recursal/Fanatic-Fandom huggingface dataset:
Attribute

Individual spirits are very often associated with specific things and may rarely be depicted without these things. These things are used to identify the spirit. Sometimes the thing itself is sufficient to represent the spirit. These things are called attributes. Attributes cut across religious boundaries; the concept is shared by many traditions.

Attributes are not random. They reference sacred myths and legends and indicate something about a spirit's power. Some attributes are very specific to one particular spirit: a stalk of fennel topped by a pinecone indicates Dionysus. Many attributes are shared: tridents are the attributes of both Poseidon *and* Shiva. The trident alone will not indicate which spirit is indicated.

Attributes often indicate a spirit's interests or the scope of its power. Santa Claus' attribute is a bag of toys. Mercury's attribute is a bag of coins. The cornucopia (a horn overflowing with fruit) is an attribute shared by many spirits, indicating that they are generous and provide prosperity and abundance. Brooms, another popular attribute, often indicate spirits who sweep clean. They provide devotees with spiritual cleansing, purify the atmosphere, and sweep away other malevolent spirits.

Sometimes attributes are subject to interpretation. Cauldrons may indicate any or all of the following:

* Spirits who generously provide for devotees (cauldron as great big cooking pot)
* Magical or shamanic spirits (cauldron as magical tool; the witch's vessel)
* Spirits who provide fertility (cauldron as emblem of the womb)
* Spirits of death and resurrection (cauldron of regeneration)

Attributes serve as a form of communication between spirits and people. A spirit's attributes are added to its altar space to make the spirit feel at home. Attributes can substitute for a spirit's image, whether because an actual image is unavailable or because a devotee is uncomfortable with idols. Spirits will often communicate via their attributes, which appear in dreams or in "coincidental events."

## Information Source

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

**Origin:** India

Bodhidharma, a Buddhist missionary from India who traveled to China, is an Arhat and an avatar of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Founder of Chan/Zen Buddhism, he was eventually revered as the virtual equal of the Buddha.

Legend identifies Bodhidharma as an Indian king’s son who achieved enlightenment and went to China, arriving in Canton in the early sixth century. He eventually had words with the emperor, and so Bodhidharma decided to leave town, crossing the Yangtze River on a reed on his way to Northern China, where he settled on the sacred mountain, Song Shan, home of the Shaolin Monastery where Bodhidharma spent some time.

Bodhidharma spent nine years facing a wall in deep meditation. He was poisoned by two rivals. Two previous attempts at killing him had failed, but the third time Bodhidharma transmitted his wisdom to his disciple, then consciously took the poison and left the world. Or did he? After his death, a Chinese man returning from India claimed to have seen Bodhidharma on the Pamir Plateau. His tomb was opened and found empty! People resolved these mysteries by comparing the Buddhist sage to a Taoist Immortal. Bodhidharma is venerated by Buddhists but also by Taoists and Shintoists. According to Japanese legend, Bodhidharma did not return to India after he was poisoned but traveled to Japan, where he became Daruma.

* Bodhidharma is sometimes credited with developing some of the martial arts associated with the Shaolin Monastery.
* Bodhidharma is credited with creating tea. He once fell asleep while meditating. When he awoke, he was so annoyed with himself that to make sure it never happened again, he sliced off his eyelids. He tossed his lids to the ground and the very first tea plant (Camellia sinensis) emerged at that spot.

**See Also:** Arhat; Avalokiteshvara; Bodhisattva; Buddha; Daruma

## Information Source

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

**Pronounced:** Ah-noo-ay-noo-ay

**Origin:** Polynesia

Anuenue is Hawaii’s Lady of the Rainbow and spirit of rain, sister of Kane, Ku, and Lono. She serves as the messenger of the spirits, especially as the liaison between spirits in Tahiti and Hawaii.

She has dominion over the Menehune, who may be Dwarf spirits or the people inhabiting Hawaii before the arrival of taller people from what are now called the Society Islands (French Polynesia). She is a kind, friendly, benevolent spirit who once saw a child fall from a high cliff and sent a rainbow to cushion his fall so that he landed safely. Anuenue is beloved by modern healers, especially those working with transmission of energy and the healing power of colour.

**Manifestation:** The rainbow itself or as a beautiful woman wrapped in rainbow colours

**Sacred area:** The Manoa Valley in Oahu is her home and playground.

**See Also:** Akua; Iris; Kane; Ku; Lono

## Information Source

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

## Information Source

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

**Also known as:** Arethousa; Aretusa

**Classification:** Nymph or Nereid

**Origin:** Greece

Arethusa bathed in a beautiful, crystal-clear river. She thought she was unobserved but Alpheios, spirit of the river, saw her and fell madly in love. He emerged from the waters to embrace her, but she rejected him and fled, appealing to Artemis for help.

