GODDESSES
Athena Greek Goddess of war and wisdom. She is the daughter of Zeus, born by springing forth fully grown from his forehead. It is believed that she was conceived to carry out deeds that Zeus could not do but would want to. Her name, "Pallas Athene", is representative of her dual nature. She can be seen as "Pallas", goddess of storms, courage, strength, battle, war, chivalry, and victory. She can also be "Athene", the goddess of peace, beauty, wisdom, creativity, education, science, and the arts. She was responsible for teaching mortals natal care and healing. She also invented the flute, created the olive tree, and showed men how to train horses. Athena is the patron of craftsmen and the protector of cities. Her animal symbols are the cock, snake, owl, and olive tree. Oshun The African (Yoruban) orisha of love, sexuality, beauty and diplomacy; a wife of Chango. She is the keeper of the sweet waters and patroness of the Oshun river. With her pure sweetness, she overcomes the most difficult obstacles. She is the protector of the abdominal area and the teacher of pleasure and mirth. Oshun is generous and a great giver, but when she is angry, it is very difficult to calm her down. Her worshippers wear amber beads. Her price is the sacrifice of a small chicken, but it is well worth it, for great and powerful spells can be worked through her. She can be invoked for love, money, beauty, joy, and health (abdominal). Oya African (Yoruban) warrior orisha of the wind, symbolic of the winds of change. Every breath we take is a gift from Oya. She is tall and regal, strong, assertive, courageous and independent and is always willing to take risks. Oya is a great witch and the guardian of the gates of death. Women often ask her to give them the ability to choose their words so that they speak persuasively and powerfully. She symbolizes transformations, power, action, life, vivacity. Oya is invoked in case of illness. Wife of Chango. Yemonja One of the great African goddesses, specifically of Nigerian Yoruba. She was the daughter of the sea into whose waters she flows. Her breasts were enormous because she mothered so many Yoruban gods. She also is the Mama Watta, or "mother of the waters", and gave birth to all the bodies of water in the world. She is the sister and wide of Aganju, the soil god, and together they had Orungan, god of the noonday sun, as their child. She is known by many different names, each with some variations in character: As Yemayah or Yemoja, she is the orisha of the oceans, seas, fish, and motherhood. Nurturing, feminine, and life-giving. Considered the epitome of feminine power. Like the ocean, she can be not only gentle but destructive and torrential as well. She holds the secrets that are within the sea. She can be invoked for issues with childbirth, mothers, fertility, or anything involving women's issues or women's mysteries. As Imanje or Yemanja in Brazil, she is the ocean goddess of the crescent moon. As Ymoja in West Africa, she is the river goddess who grants fertility to women. She is Agwe in Haitian voodoo beliefs. Finally, she is Yamoja, a combination of the phrase Iyamo eja ("our mother"). Diana: "Lovely Goddess of the Bow and all Wild Creatures," Diana was the Roman name for the Greek's Artemis, MOON Maiden, divine huntress and protector of the wilderness. Aphrodite: The Greek's great Goddess of love, beauty and art. She has inspired artists all over the world to paint her portrait. The Crescent Moonstone is prized by women throughout the centuries for it's association with Aphrodite and Selene. Artemis: This Greek goddess can be traced back to the "Goddess of the Moon" and Mistress of the animals". Artemis is supposed to be the daughter of Zeus and Leto and being the twin of Apollo (god of sun). Her other human attributes were the bow and arrow. She could transform herself or others into animals. As the lunar huntress, she was a virginal, vengeful figure. Artemis was truly the heiress to the ancient earth mother tradition. Arianrhod "The Silver Wheel", "High Fruitful Mother". Celtic (Welsh) goddess, the sister of Gwydion and wife of Don. Deity of element of Air, reincarnation, full moons, time, karma, retribution. Aradia Italian witch goddess. She came to earth to teach her mother Diana's magic. Symbolizes the air element, the moon. Aurora Greek goddess of the dawning morning. She gave birth to the morning star and the winds (Zephyrus, Boreas, Notos, and