brave FrontierFrom Rage of BahamutFrom Reign of DragonsFrom Force of WillFrom Unison LeagueFrom Monster Strike
## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Feast

Some spirits are associated with specific calendar dates, commonly known as their *feast* (whether or not any feasting is actually done).

A spirit's feast is a day of power. If you have the luxury of choosing when to make an appeal, this is often the most advantageous time. Spirits are generally at the peak of their powers and generosity. They anticipate requests; their ears and hands are open. It is also the perfect time to fulfil vows and repay favours.

Spirits possessing feast days include African-Diaspora spirits such as the Iwa or orishas who are syncretized with Catholic saints. Many East Asian, Hindu, Egyptian, Celtic, and Roman spirits also possess multiple feasts; at least one usually commemorates the date an important shrine dedicated to that spirit was consecrated.

Dates for feasts at local shrines are included on individual pages, but be advised that customs are often updated faster and more spontaneously than any wiki. Verify dates before making travel plans. Festivals of Asian spirits are determined by their own respective calendars, not necessarily the standard Western calendar. References to Roman or other ancient feast days are by necessity approximations; calendars have changed many times since those festivals were outlawed.

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies,
Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Egg

A Symbol of genesis, beginnings, and growth. The egg, properly fertilized with the creative force and incubated, germinates new life. In a dream, this might be a new project, a new phase in life, or a new sense of self. The egg also is a universal symbol of fertility. In mythology, the egg represents the primordial cosmos, the life principle, the undifferentiated totality, wholeness, and the womb of the Mother Goddess. This Cosmic Egg is often represented by an egg entwined by a snake or ouroboros. In alchemy, the egg is the Prima Materia, or hermetically sealed vessel, in which the philosopher’s stone is created. Its white color lends it the association of perfection. Michael maier, in Atalanta fugiens (1617), depicts a knight with sword poised to strike an egg. Maier explains that the knight is Mars (iron) and fire (Vulcan’s sword) and that the egg represents both gold and sulphur and albedo, the whitening stage of the Great Work. States Maier: There is a bird in the world, more sublime than all, Let it be your only care to find its egg. Attack it cautiously with a fiery sword, (as is the custom), Let Mars assist Vulcan; the bird arising from it Will be conqueror of iron and fire. Other meanings of eggs are spiritual nourishment, hope, and resurrection.
Fairy Queens

Post-Christianity, some powerful Pagan spirits were reclassified as saints. (Brigid.) Others were reclassified as Fairy Queens. Fairy Queens tend to be goddesses who refused to disappear or whose devotees refused to let them go. They are sexually assertive female spirits and hence not easily assimilated as saints. Describing them as Fairy Queens offers these spirits an acceptable mask, enabling their devotees to maintain their sacred traditions, similar to the way Yoruba orisbas became Santeria saints.

Many, although not all Fairy Queens derive from the family of spirits known as the Tuatha Dé Danaan. Many are now frequently described as malevolent; however, they may just be angry, frustrated, and in a bad mood. Their present treatment is not necessarily what they envisioned or what they experienced over thousands of years. If they perceive that you are a sincere devotee, they may become very benevolent guardians.

However, once burned, twice shy: these tend to be insecure, volatile spirits. Make sure devotions are consistent. If you are ill or taking a vacation or somehow unable to fulfil their expectations, communicate this clearly to the spirit. Request their help so that devotions may continue or at least so that you can claim that it’s not entirely your fault that devotions have ceased.

Many Fairy Queens may be ritually channelled in the manner of other spirits.

**See Also:** Aibheall; Aine; Aynia; Béfind; Fand; Maeve; Titania; Tuatha Dé Danaan

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Syna

### Relatives

GMB [Father]Aife Akumura [Mother]Ara Akumura [Sister]Blaise Akumura [Brother]Becky Akumura [Sister]

## Physical description

### Eye color

Gray

**Syna** **Akumura** is the fifteen-year-old son of councilor GMB and Aife Akumura. His relation to the well known “Ice Councilor” has left him with a few abilities of his own. Not only can he manipulate ice like his father, but he can also do the same with fire as well.

Syna’s actually a pretty big introvert, though. It’s hard for him to hold a normal conversation, which is why he used to remain indoors for most of his life. After his father was brutally injured and went MIA, he stepped outside for the first time in years and went to find out what happened. The next events following his search are unknown, but after the day GMB was found he was never the same. Soon after, Syna decided to help out with the war for personal reasons, and the two left home for a final time to fight for their nation.
Hammu Qaiyu

**Also known as:** Hammou Ukaiou; Hammu Ukaiou; Ba’al Hammou

Hammu Qaiyu is the male counterpart of Aisha Qandisha. Just as she lures men into danger, so Hammu’s pursuit of women travelling alone at night often has fatal or at least scary consequences. Hammu Qaiyu is not only a nocturnal pest, however. He is a powerful oracular spirit, summoned during ceremonies to engage in ritual possession. When possessed, his devotees dance with knives, swords, and daggers.