Artemis rescued her, bringing her to Ortygia, Sicily, where Arethusa was transformed into a stream. The story doesn’t end there: Alpheios was genuinely enamoured. He searched high and low for Arethusa, and when he finally discovered her, he sent his waters to merge with hers. According to legend, Greece’s Alpheios River emerges in the springs of Arethusa in Sicily.

The Arethusa is a freshwater spring surrounded by saltwater harbours. The fish in her spring were sacred, and it was forbidden to eat or otherwise molest them.

Arethusa didn’t spend her time in Sicily hiding. She became an important guardian goddess of people and land, matron spirit of the city of Syracuse. (Her myth also legitimizes the presence of Greek colonists in Sicily.) She reproached Demeter for inflicting famine on Sicily while mourning Persephone’s loss. Arethusa had a view into Hades from the bottom of her spring and told Demeter that she could see Persephone, who looked unhappy.

Arethusa may be petitioned for healing, protection, and prosperity.

**Manifestations:** Arethusa manifests as a beautiful woman and as the spring of Arethusa.

**Iconography:** Arethusa appears on many coins from Syracuse, usually in the company of dolphins.

**Creature**: Dolphin (once common in the harbour near Syracuse)

The story of Arethusa is told in the fifth book of Ovid’s Metamorphosis and in the poem “Arethusa” by Percy Bysshe Shelley. Shelley’s version has a happy ending: Arethusa and Alpheios are reconciled, living happily together having “grown single-hearted.”

**See Also:** Alpheios; Demeter; Nereid; Nymph; Persephone

## Information Source

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

**Origin:** Brazil

Bruxa Evora is a Brazilian witch spirit, a deified Moorish sorceress. Bruxa Evora speaks fluent Portuguese, Arabic, and Latin, but she is full of surprises and may know other languages, too. She is a font of mystic, esoteric, and botanical secrets.

Bruxa Evora means the “Witch Evora,” but it should really be the Witch of Evora. Evora is not her name, which is a secret. Instead Evora names a Portuguese city variously ruled by Romans, Moors, Christians, and Visigoths. In the Roman era, Evora was the home of a large Temple of Diana, and perhaps Bruxa Evora is a survivor of those days. Portugal suffered comparatively mild witch hunts, but a woman was burned as a witch in Evora in 1626. Bruxa Evora is the matron of those who practice magical arts. She is petitioned to oversee the spell process and for magical instruction and information.

**Manifestations:** Bruxa Evora can manifest in any form she chooses.

**Iconography:** Despite her esoteric résumé, Bruxa Evora is usually portrayed as a stereotypical crone with broomstick, perhaps because those who sell her images want to be sure everyone recognizes her as a witch.

**Colour:** Red Sacred animals: Goats, cats; she has a big, black cat named Luzbel as her familiar.

**Offerings:** Burn red witch candles in her honour; rum; cigarettes; magical tools

**See Also:** Aradia; Diana; Maria Padilha

## Information Source

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

**Origin:** Ireland

**Classification:** Tuatha Dé Danaan

Airmid, sacred healer and herbalist, is the daughter of Dian Cecht, divine physician of the Tuatha Dé Danaan. She and her father preside over a magical healing well, in which wounded, battle-fatigued warriors are dipped, emerging healed in body, soul, and mind. Airmid is a miracle healer: she and her brother, Miach, healed Nuada so that he could once more reign over the Tuatha Dé Danaan, which was wonderful for Nuada and the Tuatha Dé but humiliating for her father, whose children had publicly demonstrated their superiority as healers. Dian Cecht engaged in a competition with his son, which culminated in Miach’s death.

Three-hundred sixty-five healing plants grew from Miach’s grave, allegedly one for every illness. Airmid carefully picked, dried, and arranged these plants on her cloak or apron, ready to heal all. Her father overturned the cloth; herbs were scattered, some lost forever. Allegedly, had he not done this, all remedies would now be known. Instead these remedies are secret, arcane knowledge, known only to Airmid, but if petitioned she may communicate secrets of healing.

**See Also:** Dian Cecht; Miach; Nuada; Tuatha Dé Danaan

## Information Source

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

**Also known as:** Animal Totem; Animal Ally

Animal spirits provide us with protection, knowledge, and psychic inspiration. They appear in dreams and visions. Often the most accessible spirit allies, it is not unusual for children to discuss their invisible animal friends and guardians (who are not invisible to the child).
An animal ally may be the spirit of an individual animal or the presiding spirit of a species of creature. Each species has a presiding spirit: the Spirit of the Dog or the Lion or the Saber-Toothed Cat (as opposed to Muffy the ghost cat who lives only in your attic).

