Shen - Legendary ladies: 50 goddesses to empower and inspire you

Copyright 2018 by Ann Shen.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

ISBN: 978-1-4521-6348-2 (ebook, mobi)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data available.

ISBN: 978-1-4521-6341-3 (hc)

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Mythology is a funny thing. When you really think about it, mythology is, at the rootwith all due respect to that which is sacred and religiousstories that we have told ourselves about our own origins. Humans have long searched for answers about how we came to be, why we came to be, and what our purpose is. Weve experienced many of the same struggles, no matter the trappings of our time and place in history. Mythology reveals all this. It unveils our truest desires, our greatest needs, and our most painful experiences: it lays it bare at our feet and reveals the truth about ourselves and the cultures that have shaped and interpreted these myths. Maybe even better than history and facts have donebecause myths tell us more about whats truly important to us and what a cultures ideals are.

Goddesses have been a part of mythology since the very beginning, many responsible for creating the world as we know it. The divine feminine is often the force of life itself, from which we all stem, and working with it is a way to acknowledge the creator in each of us and the spirit of protection, courage, and love. Many of the goddesses have tales of overcoming, of manifestingcreating things from the power of thought aloneand of unflappable strength. While their stories and dominions vary, the goddesses here have one great common thread: they have all found their own power. And through their stories, and perhaps a little bit of faith and magic, they will empower you.

In the pages that follow, theres a diverse range of goddesses from many major pantheons across the globe. They represent the things that we value and seek in our lives: creativity, manifestation, love, power, protection, and reinvention. Their stories are wildly diverse; yet some are similar across great distances, illustrating what we value despite borders between us.

Here you will find primordial goddesses who existed before time itself, playful divinities who love to intervene with our mortal coils, and your greatest champions. Many have stories of great adventure, of courage, of sacrifice. All have stories that will help guide you in your everyday life.

Throughout, a common thread runs: that the masculine does not exist without the feminine, that they are two parts of every living being on Earth. Recent history has been largely patriarchal, which means the divine feminine has been oppressed for much too long. Hopefully you will find a patron goddess (or many) in here with whom you can connectfor guidance, for growth, for strength, or for whatever you need at this stage in your life. Use the categories to find a goddess to help you through where you are currently; refer back often as your life changes. Or simply enjoy their stories and be emboldened by this long history of women who have been integral in the foundation of many civilizations.

The divine feminine has always been here and will continue to be a part of our stories. Now its up to you to honor it within yourself, because you are a descendent of these wild, willful women. These are our collective mothers, after all.

ORIGIN: Hindu

MYTHOLOGY: Mother of the endless universe, Aditi is one of the earliest sky goddesses in the Hindu pantheon. Her name translates to limitless, just like her reach and powers. She existed before time and is said to be the goddess of the past and the future, controlling all of time. Aditi is also the source of the stars, suns, planets, and moons and then gave birth to twelve Adityas, who were spirits that became the twelve Zodiac signs. They take turns ruling the cosmos by month and created all the gods and goddesses. Shes known as the Mother Cow and Cow of Light, as she nurtures the universe and is sometimes depicted as a cow.

ORIGIN: Greek (Roman: Minerva)

MYTHOLOGY: Daughter of Zeus, Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, arts, and war, making her a triple threat and a central figure of feminine and intellectual strength. In Greek legend, Athena sprang fully grown, wearing her golden armor, from Zeuss head after he swallowed her pregnant mother, Metis. Athena competed with Poseidon to be the patron god of the Greek capital. Poseidon gave them the gift of a saltwater well, which they could not drink from. Athena gave them an olive treewhich provided shade from the sun, oil for their lamps, and olives to eat. Its no wonder the capital city then became Athens and she its deity. Today, the olive branch still serves as a universal symbol of peace.

Although known as the goddess of war, Athena represents the reason and strategy aspect of battle. Shes often portrayed with an owl on her right shoulder, representing wisdom, and Medusa on her shield, representing Athenas ties to earlier mythologies from pre-Greek cultures. Athena is also credited with gifting the world with art, and teaching humans weaving, pottery, and architecture. The Parthenon is the most famous temple built in honor of Athenaher wisdom guided architects in building itand it stood as a tribute to her famous virtue and sexual modesty, a divergence from the Greek gods typical romantic involvements.