He is considered Aisha’s official husband. Like her, his identity is subject to debate. He may be a powerful Djinn or even an Afarit. Alternatively he may be Ba’al Hammon whose fortunes have taken a downturn since the days when he was widely venerated in Carthage. Hammu Qaiyu craves blood, perhaps harking back to the days when he was offered blood sacrifices. He lingers near slaughterhouses and abattoirs. He has a fondness for menstruating women. He is a dangerous spirit, but if he likes you, he can be an exceptionally powerful and aggressive guardian.

**Favoured people:** Butchers

**Colour:** Blood red

**Offering:** Red jawi incense (Styrax benzoin)

**See Also:** Afarit; Aisha Qandisha; Ba’al Hammon; Djinn

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Familiar

In magical parlance, a *familiar* is a creature (animal, fish, bird) with whom one possesses an extremely intense, close bond and relationship: a soul partner. The most famous examples are classic witches' familiars: black cats, owls, or bats.

Familiars aren't only for witches or mages. Many spirits have profound associations with specific creatures. Animals may serve as the spirit's messengers or as forms in which the spirit manifests. The spirit may be inextricably linked with that animal, virtually always appearing together.

Animals facilitate encounters between spirits and humans. If you have petitioned a spirit, watch out for appearances of that spirit's familiars. Animals may appear live and in the flesh, but they may also appear in dreams or images. If you petitioned the Egyptian scorpion spirit, Selkhet, on Monday, a postcard unexpectedly received on Tuesday bearing the image of a scorpion would be considered very auspicious.

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Ajysit

*Milk Lake Mother; Birthing Mistress*

**Origin**: Yakut (Siberia)

Ajysit is a goddess of laughter, fate, fertility, and childbirth. She is involved in the whole birth process, beginning at conception. She may be petitioned specifically for a male child. Ajysit assists during labour; her presence helps ensure safety. She eases the pain of labour and brings the soul to the child. She records every new birth in a golden book, together with the child's future fate.

If delivery is unsuccessful, it is unnecessary to perform rituals or create a feast for Aiysit, who departs quietly and discreetly.

**Realm**: Ajysit lives atop a seven-story mountain.

**Creatures**: Ajysit has dominion over domestic animals. The cow is her sacred creature.

Rituals and offerings: A special offering table is created in the delivery room. She prefers offerings of butter. She expects various post-birth rituals to be performedd involving the midwife, the new mother, and other women, particularly those also seeking fertility. (Ajysit is very receptive to fertility petitions at this time.) A feast is prepared in Ajysit’s honor. For three days following the birth, the new mother is sequestered. Her female friends come to visit her and share butter with her. After the three days are up, the mother’s bedding is tied into the top of a tall tree. Ajysit departs until the next birth.

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Eurynome

**Origin:** Pelasgian

In the beginning, according to the creation story of the Pelasgians, early inhabitants of Greece, Eurynome, the All-Goddess and primal mother, rose from Chaos. Dividing the sky from the waters, she began to dance on the waves. Out of the wind, Eurynome created a huge serpent and named him Ophion. They danced together, then Ophion coiled about her and she conceived. Eurynome transformed into a dove and brooded over the waters. She laid the universal egg and bade Ophion coil around it until it was time to hatch. Out of that egg emerged all of Creation, Earth’s planets, and all living creatures, all children of a goddess and a primordial snake.

Eurynome was assimilated into the Greek pantheon as a Titan. She may be the mother of the Erinyes and Charites.

**Manifestation:** Eurynome may manifest as a winged woman or as a mermaid.

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Hemah

Angel of wrath, fury, and destruction who governs the death of domestic animals. According to Jewish lore, Hemah lives in the seventh heaven; he is 500 parasangs tall and is made of chains of black and red fire. A parasang is a Persian unit of measurement used to describe the dimensions of the heavens and the distances between them, and the heights of angels. One parasang equals approximately 3.88 miles. In the Zohar, Hemah is one of three angels in Gehenna—along with Af and Mashit—who punish those who sin by idolatry, incest, and murder. Hemah swallows Moses with the help of his brother angel Af. God intervenes and forces him to spit Moses out again. Moses then kills Hemah.

## Information Source

The Encyclopedia of Demons and Demonology – Written by Rosemary Ellen Guiley
Elm

(Ulmus campestris) G

Folk Names: Elven, English Elm, European Elm

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Saturn

Element: Water

Deities: Odin, Hoenin, Lodr

Powers: Love

Magical Uses: Once known as “Elven” due to its popularity among elves, elm is now used to protect against lightning strikes, as well as to attract love when carried.
Guan Yu

**Homeland**: China

**Venerated for**: Warfare

**Title**: Saint of War

## Smite Lore

As a man, Guan Yu was the embodiment of loyalty, honour, and strength. As a God, he is a guardian of justice, a hero to the downtrodden, the Saint of War.

In the ancient times of the East, a great war between Three Kingdoms raged. The warlord Liu Bei, and his friends, Zheng Fei, and the mighty Guan Yu swore an oath of brotherhood in a mystical peach garden, vowing to create a new, righteous world. Together, they fought countless battles against the warlords Cao Cao and Sun Quan, and Guan Yu grew famous for his combat prowess and unwavering honour.

