Roman Goddess Vesta from gods-and-goddesses.com

Vesta is the Roman goddess of the hearth. The hearth is the stone floor surrounding a furnace or fireplace. This was important to the Romans, because sources of fire for cooking, lighting, and heating homes were not easy to acquire. Therefore, once a fire was started, it had to be fueled and maintained so that it could keep burning and other fires could be lit from it. This was done at both public hearths and in those of private homes. The hearth also represented family life, and therefore the community life of the Roman State.

Vesta Facts

Origins

Vesta is one of the original gods of Rome, born to her parents, Saturn and Ops. Saturn became concerned when an ancient prophecy was revealed and told about his children becoming his undoing. He worried about the prophecy and decided to eat his children as they were born, in order to keep his position as king of the Roman gods.

The first-born child of Saturn was Vesta. She was the first to be eaten by the Titan. Saturn would then eat four of her siblings. Eventually, a stone was given to Saturn by Ops in place of the last child, Jupiter, which made him vomit the five children out of his body.

Vesta was the oldest of the children of Saturn and Rhea, but she was the last to return from his stomach, making her both the youngest and the oldest of the children of the Titans.

Appearance

Vesta is a goddess living in a state of eternal innocence and virginity, based on the stories of her life. Vesta’s innocence is shown in artworks, with her always being fully-clothed and appearing in a homely setting. The myths associated with Vesta are based on her life, with Jupiter choosing to keep the peace between Apollo and Neptune over the destiny of the goddess.

Family

The most interesting part of the family life of Vesta was her birth story. The siblings of Vesta include Jupiter, Neptune, Pluto, Venus and Juno. There are no children associated with Vesta because she decided to ask Jupiter to allow her to remain untouched, and maintain her virginity forever. The myth of the virginity of Vesta explains that a war would have broken out between Neptune and Apollo for the hand of the goddess, had Jupiter not decided Vesta would remain pure forever.

Symbols

Vesta is often seen accompanied by a donkey. This was her animal of choice in her role as patroness to the bakers. Her fire was needed to bake the bread, as was the the donkey’s strength to turn the mill stone, making flour. The braying of the donkey was also said to ward off the lustful advances of other gods.

The symbol of Vesta is the kettle, which was used on the hearth of every Roman home to heat water. Vesta is depicted in a homely setting in most of the images of the goddess, with Vesta often linked directly with a flame lit beside her.

Powers & Duties

Vesta chose to take up the role of the protector of the home fires of Rome, which led to her followers becoming responsible for tending the fires of the Senate. The Vestal Virgins remained untouched and locked away from human view apart from one day per year. Vesta was responsible for the health of the people of Rome and protected the work of bakers reliant on the fire Vesta created.

Myths & Stories

Few myths of Vesta exist today. Roman poet Ovid relates a story in which the fertility god Priapus attempted to seduce Vesta. He was foiled by the loud braying of her donkey. It is thought that her worship was introduced by Numa Pompilius, second king of Rome, between 715 and 673 B.C.

Worship

Each sanctuary or temple of Vesta was usually a circular building that mirrored the round huts formerly used as dwellings in Italy. The shape was also symbolic of the hearth. One such Temple of Vesta was located in the Roman Forum, on the Pallatine Hill, built in the third century B.C. A fire was kept burning there continually by a group of six priestesses called the Vestal Virgins. These priestesses were selected for service by the pontifex maximus, or chief priest, between the ages of six and ten, and served in the temple for at least 30 years. During that time, they tended the fire, prepared ritual food offerings, drew water from a spring outside Rome, lived in the House of the Vestals near the temple, and had to maintain their virginity. If one of the Virgins broke her vow of chastity, the punishment was to be buried alive. After the 30 years had passed, they were free to marry. The Vestals enjoyed a high social status in Rome.

