Fairy
Also known as: Faerie; Fee; Fay; Fae; Fada; Fata; Hada; Draga; Encantada; Damizelos

The word Fairy has become a catch-all for all kinds of tenuously related spirits. In general, what they share in common are
associations with wild nature and an interest in human life cycles, especially birth.
Fairy is also the standard word used to translate
amorphous, volatile, sexy nature spirits from around the world, especially if they're female. Thus Vila, Rusalka, Keshalyi, and Tündér
are all referred to as Fairies although they are all distinct types of spirits.
The word Fairy is related to fate. Birth Fairies—those spirits who arrive shortly after a birth to announce a baby's future and fortune
—may be the "true" Fairies. This is more obvious in Italian than in English: the word forFairy in Italian is
fata or fada. Fata Morgana is literally Fairy Morgana. (See also:Fairy, Birth; Fata Morgana.)
For many people, Fairy means the Sidhe of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands. The word is commonly used in Ireland as the English
translation for Sidhe. When people describe green as a Fairy color, for instance, they are referring to the preferences of the Sidhe.
(Balkan and Slavic "Fairies" tend to prefer white.)
• Shamanic healers and herbalists who work with Sidhe are known as Fairy doctors.
• The old shamanic tradition of venerating and working with Sidhe is the Fairy Faith.
Animals: Frogs, toads, dragonflies, butterflies, horses, cattle, deer, and foxes are among the creatures most identified with Fairies.
Plants: Wildflowers in general
Plants Traditionally Associated with Fairies
• Blackthorn (sloe)
• Bluebells
• Brambles
• Briar roses and dog roses
• Crocuses, especially saffron
• Ferns
• Foxglove
• Hawthorn
• Heartsease
• Hollyhocks
• Lavender
• Morning glories
• Mushrooms, especially amanita muscaria
• Pansies
• Poppies
• Primrose (Allegedly primroses serve as keys to Fairy Land.)
• Ragweed (a.k.a., Fairy's Horse)
• Rosemary
Time: Fairies favor nocturnal hours and threshold times, for instance, twilight and dawn.
Sacred dates: Fairies are particularly active from May Eve (Beltane, Walpurgis) until a last annual fling at Halloween.

See also: Fairy, Birth; Fairy, Flower; Fairy, Green; Fairy Queens; Fates; Gwillion; Ho Hsien-Ko; Hulden; Huli Jing; Ielle

Keshalyi; Ma Gu; Ma Zu; Nymph; Rusalka; Sidhe; Tündér; Vila
Allegedly, if you stand beneath an elder tree on Midsummer's Eve, you will be granted a vision of reveling Fairies.

Fairy, Birth
Also known as: Fates

In the famous story Sleeping Beauty, a king and queen, celebrating the birth of a long-awaited royal heir, throw a festive banquet
for Fairies. Each Fairy brings a blessing as a baby gift. One Fairy fails to receive an invitation. Why the invitation was never received
depends upon the version of the story, but the inevitable end result is that she bestows a curse, not a blessing.
This scenario is no mere fairy tale, but a description of rituals once common throughout Europe in French, Slavic, Celtic, and other
regions, as well as among the Roma (Gypsies). Birth Fairies foretell (and may bestow) a baby's fate. They are direct descendents of the
Moirae, Parcae, and other Fate goddesses.
Following a baby's birth, it was traditional to create an offering table for these Fairies. Ritual details depend on specific spirits to
whom the ritual is devoted. There will be a set number of spirits and they will arrive on schedule. Most frequently, three are anticipated,
but sometimes there is only one and occasionally as many as thirteen, as in the original versionof Sleeping Beauty. Usually the spirits are
female, but the Roma, for instance, have male and female birth spirits.
The offering table is the crucial element. A table is laid as if for a festive meal. Fairies, the honored, desired guests, are expected to
come and dine: food and drink are offered. The table is set with individual place settings, napkins, glasses, the whole works. (Each
tradition will specify how many Fairies are expected, although as in Sleeping Beauty, it's usually best to be prepared for extra guests.)

See also: Béfind; Betben; Fairy; Fates (1); Fates (2); Fatit; Hatbor, Seven; Laimos; Moirae; Oosood; Our Good Mothers;
Parcae; Ursitory

Fairy, Flower
Also known as: Devas

Tiny little winged spirits, flitting from flower to flower: these are flower Fairies. Regular Fairies compare in size to humans, although
many are skilled shape-shifters who can take any form. Flower Fairies are a separate, distinct species of spirit.
Theoretically, every flower may have its own Fairy. A field of wildflowers or a lush, flower-packed backyard contains a universe of
spirits. Flower Fairies' natures reflect the type of flowers with which they're associated. Flower Fairies associated with the beautiful
blossoms of poisonous plants, like belladonna or wolfsbane, have different personalities and interests than those associated with daisies
and buttercups.
Flower Fairies suffer from habitat loss. Give them a home and they will come. Plant your favorite flowers and see what types of
Fairies arrive with them. In general, Fairy gardens should not be overly manicured: allow a little wilderness to creep in so that the Fairies
feel at home. Give them a little room for privacy, places to hide and observe where they won't feel exposed. Add Fairy flowers,
especially bramble bushes, wild roses, and hawthorn trees. Fairies enjoy the company of other species, too. Add butterfly gardens; bird
and squirrel feeders; and/or bat houses. Incorporate a source of water: if a pond or stream is unavailable, a birdbath may suit them.
They may be happy to share a hot tub with you, too. Ornaments like crystals, statues, or witch balls are the equivalent of interior
decorating for Fairies. Flower Fairies tend to make themselves visible to children. (Alternatively, many children are very good at seeing
them.)

Iconography: Modern perceptions of flower Fairies are heavily influenced by the popular works of Cicely Mary Barker (1895–
1973), the author and illustrator of the "Flower Fairy" series of books.

Offerings: Creation and preservation of habitat is the ideal offering. Once at least a little habitat exists for them, invite flower Fairies
with offerings of honey, nuts, and thimblefuls of milk.
See also: Fairy; Fairy, Green; Gabriel

Fairy, Green
Also known as: Absinthe; La Fée Verte (French)

The Green Fairy is the Absinthe Fairy. Absinthe may refer to two things: absinthe names the herb Artemisia absinthium, more
commonly known in English as wormwood. Absinthe also names the potent, mysterious, and controversial alcoholic beverage distilled
from the leaves of this herb.
The term Green Fairy may refer to three things:
• The Green Fairy is the presiding spirit of absinthe, its matron goddess.
• The Green Fairy is also a nickname for absinthe (the drink) itself.
• The Green Fairy refers to a specific experience involving absinthe.
Some absinthe aficionados describe a point when, having imbibed a sufficient quantity of absinthe, a unique clarity of
vision is achieved, leading to the heightened possibility of psychic and artistic inspiration. This experience is described as
"meeting the Green Fairy," which may or may not be intended literally.
The Green Fairy's origins are ambiguous: She may have emerged from visions inspired by drinking absinthe or she may have emerged
as a literary metaphor for the absinthe experience and for the beverage's unique and lovely green color.
Regardless, even if once
originally a metaphor, the Green Fairy has stepped out of the bottle and off the pages of poets: she is alive, well, and thriving in the
twenty-first century.
Wormwood is an unusual and powerful herb; absinthe is an unusual and powerful drink; and the Green Fairy is an unusual and
powerful spirit. Although she may physically resemble a Flower Fairy, the Green Fairy is a city girl: absinthe's popularity coincided with
popular migration from Europe's countryside to urban centers. The Green Fairy may be a Flower Fairy who joined this migration.
Author and master magus Aleister Crowley called the absinthe spirit the Green Goddess.