Euros) by Astraeos, the god of starlight. Abnoba Forest and river goddess. (Romano-Celtic/Continental European). Known locally from the Black Forest region in Germany. The name "Avon," associated with many rivers, derives from her name. Hecate "Goddess of the Witches", "Goddess of the Dark Moon". The original incarnation of the holy trinity, the crone aspect of the triple goddess. She was warped by the coming and spread of Christianity into a demonic, evil monster to obscure her importance in healing and love magic. She symbolizes blessing, cursing, luck, divination, the moon, oracles, prophecy, magical empowerment, mutation, healing, wisdom, women's mysteries. Cerridwen Celtic (Welsh) Moon, Grain and Nature Goddess. Cerridwen's symbol is a white sow. Patron of the poets, greatest of all the bards. She prepared in a cauldron a magical brew which stewed for a year and would yield three precious drops. These would bestow on the receiver the wisdom of the past, the knowledge of the present, and the secrets of the future. Cerridwen symbolizes luck, element of earth, death, fertility, regeneration, inspiration, inspiration, the arts, science, poetry, astrology/zodiac. Selene "The Radiant", "The Well Dressed Queen". Greek moon goddess and teacher to the magicians and sorcerers or sorceresses. She was a beautiful woman with long wings and a halo of gold. Daughter of Hyperion and Theia, sister of Helios and Eos. She symbolizes the moon. Also known as Phoebe. Selket Egyptian scorpion-goddess and helper of women in labor, often shown as a beautiful woman with a scorpion on her head. Her scorpions would strike death to the wicked, but she saved the lives of the innocent people who were stung by scorpions. she was also viewed as a helper of women in childbirth. Sekhmet Egyptian goddess of sunset, destruction, death, and wisdom. Originally created by Ra from his fire to be a creature of vengeance who would punish humans for their wrongdoings. However, she became a loving goddess of peace and compassion, and a protectress of the righteous. Symbols are the lion and the desert. She symbolizes health, rebirth, fire, and wisdom. Erzulie Vodou (Voodoo) goddess of the love and the elemental forces. She is the embodiment of beauty. She lives luxuriously and appears powdered and perfumed, wearing fine clothes. She is generous with her love as well as gifts. As Erzulie Ge-Rouge, she is show lamenting the shortness of life and the limitation of love. As Erzulie-Dantor, she is the goddess of abused women. As Erzulie-Freda, she is the moon goddess. She is wife of three husbands- Agwi, Ogoun, and Damballah. Comparable to Aphrodite or Venus. Luna Roman moon and calendar goddess. Also known as Lunah. Atargatis Near Eastern (Syrian) mother goddess who symbolizes the moon, love, and fertility. She was most often portrayed as half-woman and half-fish. Her sacred animals were the dove and fish. Aine of Knockaine Celtic (Irish) goddess of love and fertility, later known as the fairy queen. Goddess related to the moon, crops, and farms or cattle. Aine is revered among Irish herbalists and healers and is said to be responsible for the body's life force. Aditi "The Unfettered". Hindu mother goddess. She was self-formed and the mother of the sun and moon gods, Mitra and Varuna. She is the unlimited space of sky beyond the far east, the brilliant light from which the gods sprang. She clears obstacles, protects, and solves problems. Amphityonis Greek goddess of wine, friendships and relationships between nations. Amphitrite Greek goddess of the sea. She took care of all the creatures of the ocean. Wife of Poseidon, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys. Freya "Queen of the Valkyeries". Norse (Scandinavian) goddess of love, sex, sensuality, passion, and fertility. Called the most beautiful of the goddesses. She is also the patron Goddess of crops and birth. Her father is Nj�rd; her brother, Freyr. She spends much of her time with the faeries. She symbolizes war, fertility, Leo magic, fruitfulness, the moon, poetry, child blessing, maternity. Kuan Yin: The compassionate Kuan Yin is the embodiment of the YIN principle. Kuan Yin is dedicated to relieving suffering through any of her manifestations. "She who hears the cries of the world," or "Mother of Mercy" is how she is known. She is Bodhisattva, which means she achieved enlightenment, yet chooses to stay in this plane of existence until