Each year on the Roman New Year, March 1, the perpetual fire in the temple was ritually extinguished and re-lit. If the fire went out at any other time, it was seen as a bad omen for Rome. The festival to Vesta, called the Vestalia, was held on June 7 to 15. Rituals included sweeping out the temple and ritually disposing of the sweepings. The festival was considered a time of bad luck until the sweeping was completed. Normally, the inner sanctuary of the temple, called the penus Vestae, was not open to the public, but on the first day of the festival, women bearing gifts could visit if they entered barefoot. The sacred fire of Vesta was maintained until 394 A.D., when most Roman religious cults were banned.

Because of the need for fire in everyday life, Vesta was worshiped in nearly every Roman home as well. Many homes had a household shrine that included an image of Vesta. She was often worshiped alongside household deities called Penates.

Art

Statues and other artwork depicting Vesta typically show her draped in long, full robes, wearing a stern expression and with her head covered. She often holds a scepter in one hand. Interestingly, a statue of the goddess was not included at any of her temples. However, the penus Vestae housed the Palladium, a statue of the Trojan Athena. This object was considered too sacred for a man too look upon. When it was rescued from a fire that destroyed the temple in 241 B.C., the rescuer – Roman Consul L. Caecilius Metellus, was then blinded for having seen the sacred statue. However, he was also afforded great honor for the daring rescue.

Today

As with many ancient deities, Vesta’s legacy continues in the naming of interstellar objects. In 1807, the asteroid now called Vesta was discovered by Wilhelm Olbers. It is the brightest and second largest asteroid in our solar system’s asteroid belt.

Facts about Vesta

• Vesta is the Roman goddess of the hearth.
• Hestia is the Greek goddess who is equivalent to Vesta.
• Vesta is commonly associated with the donkey and fire.
• Vesta is the protector of home fires of Rome.
• She was the oldest of Saturn’s six children.
• In mythology, she and four of her siblings were eaten by her father, Saturn.
• A Roman festival called Vestalia was dedicated to her and held from June 7 to 15.
• The words “Vesta” and “vestibule” are likely derived from similar roots, as vestibule means “a dwelling or front area of a house”.
• Few ancient statues of the goddess exist.

Ammit Egyptian Goddess of Divine Retribution from ancientegyptonline.co.uk

The ancient Egyptian goddess Ammit (also known as Ammut and Ahemait) was the personification of divine retribution. She sat beside the scales of Ma’at ready to devour the souls of those deemed unworthy. Those unfortunate enough to fail the judgement of the dead would suffer the feared second death, and have no chance of the blissful life of the field of reeds, instead roaming restlessly for eternity.

Thankfully, the judges (Osiris or Anubis) were not too harsh, and the prosecutor (Thoth) was a pretty enlightened guy. The deceased made a negative confession (i.e. they listed the large number of evil things they had never been guilty of) and then their heart was weighted against the feather of Ma´at (justice or balance). It was not necessary to be totally good, just reasonably well balanced. There were also a number of spells and amulets the deceased could use to increase their chance of success.

Her name, is generally translated as “Devourer”, but could also be the chilling “Bone Eater”, and she was known as “Devourer of Millions” leading to the suggestion that the god Am-heh was one of her aspects. Some scholars have linked Ammit with the Hippopotamus goddess Tawaret, because of the similarities in their appearance and their role in fighting evil. According to some traditions, she lived by the scales of justice, but other sources suggested that she (like Am-heh) lived by a lake of fire into which the souls of the guilty were thrown. According to these traditions, she did not devour the souls, but protected the lake. This has led some to suggested that she may be linked to Sekhmet due to her lionine characteristics and her role in protecting a lake of fire.

She was generally depicted as a demon with the head of a crocodile, the torso of a wild cat, and the hindquarters of a hippopotamus. However, she also took human form.

Ammit was never worshipped, and was not strictly a goddess, but her image was thought to ward off evil. She was the personification of all that the ancient Egyptians feared and a reminder to live by the principles of Maat. Although she was referred to as a demon, she was in reality a force for order. Moreover, each person was at least given the chance to defend their actions before being consigned to eternal damnation. The heart scarab was used to encourage the person’s heart not to speak out against them and the negative confession allowed a person to defend themselves by pointing out all of the evil actions they had NOT taken.

