Fódla (pronounced FO-la) is the Celtic Goddess of the power of Ireland. She is one of the Tuatha de Danaan, the people of the Goddess Danu. When the Milesians arrived in Ireland and conquered them, Fódla and her two sisters, Ériu and Banba, all asked that the island be named for them. Ériu won the request, but Fódla’s name continued to be used on occasion. Fódla and her sisters are the daughters of Ernmas, a mother Goddess, who is also the mother of another triad of Goddesses—Badb, Macha, and Anu, also known as the Morrigan. The first triad represents the sovereignty of Ireland, while the second triad were Goddesses of war, and therefore represent the protection of Ireland. Fódla’s husband MacCecht was one of the last kings of the Tuatha de Danaan, along with his brothers MacCuilland MacGreine. Fódla’s name, which means “a sod of earth,” is also seen as Fótla, Fódhla, and Fóla.

Banba (pronounced BAHN-va) is the Celtic Goddess of the spirit of Ireland. She is one of the Tuatha de Danaan, the people of the Goddess Danu. When the Milesians arrived in Ireland and conquered them, Banba and her two sisters, Ériu and Fodla, all asked that the island be named for them. Ériu won the request, but Banba’s name continued to be used on occasion. Banba and her sisters are the daughters of Ernmas, a mother Goddess, who is also the mother of another triad of Goddesses—Badb, Macha, and Anu, also known as the Morrigan. The first triad represents the sovereignty of Ireland, while the second triad were Goddesses of war, and therefore represent the protection of Ireland. Banba’s husband MacCuill was one of the last kings of the Tuatha de Danaan, along with his brothers MacCecht and MacGreine. Banba’s name, which means “unplowed land,” is also seen as Banbha, Bandha, Bánbhé, or Bánubh.

Nair (pronounced NAWR) is the Celtic Goddess of regicide. Each fall, the king was sacrificed (he died after having sex with Nair), ensuring the continued fertility of the land. One such king was named Crebhan, and legend records that Nair took him to the underworld and gave him many treasures. Nair’s name means “modesty” and is also seen as Nar.

Habetrot is the Celtic Goddess of spinning and healing. She is able to spin wool into garments in an instant, and the clothes that she makes give the wearer immunity from all disease. In fairy tales, she is depicted with an extended lower lip, which she got from wetting the wool as she spun it.

Tlachtga (pronounced CLACK-da) is the Irish Goddess of Druid magic. She travelled extensively with her father, the blind Druid Mog Ruith of Munster. While they were in Italy, she was raped by the three sons of her father’s mentor, Simon Magus. That fall, at the time of the Samhain festival, Tlachtga gave birth to three sons, Doirb, Cumma and Muach, on a hill in County Meath and died in the process. She was buried on the hill, and it became the center of Celtic Samhain celebrations after her death. Tlachtga’s name, which means “earth spear,” is also seen as Tlachta.

Lur is the Basque Goddess of the earth. She is married to Ortzi, the God of the sky, and is the mother of twin girls—Eguzki, Goddess of the sun, and Ilazki, Goddess of the moon. Lur is the source of the power that flows through all living things, and she is the protector of all plants and animals. Her name, which means “earth,” is also seen as Ama Lur, Lurbira, or Lurra.

Druantia is the Celtic Goddess of fir trees and fertility. Her names derives from the Indo-European root “deru” meaning tree or wood. Also called the Queen of the Druids, Druantia is associated with the fertility of both plants and humans, ruling over sex and passion. She is credited with the creation of the Celtic tree calendar, which divides the year into 13 months that correspond to the cycles of the moon. One association that is frequently mistaken with Druantia is with the Dryads—while both were magical beings who ruled over trees, the Dryads were Greek, not Celtic.

So I’m a week late for summer solstice. The way things have been going for the last few weeks, I’m lucky I even remember it now!

Eguzki is the Basque Goddess of the sun. She is the daughter of Lur, the Goddess of the earth, and sister of Ilazki, Goddess of the moon. Traveling across the sky, she protects the world from the creatures of the night. Her name is also seen as Eguski, Eguzku, Ekhi, Eki, Iduzki, Iguzki, and Iuski.

Cymidei Cymeinfoll (pronounced KEEM-ud-day KEEM-een-vol) is the Welsh Goddess of war. Along with her husband, Llasar Llaesgyfnewid, she lived beneath a lake in Ireland, until Matholwch, King of Ireland, tried to kill them. Cymidei and Llasar escaped to Wales, taking with them the Cauldron of Regeneration which they guarded. When a warrior was killed in battle, he was thrown into the cauldron, and would emerge alive but without the ability to speak. They gave the cauldron to Bendigeidfran, King of Wales, also known as Bran.

When Bran’s sister Branwen was to be married to Matholwch, their half-brother Efnisien threw a fit and mutilated several of Mathowch’s horses. In appeasement, Bran gave Matholwch the cauldron as a peace offering to take back to Ireland. Unfortunately, the marriage was not a happy one and Branwen sent word back to Bran that she was being mistreated. He and Efnisien invaded Ireland to get their sister back. The Irish were winning, because the cauldron could keep regenerating their dead warriors. Efnisien leapt into the cauldron and broke it, turning the tide for the Welsh but losing his life in the process.

Cymidei Cymeinfoll’s name means “big belly of battle” in reference to the fact that she could give birth to a fully armed warrior every six weeks.

Sulis is the Celtic Goddess of hot springs, worshipped particularly at Bath, which the Romans called Aquae Sulis (the waters of Sulis). Since her waters were seen as healing, Sulis became integrated with the Roman Goddess Minerva, Goddess of medicine. Minerva’s role as Goddess of wisdom and justice was also brought over to Sulis—many inscriptions have been found which ask Sulis to intervene in disputes and punish guilty people. Sulis’s name has been interpreted as either “good flooder” or “bright one”, and is also seen as Sul, Sulla, Sulei, and Sulis Minerva.