Goddess
noun god·dess \ˈgä-dəs also ˈgȯ-\
Definition of goddess
1: a female god
2: a woman whose great charm or beauty arouses adoration
Goddess Quote of the Week:
Photo above from Maria Shriver on Pinterest
Goddesses in History and Religions
There are multiple religions that respect the sacred in the form of the Goddess: from the Druids, Celts, Hindus, Greek Religion /Mythology (a form of belief and practices), Egyptians (multiple Gods and Goddesses and rituals). In fact, for thousands of years people respected and practiced rituals and religions that honored the Goddess as well as multiple Gods. As time and patricide became more prevalent, coupled with the need to consolidate and unite the people who were conquered as well to assimilate some old beliefs into the new religions (to better convert the people), the Goddesses and multiple Gods were narrowed down to one supreme being (for those religions that had previously not worshipped one God). The majority of religions usually had a prophet (that was of their same culture) who was given the mission to spread the word of this new religion. Here is a comprehensive list of religions with a chart of their respective beliefs. The goddess phenomenon is real.
Hindu and Eastern Indian Goddesses
Kali: The Scary One
Kali is often referred to as the Black One” a warrior who has multiple arms and is the keeper of dead souls. She is usually depicted with her tongue sticking out symbolic of a taste for blood. She is also identified as a powerful source to be reckoned with. There are many books based upon her origins that aim to power and heal.
Durga: Warrior Goddess
Durga is another fierce warrior goddess. She is depicted in Hindu art as riding on a lion or a tiger, able to use effectively a variety of weapons. Her battles are against evil. She kills and eats demons. Her story is told in the Hindu ancient (400-600 C.E.) text Devi Mahatmyam (Glory of the Goddess). She is also depicted and celebrated as well and is in modern times used as a tool for healing identity and empowerment for women.
Lakshmi: Gentle Goddess of Wealth and Prosperity
Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth. She provides material wealth, good health and a blessed family life. She was born from the ocean (water). Lakshmi is portrayed seated on a lotus. She is anointed by two elephants. . She is full-breasted, broad-hipped and is smiling. Lakshmi bestows spiritual gifts. The white owl is her vehicle of choice.
INCAN Goddess
in pre-Columbian civilizations: Inca gods
Mama Quilla
Was the wife of the sun god. She was the Moon Mother, and the regulator of menstrual cycles. The waxing and waning of the moon was used to calculate monthly cycles and how time was measured (as opposed to by the Sun/days). This was also the timeframe from which the Inca festivals were set.
Celtic
Brigid
A Celtic triple goddess ruling healing, poetry, and smithcraft. She is one of the great mothers of the Celts. (The Celts had many mother goddesses, including Danu and Morrigan.) Her modern name is Brigit or Bridget as she was conformed into Christianity as St. Bridget. Her name, Brighid, thought to be derived from Bhrati in Sanskrit, means “exalted one”. The Romans equated Brighid with Minerva.The Greeks equated her to their Goddess Athena.
Modron
alias the Mother-Goddess
Modron’s name is alluded to in a Arthurian Tale . Modron is the mother of the Celtic God of Youth, Maponos (or Mabon). Confusion with later mortal characters indicate that her father was probably Afallach, God of the Underworld. Her name, means ‘Divine Mother,’ shows she is almost certainly the infamous Mother-Goddess of the Celtic World.
Polytheism
This term simply means belief in one or more God and Goddesses such as was the case of the ancient Greek and Roman Religions. As we know from history and Greece and Rome each had their own pantheon of Gods and Goddesses. and were very similar. There were representatives for the Sun, Moon, the Planets, Ocean and the Harvest to name a few. So you prayed to a God or Goddesses according your need. There were rituals and temples to these gods or goddesses in the pantheon and when war was declared, fought and completed with a victor, the new conquerors demanded that their religion was the one to be followed and outlawed any other beliefs or rituals. This was definitely the case with Christians and Christianity was widespread by violence and word of mouth. Many people were tortured and killed as wars were fought to defend this belief of one almighty God. And there are still wars and battles that are fought today.
New Age
New Age religions including pagan and Wiccan forms of worship, all usually believe and honor some form of Goddess as well as a God. There are some religions based upon the matricial, who believe in a Heavenly Mother. It is she who is either the consort of God or the Mother who bore the child of God. In either instance, she too must be powerful. She is the caregiver, the nurturer, the protectress and consequently may usually possess and may utilize the opposite powers as well. The New Age movement is trying to give more weight to the power of the matricide. To balance out or use more of the power of love and light as weapons. We are after all, still in a warzone. And everyday battles of life and love will be taken upon us females. We must be strong. What we are trying to convey for your edification, is that women come from a long line of warriors, protectors of life, givers of life with the powers equal to other Gods in the history of religion. We ask that you come back to your roots and true identity and believe in your light and divinity. Our website is dedicated to the Divine Feminine, to heal the identity and empower women.