(^342) A Wiccan Bible
In—Female—Far East
Japanese principle of the feminine portion
of the soul. Similar in idea to the better-known
Chinese Yin.
Inanna—Female—Mediterranean
(Also known as Inannu)
Father: Ea
Mother: Kishar
Lover: Dumuzi
Animal associations: Dog (especially hunting
dogs), Lion, Snake (serpent)
Holiday: The Nativity of Inanna on January 2nd
Sweet Inanna is the most important god-
dess in the Sumerian pantheon. Although pre-
dominantly a goddess of love and fertility, she
is also a goddess of war, especially when love
and fertility are threatened. One of her domi-
nant stories parallels the story of Persephone
in many ways. In that story, she traveled to the
Underworld and declared herself its ruler.
That didn’t sit too well with her sister
Ereshkigal, who had already secured that title.
Ereshkigal killed Inanna for her insolence.
With the death of Inanna came the death of
love and fertility, so the world suffered and
begged of the god Enki that she be restored.
He negotiated with Ereshkigal, who conceded
that Inanna could return to the world of the
living only if she made sacrifice of her beloved
Dumuzi. She did. That sacrifice is repeated ev-
ery year, and from that sacrifice we have Win-
ter and Summer. During the Summer, she is
in the world of the living bringing love and fer-
tility, but her lover is in the Underworld. Dur-
ing the Winter, she replaces him there
(self-sacrifice), and her beloved is allowed to
leave.
Inari—Male—Far East
Animal associations: Fox, Spider
Plant association: Rice
Japanese god of prosperity, farming, and
harvest. He was also a revered swordsmith.
Wiccans associate him with the blessing of the
athame, often including rice within the box that
stores the athame. Patron of farmer and metal
smiths (tools/weapons) and one who gives les-
sons and punishment to folk of evil ways.
Indra—Male—Near East
Father: Dyaus
Mother: Prithvi
Animal associations: Cattle (bull), Eagle,
Hawk, Elephant (white), Horse, Dog (hunt-
ing dogs), Snake (cobra), Bee, Dragon
Plant associations: Aloe, Cedar, Olive, Orange
(sweet), Saffron (Spanish)
Hindu god of war, whose wisdom was ex-
pressed in a conversation with his boyhood
friend Arjuna, as recorded in the Bhagavad
Gita. In the Hindu pantheon, Indra is one of
the gods who favored communication with
humanity. He is confidant, advisor, and guide
to humanity, especially when confronting mat-
ters where one’s true will comes into question.
Patron of all who would seek their place in life
(true will). One of the eight Hindu guardians
of the principle directions. Indra is the guard-
ian of the East. The other seven are Agni,
Yama, Surya, Varuna, Vayu, Kubera, and
Soma. Indra is also one of the Adityas. The
Hindu month Asvini (September 23–October
22) is sacred to Indra. See Adityas.
Incense Recipe
Peel an orange and sprinkle the peel with saf-
fron. Place the peel in a warm, moist, and dark
place. Keep it damp by spraying a weak mix-
ture of warm water (not hot) and honey on the
peel each day. After a month, a mold will form
on the peel. This mold is the incense or tinc-
ture base, not the peel itself. Scrape the mold,
dry it, and burn as an incense powder.
Oil Recipe
12 drops Cedar Wood essential oil
9 drops Petitgrain essential oil
1/2 ounce olive oil
Inktomi—Male—North America
(Also known as Iktomi)
Animal association: Spider
z WB Chap 17.p65 342 7/11/2003, 6:04 PM
barré
(Barré)
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