Many Flower Fairies prefer to avoid people; the Green Fairy's favored haunts include crowded cafés, bars, dance halls, and night
clubs. She chooses not to stay in the garden amid living wormwood plants; rather, she is a goddess of magic potions, romance, and
illusions. The Green Fairy is a beautiful enchantress who rules dreams, visions, and psychoactive experiences. She inspires, heals, and
protects but is also potentially dangerous. In Czech, she is called Zelena Muza: the "Green Muse."
Wormwood, the plant also known as absinthe, is an herb with a reputation. Herbal concoctions have been brewed from wormwood
for millennia:
• Wormwood's healing properties are cited in the Egyptian Ebers Papyrus, dating from circa 1550 BCE.
• In classical Greece, wormwood leaves were infused in wine to create medicinal potions; Hippocrates recorded its virtues, as did
Pythagoras.
Wormwood has formidable magical properties: it allegedly enables one to communicate with the dead; potions were concocted for
such purposes. Wormwood is used to protect against malevolent magic. It may be a witch's tool (for good or ill) or conversely guard
against witchcraft.
In the Middle Ages, an English ale was brewed with wormwood. However the modern beverage known as absinthe did not exist
until the very late eighteenth century. The Green Fairy did not emerge until that time either—or at least not in her modern form. Absinthe
in its modern form was invented in either 1792 or 1797 by Swiss country doctor, Pierre Ordinaire. Originally marketed as a panacea, a
health tonic, absinthe eventually became popular among the Paris demi-monde, the bohemian community of artists, poets, and free
thinkers. (In Moulin Rouge, director Baz Luhrmann's 2001 cinematic tribute to this era, the Green Fairy is incarnated by Australian
actress, Kylie Minogue.) Absinthe spread through Europe's cities and then to the Western Hemisphere, especially New Orleans.
Absinthe developed a reputation as a magical, enchanted potion. It retained wormwood's associations with witchcraft: posters
advertising absinthe frequently feature black cats, seductive women, and the ever-present Green Fairy. (These associations were

conscious: a 1915 poster, entitled Death of the Green Fairy, protesting prohibition of absinthe depicts the Green Fairy being burned at
the stake like a witch.)
Absinthe also developed a dangerous reputation. Because of the chemical constituents inherent in wormwood, absinthe potentially
has narcotic and psychoactive effects. In addition, the marketed, distilled beverage possessed extremely high alcohol content: it was
bottled between 120 and 160 proof (although many drink it heavily diluted with water). It is now generally acknowledged that
absinthe's dangers derived largely from this unusually high alcohol content. In addition, at the height of its popularity, cheap, inferior
bootleg absinthes flooded the market. These often incorporated toxic adulterants leading to health hazards like heavy metal poisoning.
Among the many creative geniuses associated with absinthe are authors Oscar Wilde, Mary Shelley, Edgar Allan Poe,
Ernest Hemingway, and Alfred Jarry; poets Charles Baudelaire, Pablo Neruda, Paul Verlaine, and Arthur Rimbaud; and
painters Toulouse-Lautrec, Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Paul Gaugin. The Green Fairy developed a reputation as a
muse who provided creative inspiration and who could stimulate the talented to their utmost potential .

Because absinthe was among the first beverages marketed toward women and because of its powerful associations with artists, free
thinkers, and free lovers, conservative elements of society despised absinthe, associating it with society's degeneration. Calls to ban
absinthe were at the vanguard of the Prohibition movement. Absinthe was banned in Switzerland in 1907; in the United States in 1912;
and in France in 1915.
The twenty-first century has brought the Absinthe Renaissance and the public reemergence of the Green Fairy. Legal restrictions on
absinthe have been lifted throughout the world. More varieties are now available than ever before, and it is considered as safe as any
other alcoholic beverage when consumed in moderation.
Favored people: Poets, painters, and creative people; absinthe lovers; mixologists; alchemists

M anifestations: The Green Fairy is often envisioned in the traditional guise of a flower Fairy: a tiny, sparkly, winged being, small
enough to emerge from a bottle.

Iconography: The Green Fairy, featured in absinthe advertising, posters, and on bottle labels, is usually depicted as a winged Fairy,
approximately the size of a butterfly. She may be dressed in green or actually be green. Occasionally she is depicted as a human-sized
green sylph. She is usually sexy, seductive, flirtatious, and very charming.
Spirit ally: The Green Fairy may be venerated together with Artemis, the goddess with dominion over the Artemisia family of
plants, which includes wormwood.
Color: Green, especially emerald or chartreuse green, and acid or iridescent hues
Animal: Black cat
Time: L'Heure Verte, or the Green Hour, technicallythe after-work cocktail hour, roughly five in the afternoon, but really any time
that is suffused with absinthe
Sacred places: Montmartre; New Orleans; Prague; the shrine you build for her or any place powerfully associated with absinthe

Altar: Drinking absinthe is often heavily ritualized. All sorts of paraphernalia have evolved to serve these rituals, including special
spoons, carafes, and glasses. These may rest on an altar when not in use. Decorate with vintage absinthe posters or paintings inspired by
the Green Fairy.
Offerings: Absinthe, of course, but also absinthe paraphernalia (spoons, glasses, carafes), plus uranium glass, sugar cubes formed
in the shape of card suits (clubs, spades, diamonds, hearts) and perfumes inspired by the scent of absinthe
See also: Artemis; Fairy, Flower; Fairy Queens; Leanan Sidhe; Muse

Fairy Queens

Post-Christianity, some powerful Pagan spirits were reclassified as saints. (See also:
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 fulfill 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 channeled in the manner of other spirits.
See also: Aibheall; Aine; Aynia; Béfind; Fand; Maeve; Titania; Tuatha Dé Danaan