Some animal alliances are ephemeral: a spirit may appear in a dream but once. Others are intense relationships, akin to a familiar spirit.

An alliance with a spirit being (as opposed to a regular member of the species), enables us to acquire wisdom, skills, and protection from animals with whom it might not be otherwise safe, practical, or even possible to have actual physical contact. Communication is usually via dreams, visions, and symbols.

Animal totems are the most prevalent spirit allies. Everyone has them, usually several. If you’ve had limited or no contact or awareness of these allies, be a little patient. They may be hibernating near you, waiting for your call: sometimes it takes a little while before they’ll broach contact, especially if your ally is shy and cautious or if it’s what might be considered a “scary” animal. They don’t wish to overwhelm or scare you. Let them know if you’re ready.

In some traditions, if you’ve been bitten by an animal or survived an attack, that species is obligated to provide you with spiritual assistance. In some shamanic traditions, if an animal attacks you, it was sent to see if you are strong enough to handle its power.

Pay attention whenever that animal or its image enters your life, even momentarily. Dreams of your totem are significant. When pondering a dilemma, have you ever flipped open a magazine and just “coincidentally” found an image of your totem? Pay attention to the context. You may be receiving advice and clues.

Just remember: what is being discussed is a spirit animal. One should never assume that because one has an alligator spirit ally that one is now immune from alligator attack. Always be cautious with living, breathing animals.

**Offerings:** Tattoos; protect actual living members and/or care for them; do what you can to encourage others to care for them and protect them, too.

## Information Source

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

**Origin:** Jewish

Anat was venerated side-by-side with YHWH. In this path she is known as Anat-Bethel. It is unclear whether the epithet Bethel specifically relates to that ancient holy city whose name literally means “House of El” or “House of the Lord.” Anat and YHWH were venerated together in Bethel but also shared temples in Egypt (Hermopolis, Memphis) and so were not tied exclusively to one location. It is possible that Anat is the House of El in the same manner that Hathor is the House of Horus (a metaphor meaning “Womb of Horus”). This may indicate that the female deity’s womb is reserved for the seed of the male deity or that she is his mother, depending on interpretation. The term Bethel was used by Phoenicians in North Africa to refer to megalithic sites, including those incorporating burial mounds.

**See Also:** Anat; Anat-Yaho; Astarte; Hathor; Horus; Tanit

## Information Source

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

**Also known as:** The Badbh, literally means the battle crow

**Origin:** Irish

Crows on the battlefield are harbingers of doom. They await the battle’s end to feast on the fallen. Crows are also traditional psychopomps: crow spirits travel back and forth between the realms of the living and the dead. The Irish warrior goddess called the Badbh is a crow goddess.

Badbh literally means “crow,” “scald crow,” or “raven,” but it also has the added connotation of “witch.” She is a mysterious spirit. Badbh may be a title, not a name. It is used as an epithet for other Irish warrior goddesses, like Macha, the Morrigan, and Nemain. The Badbh is very closely associated with the Morrigan; some perceive Morrigan and Badbh as two names for the same spirit. The Badbh may also be the same spirit as the Gaulish deity, Cathobodua, in which case her veneration was widespread in the ancient Celtic world.

Her power on the battlefield is psychological: the Badbh doesn’t actually fight on behalf of devotees. Instead, she terrifies, intimidates, and confuses their enemies with her presence. The Badbh appears in the epic Ulster Cycle. She is closely associated with the hero, Cu Chulain, assisting and encouraging him on several occasions. In addition to her responsibilities on the battlefield, the Badbh is associated with death and the Otherworld:

* Her appearance in the form of a crow may be a harbinger of death.
* The Badbh is among those spirits who manifest as Washers at the Ford.
* She may sometimes be located at the House of Da Derga, hostel of the dead.

**Manifestations:** She may manifest as a woman or crow and has been sighted as a huge crow riding a battle horse. If she manifests as a woman, she may be powerful and beautiful or haglike and terrifying. In one myth, the Badbh appears at Da Derga’s Hostel as a fierce crowlike hag in triple form (triplicate; three of her): black as a corpse or a crow and bleeding with her mouth on one side of her head and a rope around her neck. Birdlike she perches on one leg at the hostel’s threshold. She is simultaneously Death and a sacrificial victim; hag and carrion crow merged in one form.

