MAGIA ANTIGA.

Goddesses of the Earth

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Abundantia -- Roman Goddess of Abundance, Good Fortune and Success. Her name means "overflowing riches". She is also called "the beautiful maiden of success". Abundantia is often depicted carrying a cornucopia, the mythical "horn of plenty". This cornucopia is symbolic of a funnel that continually outpours from the Universal Source, the infinite and all encompassing supply of abundance, good fortune, opportunities, success; continually outpouring all good things. (The legend of Zeus and the horn of plenty may be the origin of the unicorn myth.)

Aega -- Greek Goddess of the Sun. Aeqa was a Nature goddess and the goddess of domesticated animals and goats.

Aeracura -- Celtic and Germanic goddess who multitasks as an Earth Mother Deity, a fairy queen, and also as a bridge between earthly life and the hereafter. She is a goddess devoted to blossoming and she is especially fond of assisting artists and inventors.

Aestas -- Roman Goddess of Summer. She is portrayed as naked and adorned with garlands. Her festival is June 27

Aine -- "The Bright Spark"; Celtic Goddess and a Faery Queen. As the symbol of the unfettered powers of the feminine, the followers of Aine were among the first worshippers of the goddess realm to suffer repression at the hand of the Christian Monks.

Albunea -- Roman Goddess of the Sulphur Springs at Albulae Aqua. Like many Goddesses or Nymphs connected with springs, She was believed to be a healer and prophetess, since spring waters well up from the earth and represent communication between the surface (the land of mortals) and the underworld (the land of the dead and/or the Gods). She is also known as "the White Sibyl". Albunea has the additional meaning of "favorable" or "auspicious", to describe one who foretells the future.

Amaterasu -- Japanese Sun Goddess and Supreme Deity of the Shinto faith. When her brother treated her badly, she hid in the cave of heaven and closed the entrance with an enormous stone. This made the world dark, and evil spirits came out of their hiding places. In despair, the gods decided to trick Amaterasu into coming out by having a party near the cave. They put a big mirror in front of the cave and hearing the music and laughter, Amaterasu was so curious that she took a look outside to find out what was going on. She was so fascinated by her own brilliant reflection in the mirror that she came out of the cave. Finally, the light covered and colored the world.

Anat -- Canaanite Warrior Goddess, the Maiden who loves battle, the virgin Goddess of Sacrifice, a swordswoman and archer. She is famous for having a violent temperament and for taking joy in slaughter. Nursemaid to the gracious gods, Anat was called the Lady of Heaven and Mistress of all gods. Though often called "Virgin", Anat also has a strong sexual aspect, much like the Goddess of the Irish the Morrigan.

Aphrodite -- Greek Goddess of Beauty, Romance and Sexual Rapture. Graceful and gorgeously seductive, Aphrodite possessed a magic girdle that made Her irresistable to all who saw Her. Born from the Sea, she is also goddess of sea-voyages who protects sailors and seamen. “Born from a union between Heaven and Earth came forth from the aphros (sea foam), a goddess with such beauty and charm that the seasons rushed to greet her.”

Arianhod -- Celtic Goddess of the Stars. She is also called the Goddess of the Silver Wheel (symbol of time). She is called on to help with past life memories and for help in contacting the Star People.

Aradia -- Italian “Queen of the Witches”, daughter of Diana. Aradia is an extremely powerful entity and protectress of Witches in general

Ariadne ("The Utterly Pure") -- Minoan Great Goddess and Mistress of the Labyrinth, who is goddess of the shining moon and the dark underworld. Ariadne is associated with celestial spiral motion, both in the imagery of the Labyrinth, and in her fame for dancing and her spiral dance evokes the whirling stars. She represents tangled issues and their untangling, deep, core issues and the dark secret at the center of the maze, that to be healed, must be brought out to light.

Artemis -- Greek Goddess of the Huntad of All Wild Things; Goddess of the Moon and the Protector of the Vulnerable. One of the Divine Twins. The Crescent New Moon. Artemis is the guardian of wild spaces and new life, such as bear cubs and fawns. She is the special protectress of children, and was invoked by women in childbirth as a midwife. (The birth of Artemis and her brother Apollo symbolized the coming of the balance of feminine and masculine, of yin and yang to the Creation.) {see also: 'Leto'}

Asherah -- Household Goddess of the Hebrews and the Canaanites, was considered to be the Great Queen of Heaven and Earth. She is one of the earliest known Goddesses, with references to Her going as far back into the Old Testament. She was the bride of Baal and some even say the Bride of Yahweh.

Astarte -- Ancient Phoenician Great Goddess of Fertility, Motherhood, and War. She was associated with the moon and called the Mother of the Universe, giver of all live on Earth. She ruled all spirits of the dead residing in heaven, visible from earth as stars; hence came her name "Queen of the Stars”.

Asteria -- Greek Titan Star Goddess and Goddess of the Oracles and Prophecies of Night, including prophetic dreams and the reading of the stars (astrology). A daughter of Phoebe and the sister of Leto, she hurled herself into the Sea after being abducted by Zeus. She became the island of the same name.

Athena (Athene) -- Greek Goddess of Wisdom and War. She was also the Goddess of Spinning and Weaving. Athena was not born of woman, but was the “brainchild” of Zeus, springing fully grown and fully armed from the head of her father and she is depicted as a young woman wearing a helmet and holding a shield showing the head of Medusa. Athena is always described as having shinning gray eyes and being accompanied by an owl, a symbol of wisdom. Athena is known as one of the virgin goddesses. Unmoved by the spells of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and marriage, Athena was able to remain independent. She was challenged by Poseidon to provide the Greeks with the most useful of divine gifts. Poseidon produced warhorses, but Athena won with her creation of the olive tree. For this gift Athena became the patroness of the ancient city of Athens.

Atira -- Pawnee Sacred Mother of every living creature. She is also "Mother Corn" and the leader of the Hako Ceremony, which is for children, longevity, abundance, and happiness.

Baba Yaga -- The Arch-Crone in Russian Folklore, the Goddess of Wisdom and Death, the Bone Mother. Wild and untamable, she is a nature spirit bringing wisdom and death of ego, and through death, rebirth.

Bast (Bastet) -- Egyptian Goddess of the Sacred Cat. Bast was the Goddess of sensual pleasure, protector of the household, bringer of health, and the guardian saint of firefighters.

By day, Bast would ride through the sky with her father, the sun god Ra. Ever watchful, she protected Ra from his enemies. Thus she became known as the Lady of the East, the Goddess of the Rising Sun, and The Sacred and All-Seeing Eye. But by night, Bast transformed herself into a cat to guard her father from Apep, a serpent who was her father's greatest enemy.

