All Hallows Eve

Return of the Lost Gods

31st October

There are many things to do for Halloween. When the Changeling comes back up from under earth in September, she leaves that gateway open. Tonight can be a Wild Hunt, a Night Ride, a Fairy Triumph, a Witches Sabbat - or something indescribable that is somehow all four. The king's order is for nothing, and now is the season of that which he kept at bay - the hunger and the howling.

There are also often secular events to attend to - I have a very deep love for decorating my home and greeting trick-or-treaters, a little act of community, for it is always good to be good to your neighbours, and to feed children's make-believe and creativity (by feeding your own).

Yet for some, this night is for the spirits of the departed; and in Fencraft, we understand this in a peculiar way. For our faith has to do with ghostliness - the lands' great haunting by the lost and forgotten mighty Gods.

HWAET! To the Nameless, the Numberless,
long-slumbering in barrowdark
HWAET! the Forgotten People
I call you by your hidden names
We know not what you are, only that you ARE
eternal and unending and among us
I walk your hidden ways
in wonder and notknowing
Hail and welcome!

A Daily Cult of the Unknown

Re-read the Landweird pages for a reminder of the sacred mysteries - of not-knowing, of forgetting and strange wonder.

Begin with acknowledgement and contemplation. A simple act this could be a spoken 'hail', the ringing of a bell, the lighting of a bees-wax candle, putting on a headband, rolling out a mat, sharing the breath of your lips, or pouring some water into a shallow bowl. Choose a ritual action well within your daily limits, for small ritual is better than none.

Next, consider their qualities - build up a mental picture such a spirit might inhabit, including a landscape and any objects or companions, and welcome them into it.

Landcraft is a correspondence system intended to give you a map and hints for ritual connection with spirits for whom there is no real evidence of anything. Use it in the absence of clearer indications (from the spirit itself, or from what you know of folklore and history).

As this is a simple ritual - a Stellar connection, but of a Solar character - and these slumberers have been so quiet for so long - if you are not sure what else to say, greet and acknowledge them as if meeting a stranger you greatly respect.

Having gifted a little of the moments of your life, put out the candle, ring once more the bell, and return to the ordinary time of your day.

In our walking, we may over time encounter these spirits as our own Mighty Gods and re-awaken ourselves to them. But on All Hallows Eve we are given the special call to focus in particular on the sacred nature of their unknowness, and call them once more by their hidden names. Therefore, as Halloween can get rather busy with the demands of both spirit and society, beginning to read the names across October or October and November can split this practice across our time.

The Reading of Names

On All Hallows, or its nearest significant moon, or its nearest night you can, go out alone to some wild, lonely place and call them all.

The reading of this list takes around 7 minutes, and other ritual should be added to it. If you are able, it is worth studying pronunciation ahead of time, because it makes a difference to feel your own voice change and take on new tongues.

The List

Sources: Isles of the Many Gods by Sorita d'Este and David Rankine; Wikipedia

From Egypt

  1. Abraxas
  2. Ammon
  3. Anubis
  4. Bastet
  5. Bes
  6. Isis
  7. Harpocrates
  8. Horus
  9. Neith
  10. Serapis
  11. Thoth

From Rome, Greece & Syria

  1. Aesculapius
  2. Anicetus
  3. Apollo
  4. Atargatis (Syria)
  5. Arimanius
  6. Attis (Phrygia)
  7. Astarte (Syria)
  8. Bacchus
  9. Bellona
  10. Bona Dea
  11. Bonus Eventus
  12. Cautes (Persia)
  13. Cautopates (Persia)
  14. Ceres
  15. Concordia
  16. Cupid
  17. Cybele
  18. Deo Qui Vias Et Semitas Commentus Est
  19. Diana
  20. Disciplina
  21. Dolichenus
  22. Faunus
  23. Fortuna
  24. Helioserapis (greek)
  25. Hercules
  26. Hygiaea
  27. Jupiter
  28. London Hunter God
  29. Mars
  30. Mercury
  31. Methe
  32. Minerva
  33. Mithras (Persia)
  34. Nemesis
  35. Neptune
  36. Nyx
  37. Panakeia (Greek)
  38. Pax
  39. Priapus
  40. Roma
  41. Salus
  42. Saturn
  43. Silvanus
  44. Sol Invictus
  45. Soter (Greek)
  46. Spes
  47. Terminus
  48. Tethys (Greek)
  49. Tyche (Greek)
  50. Venus
  51. Victoria
  52. Vulcan

