The Goddess Section
Who is the Goddess?
Summer 2004
My youngest daughter at 4 asked “Who is the Goddess?”
This is my reply…
The Goddess is the earth; she is the plants and creatures, the water and
mountains. She is nature. She is the mother that births us and feeds us. She is
the boobs that nourish us, and the body that gives us life.
She is the spirit within us that mothers and nurtures, loves and
protects, is beautiful and sensitive. She is the changing spirit from spring to
winter, young to old.
She is all that is female as the young girl, the growing girl, the
changing girl, the creative girl, the shy girl, the strong girl, the women, the
lover, the mother, the warrior, the charmer, the dancer, the wise one… She is
sacred and loves to be loved.
She comes through each of us differently; she is as diverse as we are all
different.
Through the ages people worshiped the Goddess in her many different
aspects…
To the Hindu Devi is the Goddess in all her aspects as one. The Hindu
worshiped many aspects of Devi. As Kali the fierce and scary aspect of nature,
who makes us face our fears and be unafraid of change. As Sarasvati Goddess of
all the arts and sciences. As Lakshmi the Goddess of material things who has
money falling from her hands, as Pavati the lover who dedicates herself to her
divine lover… and many many more.
In the Middle East we learn of The High Mother Ishtar Goddess of Love,
Fertility, Nature, Sex and War. Queen of Heaven. The full moon was her holiday a
day of rest.
To the Egyptians the Goddess is seen as Nuit the space that surrounds the
stars and planets, the mystery of night. Her daughter Isis we see as the kind
winged mother and priestess, as Bast the Goddess who ruled pleasure and dancing,
music and joy. So many more to discover…
To the Africans we find Oshun. She is beauty, sweetness, love and
sensuality come to life and is renowned for her generosity. The arts, especially
dance, are her domain.
To the Greek we hear the story of the Goddess as Demeter the mother who
looses her daughter Persephone to the underworld. When her daughter shows
herself half of the year the mother is happy and makes it spring and summer,
when the daughter leaves back to the underworld it becomes autumn and winter.
The Greek had many goddesses Athena was the ruler of her people, wise and just.
Aphrodite as the Goddess of Love and beauty. Artemis the virgin moon Goddess,
roaming the forest with her bow and arrow avoiding men and killing any male who
looks on her.
The Celtic people had Cerridwen The lady of the cauldron who stirred
magic in her pot. There was Bridgit worshiped as the triple goddess (maiden,
mother and crone). She was a goddess of smith craft, poetry, inspiration and a
healer. Only women were aloud in her temple.
From the native people of America we find butterfly maiden, from the hopi
people, she rules springtime. Changing Women from the Apache called the
Earth-Goddess by this name. White Buffalo woman reminded the Oglala, of the
Midwestern forests and plains, of the mysteries of their mother, the earth.
Urging them always to honor her, she disappeared in the shape of a white
buffalo. Copper women of the North West tribes teaches that we are all cousins,
because we are all grandchildren of First Mother.
Pacha Mama is the name given in many South American countries as the
Earth Mother. 'Pacha' means Earth, Infinity, the Divine and the Sacred.
To the Asians we find Kwan Yin ‘she who hears the weeping word’ A Goddess
of peace and generosity, dedicated to see all her people enlightened.
To the Polynesians we see the Goddess Hina whom many stories are told.
She is the goddess in all her aspects as lover, the moon, and one not to anger
or she spits fire.
Eingana is the Mother as the creator, to the aboriginals of Australia,
maker of all water, land, animals, and kangaroos. This huge snake-goddess still
lives, they say, in the ocean, rising up occasionally to create yet more life.
So many, many, many different aspects and stories of the Goddess.
But to me she is the earth our sacred mother the spirit of beauty and
love, natural and free.
Be aware that she feels your touch as you feel her. To touch with
kindness is appreciated. Remember to thank her and be kind to the earth and each
of her children. For she is old but spirited. And her children are young and
learning.
Love is the greatest emotion of all to share. Love brings magic of the divine
kind. It is the best medicine. To love is to heal, and the earth needs healing
this mother, this garden we all share.
Ma Ma Ma Om Kali Ma Jai Kali Ma
This page last updated: 03/01/2018