Tall piles of books concerning ancient histories, mythologies, and goddesses have adorned my dwellings since adolescence. I have always sought personal empowerment through the ancient goddesses I encounter in my research. The adventures of Artemis, Persephone, Isis, Tara, and Durga fill my heart, providing excellent examples of the diverse manifestations of the sacred feminine.
One book I always come back to is:
The Goddess Within: A Guide to the Eternal Myths that Shape Women's Lives
Gestalt and Jungian psychologists Jennifer and Roger Woolger have created a practical guide to the classical goddess archetypes that live within us
all. The Woolgers explore the different aspects western men (and women) have culturally imposed upon the fairer gender, while providing explanations and solutions for the conflicts that arisen in the feminist/"new age" goddess revival movements. Learn how to approach the turning points in your life by
understanding which goddess type is coming out to play. This book is wonderfully
affirming for all types of women and profound in its implications. Furthermore, it helps
restore the feminine to its rightful place in the modern consciousness
and offers every woman the opportunity to empower herself through ancient wisdom.
This book has helped me start unraveling some of the following mysteries. Why is there not a prevalent "Great Mother Goddess" OR concept of "Shakti" (creative female force/energy) in traditional western mythology, as there is in Hinduism and Buddhism? Why is the Goddess so divided in the western collective consciousness(i.e. goddess of love, goddess of wisdom, goddess of children)? Why was Athena, the goddess of Wisdom, only parented by Zeus - masculine energy? Whatever happened to Demeter and Isis (the goddess of agriculture and family) in our post industrial consumer nightmare of modern American culture? What exactly are the Elysian mysteries and have they been preserved? Why are western women so competitive amongst each other. . . why all the drama? Can't one woman have it all? Including the respect and friendship of the other women around her? Why don't women honor each other all as unique aspects of the same Goddess? Why have women and children been so abused and enslaved worldwide for the past 2000 years? What can I do to stop getting so angry and sad when I feel enslaved by the culture I live in?
THIS BOOKS HELPS!!!
Here is some more information from The Goddess Within found at: http://www.goddess-power.com/
How can ancient mythological goddess concepts be
useful to women, today, in understanding their contemporary reality and
concerns?
Discovering goddess influences within a woman can guide her Being in
creating her own true-life story--not a story directed by others.
Such understanding and inner access can guide a woman in making
conscious choices that have personal meaning and fulfillment for her, as
an individual.
Understanding goddess types offers a woman very
specific means of increased self-awareness of herself, her relationship
to her lover, partner, her way of parenting her children, her inner
urges in her self-expression and creativity. New ways of understanding
feminine psychology have been emerging in the past twenty years--from a feminine
perspective. In a society that has trivialized the Goddess concept,
learning of the significance of Goddess qualities/energy can be
instructive for women and men. We are aware that women's and men's
behaviors, attitudes, likes and dislikes do appear to conform to
particular typologies.
Understanding Goddess energy/types can help
women discover their true natures--their innate gifts and abilities,
recognize where they are best suited in life, appreciate their strengths
as well as understand their areas of challenge. Furthermore, Goddess
energy types are drawn to other particular Goddess types as friends and
cohorts and find other types less appealing. They are better suited to
one type of career or life direction than another. Most interesting, we
women have a combination of a number of Goddess energy/types within
ourselves of varying ascendancy. By increasing our consciousness of
these various energies we have an opportunity to affirm and express our
more primary goddess qualities as well as discovering ways to draw out
the more recessive Goddess qualities within us. In this way, we bring
into balance our hidden goddess qualities and better actualize our
gifts.
Goddess, from a feminine perspective, represents
a particular feminine archetype. Archetype, as a concept, is at the
foundation of Carl Jung's psychological works. Archetypes are
deep enduring patterns of thought and behavior laid down in the human
psyche that remain powerful over long periods of time and transcend
cultures. Archetypes form the basis for all unlearned, instinctive
patterns of behavior that humankind--regardless of culture--shares in
common. Archetypes are found in dreams, literature, art and
myth and communicate to us through many symbols. Archetypes compose the
ultimate source of psychic symbols which, in turn, attract energy,
structure it and influence the creation of civilization and culture.
Consider: male and female organs are, in fact, symbols for the
archetypal energies known by the Chinese as yin and yang. Archetypes also go beyond the psyche bridging inner and outer worlds.
A goddess is the form that a feminine archetype
may take. Goddess types represent models of ways of being and behaving
that we women all share and recognize from the collective unconscious.
In fairy tales this archetype may be revealed to us as a queen, a
princess or a witch. In our nighttime dreams we tap into the collective
unconscious whereby we access the common pool of archetypal images.
Goddesses, as a feminine archetype, remain alive to this day in the
psychology of women; and, depending upon which energies are more
pronounced, influence her personality with a distinct character, a way
of being, a way of relating in the world--a way of offering her special
gifts. In other words, women are a blend of these types with particular types predominating while other qualities may be more recessive--out of her conscious awareness
WHICH GODDESS ARE YOU RULED BY? questionnaire from The Goddess Within
Greek Goddesses
Amphitrite: - Greek Goddess of the sea and consort of the God Poseidon.
Aphrodite: - Olympian Goddess of love and beauty. She is certainly the most popular Deity of this Greek Goddess list.
Artemis: - The Greek Goddess of the hunt, nature and birth.
Asteria: - Goddess of the stars and the last immortal to live with man
Atalanta: - A competitive warrior Goddess, adventure and amazing runner. She was turned into a lion by Aphrodite.
Athena: - Goddess of war, wisdom and domestic crafts. She was one of the Olympian Goddesses
Baubo:
- The bawdy crone Goddess who lifted her skirt in front of Demeter. She
is one of the lesser known deities in the Greek Goddess list.
Demeter: - Goddess of the harvest and is most notably linked to the growing, preserving and harvesting of grain. Mother of Persephone.
Dike: - She was the Greek Goddess of moral justice.
Eos: - The beautiful Goddess of the dawn who brings the hope of a brand new day.
Eris: - Goddess of strife, discord, contention and rivalry.
Eirenne: - The Greek Goddess who symbolized peace.
