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Goddess of the Month - August 2024: Bast

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 11:35:11 +0000

WHO IS BAST? Bast is an ancient Goddess of Kemet or Egypt, Who has been known since at least the time of the 2nd Dynasty period, 2890 -2650 BCE. She is the Protectress of the Royal House and The Two Lands. She is also most famously the Goddess of Cats, and statues of Her in cat form are almost ubiquitous in reproduction. Her other roles include being one of the divinities associated with the Sun, as well as being the Goddess of Joy and Protectress of Womyn. Her name means "Devouring Lady", and it is fitting since She is a huntress and protectress first and foremost. Some of Her other names include: Bastis - The Tearer Ba en Aset - The soul of Aset (Isis) Lady of the East Lady of Truth Goddess of the Birth Chamber Daughter of Ra Lady of Flame

Goddess of the Month - July 2024: Libertas

Sun, 07 Jul 2024 11:59:58 +0000

WHO IS LIBERTAS? Call Her what you will, but the Goddess known as Libertas by the ancient Romans is a Goddess both ancient and modern. She is universal in Her reach and She fills the hearts of common folk everywhere with Her song. Libertas was always considered a Goddess by the Romans, but She was more of a personified virtue than an actively worshipped deity until the time of the Second Punic War (around 218 BCE). Since that time Libertas has become more and more of a strong Goddess who is one of the most openly loved and acknowledged in modern times in regions all over the world. Some of Her other names include: Efígie da República - Brazil Marianne - France Kartilis Deda - Republic of Georgia Lady of the Mountain - Iceland Mother Russia - Russia Britannia - England Polonia - Poland Lady Liberty - USA

Goddess of the Month - June 2024: Lilith

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 10:04:08 +0000

WHO IS LILITH? Lilith is an enigma in Goddess lore. Ideas and theories abound, and stories are few. First wife of the Hebrew Adam, Goddess of night or birds, demoness, original Semitic Great Mother, the possibilities are endless. Lilith is all of this and more. Her enigmatic nature enables Her to be all She desires and all we desire of Her. Some of the names attributed to Her include: Lady Air - Sumerian Night with Moon - Sumerian Hand of Inanna - Sumerian The Beautiful Maiden - Assyrian Screech Owl - Hebrew (from the book of Isaiah) Wind Spirit - Babylonian

Goddess of the Month - May 2024: Athene

Wed, 22 May 2024 16:01:53 +0000

WHO IS ATHENE? Athene is first and foremost the Matron Goddess of Athens, one of the most famous cities of the ancient and modern worlds. She is the divine bringer of wisdom and matroness of many crafts, which the Greeks attributed directly to Her; among these are weaving, metalworking, and pottery, which are most useful skills for anyone to have. She was also called upon by those who fought as defenders of their homes from aggressors. She is one of very few Goddesses ever depicted in any kind of armor or armed. During classical times, Athene was stated by the philosopher Plato as being identical to the Goddess Neith, who was worshipped in North Africa by the Libyans and the Egyptians since before the dynastic period. Athene's first appearance though, is in early Minoan Linear B texts where Her name is Atana Potinija. As Atana, She appears before Her supposed father, Zeus, and She was viewed by the Minoans and Pelasgian Greeks as being of an older generation of Goddesses, born parthenogenetically from Her mother, Metis, Titaness of Wisdom. Of course, this was later perverted by the Dorian Greeks to the familiar story of Zeus swallowing Metis and Athene being born from his head. Some of Her other titles include: Nikê - Victory Eryma - Defender Alalkomenêis - Protectress Polias - Of the City Polioukhos - Protectress of the City Paiônia - Healer Oxyderkês - Sharp Sighted Parthenos - Virgin Gigantoletis - Destroyer of Giants Gorgolaphas - Gorgon-crested Pronoia - Foresight Hippia - Of the Horses Erganê - Worker Glaukopis - Bright Eyed

