What Deity Do You Work With?
"The Earth began to bellow, trees to dance and howling dogs in glimmering light advance Ere Hekate came." ~The Aeneid, book VL. Virgil.
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Name Culture Influence
Aakuluuujjusi Inuit Creation
Abuk African Women, Gardens
Aeval Celtic Sexuality
Aglaea Greek Splendor
Anahita Middle East Rain
Anna Perenna Roman Renewal
Aphrodite Greek Romance, Love, Beauty
Arianrhod Celtic Stars, Moon
Artemis Greek Hunt, Wilderness
Astarte Babylonian Fertility, War
Athena Greek Wisdom, Battle
Atropos Greek Death
Audumla Norse Bounty
Aurora Roman Dawn, Renewal
Baba Yaga Slavic Life, Death
Bast Egyptian Sensuality
Befanan Italian Children, Goodwill
Benzaiten Japan Music, Fine Arts
Blodeuwedd Celtic New Beginnings
Bona Dea Roman Virgins, Fertility
Branwen Celtic Beauty, Love
Brigid Celtic Inspiration, Healing
Buffalo Woman North American Changes, Divination
Butterfly Maiden North American Transformation, Joy
Caer Ibormeith Celtic Love, Transformation
Calliope Greek Epic, Heroic Poetry
Carmina Astarte Justice, Enchantments
Ceres Roman Protection, children
Cerridwen Celtic Knowledge, Wisdom
Chantico Aztec Home, Hearth
Circe Greek Magick, Witchcraft
Clio Greek History
Clotho Greek Conception, Fertility
Corn Mother North American Harvest, Nutrition
Coventina Celtic river Goddess renewal, abundance, new beginnings,
Cybele Greek Nature, Fertility
Danu Celtic Mother, land, sea and stars
Diana Roman Moon, the hunt, and chastity
Demeter Greek Harvest, Motherhood
Doris Greek Ocean, Sea
Enekpe African Family, Home, Destiny
Epona Celtic Horses, Fertility
Erato Greek Love, Erotic Poetry
Erzulie African Love, Fertility
Euphrosyne Greek Mirth
Euterpe Greek Joy, Pleasure, Flutes
Eve Christian Love, Courage, Mother
Flora Roman Flowers, Spring
Fortuna Roman Fortune, Luck
Freya Norse Love, Beauty, Sex
Frigg Norse Fertility, Motherhood
Gaia Greek Creation, Earth
Gnowee Australian Solar
Hathor Egyptian Love, Beauty, Music
Hekate Greek Transformation, Death
Hel Norse Death
Hera Greek Love, Marriage
Hestia Greek Hearth, Home
His Wang Mu China Mother of the West
Hygeia Greek Good Health
Inanna Sumerian Creation, Love, War
Inaras Haitian Mother Goddess
Inari Japan Food
Ishtar Babylonian Sex, Independence
Isis Egyptian Creation, Magick
Ix Chel Mayan Moon, Creativity
Ix Chup Mayan Wind, Rain
Joan of Arc (St) French Justice, Women
Juno Roman Marriage
Ka-Ata-Killa Incan Moon
Kali Hindu fierce goddess of death, protection
Lachesis Greek Length of Life, Birth
Laka Hawaiian Hula, Forest
Lakshmi Hindu Prosperity, Generosity
Lilith Sumerian Passion, Independence
Lofn Norse Fertility, Prosperity
Luna Roman Moon
Ma'at Egyptian Truth, Order, Balance
Macha Irish War goddess, protector or witches
Maia Greek Spring
Mama Coca Incan Health, Joy, Fertility
Mami Wata African Floods, Creation
Martha (St) Christianity Hospitality
Mary Magdalene (St) Christianity Healing, Sexuality
Mawu Africa Creation
Mazu China The Sea
Medusa Greek Destruction, Sexuality
Melpomene Greek Tragedy (Theater)
Minerva Roman Wisdom and Cunning
Mokosh Russian Spinning, Weaving
Morrigan Celtic Death, Life, War
Nang Kwak Thai Prosperity, Luck
Nimba Africa Fertility
Nokomis North American Earth Mother
Nott Norse Night
Nut Egyptian The Sky
Oshun African Creativity, Art, Ocean
P'an Chin-lien China Sexuality
Pele Hawaiian Volcanoes, Fire
Persephone Greek Springtime, Daughters
Polyhymnia Greek Hymns, Meditation
Psyche Greek Personal Transformation
Qadesh Egyptian Sexuality, Ecstasy
Quan Yin China Beauty, Kindness
Rhiannon Celtic Inspiration, Moon
Saint Barbara Christianity Safety, Fire, War
Saint Elizabeth Christianity Charity
Saint Monica Christianity Recovery, Families
Sedna Inuit Sea Creatures, Oceans
Seiobo China Mother of All
Selene Greek Moon
Selket Egyptian Magick, Underworld
Shakti Hindu Sexuality, Life
Skadi Norse Winter, Hunt,
Somilge Philippine Witchcraft
Sophia Gnosticism Mother God, Wisdom
Spider Woman American Creation
Sunna Norse Sun, Summer
Taueret Egyptian Motherhood
Tefnut Egyptian Moisture, Dryness
Tekakwitha (st) Christianity Nature
Terpsichore Greek Dance, Chorus
Thalia Greek Comedy (theater)
Thalia (Grace) Greek Good Ch
Trivia Roman Crossroads, and the harvest moon
Vesta Roman Hearth and Home
Virgin Mary Christianity All Things
Yemaya African New Year, Ocean
Goddess Hekate by Robin M. Weare
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Goddess Sophia
by Pamela Matthews
Diana Goddess of the Hunt
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What is the goddess? Is she one or is she many? Is she nature and its great cycle of birth, life and death? Or is she
and more. She is the source of life, the source of consciousness itself.