Fand

The Pearl of Beauty
Origin: Isle of Man

Fand, a sea spirit, was once the bride of Manannan, powerful king of the sea. (They divorced, but periodically reconcile.) She
manifests in the guise of a beautiful woman but also as a magical sea bird whose sweet song can lull humans to sleep. She travels among
a flock of similar magic birds: they travel in pairs linked by silver chains. Only Fand and her sister, Liban, are linked by a gold chain,
indicating their power, supremacy, and uniqueness.
Fand is most famous from a myth involving Irish hero Cu Chulain. Seeking to capture a pair of these beautiful birds for his wife, of
course, he sought the pair with the gold chain. He threw his spear, which went between their wings. The birds mysteriously disappeared,
but later Fand and Liban manifesting in the form of women appeared to Cu Chulain in a vision and brutally horsewhipped him. Visions
can be real: Cu Chulain was ill and incapacitated for a year. (Eventually, following his recovery, Fand sought his help in battle. They fell
in love and had a passionate affair, much to the displeasure of Cu Chulain's wife.) This seductive, beautiful, powerful spirit is now
classified as a Fairy Queen.
M anifestation: Fand allegedly wears a green cloak.
See also: Aife; Fairy Queens; Manannan; Scatach

Fata Morgana
See: Morgan le Fay

Fates (1)
Fates is a general term for goddesses who control destiny. Technically, it refers to the Moirae, the Greek goddesses of fate.

However, similar goddesses exist elsewhere, and the name has evolved into a blanket term for them all. Thus, the Norns are also known
as Fates. In general, Fates come in groups, usually three, although not always.
Fates mimic the phases of the moon, hence their tendency to appear in triplicate. The New Moon is tiny like a human infant. It waxes;
reaches full strength, and wanes; finally disappearing as if in death. Typically the Fates are spinning goddesses: they weave a person's
fate as if it were a tapestry, cutting the thread when the tapestry and life is complete. Fates may also be used to indicate birth Fairies,
although whether they actually control the fate they arrive to announce is subject to debate.
See also: Fairy, Birth; Lady Tung; Moirae; Norns; Parcae

Fates (2)
Origin: Greece

The Moirae, or Goddesses of Fate, of ancient Greek mythology and religion were banished with the adoption of Christianity, along
with the entire Pagan pantheon. They eventually reemerged, although not quite in the same positions of power. The Fates of modern
Greek folklore are birth Fairies, members of the Exotika.
The Fates consistently show up on the third night following the birth of a baby. Where will they appear? Wherever the baby is, that's
where. If the baby is at home, then that's their destination. If the baby is in a hospital, they'll turn up there, too, although it may be more
difficult to arrange the offering table they anticipate.
Lock up the dog. Clear a path. Remove anything that could trip or obstruct these little old lady spirits. It does no good to annoy
them. Make them feel welcome. Leave them a mode of entry, an open window, or an unlocked door. Theoretically, they can even get
through a pet door, although this may put them in a bad mood.
These are all formalities, signs of respect. Locking doors and windows won't keep them out if they're determined to get in. However,
a warm welcome puts them in the mood to deliver a happy, auspicious fate or perhaps to mediate and intercede if the decreed fate is
dire. Unlike the ancient Moirae, it's unclear whether modern Fates decree fate or just deliver the news.
Leave a light burning for the Fates. Candles or oil lamps are traditional, but they're modern spirits: a small electric lamp
works, too. Keep lights low, not too harsh.
2.
Place an offering table in the center of the room in which the baby sleeps.
3.
Set it with three chairs, stools, or cushions, the lower to the ground the better.
4.
4. Burn aromatic herbs in the room to welcome them.
5.
Offer them cakes made with salt and honey so that they'll reveal the fate. (Traditionally only the baby, the mother, and
possibly the midwife is able to see them.)
6.
Give them lots of honey so that their decrees will be sweet. (See also: Kitchen God.)
7.
Give them a dish of honey (preferably Greek honey but any will do) with white almonds sprinkled on top.
8.
In the morning, wrap up everything in a clean white cloth and respectfully dispose of it outside the house.
1.

M anifestation: The three Fates traditionally manifest as elderly women. At least one is always spinning. One carries a book to
record decrees and one ominously carries a pair of shears. They are temperamental and sometimes a little grouchy but can be very kind
and generous if treated with deference and respect.
See also: Fairies, Birth; Fates (1); Exotika; Moirae

Fatit
Singular: Fati
Also known as: Miren

Origin: Southern Albania

Fatit are Birth Fairies. Their name derives fromFate. Miren, another name used for them, derives from the Greek Moirae. Fatit are
pretty, if extremely powerful spirits, tiny enough to ride butterflies. On the third day following a baby's birth, three Fatit approach the
cradle and determine the baby's destiny.
Offerings: Tea, milk, and cookies; also sprinkle some sugar water on fresh flower blossoms as treats for their butterfly mounts.
See also: Fairies, Birth; Fates; Moirae

Faun
Origin: Italy

Fauns manifest as men with goat's legs and horns, similar to Pan and the satyrs. Fauns are among the spirits in the retinue of Faunus.
Like satyrs, they have a reputation for being lascivious, wild, and lustful. Artist Franz von Stuck's 1918 painting, "Faun and Nixe"
depicts a faun carrying off an exultant Nixie. (See also: Nixie.)
The title of Guillermo del Toro's 2006 Spanish language movie, El Laberinto del Fauno, was translated into English as Pan's
Labyrinth, hut it literally means "The Faun's Labyrinth." The Greek deity Pan does not appear in the movie. The character
played by actor Doug Jones is a faun.

See also: Faunus; Pan

Fauna
Also known as: Fatua and Bona Dea
Origin: Roman region

Fauna is the goddess of wildlife, forests, and fertility. She is Faunus' daughter and among those spirits who possessed Mysteries,
meaning that while certain of their rituals were open to the general public, others (the Mysteries) were reserved solely for initiates. Fauna
is among the spirits known as Bona Dea, literally the "Good Goddess," but also indicating that their interaction is solely with women.
(See also: Bona Deaand the Glossary entry for Mystery.)
Fauna was an extremely important goddess. She was enshrined on Rome's Aventine Hill, but her annual Mystery was held in the
home of Rome's leading magistrate under the direction of his wife, who was assisted by Vestal Virgins. A women-only event, even
representations like sculptures or portraits of men or male animals were covered or removed. Fauna's Mysteries were secret upon pain
of law. Were men curious? They must have been. Legal records exist of men prosecuted for attempting to sneak into her rites. Her
Mysteries remain secret and thus unknown today.
In 62 BCE, Publius Clodius Pulcher dressed in drag and tried to sneak into the Mysteries, held that year in the home of
Julius Caesar. He was caught. The scandal resulted in a trial, hut he was acquitted via bribery. Rumor on the street was that
he was conducting or attempting to conduct an affair with Pompeia, Caesar's wife. Although no evidence indicated this to be
true, Caesar divorced her, famously saying that the wife of Caesar must be above suspicion. Pulcher was assassinated in 52
BCE.