Goddess of the Month - April 2024: Freya

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 11:51:14 +0000

WHO IS FREYJA? Freyja is one of the most important Goddesses in the Norse pantheon. According to the Eddas, a group of epic poems from Iceland, She is the Goddess of love, beauty, battle, magick, prophecy, wealth, and fertility. Freyja is also the leader of the Valkyries, immortal maidens who were choosers of those slain in battle who were worthy to go to Valhalla and dwell with the Gods, and half of those chosen would go to Her to dwell in Her hall Fólkvangr. She was often prayed to by people in love who wanted a happy relationship or those who wanted to find true love. Freyja was invoked at the spring planting for good weather and a good harvest and by women in childbirth. The ancient Norse art of Seid, a form of witchcraft practiced by women called völva or seiðkona, was said to have been created by Freyja. In the Ynglinga Saga, it states "Njörðr’s daughter was Freyja. She presided over the sacrifice. It was she who first acquainted the AEsir with seiðr, which was customary among the Vanir". Some of Her other titles include: Den Väna Solen - The Fair Sun Vanadís - Fair Goddess Mardöll - Sea Bright Gefn - The Giver Sýr - Sow Valfreyja - Mistress of the Chosen

Goddess of the Month - March 2024: Persephone

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 09:47:00 +0000

WHO IS PERSEPHONE? PERSEPHONE is the Queen of the Underworld, wife of the god Hades. She is also the Goddess of Spring, who was worshipped alongside her mother Demeter in the Eleusinian Mysteries. The first festivals celebrating the sorrows and later joys of Demeter and Persephone were exclusively for women held in pre-Hellenic Greece; that is in the Pelasgian period, when the civilizations of Crete and Troy were at their zenith before the time of the warrior-gods Zeus and Apollo who reduced the power of the Great Goddess. The women fasted for nine days in memory of the nine days of sorrow that Demeter roamed the earth holding a staff-like torch in search of Persephone. She meets Hekate, and together they go to Phoebus, the sun god, who had seen the young Goddess abducted and told them where She was. Afterwards Demeter, filled with wrath and grief, left the world of the gods, and sat as an old woman, heavily veiled, for days at the Well of the Virgin. Next She became a servant in a kingly household in Eleusis, the city that became Her largest sanctuary in Greece. She then cursed all the Earth so it bore no fruit for man or the gods for a whole year. Then the gods of Olympus, including Zeus, each pleaded with Her in vain, but She would not relent. Zeus finally succeeded in gaining Persephone's release; but while in the underworld She had eaten a seed of a pomegranate and as a consequence would have to spend one third of the year with Hades. She was embraced by both her mother and Hekate and returned to Olympus glorious, and, as if by magic, the Earth bloomed again with flowers and vegetation. Some of Her other names include: Proserpine - Roman Kore - Maiden (Greek) Persephassa - Ionic Persepatta - Attic Persephone-Isis - Greek Italic colonies such as Herculaneum Pherepapha - She who is wise and touches that which is in motion (from Plato)

Goddess of the Month - February 2024: Themis

Sun, 18 Feb 2024 13:30:21 +0000

WHO IS THEMIS? Themis is a most ancient Goddess. One of the eldest children of Gaia and Ouranos, Themis is cited as one of the first prophetesses and givers of law.Her name literally means "Law of Nature", and She is considered one whose decrees could sway even the most powerful of the Olympian Gods. She is also the Goddess of Assemblies, and She was invoked at every assembly in ancient Greece and called the Gods themselves to assemble on Olympus when needed. Themis also presided over the functions of the family as part of the greater populace as well as the fair and proper function of the courts. Because of this, judges were called themistopóloi, servants of Themis. Some of Her other titles include: Euboulos - Well-Counselled Orthoboulos - Straight Counselled Sôteira - Saviour Hiera - Holy Aidoios - August Eugenês - High-Born