During the war, Cao Cao captured Guan Yu. At the time, Liu Bei's fate was uncertain, so he agreed to fight for Cao Cao under specific terms, chiefly that he would abandon Cao Cao if ever he learned the whereabouts of his sworn brother. Despite Cao Cao's gifts and promises of wealth, when Liu Bei resurfaced, Guan Yu immediately went to his side. Years later, Guan Yu again faced Cao Cao on the battlefield as the warlord fled from his defeat at Red Cliffs. Guan Yu cut off Cao Cao's retreat and obliterated his forces. Cao Cao, however, he spared and released, as a matter of honour.

After his death, Guan Yu's spirit remained at a holy shrine, coming to the aid of nearby villagers in need, battling the cruel and selfish. From all over the East, worshippers came to the shrine and burned incense to honour him. Such popularity led to Faith, and thus Guan Yu was raised as a God, deified a few hundred years later.
Now, he embodies the virtues he lived by. His statues, wielding a massive guan dao, ward against evil. Red faced to represent loyalty, his likeness is carried by merchants as proof they can be trusted. If their cause is just, he leads armies to victory.
Dragon Goddess of Borneo

**Origin:** Dayak (Borneo)

The Dragon Goddess of Borneo protects the living and guards the dead, guiding them to the next realm. She is the preeminent goddess of the Dayak, the indigenous people of Borneo. Her image is ubiquitous in Dayak culture, appearing on everything from baby carriers to funerary monuments. Dragon imagery is incorporated into traditional architecture so that she serves as a personal home guardian.

The Dragon Goddess is the source of agricultural and personal fertility. She commands thunder and lightning. Her consort and male counterpart is the Rhinoceros Hornbill, among the largest hornbills and now an endangered species. This hornbill rules the Upper World while the Dragon Goddess rules the Underworld. Together they preside over a Tree of Life, linking the realms.

**Elements:** Earth, water

**See Also:** Dragon Queens

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Cymbee Spirits

Simbi survived the Middle Passage from Africa and arrived in South Carolina’s Low Country, where this family of water spirits promptly slipped into some water and made themselves at home. In the nineteenth century, both before and after the abolition of slavery, white folklorists, geologists, and land surveyors began recording cymbee stories. Interviews were conducted orally; interviewers spelled the word as it made sense to them: cymbee. Cymbees are Simbi spirits, but the spelling is now used to distinguish South Carolina manifestations. These written reports tend to emphasize that local black people were frightened of the Cymbees, but it’s crucial to keep this in context.

Cymbees were secret, sacred lore: it was not considered wise or beneficial to discuss them too openly. (Cymbee spirits are sensitive to what they perceive as disrespect.) Some of the earliest recorded stories were told as warnings to men sent to brick off a spring or otherwise trouble the waters. These stories were recorded and fascinated other white men, who began collecting them, often emphasizing what they perceived as the ignorant, superstitious nature of their sources.

Each spring or small body of fresh water has its own Cymbee, which has its own unique appearance, size, and habits. Individual Cymbees have names, some wonderfully evocative like “The Great Desire of the Unrotting Waters.” Plank bridges placed over the water serve the Cymbees as seats.

Whether in America or Africa, Cymbees are guardians of water. The Middle Passage and the conditions awaiting in South Carolina did not improve the Cymbees’ tempers. They are fairly volatile spirits: any disturbance of the spring or disrespect toward it angers them. They show their displeasure via water phenomenon: waters are described as roiling or churning. They also have the power to raise storms. They Demonstrate anger by removing water: springs drying up are interpreted as the departure or disapproval of the Cymbee.

If you have a spring- or freshwater pond, then you may have a Cymbee, even if it has been lying low. (Alternatively, if you seek one, you can invite one.) In addition to guarding the water, a Cymbee may serve as a personal or family guardian. They bring prosperity, good fortune, and abundance, including fertility, in their wake. Sit quietly near the water (not necessarily too near) and see whether the Cymbee will reveal itself.

**Manifestation:** Cymbees are proportionate in size to the water source they inhabit and are described as vaguely human in appearance. Some have webbed feet or are full-blown mermaids complete with fish tail.

**Offerings:** Always consider their water precious and sacred, treating it respectfully. Small gifts (shiny trinkets, libations, traditional offerings for mermaids) are appreciated as well.

**See Also:** Mami Wata; Mermaids; Simbi

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Ezili Mapyan

Ezili Freda and Ezili Dantor have autonomy over their sex lives. They sleep with whom they want; they reject those they do not desire. Not everyone is so fortunate. Ezili Mapyan is a spirit in the guise of an enslaved woman. Her master raped her, and so she killed him. She is a powerful spirit of rage who is invoked by those seeking revenge and justice.

**See Also:** Ezili; Ezili Dantor; Ezili Freda Dahomey

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Citipati

*The Charnel Lords; Lords of the Cemetery*

**Also known as:** The Chitipati

**Origin:** Tibet

The Citipati were two ascetics who meditated so deeply that they were completely unaware of being set upon by robbers and beheaded. After death, they emerged as wrathful deities who are invoked as fierce but ultimately benevolent protectors. The Citipati are companions of Yama, Lord of Death.