Ammut in Moon Knight

Recently Ammut (or Ammit) has given a bit of a makeover by Marvel. As a servant of Maat she is given a more active role in judging the dead. She is described as a riddle asking sphinx in the comics (a role ascribed to the sphinx by Greek, not Egyptian mythology).

In the series “Moon Knight” her character is further developed and she is said to want to judge the living for crimes they have yet to commit. She is given power over the scales (as opposed to being restricted to acting upon their judgement). This is a bit of departure for her, but makes for an interesting premise. The series places her in opposition to the god Khonshu. It is suggested that she has been trapped to prevent her from taking vengeance on the living (presumably by Khonshu) and that a winged scarab can lead the way to her tomb.

• Bard, Kathryn (2008) An introduction to the Archaeology of Ancient Egypt
• Lesko, Barbara S (1999) The great goddesses of Egypt
• Pinch, Geraldine (2002) Handbook Egyptian Mythology
• Redford Donald B (2002) Ancient Gods Speak
• Wilkinson, Richard H. (2003) The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt

The Morrigan – Celtic Goddess of War, Fertility and Sovereignty

The Morrigan goddess is usually thought of as the Celtic goddess of war and sometimes the Celtic goddess of death, but she has strong association with fertility and sovereignty as well. Gifted with the ability to shapeshift, she has the capacity to take many forms, but commonly takes the form of a crow.

She is a complex deity known as the Phantom Queen, who is both a single goddess and also a triple goddess. The triple goddess is composed of the goddesses Badb, Macha and Nemain.

The crow symbol is thought to connect with Badb (meaning crow in Irish). As a crow, she would fly over the battlefield and either encourage or instill fear in the warriors below. She is also said to have the ability to foretell the outcome of battles and predict violent deaths.

Macha is more usually connected with the land and its fertility and is seen as a protector. There is a strong link between Macha and horses, as well as other livestock. It has been suggested that the origin of her name possibly stems from an area used to graze cattle.

The frenzy of battle is connected with the aspect of Nemian. She is said to be responsible for the rage and fury of a battle and her terrifying scream can kill or paralyze a man.

Badb and Nemain were the wives of Neit, the Irish god of war.

According to some versions, the war goddess Morrigan is the wife of the Dagda and they have a special coupling around the feast of Samhain.

She also set her sights on Cú Chulainn and tried unsuccessfully to seduce him. After a series of failed attempts to seek revenge on him, she ultimately correctly prophesied his death in battle.

Egyptian Goddess Heqet from symbolsage.com

Heqet, also known as the ‘Frog Goddess’ was the Ancient Egyptian goddess of fertility and childbirth. She was one of the most important goddess of the Egyptian pantheon and was often identified with Hathor, goddess of the sky, of fertility and women. Heqet was usually depicted as a frog, an ancient fertility symbol and was much revered by mortals. Here’s her story.

Heqet’s Origins

Heqet is first attested to in the so-called Pyramid Texts from the Old Kingdom, where she helps the pharaoh along his journey through the Underworld. She was said to be the daughter of the sun god, Ra, the most important god in the Egyptian pantheon at the time. However, her mother’s identity remains unknown. Heqet was also considered the female counterpart of Khnum, the god of creation and she was the wife of Her-ur, Haroeris, or Horus the Elder, the Egyptian the god of kingship and the sky.

Heqet’s name was said to have the same roots as the name of the Greek goddess of witchcraft, ‘Hecate‘. While the actual meaning of her name isn’t clear, some believe that it was derived from the Egyptian word ‘heqa’, meaning ‘scepter’, ‘ruler’, and ‘magic’.  