Becuma -- Irish Goddess of the Magic Boat. The Goddess of Banishment, Becuma had a weakness for sleeping with High Kings at Tara, the legendary seat of Ireland. At that time, kings ruled by permission of their consorts and thus the act of her sleeping with them gave these human men permission to rule over Ireland. Becuma was an outcast among her own people because of her behavior and eventually she was also banished to the human world. She now resides in the Otherworld.

Bellona -- Roman Goddess of War Bellona was believed to inspire a warlike frenzy and enthusiasm. She is credited with inspiring violence, starting wars, and goading soldiers into battle. She is believed to make wars and battles go well for those who invoked her. (The Romans' original war deity, predating Mars. Bellona stands guard over the door of the Military Affairs Committee of the U.S. Congress.)

Bendis -- Great Moon Goddess of Thrace, where women worked the land and tended the sheep and cattle. She was called the fierce Huntress of the Two Spears. She provided the religious underpinning for the Lemnosian women's revolt in which all the men of the island were slain. Her name means "to tie”. She is depicted holding a branch of a tree which is thought to grant passage to the underworld.

Benzaiten -- Japanese Goddess of Love, Beauty, Eloquence and Music. Benzaiten is the sole female among the Seven Lucky Gods of Japan. Her temples and shrines are almost invariably in the neighborhood of water; the sea, a river, or a pond. She is the patroness of music, the fine arts (dancing, acting, visual), and good fortune in general, and is often shown carrying a biwa (Japanese mandolin) or playing a lute. She is often represented as a beautiful woman with the power to assume the form of a serpent.

Blodeuwedd -- Welsh Dark Goddess of Death and Wisdom. She was made out of 9 flowers by two male magicians, Gwydion and Math. Prayers to Blodeuwedd would center around the a change in your life and the naming and healing of your shadow side.

Brigid (Brigit the Enchantress) -- Goddess of Hearth, Home and Healing in Celtic Ireland. Brigid is patroness of fire, smithing, cattle, fertility, poetry and crops.

To welcome a stranger to your own fireside is to follow the example of Brigid, "The Hearth Woman", who made a welcome for all and created a safe place of refuge and sanctuary. The Feast of St. Brigid is also known as Imbolc, Candlemas, and Groundhog's Day.

Britannia -- (Roman) The Tutelary Guardian and Protector of Britain. Britannia is seen as a beautiful young woman, wearing the helmet of a Roman centurion, holding a spear and wrapped in a white garment with her right breast exposed. She is usually shown seated on a globe above waves guarding Britain at the edge of the (known) world.

Britomartis -- "Sweet Maiden"; Minoan Goddess of the Mountains. She became the Cretan goddess of fishermen and hunters.

Bujin Marishiten -- Japanese Goddess and Patroness of the Samurai. ("Bujin" being another name for the Samurai) She was worshiped for 900 years starting in the 8th century although her origins can be traced back to before Zen.

Butterfly Maiden -- Native American Goddess of the Bountiful Harvest. According to a Papago legend, the Creator made butterflies to gladden his heart when he perceived the impermanence of life. Butterfly Maiden watches over the harvests and helps with emerging transitions. She aides in escaping from any cocoon existence that impedes our growth or expression of joy.

Cailleach -- The Cailleach is a widespread Celtic hag-goddess tied to the land and the weather who has many variants in the British Isles. The "Gloomy Old Woman" and the "Old Woman of the Spells", on the Isle of Man she is a winter and storm spirit whose actions are said to foretell the year's weather On the Isle of Colonsay in Scotland, she is also a winter spirit who holds a young woman captive, away from her lover.

Cardea -- Roman Goddess of the Doorway. Though ridiculed as the Goddess of Door Hinges, Cardea was in fact an important Deity of the Roman family. She is often in company with Janus, the two-faced God of Thresholds and Beginnings and Endings.

Ceres -- Roman Goddess of Growing Plants and Motherly Love. Her name means "wheat " or "grain". It is still heard in our word cereal. It comes from the root creare, "creation", and refers to Her ability to produce. She is an ancient Italian goddess of the harvest, and Her worship in Rome is very old. (Ceres has twelve minor gods who assist her and each is in charge of a specific aspect of farming.)

Cerridwen (Cerridwyn) -- Welsh Goddess of the Moon and Femininity; the Keeper of the Cauldron. The triple Goddess, Maiden, Mother, and Crone, whose totem animal is the great white sow. She is associated with the moon, inspiration, poetry, prophecy, shape-shifting, and life and death

Chalchiuhtlicue -- "She of the Jade Skirt"; Aztec Goddess of Youth and Beauty. A Goddess of lakes, rivers, seas, streams, horizontal waters, storms, and baptism, she flooded the world to drown the wicked.

Changing Woman -- The most revered of deities among the Native Americans of the southwestern United States. She is wholly benevolent figure, for it is Changing Woman who gives the people their abundance and who provides the teachings that allow them to live in harmony with all things. In the Kinaalda (the initiation ceremony of Navajo women), the initiate takes in the power of Changing Woman so that she might learn the values of love, hospitality, and generosity and know that she herself is a source of food and harmony. Changing Woman received her name because she can change at will from a baby to a girl to a young woman to an old woman and then back again. Estsanatlehi, her Navaho name, means self renewing one. She was also called Painted Woman by the Apache. She is the "Goddess of Cycles" such as the season, lunar, and women's menstrual cycles. (see below: Estsanatlehi)

Ch'ang Ô -- Chinese Moon Goddess and the younger sister of the Water Spirit. She is often depicted with a hare, and the Hare of the Moon can still be seen traced on the surface of the full Moon. She represents the source of yin, the female principle and her husband "Shên I", symbolizes yang, the masculine.

Chloris -- Greek Goddess of Flowers. A nymph of the Elysian Isles, Chloris is not only the goddess of spring flowers, but also of gardens and perpetual youth.

Cliodna -- Irish Goddess of Beauty. Bird Goddess of the afterlife who can take the form of a sea-wave or wren. She has fair hair and is crowned with the Ferroniere of Allurement. She is escorted by three birds which eat from magic apples and heal the sick with their sweet songs. Their apple tree has silver white blossoms and golden apples.

Coatlicue -- The Aztec Earth Goddess of Life and Death and Mother of the Moon Goddess. (She is depicted as a woman wearing a skirt of snakes and a necklace of hearts torn from victims.)

Coventina -- Celtic River Goddess of Purification. She is also associated with renewal, abundance, new beginnings, life cycles, inspiration, childbirth, wishes and prophecy She helps with protection of the ecology and detoxification.

Coyolxauhqui -- The Moon Goddess of the Aztec. (The daughter of the Earth goddess Coatlicue and the sister of the Sun god Huitzilopochtli.)

