An Introduction to Goddess Spirituality

The Goddess: Some people know her conceptually through mythology, art, and history, while others worship her as a deity and a creator. She is sometimes referred to as the Divine Feminine, the Great Mother, or Mother Earth, though she exists in many different manifestations throughout the world and throughout history. Theologians, archeologists, historians, and experts in folklore have documented thousands of goddesses from many cultures and pantheons, known by countless names and images. They represent not only the feminine aspects of divinity but also aspects of our humanity, and many are still revered today as they were thousands of years ago.

Defining Goddess Spirituality

Goddess spirituality is a catch-all term for traditions that emphasize the worship of the Divine Feminine, either as one Great Goddess or many individual goddesses. Goddess spirituality is practiced in myriad ways today, and there are many different traditions that honor the Divine in feminine form.

Historian and author Anne L. Barstow explains it this way in her essay “The Prehistoric Goddess” in The Book of Goddesses Past and Present: “She is many goddesses. From the settings in which her likenesses are found, we know that she was worshipped variously as the guardian of childbirth, the source of wisdom, the dispenser of healing, the lady of the Beasts, the fount of prophecy, the spirit who presided over death. She preeminently was the symbol of fertility, the guarantor of crops, animals, and humans. In this role, it was the great mother, the earth mother, whose magical powers assured the food supply and continuance of the human race.”

Many people are taught that ancient goddesses are relegated to the past and may be surprised to discover that many of the world’s cultures continue to worship, honor, and pray to female deities. Hindu, Buddhist, African, and Indigenous cultures all over the world are among those that have always communed with female deities and continue to this day. The Goddess is also actively worshipped by Pagan folks and priestesses in goddess temples and at sacred gatherings, such as the Glastonbury Goddess Conference. Additionally, the Divine Feminine is celebrated across the globe by people who take an interfaith and multicultural approach to blending ancient practices with modern customs.

While some traditions take a matriarchal approach and only worship feminine divinities, it is more common to find masculine and feminine aspects of the divine worshipped together. You can find divine consorts celebrated in many religions, such as Hinduism’s Lakshmi and Vishnu. In some Pagan traditions, the Goddess and God are honored together because they represent all aspects of divinity and humanity. Just as Taoism seeks balance in the universe through yin and yang, many earth-based traditions seek the balance of the masculine and feminine principles. It is important to mention, too, that not just women are called to worship the Goddess; men and non-binary practitioners love and honor the Divine Feminine as well.

Goddesses in History

Worship of the Divine Mother was a major aspect of many of the world’s earliest civilizations. This is why we see her represented in images, artifacts, and stories that were passed along through countless generations. Her place in society was carved out in ancient tablets and documented on temple walls. She was personified in statues, reliefs, carvings, ritual tools, and common items such as mirrors and vases. Many of these artifacts live on and remind us of her presence in our world.

There are historical sites around the world that are sacred to the Divine Feminine. These include the Parthenon, the ancient temple devoted to the goddess Athena in Greece, and the ancient temples to the goddess Hathor in Egypt. Many of these sites may not be utilized for worship in the way they were historically intended, but they still hold the energies and mysteries of the past. Many can still be visited today—they have been excavated, restored, and tended to by local governments, preservation organizations, and public historians devoted to keeping this history alive and accessible.

How the Goddess Has Travelled with Us Through Time

Goddess history stretches back through millennia, but many deities that were popular in ancient times are part of modern goddess spirituality. Practitioners perform acts of worship on a regular basis. They may have images, statues, and altars, and connect with her in temples, sacred sites, or even museums. They may honor her in prayers, rituals, sacred circles, teachings, and service to others.

Here are some of the ancient goddess traditions still honored today:

• Ancient Mesopotamian Culture. Mesopotamia was home to the first civilizations; writing was born there, and goddesses ruled. The world’s first recorded author, the priestess Enheduanna, wrote the first formal hymns to Inanna—later referred to as Ishtar—the goddess of love and war, whose story of resurrection and deep learning is still told in reverence today.

• Ancient Egyptian Culture. Ancient Egyptian spirituality has a large pantheon of gods and goddesses. Isis, Hathor, Sekhmet, Bast, and Seshat are among the goddesses that live on in ancient temples and museums. Some modern adherents to Egyptian spirituality utilize variations of ancient practices to honor these deities.