The Citipati are laughing, dancing skeletons. They represent the eternal dance of death. They are also erotic spirits: like the Barons, they are lords of sex and death. Their dance embodies the undying life-force. The ritual Dance of the Citipati is commemorated twice annually in Tibet. Post their image for protection and to drive off evil spirits.

**Iconography:** Two grinning, dancing skeletons, usually one is male, the other female; their bodies intertwined, they dance ecstatically and joyfully. The Citipati wear headdresses of five jeweled skulls. Their heads resemble a big skull topped by tiny ones.

**See Also:** Barons; Yama

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Eyebright

(Euphrasia officinalis) G

Folk Names: Euphrosyne, Red Eyebright

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Sun

Element: Air

Powers: Mental Powers, Psychic Powers

Magical Uses: Brewed into a tea and drunk, eyebright clears the mind and aids the memory.

The infusion applied to the eyelids on cotton pads induces magical clairvoyance, but it must be persisted in before results are achieved. Carry to increase psychic powers. Also, use when you need to see the truth in a matter.
Cerberus

**Pantheon**: Greek

**Title**: Warden of the Underworld

## Smite Lore

Do not pass the black expanse of the river Styx if blood still flows in your veins. For there, upon the opposing shore, stands guard a beast of impossible animosity. Three fanged wolf heads will be your welcome, hackles raised, eyes like embers, burning green with ghostly flame. A sinuous tail whips with a mind all its own, barbed with the head of a serpent, forked tongue tasting the air. Should your body still be warm with life's glow when you dare set foot upon the shore, Cerberus, Hound of Hell, will feast upon your flesh, consuming both body and soul.

No mercy resides in this creature. He is a monster, brought into this world by the Mother of Monsters, Echidna, for no other purpose than to guard the gates of hell. There he remains, eternally chained to the shrouded passage. None of the living may enter. None of the dead may leave.
Chelone

**Origin:** Greece

Chelone, a mountain Nymph, objected to the nuptials of Hera and Zeus. Perhaps as a warning to others not to voice objections, Zeus shut her up by transforming Chelone into a turtle. Another version has him so aggravated with her that he caused her house to collapse on top of her. Now she carries it wherever she goes. (Later versions have Hermes, as Zeus’ messenger and proxy, casting the actual spell.)

Chelone, the Turtle Goddess, is the spirit of silence. She may be invoked by those who need silence as well as by those who have been silenced. Chelone is the matron of political prisoners, those persecuted for voicing objections as well as those afraid to speak their minds. Chelone is also the matron of the homeless and those able to carry all their possessions on their backs.

**Altar:** Decorate altar space with turtle imagery or with a terrarium for turtles.

**Animal**: Turtle

**Flower**: Chelone species, known as turtlehead flowers

**See Also:** Hera; Hermes; Nymph; Zeus

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Elecampane

(Inula helenium) P N D+

Folk Names: Alantwurzel (German), Alycompaine, Aunee (French), Elf Dock, Elfwort, Horseheal, Nurse Heal, Scabwort, Velvet Dock, Wild Sunflower

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Mercury

Element: Air

Powers: Love, Protection, Psychic Powers

Magical Uses: Worn, elecampane attracts love. Sew up some of the leaves or flowers in pink cloth, or make a sachet. It is also carried for protection, and the herb smouldered on charcoal aids in sharpening psychic powers, particularly when scrying.

## Information Source

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs By Scott Cunningham
Erlang Shen

**Pantheon**: Chinese

**Title**: The Illustrious Sage

## Smite Lore

Many are the legendary tales of Erlang Shen.

Hearing the Riverlands surrounding his home were consumed by floods, he went to engineer new dams and canals. Yet the true source of the disaster proved to be an evil dragon. With seven companions, Erlang Shen ambushed the beast. Cowardly and quick the dragon slithered into the rapid river waters, but Erlang Shen captured it with a great chain and bound it beneath a shrine. Thus the floods subsided.

When Sun Wukong's troublesome antics drew the ire of the Jade Emperor, Erlang Shen faced the Monkey King on the battlefield. For every form Sun Wukong took, Erlang Shen transformed as well. Across sea and sky and land they battled. Thus was Sun Wukong sent fleeing for his life.

When the people were plagued by demons and monsters, Erlang Shen slaughtered them to keep his countrymen safe. Three-bladed spear in hand and hunting dog at his side, no evil could threaten the innocent of the Empire. Thus, Erlang came to be loved and worshipped.
A Goddess mother and a mere mortal father, he is of two worlds. He is both sage and soldier, humble yet regal, his veins filled with the blood of men and the divine blood of his uncle, the Jade Emperor. Having risen above his forbidden origins, Erlang Shen has proven himself among the greatest of heroes in the Jade Empire.
Fafnir

**Pantheon**: Norse

**Title**: Lord of Glittering Gold

## Smite Lore

There is no creature, living nor dead, more greedy, more vile than a dwarf. In the frozen reaches of Asgaard, beneath her mighty stone peaks, do they dwell, ever hammering to forge more gold jewellery, to carve more gleaming gems, to breathe curses into their finery.