**Colour:** Black

**Birds:** Crow, raven, scald crow

**Husband**: Neit, a battle deity about whom little more is known than his name

**Sisters**: Aine, Banbha, Eriu, Fotla, and Macha

**See Also:**Aine; Macha; the Morrigan; Washer at the Ford

## Appearances in Modern Media

From Shin Megami TenseiFrom Reign of Dragons
## Information Source

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

*The Queen of Life and Death*

**Also known as:** Ale

**Origin:** Ibo (Nigeria)

Ala is the daughter of Chi (also known as Chuku), the Supreme Creator, originator of spirits, people, animals, and all that lives. Chi is a remote Creator; Ala is the most significant Ibo spirit, mother, and guardian of the Ibo, their sacred custodian, a spirit of ethics and morality. She formed the Earth. Ala provides all that sustains life. If her children are peaceful and well behaved, Ala provides bountiful harvests from human wombs and from Earth, which is her womb. She is the Mistress of Life and Death.

Ala places babies into human wombs. When people die, they return to Earth, her womb. When Earth first emerged from primaeval chaos, it was Ala who decreed that the dead should be buried in Earth. She guards and rules buried ancestors.

Petition Ala for human fertility and agricultural abundance.

**Iconography:** Painted clay representations of Ala traditionally depict her with a child seated on her knee, emphasizing her roles as mother and child-bringer.

**Attributes:** Yam knife; brass leg bracelets

**Element:** Earth

**Food**: Yams

**Metal**: Brass

**Sacred bird**: Hornbill

## Information Source

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

**Also known as**: Diva Angerona

**Origin:** Rome

**Feast:** 21 December

Angerona, primordial goddess of the Roman region, is the spirit of silence and secrets, and so perhaps it is appropriate that she is now veiled in mystery. She is Rome’s protectress; the guardian of its secret name, which could not be publicly revealed or even uttered aloud lest enemies learn it and gain power over the city. (Some suggest that Rome’s true name is that of this goddess.) Angerona is also a painkiller, relieving physical, emotional, and psychic suffering. She communicates telepathically.

**Iconography:** Her classical image depicts a woman with a bandage across her mouth, holding her finger to her lips indicating the need for silence. Historically, many have found it a disturbing image: more Romantic versions delete the bandage. (Modern, harder-edged devotees might substitute duct tape.)

**Day:** Her festival, the Angeronalia, also known as the Divalia, was celebrated on 21 December, and so she is sometimes described as the spirit of the Winter Solstice, but in Roman days, before calendar reform, the Winter Solstice occurred on 13 December.

**Spirit allies:** Official sacrifices to Angerona were offered in the Temple of Voluptas, where Angerona’s votive statue was kept.

**See also:** Voluptas

## Information Source

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

*Without Blemish; The High Powerful Immaculate One; The Strong Undefiled Waters; Bearer of Roses*

**Also known as:** Anahit (Armenian); Anai tis (Greek); Anakhita (Turkish)

**Origin:** Persian (Iran)

**Classification:** A goddess in ancient Iran and Armenia; modern Zoroastrianism considers her a Yazata.

Anahita, goddess of fertility and war, has dominion over all liquids including seminal, vaginal, and amniotic fluids. She purifies and strengthens sperm, empowers the womb, and bestows ample milk supply. Anahita is unusual as she is specifically invoked to heal male reproductive disorders, a condition the ancient world typically didn’t acknowledge: infertility was usually perceived as stemming solely from women.

She was once very widely venerated: Artaxerxes II built shrines for her in Babylon, Baktra (Balkh), Ekbatana (near modern Tehran), Persepolis, Sardes, and Susa. In Armenia, she was called Anahit and Vardavar: Bearer of Roses. Young noble women engaged in sacred sexual rites prior to their marriages at Anahita’s shrine at Erez in Akilisene.

Anahita is the sole significant Zoroastrian goddess. An entire chapter (Yasht V) of the sacred text the Avesta is devoted to her. It is Anahita who teaches Zarathusra to fight for justice and how to perform sacrifices.

* Anahita is petitioned for victory in battle.
* She presides over successful breastfeeding and fertility, and she heals reproductive disorders.
* References to Persian Artemis or Persian Diana almost invariably indicate Anahita.

**Manifestation:** A tall, powerful, beautiful maiden, wrapped in a gold embroidered cloak, adorned with earrings, a necklace, and a gold crown. She wears thirty otter skins.

**Iconography:** Romans absconded with the solid gold votive statue of Anahita at Erez.

**Mount:** Her chariot is pulled by four white horses named Wind, Rain, Cloud, and Hail.

**Birds:** Dove, peacock

**Element:** Water; Anahita rules rivers and lakes.

**Metal:** Gold

**Flowers:** Roses, tulips

**Planet:** Venus. The ancient Iranians considered her the personification of that planet.

**Time:** Armenians timed her feast to coincide with the blooming of roses.

**Place:** *Athor Anahta* (Anahita’s Throne), a mountain in Sophene (an ancient Armenian kingdom, located in what is now southeastern Turkey) is among her homes.

