The Goddess and Public History

"'She' is many goddesses. From the settings in which her likenesses are found, we know that she was worshipped variously as the guardian of childbirth, the source of wisdom, the dispenser of healing, the lady of the Beasts, the fount of prophecy, the spirit who presided over death. She preeminently was the symbol of fertility, the guarantor of crops, animals and humans. In this role, it was the great mother, the earth mother, whose magical powers assured the food supply and continuance of the human race."

- Anne L. Barstow, "The Prehistoric Goddess," from The Book of Goddesses Past and Present

 

 

The Goddess is multi-faced, multi-faceted, and known by many names. She exists in thousands of forms. She has been a part of public history since the beginning of time. She is also a part of many spiritual practices and religions that actively honor the Divine Feminine today. Meet some of the famous goddesses of different traditions.

Goddess of All Things

 

The Great Goddess. She is the divine female energy of all there is. She represents life itself, death, and regeneration and can help transform your relationship with your own mom by connecting with the power of your female ancestry.

 

African and Brazilian

 

Oya, Yoruban goddess of wind, hurricane, and wild weather. She helps you welcome the winds of change.

 

Oshun, Macumban Goddess of sensuality, beauty, and womanhood. She helps you tap into your more sensual side and express your sensual self.

 

Yemaya, the West African creation goddess, who is considered a great and merciful mother. She governs the home and helps women in all things, including childbirth, love, and healing.

 

Buddhist

Kuan Yin, the Chinese goddess of healing and compassion. She helps you find compassion for yourself and others.

 

Green Tara, the Tibetan Buddhist goddess of protection. She helps you feel safe and shows you how to stay calm and centered in a crisis.

 

White Tara, the Tibetan Buddhist goddess of wisdom and healing. She helps you heal and find compassion.

 

Celtic

 

Brigid, a Celtic goddess of women, poetry, childbirth, and blacksmiths. She is a triple goddess who brings inspiration in huge doses.

 

Maeve, a Celtic/Irish goddess known as a warrior queen, was connected to the legendary, mythical and magical center of

Tara. She shows us feminine power and prowess.

 

Christian/Gnostic

 

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is not considered a goddess in the Catholic Faith, yet has all the powers of a divine female and is the primary representation of the feminine divine for 2000 years, making her the Spiritual Mother for us all. She helps you connect to your healing power.

 

Mary Magdalene, the spiritual heroine who is closely linked as sole companion to Jesus. She helps you survive the loss of a loved one.

 

Sophia, goddess of wisdom in Gnostic Christianity, is also referred to in Hebrew texts and the books of Solomon. She helps you tap into, and trust, your own intuition.

 

Egyptian

 

Isis, the Egyptian mother goddess, hailed for her healing, magic, and resurrection powers. She helps you rescue troubled relationships and get them back on track.

 

Hathor, the Egyptian goddess of love, beauty, and pleasure. She helps you to discover your inner light and shows you how truly beautiful you are.

 

Bast, the Egyptian goddess of play, felines, and females. She shows you how to be as playful as a pussycat.

Maat, the Egyptian goddess of balance, represents the ideals of law, order, and justice. She is seen as a woman with a feather in her headdress and is represented as a feather, because truth is weightless, and light as a feather.

 

Sekhmet, the lion-headed goddess, is one of the most powerful and fierce of all goddesses. She helps us tap into self-protection and express anger.

 

Greek

 

Nike, the Greek goddess of victory and heralder of success. She helps you claim your victories in life.

 

Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt. She helps you pursue your career goals with passion and focus.

 

Nemesis, the Greek goddess of retribution. She helps you handle office politics and troublemakers while helping you see ways you sabotage yourself.

 

Persephone, the Greek goddess of springtime who was abducted by the god of the underworld. She shows you how to liberate yourself from bad relationships and set forth a new path in your love life.

 

The Muses, the nine Greek deities who joyfully presided over the arts, are among the most familiar mythical women and goddesses. They help you celebrate creativity and connections with sisters and friends.

 

Hawaiian

 

Pele, a Hawaiian fire goddess who dwells in the volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii. She shows you how to channel and express anger and heal hostility in a healthy way.

 

Hulu Goddess, sacred feminine guardian of the Hula. She awakens the body with spirit and self-expression.

 

Hebrew

 

Lilith, the Hebrew goddess, said to be Adam's first wife, was demonized in the Bible but is an empowered woman in Kabbalah and feminine spirituality. She helps you discover your dark and wild side.

 

Shekinah, the Hebrew goddess, represents the indwelling presence of God. In the Kabbalistic tradition, she is called the Bride of God or Shabbat Bride, who meets Him on Shabbat, and is considered a divine energy unto herself.

 

Hindu 

 

Lakshmi, Hindu goddess of fortune, gives you a hand, or four. She helps increase your income, your financial potential, and your ability to plan for your future.

 

Durga, the Hindu mother goddess of protection and war. She helps you draw your boundaries and protect yourself from negative energies.

 

Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of wisdom, and creator of the alphabet and literature. She helps you to connect to creative self-expression.

 

Gauri, goddess of love and marriage. She shows you how to get yourself ready for a serious relationship, and how to gently encourage your true love toward the altar.

 

Kali, the Hindu goddess of destruction and rebrith. She eats our sins and teaches us to be responsible for our lives.

 

Native American

 

White Buffalo Calf Woman, a Native American spirit woman, is the mystical feminine force who taught great sacraments to her people. She helps you connect with the true nature of the soul and create a more peaceful life … and world.

 

Butterfly Maiden, Native American spirit woman. She takes you from cocoon to butterfly and helps you transform your life.

 

Norse

 

Freya, Norse goddess of sexual prowess and war. She guides you on how to be a man magnet and enjoy every minute of sizzling sexual energy in your life.

 

Frigg, also a Norse goddess of love and fertility, is married to top god, Odin and holds the top job as patron of marriage and motherhood.

 

Roman

 

Venus, the quintessential Roman goddess of love and beauty. She shows you that self-love and appreciation is the first step to embracing your own divinity and empowering your sense of self-worth.

 

Iris, the Roman goddess of the rainbow. She helps you add color and zest to your life.

 

Vesta, the Roman Goddess of the hearth. She assists you in creating a true home.