Depictions and Symbols of Heqet

One of the oldest cults in Ancient Egypt was the worship of the frog. All frog deities were believed to have had an important role in the formation and creation of the world. Before the inundation (the annual flooding of the River Nile), frogs would begin to appear in large numbers due to which they later became associated with fertility and the beginning of life on earth. Heqet was often portrayed in the form of a frog but was also portrayed as a woman with a frog’s head, holding knives in her hand.

In the story of the Triplets, Heqet appears as a frog with ivory wands that looked more like boomerangs rather than like the batons magicians use today. The wands were to be used as throwing sticks. It was believed that if these ivory wands were used in rituals, they would draw protective energy around the user during dangerous or difficult times.

Heqet’s symbols include the frog and the Ankh, which she is sometimes depicted with. The Ankh signifies life and is also considered as one of Heqet’s symbols since giving people new life was one of her main roles. The goddess herself, is regarded as a symbol of fertility and abundance.

Heqet’s Role in Egyptian Mythology

Aside from being the goddess of fertility, Heqet was also associated with pregnancy and childbirth. She and her male counterpart often worked together to bring life into the world. Khnum would use the mud from the River Nile to sculpt and form human bodies on his potter’s wheel and Heqet would breathe life into the body, after which she would place the child in a female’s womb. Therefore, Heqet had the power to bring the body and spirit into existence. Together, Heqet and Khnum were said to be responsible for the creation, formation and birth of all living beings.

Another of Heqet’s roles was the role of a midwife in Egyptian mythology. In one story, the great god Ra sent Heqet, Meskhenet (the goddess of childbirth), and Isis (the Mother goddess) to the royal birthing chamber of Ruddedet, the royal mother. Ruddedet was about to deliver triplets and each of her children were destined to become pharaohs in the future. The goddesses disguised themselves as dancing  girls and entered the birthing chamber to help Ruddedet deliver her babies safely and quickly. Heqet quickened the delivery, while Isis give the triplets names and Meskhenet predicted their future. After this story, Heqet was given the title ‘She who hastens the birth’.

In the myth of Osiris, Heqet was regarded as a goddess of the final moments of birth. She breathed life into Horus as he was born and later on, this episode became associated with Osiris’ ressurection. Since then, Heqet was regarded as a goddess of resurrection as well and she was often depicted on sarcophagi as a protectress.

Cult and Worship of Heqet

Heqet’s cult probably began back in the early dynastic periods as frog statuettes created in that time were found that may be depictions of the goddess.

Norse Goddess Skadi from gods-and-goddesses.com

Skadi is the Norse giant goddess of winter, hunting, and skiing. Known as the snowshoe goddess, she rules over mountains, wildernesses, winter, revenge, knowledge, damage, justice, and independence. Passionate in her pursuits, especially in the pursuit of justice, Skadi is determined to live how she wants and not be told by the gods of Asgard.

Skadi lives in the highest part of the mountain where the snow never melts in her father’s grand hall, Thrymheim. Odin once described her home as the “ancient court” and described her as the shining bride of the Gods. Skadi, a giant, is the enemy of the gods of Asgard. Being a giant, she is associated with darkness, cold, and death, just like winter. However, Skadi is seen to be more benevolent than the rest of her giant kin.

Skadi Facts

Family

However, Skadi becomes welcomed by the gods of Asgard when she marries one of them. Her father, the giant Thiazi, kidnapped the goddess Idun, the beautiful goddess of youth, and, therefore, the gods’ apples of immortality. Odin killed him for doing so and rescued Idun. However, Skadi was furious and determined to avenge the death of her father. She took her weapons and stormed the citadel of Asgard claiming for either revenge or compensation—she gave them the choice of a harmful or benign consequence. The gods, scared of the ferociousness of Skadi, decided they’d rather give her gold. Skadi didn’t want gold, since she was already rich from her father and grandfather’s pillaging. Odin then offered her a husband from among the Asgardian gods, giving her the status of goddess. She agreed, but Odin said she could only look at the gods’ shoes to choose her husband. Skadi agreed, hoping that she’d pick handsome Baldur, whom she had a crush on, but she chose ugly Njord, the god of the sea, because he had the best shoes.