Hebe: - Goddess of youth. She served nectar to the Gods.
Hecate: - Goddess of the wild places, childbirth and the crossroads. She is associated with magic and witchcraft.
Hemera: - Primordial Goddess of daylight.
Hera: - Queen of the Olympian Goddesses and Goddess of marriage
Hestia: - One of the original Olympians, she gave up her throne to become Goddess of the hearth and home.
Hygieia: - Goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation.
Gaia: - Ancient Earth Mother Goddess.
Iris: - The Greek Goddess of the rainbow and servant to the Gods
Leto: - Titan Goddess and mother of Apollo and Artemis
Maia: - Spring Goddess and the eldest and most beautiful of Atlas's seven daughters who made up the Pleiades.
Mnemosyne: - The personification of memory in Greek mythology. She was also the mother of the Muses.
Metis:
- Titan Goddess of wisdom and prudence. According to Myth Zeus
swallowed the pregnant Metis whole and later gave birth to his daughter
Athena from his head.
Nike: - The Greek Goddess of victory.
Nyx: - Ancient Goddess of darkness and night time
Persephone: - The Maiden Goddess and Queen of the Underworld.
Phoebe: - Described as bright and golden crowned, she was said to be a moon Goddess.
Rhea:
- An Earth Goddess, responsible for the fertility of the soil, women
and motherhood. She took over many of these roles from her mother Gaia.
Selene: - This Goddess was the Titan personification of the moon itself, unlike the later moon Goddesses
Theia: - Ancient Goddess of sight and the bright sky. She was mother Helios, Selene and Eos. Her name itself means Goddess.
Themis:
- Greek Goddess of divine justice, order and customs. She also had the
gift of prophecy as she was responsible for the Oracle of Delphi before
it was passed onto Apollo.
Egyptian Goddesses
FROM http://www.angelfire.com/me3/egyptgoddess/Goddess.html
Amaunet:
Means "Hidden One." She was an
Egyptian mother and/or fertility goddess. At the beginning of time aspects
of Amaunet merged with those of the goddess Neith. Among the Ogdoad, Amun
was her consort. She was regarded as a tutelary deity of the Egyptian Pharaohs,
and had a prominent part in the Pharaoh's accession ceremonies.
Ammut (Ammit)
:"Devouress of the Dead." Demonic
goddess who attends the Judging of the Dead. She was depicted as having
the head of a crocodile, the torso of a lioness and the hindquarters of
a hippopotamus. She waited in the Judgement Hall of the Two Truths during
the Weighing of the Heart ceremony, and devoured those who were sinners
in life.
Anat
:A goddess of Syrian origin. Anat
had a warlike character. She usually was represented as a woman holding
a shield and an axe.
Anentet ( Amenthes )
:Egyptian goddess of the West.
The west was considered to be the Underworld.
Anuket ( Anqet, Anquet, Greek Anukis
)
:Egyptian goddess who personified
the Nile as Nourisher of the Fields. She was mainly associated with the
lower cataracts near Aswan. Also was a protective deity of childbirth.
She was considered to be the daughter of Ra, Satis or Khnum. Depicted in
human form, bearing a crown topped with ostrich feathers. Her principal
sanctuary was at Elephantine. Her sacred animal was the gazelle.
Astarte (As-start-a)
:A goddess of Syrian origin. Introduced
in Egypt during the 18th Dynasty. Was also known as The Queen of Heaven
and as such, her cult often overlapped with Isis' worshipers.
Ausaas
: Egyptian wife of Herakhty (Horus).
Bastet ( Bast, Ubasti )
:Egyptian sun, cat and of the home
goddess. As a sun goddess she represents the warm, life giving power of
the sun. A goddess of the home, pregnant women and of the domestic cat,
although she sometimes took on the war-like aspect of a lioness. Normally
said to be the daughter of the sun god Ra, but sometimes her father was
said to be Amun. Bastet was wife of Ptah and mother of the lion-god Mihos.
She was also associated with 'Eye of Ra', as such she was a instrument
of the sun god's vengeance. She was depicted as a cat or in human form
with the head of a cat, often holding the sistrum. Her cult was centered
on her sanctuary at Bubastis in the Delta region. A necropolis has been
found there, containing mummified cats.
Bat (Bata)
Cow goddess of fertility and primarily
a deity of Upper Egypt. She was depicted as a cow or in human form with
cow's ears and horns.
Beset
:Egyptian goddess, a female version
of Bes.
Buto ( Edjo, Udjo, Wadjet, Wadjit
)
:A tutelary goddess of Lower Egypt.
Chensit
: Egyptian goddess of the twentieth
nome of Lower Egypt.
Hathor (Hethert, Athyr)
:Cow goddess. A goddess of love
and motherhood, Hathor was the daughter of Nut and Ra. In early Egyptian
mythology she was said to be the mother Horus, but was later replaced with
Isis. After being displaced, Hathor became a protectress of Horus. The
Greeks identified
Hathor with Aphrodite.
Her name means "House (or Mansion)
of Horus," referring to her role as a sky goddess. The heavens were often
depicted as being a cow with stars on it, thus the "house." She was often
regarded as the mother of the Pharaoh, who called himself the "son of Hathor."
Since the Pharaoh was also considered to be the Living Horus, as the son
of Isis, it is plausible that the phrase "son of Hathor" came from when
Hathor was the mother of Hours.
The snake, the Egyptian rattle
known as the sistrum, and the papyrus reed often symbolized Hathor. Her
image could also be used to form the capitals of columns in Egyptian architecture.
Her principal sanctuary was at Dandarah, which may also be where Hathor
got her origins. At Dandarah, she was mainly worshipped in her role as
a goddess of fertility, women and childbirth. At Thebes she was regarded
as a goddess of the dead with the title of "Lady of the West." This associated
her with Ra on his descent below the western horizon and various deaths
related gods, such as Osiris and Anubis. She was depicted either as a cow
or in human form wearing a crown consisting of a sun disk held between
the horns of a cow.
Hat-mehyt (Hatmehit)
:Fish goddess of Mendes in the
Delta and the consort of Banebdjedet. She was occasionally represented
as a woman with a fish on her head.