Goddess of the Month - January 2024: Frigga

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 13:15:48 +0000

WHO IS FRIGGA? Frigga is the foremost Lady amongst the Goddesses according to Norse/Germanic cultures. She is Goddess of marriage, medical arts, the domestic arts, and weather, amongst other things. She was said to weave the clouds, and also to weave people's destinies. She was called upon to watch over women in childbed, and a plant known as Frigg's Grass by the Norse and Lady's Bedstraw (Galium verum) in modern times was used by midwives to aid women during labor. Some of Her titles include: Fjorgyn's maer - Daughter of Fjorgyn Frigg - Beloved One Nyckel Vaktaren - Key-Keeper Fripwebba - Peaceweaver

Goddess of the Month - December 2023: Our Lady of Guadelupe / Tonantzin

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 13:05:54 +0000

WHO IS OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE/TONANTZIN? Our Lady of Guadalupe is one of the most important religious figures in the western hemisphere. She is considered Patroness of the Americas by both the peoples of Latin America and by the Roman Catholic Church. Her basilica in Mexico is the second most visited Catholic shrine in the world. She first appeared to the world as Our Lady of Guadalupe in the early morning of December 9, 1531. Since then She has been venerated especially by the peoples of Mexico as their Mother and Guardian Protectress in all causes. Her image was flown on the flags of the Mexican revolutionaries and their first president changed his name to Guadalupe Victoria in Her honor when he took office. She is also Tonantzin, Mother Goddess of the Aztecs. As Tonantzin, She was considered to be the Earth Mother. She was also worshipped as Goddess of Sustenance and Bringer of Maize. Some of Her other titles include: Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe - Our Lady of Guadalupe (Spanish) Queen of Patriots Virgin of Guadalupe Mama of All the Mexicans Queen of Mexico and Empress of the Americas Mother of the Americas Guadalupe Tonantzin Honored Grandmother Chicomexochitl - Seven Flowers (Nahautl) Chalchiuhcihuatl - Woman of Precious Stone (Nahautl)

Goddess of the Month - November 2023: Kali

Sun, 26 Nov 2023 10:08:35 +0000

WHO IS KALI? Kali is the Great Mother of the Hindu Religion. Kali is death and rebirth. She is creation, destruction, and change. Kali is one of the most misunderstood and most grossly distorted Goddesses that Western Society has ever tried to explain. Kali is beyond limited concepts like good and evil. She is ALL. She defies us to comprehend Her.Some of Her other names include: Kalaratri - Night of Death Bhavatarini - Redeemer of the Universe Adi Shakti - Fundamental Power Kali Kalanat - Kali, the One Who Finishes Para Prakriti - Beyond Nature Mahakali - Great Kali Akhanda Satchidananda - Indivisible Reality, Awareness, and Bliss

