Ancient Legends & Myths

Based on an ancient original located at the British Museum, London Late Period, 664-332 B.C.

She is a feline goddess, daughter of the sun god “Ra”. Bastet was originally a lion goddess, but after 1000 B.C. as her cult developed, she became more associated with the cat and was considered to be the center counterpart of the lion goddess Sekhmet. Cats could be observed skillfully hunting and catching snakes, which had special relevance for the Egyptians since the snake was the symbol of Apophis, the demonic enemy of the sun god Ra. So cats became animals sacred to the solar deity. Bastet was especially worshipped at her temple at Bubastis (“the house of Bastet”). As a sun goddess, Bastet was the goddess of plenty and the mistress of pleasure. The celebrating of her festivals were renowned for being the most lavish of all the gods of Egypt. Bastet was also associated with the moon and in myth became the eye of the moon. The Greeks associated her with the Greek goddess Artemis. She is usually depicted as a cat-headed woman. In one hand she holds a sistrum, a kind of musical rattle, and in her other hand she holds an aegis which is a symbolic shield of protection in the form of a golden collar decorated with a cat head.

Egyptian Museum, Cairo. 600 B.C.

Cats were sacred to Bastet, a sun goddess who represents the warm, life giving power of the sun. She was known as the goddess of joy and protector of women. She is usually represented as a lion or cat-headed figure. In the New Kingdom, the male cat was regarded as an incarnation of the Sun God and the female cat was equated with the solar eye. Feline figures may display a scarab, the symbol of the rising sun, engraved on the head or breast thus showing their solar significance. Hundreds of figures were set up as votive offerings in the temple of Bastet at Bubastis in order that the donor might share in the Goddess's grace. Actual mummies of cats were buried by the thousands in special cemeteries in the area. Cats protected the temples from snakes. The ancient Egyptians held cats in the highest esteem and the penalties for injuring or killing a cat were very severe.

In Sweden, the life-size wooden image of this Lord of animal and vegetation fertility was carried in spring by wagon to marry his sweetheart Gerd. He was accompanied by a maiden chosen to represent his consort-sister Freya. This gentle phallic god, much like Celtic Kernunnos, is associated with stag, bull, board and stallion. (Sweden, 11th century, C.E. )

Her name means “The Dwelling of Horus”, for it was thought that Horus as the Sun God came to rest each evening on her breast before being reborn with the awakening dawn. Hathor is the great Sky-Goddess that as a celestial cow gave birth to the universe. She was often represented as a cow or with bovine attributes such as a cow’s head, cow’s ears or horns on her headdress. Hathor was the Goddess of Joy and Motherhood and the embodiment of all that is best in women. She was also considered the Goddess of music, song, dance and lighthearted pleasure, but she was essentially a Moon Goddess. She was considered the protectress of pregnant women and midwives. Her main cult centre was at Dendera, where she was worshipped along with her husband, Horus. Hathor was the Supreme Goddess of sexual love in Egypt, immediately identified with Aphrodite by the Greeks. Her temple at Dendera was “The House of Intoxication and Enjoyment”. Her main attributes were two ritual instruments carried by her priestesses, the sistrum, a bronze sacred rattle and the menat, a necklace, thick with beads and a counterpoise long enough to be grasped in the hand which was only worn by Hathor, but used by her priestesses as a healing instrument.

Hestia, in the high dwellings of all, both deathless gods and men who walk on earth, you have gained an everlasting abode and highest honor: glorious is your portion and your right. For without you mortals hold no banquet, - where one does not duly pour sweet wine in offering to Hestia both first and last.
~Homeric Hymn to Hestia~

Daughter of Chronos and Rhea, Hestia is Hearth, the first born of the Olympians. Hestia, who discovered how to build houses, extends her power over altars, hearths, and states. All prayers and sacrifices end with this goddess, because she is the guardian of the innermost things. She is a virgin goddess and can never be ensnared by the goddess of love. Instead of marriage, Zeus granted that her place should be in the very midst of the house. For that reason mortals did not hold banquet without offering to Hestia both first and last, and many homes naturally included an altar to Hestia.

Her Roman name was Vesta, and her Vestal Virgins tended the sacred flame of Rome. [Vesta Giustiniani, Roman copy of a Greek work c. 470 B.C.E.]