all living beings have attained enlightenment also. Kuan Yin is usually shown as a woman sitting or standing on a lotus, always having a serene expression. She is compassionate, the reliever of suffering (mainly during child birth and pregnancy), the remover of obstacles and the comforter. I like Kuan Yin because she is a Goddess who has no enemies. Nanna Norse (Scandinavian) great goddess of earth. Mother goddess, symbolizes the moon and fertility. Juno Roman goddess of the home and motherhood/women, wife of Jupiter. Watched and protected all women. Her festival is Matronalia, where people asked Juno to bless their marriages and provide a safe childbirth and a healthy newborn. Juno restores peace to quarreling lovers. Also symbolizes the moon, love, fertility. Rhiannon: Her name is derived from the Welsh literally translated as Great Queen Goddess. Rhiannon rode a pale white horse, carried the magical bag of abundance and the song sang by her sacred birds were so strong it held power over life and death. She is said to reward those who ask for what they need. Anu Manifestation magic, moon, air, fertility, prosperity. Celtic (Irish) goddess of plenty. Mother earth goddess and maiden aspect of Morrigu. The Morrigan: Depicted as a bronze age Celt, she is known as the Triple Goddess, her three aspects known as Nealm, Macha, and Badb. She always holds two spears and is known to be undefeated in battle. A shape shifter, she would often appear as a raven or crow. As a protector she empowers an individual to face their demons. Alcyone Greek goddess of the sea, the moon, calm, tranquility. She who brings life to death and death to life. Hathor: She was the ancient Mother Goddess who's name means "House of Horus", relating to her protective maternal role. Hathor was known as the Goddess of love and beauty. She later manifested a violently destructive aspect. Hathor also became associated with the west and was thus an important deity in many scenes relating to the afterlife. She was a major influence to the women of Egypt, including Isis. Maat: According to the Egyptians, Maat, was the Goddess of Order, Truth and Judgment. Maat's Egyptian symbol was a tall ostrich feather on her head. She also embodied one of the chief responsibilities of the Egyptian king, to maintain order of the cosmos. Nuit: (often called the "Bird Goddess") Nuit is considered the Egyptian Star Goddess. She has great association with the Moon, the soul, and a possible guide for the dead. Her identity is a combination of the ancient bird, the serpent goddess of regeneration, and the Cow Horned Queen of Heaven Ishtar Near Eastern (Assyria). The goddess of Venus is the Queen of Inanna, called Ishtar by the Babylonians. She is the goddess of sex and passion in love and war. She appeared as a beautiful lady in the company of lions. Her counterpart is the moon god Nanna. When they are in agreement, there is great mirth, happiness, and celebration. She will bestow a worthy bride upon any man who is deserving and makes a proper sacrifice. Her symbol is the eight or sixteen pointed star, and her sacred number is 15. DURGA-KALI / Lakshmi / Saraswati / UMA-PRAWATI: In Bali, four prominent Goddesses are worshipped. Each one (listed above) governs a region of the compass (west, north, south, east,) in the cosmos and is also associated with a color (black, yellow, red, white). Inanna "Queen Moon". Near Eastern (Sumerian) queen of heaven. She ruled over the stars, planets, water, and light. Also symbolizes love, destruction of the indestructible, health, the moon workings. Pazardzik: The old European Mother Goddess. She is a classic example of the pregnant Earth Goddess. The seat she occupies is often symbolic of a mountain. Her ample proportions, represent the fertile earth as granter of sovereignty. Her face is like a phallic mask with a prominent nose and 6 tiny holes forming a fierce toothy mile. She is also the one who claims our bones when we die ... back to the Mother Earth Bast: A Goddess of Pleasure, of the home, of music and dance. The Cat Goddess was said to protect humanity from contagious disease and evil influences. Bast was a major influence in Egyptian culture. Brigit: Brigit is the Celtic sun Goddess of Healing, Poetry, Fire and Forge. She is also the Goddess of domestic arts - childbirth, marriage, housekeeping, bread baking, and the like. Controls the powers of fire and water. Simply and excellent goddess for all