GD39 Etain

Etain  a Celtic Goddess called “Shining One”, originally a Sun Goddess before becoming a Moon Goddess and one of the White Ladies of the Fae.  Her story, lasts over one thousand years, she is a Goddess of Love, Transformation and Rebirth. Her sacred elements are the sun, dawn, the sea, rain, water, butterflies, apple blossoms, and swans. She is associated with healing and the transmigration of souls.
Etain lived in the mystic country of the People of Dana, the Tuatha Dé Danann.  Beautiful beyond words, Midir, a Danaan prince, became enchanted by her and took her as wife.  Unfortunately his first wife, Fuamnach was jealous and turned Etain into a pool of water, then a worm and finally into a butterfly.  Midir, enchanted by the butterfly, still had no appetite for Fuamnach.  Thus she raised a storm that drove Etain out to sea, over rocks, for seven years, buffeted about and through out all of Erin. Finally as a butterfly she found refuge in the fairy palace of Angus on the Boyne. He built a sanctuary for her where she fed on flower nectar and rested. Until one day Fuamnach found her. Again she was buffeted about by the wind for another seven years. Finally she fell into the drinking cup of the wife of Etar, an Ulster chieftain. Etain was swallowed in the drink and passed into the womb of Etar’s wife as she became pregnant. So Etain was born again, one thousand and twelve years after her first birth, as Etain, mortal child, and daughter of Etar.   She grew to be a beautiful woman. The High King of Ireland, Eochaid, wooed her and made her his wife.  Together they returned to Tara.