In addition to secret, mystic rites, Fauna was also very publicly a goddess of physical healing. The sick were tended in her temple's
garden of medicinal herbs, essentially a sacred hospital. In Rome, snakes were associated with healing in general, but especially with
women's reproductive health. Snakes, Fauna's sacred creature, were housed in her temple gardens.
Iconography: Fauna is portrayed seated upon a throne, holding a cornucopia.
Creature: Snake
Element: Earth
Day: December 4th commemorates the anniversary of her Mystery.
Offerings: There is controversy as to whether wine is forbidden from Fauna's rites. One theory is that, because wine was once
taboo for Roman women, any wine brought into Fauna's temple was euphemistically called "milk." Alternatively, the legend goes that
wine and myrtle were banned because Faunus once got drunk and beat Fauna with a myrtle branch. That may be a euphemism for the
myth in which Faunus rapes his daughter (who may also be his consort).
See also: Asklepios; Faunus; Vesta

Faunus

The Benefactor; The Wild One
Also known as: Lupercus
Origin: Roman region

Faunus, among the most ancient, primordial spirits of the Roman region, epitomizes the generative force inherent in the universe. He
is the essence of unconstrained male vitality. Faunus is a woodland spirit, a spirit of the forest and wild nature. He represents the innate
fertility of land and people, a surging force that cannot be contained. He is sometimes described as a grandson of Saturn. Another
tradition says that Faunus (or his avatar) was a king of Latium, deified after death.
Faunus is a giver of oracles, a bestower of psychic ability. People once slept in his sacred groves in order to have their future
revealed. He is petitioned to improve human fertility: his sexual vitality is so powerful that just being in his presence may have a positive
effect. He is petitioned to heal infertility, male and female.
Faunus doesn't know the slightest thing about romance: he is a spirit of unrepressed sexual force and the biological imperative toward
procreation. He is the ancient essence of the forest, so primordial that he is pre-verbal. Faunus doesn't talk; he cannot communicate as
a human does, but speaks through forest noises and nature sounds. (See also: Damballab; Leshii)
If you petition him for fertility and he visits you in a dream and hits you, consider yourself blessed. Faunus hits women with
tree branches or leather thongs to help them conceive. (If he arrives and doesn't hit you, hold out your hands, palms up, so
that he will.) He's not gentle; he's violent. He's the force of untamed forest growth, but he is benevolent and protective .

Faunus is not for the faint of heart. Those who petition him should be aware that his response traditionally comes in the form of
nightmares and violent dreams. The good news is that nightmares provoked by Faunus are often a positive, auspicious sign. He doesn't
mean to be scary; he's just so wild and primordial that his presence overwhelms, evoking primal human fears and emotions. Because of
this, he is traditionally evoked alongside his more articulate, civilized allies: his daughter, Fauna, and especially Juno, who may arbitrate
for him. He likes women although he may become sexually aggressive with them.

Faunus oversees the balance between livestock and wolves. He may be petitioned to guard livestock from wolves and wolves from
people.
M anifestation: Horned male spirit. He may manifest as a human male with horns or with only his upper torso in human form while
the lower bears the form of a goat. Faunus wears a wolf skin. Images of Faunus are often mistaken for the more famous Pan.
February 14th , or the full moon of the last Roman month, marked the beginning of the Lupercalia, the annual festival
honoring Juno and Faunus. The festival began when the Luperci, the priests of Faunus, arrived at the Lupercal, the cave on
the Palatine where the wolf nursed Romulus and Remus. Sacrificed dogs and goats were eaten by the priests. Goat skins were
sliced up. The Luperci were smeared with goat's blood and dressed in "funo's cloak," torn patches of goatskin. Pieces of
goatskin were formed into whips. The priests or specially chosen young boys would run around the Palatine striking people
with these whips. Women who were struck were believed rendered fertile. Conception, easy childbirth, and healthy babies were
believed to be ensured. Women positioned themselves strategically around the hill to guarantee that they would be struck,
usually upon their outstretched hands. The Lupercalia was celebrated until 494 CE. In January 2007, Italian archaeologists
announced that they had located the site of the Lupercal.

Attributes: Goblet and wreath
Sacred animals: Goat, wolf
Sacred dates: 5 December, the Faunalia; 14 February, the beginning of the Lupercalia, possibly Rome's oldest ceremonial
Offerings: Spring water; it may not be advisable to give him too much (or any) alcohol as he is uncontrollable enough without it;
offerings on behalf of wolves, especially Italian wolves; attempts to preserve wild nature
See also: Faun; Fauna; Juno; Pan; Saturn

Feng Popo

Madame Wind
Also known as: Feng Pho-Pho
Origin: China

Feng Popo is the Chinese Mistress of the Winds. She manifests as an old lady who rides a tiger along a celestial road of clouds. The
winds are stuffed into a bag she wears slung around her shoulder. On a day when the weather's calm, she has the winds all locked up.
When they get too heavy and her shoulders start to ache, she releases them.
See also: Szélanya

Fergus

Lord of Fertility

Also known as: Fergus mac Roich
Origin: Ireland

Fergus is a euhemerized deity, meaning a deity who appears in myths and legends disguised as a human being, usually as royalty or a
hero. Legends of Fergus were written down by monks who loved the stories but could not in good faith celebrate a Pagan god. Instead
Fergus is portrayed as among the primary heroes of Ireland, a super-human figure.
The first syllable of the name Fergus is cognate with the Latin vir ("man") as in virile. Fergus' name has been interpreted to mean
"Male Ejaculation, Son of Super Stallion."
• Seven fists fit in his penis.
• His scrotum is the size of a bushel bag.
• He has voracious sexual appetites: it takes seven women to satisfy him (or just Maeve).
Fergus may be the son of Macha. He is the lover and first husband of Queen Maeve. Flidais is his consort. Fergus is foster father of
hero Cu Chulain. Invoke him for safety, protection, enhanced courage, fertility, and virility.
Fergus was the champion of Ulster, chosen as the escort to bring the epic heroine Deirdre; her lover, Naoise; and his
brothers home to the court of Deirdre's husband, King Conchobar. Fergus gave them his word that they'd be safe. Their
betrayal and thus the loss of his good word and honor caused him to leave Conchobar's court for Connacht and the arms of
Queen Maeve.

