The great mothergoddess Dana is the most powerful deity of the Tuatha dé Dannan and controls the most important aspects of the mortal world and the faerie realms as well as the cultures of human and fey folks. She always appears as a woman of varying age, hair and eye colour. Even as an old women her posture is nonetheless queenly and her gaze is straight and calm.
Dana owns the Lia Fál, a mysterious stone pillar or menhir. Mortal sages dispute about its powers and purpose since it's existence became known. The predominant theory states that it bestows regality to those who touch it. Anyway it's one of the four artifacts, which are the greatest treasure of the Tuatha dé Danann.
Without Dana's favour nobody can claim the rightful lordship of a land, group of people or even the command over animals. She gives and takes sovereignty, authority and good fortune – without these no leader can prevail. Therefore kings and queens, guildmasters, heads of clans and families depend on her grace. Actually a sheperd, who wishes to command his dogs and sheep should better pray to her.
Dana is the goddess of the land, including forests, wilderness, farm- and grasslands. She is the queen of all the faerie realms connected to the land. Dana lives in a palace in a magical hill – a so-called síd – which is named Bruig na Bóinne.
She gave the druidic knowledge to her favoured races, expecting them to revere and comprehend nature. These include the elven, dwarven and human folks.
Dana is the mother of Dagda, who is now the king of the Tuatha dé Dannan and the successor of Nuadu, his father. The greater deities Brigit and Manannán mac Lir are her children too.
Life, death and rebirth constitute the circle of natural life, which must be honoured. Undeath is a major transgression of her commands.
Dana established a special law applying only to nobility and gentry: the rightful ruler's mind, body and soul must be wholesome. Lingering or permanent diseases, loss of bodyparts or fertility entail the loss of her grace and of the rightful rulership.
They carry staffs and torques made from yew, inlaid with gold, silver and even gems. Their garments are green, brown, grey or white. They use either an owl-figurine or a medallion depicting an owl as their divine focus.
Each priest and druid chooses to pray either at dawn or dusk, at the time when he acquires his class.
Dana's followers don't build temples, instead choosing natural places for worship, places whose grandeur and beauty strengthen the faith in the divinity of nature. For example groves of ancient yew trees, grottos with crystal-clear well-ponds or other , unique knolls, or hidden and serene dells may serve as their temples.
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