(^288) A Wiccan Bible
Aquilo—Male—Mediterranean
Roman personification and god of the
North Wind associated with the North Quar-
ter (Earth) in Wiccan ritual. The other three
are Auster, Favonius, and Vulturnus.
Arachne—Female—Mediterranean
Animal association: Spider
‘Spider’—Greek mortal who dared chal-
lenge Athena to see who was the best weaver.
When they were finished, we see that what was
being constructed was more than a craft, it was
a story. Athena was outraged that Arachne had
portrayed the gods as they had been and with-
out embellishment. Athena punished her by
turning her into a spider such that no matter
how true she spun her web (history), human-
ity would run in fear (arachnophobia). Patron
of the truly told tales.
Aradia—Female—Mediterranean
Father: Lucifer
Mother: Diana
Plant association: Rue, Vervain
Italian goddess who was sent by her mother
Diana to instruct Witches in not only the use
of magick, but also to rise against their tyrants
and enslavers. Her instructions were recorded
in Vangelo, published as Aradia: Gospel of the
Witches. Published in the late eighteen hun-
dreds, Vangelo was probably the single larg-
est source of inspiration for the founders of
the Wiccan religion.
Aramati—Female—Near East
Hindu goddess of devotion, especially to
one’s religion.
Arani—Female—Near East
Hindu fire goddess of female sexual desire.
Her worship has involved lesbian and self-plea-
suring acts, both without the involvement of men.
Arawn—Female—Central Europe
Animal associations: Boar, Horse (pale), Dog
(hound)
Welsh King of the magickal kingdom of
Annwn who became the god of the Underworld
with a little help from his friend Pywll. Al-
though Arawn and Pywll switched places for a
year and a day, during which they took on all
outward appearances of each other, Pywll
never took advantage of Arawn’s bed and the
beautiful wife that waited there night after
night unaware of the switch. Together with
Pywll, their story speaks volumes about friend-
ships and the value of monogamy.
Arcas—Male—Mediterranean
Father: Zeus
Mother: Callisto
To protect his lover and the son she bore
him from Hera, Zeus raised both into the
heavens where she became the Great Bear
constellation and he the star Arcturus. Their
story reminds us of the fact that indiscretions
and jealousy can often affect those outside of
a marriage.
Ardhanarisvara—Male—Near East
Hindu form of Shiva that demonstrates the
historical acknowledgement of transgender
and perhaps homosexual aspects of deity. In
this form, Shiva is both definitively masculine
God and woman at the same time.
Ariadne—Female—Mediterranean
Husband: Dionysus
Plant associations: Ivy (common), Pine
‘Very pure’ or ‘Very pleasing’ —When
Theseus volunteered to kill the Minotaur who
demanded human sacrifice, it was Ariadne
who gave him the magick sword to do so. As
such, Wiccans often call on her during the con-
secration of both athame and sword. To
Theseus, she also gave a bolt of thread that he
might use it to find his way back out of the
Minotaur’s caverns once he had killed it.
Arianrhod—Female—Central Europe
Father: Beli
Mother: Don
Lover: Gwydion
Plant associations: Alder, Birch, Ivy (common)
Holiday: Full Moon
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