Saxon

  1. Aegil
  2. Geat
  3. Seaxnéat
  4. Weland
  5. Woden, king of the gods and god of wisdom. Cognate to Norse Odin. Source of the word 'Wednesday'.
  6. Tiw, a war god and possibly a sky god. Cognate to Norse Tyr, as well as Greek Zeus, Roman Jupiter, Baltic Dievs/Dievas and Hindu Dyaus. Source of the word 'Tuesday'.
  7. Thunor, god of thunder and cognate to Norse Thor and source of the word 'Thursday'.
  8. Frig, the wife of Woden the goddess of marriage and childbirth and source of the word 'Friday'.
  9. Ing, possibly another name for the Norse 'Freyr', god of fertility.
  10. Ēostre, listed by Bede, and purported source of the word 'Easter'.
  11. Erce/Folde/Eorðe, the 'Mother of Earth' cited in the Æcerbot charm.
  12. Rheda, also Hrethe or Hrēða, listed by Bede.
  13. Wyrd, the Anglo-Saxon concept of fate.
  14. Beowa, a figure associated with barley and possibly conflated with Beowulf.
  15. Siȝel - an Old English term for 'sun', a goddess in related religions, and sister of the moon god.
  16. Mona - the Old English for 'moon', a god in related religions, and brother of the sun goddess. Source for the word 'Monday'.
  17. Bældæġ, son of Woden, mentioned in the king-list of Bernicia, possibly identified with Baldur by Snorri.
  18. Seaxnēat, patron deity of the Saxons.
  19. Wecta, mentioned in multiple king-lists, possible cognate of Vegdeg, a son of Woden.
  20. Modra, the 'Mothers', whose festival 'Modraniht' is mentioned by Bede. Possibly connected to the Matres and Matronae, and the Norns.
  21. Nicors, water spirits attested in Beowulf with apparent cognates in other Germanic languages as well as modern dialectal knucker.
  22. Wælcyrge, cognate with Norse Valkyries, which may have been imported from Norse mythology.
  23. Freya
  24. Loki

From Celtic Germany

  1. Alaisagae
  2. Mogons
  3. Nemetius
  4. Nerthus
  5. Rigisamus
  6. Rosmerta
  7. Viradecthis

English / Celtic from modern England/other

  1. Andescociuoucus
  2. Antenocitus
  3. Arecurius
  4. Barrecis
  5. Bé Néit
  6. Bilé
  7. Braciaca
  8. Bregans
  9. Britannia
  10. Búanann
  11. Callirius
  12. Camulos
  13. Cocidius
  14. Contrebis
  15. Corotiacus
  16. Cuda
  17. Cunobelinus
  18. Erce
  19. Medigenus
  20. Medocius
  21. Ocelus
  22. Olloudius
  23. Onirus
  24. Rider God
  25. Rigonemetis
  26. Saitada
  27. Setlocenia
  28. Vitiris
  29. Wheel God

