A Wiccan Bible - Exploring the Mysteries of the Craft from Birth to Summerland

Liber ab Clementia (Book of Humanity)^365

Nephthys—Female—Africa

(Also known as Neb-hut, Nebthet)

Lover: Osiris (or maybe Set)

Animal associations: Chicken (cock), Dog,

Horse

Plant associations: Cypress, Lily, Myrrh, Nettle,

Poppy (white)

‘Friend of the Dead’—Egyptian goddess as-

sociated with the Element Earth and the pro-

tection of the god Hapi. As Nephthys she is as

her name implies, friend of the dead, but she

is also Neb-hut (Nebthet), which means ‘Mis-

tress of Home.’ In that capacity, she is protec-

tor of children and women during childbirth.

Here we see again the connection between

birth and death.

Incense Recipe

2 parts Gum Arabic

1 part Sandalwood

1 parts Myrrh

1 part Cypress

1 part Poppy

Neptune—Male—Mediterranean

Wife: Furrina, Salacia

Animal associations: Dolphin, Horse, Bull,

Fish, Shark, Whale

Plant associations: Ash, Bladderwrack, Lotus*,

Myrrh, Olive, Water Lily, Poppy (white), Sea-

weed (all)

* May have been connected to Lotus due to

the folk name use of the term Water Lily.

Roman god of fresh water who gradually

became associated with the sea through his

wife Salacia and his association with the Greek

Poseidon.

Nergal—Male—Middle East/Mediterranean

Lover: Ereshkigal

Animal association: Lion

Sumero-Babylonian god of the Underworld

who brings baneful things to humanity. He is

responsible for sickness, blight, and war. With

his lover Ereshkigal, we see a clear personifi-

cation of many of the attributes Christianity

have given to Satan. In that connection, we

take note that Nergal is often described as the

evil attribute of Shamash. This gives rise to an

interesting thought: In Christian mythology, is

not Satan an aspect of the Christian God?

Nereids—Female—Mediterranean

Animal associations: Dolphin, Fish, and to

some degree all sea creatures

The 50 daughters of Nereus and Doris who

live in the Mediterranean sea. Unlike the mer-

maids and mermen of lore, the Nereids are

depicted fully human. Instead of having the

tails of fish, they ride dolphin and other sea

creatures for transportation.

Nereus—Male—Mediterranean

Father: Pontus

Mother: Gaia

Animal associations: Fish and other sea creatures

Greek ‘Old Man of the Sea.’ Father of the

Nereids.

Nerthus—Female/Male—Northern Europe

(Also known as Hertha)

Animal association: Cow

Scandinavian deity sometimes described as

a hermaphrodite, but most often cited as fe-

male. She is a goddess of prosperity and peace.

Again we see the association between prosper-

ity and war. When there is peace, there is pros-

perity.

Ngai—Male—Africa

‘Rain’—Masai god of rain. Often cited as a

Supreme sky god. He is the personification of

the black rain cloud when he is in a good mood

and a red rain cloud when he is in a bad mood.

Nganaoa—Male—Polynesian Islands

Animal association: Whale

Polynesian folk hero who kills three hor-

rible sea monsters (maybe whales), then guts

the beasts to find both his mother and father

inside, still alive.

z WB Chap 17.p65 365 7/11/2003, 6:05 PM