A Pagan Ritual Prayer Book (50 page)

S
ILVANUS
:
“Lord of the Forest.” Roman. Originally a god of the forest, he came to be seen as also the protector of the land that had been carved out of the forest, and thus of property and those who inhabit it.

S
OMA
:
“The Pressed Out.” Vedic. Personification of a drink that brought ecstasy; in later Hinduism, god of the moon.

T
AHUTI
:
Egyptian. God of writing, magic, and wisdom.

T
ARANIS
:
“Thunder.” Gaulish. God of the thunderstorm.

T
ERMINUS
:
“Border.” Roman. God of borders and border stones.

T
HOR
:
“Thunder.” Norse. Protector, warrior, god of the thunderstorm. Patron of farmers.

T
HOTH
:
Egyptian; god of writing, magic, and wisdom. The Greek spelling of “Tahuti.”

T
HUNDERBIRD
:
American Indian. Spirit/god of the storm, especially of the beginning of the rainy season in desert areas.

T
YR
:
“Shining.” Norse. God of the oath and of war.

U
AS
“Rising.” Goddess of the dawn, the sister of night. Often spelled “Ushas.”

V
C
:
“Word.” Vedic. Goddess of speech.

V
ARU
A
“Encloser.” Vedic. Enforcer of the moral order, both social and cosmic.

V
AY
:
“Wind.” Vedic. God of the wind.

V
ENUS
:
“Desire.” Roman. Goddess of love and beauty.

V
I
U
:
Hindu. Creation of the extent of the world, and its sustainer. Often spelled “Vishnu.”

V
ULCAN
:
Roman. God of smiths and potters, and thus of artisans.

W
ESTY
:
“She of the Household.” Proto-Indo-European. A hearth goddess.

W
ODEN
:
“Ecstatic One.” Anglo-Saxon. God of wisdom, magic, inspiration, and travel.

X
ÁKW
M
N
ÉP
T
:
“Relative of the Waters.” Proto-Indo-European. Protector of a well of fiery water that inspires and enlivens, but that is dangerous to those who aren't worthy to drink from it.

X
ÁRYOMEN
:
“God of our People.” Proto-Indo-European. God of society, healing, and marriage; of bringing things together happily.

Z
EUS
:
“Shining.” Greek. Chief of the gods; lord of justice, lightning, and hospitality.

Hayakawa, S. I.
Choose the Right Word: A Modern Guide to Synonyms
. New York: Harper and Row, 1968.

Nelson, John K.
A Year in the Life of a Shinto Shrine
. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1996.

Nicolson, Adam.
God's Secretaries
:
The Making of the King James Bible
. New York: HarperCollins, 2003.

Redford, Donald B. (ed.).
The Oxford Essential Guide to Egyptian Mythology
. New York: Oxford University Press, 2003.