Cybele (Kybele) -- Roman Goddess of Nature and Fertility. Because Cybele presided over mountains and fortresses, her crown was in the form of a city wall. To the Ancient Greeks and Minoans she was known as Potnia Theron, (see below), and alludes to her roots as the "Mistress of the Animals". She is associated with her lion throne and her chariot drawn by lions. Her annual spring festival celebrated the death and resurrection of her beloved Attis, who castrated himself and bled to death. Cybele's most ecstatic followers were males who ritually castrated themselves, after which they were given women's clothing and assumed female identities. (Not to be confused with “Sibyl”; see below}

Dana (Danu) -- The Goddess of Wisdom and Teaching; the Major Celtic Mother Goddess; Danu is loved and worshipped on both land and water. She brings the magic of the Fae into our lives and blesses us with creativity and abundance. She is the earth that nourishes us; she is the water that sustains us. She is the life force that animates our bodies and gives us breath. When we reconnect with Earth, we are also reconnected with Mother. (The Druid Clan of Dana is dedicated to the development of psychic gifts through the Elemental Powers of the Earth.)

Demeter -- "Goddess of The Bountiful Harvest"; Greek Goddess of Agriculture and Grain. Demeter is the only Greek goddess who is involved on a day-to-day basis in the lives of the common people. Other gods and goddesses occasionally "dabble" in human affairs when it suites their personal interests, or came to the aid of "special" mortals they favor, but the goddess Demeter is only one who is a nurturer of mankind.

Devi -- Hindu Divine Mother Goddess of Truth. She is "Ma" the gentle and approachable mother. She is Jaganmata, or Mother of the Universe. She assumes cosmic proportions, destroying evil and addressing herself to the creation and dissolution of worlds.

Diana -- Roman Goddess of the Moon and of the Forests and The Maiden Huntress and Goddess of the Wild Places. The Romans recognized three aspects of Diana, as Maiden, Mother and Crone in "Luna" the Moon-goddess. She is a symbol of imagination and the creative insanity of poets and artists and she is the protector of women and young girls. She was especially revered by women, and was believed to grant an easy childbirth to her favourites. She is considered a protector of the weak and the one slaves turn to for help. She formed a triad of the Triple Goddess with Luna as the Goddess in Heaven, Hecate as the Goddess in the Underworld and Diana as the Goddess on Earth. The Waxing Moon.

In Italy the old religion of Stergheria embraced goddess Diana as Queen of the Witches. (Witches being the wise women healers of the time.) Goddess Diana created the world of her own being having in herself the seeds of all creation yet to come. The worship of Diana was widespread in the ancient world and Christians considered the pagan goddess as their main rival. The Cult of Diana continued to attract followers, despite Christian opposition and survives today within the Dianic Tradition of Witchcraft.

Durga -- Hindu "Goddess that Destroys Demons". The Warrior Goddess who is called on for protection and help in setting boundaries. Durga is the mother of the universe and believed to be the power behind the work of creation, preservation, and destruction of the world

Elen of the Ways (Elen Luyddogg) -- In ancient Britain She was Elen of the Hosts. She lives on in British Tradition as Elen of the Ways. She is Protectress of the Pathways; whether they are physical, mental, or spiritual paths. She is Guardian of all who journey. Elen Luyddogg is best known from Welsh legend in the Mabinogion.

Eostre -- {see: Ostara}

Epona -- The Celtic Horse Goddess. Revered and worshiped by the ancient Celtic people as a loving protector of horses, donkeys and other animals. Epona was invoked often, but more frequently during the equinoxes to bring about smooth passage of the seasons (both physically and philosophically). Epona is the Celtic goddess called to honor equinox ceremonies; reinforcing her power to deftly deal with transitions. As an Earth goddess, she is hailed for her grounding nature, particularly needed during times of crisis or flux in life who would welcome safe arrival of new babies as well as new crops. Commonly represented as a horse figure, a mare and foal or as a woman on horseback, she was also a goddess of fertility, re-birth and abundance. Although originally a Celtic goddess, she was eventually accepted by the Romans who saw her as a protector of their cavalry.

Erinues -- (see: 'Furies')

Erzulie -- Haitian Voodou Goddess of Love and of the Elemental Forces. Erzulie is a love goddess who developed during a time when slave owners broke up families and separated husbands and wives at will.

Estsanatlehi -- Navajo Goddess, her means self renewing one. She was also called Changing Woman and Painted Woman by the Apache. She is the "Goddess Of Cycles" such as the season, lunar, and women's menstrual cycles. She is First Woman's adopted daughter and to punish mankind for pride, First Man and First Woman sent a plague of monsters to kill and devour them. The time came when First Woman repented of the evils she and First Man had visited upon men, and she sought a means for their deliverance. First Woman discovered the infant Estsanatlehi lying on the ground near First Woman's mountain, and took her in. The infant Estsanatlehi grew to adulthood in four days. Making love with the Sun, she gave birth to the Twin Brothers who after many adventures slew the monsters.

Etain (Edain) -- Celtic Goddess whose name means "Shining One". She is associated with the Sun, the dawn, fertility, fragrance and the transmigration of souls. It is said that the land goes dormant when Etain is not around and the flowers bloom when she comes near. Her stone, the emerald, signifies the greening of the earth that she brings about.

Eumenides -- Three Virgin Goddesses of Greece; the Eumenides were responsible for tracking down murderers and plaguing them with horrible visions and torments designed to drive them insane with guilt. They specialized in persons guilty of matricide. Individually they were: Allecto, Tisiphone and Megaera. Also known as The Furies or Erinues, these ladies were not to be crossed. One could remain in their graces by showing loyalty to familial bonds.

Eurynome -- Greek Goddess of Ecstasy. The Great Goddess, Mother, Creatrix and Goddess of All Things. Eurynome divided the sky from the sea and while dancing on the waves, created the north wind.

Eve -- Although not a true goddess, Eve certainly belongs in this group of divine female symbols of wisdom. The Goddess' connection with serpents of wisdom and trees of knowledge goes back long before this story and the symbols are unmistakable. By choosing to understand, to reach beyond her limited knowledge and to grasp for wisdom, Eve symbolizes not rash disobedience, but instinctive feminine wisdom.

During the Middle Ages, the Church claimed in its teachings that Eve was "the original cause of all evil, whose disgrace has come down to all other women". This perception of Eve still persists today and consciously or unconsciously, it continues to serve as a weapon against women who wish to challenge male hegemony. This view of Eve and of women in general has been insinuated into the culture to such an extent that both men and women believe it defines a natural condition of women. The degree to which it continues to subtly influence, in negative ways, the perception of women must be constantly borne in mind while looking at the images of the goddess on this page.