Njord and Skadi’s marriage didn’t last long—only half a month. Njord couldn’t stand the cold and isolated mountains and Skadi couldn’t stand the brightness and noise of the coastline. So, they got a divorce. There are different myths as with whom Skadi ended up afterwards. Some say she got together with Ullr, the god of winter and archery. But, some say she married Odin and gave birth to many sons with him.

Symbols

Her bows, skis, and snowshoes are her most mentioned attributes as she is very skilled at using them all to hunt and to engage in battle.

Powers & Duties

Skadi is the Norse goddess of winter. She is the personification of strength, courage, and endurance, but is also known for her revenge as well.

Facts About Skadi

• Skadi is pronounced SKAHD-ee;
• Her name means “harm” or “shadow”;
• Skadi’s name also relates to “Scandinavia,” which is said to be “Skadi’s Isle”;
• One of Saturn’s moons, “Skathi,” is named after Skadi;
• One of the reasons she is called the snow-shoe goddess is because she was forced to choose a husband from the gods by only looking at their shoes;
• Skadi may not have even had snow-shoes. Some believe that the translation for snow-shoes is actually supposed to be skis;
• After a feast, Loki started talking to Heimdall and Skadi interrupted, telling Loki he was too “light-hearted” and wouldn’t be having fun much longer because he would be bound to a sharp rock with the ice-cold entrails of his dead son;
• Loki claimed that he got Skadi into his bed, which she denies. Loki was known to say the same about numerous goddesses;
• When Loki was captured and bound, Skadi placed above his face a venomous snake that dripped venom onto him, causing him so much pain that it earthquakes result.

Norse Goddess Feyra from wytchymystique.com

Her Story:

Freya is the Norse goddess of love and war, “Queen of the Valkyries” and “Mistress of Cats”, a divine escort for the souls of the dead and especially for fallen warriors, taking them through to the afterlife.

This goddess is considered a poet’s muse and inspiration.  She’s invoked for issues involving relationships, particularly in matters of love and family.  Freya is also a potent goddess in matters of sensuality and sexuality, igniting passion.  She is considered the most beautiful of the goddesses and totally irresistable to mortal males.

In honor of Freya, Mistress of the Cats, here’s a wee bit of herbal cat magick.  Use the correspondences for this goddess, as well as the correspondences for this herb, to cast some wild wicked cat magick.

Catnip is commonly used in sleeping potions. The easiest and most pleasant way I can think of to use catnip for this purpose is to make a delicious pot of tea. Catnip is one of the herbs that I grow in my own garden, so all I have to do when I want to brew a pot of catnip tea is to step outside and snatch a handful of the fresh herb. I usually use both the flowers and the leaves. How much you use is going to depend upon how strong you like your tea and the size of your pot. You can sweeten it with honey or sugar. Since catnip is a member of the mint family, I’m guessing that if you like mint in your tea, you’ll like catnip, though to me it is more pungent.

Catnip has an absolutely intoxicating effect on cats, and it was actually hard getting the catnip started in my garden because my cats wouldn’t leave it alone. I’d plant a nice lush bunch of catnip, and the next morning I’d go out to find nothing but bare stems.  I can’t tell you how many times we’ve looked out the kitchen windows to watch one of our cats, or a stray cat, rolling around our garden in drunken bliss.

Catnip is sacred to all pagan gods/goddesses who manifest as a cat or feline creature, including: Sekhmet, Bast, Mau, Tefnut, Mafdet, and Freya.