Goddess of the Month - October 2023: Hekate

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 13:41:00 +0000

WHO IS HEKATE? Hekate (also known by the more common Latinized spelling: Hecate) is the Goddess of witchcraft and magic, protectress of children, guardian of the home, and keeper of the mysteries of life, death, and rebirth. Daughter of the Titans Perses and Asteria, She is also a Titan, whose power reigns in heaven, on the earth, and in the sea. She bestows upon humanity wealth, victory, and wisdom. She was invoked for good luck by sailors and hunters. When the Dorics and their Olympian gods conquered the Greek mainland, She was one of the few early deities to retain all Her original powers and glories. Hekate was originally an Anatolian Goddess of the wilderness and childbirth, who was introduced into Thrace and Greece in pre-historic times. One of the earliest written records comes from Hesiod's Theogony, written in the 7th to 8th century BCE, in which She is referred to in this way: "Hekate whom Zeus the son of Kronos honoured above all. He gave her splendid gifts, to have a share of the earth and the unfruitful sea. She received honour also in starry heaven, and is honoured exceedingly by the deathless gods . . . For as many as were born of Gaia (Earth) and Ouranos (Heaven) [the Titanes] amongst all these she has her due portion. The son of Kronos [Zeus] did her no wrong nor took anything away of all that was her portion among the former Titan gods: but she holds, as the division was at the first from the beginning, privilege both in earth, and in heaven, and in sea. Also, because she is an only child, the goddess receives not less honour, but much more still, for Zeus honours her." Later She was brought into Egypt by the Macedonian Ptolemy and his followers after the death of Alexander the Great and had a large center of worship at Alexandria. It is interesting to note that Her earliest depictions were not tri-formed but singular in nature. Pausanias states that Hekate was first shown in Her tri-form by the sculptor Alkamenes as part of the work he did for the temple of Nike on the Athenian Akropolis during the late fifth century BCE. So strong was Her worship in the hearts and minds of the people that as late as the 7th century CE the Christian Patriarch Eligius had to admonish his recently converted flock against making offerings to the Goddess of the Crossroads. Some of Her titles include: Khthoniê, Of the Underworld Krataeis, the Mighty One Enodia, Of the Crossroads Kourotrophos, Nurse of the Young Propylaia, the One before the Gate Propolos, the attendant who leads Phosphoros, the light-bringer Prytania, Invincible Queen of the Dead Trioditis, Of the Three-Ways Klêidouchos, Keeper of the Keys Tricephalus, The Three-Headed Perseis, Daughter of Perses Brimô, Terrible One Aidônaia, Lady of the Underworld Trimorphis, Three-Formed Zerynthia, Of Mount Zerynthia (in Samothrace) Nyktipolos, Night Wandering Atalos, Tender One Skylakagetis, Leader of the Dogs Kourê Mounogenês, Only Begotten Maiden Liparokrêdemnos, Bright-Coiffed Anassa Eneroi, Queen of the those Below

Goddess of the Month - September 2023: Oya

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 10:03:23 +0000

WHO IS OYA? Oya is a powerful Orisha and Goddess Whose origins are in West Africa but Whose worship spread with the African diaspora caused by the slave trade. She is now honored in South America and the Caribbean Islands by various peoples. Oya is a warrior-queen and rules the tempests and all winds. She is creatrix of the storms, especially tornados. She also rules the thunder, lightning, and rain as well as hurricanes. Perhaps paradoxically for one so associated with water and wind, Oya is also Goddess of fire, Who burns away that which is no longer necessary to cleanse the way for new growth. Oya is a Guardian of the Ways, Whose voice communicates to us through the beloved dead. She is a Mistress of the Clairvoyant Arts, and She can summon forth the Spirit of Death at will or send it away. Oya leads spirits to rebirth if such is their desire. She is known in the Voudoun tradition as Maman Brijit. She is also the beloved and feared Protectress of Womyn. Oya guides the hands of Womyn leaders if they have the wisdom to ask for Her aid. She loves female leadership and will nurture it. However, Oya will swiftly punish those who abuse their positions of leadership to turn its responsibilities to opportunities for power and self-aggrandizement. Some of Her other names include: Great Mother of the Elders of the Night Oya-ajere - Carrier of the Container of Fire Ayaba Nikua - Queen of Death Iya Yansan - Mother of Nine Ayi Lo Da - She Who Turns and Changes

Goddess of the Month - August 2023: Maat

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 12:21:52 +0000

WHO IS MA'AT? Ma'at or Mayet, is the Egyptian Goddess who regulates all things, bringing order to the universe. She embodies truth, balance, order, and justice. She directs the stars and the actions of the Gods. She informs humanity of the right way of being. She weighs the souls of the dead to see if they have lived lives of rightness. The earliest written records of Ma'at date from the 3rd millenia BCE and describe Her as settings the norms for both nature and social structure. She had many different titles, which reflect the esteem in which She was held and Her importance to all Egyptian society. Some of these titles include : Ma'at the Beautiful Directress of the Underworld Tracer of the Course of the Sun Lady of the Hall of Judgment Sustainer of the Sun Lady of the Heavens Queen of Earth The Measure of the Heart