When addressing the terms polytheistic and monotheistic Starhawk wrote,"It's like asking "Is water one or many?"
The only possible answer is "Huh? Hey, it's wonderful, miraculous, life giving, vital stuff that we need to honor and
respect and conserve and not pollute, that's the point...Goddess tradition of today, in all their forms and nuances...
are vast, diverse, and constantly evolving."
When I first began circle work, I was hesitant to call on any but the Great Goddess Sophia, Spirit, source of all my
power. Then in one of my very first meditations to meet my spirit guides, I found myself in a beautiful temple built
up on the edge of a cliff and there I met Diana, Isis and Athena. They proved to be powerful energies in my life and
in my practise. Later as my magick became a part of my everyday life, Vesta took a leading role. But now, as I begin
a new cycle and I find myself at a point of great change, a crossroad in my life, Hekate and Janus have found their
way into my circle.
Meditation to Find Your Patron Deity
Visualize the infinite creative energy of the Universe drawing to you. It gathers and swirls around you, like a gentle
whirlpool moving all around your body. Its cool light softly encompasses you like a great cocoon. You feel lighter
and more relaxed as the loving energy nurtures and revitalizes the energy of your aura. You breathe deep and with
each breath you become more relaxed. The top of head and your ears and eye brows relax. As you take another
breath your jaw softens and you open your mouth and let it relax. Then your shoulders and arms and hands relax.
You take a deep breath that send relaxation into the ends of your fingers and down your back as your chest, belly
and hips relax. Another deep breath allows your legs and ankles and feet to relax until you are light and feel like
you are floating.
You take another deep breath, and as you breathe, you visualize stepping into a forest path. You are walking into
the woods. Notice the branches you step over, the feel of the earth under your feet, the coolness of a gentle breeze
as it stirs your hair and caresses you cheek…
Hear the birds call…
The path leads deeper into the woods and you follow as the trees grow close overhead. You follow the path until
you cross a dry stream bed. Carefully pick your way to the other bank where you climb up the other side.
Here the path turns to stone as it continues up the other side and you begin the gentle climb following along as it
gets even steeper. You observe as you walk that the path you are walking is now a stone staircase etched into the
face of a mountain and you begin to climb and as you look ahead, you see how the gray rock is cut away to make
the hike to the top safe and easy.
You climb until you come to the top where you find a beautiful, open-air, temple carved into the stone. Great stone
pillar support a massive ceiling. You notice an altar covered with candles. You watch as the flames of the candles
dance in the breeze. You step into the temple and notice the pleasant scent of roses surround you, lifting your
spirits and you smile as you draw closer to the altar. One candle in the center is not yet lit. You pick up a long
match, light it from the candle nearest you and light it. Your spirit quiets as you whisper a prayer to meet your
guide.
A soft sound behind you draws your attention and you turn to see a shimmering light. The light takes on a form and
there before you stands your guardian.
Notice their face, their expression. What is their name?
Who Will You Work With?
Establishing a patron deity in your practice does not mean that you are limiting yourself to honoring only them. By
learning about other deities you gain the ability to call on a specific deity for a specific need. And as we grow our
patrons may change.
A list of practical deities:
Gaia is the Greek Mother Earth. She is a fertile life-giving deity whom nurtures all of life on Earth.
Sophia is the goddess of Wisdom She is the creative power that formed the cosmos out of original chaos. She is the
source of all our power.
Bast or the great Egyptian Cat Goddess is known as the protector of women and children. She is often depicted as a
cat or as a woman with the head of a cat or lion. Bast is associated with house and home, fertility, healing and
protection.
Diana is the moon goddess. She is a protector of women and children. She is called the "Mother of All Creatures" in
her nurturing aspect. Her aspect as huntress stems from Neolithic times when her priestesses sacrificed any
invaders to their shores. In Roman myth, as Diana, she was "Queen of Heaven" and was worshipped as a triple
Goddess (Lunar Virgin, Mother of Creatures, and Huntress).
The Goddess Isis originated in Egypt and has inscribed on Her temple in Sais, "I, Isis, am all that has been, that is
or shall be; no mortal man hath ever me unveiled." Isis is the mother goddess of Egypt. She is a powerful sorceress
and patron to both families and magicians. This great 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.
Vesta is the goddess of the hearth and home. She is a Goddess of Fire. "Vesta" means simply "hearth", and comes
from the same root meaning "to shine" as the Greek "Hestia", with whom She was identified. She is considered the
founder of the family and the state and the one who maintains public reverence for the gods.