The name Isis means “seat” or “throne”. She was regarded as the symbolical mother of the King. In myth, she sought her dead husband and brother, Osiris, conceived her son Horus by him, buried and mourned him together with her sister Nephtys. Isis was regarded as the “Eye of Ra” and was worshipped as the “Great of Magic” who had protected her son Horus from snakes, predators and other dangers: thus she would protect mortal children also. The ancient Egyptians regarded the Goddess as the “Eye of Ra”. Here she carries the ankh and the papyrus scepter of Goddesses; the horns and sun disk of Hathor. She wears a feather dress and a headdress composed of a vulture, showing that she was identified with the Goddess Mut.

Kerridwin is the Welsh Triple Goddess. Her cauldron was the Celtic symbol for prosperity and rebirth, and she herself is the Mother Goddess, famous for nurturing her children. Her totem animal, the corpse-connected white sow, represents the moon as well as Kerridwin's crone/transformatrix aspect. The great bard Taliesin (often thought to be Merlin), born of the goddess according to a favorite Celtic regeneration myth, attributed his magic talents to her. She can be equated with Greek Demeter, Anatolian Diana of Ephesus, and Kali, all goddesses who both give and take away.

Maat, Goddess of True Order, brings Balance
Maat's ostrich plume represents the delicate balance between order and chaos in the universe as well as in the human soul. The daughter of Ra, she administered law and justice. Pharaohs looked to her for guidance. Maat will bring order out of chaos, helping you to feel balanced.

Morrigan is the Celtic Goddess of Destruction/Creation. Elaborated from an Epona plaque, this image depicts the Irish triple goddess: Ana, the fertility maiden; Badb( "bave"), the boiling mother cauldron, producer of life; and Macha, the death-crone symbolized by the carrion-devouring raven. Oral tradition says the Celtic dying god Cu Chulainn was met by the beautiful chariot-mounted goddess with red eyes and cloak. She cursed him to death that his blood might fertilize the earth, then transformed herself into Badb Catha, the Raven of Battle who induces panic in warriors. Morrigan evolved into Morgana Le Fay, sorceress of Arthurian legend.

Harakhte, whose name meant “Horus of the Horizon”, and who was also called “Horus of the Two Horizons”, was the form which Horus took when his early characteristics as a god of light were emphasized. He was identified with Ra as he made his daily journey from the eastern to the western horizon, and especially with his Khepri and Atum aspects. The roles of the two gods as solar and as royal deities became inextricably mixed, and under their combined authority Ra-Harakhte held sway over all Egypt. He was represented as a falcon or a falcon-headed man wearing the solar disk and triple crown or the uraeus and the atef crown.

Egyptian Museum, Cairo XXVI Dynasty, 600 B.C.

Together with her husband Ptah and her son Nefertem, Sekhmet made up the Memphis Triad. Her name meant "The Mighty One". Her nature being that of a Goddess of War, she accompanied the King to battle and was often described as his mother. She spread terror everywhere; the henchmen of Seth and even the serpent Apophis succumbed to her. Sekhmet was represented as a lioness or as a woman with lion's head. Her weapons were arrows "with which she pierces hearts" and a fiery glow emanated from her body. The hot desert winds were regarded as the Goddess's hot breath. She was connected with the fire-spitting Uraeus of the King and thereby became the "Eye of Ra". Sekhmet was also regarded as the one "Great of Magic" whose knowledge of sorcery gave her a place in the service of healing.

Sophia's Wisdom unblocks Creativity
Early Greek Christians portrayed the feminine face of God as Hagia Sophia, or "Holy Female Wisdom." It was believed that Sophia's spirit entered Mary to conceive Jesus and, as a dove, entered Jesus at his baptism. She gave voice to the apostles at Pentecost. Now Sophia can grace your wall or shelf with a powerful blessing.
[Plaque icon, Constantinople, c. 537 CE]

Thor, the Thunderer, controlled weather during the brief growing season, hence he was the most important of the Norse gods. He was considered to be the son of Odin, by some March 6, 2010 . He is considered the protector of Migard and he wields a mighty hammer called Mjollnir. His hammer Mjollnir created lightening and thunder. Of all the gods, Thor is considered the most "barbarian" but is still faithful to the rest of Aesir. Thursday (Thorsdaeg) is sacred to him. He was originally a bull-god. May his vitality make you strong!