writers and or people who are creative in addition to anyone who does many healing rituals. Durga Hindu goddess who represents the power of the Supreme Being which stands for morals and ethics. She protects mankind from misery by destroying evil forces such as jealousy, anger, and prejudice. She is symbolized by the tiger, the conch, and weapons. She is often shown with many weapons in her hands to represent how evil cannot be killed with just one weapon, but takes many. Also associated with sorcery, fertility, leo magic, the moon, general magic. Kannon: "Goddess of the Mountain". In Japan, high on the slopes of Daimugenzan, there was a shrine dedicated to this Goddess. She is said to have protected the pilgrims against robbers and villains by sending down icy winds that rendered them unconscious. Adi Mailagu: In Fiji this great Goddess was known as "Goddess of the Sky". She descended from the sky and plunged into a river, then emerging as a rat. Sacrifices were offered to her in exchange for answering questions about the future. She would appear to men either as a beautiful woman or an ugly old hag. Alcmene Greek goddess of midwinter, the new year, stateliness, beauty and wisdom. Zeus fooled her by appearing as her husband, because of which she had a child by him. The result of her union with Zeus was Hercules. Ratu Lara Kidul: "Goddess of Rains and Storms". In central Java people worshiped Ratu also known as the Goddess of the Southern Ocean (Pacific). She lived in a splendid palace on the sea bed and employed many spirits who lived in the surrounding caves. Fisherman also would pray to her before risking their lives in their small boats (proas). Indrani: Queen of Indra, Goddess of the sky, famous for her great sensuality, the ideal Indian woman; beautiful and devoted to her husband. She is the happiest of all wives. Tara: "The beautiful Goddess Mother". She is one of the most highly venerated Goddesses of Northern Buddhism. She is the embodiment of compassion. SARASWATI, SARASVATI: The Goddess of the arts. She is often shown sitting on a lotus to signify meditation, lucidity of mind and clarity of expression. Her image has four hands, two carrying vina and hymnbook, two others rosary and lotus. This important Goddess survived the transition from Hinduism to Buddhism in many countries. KALI: She is known as the Goddess of Death or the Dark One. She is described as a black voluptuous woman with bloodthirsty eyes, which human blood drips from her long tongue. Human skulls hang on strings around her body, snakes writhe around her neck and in each of her 10 hands, there are weapons. Since Kali is the Goddess of Death, she had to destroy everything, including her husband, since no visible thing is eternal. She is from the Hindu belief. Hera Greek goddess of matrimony and cycles of women's growth. Sister and wife of Zeus. She is best known for her intense jealousy of all of Zeus' affairs with mortal women. She can be invoked for love, the moon, element of Air, motherhood. Kali - Ma: She is the ancient Hindu Goddess of change and transformation. She is the energy of destruction that brings forth the new. By facing the energy of change, our lives are transformed. Neith: "Lady Of The Sails". Egyptian goddess of war and weaving. She symbolizes strength, love, the moon, courage. Coatlicue Aztec mother goddess, a giver of life. She was positive and negative and therefore had the ability to bless or punish. Often shown as a woman with claws and a skirt of snakes. Symbolizes the moon. Coyolxuahqi "Golden Bells". Aztec moon goddess. Symbolizes element of fire, the moon. Willendorf Willendorf is the great Mother Goddess. (One of the oldest and most famous Paleolithic "Venue" images) Her form symbolizes the Bounty of Nature and an abundance of food ... in addition to fertility and anything related to child birth. Great statue ! ISIS: Last but not least, my favorite ISIS! This Goddess was my (Vampyress) very first tattoo. Anyways, Isis was the most famous Goddess of Ancient Egypt whose worship spread to Greece, the rest of Europe and as far as England in the ancient world. Isis of a "Thousand Names" is the Goddess of Magic, Healing, Feminine Power and Eternal Life. She was a perfect wife /mother/nurturer to her husband Osirus and son Horus. Many writers throughout the Egyptian era found Isis to be the strongest of the Goddess due to the pain endured through her life and her accomplishments