Goddess of the Month - July 2023: Inanna

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 11:52:00 +0000

WHO IS INANNA? Inanna is the most important goddess of the Sumerian pantheon in ancient Mesopotamia. She was the Queen of Heaven and Earth. Inanna was known by the Sumerians as healer, lifegiver, and composer of songs. She is also the keeper of emotions all of them from rage to joy to passion to grief and everything in between. Inanna is the embodiment of the playful, independent, strong, and powerful feminine beyond the motherly aspects which patriarchy will allow. She has many moods and endless possibilities. Inanna is giver of gentle rains and terrible floods. She shines as both the morning and evening star; She is Queen of the land and is the Source of its fertility and only Her blessing bestowed sovereignity upon mortals. She is Goddess of War and the Goddess of Love, both the sexually passionate and the profoundly spiritual. Nor is this a contradiction, for Her warriors defend their homes and those they love and are willing to sacrifice themselves out of love alone. Inanna is also one of the Goddesses who has suffered some of the vilest slanders at the hands of those faiths which historically have had agendas against the Divine Feminine. This is probably because Her dynamic and independent nature goes completely against the subservient virgin and/or all-mother imagery idealized in the patriarchal religions of later times. However, none of the slanders that were poured upon Inanna survive the scrutiny of scholarship. Most of the epithets and misrepresentations laid upon Her by the patriarchs, most notoriously the Jews who vilified Her during historical times and their spiritual heirs, the Christian archeologists who continued these lies in their writings, are born of a combination of pure misogyny, cultural prejudices, and unmitigated poor scholarship which was liberally colored by the distorted ideations of the feminine by these religions. Some of Her titles include: Nin-me-sar-ra, the Lady of Myriad Offices Ninsianna is Her name as the personification of the planet Venus Nin.an.na, Queen of the Sky Nu-ugiganna, the Hierodule of Heaven Usunzianna, Exalted Cow of Heaven

Goddess of the Month - June 2023: Pelehonuamea

Sun, 04 Jun 2023 12:42:16 +0000

WHO IS PELEHONUAMEA? Pelehonuamea, also known as Pele, is one of the great aumakua or ancestral spirits of the Hawaiian people. She is considered to be a living part of the islands and their people, and Her blood flows through their veins. Her name means 'The Red Earth' or 'Lava' and She is said to reside in the crater of Halema’uma’u at the summit of Kilauea, but all of the big island of Hawaii is considered to be Her especial domain. She is also the Goddess of lightning, dance, fire, and all volcanic activity. Because She is first and foremost the great volcanoes of the islands, She is a Goddess of destruction, yes, but also creation, and She has added more than 70 acres to the Big Island just in the last two decades. Some of Her other titles include: She-Who-Shapes-The-Sacred-Land Pele Ai Honua - Pele Who Devours the Earth Pele Honua Mea - Pele of the Sacred Earth Tutu Pele - Grandmother Pele