**Altar:** Decorate with vessels of spring water, living green plants, and white roses.

**Offerings:** She is a particularly watery spirit, concerned with cleansing and purifying sources of water. Your efforts on behalf of protection and preservation of fresh water sources should be appreciated. In the meantime, give her white or gold roses and tulips.

**See also:** Artemis; Astghik; Diana; Yazata

## Appearances in Modern Media

From Shin Megami TenseiFrom Age of Ishtaria
## Information Source

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

An angel is a supernatural being who mediates between God and mortals. Angels minister over all living things and the natural world and also over all things in the cosmos. They play an important role in Magic.

The term angel comes from the Greek angelos, which means “messenger.” Similarly, the Persian term angaros means “courier.” In Hebrew, the term is malakh, which also means messenger. The name refers to one of the angel’s primary duties, to shuttle back and forth between realms, bringing human prayers to heaven and returning with God’s answers. Angels also mete out the will of God, whether it be to aid or to punish humans. Angels are specific to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam; however, they derive from concepts of helping and from tutelary spirits that exist in mythologies the world over.

Angels evolved from the mythology of the Jews, influenced by the mythologies of Babylonians, Persians, Sumerians, Egyptians, and others with whom the Jews had contact. The Jewish angel passed into Christian and Islamic mythology.

The Bible presents angels as representatives of God. They exist in a celestial realm and are numberless. They are incorporeal but have the ability to assume form and pass as mortals. They also appear as beings of fire, lightning, and brilliant light, sometimes with wings and sometimes not. Various classes of angels are mentioned in the Bible; by the sixth century, these were organized into hierarchies.

The church fathers of Christianity gave extensive consideration to the duties, nature, numbers, abilities, and functions of angels. This theological interest peaked by the Middle Ages and began to decline in the Renaissance. Angels are prominent in Jewish magic and preside over every aspect of creation. They are featured in kabbalah based magic, which forms a significant part of the Western magical tradition. Angels, along with Demons, are involved in rituals given in magical books and grimoires. They are invoked by sacred names, symbols, seals, and so forth, and their names are inscribed on magical tools, magic circles, amulets, and talismans.

## Further Reading

AngelsArchangelsCherubimDominionsFallen Angels
Agoussou

**Also known as:** Miché Agoussou (Monsieur Agoussou)

**Origin:** New Orleans

**Feast:** 13 June, the feast of Saint Anthony

Agasou, the lwa originally from Dahomey, arrived in New Orleans via Haiti. During his journey, pronunciation (and spelling) of his name evolved while much of his leopard symbolism and royal connections were lost. What remained intact were his dignity, power, and virility. Miché Agoussou is invoked for love. As Vert Agoussou (Green Agoussou), he is syncretized to Saint Anthony, breadwinner and romantic saint. He may also be invoked to empower men’s sexual charisma and potency.

**Colour:** Red (for love)

**See Also:** Agasou; Lwa

## Information Source

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

**Pantheon**: Hindu

**Title**: The Endowed Hero

**Alignment**: Lawful - Neutral

## Fate Lore

A great hero from the ancient epic poem from India, "Mahabharata". The Mahabharata is a dazzling story that gathers all heroes from India, but it is no exaggeration to say that Arjuna is an existence placed at the centre of it all.

**Height/Weight:** 177cm ・ 72kg

**Source:** Mahabharata

**Region:** India

His favourite bow is "**Gandiva**". A divine bow granted by the Fire God Agni.

If Karna is the "Hero of Charity", Arjuna is indeed the "Endowed Hero". He was born as the son of the king of Kuru, the third of the five Pandava brothers, and also as the son of the Lightning God Indra. He who was truly a hero without any faults to point at - from his caliber to personality - was driven out of the country as a result of his older brother losing at gambling.

At that time, he already had a premonition that a confrontation with Karna was unavoidable. After all, Karna revered Duryodhana, who regarded the five Pandava brothers as archenemies, like a father. He loved his brothers, and was loved in return.

He loved both his father and mother, and was loved in return. He loved the people, and was loved in return. And despite this---. When was it that he resolved himself to kill Karna no matter what.

Probably, it was when they had first met each other. That was no fate decided by the gods. The karma Arjuna chose together with sheer enmity. Even if it was not righteous, Arjuna had to accomplish that no matter what.

Inside his heart, Arjuna carries another personality that can be called "black". A wicked one that hates, scorns and plots evil designs against someone. Not being able to accept that fact, he behaved as if it was an attendant by his side. ...this is a digression, but Krishna - the reincarnation, eighth avatar of Vishnu - was a hero that exists separately from Arjuna's other personality.
Beliefs & Rules

This is a list of beliefs and rules that are the core tenants of the Kaleidoscopic Path these exist to provide structure to the organization and establishing the values of members of the organization.