• Indigenous and Native American Cultures. These practices are multi-layered and vary by nation or tribe, but in many Indigenous teachings, there is an underlying devotion to the earth as our mother and an emphasis on honoring the planet and respecting all its inhabitants. These traditions also emphasize kinship with nature, the elements, and the ancestors. Different goddesses are honored by different people. For example, the Lakota people share tales of Ptesáŋwiŋ (White Buffalo Calf Woman), the Navajo have Asdzą́ą́ Nádleehé (Changing Woman), and the Indigenous peoples of the Andes revere Pachamama.

• Hinduism. One of the world’s earliest religions, Hinduism emphasizes the worship of both gods and goddesses as written into the sacred texts, with the Vedas being among the earliest religious writings that offered prescriptions for goddess worship. It is believed there is one God who is represented in many manifestations. Hindu philosophy also considers the Divine Mother as the primal creator of the universe. She also manifests as individual goddesses like Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati, Kali, and Durga.

• Buddhism. This tradition came after Hinduism, and it honors some of the same deities, but there are also many unique Buddhist goddesses. Female bodhisattvas, sometimes called Female Buddhas, are among the most famous goddesses in the world. Kuan Yin is a Chinese Buddhist Goddess, called Kannon in Japan. Tara is a popular Tibetan Buddhist goddess. She is honored in a rainbow of colors, including green, white, and red.

• Shintoism. Goddesses and gods in this tradition are called kami. Amaterasu is the Japanese Shinto goddess of the sun, considered the chief deity of the pantheon. There are many temples to her in Japan, and Japanese emperors are said to have a direct link to her divine presence and powers. She is often written about alongside Uzume, the Shinto shaman goddess, who made Amaterasu smile on a dark day and brought back the sun.

• Greek and Roman Traditions. The ancient Greeks worshipped many goddesses—such as Aphrodite, Athena, and Artemis—who are still adored today. Greek mythology is taught in many schools and is widely represented throughout the ages in art and literature. The Romans adapted their pantheon of gods and goddesses from the Greeks but changed most of their names; the aforementioned Greek deities were renamed Venus, Minerva, and Diana, respectively.

• Celtic Spirituality. The Celts in Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland lived generally by the Wheel of the Year, which is still used by many modern Pagan practitioners to chart their year of worship, holy days, and sabbats. In the early days of Celtic Christianity, when the old religion was traded for the new, the Celts did not want to give up their goddesses, so the goddesses were “transformed” into saints. For example, the goddess Brigid became St. Bridget.

• Norse Paganism. The ancient Norse religion boasts a pantheon of gods and goddesses, many of them paired with consorts. They all have colorful stories and special roles. Goddesses such as Freyja and Frigga are still celebrated today.

• African Cultures. Many of the old religions of Africa, such as Yoruba, are part of current-day worship. Divinities are known as orishas. Yemaya, Oshun, and Oya are among those goddesses who are important to this faith, each with consorts and powerful roles.

• Ancient Hebrew Culture. Anath, Ashera, and Astarte were goddesses who were revered in early Judaic culture. When Moses received the Ten Commandments (which included “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me” and “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image”), people of the Jewish faith moved on from ancient deities. However, the mystical aspect of Judaism has maintained reverence for feminine divinity and honors Shekhinah, the indwelling, feminine aspect of God.

• Early Christianity. Some feminist scholars and goddess practitioners see Mary Magdalene as a sacred figure. The Gnostic Gospel of Thomas, discovered in 1945, portrays Mary Magdalene as a disciple, singled out by Jesus for special teachings. Mary, the mother of Jesus, is also a beloved divine being. She is a universal spiritual mother for people of all faiths. For many years, she was the most visible and accessible female divinity.

An Interfaith Prayer to the Divine Mother

Some practitioners of goddess spirituality favor complex rituals and deep spiritual focus. Others may ask for her help in simple prayer. Here is one you can easily use, no matter your faith tradition:

Divine Mother of All there is,
Please fill this space with your sacred presence.
Please protect me with your light.
Please help me heal and be healthy.
Please bring me opportunities and prosperity.
Please show me the path that is meant for me.
Please walk with me on the journey.
I am grateful for your grace and goodness.
May you bless our world with peace and love.
And so it is.

Would you bring a goddess to therapy?