Hauhet
:Goddess of infinity and a member
of the Ogdoad. Her consort was Heh
Hedetet
:A scorpion goddess.
Heket (Heqet)
:A goddess of childbirth and protector
of the dead. She is the daughter of Ra and is sometimes called the 'Eye
of Ra' and 'Mother of the gods'. She is shown as a frog, a symbol of life
and fertility (millions of them are born after the annual inundation of
the Nile), or as a woman with a frog's head. Women often wore amulets of
her during childbirth. She is regarded as the consort of Khnum.
Hemsut (Hemuset)
:The Egyptian goddess of fate.
Heqet
:A frog-goddess of Antinoopolis.
She was a helper of women during childbirth. At Antinoopolis she was associated
with Khnum.Hermouthis
:
Hesat
An Egyptian cow goddess. The ancient
Egyptians referred to milk as 'the beer of Hesat.'
Isdes
:She was a goddess of Heliopolis
whose name means, "she comes who is great." She was a counterpart to the
creator god Atum. Normally depicted wearing a scarab beetle on her head.
Isis (Aset, Eset, Aat, Menkhet,
Hert, Ament, Menhet)
"Throne." Egyptian mother goddess.
Isis has many names: "Mistress of Magic,The Queen of Heaven (similar to
Astarte), The Great Lady, the God-Mother, lady of Re-a-nefer; Isis-Nebuut,
Lady of Sekhet; Lady of Besitet; Isis in Per Pakht, the Queen of Mesen;
Isis of Ta-at-nehepet; Isis, dweller in Netru; Isis, Lady of Hebet; Isis
in P-she-Hert; Isis, Lady of Khebt; Usert-Isis, Giver of Life, Lady of
Abaton, Lady of Philae and Lady of the Countries of the South."
Isis ruled over all matters concerning
mothering, life, and sorcery. She was the daughter of Geb and Nut, according
to the Heliopolitan genealogy, sister-wife of Osiris and, according to
most myths, the mother of Horus. As the personification of the throne,
Isis was an important source of the Pharaoh's power. Isis' Latin epithet
was Stella Maris, which means, "star of the sea." Isis was depicted in
human form, crowned either by a throne or by cow horns enclosing a sun
disk, occasionally a vulture was incorporated in her crown. She is also
depicted as a kite above the mummified body of Osiris. She was divinely
represented by the Ankh. Isis' cult was popular throughout Egypt, however,
the most important sanctuaries were at Giza and at Behbeit El-Hagar. During
the Late Period, Philae was her main cult-center. Later on, she had an
important cult in the Greco-Roman world, with sanctuaries at Delos and
Pompeii.
Isis is one of the four great protector
goddesses, which included Bast, Nephyths, and Hathor. She guarded coffins
and the Canopic jars. In the origin myth of Ra and the world, Isis found
out Ra's name by enchanting a poisonous snake to bite him. When Ra was
close to dying, Isis told him that she could only heal him if she knew
Ra's true name. By knowing Ra's name, she then had power equal to him and
was then given all of her magical power and was forever known as the Divine
Sorceress.
Isis and Nephyths were the divine
mourners for the dead (Osiris). Isis was the one who retrieved and reassembled
the body of Osiris after his murder and dismemberment by Set. In this way
she took on the role of a goddess of the dead and funeral rites. Isis impregnated
herself from the corpse and gave birth to Horus. She gave birth in secrecy
at Khemmis in the Nile delta and hid the child from Set in the papyrus
swamps. Horus later defeated Set and became the first ruler of a united
Egypt. Isis, as mother of Horus, was by extension regarded as the mother
and protectress of the Pharaohs. This relationship between Isis and Horus
may also have influenced the Christian conception of the relationship between
Mary and the infant Jesus Christ. There is a resemblance to the depiction
of the seated Isis holding or suckling the child Horus and the seated Mary
and the baby Jesus.
Kauket
:Goddess of darkness and a member
of the Ogdoad. Her consort was Kek.
Kebechet
:Goddess who personified the purification
through water. Daughter of Anubis, Kebechet plays an important role in
the funeral cult. Her appearance is that of a snake.
Ma'at (Maat, Mayet)
:"Straight": law and order. Egyptian
goddess of cosmic harmony, truth and justice. Ma'at was depicted as a woman
with an ostrich feather on her head, she was sometimes represented only
by the feather. Ma'at was closely associated with Ra from the beginning
and eventually became known as the 'daughter of Ra.' Thoth was sometimes
given as her consort. The Pharaohs were said to derive their authority
from Ma'at and claimed to uphold the cosmic order embodied in her. In the
funerary papyri of the New Kingdom it was Ma'at who sat in judgement at
the weighting of the heart ceremony in the Hall of the Two Truths. The
heart of the deceased was weighed against the image of Ma'at, often represented
simply by the ostrich feather. Her only know sanctuary was in Karnak.
Mafdet
:The first deity to be mentioned
who is half-cat (domesticate). She appears to be associated with the protection
of the king's chambers. OR Panther Goddess Her ferocity prevails over snakes
and scorpions.
Mekhit (Mechit)
A lion goddess and consort of
Anhur
Meret (Mert)
:The Egyptian goddess of song and
rejoicing.
Meretseger (Mertseger,Meresger)
:"She who loves silence." Egyptian
cobra goddess and protective deity of the Theban necropolis. She was believed
to live on a mountain overlooking the Valley of the Kings. Worshiped by
the workers at the necropolis, she was believed to poison or blind anyone
who committed a crime. Supposedly, this belief was intended to reinforce
the taboo against desecrating or robbing the tombs. She was depicted as
a coiled cobra or as a cobra with the head of a woman and a single human
arm. Her cult died out when the Theban necropolis was abandoned during
the XXI Dynasty.
Mut
:Egyptian vulture goddess and chief
goddess of Thebes. Also a mother goddess occasionally referenced to as
the queen of all gods. She was depicted in the form of a vulture or in
a human form with a vulture headdress and the combined crowns of Upper
and Lower Egypt. She was usually dressed in a bright red or blue gown.