M anifestation: Fergus is allegedly tall as a giant and possesses the strength of seven hundred men.
Attribute: A magic sword that stretches as long as the rainbow
Sacred animal: Horse
Number: 7
See also: Flidais; Macha; Maeve; Tanuki

Ferronia
Also known as: Feronia
Origin: Italy
Feast: 15 November

Little information now survives regarding this ancient, mysterious deity. Ferronia may have started as an Etruscan or Sabine spirit,
eventually adopted by Romans. Her rites included fire-walking. Devotees walked or danced over glowing coals and burning
ploughshares.
She is a goddess of abundance, prosperity, and freedom. Her Roman temple featured a sacred stone. If a slave sat on that stone,
their freedom was instantly granted. (It's not clear exactly what kind of machinations were necessary in order to reach this stone.) The
spirit of Ferronia allegedly still haunts the traditional marketplaces of Italy, territory she once ruled. Having been banished, postChristianity, Ferronia apparently refused to abandon her old stomping grounds but transformed from a benevolent spirit of freedom and
prosperity into a bad-tempered witch in the guise of a shabby, elderly, muttering beggar-woman.
Don't let her disguise fool you: she's still working magic. Those who are polite and kind to her discover themselves blessed with good
fortune. Those behaving otherwise are treated to very effective (and feared) curses.

Favored people: Beggars, refugees, slaves
M anifestation: Ferronia haunts old-fashioned markets in the guise of an old, homeless beggar woman. She's unlikely to be sweet
and charming; rather, she is none too clean and worse for wear. She tends to accost people: be polite. The things she asks for are
usually small: spare change, cigarettes, a bite to eat, maybe even a smile is sufficient. Her blessings and curses should be taken seriously.
Consort: Soranus
Animal: Wolf

Sacred sites: Now she is Queen of the Marketplace but, once upon a time, she had temples, including one in Rome's Campus
Martius. She was venerated with Soranus at Mount Soracte.
See also: Befana; Soranus

Fish, Sir
Also known as: Ca Ong; Mr. Fish; Grandfather Fish; Lord Fish
Origin: Vietnam

Sir Fish is not exactly a fish: he's a whale. Sir Fish, King of the Sea, is a guardian deity in the form of a whale. He is the patron of
fishermen whom he protects out on open waters. Sir Fish is widely venerated along the central and southern coasts of Vietnam.
Festivals are held in his honor. He may be an incarnation of the Lord of the South Seas. Sir Fish is associated with prominent
Vietnamese male military or naval heroes and may be enshrined alongside them.
Whales are Sir Fish's sacred messengers and must be treated with immense respect. (Disrespect directed toward his messengers is
the equivalent of disrespect directed towards Sir Fish.) The first person to catch sight of a whale carcass is considered as one of Sir
Fish's elder sons and must arrange and observe appropriate funeral rites for the whale. The whale carcass must be respectfully interred.
In return, the man will receive blessings of good fortune from Sir Fish.
Favored people: Fishermen and men in general; Sir Fish is a men's deity.
Sacred sites: Whale bones that have washedashore are enshrined in his many temples along Vietnam's southern coast.
See also: Baleine, La; Dragon Kings of the Sea

Five Sisters of Good Fortune

The Five Sisters are guardian spirits of the Himalaya Mountains. Their ranks include:
• Dirghayusi (she rides a snow lion)
• Sugati (she rides a dragon)
• Suganthi (she rides a stag)
• Sumukhi (she rides a wild ass)
• Sumati (she rides a tiger)
The Five Sisters only concern themselves with people who venture into their mountains. If you're trekking in the Himalayas, their
favor is essential. If the sisters like you, they'll aid and protect you, so it's extremely important to stay on their good side. If you
aggravate them or if they take a dislike to you, their weapons include storms, icy cold weather, accidents, and avalanches.
Favored people: Hermits and spiritual seekers who dwell in Himalayan mountain caves

Flidais
Origin: Ireland
Classification: Tuatha Dé Danaan

Flidais is the beautiful goddess of deer, also known as "Fairy cattle." She is a goddess of the forest, wild nature, and rampant, joyful
sexuality. Flidais may go through thirty men a day–unless she has Fergus, who alone is able to satisfy her. (The feeling is mutual;
allegedly Fergus needs seven women to replace Flidais. The only other one who can fulfill him is Maeve.)
Flidais is a spirit of abundance. She also owns a herd of magical cows: her prize cow gives enough milk daily to feed three hundred
families. Flidais is the guardian of the forest, its trees and animals. She also allegedly has a soft spot for human outcasts; those
marginalized by society; people who, once upon a time, would have been inclined to take shelter in the forest.
M anifestation: Flidais may appear in the guise of a beautiful, sexy woman or as a doe. She reputedly has beautiful hair.
M ount: Her chariot is pulled by deer.
Sacred animals: All forest animals, but especially deer
See also: Artemis; Diana; Fairy; Fergus; Maeve; Tuatha Dé Danaan

Flora
Origin: Sabine or Oscan

Flora is the spirit of blossoming flowers and springtime. She embodies the flowering of all nature, including humans. Flowers indicate
the promise of reproduction. Flowers lead to fruit as surely as sexual intercourse leads to babies. Flora is the spirit who embodies both
the pleasures of the moment and the promise of the future. She is the spirit of the pleasures of the flesh.
M anifestation: A lush beautiful woman crowned and adorned with flowers
Flowers: Although, by definition, all flowers are sacred to Flora, her favorites are fragile, transient lupine (bean) blossoms.
Festival: Her festival, the Floralia, is considered the mother of all May Day festivities. Celebrated annually from April 28 th through
the beginning of May, the Floralia honored the female body. Beautiful Flora may be understood as the original Queen of the May.
The festival was celebrated in the nude until the third century CE, when Roman authorities demanded that revelers be clothed. The
festival survived in this fashion until the following century, when all Pagan festivals were banned.
Offerings: Flowers! Italian lupini beans; flower waters and sexy floral perfumes; honey; spring water
See also: Carna; Lady of the Waterside; Maia

Fortuna

Lady Luck; She Who Brings
Origin: Roman region
Fortuna may originally have been an Etruscan or Latin goddess. When the Romans encountered her, they too fell in love with Lady