Fauna -- Roman Goddess of Prophecy and Fruitfulness, with ties to the forest and fields and the animals found there. Fauna was sometimes judged to be a prostitute or courtesan; though this seems to be a late tale and may simply be a reaction to Her as a Goddess of Fertility. In other legends however, Fauna is known for Her chastity and modesty; She was said to never leave Her grove or let a man look upon Her and no man was allowed in Her temple.

Flora -- Roman Goddess of the Flowering Plants of Spring and the Goddess of Fruit Bearing Plants. Spring is Her season, and She has elements of a Love-Goddess, with its attendant attributes of fertility, sex, and blossoming.

Fortuna (Tyche) -- Roman Goddess of Fortune and Luck. She was the personification of luck, hopefully of good luck, but she could be represented veiled and blind, as modern depictions of Justice are seen, and came to represent the capriciousness of life. Lady Fortune is usually represented as larger than life to underscore her importance.

Freyja (Freya, Freyia) -- Norse Goddess of Magic, Sexuality and Battle. She is the leader of the Valkyries. "Mistress of Cats", she rides a chariot pulled by two cats. Freyja is accounted very beautiful and sexual. She was originally said to have been married to the traveller God Od, who vanished. She wept and wept for his loss: where Her tears fell on the land, they became amber; where they fell in the Sea they became gold, and both are sacred to Her. Her most well-known possession is the wondrous necklace Brisingamen. (see: Valkyries)

Frigga -- Norse Goddess of Love and Marriage. A sky goddess who is responsible for weaving the clouds and also responsible for weaving the fates. She was known as a 'seer', one who knew the future though she could never change it. Frigga's tender, nurturing side was widely recognized. Her sacred animal was the goose.

Furies (the Erinues) -- Three Greco-Roman Netherworld Goddesses who avenged crimes against the natural order. They were particularly concerned with homicide, unfilial conduct, crimes against the gods, and perjury. The wrath of the Furies manifested itself in a number of ways. The most severe of these was the tormenting madness inflicted upon a patricide or matricide. Murderers might suffer illness or disease; and a nation harboring such a criminal, could suffer dearth, and with it hunger and disease. The wrath of the Furies could only be placated with the rite ritual purification and the completion of some task assigned for atonement.

Gaia (Gaea) -- Greek Goddess of the Earth; the Great Earth Mother. As mother of the gods, she is Prima Creatrix. With the Earth conceived of as a living ecosystem then the more people are concerned with her innermost nature; with the very Soul or Divine Presence of the Gaia.

Ganga -- Hindu Goddess of the River Ganges, India's most sacred body of water. Hindus believe bathing in her holy waters will help wash one's sins away, and hence they conduct repeated ritualistic washings in the river to secure a place in heaven. Her power to wash away sins is so strongly believed that the ashes of the dead are spread over her.

Gyhldeptis -- Native American Goddess of the Forest. "Lady Hanging Hair" is a kindly forest spirit of the Tlingit and Haida in southeastern Alaska; they saw her in the long, hanging mossy branches of the great cedars of the rain forest.

Ha Hai-i Wuhti -- "Pour Water Woman" (She who pours the water of life from a gourd out to the world) The Hopi Divine Mother of the Kachinas.

Hathor -- Egyptian Queen of Heaven. Hathor is also goddess of women, love and joy, music, dance, celebration and beauty. She protects women and is present whenever they beautify themselves and blesses them with fertility. Hathor sees both the newly born and the newly dead to safety.

Hebe -- Greek Goddess of Youth, the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hebe served for a long time as cupbearer to the gods, serving them their nectar and ambrosia. She was replaced in this office by the Trojan prince Ganymede. At times she does other things too, like helping Hera to prepare her chariot, or bathing Ares after a battle. Hebe married Heracles after he obtained immortality.

Hecate (Hekate) -- Greek Goddess of the Crossroads; Guardian of the Household and Protector of Everything Newly Born; Goddess of Magic and Witchcraft. She formed a triad of the Triple Goddess with Luna as the Goddess in Heaven, Diana as the Goddess on Earth, and Hecate as the Goddess in the Underworld. The Waning Moon.

Hel -- Scandinavian Queen Goddess of the Underworld. She presided over all of the dead but especially those who were killed in battle. Those who died heroically in battle ended up in Valhalla, the Hall of the Heroes. She was the sole goddess to decide the fate of those souls who entered her domain. (see: ‘Valkyries’) Hel had quite a disturbing appearance, an ugly half-dead hag with gangrene legs and a hideous face. It is said that she is both black and white and her body was known as representing both sides of the spectrum.

Heng-O -- The Chinese Moon Goddess; The Goddess Symbol of the Principle of the Cold and Dark "Yin".

Hera -- Greek Goddess of Love and Marriage and the Queen of Olympus. The image of Hera has suffered much from patriarchal propaganda. Summed up and dismissed as a shrew and a nag, Hera is in fact the most powerful of all the Olympian goddesses and the Goddess of Women. Hera is revered as being the only Greek goddesses who accompanies a woman through every step of her life. Hera blesses and protects a woman's marriage, brings her fertility, protects her children and helps her find fulfillment in both her private and public affairs.

Hestia -- "The Forgotten Goddess" Greek Goddess of the Hearth and the Center of the World. "Chief of the Goddesses", Hestia is the most widely revered of all the Greek goddesses, representing the center of the home and family, the city, and even the world itself. She was the goddess who created the town hall, thus laying the foundation for democracy.

Hina -- Hawaiian Moon Goddess. Although Goddess Hina has many forms she is most revered for the sacred story that tells of her journey when she climbed into the Moon. Though Hina may be represented in different ways across these cultures, one commonality is her willingness to give. Hina is a Goddess who bestows gifts in many forms through creativity, food, and life itself.

Ho Hsien-Ku (The Immortal Maiden Ho) -- One of the Eight Immortals of Taoist legend, and the only Female Immortal. She is said to have attained Heaven in broad daylight, and is usually shown with a lotus flower or a peach, symbolizing eternity. She is represented as an extremely beautiful maiden and remarkable for occupying so prominent a position in a cult in which no system of female asceticism is developed.

Holda (Frau Holda) -- “Gracious One”; Mother Goddess of the Germanic People. She resides in the sky, riding her chariot through the night. Her chariot is pulled by many animals of the wood and she is accompanied by the infants that died before they were named. She is seen as a beautiful woman with long white hair bathing in a clear pool to the good hearted and hard working. She is sometimes seen as a woman with two faces; one young and beautiful, one old and stern.

Hygeia -- Greek Goddess of Health. Originally, she was the guardian of physical health and later became the goddess of mental health, as well. Hygeia was often symbolized with a snake drinking from a "cup" in her hand and, as with her father, the snake was often related to healing.