In Thebes she replaced Amaunet as the consort of the sun god Amun. With
their adoptive son Khonsu, the two formed the Theban triad. Her principal
sanctuary was in Thebes.
Naunet
:Goddess of the primordial abyss
and member of the Ogdoad. Her consort was Nun.
Nebethetepet
:A goddess whose name means "mistress
of the offering." She is a feminine counterpart of the male creative principle
of Atum. She supposedly was "namely his Hand with which he brought about
the ejaculation that brought the cosmos into being." A goddess of Heliopolis.
Neith (Neit)
:Egyptian creator goddess and of
war, the hunt and domestic arts. Her symbol was a shield bearing crossed
arrows. Said to be a self-begotten virgin. She later came to be identified
as the consort of Set and the mother of the crocodile god Sobek. Her principal
sanctuary was at Sais in the Nile Delta, where she originally developed
as a local goddess. After rising to national prominence, a sanctuary was
dedicated to her in Memphis. In the Esna cosmology, Neith was said to have
emerged from the primeval waters to create the world, subsequently following
the Nile north to the delta where she founded Sais. Depicted in the form
of a woman wearing the red crown of Lower Egypt and bearing a shield with
crossed arrows.
Nekhbet (Nekhebet, Nechbet)
:"She of Nekhbet." Egyptian vulture
and tutelary goddess of Upper Egypt. She was also a protective goddess
of childbirth who was depicted as the nurse of the future monarch during
his infancy. In her capacity as protectress of the infant monarch she was
known as the "Great White Cow of Nekheb." She was usually depicted as a
vulture wearing the white crown of Upper Egypt and holding the eternity
symbols in her talons. Her principal sanctuary was in Nekheb (El Kab) in
Upper Egypt.
Nephthys (Greek form; Egyptian
Neb-hut, Nebthet): "Mistress/Lady of the House."
Egyptian goddess of the dead and daughter of Geb and Nut. Nephthys was
the sister of Isis, Osiris and Set. She was the consort of Set until Set
killed Osiris. According to one tradition, she was also the mother of Anubis
by Osiris. Nephthys' principal sanctuary was in Heliopolis. Along with
Isis, she was one of the guardians of the corpse of Osiris. She is shown
in human form wearing a crown in the form of the hieroglyph for house.
Sometimes depicted as a kite guarding the funeral bier of Osiris.
Nepit
:An Egyptian corn goddess. She
is the female counterpart of the god Neper.
Nut (Neuth, Nuit)
:Egyptian goddess of the sky and
the heavens. Daughter of Shu and Tefnut, in the Heliopolitan genealogy.
Originally just a mother goddess who had numerous children. The hieroglyph
of her name is thought to be a womb although a water pot represented the
womb. She was typically depicted as a woman with her elongated and naked
body arching above Shu and the earth god Geb to form the heavens. Sometimes
she appeared in the form of a cow whose body forms the sky and heavens.
Nut was the barrier separating the forces of Chaos form the ordered cosmos
in this world. Her fingers and toes were believed to touch the four cardinal
points or directions. The sun god Ra was to be reborn from her vagina each
morning. Nut was also a goddess of the dead, and the Pharaoh was said to
enter her body after death, from which he would later be resurrected. Her
principal sanctuary was in Heliopolis.
Pachet (Pakhet):Lioness Goddess of the Eastern
Desert and a night huntress.
Qadesh (Qetesh)
:A goddess of Syrian origin. Often
represented as a woman standing on a lion's back.
Renenutet (Ernutet, Renenet)
Egyptian cobra goddess. Depicted
either as a hooded cobra or in human form with the head of a cobra. Her
name seems to have the meaning of nurturing or raisin a child, and she
was both a goddess associated with motherhood and the tutelary deity of
the Pharaoh. Her gaze was said to have the power to vanquish all enemies
and also to ensure the fertility of the crops and the bounty of the harvest.
She was associated with the magical properties believed to inhere in the
linen bandages that wrapped the dead and was known at Edfu as the 'mistress
of the robes.' She had an important cult center in the fertile Faiyum region,
where she was closely associated with the local crocodile god Sobek. In
the Greco-Roman period she was worshipped as the goddess Hermouthis, in
which form she came to be combined with Isis.
Renpet
:The Egyptian goddess of youth
and springtime.
Reret
:An Egyptian hippopotamus goddess.
Satet:Goddess of the inundation of the
Nile and fertility
Satis (Greek form, also Sati; Egyptian
Satjit or Satet)
:An Egyptian goddess whose primary
role was that of a guardian of Egypt's southern (Nubian) frontier and killing
the enemies of the Pharaoh with her arrows. As 'Queen of Elephantine' she
figures as the consort of Khnum and the mother of Anuket, the three sometimes
being referred to as the 'Elephantine's triad.' Depicted in human form
wearing the tall conical white crown of Upper Egypt bounded on either side
by plumes or antelope horns, holding a scepter and the Ankh (life) symbol.
She had a major sanctuary on the island of Sahel near Elephantine (Aswan).
She was also associated with the annual inundation of the Nile.
Sekhmet (Sachmet, Sakhmet)
:"The Powerful One." Egyptian lioness
goddess, daughter of Ra. In Memphis she formed part of the Memphite triad
together with Ptah as her consort and Nefertum (otherwise the son of Bastet)
as her son. Depicted as a lioness or in a human form with the head of a
lioness. She was generally shown crowned by the solar disk, holding the
Ankh (life) symbol or a scepter in the shape of a papyrus reed. In Thebes
Sekhmet came to be combined with Mut, the consort of the Theban sun god
Amun. She had a warlike aspect and was said to breathe fire at the enemies
of the Pharaoh. Like the goddess Hathor, Sekhmet could become the 'eye
of Ra,' an agent of the sun god's punishment. She was believed to be the
bearer of plague and pestilence, but in a more benign aspect she was called
upon in spells and amulets to ward of disease.
Selkis (Selkit, Selket, Selkhet,
Serqet)
:A scorpion-goddess who was identified
with the scorching heat of the sun. A protector goddesses, she guarded
coffins and Canopic jars. Sometimes shown as a woman with a scorpion on
her head.