Brittonic

  1. Agronā - hypothetical Brittonic goddess of the River Ayr
  2. Ancasta - Brittonic goddess of Clausentum
  3. Andrasta - Brittonic goddess of victory
  4. Arnemetia - Brittonic goddess of nemetons
  5. Belisama - Gallic and Brittonic goddess
  6. Brigantia - Brittonic goddess of the Brigantes
  7. Clota - hypothetical Brittonic goddess of the River Clyde[1]
  8. Coventina - Brittonic goddess of wells and springs
  9. Dea Latis - Brittonic goddess of bogs and pools,[8] companion of Deus Latis
  10. Dea Matrona - "divine mother goddess" and goddess of the River Marne in Gaul
  11. Epona - fertility goddess, protector of horses
  12. Erecura - goddess of death and fertility
  13. Nemetona - a Celtic goddess with roots in northeastern Gaul.
  14. Ricagambeda - Brittonic goddess
  15. Sabrina - Brittonic goddess of the River Severn
  16. Senuna - a Brittonic goddess
  17. Suleviae - a triune mother goddess
  18. Sulis - Brittonic goddess of the healing spring at Aquae Sulis (Bath)
  19. Tamesis - Brittonic goddess of the River Thames
  20. Verbeia - Brittonic goddess of the River Wharfe
  21. Abandinus - a Brittonic god of Durovigutum
  22. Belatucadros (Bitucadros) - a Brittonic god
  23. Belenus (Belenos) - a god of healing
  24. Caletos[18]
  25. Cernunnos (Carnonos) - an antlered god
  26. Condatis - a Gallic and Brittonic god of the confluences of rivers
  27. Cunomaglus - a Brittonic hunter god[20]
  28. Deus Latis - a Brittonic god
  29. Gobannus (Gobannos) - a Gallic and Brittonic smith god
  30. Ialonus Contrebis - a Brittonic and Gallic god
  31. Maponos - a Brittonic and Gallic god of youth
  32. Matunos - a Brittonic and Gallic bear god
  33. Niskus - a Brittonic river god
  34. Nodens (Nodons) - a Brittonic god of healing, dogs and hunting
  35. Sucellus (Sucellos) - a Gallic and Brittonic god of agriculture and wine
  36. Taranis (Tanaros) - a god of thunder
  37. Toutatis - a tribal protector god
  38. Tridamos - a Brittonic god
  39. Vellaunus - a Brittonic and Gallic god
  40. Vernostonos - a Brittonic god
  41. Vindonnus - an epithet for Belenus
  42. Vinotonus - a Brittonic god of Lavatrae
  43. Viridios - a Brittonic god of Ancaster
  44. Anextiomarus
  45. Grannos
  46. Lenus
  47. Loucetius
  48. Segomo