Luck. Fortuna is the spirit of opportunity, fortune, fertility, abundance, or the lack thereof. Although now not as well known as Juno or
Diana, she was an extremely significant deity, beloved by the masses. Augustus Caesar claimed that she had adopted him as her favored
son. That was perhaps a bit of a threat to his enemies: if Fortuna favors you, who can harm or defeat you?
Fortuna, the original Lady Luck, genuinely does not correspond to any Greek goddess. She doesn't fit neatly into mythology books
based on identification, and so she is often ignored. (Athena
is Minerva; Zeus is Jupiter; and so forth. See the Glossary entry for
Identification for further explanation.) Yet Fortuna was widely adored. Roman soldiers carried her veneration to England, where she
shared altar space in Gloucester with Mercury and Rosmerta.
Fortuna personifies good fortune. She rules oracles, fate, and chance. She protects married women and is especially venerated by
mothers. She controls the energy that leads to reproduc tion. She does, unfortunately, have a bit of a reputation for being fickle.
Fortuna is an oracular goddess. It was possible to have your fortune told in her shrines. She was not specifically a goddess of
gambling, more of the fortunes of life; however, she does bestow luck: it can't hurt to invoke her blessings for gambling success.
Fortuna may survive under the mask of Catherine of Alexandria, the saint with the wheel.
Emblem: The Wheel of Fortune, as in a roulette wheel
Attributes: Wheel, rudder (both can instantly change direction, move, or stay still, just like luck), a spinning globe, also a
cornucopia
Sacred dates:
• 1 April is Fortuna's holy day in her guise as Fortuna Virilis, the spirit who causes men to desire women. Wives traditionally
invoke her to retain or revive their husbands' sexual interest. (However, anyone could invoke her for this purpose, married or
not.)
• 11 June was the dedication day of Fortuna's temple in Rome's Forum Boarium.
• The Fortunalia, Fortuna's festival, coincides with the Summer Solstice.
Sacred sites: She had a major shrine in Trastevere, as well as in the Forum, and a temple in Praeneste, now modern Palestrina. In
2008, archaeologists uncovered a temple apparently dedicated to Fortuna and Jupiter in Zippori, Israel, capital of the Galilee region
during the era of Roman rule. A church was built over the site during Byzantine rule.
Offering: Her traditional offering was a blend of honey, milk, and poppies, plus cakes in the shape of a wheel.
See also: Athena; Jupiter; Lakshmi; Mercury; Minerva; Rosmerta; Zeus

Fox Spirits
Also known as: Kitsune (Japan); Kumiho (Korea)
Origin: East Asia

Fox Spirits, seductive, sneaky, and often treacherous, are staples of modern manga, anime, and other forms of entertainment. Once
upon a time, Fox Spirits were considered protectors, teachers, providers, and sponsors of the occult and alchemical arts. Even now
some Fox Spirits are saintly and helpful. The foxes that serve as Inari's messengers are miracle workers, understood as sacred and
godly. (See also: Inari.) Fox Spirits may once have been a feature of pre-Buddhist East Asian shamanic religion. Fox Spirits tend to be
sexually assertive, female spirits. As centuries passed and, society became more conservative, women were expected to be modest and
subservient. Fox Spirits developed a bad reputation and became feared, especially in Japan and Korea. (Their reputation is somewhat
milder in China, although the same sexual associations exist.)
• Fox Spirits cause illness and misfortune.
• They possess victims, similar to possession by demons or dybbuks.
Fox Spirit possession isn't ritual possession or channeling; it's involuntary and invariably unpleasant. Degrees of Fox Spirit possession
exist, depending upon the innate strength of the Fox and its victim. (Some resist better than others.) Full possession—true spiritual
takeover—may result. Alternatively only symptoms may manifest. Symptoms of Fox Spirit possession include:
• Hearing voices when none should be heard

• Insatiable and indiscriminate appetite (the person may eat anything, even food they wouldn't normally eat; even things humans
wouldn't normally eat)
• Nocturnal sensations of suffocation and paralysis
• Increasing facial resemblance to a fox: the person develops a visible foxy snout
Eventually the Fox Spirit may push the true individual out, taking over body, mind, soul, and personality, either full-time or just
intermittently. The Fox Spirit speaks through the person's mouth, often indulging in obscenities, frequently sexual, which the person
would normally never use.
Among the functions of Chinese Fox Spirits is protection of archivists and librarians. If a hook or document cannot he
found, ask the Fox Spirits for help. Make an offering alongside the request. (Offerings should be proportionate in size to the
importance of the request.) Then leave the room for a little while to give the spirit space and opportunity to work some magic.
If the Fox Spirits have cooperated, whatever you're looking for should stick out or somehow draw attention to itself.

Although most Fox Spirits are perceived as greedy or power hungry, spiritual motivation may exist, as well; what the Fox Spirit may
really desire is a shrine and daily offerings. The only way for them to make their desire known is through a human mouth, similar to
African Zar spirits. Sometimes this is enough to satisfy them and the Fox Spirit evolves into an ally, rather than an enemy. Fox Spirits
provide for their devotees, although it's generally believed they do this by redistributing wealth. Just like real foxes are believed to raid
chicken coops, so Fox Spirits are believed to rob the neighbors.
What they provide for their devotees rightfully belongs to others but has been stolen. Very ancient Fox Spirits, however, may have
developed the alchemical and magical skills to actually produce wealth, no stealing required.
Fox Spirits can be exorcised by knowledgeable shamans; however, gifted exorcists tend to be tainted by their very success. Extortion
rackets are suspected: the exorcist who specializes in Fox Spirit removal may actually be in cahoots with the Fox Spirit, who may be his
servant. No wonder he can exorcise the spirit: the Fox is his familiar who always does his bidding. Independent practitioners are
particularly suspect. Exorcisms may also be successfully performed at Inari shrines.
Fox Spirits are also attached to specific families and individuals, whom they may serve in exchange for care, feeding, protection, and
veneration, or perhaps because they are ancestral spirits. Fox Spirits run in families. Families who are hereditary owners of foxes
typically transmit this hereditary power through the female line. Association with Fox Spirits may indicate vestigial memories of ancient
fox-oriented shamanic religion. For centuries tremendous fear and social stigma have been attached to families rumored to be Fox Spirit
owners.
M anifestation: Fox Spirits are not ordinary foxes. They are spirits whose true form is a fox shape in the same way that other
spirits take the form of humans, cats, snakes, or birds. Fox Spirits may resemble ordinary foxes. The older a Fox Spirit gets, the more
powerful it becomes. Age and power may be displayed by additional tails. The most powerful and ancient Fox Spirits are nine-tailed
foxes. (Theoretically, ordinary foxes can eventually evolve into Fox Spirits in the way that humans can evolve into spirits, too.)
Most Fox Spirits are shape-shifters; they can take many forms, including that of humans. Often they appear in the guise of seductive
young women; however, any form is possible. Fox Spirits can also shape-shift so that they appear identical to a specific person. Thus,
someone may recognize a friend or relative at the door and open it, only to admit the Fox Spirit in disguise.
Offering: Fox Spirits' very favorite food of all is inarizusbi: fried tofu bags ( aburaage) filled with sushi rice; however, you can
negotiate their actual diet. Feed daily. Foxes get hungry.
A brave Fox Spirit stars in Neil Gaiman and Yoshitaka Amano's illustrated novella, Sandman: The Dream Hunters (2000).