Sentait
:A cow goddess.
Serket (Selket, Selkis, Selchis,
Selquet; Egyptian Serket-hetyt)
:"She who causes the throat to
breathe." Egyptian scorpion goddess. Depicted in human form with a scorpion-shaped
headdress or with a scorpion body and a human head. She was an early tutelary
deity of the Egyptian monarchs. Serket was associated with mortuary rites
and helped guard the Canopic jars in which the viscera of the dead were
placed. From this association she came to be a tutelary goddess of the
dead. She was called upon in Egyptian magic to advert venomous bites and
stings.
Seshat (Sesat, Sesheta):The goddess of writing; the divine
keeper of royal annals. Was represented as a woman.
Shait: An Egyptian goddess of destiny.
Sothis (Greek form; Egyptian Sopdet)
:Egyptian goddess who personified
the Dog Star, Sirius. The appearance of Sirius at dawn in July (called
the helical rising) heralds the annual inundation of the Nile. She naturally
became associated with fertility and prosperity resulting from the annual
floods. Depicted in human form, wearing the tall conical white crown of
Upper Egypt, surmounted by a star. In a forth century BC papyrus, Isis
identifies herself with Sothis as she laments the death of Osiris and vows
to follow him in his manifestation as the constellation Orion.
Tasenetnofret
:An ancient Egyptian goddess. She
was the consort of Horus when he was Har-wer ("Horus the Elder").
Tawret (Taueret, Taurt, Apet, Opet;
Greek Thoueris, Thoeris, Toeris)
"The Great One." Egyptian hippopotamus
goddess and protective deity of childbirth, also protectress of rebirth
into the afterlife. She was depicted with the head of a hippopotamus, the
legs and arms of a lion, the tail of a crocodile, human breasts, and a
swollen belly. This appearance was meant to frighten off any spirits that
might be harmful to the child. She was often depicted holding the Sa, amulet
symbolizing protection. As a protective deity of childbirth, she was often
depicted in the company of the dwarf god Bes, who ad a similar function.
Taweret was the most popular among ordinary Egyptians as a protectress.
Pregnant women commonly wore amulets bearing the goddess' image.
Tefnut (Tefnet, Tefenet; Greek
Tphenis)
:Primeval Egyptian goddess personifying
moisture, particularly in the forms of dew, rains and mist. According to
the Heolopolitan cosmology, she was the daughter of Atum (sun), sister-wife
of Shu (air) and the mother of Geb (earth) and Nut (sky). Tefnut could
take on the role of the 'eye of Ra' (Ra being another form of her sun god
father), in which case she was depicted as a lioness or in human form with
the head of a lioness. She could also be depicted as a snake coiled about
a scepter. In the Pyramid Texts she was said to create pure water from
her vagina. Her principal sanctuary was at Heliopolis. Tefnut and Shu were
also worshipped as a pair of lions at Leontopolis in the Nile delta.
Tenenit
:The Egyptian goddess of beer.
Unut
: An Egyptian rabbit-goddess.
Wadjet (Buto, Uajyt, Uto)
:Cobra and tutelary goddess of
Lower Egypt.
Wosyet:
The Egyptian protector goddess
of the young.
Zenenet:
The Egyptian goddess of Hermonthis
HINDU GODDESSES
Devi or the divine feminine is an equal counterpart to the divine
masculine, and hence manifests herself as the Trinity herself - the
Creator (Durga or the Divine Mother), Preserver (Lakshmi, Parvati and
Saraswati) and Destroyer (Mahishasura-Mardini, Kali and Smashanakali).
FROM WIKI.COM
Mahadevi
Many texts, myths and rituals concerning goddesses subsume them all
under one great female being, named generally as Mahadevi or Devi. Early
Hindu traditions as reflected in the Vedas speak of discrete goddesses
like Parvati and Lakshmi. Later, there emerged a tendency to relate all
goddesses to one ultimate goddess, the best example of such texts being
the Devi Mahatamaya. Another important feature of Mahadevi mythology and
theology is the insistence that assumes both benign and terrible
aspects of Mahadevi.
Durga
Source: Nepal Art Gallery.
In the Hindu pantheon, Durga is one of the most popular goddesses, and her creation takes place in the context of a cosmic crisis. The asuras
were on the ascent, and they had become a threat to cosmic stability.
The male gods were unable to contain and subdue them. A number of male
gods having failed to subdue the demons led by Mahishasura, assembled into a conclave and emitted their energies together which took the form of the warrior goddess, Durga, that is, the invincible.
Vedic literature does not have any particular goddess matching the
concept of Durga though it has references to certain goddesses as
slayers of demons. Taitriya-aranyaka mentions Durga, but not in a manner comparable to Durga of later Hinduism. Around the 4th century AD, images of Durga slaying Mahishasura begin to become common in many palaces in the Indian subcontinent.
The theology underlying Durga’s emergence and exploits are revealed in Devi Mahatmyam, the most famous text extolling her exploits, and is described: "Though she is eternal, the goddess becomes manifest over and over again to protect the world". This makes her on par with various Avatars of Vishnu.
One of the most famous festivals associated with her is Durga Puja celebrated in the month of Ashvin (September–October), and is also called the Navaratri festival.
Saraswati
An image of goddess Saraswati
Saraswati, the flowing one, is one of the most celebrated goddesses
from the Vedic period through current times. She has been repeatedly
mentioned in the Rig Veda, and has been identified with the Saraswati River.
Over a period of time, in later Hinduism, her connection with a river
decreased considerably, and she is no longer a goddess who embodies
sacrality of a river, but has acquired her independent history and
attributes.
She is the goddess of speech and learning, and is the creator of Sanskrit, the language of the Vedas. She is the consort of Brahma, the creator and member of the Hindu Trinity. She is equally revered by Hindus, Jains and the Buddhists. Her iconography
depicts her association with art, science and culture, which is
dramatically different from some other major goddesses who are
identified with fertility, wealth, and battles. She is shown as having
four arms, and the most common items held by her in her hands are a
book, a vina (lute), a mala, and a water pot. The book signified art, science and learning; the vina associates her with music and performing arts;
and the prayer beads and water pot signify her association with
religious rites. She is worshipped on the fifth day of the spring
according to Hindu calendar, called the Basant Panchami.