Idun (Iduna) -- "The Rejuvenating One". Norse Goddess of Youth and renewal, who grows the magic apples of immortality that keep the gods young.

Inanna -- "The Queen of Heaven" Sumerian Goddess of Love, Fertility and War. The most important goddess of ancient Mesopotamia, she was often symbolized as a lioness in battle. The Akkadians called her Ishtar.

Ishtar -- Babylonian Goddess of Love and War. As goddess of love and sex, Ishtar is the force that draws mates together and brings fertility, both for humans and animals. She is goddess of courtesans, and sacred prostitution was part of Her cult. She is Herself a harlot who took many lovers. Babylonians called her the "Light of the World, Opener of the Womb, Righteous Judge, Forgiver of Sins and The Torch of Heaven and Earth.

Isis -- "Queen of the Throne" Egyptian Mother Goddess; Goddess of Magic and Rebirth. Isis is the feminine archetype for creation; the goddess of fertility and motherhood. She has gone by many names and played many roles in history and mythology; as goddess and female creator. ("I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever me unveiled." - inscribed on "The Temple of Isis" in Sais)

Ixchel -- Mayan Goddess of the Moon, Healing, Childbirth and Weaving. Ixchel is a goddess of waters, of the earth, of the moon, and matron of weavers and artisans. She is known as Lady Rainbow, Mother Earth, Womb and The Cave of Life.

Juno -- Roman Goddess of Women and Protector of the Roman State. Juno is one of the most powerful of the Roman goddesses. She is the goddess of women, particularly married women. Serving as a guardian to women she oversees all aspects of a woman's life, childbirth, and marriage being the primary areas of concern. Juno is adamant that fidelity is a part of marriage and she will not tolerate infidelity

Justitia -- (see 'Themis')

Kali -- (from the Sanskrit word "kal", meaning "time") The Hindu Triple Goddess of Creation, Preservation, and Destruction. The Dark Mother Goddess of Liberation Through Annihilation and the Cruel Daughter of the Ocean of Blood. Kali represents all-devouring Time.

Kore -- Greek Maiden Goddess of the Blossoming Earth. As the new sprouts peek their heads out from the soil, so does the Goddess Kore surface from the underworld in the Spring. Kore is the maiden form of the Goddess Persephone, when she joins her mother and tends the Earth.

Kuan Yin (Quan Yin) -- Buddhist Goddess of Compassion and Mercy. Kuan Yin carries the Goddess and Divine Mother aspect of Buddhism. Kuan Yin is known as a great healer who can cure all ills. She is also a goddess of fertility, and is often shown holding a child. Simply calling her name in time of crisis is believed to grant deliverance.

Lady of the Lake -- (see: "Viviane")

Lakshmi -- Hindu Goddess of Beauty and Prosperity. (''Lakshmi'' is derived from the Sanskrit word Laksme, meaning "goal." Lakshmi therefore represents the goal of life, which includes worldly as well as spiritual prosperity.)

Laverna -- Roman goddess of Thieves, who hears the prayers of robbers. The Underworld Goddess of the Etruscans, Laverna became goddess of thieves because thieves operate in darkness. Her name is said to derive either from the Latin “levare” (to relieve, lessen or lighten", something pickpockets certainly do) and “levator” (a thief).

Leto -- Greek Goddess of Motherhood. The gentlest of all the Olympians, she was the mother of the divine twins Artemis and Apollo.

Lilith -- Originally the Sumerian Dark Goddess of the Night and later the Hebrew First Wife of Adam. Formed from the same dust of the Earth as Adam and created as his equal, Lilith is the Dark Feminine Aspect of Divine Creation and the Goddess of the Balancing of Yin and Yang. By rejecting the fetters of masculine domination of the spiritual realm and leaving the Garden of Eden for the wilderness beyond, Lilith became the First Child of Mother Nature and in her divine mutiny, the First Witch..

Many Lilith scholars believe that the serpent depicted in the story of the Garden of Eden was in fact Lilith who had left Eden to escape Adam's male domination and later returned to awaken Eve to the power within her.{See "Snake" under *Spirit Guides/Wisdom of the Animals}

Luna -- Roman Goddess of the Moon. Together with Diana and Hecate, she formed a triad of the Triple Goddess with Luna as the Goddess in Heaven, Diana as the Goddess on Earth, and Hecate as the Goddess in the Underworld. She is often depicted as a pale woman riding in a silver chariot, and was thus also a patroness of charioteers. The Full Moon.

Maat -- Egyptian Goddess of Truth, Justice and Reality. She symbolized the balance Upper and Lower Egypt, between the fertile valley and the desert, and so between good and evil. Maat was said to reign when the kingdom was unified and when men were peaceful and content with their lot, performing their duties of righteous conduct as laid down in the divine order. Without Maat creation could not be sustained and the divine intention was thwarted

Macha -- Irish War Goddess. She is generally thought of as one aspect of the triple death-goddess The Morrigan. Macha is associated with both horses and crows and strongly linked to the land. She is known to be a prophetess who appears to those about to die. She is commonly shown washing bloody clothes at a river ford; when approached, she tells the enquirer the clothes are theirs

Maeve -- "The Intoxicating Warrior Goddess of Eire; Guardian Queen of Ireland's Sovereignty and its Mystic Center; ("She who endows the sovereign with his powers and the Earth with its fertility")

Maia (Maia Maiestas) -- According to Greek Mythology, Maia was the Goddess of Spring from whom we derive the name of the month of May. She was the eldest and loveliest of the famous Pleiades, or Seven Sisters. Maia is the mother of Hermes, who would eventually become Messenger of the Gods and Maia is known as the "grandmother of magic," as Hermes was said to have invented magic. In Roman Mythology, Maia Maiestas was an earth goddess and symbolized youth, life, rebirth, love and sexuality. The goddess was accessible only to women; men were excluded from her precincts.

Malina (Sun) -- Inuit/Eskimo Goddess A beautiful young maiden carrying a torch who is chased through the sky by her brother Aningan, the moon. The planet Jupiter is the mother of the sun and very dangerous to magicians. If they are careless, she will devour their livers.

Maya -- Hindu Goddess of Illusion (The literal meaning of “Maya” is illusion. Maya created the illusion of the individual self.)

Mawu -- African Goddess of the Moon, Creator of the Earth, who brings cool nights to the hot African world. She is seen as an old mother who lives in the West. She is the goddess of night, joy, and motherhood.

Melaina -- Nightmare Goddess of the Greeks. She took this name, which means "the Black One," as the result of the trauma of being raped by the God Poseidon. She is called upon to bring vengeance on rapists.

Minerva -- Roman Goddess of Arts and Wisdom. She is the virgin goddess of warriors, poetry, medicine, wisdom, commerce, crafts, and the inventor of music. As 'Minerva Medica', she is the goddess of medicine and doctors.