See also: Demon; Dybbuk; Hsi Wang Mu; Huli Jing; Inari; Kumiho; Neko-Mata; Tanuki; Zar

Freda

See: Ezili Freda Dahomey

Freya

She Who Shines over the Sea
Also known as: Valfreya; Freyja
Classification: Vanir

Freya, most beautiful of the Norse spirits, has dominion over love, sex, fertility, magic, witchcraft, warcraft, death, pleasure, and
glory. Freya literally means "Lady" and may be a title, not a name. (Her twin brother is Freyr, or "Lord.") She is simultaneously a spirit
of fertility and death, beauty and war.
Freya, daughter of Njord and Herta (Nerthus), Sea and Earth, is among the Vanir hostages who joined the Aesir to maintain
spiritualpeace. Freya, however, quickly became a dominant force in her new realm. When she first arrived in Asgard, she taught the
Aesir how to craft charms and potions. She inducted Odin into the world of magic.
Freya is invoked for love, romance, and fertility, but she is a death goddess, too. Under the name Valfreya, she leads the Valkyries to
the battlefield where she lays claim to half the dead who are brought to dwell in her beautiful palace, Folkvang, where love songs play
continuously.
Freya was no obscure goddess but beloved and worshipped over a vast European territory including Scandinavia, Iceland,
Greenland, the Germanic lands, Holland, and Anglo-Saxon Britain. She remains among the most beloved and widely venerated Pagan
goddesses today. No spirit annoyed Christian authorities more than Freya. Ironically, the result was that Freya survives more vividly
than virtually any other female European spirit. Constant condemnation kept Freya from fading into obscurity.
Freya was denounced as a Queen of Witches. Women who venerated her were automatically branded "witches." And, of course,
Freya's rites and traditions did encourage magical practice, mediumship, shamanism, and female autonomy with Freya herself as the role
model, behavior the new regime considered abhorrent and sinful.
• Freya weeps tears of amber.
• Honey contains her essence.
• Freya knows the power of the runes. They can be used to communicate with her.
Favored people: Soldiers, veterans, jewelers, seers, shamans,practitioners of the magical arts
M anifestations: Usually as a golden, beautiful, charismatic woman, but she is a shape-shifter and can take any form.
Attributes: Magical falcon feather cloak enabling her to fly; Brisingamen, the glowing necklace forged by dwarves
M etal: Gold
Planet: Moon
Day: Friday (literally: Friday is Freya's Day)
Number: 13 (the number of months in a lunar year)
Sacred date: Any Friday the 13th
Flowers: Primroses; mugwort; bird berry; holly; bedstraw; flax; hemp
Runes: The runes with which Freya is associated include Berkano and Ehwaz
Animals: Cats, rabbits, boars, oxen; lady-bugs

Birds: Cuckoo, falcon, swallow
M ounts: Two grey cats pull Freya's chariot, possibly lynxes.
Offerings: Honey; mead; flowers; sing love songs for her or compose poetry; Freya will accept humble offerings, but she has fine
taste and will gladly accept lavish offerings of jewelry and perfume. Freya's devotees held dinners in her honor, offering her ale, apples,
barley, and pork. It is traditional to feed stray or feral cats as an offering to Freya. Adopting some cats may get you into good graces,
too, provided that you treat them well.
See also: Aesir; Dwarves; Freyr; Frigg; Herta; Odin; Valkyrie; Vanir and the Glossary entry for Rune

Freyr

Lord; Master; The Generous One; Wise Fruitful
Also known as: Frey; Fro; Frothi; Frodi; Yngvi; Ing
Origin: Norse
Classification: Vanir

Freyr is the Lord of Peace, Plenty, Prosperity, and Pleasure. Freya's brother and lover, he is a spirit of rain, sun, and bountiful
harvests. He is the Elven King. He dispenses wealth, love, and fertility to adults and good luck to children.
In comparison to Thor and Odin, relatively little is known regarding Freyr. Later chroniclers of Norse myth were less interested or
identified less with Vanir spirits, or perhaps the Vanir are just innately more shadowy and mysterious. Freyr is a divine ancestor, a spirit
of growth. He is venerated as a phallic deity. Although Freyr is a lover, he's a fierce warrior, too. His nature may be epitomized by the
fierce, virile boars that are his sacred animal.
Freyr was especially popular in Sweden where, in ceremonies similar to those dedicated to his mother, Herta, his sacred image was
carried from farm to farm annually in a wagon. It was expected to stimulate abundance, fertility, prosperity, and good fortune. Freyr was
considered an ancestral spirit by the kings of Uppsala, who may have used his name as a title. ( Freyr literally means "Lord" and is a
title.) Some Icelandic chiefs bore the title "Priest of Freyr."
Favored people: Seafarers; lovers; brewers

Iconography: An image thought to represent him depicts a man in a pointy cap, holding his beard in his hand. In his shrine at
Uppsala, Freyr was represented as a virile man with a large, erect penis. An alternative image portrayed him as a young boy traveling
across the sea. His image was featured on armor and weapons.

Attributes: A sword, which emerges independently from its scabbard, creating a field of carnage wherever its owner directs; a ship
whose sails always attract favorable winds but could be folded up and carried
Colors: Brown, gold, green

M ounts: A golden boar named Golden Bristles. Freyr's chariot is drawn by two boars. He also rides a horse named Bloody
Hooves.

Place: Center of veneration was in Uppsala, Sweden, where it continued long after most of Scandinavia had converted to
Christianity
Runes: The runes with which Freyr is associated include Ehwaz, Fehu, and Ingwaz
Offering: The Yule boar, or male pig, commemorates the annual sacrificial boar offered to Freyr in winter. Serve Freyr libations of

fresh water, barley wine, ale, or mead.
See also: Elves; Freya; Gerda; Herta; Odin; Shiva; Thor; Vanirand the Glossary entry for Rune

Frigg

Well Beloved Lady
Also known as: Frigga; Fricka; Saga

Frigg is a spirit of divination, fertility, matrimony, and childbirth. Her husband is Odin the Allfather, Leader of the Aesir. Her father is
Fjorgin. The identity of her mother is unclear. It is also not entirely clear to which pantheon Frigg herself belongs: Aesir, Vanir, or other.
It can be very difficult to distinguish Frigg from Freya. Although clearly distinct spirits in Scandinavia, the two may have merged into
one spirit in the German lands, although as so much information has been lost, suppressed, and garbled, it's now impossible to
definitively determine. Ironically, because Christian authorities despised Freya so intensely, more lucid, substantial information regarding
her and her traditions survive. Frigg is more elusive than Freya. Her primary surviving myths involve her identity as wife and mother. She
battles Odin'sinfidelities and actively attempts to save their doomed son, Baldur.
Frigg knows every person's destiny but will not reveal it. She is a spinning goddess associated with the Norns: she spins the thread
they weave and cut. Frigg has powerful associations with mediumship. Quieter and less flamboyant than Freya, Frigga lives in the
company of masters (Odin, Freya) and manages to hold her own.
She may be particularly sympathetic to those who have suffered the unspeakable tragedy of losing a child. Frigg is petitioned for
fertility.
Favored people: Women; mothers
M anifestation: She wears a belt from which keys hang, indicating her ability to unlock all doors, as well as her oracular power.
Attribute: Distaff
Element: Water

Constellation: In traditional Norse cosmology, the constellation now popularly known as Orion's belt was called Frigg's distaff or
spindle.
Runes: Mannaz, Pertho, Wunjo
Bird: Stork. (That old saw about storks delivering babies refers to Frigg.)

