Deity Descriptions
Goddesses
Here you will find information on some of
the many goddesses that exist throughout the world.
What color is your inner goddess?
Which Greek Goddess are you?
Are you a sex Goddess?
To learn about more Goddesses visit Inner Goddess,
the source of many of the following descriptions.
Aine  Cailleach Bhuerle Callisto Ceres Chilseong-je Epona Fortuna Freya Iambe Ix Chel Kuan Yin Mielikki Rhiannon Selket Goddesses & Their Familiars
Aine
An Irish Goddess who protects women and cattle. She was raped by a Connacht king
whom she later killed. Because of this, she was elevated to the status of a
patron Goddess of wronged women.
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Cailleach Bhuerle
The lean, blue-faced hag of the Scottish Highlands who walks during the night
carrying a holly staff with a carrion’s head as the topper, and a live carrion
crow perched upon her left shoulder. One touch of her walking stick instantly
causes death and she uses it each year, beginning on Samhain, to smite the earth -
blighting growth and hardening the ground in preparation for snow. She is the
personification of winter; she is the Crone goddess. Guardian spirit of deer,
wild boar, goats, cattle, and wolves, gorse and holly trees, and also streams and
wells. She is at her most powerful from All Hollow’s Eve (October 31st) through
Beltaine, or Oestara (the eve of May Day, May 1st),
at which time she becomes much weaker. It is then that she is believed, by most, to become a beautiful young maiden,
and by others to turn into a gray stone (many solitary megaliths were once sacred to her).
She is described in a variety of ways with other names such as Black Annis, Gentle Annie
of Cromarty Firth, the Gyre-Carline
of the Scottish Lowlands, Cally Berry
in Ulster, and the Caillagh Ny Groamagh
in the Isle of Man. In her watery form she is known as Muileartach.
A symbol of great wisdom and the graceful loss of beauty with age, she is usually clothed in black or
blue-white tatters. Each year, when spring arrives, when buries her staff under a holly or gorse and,
it is said, that if one should happen to find it, then one would wield power over all of human life’s destiny.
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Callisto
(known as Chilseong-je in Korea)
A goddess of instinct, protection and flexibility; her symbols are the bear,
the willow branch, and the constellation Ursa Major. Appearing sometimes as
a mother bear guarding her cubs, the Greek goddess Callisto
inspires the natural instincts with which we have lost touch and illustrates the intensity of maternal love. Her
other name is Helic, which means "to turn" or "willow branch"; she thus
has the power to help with personal transformations. In mythology,
Callisto became Ursa Major while pregnant with Zeus's child. Artemis
changed her into a bear, along with her son, who became Ursa Minor.
In Korea, the festival of Chilseong-je begins at midnight on January 4th with an
offering of white rice and water to the seven stars (Ursa Major). This
gift ensures Callisto's assistance when needed throughout the coming
months. If you can't stay up till midnight, just leave the rice and
water in a special spot before you go to bed.
From her celestial home, Callisto stands ready to protect us in the new
year and provide us with adaptability as a coping mechanism. To
encourage this, carry a silver or white stone bear, or a piece of dried
willow wood. Bless this token, saying:
"Callisto, release me in the power of flexibility.
Where'er I carry this little charm, keep me ever safe from home."
If these tokens aren't handy, you can substitute any white or silver
item or a hand-drawn picture of Ursa Major (The Big Dipper).
The above information came from 365 Goddess : A Daily Guide to the Magic and Inspiration of the Goddess
by Patricia Telesco
To learn about Callisto as a nymph here.
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Ceres
From Inner Goddess
Suggested Mantra: Center
Earth Mother, Ceres represents the cycles we experience as women,
and allows us to accept the ebbs and flows graciously. With calm strength
we can find our center and gently “go with the flow.”
Suggested Affirmations:
I am welcoming peace
I allow myself to be quiet
It’s okay to enjoy myself
I cherish every moment of the day
Today is my chance to be healthy
I find my path following my inclinations
I integrate trust into every aspect of my life
Related Essences: vanilla, almond, oriental lily, bergamot
Related Gemstones: carnelian, coral, agate, brown jasper, rose quartz, emerald
Earth Mother, Ceres, is the Greek
name of Demeter,
the Roman goddess of agriculture. The ancient myth about Ceres (Demeter) and her stolen daughter, Persephone,
helps explain the cycles of seasonal change. During the time that Ceres was searching the world for her
beloved Persephone, she was so grief-stricken that she struck barren the earth – these are
the seasons of autumn and winter. Once she had found her daughter, and had negotiated Persephone's return from
the Underworld for six moths of each year, she was happy and allowed the earth to be fruitful –
these are the seasons of spring and summer.
There are other cycles that are immediately obvious to women – those of the moon (our biological cycles).
If you are under the influence of Ceres today, you may be feeling that your energy is ebbing somewhat –
your body is internalizing to nurture you inner self, to help cope with the pull of the moon and planets.