Athena goddess of wisdom. She is a Greek Goddess of Wisdom and War. Athena is an armed warrior goddess, and
appears in Greek mythology as a helper of many heroes. She is often accompanied by an owl.
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Hekate is the Greek Goddess of Magic. She is also the goddess of the crossroad. The Ancient Greeks would erect
statues (hecataea) of Hekate Trevia ('Hekate of the Three Ways') at crossroads in Her honor. Here travelers could
ask for protection on their journeys.
She is guardian of doorways, She watches over birth and death, and She guides the initiate who dares to pass
between the worlds. Liminal spaces, the transitional state from one fixed point to another, are fearful to most
people but Hekate can guide us through the most difficult and traumatic changes we can know: birth, initiation and
death. We can call upon her protective powers when crossing into new territories or worlds.
As the Goddess of the Underworld, guardian of the crossroads, nightly Hekate appears in sacred places where three
roads meet. She rules over the souls of the dead and instructs mortals in the art of magic, sorcery and witchcraft.
Statuettes of her were placed outside houses or at the crossroads and were consulted as oracles. Once a month,
during the new moon, offerings were made to her to placate the goddess of the underworld but also the ghosts of
the restless. These offerings were called 'Hekate's banquets' or 'Hekate's suppers'.
Her triple shape often is associated with the phases of the moon. The triple shape also is associated with Selene,
Persephone and Artemis, i.e. moon, lower world and earth.
Janus is the Roman God of doors and gateways. He is at the beginning and the end. He is usually depicted with two
faces looking in different directions. With one face, he looks into the past and with the other, into the future.
Hence, Janus is the god of beginnings, of new cycles, of journeys begun and journeys ended. He also oversees
marriages, births and deaths.
Ganesha (Ganesh) is the first born son of Shiva and Parvati. His title is 'he who has discovered the Divinity within
himself'. He is a benevolent deity known the Destroyer of Obstacles, the Lord of Good Fortune, and he who provides
prosperity and fortune. Ganesh represents the power of kindness, love and beauty.
Here is a list of deities by their region of origin organized alphabetically
List of Goddesses
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Abassi Nigerian Sun , Culture
Agé African Wilderness
Anansi West African Moon, Sun, Stars
Anu Sumarian Sky, Heaven
Anubis Egyptian Death
Apollo Greek Sun, Divination
Arawn Celtic Death , Justice
Ares Greek War
Awonawilona South American Creator
Bacabs Mayan 4 Directions
Baldur Norse Innocence, Joy
Borvo Celtic Health, Healing
Brahma Hindu Creation
Cernuuos Celtic Fertility
Chikaro Japan Transportation
Chiuta African Rain, Heavens
Chons Egyptian Moon
Coyote North American Trickster
Cupid Roman Love, Sex
Daikoku Japan Agriculture
Dagda Celtic Father God, Wisdom and Skill
Dionysus Greek Wine, Parties
Enki Persia Wisdom, Truth
Enlil Babylonian Wind, Storms
Erh-Lang China Protection
Faro West Africa Sky, Water, Life
Freyr Norse Fertility, Harvest
Fukurokuju Japan Fortune, Wisdom
Geb Egyptian Earth
Hades Greek Underworld
Heimdell Norse Light, Mankind
Hermes Greek Magick and travel and healing
Horus Egyptian Protecction
Hyperion Greek Sun, Light
Hypnos Greek Sleep, Dreams
Inti Inca Sun, Civilization
Itzamna Mayan Agriculture, Peace
Jade Emperor China Heaven, Earth
Janus Roman God of Doorways
Jupiter Roman Sky
Name Culture Influence
Kane Polynesian Death
Kwatee North American Transformation
Leza Central Africa Creation God
Loki Norse Trickster, Humor
Lu-Xing China Prosperity
Lugh Celtic High King
Mars Roman Protection, strength and courage(warrior energy)
Mercury Roman Travel, Messages
Myrddin Wyllt Celtic Divination
Neptune Roman Sea, Earthquakes
Odin Norse Wisdom, Death
Oghma Celtic Education, Writing
Osiris Egyptian Underworld
Pan Greek Woods,Sheep, Music
Pillan North American Storms, Destruction
Prometheus Greek Comfort, Fire
Quetzalcoatl Aztec Sky, Creation
Ra Egyptian Sun
Ram Hindu Courage, Peace
Raven North American Death, Creativity
Set Egyptian Storms, Destruction
Shiva Hindu Creator, Destroyer
The Great Spirit North American Creation, Nature
The Horned God Celtic Nature
Thor Norse Nature, Thunder
Thoth Egyptian Science, Wisdom
Tirawa-Atius Pawnee Creation
Tupan South American Thunder, Creation
Tyr Norse Combat, Glory
Viracocha Incan Sky, Thunder
Vishnu Hindu Protection
Vulcan Roman Fire, Forge, Volcano
Wele Kenya Creator of All
Zeus Greek Lightning, Thunder, Sky
Zhang-Xian China Birth, Children
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Here is a list of deities by their region of origin organized alphabetically
List of Gods
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