Hall: Frigg's hall, Fensalir ("Marsh Hall"), is the after-death destination for happily married couples who can thus spend eternity
together.
See also: Aesir; Balder; Fates (1); Freya; Herta; Norns; Odinand the Glossary entry for Rune

Fu Xi
Also known as: Fu Hsi
Origin: China
Fu Xi invented all aspects of civilization, giving them to people as gifts. He is humanity's first teacher. His inventions include

astrology, agricul ture, medicine, music, and writing. Fu Xi taught survival skills and bestowed the gift of fire. Fu Xi taught people to be
self-sufficient. His name literally means "hidden victims" because he taught the arts of netting fishes and snaring animals.
Who knows what further gifts he has? He remains humanity's benefactor, provider, and protector, although he has largely withdrawn
and may have to be sought out.
M anifestation: Part man, part dragon
See also: Nu Kua

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.
Favored people: Human children of Fuath, literal or spiritual, have webbed fingers and/or toes.
Color: Green
Time: Fuath are generally nocturnal.
See also: Glaistig; Kelpie

Fudo

The Immutable One
Also known as: Fudo-sama

Fudo, Lord of Wisdom and Fire, may be the Japanese manifestation of Dainichi Buddha. Emerging as an independent entity in the
twelfth century, Fudo protects against danger and disaster. He is invoked against fire and theft. Fudo brings devotees
financial
prosperity. He banishes evil spirits. Fudo is the guardian spirit of the Year of the Rooster and those people born under that Chinese
astrological sign. He demonstrates wrath by causing sudden blindness.
Favored people: Astrologers
Iconography: An elderly man surrounded by fire; a man
Attributes: A rope with which to bind evil spirits and a sword to sever ties to the material
Element: Fire
Direction: West
Creature: Dragon
Sacred site: A temple atop Mount Okiyama; Fudo Taki, "Fudo's Waterfall," on Japan's Mount Akakura
See also: Buddha

Fugen

The One Who Is All Pervadingly Good
Also known as: Henkitsu
Classification: Bodhisattva; Bosatsu
Fugen is the Japanese manifestation of Samant-abhadra, the Great Conduct Bodhisattva. He teaches that actions and conduct are
equally important as thought and meditation. Fugen encourages devotees to diligently dedicate themselves to Buddhism. Fugen protects
those who teach and uphold the Dharma.
Favored people: Fugen is the guardian of those born in the Years of the Snake and Dragon.
Spirit allies: Fugen and Manjusri are often venerated together as emblematic of wisdom and action.
Attributes: Lotus
Direction: Southeast
Vehicle: A six-tusked white elephant
See also: Bodhisattva; Bosatsu; Manjusri

Fuji

Woman's Best Friend
Also known as: Fuchi
Classification: Kamui
Origin: Ainu

Fuji is the Ainu word for "fire." The Ainu are an indigenous people of Japan. Fuji is the original goddess of Mount Fuji. The
mountain retains her name even after she was replaced by the Japanese shamanic goddess, Konohana, now Mount Fuji's presiding
spirit. Fuji may have had shrines on Fujiyama as late as the ninth century.
Fuji is not specifically a mountain goddess; Mount Fuji is a volcano. She's a fire goddess. Fuji dwells in the hearth of every home.
The hearth serves as her altar. Offerings may be fed directly to the fire.
Known as the woman's best friend, Fuji protects reproductive health and bestows fertility. An ancient ritual to counteract infertility
involved having the barren woman lie on another woman's fresh afterbirth while a circle of women surrounded her, invoking Fuji's
blessings to allow her to conceive. She also protects children. Fuji's essence is contained in fireplace ashes. These may be collected into
small bags and worn or carried as protective amulets.
Element: Fire
Offerings: Millet beer, rice beer, and a well-tended flame
See also: Kamui; Konohana

Fukurokuju
Also known as: Fukurokujin
Origin: Japan
Fukurokuju is Lord of Wealth, Happiness, and Longevity. He is believed to derive from a Chinese Taoist spirit but is now
considered the kami of popularity. He is among the Shichi Fukujin, the Seven Spirits of Good Luck. Fukurokuju is often found in the
company of Jurojin; the two are happily venerated together. Together, they may double the blessings they bring.
M anifestation: He is an elderly man with a long, white beard and an unusually shaped bald head with an exceptionally elongated
forehead. Once you know what he looks like, he's hard to miss.
Iconography: Some images emphasize the phallic appearance of his head.
Attribute: Long staff with a scroll attached
Animals: Bat, stag, tortoise
Bird: Crane
See also: Jurojin; Kami; Shichi Fukujin

Fukusuke
Origin: Japan

Fukusuke's name means "good fortune." He is a spirit of general prosperity but is especially associated with merchants. Before the
remarkable ascendance of Maneki Neko, images of Fukusuke were kept by merchants and shopkeepers to attract prosperity, business,
and customers. They may still be used in this way. Fukusuke and Maneki Neko will happily share altar space or a storefront. Although
he is not counted among what is now the standard group, in the past Fukusuke has sometimes been classified among the Shichi Fukujin,
the Seven Spirits of Good Luck.
Fukusuke has a family who may be venerated alongside him. His wife's name is Ofuke, and their daughter is Fukumusume. All may
be venerated together. Keeping his family near may enhance Fukusuke's powers. Place Fukusuke's image by the main entrance or in a
shop window, looking outward so that he can attract and greet customers and business.
Favored people: Merchants; storekeepers
Iconography: A friendly man with a disproportionately large head and big, prominent ears (the better to hear you with) is depicted
in the act of bowing respectfully to customers and patrons. His ear lobes hang, indicating his wealth by the weight of the earrings he
customarily wears. He usually wears a formal kimono.
Offerings: Sake
See also: Maneki Neko; Okame; Shichi Fukujin

Furina
Also known as: Furrina

Origin: Etruscan or Italian
Furina is the ancient and mysterious matron goddess of thieves and robbers. Her name derives from the same root word as
"fortune." Furina was not a forbidden or suppressed goddess venerated only by miscreants. She was officially incorporated into Roman
state religion. Furina had her own annual festival. She had a priest, a temple, and a sacred grove on the Janiculum ridge alongside the
Tiber's west bank. (The site is now occupied by the Villa Sciarra.) Furina may have been associated with a spring in her grove. Some
scholars theorize that she was originally a spirit of the watery depths.
Favored people: Thieves, robbers
Element: Earth; possibly water
Time: After dark
Feast: The Furinalia was celebrated on 25 July.
The name Furina now applies to a genus of venomous Australian snakes.

See also: Fortuna; Laverna