Among these wretched kin is Fafnir, son of Hreidmar, with a swollen smithing arm and a ravenous hunger for violence, both of which are eclipsed by his avarice.

Once Spring, Odin, Loki, and Honir visited Hreidmar's realm, bearing an otter pelt they'd skinned on their journey. Horrified, Hreidmar entombed the Aesir, for the otter was, in truth, his third son. Freedom would not be theirs until Loki returned with the hide filled with gold. Refusing to be outdone, the Trickster God, stuffed the pelt to bursting with the cursed treasure of Andvarri. Hreidmar, unaware of the maligned hoard, greedily exchanged the Aesir for the wealth. That night, curling his powerful arm, Fafnir strangled his father and vanished into the frosted night with the cursed gold.

And so it was that madness took him. Paranoid his last brother would steal the treasure, Fafnir guarded it jealously while the curse whispered in his ear. Slowly, surely, twisted he became, scaled and nightmarish. His breath turned to poison, his maw, fanged, his demeanor, fouler. A dragon, he became. The very symbol of greed.

## Appearances in Modern Media

In SmiteIn Final FantasyFafnir's Human form from Ms Kobayashi's Dragon Maid
Chinnamasta

*The One Who Fulfills All Wishes; The Decapitated*

**Also known as:** Chinnamastika

**Origin:** India

Chinnamasta, Tantric wisdom goddess, is the subject of an unforgettable votive image: beautiful Chinnamasta stands headless atop a copulating man and woman who may be Kama and Rati. She holds her own severed head in one hand and a sword in her other. Three streams of blood spurt from her neck: one into her own mouth and the others into the mouths of two attending dakinis. In traditional iconography, they look exactly like her: they are her duplicates although usually smaller, visually emphasizing that she is the goddess and they are the attendants. They resemble identical triplets.

No known sacred myth or narrative is associated with the image, but it is considered to have tremendous spiritual significance; some say a lifetime may be spent meditating upon it. The image of decapitated, blood-drinking Chinnamasta expresses the eternal cosmic process of creation, preservation, and destruction: the interdependence of sex, love, life, and death. Her blood leaves her but simultaneously nourishes her. She is dead but alive, or vice versa. Her image is emblematic of self-sacrifice. Chinna-masta represents the paradox of the loving mother as killer.

Chinnamasta is a great yogini. She serves as a vehicle of transformation. Chinnamasta fulfills the desires of her devotees. She is also associated with a powerful yantra, a geometric figure for magical and spiritual use.

**Consort**: Headless Shiva

**Attributes:** Sword, bowl of blood

**Color:** Red

**Animal**: Cobra

**Flower**: Red jaba flower (red hibiscus)

**See Also:** Dakini; Kali; Kama; Rati; Shiva

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Gran Bois

**Also known as:** Gran Bwa

**Classification:** Lwa

Gran Bois is the Father of the Forest, a divine healer who presides over botanical secrets and the sacred power of the forest. He is a primordial and exceptionally powerful lwa. He may be of Congolese origin, although some believe him to have originally been a Taino spirit incorporated into the Vodou pantheon. (See Also**:** Anacaona.)

Gran Bois is considered the head of Vodou’s Kongo and Petro pantheons and is the patron of initiation. He forms a trinity of master magicians with Baron Cimitière and Maitre Carre-four. Gran Bois is the Tree of Life connecting the celestial realms with those of the living and the dead. He rules the forest but also Ginen, the mystical undersea island, home of ancestors and lwa, the Vodou realm of the dead. Essentially Gran Bois knows all secrets of life and death.

Gran Bois is syncretized to Saint Sebastian, traditionally depicted bound to a tree.

**Manifestation:**

Gran Bois is usually envisioned as a kind of tree-man with roots for feet. He is traditionally considered mute, as he is so primordial that he is pre-speech. (See Also: Damballah; Faunus.)

**Animals:** He protects all forest animals, but his own special sacred creatures include monkeys and red snakes (tree dwellers).

**Colours:** Brown, green, red

**Tree:** Mapou (Bombax ceiba or Ceiba pentandra)

**Altar:** If possible, hang offerings from a tree branch or lay them at the foot of the tree.

**Sacred sites:** The forest in general; in Brooklyn, New York, home to a substantial Haitian community, Prospect Park has emerged as the sacred domain of Gran Bois.

The Mapou, a type of silk-cotton tree associated with Vodou rites, was held sacred by the Taino, the indigenous inhabitants of Haiti, long before the arrival of Europeans or Africans. The Haitian Mapou tree was almost eradicated during an “anti-superstition” campaign sponsored by local Roman Catholic Church authorities in the 1940s. Attempts were made to eradicate Vodou by eliminating whatever was sacred, including trees.