## Rules

1. Members of the Kaleidoscopic Path are free to practice any belief they want and worship any deity or entity they desire.
2. Information shall not be restricted to any individual as long as their intent is to learn from it and not to damage or destroy said information.
	1. A persons access to information may be restricted or prohibited if there is reasonable cause to believe that the information may be damaged or destroyed by said person.
	2. Situations that would cause the restrictions would be if they have a history of destroying or damaging sources of information, express aggression or destructive feelings towards information that conflict with their beliefs, and/or have a history of lying, deceit or untrustworthiness. Reasons for restriction or prohibition are not limited to the previously mentioned examples
3. All members are responsible for the consequences of there actions and use of knowledge gained from Kaleidoscopic Path materials or beliefs they practice.
4. Members and especially high ranking members are encouraged to develop relationships and have children.
Aswang

**Origin:** Visayan Islands of the Philippines

The Aswang is a Filipino vampire spirit; a beautiful woman by day, a bloodsucker at night. Her preferred victims are children, the younger the better, and so she is a threat to pregnant women, taking babies right from the womb. Her favourite beverages are blood and amniotic fluid. The Aswang is feared and blamed for miscarriage and blighted ovum.

The Aswang’s secret weapon is her long proboscis, the equivalent of a drinking straw. The Aswang walks around innocuously during the daytime, scouting for potential victims, and then near midnight flies to their homes. She stations herself on the roof or outdoors and extends her blood-sucking tube from her nose to the woman’s navel, through which she enters the womb and sucks out all fluids.

The Aswang can be combated:

* Visibly pregnant women are discouraged from leaving the safety of their homes after nightfall. (Those not yet visibly pregnant are discouraged from revealing their condition to strangers.) If she must go out, she should only do so in the company of others. (The Aswang prefers sneak attacks.)
* If an Aswang draws near, driving copper spikes into the ground prevents her from following while her intended victim reaches safety.
* The tell-tale sign indicating that an Aswang is near is her noise, which has been described as a tik-tik or wak-wak sound. (It is audible to anyone, not just the targeted victim.) Here’s the tricky bit: if the noise is loud and sounds close, the Aswang is still far away. If the sound is faint and sounds distant, that means she’s hovering very near.
* Talismans and amulets prevent the Aswang’s attack. Place a handkerchief or cloth soaked in Holy Water over the pregnant belly. A rosary placed on the belly or attached to a belt so that it hangs over the belly wards off the Aswang, too.

The Aswang is inevitably female. The word is now a synonym for witch, but she is not a human witch but a spiritual entity. The Aswang causes miscarriage because she’s hungry. She may cause death and disease just because she’s mean and destructive or because her very presence is so toxic that she spreads infection. The Aswang does not need physical contact to cause harm: she can attack someone via their shadow.

The Aswang has become a popular character in horror entertainment. Beyond the traditional flying vampire-witch, Aswang is now a blanket term for fiends of all kinds and may refer to:

* A ghoul that eats human corpses
* A weredog that eats people alive
* A blood-sucking vampire
* A viscera sucker

**Manifestations:** During the day, the Aswang looks like an ordinary woman except that her eyes burn with strange fire. She is a shape-shifter and may take any form.

**See Also:** Acheri; Ghoul; Vampire

## Information Source

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

**Origin:** Hausa

**Classification:** Bori

Barhaza is Inna’s younger sister and Wanzami’s mother. Her husband is unclear. She may be married to:

* Kure the Hyena
* Mai Gizo, Owner of Matted Hair
* Mai Dawa, Owner of the Bush

Her primary affliction is paralysis. It is her signature affliction, but she is also blamed for headaches, stomachaches, numbness on one side of the body, impotence, sleepwalking, and compulsive wandering (not just restlessness; a compulsion bordering on mental illness—or maybe over the border).

In addition to causing illness, Bori spirits are invoked for cures. Each is associated with different vehicles of healing. Medicinal agents associated with Barhaza include milk from white cows, sheep, and goats.

**Manifestation:** She appears as a woman dressed in a traditional white wrapper dress with a white headwrap ornamented with cowrie shells. Thin silver bangles jingle on her wrists.

**Colour:** White

**See Also:** Bori; Inna; Kure; Mai Dawa; Mai Gizo

## Information Source

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

**Origin**: Sumeria

Ardat Lili is a dangerous storm spirit from ancient Sumeria, a vampiric succubus who visits men at night. She inspires them to masturbate as she conceives other Demons from men’s nocturnal emissions. She is very ancient: surviving information is limited and unclear. She may be an ancient incarnation of Lilith, Lilith’s handmaiden, or a closely related spirit.