Shri-Lakshmi
Shri, commonly known as Lakshmi and also called Shri Lakshmi, is one of the most popular and widely worshipped Devi in Hindu tradition since pre-Buddhist period. Her name is the basis for "Lady Luck (Lakshmi)" in the Christian West[citation needed]and
her form of rising from water is depicted as Venus. She has a
considerable body of mythology and history. The earliest legend states
that Shri is born as a result of austerities of Prajapati,
and she represents ten qualities and objects, namely, food, royal
power, universal sovereignty, knowledge, power, holy luster, kingdom,
fortune, bounteousness, and beauty.
Shri appears in several Vedic hymns, and Shri is indicative of
several positive attributes including beauty, glory, power, capability,
and higher rank. In later Vedic literature, Shri signified the ruling
power and the majesty of kings. Shri-Sukt, a hymn appended to the Rig Veda,
is a famous Vedic chant, extolling Shri, and presents a detailed
account of her, both conceptually and visually. The hymn also associates
her with lotus and elephant – an association, which has not changed in subsequent history.
By the late epic period (400 AD), Lakshmi became associated with Vishnu, and emerged as his wife or consort, and acquired - in addition to her earlier attributes - characteristics of a model wife.
She is worshiped on Diwali, a new moon night, to symbolize that her presence is enough to dispel all the darkness from the hearts of her devotees.[5]
Parvati
Parvati suckling baby Ganesha. Watercolor on paper (ca. 1820)
Parvati is the daughter of the mountains (the Himalayas), and manifests the aspect of the goddess as the wife of Shiva.
She is generally considered a benign goddess. She is one of the
principal deities of Shaktism and sometimes considered the essence of
Shakti herself, i.e. Adi-shakti. She has been identified as a reincarnation of Dakshayani or Sati, Shiva’s first wife, who destroyed her by self-immolation because her father, Daksha,
had insulted Shiva. Parvati, when depicted alongside Shiva, appears
with two arms, but when alone, she is shown having four arms, and riding
a tiger or lion. She is also known by a number of other names, including Durga (Goddess Beyond reach)Ambika (mother), Gauri (golden), Shyama (dark complexioned), Bhavani (Mother of Universe) Bhairavi (awesome) and Kali (black-colored or Goddess of Time). She is also identified as Mahadevi.
In classical Hindu mythology, the raison d’être of Parvati,
and before that of Sati, is to lure Shiva into marriage and thus into a
wider circle of worldly affairs. With the plays of Kalidas (5th-6th centuries) and the Puranas (4th through the 13th centuries) the myths of Sati, Parvati and Shiva acquired comprehensive details.
Kali
Kali is one of the most significant divinities, and many texts and
contexts treat Kali as an independent deity, not directly associated
with a male god. In case she is associated with a male god, it is
invariably Shiva. In this aspect, she represents the omnipotent Shakti of Shiva. She holds both the creative and destructive power of time.
The earliest reference to Kali in Hindu tradition date back to the 6th century, and locate her in the battle fields fighting asuras. Her temples are recommended to be built away from human habitations. Vana Bhatta's 7th century drama Kadambari features a goddess named Chandi, an epithet of both Kali and Durga.
Kali’s most famous appearance in battle contexts are found in the text Devi Mahatmya when during the battle with asuras,
Durga becomes angry. Her face turns pitch dark, and suddenly Kali
springs forth from Durga’s forehead. She is black, wears a garland of
human heads, is clothed in a tiger skin, and wields a staff topped by a
human skull. She destroys the asuras. Later, Durga seeks her assistance
once more to annihilate Raktabija. Kali’s mythology recounts several such appearances, mostly in terrible aspects.
Mahavidya
Mahavidyas,
that is, the supreme knowledge, revelations and manifestations, refer
to a group of ten goddesses. They constitute an important aspect of Mahadevi theology,
which emphasizes that the Devi has a tendency to manifest and display
herself in a variety of forms and aspects. Mahavidyas find no mention in
the earliest Hindu texts, but appeared relatively late in Hindu
tradition. Seven of them represent creative forces embodied in Kali, and
the remaining three embody her destructive nature and aspects. In the
context of Hindu mythology, the origin of the ten Mahavidyas takes place
in the story of Sati and Shiva.
Ten Mahavidyas are: Kali, Tara, Chinnamasta, Bhuvanesvari, Bagla, Dhumavati, Kamla, Matangi, Sodasi, and Bhairavi.
Navadurga
Navadurga (Devanagari: नवदुर्गा), which literally means nine Durgas, constitute, according to Hindu mythology, the manifestation of Durga
in nine different forms. Navadurga are famously worshipped during the
Autumn Navaratri or the Nine days, initiating the devotees into a period
of festivities according to Hindu calendar.
Other aspects
Soundarya Lahari
The Soundarya Lahari is a hymn of 100 verses composed in Sanskrit.
It was written in honor of the goddess Devi. This hymn is frequently
referred to as "The Flood of Beauty" or "The Flood of Bliss". The Soundarya Lahari is very well established in the context of the Tantra
that is difficult to interpret. It provides an appropriate approach to
view of the tantra. The link between material and spiritual being is
often affiliated with a center of power known a Chakra which is usually located in the human body. However, in the Soundarya Lahari they are analogous with the divine and human worlds which are a part of Devi. Although the Soundarya Lahari
aims at eliminating transgressive practices, it doesn't go into great
detail what the actual transgressive actions are. There are no offenses
to the dharma that are actual described. The description of Devi is even
limited, with no mention of her sexual organs. Her breasts are vividly
described, but this is only to hint at her role as a maternal figure.
The hymn's main purpose is to provide a respectable approach to the
tantra through Devi.[6]
Sita
Sita is one of the most popular divinities of Hinduism. Currently, Sita is associated with Rama (an Avatar of Vishnu) as his wife, and she receives worship along with her husband Rama. She is one of the many incarnations of Lakshmi.