**Offerings:** Cornmeal; honey drizzled over cornmeal; cassava bread; flowers; leaves; roots; fallen branches; tobacco; preservation of forests; the reforestation of Haiti

**See Also:** Baron Cimitière; Maitre Carrefour; La Diablesse; Xtabay

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Cassandra

**Pantheon**: Greek/Roman

In Greek mythology, a seer whose prophecies, including the fall of Troy, were ignored. She was the daughter of Priam and also was called the daughter of Hecate. Cassandra received the gift of clairvoyance by sleeping in the temple of Apollo and allowing snakes to lick her ears. When Apollo tried to seduce her, she rebuffed him, and he punished her by declaring that no one would pay attention to her forecasts. In another version of the myth, Apollo fell in love with her and gave her the gift of prophecy in return for her promise of giving herself to him. She reneged. Apollo begged for a kiss, to which she consented. By breathing into her mouth, he gave her the gift of prophecy but took away her power of persuasion.

After the fall of Troy, Cassandra was taken prisoner by Agamemnon, whose death she prophesied, and which came to pass with his slaying by his wife, Clytemnestra.

Another version of Cassandra’s tale says she was killed in the fall of Troy. She also was able to understand the language of animals.
Fuath

Fuath is a generic Gaelic term for water spirits, including the Glaistig and kelpies. They may be fresh- or saltwater spirits. Although frequently described as “evil,” this is because they are not Christian, not because all are vicious or untrustworthy. Some Fuath are benevolent and helpful. However, they are volatile and quick to anger. Some have a propensity for violence. Male Fuath spirits sometimes engage in mystical marriages with human women. Iron repels and banishes Fuath.

**Favoured people:** Human children of Fuath, literal or spiritual, have webbed fingers and/or toes.

**Colour:** Green

**Time:** Fuath are generally nocturnal.

**See Also:** Glaistig; Kelpie

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Confidence and Courage Spell

Use this spell whenever you need for self-confidence, self-esteem, or the courage to handle a difficult situation.

Items needed: One opal pendant and one red candle.

Relax and let go of your fears and tensions. Take several deep breaths and then light the candle. Pick up the opal pendant, hold it in your hands, and feel the power that emanates from within its shimmering depths—where all the colours of the rainbow converge. Take several more deep breaths, feel the power of the opal flow into your hands, and circulate through your entire body. Visualize renewed strength and courage. Hold the opal close to the flame of the candle, as you chant:

Cosmic forces, above and below,

Come to my aid and help me to know.

To find, to seek, to look within,

To overcome insecurities that creep in.

I ask thee now to enter my dreams

And fulfill my desires for self-esteem.

May I now have courage in all that I do.

Let my personal power now shine through.

Focus all your attention on the opal and the candle flame. Repeat the chant two more times. As you do this, feel your personal power grow and strengthen. Visualize yourself as a courageous and determined person. When you feel the time is right, extinguish the candle and wear the opal pendant. You may also use amethyst, diamond, and lapis for courage, strength, and power.
Candle Banishing

You Will Need:

One Black Candle, a candle holder, matches, black or white pepper, salt, a carving tool, anointing oil (this can be any kind of oil you prefer)

Begin by slowly sprinkling salt in a counterclockwise circle around you and your work area, visualize the salt creating a barrier, protecting you during your ritual. Call the target of your banishing spell to mind and carve your intention into the candle. For example, you might carve “Mark will never speak to me again” or “My anxiety is gone”. You may also wish to carve a banishing sigil into your candle.

When you’ve finished, anoint your candle with the oil and sprinkle the pepper over it. Set the candle into your candle holder and light it, speaking your intention aloud. If it feels good you can turn your intention into a mantra to chant while the candle burns.

Allow the candle to burn itself out, this should be done on a fireproof surface and again, away from pets. Depending on your choice of candle, it may take several hours to completely burn. If you don’t wish to burn the entire candle you can carve a line half way or a third of the way down the candle and confine your spell carving to the top portion. This can be tricky if you use a taper candle, be gentle so as not to snap it. When the candle burns to this line you may blow it out and reserve the rest of the candle for another banishing spell.
Compass Round

A lot of traditional mages do not cast a circle at all as this is not traditional magecraft but some do cast a compass which is not a circle. It is very different.

Rituals in Traditional Craft are very different from those that are Wicca and ceremonial based in that they are not scripted, they are spontaneous and spoken from the heart. There is no circle casting and calling the elements as such but a compass-ring or round is traced widdershins with a stang or besom, and again there is not one way of doing this, it can differ from magus to magus, in fact, some mages don’t feel a need to do it after years of practice. The magus becomes the compass or the world tree. The magus becomes the centre point for spiritual work.

The Compass-Ring or rounds function is to create a space between this world and the underworld and unlike Wicca, we are not calling the spirits to join us, we are joining them! A traditional magus is almost very shamanistic in their workings. They travel to see the spirits, they contact the spirits, well sometimes the spirits contact them.

The Compass-Ring or Compass-Round is the mages working area for any crafting or power-working. It is not designed to protect but to enable a meeting place between this world and the unseen world and is a way of descending to the underworld, a reversal or a going left or below. The compass area occupies space in this world and the underworld where the powers that live in the land can be tapped into.