**See also:** Lilith; Lillu Spirits; Vampire

## Information Source

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

**Also known as:** Azagon LaCroix; Bawon Lakwa; Baron the Cross

Baron LaCroix, Baron Samedi’s brother, is the cemetery groundskeeper: he maintains the graves. He is generally not invoked but avoided as he allegedly kills on contact and may zombify his victims. Should you find yourself in trouble with him, contact his brother quickly for assistance.

**Attributes:** Skull and crossbones, candle

**See Also:** Barons; Baron Samedi

## Information Source

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

**Also known as**: Abatan

**Classification**: Orisha

**Origin**: Yoruba

Abata is the Swamp Queen, orisha of swamps and marshes. She has the power to control accumulation of wealth (or the lack thereof). Yoruba tradition identifies her as the female compatriot of orisha Erinle or his wife. Erinle has dominion over thresholds where fresh- and saltwater merge, as happens in mangrove swamps. Swamps are associated with secrets and hidden treasure and so it is unsurprising that Abata is less well-known than her partner

* Erinle and Abata may be venerated together on an altar.
* Offerings and petitions may also be brought to Abata's home in the swamp.

**Iconography**: Abata may be represented by the image of a snake.

**Colours**: Light blue, coral, gold, green, pink and yellow

**Animal**: Snake (Abata may manifest in human or snake form.)

**See also**: Erinle; Orisha; and the Glossary entry for Path

## Information Source

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

*The Good Spirit*

**Origin:** Egypt

**Also Known as:** AgathoDemon; Agatho Daimon

Agathodaemon is a benevolent spirit of healing, protection, luck, and good fortune who manifests as a snake. Veneration of Agathodaemon traveled from Egypt to Greece and Italy. He is a consistently benevolent spirit. In Egypt, he evolved into a Gnostic guardian angel.

Agathos means good; it is a title, not a personal name.

Agathodaemon is a companionable spirit: among the deities with whom he happily shares altar space are Serapis, Tyche, and Hermes. He may be fond of Sicily’s Saint Agatha who may or may not be an ancient serpent-goddess in disguise. Agathodaemon survives in modern Egypt, too, albeit undercover: each of Cairo’s quarters allegedly possesses its own snake-shaped guardian spirit, its own Agathodaemon.

**Manifestations:** Consistently serpentine: he may appear as an ordinary snake or a hovering, winged serpent.

**Offering:** Wine

**See Also:** Agathos; Hermes; Serapis; Tyche

## Information Source

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

*Lord of Fire*

**Also known as:** Akiha-Sanjakubo; Akiba Sanshaku

**Origin:** Japan

Sanjakubo was born when his mother petitioned Kannon for fertility. He may be an avatar of Kannon. As a tiny boy he demonstrated powerful spiritual gifts and inclinations. He was a priest by the time he was six or seven, becoming a *yamabushi* (a shamanic mountain priest), studying esotericism, mysticism, and the secrets of fire.

One day, after meditating for a week, he had a vision: a flame rose from incense smoke. Within that flame, Sanjakubo saw what he first thought was Fudo, Lord of Wisdom, but it was in fact, he realized, a Tengu in similar guise. This Tengu held Fudo’s attributes but was mounted on a white fox, thus combining elements of Buddhism and Shinto. As Sanjakubo gazed at the vision, he realized that what he was seeing was his own reflection. Summoning the white fox, he flew to Mount Akiba, where he took up residence in a temple dedicated to Kannon, developing his own spiritual tradition, which spread, became very popular, and was eventually called by the name of the mountain from which his teachings emanated: Akiba.

Sanjakubo evolved into Akiba-Sanjakubo, Lord of Mount Akiba, Spirit of Fire Prevention. He is invoked to prevent fires, weaken already existing fires, and minimize the heartache and damage they cause. He is also invoked for traffic safety and longevity and petitioned against poverty and general disaster.

During Japan’s Warring Era, Akiba-Sanjakubo was also venerated as a spirit of military victory. Samurai offered their swords to his shrines in petition and gratitude.

**Iconography:** A beaked, winged Tengu haloed in fire; snakes entwine his body

**Attributes:** Sword of wisdom and the cord of rescue

**Mount:** White fox

**Sacred day**: 23 December (the anniversary of his death)

**Numbers**: 23, 24; offerings are traditionally given on the 23rd day of each month

**Sacred sites:** Akiba-Sanjakubo has shrines throughout Japan. He himself established the shrine in Akiba-koen Park in Tochio, Nigata Prefecture, where an annual festival honouring the anniversary of his death sometimes including fire-walking rituals.

**See Also:** Fudo; Inari; Kannon; Tengu

## Information Source

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

**Origin:** Greece

**Classification:** Naiad; Nymph

There are two different versions of Amymone’s story, or possibly two different myths about someone named Amymone who may or may not be the same. In both cases she is credited with receiving the sacred springs of Lerna as a gift from Poseidon.