Gaelic deities and characters

  1. Achtland
  2. Aibell
  3. Aimend
  4. Aífe
  5. Áine - goddess of summer, wealth and sovereignty
  6. Airmed - goddess of healing and herbalism[43]
  7. Anu - probable goddess of the earth and fertility,[44] called "mother of the Irish gods" in Cormac's Glossary[45]
  8. Bec
  9. Bébinn (Béfind)
  10. Bé Chuille
  11. Bodhmall
  12. Boann - goddess of the River Boyne, called Bouvinda by Ptolemy[46]
  13. Brigid (Brigit) - called a "goddess of poets" in Cormac's Glossary,[45] with her sisters Brigid the healer and Brigid the smith[47]
  14. Caillech (Beira, Biróg) - an ancestral creator and weather goddess
  15. Canola
  16. Carman
  17. Cethlenn - wife of Balor of the Fomorians
  18. Clídna[1]
  19. Clothru
  20. Danand (Danu)
  21. Deirdre - the foremost tragic heroine in Irish legend
  22. Duibne - attested as Dovinia in Archaic Irish and preserved in the name of the Corcu Duibne[46]
  23. Ériu, Banba & Fódla - tutelary triumvirate of goddesses, sisters, eponymous for Ireland (mainly Ériu)
  24. Ernmas
  25. Étaín - the heroine of Tochmarc Étaíne
  26. Ethniu (Ethliu) - the daughter of the Fomorian leader Balor and the mother of Lugh
  27. Fand
  28. Finnabair[20]
  29. Flidais
  30. Fuamnach
  31. Gráinne
  32. Grian
  33. Lí Ban
  34. Loígde - attested as Logiddea in Archaic Irish and preserved in the name of the Corcu Loígde[46]
  35. Macha
  36. Medb (Medb Lethderg)
  37. Mongfind
  38. The Morrígan, Badb, Nemain - also known as "The Thee Morrígna"
  39. Mór Muman (Mugain)
  40. Niamh
  41. Sadhbh
  42. Tailtiu
  43. Tlachtga
  44. Abarta
  45. Abcán
  46. Abhean
  47. Aed
  48. Aengus (Óengus, Macán)
  49. Ailill
  50. Aillen
  51. Aí
  52. Balor
  53. Bith
  54. Bodb Dearg
  55. Bres
  56. Builg - a god of the Fir Bholg[48]
  57. Cermait
  58. Cian
  59. Cichol
  60. Conand
  61. Crom Cruach
  62. The Dagda (Dáire)
  63. Dian Cecht - called a "god of health" in Cormac's Glossary[49]
  64. Donn[50]
  65. Ecne
  66. Elatha
  67. Goibniu, Credne & Luchta - called the "three gods of craft"[45]
  68. Labraid
  69. Lén
  70. Lir
  71. Lugh - also attested as Lugus in Archaic Irish[51]
  72. Mac Cuill, Mac Cecht, Mac Gréine
  73. Manannán mac Lir
  74. Miach
  75. Midir
  76. Mug Ruith
  77. Néit - called a "god of war" in Cormac's Glossary[45]
  78. Nuada (Nechtan, Elcmar)[52]
  79. Ogma
  80. Tethra
  81. Tuirenn (Delbáeth)
  82. Alator
  83. Brian
  84. Fea
  85. Fedelm
  86. Fergus
  87. Iuchar
  88. Iucharba
  89. Scáthach
  90. Sionna

Brythonic deities and characters

  1. Arianrhod
  2. Blodeuwedd
  3. Branwen
  4. Ceridwen
  5. Creiddylad
  6. Creirwy
  7. Dôn
  8. Gwenhwyfar
  9. Modron - possible derivation of Dea Matrona
  10. Nimue
  11. Olwen
  12. Rhiannon
  13. Afallach
  14. Amaethon
  15. Arawn - king of the otherworld realm of Annwn
  16. Beli Mawr
  17. Bladud
  18. Bendigeidfran (Brân the Blessed)
  19. Culhwch
  20. Dylan ail Don
  21. Efnysien
  22. Euroswydd
  23. Gilfaethwy
  24. Gofannon (Govannon) - a smith god
  25. Gwern[20]
  26. Gwydion
  27. Gwyddno Garanhir
  28. Gwyn ap Nudd
  29. Hafgan
  30. Lludd Llaw Eraint (Nudd)
  31. Llŷr
  32. Mabon
  33. Matholwch
  34. Manawydan
  35. Nisien (Nissien, Nissyen)
  36. Pryderi
  37. Pwyll
  38. Taliesin
  39. Ysbaddaden
  40. Aeron
  41. Gwenwynwyn
  42. Hu Gadarn
  43. Orchi
  44. Math Mathonwy
  45. Penarddun

Others

  1. Ollathair
  2. Ankou
  3. The Washers
  4. Yannig an Aod

From Culture & Folklore

  1. Arthur
  2. Black Annis
  3. Helith
  4. Herne
  5. Hiccafrith
  6. Robin
  7. Orci
  8. Penda

...and all the unrecorded, unnamed and all-forgotten.

Community members may seek wisdom at the hidden shrine. I am currently working on a version for passers-by.

Until then, this page will suggest to you a random divinity from the list each time you refresh it - yours is . Use this to find a focus each day across the season, as an oracle, or any other purpose.

November

You will see now that the calendar is empty throughout November. I believe this is because November is especially important, and I have yet to discover why. But as Samhain was originally a three week fesival (two weeks before, one afterwards), one thing to do is to continue calling on one name each day and letting this season spill outwards.

I've always been most aware in November of the sudden brilliance of the stars.