The ring is traced with the stang or besom in a widdershins motion as we are taking the left way road, then ghost or spirit roads are made by circling the ring with water. A watch fire is then made be it a candle or a bone-fire. There are no quarter callings as once we have established an acquaintance with the powers of the land and our ancestors we have their protection, however certain items can be placed at the cardinal points that are in harmony with the various directions depending on the type of workings involved.

The above is a very physical way to do it, however, it can also be created in an inner way. Such as imagining reaching down into the earth to meet the energy of the land and joining it with your own, then bringing it through your body to reach up through your crown to reach out to the energy’s above.

Circles are not cast and used to any major extent, at least, not like Wicca, The traditional term for a drawn circle is Compass round and often enough, certain natural places will be best for working areas without any need to draw or make a circle. When compasses must be drawn, they are drawn in a traditional ritual which bears no similarity to a Wicca circle.
Guaicaipuro

**Also known as:** Guacaipuro

**Origin:** Venezuela

Guaicaipuro (died c. 1568) was a historic person who is now among the most important spirits of the Venezuelan spiritual tradition, Maria Lionza. He was the Chief of the Caracas and Teques people: Caracas, capital city of Venezuela, is situated on their ancestral territory.

Guaicaipuro led a federation of tribes in resistance against the Spanish during the 1560s, including obstructing their efforts to mine for gold. Ironically his image now frequently appears on gold medallions. He was assassinated: a band of Spanish men acting under the orders of Diego Losada, Spanish mayor of Caracas, attacked his village. Guaicaipuro’s house was set on fire. Ambushers waited for him to run outside, where he was killed. Guaicaipuro belongs to various Courts of Maria Lionza:

* The Three Potencies
* Court of the Liberators
* He is the leader of the Indian Court, which also includes his son, Baruta.

Guaicaipuro is invoked for protection from one’s enemies: to divert evil intentions and break harmful magic spells.

**Colour:** Yellow

**Sacred site:** Guaicaipuro’s remains were symbolically installed in the National Pantheon in Caracas on 8 December 2001. (“Symbolic” because the location of his actual remains, if they exist, is unknown.)

**Offerings:** Water, tobacco products, hard liquor similar to aguardiente

**See Also:** Maria Lionza

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Chimata

**Also known as:** Chimata-no-kami

**Origin:** Japan

**Classification:** Kami

Chimata is lord of the crossroads, highways, byways, and footpaths. He is an ancient phallic spirit. Phallic images representing him or meant to propitiate him are traditionally placed at crossroads. In addition to representing male fertility power, these phallic symbols also serve to ward off and police the malicious spirits who sometimes congregate at crossroads. Chimata is also invoked to heal erectile dysfunction and enhance fertility. He may or may not be the same spirit as Dosojin.

**Iconography:** Chimata is represented by stone road markers and phallic symbols. His image is also sometimes found at onsen (traditional Japanese hot springs). Allegedly stroking these images will remedy sexual dysfunction and/or infertility for both men and women.

**Ritual**: Request Chimata’s blessings and keep him happy by placing a smooth pebble at a crossroads’ very point of intersection and saying a prayer to him.

**See Also:** Dosojin; Kami

## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Hair Protection Spell

For this protection spell, you will need a lock your own hair, a small white envelope, sealing wax, and a seal with your initial on it. Place all the items on your altar or on a small table. Light the candle, put the lock of hair in the envelope, close, and seal with the wax and your initial.

Chant the following over the envelope, and then put it in a safe place.

Sealed within I shall be

That no harm will come to me
Eris/Discordia

*Strife*

**Pantheon**: Greek/Roman

**Title**: Goddess of Strife

Eris, goddess of discord, chaos, and strife, is the sister of Ares and among the spirits who accompany him onto the battlefield. Her most famous appearance in mythology is a nonappearance: Eris was snubbed. She did not receive an invitation to Thetis’ wedding, a major social event for the Olympian pantheon. Her revenge was subtle: she tossed a beautiful golden apple inscribed simply “For the fairest” into the banquet room and watched chaos and discord ensue. Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena all vied for the apple. (Apparently no one considered that it might be for the bride.) Resulting strife led to the Judgment of Paris and ultimately the Trojan War.

* Eris is the primary deity of the Discordian religion, also known as Erisian.
* She makes frequent appearances on the animated television series The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy.

**Iconography:** Eris is portrayed as a pretty woman with dark wings. Her feet may also be winged.

**Attribute:** A golden apple: the Apple of Discord

**See Also:** Aphrodite; Ares; Athena; Hera; Thetis

## Smite Lore

It is said Rome wasn't built in a day. Whether the sweeping arches of the Colosseum, the long stretch of the aqueducts, or the power the Servian Wall, none can truly claim they were the origin that “built” Rome. For as mighty as she has become, Rome might have never been were it not for the mischief of the Goddess Discordia.

Once known among the Greeks as Eris, the maligned Goddess of Strife, Discordia craved to unleash her full potential, to unravel the foundations of the mortals and deities that hated her. She found that opportunity through the vanity of others.