Morrigan (Morrighan) -- "The Great Queen"; Celtic Goddess of War, Prophecy and the Dead of the Battlefield and Goddess of Rivers, Lakes and Freshwaters. "The Phantom Queen", Morrigan can appear as a human woman, but she may also appear in the form of a crow. Crows are associated with death, since they often hover over battlefields and from this comes the legend that Morrigan, like the Valkyries, carries the souls of slain warriors to the next world. Morrigan is a shapeshifter and these different forms illustrate the many ways in which she is viewed. {Morrigan is the inspiration for "Morgan Le Faye", the powerful sorceress who was the sister of King Arthur and the rival (and equal) of Merlin}

"The Morrigan" (The Morrigu), is one of the most complex figures in the divine pantheon of Celtic mythology. On one level "Morrigan" is seen as an especial ancient Celtic Triple Goddess, associated with the cauldron, crows and ravens. But Morrigan does not fit well into the modern concept of the "maiden, mother, crone" image of the Triple Goddess. On another level,"The Morrígan" is said to be comprised of three aspects; Macha, Nemain and Badhbh. Although some sources attempt to fit "The Morrigan" into the form of a divine trinity godhead; other sources assert that they are in actuality three separate goddesses. What seems evident is that "The Morrigan" is a title applied to different women who seem to be sisters or related in some manner, or sometimes it is the same woman with slightly differing names in different legends..

Neith (Neit / Net) -- Egyptian Goddess of the Arts and Protector of Artisans. Originally, a goddess of the hunt and of war, she had as her symbol, two crossed arrows over a shield. Her symbol also bore resemblance to a loom and Neith additionally became Goddess of Weaving, her name meaning "weaver". Neith is also the name of the earliest historical Egyptian tribal leader known. She may be the Goddess Nuit under another name.

Nemetona -- Celtic Goddess of Sacred Spaces. Usually associated with open air places of worship; Nemetona is also usually associated with healing springs. She is often seen seated like a queen holding a scepter and around her are hooded figures and a ram.

Nephtys -- Sister of Isis and Mistress of the House. Egyptian Goddess of Surprises, Sisters and Midwives.
Nü-kua-- Chinese Goddess of Order and of Creation. The first creature on earth, Nu Kua was half human and half dragon--serpentine from the waist down and with a magnificent womanly form from the waist up, but with the power to change her shape. Finding it lonely, she made the first human beings from yellow clay. She also concerned herself with the chaos of human relations, and established rites of marriage so that children would be raised well. She is the tempering influence that calms situations and brings level-headedness.
Nike -- Greek Winged Goddess of Victory and of the Olympic Games.
Nike is seen with wings in most statues and paintings, to remind people that victory is fleeting.

Nokomis -- "Grandmother" Algonquin Sacred Earth Mother. Nokomis nurtures all living things.
Nuit (Nut) -- Egyptian Goddess of Heaven and Sky. Nut is the Goddess of the Firmament and Rain. A Warrior Goddess she is also skilled in the domestic arts.
Oshun -- Santeria goddess of love, art, and dance. Her greatest attribute is her ability to provide the emotions a solid foundation upon which to reside and grow. Oshun also provides gifts of money and material riches, sex, love, creativity, fertility, compassion, beauty, and laughter.
Ostara (Eostre) -- Anglo-Saxon Goddess of Spring, the East, Rebirth and Resurrection. She is also the Maiden aspect of the Three-fold Goddess. Eostre’s festival was adopted by the Christian celebration of Easter which also celebrates renewal and rebirth. (Ostara saved a bird dying from the cold and changed it to a rabbit so it could keep warm. This is the rabbit who became the Christian Easter Bunny who brings colored eggs to children on Easter.) One should note, that the holiday of Easter moves every year. It always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the Spring Equinox. (This Maiden of Spring has had the female hormone Estrogen named after her.) Bursting full of the power of femininity as well as regeneration, she takes the relay of life firmly in hand as the Crone has passed it to her from the underworld. As we note the sprouts, buds and blossoms bursting forth from the deep dark Earth we celebrate Ostara.
Oya -- African Lady of Storms and Goddess of the Weather. A warrior goddess she is Spirit of The Wind, Storm, Thunder, and Magic. She is the goddess who symbolizes the coming of changes.
Pachamama -- Ancient Inca Earth Mother of Peru. Worshipped in her many forms; the tilled fields, her mountains seen as breasts, the flowing rivers as her milk. To ensure good harvests, corn meal is sprinkled at planting and rituals celebrating her are performed. When people fail to honor her, this dragon Goddess sends earthquakes as a reminder.

Painted Woman -- (see: 'Changing Woman')
Pele -- (She Who Shapes The Sacred Land) Hawaiian Goddess of Fire and the Volcano. She dwells in the craters of the Big Island of Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano and sends ribbons of fiery lava down the mountainside, adding new land around the southeastern shore.

I am here and I will be heard. Burn away the chaff; it is all chaff. Burn it all away! Become new, raw, powerful, healed, cauterized. Let your anger flow, and flow, and flow. Then, let it cool. Let the seeds be dropped, the pioneer seeds, those colonizing new thoughts. Let it be. Let it be both anger and calm. One will follow the other. I am not always erupting! And, truth be told, the constancy of my lava flows mean that I rarely explode in a catastrophic manner. I take back what it mine, true, roads and houses and your little built things, but you must be reminded you live on borrowed land. It is not yours to own, and your built things are never permanent. And borrowed time. Live, and adapt, and embrace change. It is all there ever is.