A female divinity called Sita was known before the Ramayana of Valmiki.
Sita literally means “furrow”, that is, the line made while plowing the
land, and in Vedic period, she was one of the goddesses associated with
fertility. The Kausik-sutra and the Paraskara-sutra associates her repeatedly as the wife of Parjanya (a god associated with rains) and Indra.
She is one of the Panchkanyas that are worshipped(remembered) daily in
the morning period to banish sins out of life due to her chastity and
devotion towards her husband. It is said she is shakti or prakriti of
Rama as told in Ram Raksha Stotram.
She emerged as a significant divinity with Valmiki’s Ramayana,
written sometime between 200 BC and 200 AD, and various vernacular
renditions of the same, with slightly modified contents, over next
several centuries. These texts extol Rama and Sita as the divine couple,
and countless mythology, legend, and folklores revolve around them.
Sita is always represented in association with Rama, her husband, and
Rama is central to her life and existence. She has the dominant role of
all Hindu mythological tradition as far as the portrayal of ideal woman
and ideal wife is concerned. She represents wifely devotion, forbearance
and chastity. She overshadows several other divine Hindu wives
including Parvati and Lakshmi, and other similar devoted wives of Hindu
mythology like Savitri and Damayanti.
Her current history states that she emerged from the earth when king Janaka
was plowing the field during a ritual to invoke rains. She was married
to Rama, was abducted by Ravana, reclaimed by Rama, and then banished
out of his kingdom. In the forests, in an ashram of Valmiki, she raised
her two sons, Kusha and Lava,
who engaged the royal forces of Rama and inflicted heavy damage. Rama
himself comes to fight with them, when Valmiki told him that they were
his own sons. Rama requests Sita to come back, but remembering the
injustices meted out to her, she called her mother Earth to receive her
back, the ground opens up and she returned to where she had originally
emerged.
Radha
Radha, which means prosperity and success, is one of the Gopis of Vrindavan, and is a central figure of Vaishnava theology. Early literature speaks of a favourite Gopi of Krishna, but her details emerge clearly centuries later. Jayadeva’s Gitagovinda (12th century) presents a full depiction of Radha and her association with Krishna.
In fact, Radha is the original manifestation of Param(Adi) Shakti,
i.e. Parvati (in sagun-i.e. benevolent-form), which is the supreme
energy in the Hindu religion. She is same as mother Sita is who
worshiped Goddess Gauri, whose partial incarnations are Lakshmi, Durga
and Saraswati. In order to please Parasiva, one has to first please Adi parashakti. So In order to please Krishna, one has to call Radha first. In Devi Bhagavata,
it is mentioned that she is the one who fulfills all the desires of all
creatures by simply crying while remembering her and She is the partial
expansion of Parvati, actual source all energies.
Traditionally, Radha’s love for Krishna is likened to human soul’s
yearning for God, and she is regarded as an ultimate model for devotees.
Her role is also to be an intermediary between man and God.
Matrikas
Matrikas, that is, the mothers, are a band of divinities, which
always appear in a group. They are Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maheshvari,
Indrani, Kaumari, Varahi and Chamunda or Narasimhi.
Shakti Peethas
Main article: Shakti Peethas
Another important aspects of the Female divine are the various Shakti Peethas spread all across the nation, where over 51 body parts of Devi Sati, first wife of Lord Shiva fell after being broken apart by the Sudarshana Chakra of Lord Vishnu.
Goddess Sati had earlier performed self-immolation at the ceremonial feast of her father king Daksha and an enraged and inconsolable Lord Shiva
was wandering all over the Creation, with her dead body, threatening
its very existence. Each point on the earth where her body parts fell is
now venerated as a Shakti Peetha - the seat of Shakti or female power.
GODDESS GUIDE
FROM http://www.goddess-guide.com/goddess-names.html
Arianrhod
(Celtic) - Goddess of fertility, rebirth and the weaving of cosmic time and fate. The last aspect of her
nature is contained within her name which means “silver wheel” or “round wheel,” suggesting her importance in the cycles of
life. Other common spellings of her name are Aranhod and Arianrod.
Artemis
(Greek) - An independent spirit, she is Goddess is of the hunt, nature
and birth. There are several different
theories about the origin of her name, one school of thought says it
comes from an ancient word for “safe” and another argues
that it means “strong limbed.” Either way the suggestion is that this
maiden Goddess has the strength and ability to protect herself from any
unwanted attention.
Athena
(Greek) - Goddess of war and wisdom and domestic crafts. Plato believed
her name meant "mind of God" whilst
others suggest it comes an ancient word meaning “sharp.” Both these
words point to Athena's great intellectual ability to see the true
nature of a situation and to develop successful strategies.
Bast
(Egyptian) - The famous cat Goddess, she protected pregnant woman and
children. Bast was a very sensual Goddess who enjoyed music, dance and
perfume. Her name comes from the bas jars used to store perfumes and
ointments. Other versions of this Goddess name's include: Bastet,
Baset, Ubasti and Pasht.
Ceres
(Roman) - This Goddess of agriculture and grains name comes from the Indo European word root, ker meaning “to
grow.” In turn her name has become the origin of our modern word cereal.
Cerridwen
(Celtic) - Goddess of moon, magic, agriculture, nature, poetry
language, music, art, science and astrology. She was also keeper of the
cauldron. Her name means “chiding love.” Ceridwen, Caridwen, Kerritwen,
Keridwen, Kyrridwen are other variations of her name.
Demeter
(Greek) - Goddess of the harvest who possessed great knowledge of the
best way to grow, preserve and harvest
grain. She was also the devoted mother of Persephone. Her name
reflects her nurturing personality as it means “earth mother” in Greek.
Diana
(Roman) - Goddess of the hunt and wild animals. She later took over
from Luna as the Roman Goddess of the moon, responsible for fertility
and childbirth. Her name means "heavenly divine," reflecting her
celestial role.
Eirene
(Greek) - This Greek Goddess name means peace in her native language,
expressing her diplomatic nature. Her name also often appears as Irene.
Eos
(Greek) - A sunny natured Goddess whose name means dawn.