Correspondences for Catnip:

Energy: Feminine (Receptive)
Planet:  Venus
Element: Water
Magick:  cat magick, love, beauty, well-being

It’s believed that a gift of catnip from you to your cat will create a magickal and psychic bond between the two of you. Since I’ve experienced this myself, I have to say that it truly works in beautiful ways. If you make a catnip talisman for your kitty, keep this in mind. Remember that concentrating on your intentions when crafting magickal items imbues that object with the magick. Catnip is also used in love spells, often as an ingredient in mojo bags or candle magick. Just as the cat finds this herb intoxicating and irresistable, so will the one you target in love magick, using catnip to draw them to you. Hang a bunch of dried catnip over the threshold of your home to draw good spirits and good luck, as well as to draw the blessings of cat goddesses. Catnip is also used in beauty spells, either as a tincture you can use to bathe your face, or with candle magic. It’s believed that this herb will mesmerize those targeted in such spells to see you as youthful and beautiful. This type of enchantment is considered a glamoury.

Embracing the Goddess:

Freya is the goddess for all of us “Crazy Cat Ladies”, and I’m proud to count myself in this company.  Call upon this goddess when working cat magic, to call upon the cat as a totem animal, or just to honor this magical creature.

Freya’s Correspondences:

Herbs: catnip, geranium, willow, goldenrod, magnolia
Animal: cat
Color: green, pink
Planet: Venus
Day: Friday
Element: Water
Feminine Face: Maiden
Symbol: cats, the number 13

Roman Goddess Flora from wytchymystique.com

Her Story:

Flora, the Roman goddess of spring, rules flowers, foliage, and springtime.  Her festivals are celebrated in April and early May.  Flora’s energies and influences include the protection of vegetation from disease, flowering plants and fruits, as well as menstruation– the flowering of young girls into budding womanhood.
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The Blood of the Moon (menstrual blood) is one of the most powerful magickal potions known.   Menstrual blood is used in a variety of spells for love, as well as hexing, and has been used traditionally as such since ancient times.  It is strongly connected to Flora through her very essence as a goddess of maturation, flowering, coming of age, the ascension to womanhood.

In biblical times, menstruating women were considered unclean and banished to The Red Tent.  Here they sat out there isolation from the rest of the community until their periods stopped and they had completed a rigorous “cleansing” ritual.  Only after that were they allowed to resume normal life among the general population.

Unclean?  Really?  I don’t think so.

I have a different theory for their reasons behind isolating menstruating women:  They were afraid of them.

In those very ancient times, still immersed closely with pagan roots and practices, the power of menstrual blood and a menstruating woman would have been very clear in their minds, very close to their hearts.  The people of this time were caught in a struggle, a struggle between the old ways, the old religion– goddess worship, natural earth based spirituality– and the new religions of Judaism and Christianity.  The true power of women would have still been common knowledge.

Embrace this aspect of your womanhood.  Understand the inspiration behind menstruation of creation, and magick, strength, mystery, and miracles.  Align your energies with the Blood of the Moon.  Celebrate the miracle you are.

Embracing the Goddess:

Flora’s most amazing magic, aside from a landscape full of beautiful blossoms, is the budding of young girls into maturity, the coming of age that brings with it the menstrual cycle, emphasizing the feminine connection to the moon and its power, fertility, and passage into womanhood.

Western civilization seems to keep the blossoming of female puberty shrouded in out-dated shame and secrecy.  When a girl gets her first period, it’s generally not something that is mentioned, much less celebrated, particularly in mixed company.  By contrast, in the Apache Native American tradition, the onset of menstruation is a time of open celebration for the entire community.  There are days of rigorous rituals involving a tribal celebration of young girls who are coming of age.  They celebrate the fertility insinuated by the beginning of menstruation.  They celebrate pride in feminine puberty and growth.  They celebrate the wonder of nature and the miracle that it truly is.

Call upon Flora to celebrate the coming of age for yourself, your daughter, your granddaughter, your nieces, or other young women in your life.  Emphasize how special this time is, how beautiful, and how fulfilling it will be.

Flora’s Correspondences:

Herbs: mugwort, oleander, tulip, barley, primrose
Animal: dove
Color: green, brown
Planet: Gaia (earth)
Day: all seven
Element: Earth
Feminine Face: Maiden
Symbol: spring flowers