This Amymone may or may not be the same Amymone who was the only one of Danaus’ fifty daughters not to kill her husband and who also allegedly received the Lernaean Springs from Poseidon. Amymone, as well as some of the Danaids, were venerated in the region.

According to what may be a pre-Olympian myth, Poseidon once ruled the Argolis region of southern Greece together with Demeter and Persephone. When rulership was given to Hera, Poseidon stormed off in a huff, taking all the freshwater with him: all the local springs dried up. He lurked in the region, keeping his eye on things.

What eventually caught his eye was the beautiful Nymph Amymone. When a satyr attempted to assault her, Poseidon intervened and rescued her. Perhaps somewhat out of character, he did not continue the assault himself but instead wooed her with the promise of springs. She succumbed to his charms, and he revealed the hidden springs of Lerna in which she now resides. An entrance to Hades may be found at Lerna, once the site of Demeter’s Lernaean Mysteries.

**Iconography:** Romantic images of Poseidon and Amymone are a popular motif on ancient Greek vase paintings.

**Attribute:** A pitcher

**See Also:** Amphitrite; Demeter; Hades; Hydra; Persephone; Poseidon

## Information Source

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

**Also known as:** Atégina

**Origin:** Lusitania

The Lusitanians were an ancient European people who may or may not have been of Celtic stock. They inhabited what is now Portugal and Spain. Ataegina, among the primary deities of the Lusitanian pantheon, is a goddess of birth, fertility, healing, illness, renewal, and death. Ataegina’s name is believed to be of Celtic derivation and may refer to rebirth.

Ataegina is petitioned to awaken and bless long dormant projects, plans, and relationships. She is petitioned for justice and retribution and invoked to curse others. The Romans identified her with Proserpina.

**Planet:** Moon

**Sacred animal:** Goat

**Tree:** Cypress

**Place**: She was venerated in cypress groves.

**Time:** Spring, the season of rebirth and reawakening

**See Also:** Proserpina

## Information Source

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

Azazel is a desert spirit worshipped by ancient Semites. He rules over a band of goat-spirits, the Se’irim. Azazel played a part in Jewish Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) rituals. As per instructions in Leviticus 16:21–28, two goats were brought into the Jerusalem Temple. One was sacrificed to the Creator; the other, dedicated to Azazel, is the original scapegoat. The sins of the people were ritually transferred to this goat, which was brought to the desert and set free. Although this was a Jewish custom, its roots are believed to be pre-Judaic. Azazel may belong to an ancient, now-forgotten pantheon.

He is among the leaders of the rebel angels. Azazel taught women the arts of metalworking and cosmetics. The Creator punished his disobedience by hanging him upside down in a canyon of jagged, pointy stones beyond the Mountains of Darkness until the Apocalypse when the Creator may again require his services.
In Jewish tradition, Azazel may be classified among the avenging angels. In Christian Demonology, Azazel is a fallen angel, counted among Satan’s host. His name is sometimes used as a synonym for Satan. Apocalyptic literature from the early centuries of the Common Era describes sinners punished in the flames of Azazel. Lech le-Azazel (literally “Go to Azazel”) is the equivalent of “Go to Hell” in modern Hebrew.

Azazel is a master of herbalism and all the occult arts. He rewards those who visit him with knowledge and information. In Mikhail Bulgakov’s novel, The Master and Margarita, Azazelo, as he’s called, raises havoc in Communist Moscow.

**Manifestations:** He is a shape-shifter and may appear in any form, including a winged angel. In The Apocalypse of Abra ham, an apocalyptic text, Azazel appears as a twelve-winged dragon with human hands and feet.

**Realm**: Azazel, Chief of the Se’irim, lives in the Negev and Sinai deserts. The Jordan River valley, once wilderness, was a favoured haunt. Azazel the Rebel Angel was banished to the desert of Dudael past the Mountains of Darkness, home of Demons and “fiery serpents.” Despite being chained, Azazel remains so powerful that many spirits placed themselves under his command. (He is the spiritual equivalent of an imprisoned mafia don or mob boss still calling the shots from behind bars.)

**Opponent**: Should you find yourself in trouble with Azazel or afraid of him, the archangel Raphael is his traditional opponent and may be invoked for protection.

**Offering**: Frankincense

**See Also:** Demon; Mahalat; Peacock Angel; Prometheus; Raphael; Se’irim; Shedim

## Appearances in Modern Media

From Dawn of GodsFrom Rage of BahamutFrom Monster StrikeFrom Unison LeagueFrom Kamihime ProjectFrom Blood BrothersFrom Force of WillFrom Helltaker
## Information Source

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