Conjuring a golden apple, Eris cast it forth. Upon it read the words ‘for the fairest.’ A phrase that would set Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite against one another. A phrase that would cause Paris to kidnap Menelaus' wife, Helen. A phrase that would ignite the Trojan War.

As chaos swirled, as cities crumbled, as heroes both Greek and Trojan fell to each other's blades and Gods grew to loathe one another, no one seemed to wonder from whence the golden apple came. It was masterful! Eventually, the Trojan War reached its peak, and Eris attached herself to the mortal Aeneus. She guided him safely from Troy, across the sea and wilderness, to the place where a new nation would be built. Here, Aeneus founded Rome.

Free of the judgement she wore under the Greeks, bereft of the belittling glares of the other Gods, Eris was remade as Discordia. A Roman Goddess of importance and prominence. Indeed, Rome was not built in a day. It was the culmination of a plan for one Goddess to reinvent herself as more than she ever was.

And all with one golden apple.

## Appearances in Modern Media

From Smite as DiscordiaFrom Blood Brothers as DiscordiaFrom the Grim Adventures of Billy and MandyFrom DislyteFrom Age of IshtariaFrom Rage of BahamutFrom Destiny Child
## Information Source

Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses by Judika Illes
Celtic

The Celts worshipped a variety of gods who appeared in their tales. Most were all-powerful local deities rather than gods with specialized roles. Each tribe had its own god, who protected and provided for the welfare of that tribe. Some of them had similar characteristics. For example, Dagda, the god of life and death in Ireland—known as the good god—resembled Esus, the "master" god of Gaul. Some deities had more clearly defined roles. Among these were Lug, or Lugus, a sun god associated with arts and skills, war and healing, and the horned god Cernunnos, who was god of animals and fertility. The Celts also had a large number of important female deities. These included The Morrigan, the "Phantom Queen"—actually three goddesses, Anu, Macha, Badb, who appeared as ravens during battle. Another important deity was Brigit, goddess of learning, healing, and metalworking. Epona, the horse goddess, was associated with fertility, water, and death.

From Smite Gods

## Gods

DagdaLughManannan Mac LirBrigidThe MorriganCernunnosBadbh CathaCerridwenMachaArianrhodArtioBelenusAineAngus Mac OgEponaAibheallArawnAndrasteCailleach

## Notable Figures

Cu ChulainnFergus mac RoichScathachMedbDiarmuid Ua DuibhneFionn mac CumhaillAifeGwydion the Wizard

## Spirits

LeprechaunBansheeKelpieLeanan SidheMerrowBaobhan SithEach UisgeAnkouGlaistig
Cabrakan

**Pantheon**: Mayan

**Title**: Destroyer of Mountains

## Smite Lore

Feel the earth trembling beneath your feet? Only a titan of tremendous power could cause such fear. He is the Render of Stone, the Earthsunder. He is Cabrakan, Destroyer of Mountains.

Proud, boastful, confident to the point of arrogance, Cabrakan revels in his strength, tearing down what the earth has labored to rise. These traits – and worse - he inherited from his sire, the demon bird Seven Macaw.

Seeking to end Seven Macaw's entire lineage, the Hero Twins tracked Cabrakan by his quaking footfalls. They found him in a valley, surrounded by great peaks, shattering rock into dust.

"How mighty you are," they told him, playing to his pride.

"I am," he boasted.

"Can you shatter that distant mountain?" they asked.

"Of course," Cabrakan roared.

"You must be hungry," the Hero Twins offered.

"Always!"

And so they shot a bird from the sky for the giant to feast upon, yet as they turned the carcass over the flame, Hun-apu coated it with poisonous mud.

Without a thought, Cabrakan devoured the feast and rose, but already the poison had taken him. Teetering, losing sight, the Earthsunder collapsed. Mountains crumbled a final time. The valley became his tomb.
Calunga

*Mother of the Waters*

**Also known as:** Kalunga

**Origin:** Congolese; Bantu

Calunga is a Congolese spirit of death and the sea. The word Calunga literally means “sea” but has implications in Congolese cosmology beyond salty watery depths. Calunga also refers to the realm of the ancestors. The realm of death in many African traditions is located beneath the sea. The ocean is associated with fertility, abundance, and death. Goddess Calunga presides over this realm.

What is called the Calunga Line is the watery frontier between the visible and invisible worlds, the threshold between realms of life and death. Calunga the goddess rules that line and controls that frontier. She is among the most respected and feared deities because she transcends divisions that stymie others, human and spirit alike. There are no barriers to Calunga’s power. At one time, she was considered a supreme deity. She remains the epitome of the protective mother, so powerful that she cannot help but be threatening even if she doesn’t seek to be. She is the great mother of the sea, guardian of life and death.

Calunga made a sea change while crossing the waters from Central Africa to Brazil with the slave trade, emerging as a male spirit. In Brazil, Calunga Grande (“Big Calunga”) refers to the ocean; Calunga Pequena (“Little Calunga”) refers to the graveyard.

**Element:** Water

**See Also:** Agwé; Pomba Gira