Do you crave for a certain food, or a certain artistic project, or perhaps just time to “be”?
Perhaps it is a sign you want to be nurtured – not necessarily by others, but by yourself.
Indulge in what you really want to do today. Whether it’s reading that book that’s been sitting
unopened for weeks, or bringing your paint brushes out of storage, or dusting off your personal
journal, make the time to tap into your intuition, and act upon it.
As you allow Ceres to guide and nurture your inner goddess, feel yourself become more centered,
calm, and empowered. Your hara is full, pregnant with vitality, and your heart beats with the
calm strength of a wise woman.
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Epona
From Inner Goddess
Suggested Mantra: Adventure
Celtic goddess Epona and her white mare bring dreams to you. She
helps manifest the dreams if you allow her to accompany you on your
path.
Suggested Affirmations:
I see the path intended for me
My future is full of possibilities
I invite new choices into my life
My goals are becoming manifest
I deserve to have my dreams realised
Related essences: bayberry, cedar, pine, rose and rosemary
Related gemstones: cat's-eye, ruby and moonstone
The maiden goddess Epona is usually portrayed as riding a white mare
side-saddle, sometimes with a foal, or standing surrounded by horses.
Her symbol is the Cornucopia ("horn of plenty") which suggests that
she may have been honoured as a fertility goddess, although she is
most commonly known as a goddess of horses and travel. She fed her
beloved horses from her cornucopia filled with corn and apples,
symbolic of mother-love and abundance.
From the iron age, the Celtic goddess' faith spread across the whole
of ancient Europe, eventually being embraced by the Romans and to a
certain extent, Christianity. Epona had a shrine in almost every
stable of the Roman empire - in fact, she was the only Celtic goddess
to be honoured by the Romans with a temple in their capital city. Her
annual festival in Roman times was around the 18th December (in
Mantua/Italy), when her images in shrines and stables were draped in
rose garlands.
Epona and her white mare accompanies the soul on its final journey to
the other world, and in life she is associated with the white mare
that brings dreams. This week, allow yourself the time to dream, give
yourself the opportunity to let your ideas ride in your mind, think
of where you have been afraid to go and let the horses of Epona guide
your spirit there in safety. If you need a tool to facilitate a
meditative state, use a string of rose petal beads to help discover
new places within yourself.
To make rose petal beads: cook rose petals in a little water in an
iron pot until nearly black and pasty. Add a little orris powder and
rose-scented oil, and shape the beads to 2 times the size you want
them to be when dry. Pierce them with a needle and string them,
turning them regularly until they're dry. On a full moon, invoke
Epona to bless the beads. Use the beads to energise your prayers by
holding them as you creatively visualise your journeys with Epona.
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Fortuna
From Inner Goddess
Suggested Mantra: Abundance
Goddess Fortuna promises riches and abundance, and nurtures our
individual destinies through the ups and downs of the life cycle. She
rewards those with joyful intentions with success and prosperity.
Suggested Affirmations:
It's okay to be wealthy and happy
My joy attracts financial resources
The Universe fulfils my every desire
I am constantly adding to my income
Lives are made better by our efforts
Everything I touch returns riches to me
The Universe supports my every effort
I recognise resources I didn't know I had
I am enjoying co-creating a world of equality
As I prosper, everyone around me prospers
Related essences: Frangipani, tea rose, lilac, lily of the valley
Related gemstones: Lapis lazuli, aquamarine, turquoise (light blue
stones)
Initially Fortuna, the Roman goddess of abundance, was honoured as a
fertility goddess, but came to symbolise abundance as the fickleness
of life and luck followed the cyclic ups and downs of life. She was
invoked for good luck and prosperity, or lamented to during times of
hardship.
She is usually depicted holding a rudder in one hand, steering our
destiny as our karmic path progresses, and/or a cornucopia (or horn
of plenty) signifying the wealth that she could bring. Often she has
a wheel beside her, reminding us that she is the benefactor of life,
death, and the wheel of fortune.
As a benevolent deity, she bestows prosperity and good luck to those
who have joyful intentions. Such is her power that she controls the
destiny of every human being by permitting the fertilisation of
humans, animals and plants. However, you must be careful when asking
for abundance that you are asking "for the greatest good of all".
Abundance is not just about money and material goods, it is also
about our spiritual, physical, mental selves, and the needs of our
neighbours.
Have you ever noticed the phenomenon that the more you give away, the
more comes back to you? This is the Universe's circle of providence,
unceasingly ebbing and flowing karmic energy. Traditionally people
may have shared rice cakes with colleagues, visitors and passers-by
in order to share the wealth and allow the goddess to bring
prosperity into many more lives.
This week, choose something to share with those around you. It
doesn't need to be food or belongings, it could be a helping hand or
a well-timed compliment to boost a sagging ego. Find your voice and
send your wish to Fortuna via your words and actions to others. And
of course, repeat the mantra abundance as often as you can! An action
repeated becomes habit, and good habits manifest into good fortune
and success.
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