Goddess of the Month - May 2023: Yemaya

Sat, 06 May 2023 14:33:13 +0000

WHO IS YEMAYA? Yemaja is an Orisha or Goddess, originally of the Yoruba religion, who is prominent in many African-American religions. Africans from what is now part of Nigeria brought Yemaya and a host of other Orishas in nature with them when they were brought to the shores of the Americas as captives. She is the ocean, the essence of motherhood, and a protector of children. Her name is a contraction of Yoruba words: "Yeye emo eja" that mean "Mother whose children are like fishes". This represents the vastness of her motherhood, her fecundity and her reign over all living things. She is often depicted as a mermaid. She is associated with the moon, the ocean and female mysteries. Typically portrayed as a beautiful woman, Yemaya governs the household and intervenes in women's affairs. She is a merciful Goddess, invoked by women for aid in childbirth, love and healing. She rules over the conception and birth of children and ensures their safety during childhood. As a creation Goddess, Yemaya's womb spilled forth the fourteen Yoruba goddesses and gods, and the breaking of Her uterine waters caused a great flood, which created the oceans. From Her body the first human woman and man, who became the parents of all mortal beings on earth, were born. She is worshipped and revered in many places and is called by many names now. Some examples of Her names/titles are: Africa: Yemoja, Ymoja, Iemanja Nana Borocum, Iemanja Bomi, Iemanja Boci Brazil: Yemanjá, Iemanjá, Janaina Cuba: Yemaya, Yemayah, Iemanya Haiti: La Sirène, LaSiren (in Vodou) USA (New Orleans Voodoo): Yemalla, Yemana

Goddess of the Month - April 2023: Gaia

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 14:42:00 +0000

WHO IS GAIA? The Millenial Gaia, by Oberon Zell, photo of author's altar The Millenial Gaia by Oberon Zell from The Mythic Images Collection Gaia, Ge, Mother Earth... She is called by many names and has been since time immemorial. She is our home, our Mother, the source of life. She is a planet orbiting in an elliptical path approximately 93 million miles from a G2 variable star known as Sol. She is all this and more. The name Gaia is Greek and means land or earth. It is by this name that I know Her and love Her, but She has appellations in all languages, ancient and modern. Some of these include: Kubau - Akkadian Hepa - Hurrian Kubala/Cybele - Phrygian Heva/Eve - Hebrew Jörð - Norse Danu - Irish Papatuanuku - Maori Pachamama - Quechua Tonantzin Tlalli - Mexican Gayatri - Hindu Phra Mae Thorani - Thai Spider Grandmother - Dineh Potnia - Cretan Tellus Mater - Roman

Goddess of the Month - March 2023: Dziewanna

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 15:00:00 +0000

Dziewanna (Jeh' van na)is a Slavic goddess who filled many roles in our rich culture. Daughter of Perun and Dodola, She is the Spring Maiden and revered by farmers as Goddess of agriculture. However, She is unlike Persephone in that role. She does not come back from sleeping under the Earth in winter. Lada, who is the Spring Mother, does that. Dziewanna is a Maiden Huntress and a fierce warrior. While some have claimed a link between Her and the Roman Diana, their roles are only superficially similar. There are traces of Her worship that have been found from the Baltic Sea to the Balkans of an ancient wild forest goddess in the oldest relics. She is wild and free, Mistress of horses, Who rides through the land awakening the plants and banishing the winter crone, so that Lada may return. There are many spellings of Her name depending on the tribe of Slavs. Some of these include: Dziewona - Poland Dilwica - Serbia Devana - Czech, Russian Debena - Slovenia

Goddess of the Month - February 2023: Sophia

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 12:00:00 +0000

Goddess of the Month - Sophia Sophia comes to us through many different traditions. Her name is Greek and means Wisdom, and it is for Her wisdom that She is revered. In Gnostic Christianity She is called the Great Mother and is considered by some to be the Mother of God. In other traditions, Sophia is the Bride of God, his completion and perfect mate. In Michelangelo's famous painting of the Sistine Chapel, She is depicted as a beautiful woman in Jehovah's embrace. She is also found in the Hebrew Kabbalistic tradition and called Chokmah. She is one of many Goddesses symbolized by the dove, who are seen as bringing humanity gifts of wisdom and grace. In many of the Eastern Christian traditions, Sophia is the Mother of the three Graces: Faith, Hope, and Charity. Some of Her other names include: Goddess of Heaven - Gnostic Mother of the Stars and the Hebdomas - Gnostic Sapientia - Latin Black Goddess - Gnostic Asherah - Hebrew Shekinah - Hebrew Wise Bride of Solomon - Hebrew World-Soul - Manichaean Ennoia - Simonian