Persephone -- Greek Goddess of Innocence, the Underworld and of Spring Growth; Goddess of the Soul and the Dark Wisdom of Mythology
Phoebe -- Greek Titan Goddess of the "Bright Moon” and the Goddess of the Oracle of Delphi. She was the mother of the Goddesses Leto and Asteria. Her name means "to give prophecy".
Pomona -- Roman Goddess of fruit and fruitfulness. She is the keeper of the apple trees. Unlike other agricultural Goddesses, Pomona is not associated with the harvest itself, but with the flourishing of fruit trees. She may be called upon to protect those who having dealings with land and estates. She doesn’t appear to have had any Greek counterpart at all, and is uniquely Roman.
Potnai Theron (Lady of the Beasts) -- Minoan Mistress of the Wild Animals and Queen of the Wild Bees
Psyche (Psykhe) -- Greek Goddess of the Soul and Patroness of Psychics. Psyche is the Butterfly Goddess of Spiritual Metamorphosis. (The myth of Psyche and Eros is the inspiration for the story of “Beauty and the Beast".)
Pythia -- The Pythia was the Oracle of Delphi. The Pythia operated as a vehicle for Apollo's will to be known to those on earth. A believer would make a sacrifice and present a question to a male priest. The male priest would then present the question to the Pythia. The Pythia sat on a bronze tripod in the adytum, or inner chamber of the temple. In this sacred chamber the spirit of Apollo overcame the Pythia and inspired the prophecy. Some mythic traditions say the Pythia's trance was induced by vapors from a chasm below the temple or from chewing laurel leaves. Continuing his role of a middleman, the priest would interpret the Pythia's response for the questioner.
Rhiannon -- Welsh Goddess of the Moon and Divine Queen of the Fairies. (Her name derives from two Welsh words: "rhiain": meaning maiden and "Annwn": the name of the Welsh Otherworld) Goddess Rhiannon rides her magnificent white mare bringing the equine energy of Freedom and Balanced Power. Rhiannon reminds us that the true seat of our power reigns from the Throne of our Divine Essential Self; therefore our true power is always in divine and perfect balance and our power is always aligned with truth and integrity.
Sarasvati -- Hindu Goddess of Knowledge and Learning. The name Sarasvati is the one who gives the essential knowledge (Sara) of our own Self (Sva).
Sedna -- Inuit Goddess of the Sea and Goddess of the Sea Mammals. Sedna's companions are the seals and the whales that sit with her at the bottom on the ocean. Legend has it that her anger and fury against men is what drums up the violent seas and storms. Shamans from the world above must swim down to her to comb her long black tangled hair to calm Sedna down. Once this is done, she releases her mammals to allow the Inuit to eat from the bounty of the sea.
Sekhmet (She Who Is Powerful) -- The Egyptian Lioness Goddess. She is “The Eye of Ra” who destroys the enemies of the Sun God. Sekhmet, though sometimes a violent goddess, was however also known as a healer who set and cured broken bones. She is said to cause epidemics when not honored properly; but when she is, she can stop them as well. It is Sekhmet whose anger will cause the Destruction of Man.
Selene -- Greek Goddess of the Full Moon. She represents the full moon phase of the lunar cycle, along with Artemis (the crescent new moon) and Hecate (the waning moon).
Selket -- Egyptian Goddess of Magic and the Underworld. She was both a protective goddess, and one who punished the wrong doers with her burning wrath. She could punish those with the poison of a scorpion or snake, causing breathlessness and death, or she could protect against the same venom. Yet just as she could kill, she was thought to give breath to the justified dead, helping them be reborn in the afterlife.
Selu -- "Corn Woman" Cherokee Goddess. Sometimes known as “First Woman”. Selu created corn in secret by rubbing her belly or by defecating. Her sons, the Twin Thunder Boys, killed her when they spied upon her and decided she was a witch.
Sengen -- Shinto Goddess of Mount Fujiyama, the highest mountain in Japan. She is said to live within a luminous cloud in the crater of volcano, and She presides over a healing stream on the south side of the mountain. Fujiyama has solar associations, and during the summer pilgrimage people pay honor to the rising sun.
Seshat (The Scribe) -- Egyptian Mistress of the House of Books. She invented writing and kept the records of the ancient Pharaoh’s. Seshat took care of Thoth's library of scrolls and spells. For these duties she was given the title of Mistress of the House of Books and even today she is considered the patron Goddess of librarians.
Shakti -- Hindu Goddess of Primal Energy and the Divine Force. Shakti, is the active, powerful, vital-the animating force of the universe. The masculine is the passive, inert, dormant force. Each Shakti has her God with whom she unites in sexual union. Without union, neither can do anything. To the Tantric mystics, the ultimate union with Shakti happens at the moment of death. Shakti, often portrayed seated within the luminous world egg, is protected by the serpent, kundalini, the emanation of her own divine enery.
Shekenah -- Hebrew Goddess that is invited into Jewish homes during the Sabbath. The Goddess is called, "The Spring of Gardens and the Well of Living Waters". One of her symbols is the house or womb and the early Christian Gnostics saw her as the "World Soul".

Sibyl -- Prophetess of Antiquity. Sybil is an ancient term used for a prophetess, of which there are many in mythology. They were usually linked with caves or springs, both of which are symbolic junctions of the underworld and the earth of mortals. There were known to be nine famous sibyls or prophetesses in the ancient world. They were all women, from young maidens to old crones, who were said to have prophetic powers. (Not to be confused with “Cybele”; see above}

Sif -- Norse Goddess of the Grain, who is a prophetess and the beautiful golden-haired wife of Thor. She was known to represent different aspects of the home, fertility, fidelity and the divination magic of women. She was also referred to as a swan-wife, one of the mythic maidens who with winged cape, could fly between worlds.

Sila (Sila na Geige) -- A shadowy Celtic Goddess. She represents both mother and crone aspects of the Goddess. Sila is represented by a female figure holding her vulva wide. The open vulva is a gateway symbol, a portal to greater mysteries. Sila is the guardian of the gateway that governs many rites of passage and the unending circle of life and death.
Sirona (Serona/Dirona) -- “The Star Goddess” and Goddess of the Healing Springs of the Gauls. Sirona was also a popular Goddess of healing and fertility. Sirona was the mother of the healing spring’s god Borvo who usurped her position in patriarchal times.
Skadi – Scandinavian Goddess of Winter and the Hunt. She is the goddess of Justice, Vengeance, and Righteous Anger, and is the deity who delivers the sentence upon Loki to be bound underground with a serpent dripping poison upon his face in payment for his crimes. Skadi's character is represented in two of Hans Christian Anderson's tales: "The Snow Queen" and "The Ice Princess."
Sophia (Hochmah) -- Goddess of Wisdom. The Judeo-Christian God's female soul, source of his true power. Sophia was born of Silence according to Gnostic creation myths. She gave birth to both Male and Female who together created all the elements of our material world.
Spider Woman -- An important goddess among many Native American tribes. Though occasionally destructive, she is nearly always portrayed as beneficent. Spider Woman created everything there is by thinking, dreaming, or naming; she taught the people how to plant seeds. Grandmother Spider brought people the sun and fire. She taught them pottery, weaving, and how to make ceremonial blessings. For the Hopi, Spider Woman is a creator who helped the people during their emergence, created the moon, has the power to give and take life, and is connected to hunting and agriculture.
Sulis -- Goddess of Wellness and Healing of Ancient Britain and Gaul. The "Provider of the Healing Waters", The Goddess of the Hot Springs. Though famous for healing, Sulis could curse as well as cure, and in Bath many "curse tablets" have been found, asking Her to punish people suspected of wrongdoing. (Patron Goddess of Bath, England)
Sunna -- Scandinavian Goddess of the Sun. "Mistress Sun" drives the chariot of the Sun across the sky every day. (In Norse mythology, the Sun is female while the Moon is male) Pulled by the horses Allsvinn ("Very Fast") and Arvak ("Early Rising"), the Sun-chariot is pursued by the wolf Skoll. It is said that sometimes he comes so close that he is able to take a bite out of the Sun, causing an eclipse.