Epona
(Celtic) - Protector of horses, donkeys, and mules. She was also an
ancient fertility Goddess. Epona's Goddess name comes from the Gaulish
word epos meaning "great mare."
Ereshkigal
(Sumerian) - Goddess of Attalu, the land of the dead and ancestral memories. Her name translates as "great
lady under the earth." Irkalla is an alternative name by which this Goddess is identified.
Freya
(Nordic) - Goddess of love, beauty, fertility, war, wealth, divination
and magic. Her name comes from the
ancient Norse word for lady or mistress. There are several variations
of the spellings of this Goddess name including: Freyja, Freyr and
Freyja.
Frigg
(Nordic) - Goddess of marriage, childbirth, motherhood, wisdom,
household management and weaving and spinning. Her name means "beloved"
in ancient Norse and is derived from fri "to love." She is also known
as Frige, Friia, Frija and Frea.
Gaia
(Greek) - Goddess of the Earth and prophecy. She is the primordial
mother and a personification of Mother Earth. She gave birth to the
Titans. Her name is also spelt Gaeo.
Hathor
(Egyptian) - This heavenly cow's areas of influence included music, dancing, joy and fertility. Her name
translates as "house of Horus". Alternative names for this Goddess are Het-Hert, Hetheru, Mehturt, Mehurt, Mehet-Weret, and
Mehet-uret,
Hebe
(Greek) – Hebe’s name literally means youth or in the prime of life. She was one of the daughters of Zeus and
Hera. Her role was to serve the nectar and ambrosia to the Gods and Goddesses that prevented them from aging.
Hekate
(Greek) - Goddess of the wild places, childbirth and the crossroads. She is closely associated with magic and
witchcraft. Her name is said to be derived from the Greek word hekas meaning "far off" describing her unworldly, shamanic
nature. Also known as Hecate
Hella
(Nordic) - The fearsome Goddess of the Nordic realm of the dead. Her name is derived from the word kel,
meaning "to conceal." There are numerous spellings of her name including Halje Hell, Hel, Helle,Hela and Holle.
Hera
(Greek) - Queen of the Olympians and Goddess of marriage and birth.
The meaning of her Goddess name has been lost. One historian claims her
name could be connected to the Greek word for seasons hora, suggesting
she is ripe for marriage.
Hestia
(Greek) - The domestic Goddess of the Greek Pantheon, she rules over
the hearth and home. Her name comes from the Greek word estia meaning
"she that dwells or tarries." This reflects the importance of the role
that the ancient Greeks
attributed to this Goddess in sacrificing her position as an Olympian to
guard the fire and maintain a happy home.
Inanna
(Sumerian) - Goddess of love, war, and fertility. Inanna was the
personification of the morning and evening star. Her beautiful name
means "lady of the sky." This Goddess is closely linked to Ishtar and
Nin-anna.
Indunn
(Nordic) - Goddess of youth and springtime. Her name means she who renews and has several alternative
spellings including Indun, Iduna and Idhunna.
Iris
(Greek) - Goddess of the rainbow and messenger to the Gods. Her name means rainbow in her native language.
Isis
(Egyptian) - This famous Goddess has so many different aspects, her most
important roles are as Goddess of life and magic. Isis’s name comes
from the Egyptian word aset and means "she of throne" in other words the
Queen of the Goddesses.
Juno
(Roman) - Goddess of marriage, pregnancy and childbirth. She protected the finances of the citizens of Rome.
Her name is mystery, it speaks of a contradictory role for this Goddess, before her alignment to the matronly, Greek Goddess,
Hera. This is because her name is derived from the root yeu meaning "vital force" indicating a more youthful, maiden Goddess
Maat
(Egyptian)- Goddess of truth, justice and balance. She prevented the
creation from reverting to chaos and
judged the deeds of the dead with her feather. This Goddess name stems
from the word Mayet meaning “straight.” This reflects her unbending
nature in upholding what is right and just.
Minerva
(Roman) - Goddess of wisdom, medicine and crafts. Her name is linked to the Latin word mens which means
"intellect," suggesting the intelligence and inventiveness of this ancient Goddess.
Morrigan
(Celtic) - The terrifying crow Goddess associated with war and death
on the battlefield. She was queen of phantoms, demons, shape-shifters
and patroness of priestesses and Witches. Her name means "great queen"
in the old Irish
language. Morrigan was also known as Morgane, Morrígu, Morríghan,
Mor-Ríoghain and Morrígna.
Nephthys
(Egyptian) - Goddess of death, decay and the unseen. Her name speaks of her priestess role as it means
"lady of the temple enclosure." Other variations of her title include Nebet-het and Nebt-het.
Nike
(Greek) - This Greek Goddess name means victory, she represented
success especially in the sporting arena which is why her name was
chosen for a famous brand of sportswear.
Persephone
(Greek) - Daughter of Demeter and Queen of the Underworld. She was also
none as Kore reflecting the Maiden aspect of this Goddess. Other
variations of her name include Persephoneia, Persephassa, Persephatta
and Pherepapha
Pomona
(Roman) – Pomona protected fruiting trees and gardens. Her name is derived from the Latin word pomus, meaning “fruit tree.”
Rhea
(Greek) - The ancient Titan Earth Goddess, responsible for the fertility
of the soil and women. The name is most likely a form of the word era
meaning "earth", although it has also been linked to 'rheos' the Greek
term for “stream.”
Selene
(Greek) – Selene was the Titan personification of the moon, unsurprising then that her name means moon in Greek.
Seshat
(Egyptian) - The great scribe and librarian Goddess who was responsible
for accounting, architecture,
astronomy, historical records and mathematics. Her Goddess name means
"she who scibes." It is also appears as Safkhet, Sashet, Seshata,
Sesat, Sesheta and Sheshat.
Themis
(Greek) - Goddess of divine justice, order and customs. She also had the gift of prophecy. Her name simply
means "law of nature" or "divine nature."
Venus
(Roman) - Goddess and love and beauty. Her Goddess name has become synonymous with her role as the woman who all men desire.
Vesta
(Roman) - Guardian of the sacred Flame. Vesta’s name and function is derived from the Greek Goddess Hestia.