Tara -- Buddhist Goddess of Compassion ("Her throne of the orb of the moon is the possession of Wisdom, and her throne of a varicolored lotus is the possession of an essence of Compassion.") Tara is manifest in two forms; "White Tara", a Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion or a lotus flower that grew from the tears of Avalokitesvara and "Green Tara", who helps liberate humanity from the "Ocean of Illusion".
Thekla (Thecla) -- "The Holy Protomartyr and Equal of the Apostles". Although she was an actual historical figure and not a goddess, Thekla deserves mention in the category of divine females. Thekla was born in the city of Iconium of eminent, pagan parents. The Apostle Paul arrived in Iconium to preach and hearing Paul’s testimony Thekla converted to the Christian Faith. Thekla left the city and set out to find Paul. Upon finding him, she requested that he baptize her, but to her surprise Paul refused to baptize her. Thekla went on to settle in a desolate region where she preached the Gospel. To many she was considered to be an equal of the Apostles, but to many more she was just a woman who did not know her place in the religious hierarchy. Although a Saint in the Orthodox Church, Thekla is virtually unknown to most other Christians. Ironically, she seems most unknown to the Christian women ministers who make the Apostle Paul a centerpiece of their preaching. While many seem to feel that Paul would bless their ministries, he would have branded them as heretics.

The First Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians (14:34 - 14:35): "Women should be silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should subordinate, as the law also says. If there is anything they desire to know, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church"

Themis (Justitia) -- “The Blind Goddess of Justice” (There is no code of laws associated with the goddess. No one practices the religion that the goddess represents. The sentiment of the goddess is that justice is blind and only hears the truth.)

Tiamat -- Babylonian Goddess who personifies the sea. Tiamat is considered the embodiment of primordial chaos and the basis of the Creation story of Genesis. She gave birth to the first generation of deities; she later makes war upon them and is killed by the storm-god Marduk. The heavens and the earth are formed from her divided body.

Tlazolteotl -- Goddess of Guilty Pleasures of the Toltecs . A mother-earth goddess. She is the goddess of the human fertility and of sexuality. As "the Eater of Filth" she is the goddess of the Ritual Cleansing and she is protector of the midwives, doctor women and of those who tell fortune.

Trivia -- The Roman Goddess of The Crossroads Where 3-Roads Meet. As a part of her role as an underworld goddess, she was known as the Queen of Ghosts. She was also known to steal away young maidens to assist her in her powers. These women later became nymphs.

Crossroads are considered ill-omened places that will lead to Chaos and an offering is made to Trivia at these "Y" junctions before continuing a journey. The Trevi Fountain in Rome marks such a place. Since what is of primary importance in women's lives tends to be dismissed as "trivial”, Trivia may be considered the patron Goddess of a place at the crossroads where women's ideas can assume their original power and significance.

Ukemochi -- Japanese Shinto Goddess of Fertility and Food. She was known as a gentle, kind, and loving goddess whose generosity always made certain that her people would never go hungry. She was killed by the moon god Tsuki-yomi when she offended him by vomiting large amounts of food. From her dead body emerged various animals (a horse, an ox, a silk worm, etc.), as well as rice, beans, etc.

Uma -- “Lady of the Mountains”; Hindu Mountain-Goddess, who shows the balancing power of the female. She represents the power of light, which illumines and makes understanding possible. In temporarily disregarding Her own needs, She is able to see more clearly.

Uzume -- Shinto Goddess of the Earth. Also known as the "Heaven Alarming Female", she is revered as a crop fertility goddess and "seductress-trickster" in folk worship.

Valkyries -- Norse Goddesses of the Slain. Their duty was to select the slain warriors, who had fallen in heroic battle, to fight alongside the gods at the final battle of Ragnarok. (see: Freyja)

Venus -- Roman Goddess of Love and Romance; the Divine Symbol of Beauty and Femininity. Venus is associated with cultivated fields and gardens. (Throughout history the perception of the goddess Venus and its astrological influences have adapted to reflect society's archetypal image of femininity and sexuality.)

Vesta -- Virgin Goddess of Hearth and Home. The only Roman Goddess to remain unformed, she is made manifest in the Sacred Flame that was maintained in Her temple by the Vestal Virgins of Rome.

Victoria -- Roman Goddess of Victory Unlike the Greek Goddess of Victory "Nike", Victoria was a major part of Roman society and her popularity extended throughout the Empire. She was the most beautiful goddess and each year the people sacrificed the most beautiful son to her. She is personified today as the symbol of "Victoria’s Secret".

Vila (Vily/Veelas) -- Eastern European “Goddess(es) of Energy” moving through the Earth as Nature. They are consummate shape-shifters, able to change into animals such as snakes, swans, falcons, and horses. If contacted in the forest on a moonlit night, they might grant wishes; if shown disrespect they will dance the offender to death.

Viviane (Nimue) -- The Lady of the Lake in the Arthurian Legends. It was she who gave Arthur his sword, Excalibur. Viviane learned her magic from Merlin, who became enamored of her. She refused to give him her love until he had taught her all his secrets, but when he did, she used her power to trap him beneath a stone. Because he could see the future, he knew this would happen, but was powerless to avoid it.

White Buffalo Woman -- In Native American mythology, she is a sacred woman of supernatural origin who, in one legend, gave to the Sioux the ritual of the "Sacred Pipe" and in another legend to the Lakota she gave the "Seven Sacred Rituals". To others she is one of the seven star-sisters of the Pleiades. The legend of the White Buffalo Woman has been corrupted by the various storytellers and even her name has been altered to include the word "Calf". Her true origin and story is hard to pin down.

White Shell Woman -- White Shell Woman appears in the creation stories of various Native American tribes, including the Navajo, Zuni, and Apache. In Zuni myth, White Shell Woman is an ancestor of the Sun Father, a creator god and the source of life. She lives with him in the West. In the Navajo creation story, White Shell Woman (Yoolgai asdzáá) is the sister of the goddess Changing Woman, (see above. Created when the Talking God and the Wind breathed life into two shells, the sisters grew lonely and sought company; Changing Woman with the Sun and White Shell Woman with a mountain stream. Eventually they gave birth to two sons, who grew up to battle the monsters that roamed the earth. In some Navajo tales, White Shell Woman and Changing Woman become the same character.

Yemaya -- Mother Goddess in African Belief. Yemoya is the ultimate symbol and the personification of motherhood, in that she represents the place of origin and the maternal source of divine, human animal and plant life...