winter goddess
Winter Solstice is a magical season that marks the journey from this year to the next, journeys of the spirit from one world to the next, and the magic of birth, death, and rebirth.
Lady of Ten Thousand Names
Throughout the world gods and goddesses of light were being born during the Winter Solstice. The Egyptian goddess Isis delivered Horus whose symbol was the winged Sun. As the personification of the “complete female”, Isis was called “The One Who Is All”, Isis Panthea (“Isis the All Goddess”), and the “Lady of Ten Thousand Names”. The goddess Isis, a moon goddess, gave birth to Horus, the god of the sun. Together, Isis and Horus created and sustained all life and were the saviors of their people. More than any other of the ancient Egyptian goddesses, Isis embodied the characteristics of all the lesser goddesses that preceded her. Isis became the model on which future generations of female deities in other cultures were to be based.
Angel of light
Mithras, the Unconquered Sun of Persia, was born during the solstice. The origin of the cult of Mithra dates from the time that the Hindus and Persians still formed one people, for the god Mithra occurs in the religion and the books of both races i.e. in the Vedas and in the Avesta. He was identified on the one hand with the sun, or Helios, on the other, with Apollo and Hermes. Mithra was originally conceived of as a kind of angel, a power of light who fights on the side of Ahura-Mazda (the Zoroastrian Lord of Wisdom).
Song and Dance, Wisdom in Humor
Amaterasu, Goddess of the Sun in Japanese mythology, was a beautiful and compassionate goddess who ruled both the sun and the heavenly fields of rice that fed the Japanese people. She was also born during the Solstice. Uzume was a lesser goddess, responsible for laughter and revelry. The goddesses Amaterasu and Uzume teach us about the healing power of laughter and dance, and remind us that we can often find healing and wisdom in humor.
Goddess of Light
Rhea gave birth to Saturn (son of the Father of Time), Hera (Queen of the Olympian deities, goddess of marriage and birth) conceives Hephaestus, and Quetzalcoatl ( Aztec god of human sustenance, penitent, self-sacrifice, re-birth and butterflies) and Lucina (“Little Light”) also celebrate birthdays at this time. Lucia, saint or Goddess of Light, is honored from Italy to Sweden, crowned with candles to carry us through the darkness. The birth of Sarasvati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge and the Queen of Heaven, is also celebrated during Yule-tide.
In Greek mythology, Rhea is the mother of the gods. She is identified with mother goddess Cybele from Asia Minor and is also known as Rhea Cybele and Magna Mater (“Great Mother“). She was worshipped with orgiastic rites. Rhea is depicted between two lions or on a chariot pulled by lions.
Mother Night
In Northern Europe, the year’s longest night is called “Mother Night” for it was in darkness the goddess Frigga the goddess of love, marriage, and destiny labored to bring the Light to birth once more. A sky goddess, responsible for weaving the clouds (and therefore for sunshine and rain and the fertility of the crops), she was also responsible for weaving the fates. She was known as a ‘seer’, one who knew the future though she could never change it. Her offspring was the Young Sun, Baldur, who controlled the sun and rain and brings fruitfulness to the fields, was born. Frigga’s blessing is invoked for all birthing women, and a white candle that last burned on the solstice is kept as a charm to provide a safe delivery. Frigga is credited with the development of runes as a tool for divination. Runes are stones marked with signs which, when selected, tell what “issues” you are currently confronting in your life and where you need to head to find the answers you seek.
Fertility and First Fruits
Winter Solstice is also a time of plenty. The Hopi Kachinas return to the Earth during the solstice, and the Deer Mothers dance for the fertility of the earth. The hearth fires of Hestia (known as the Roman goddess Vesta) are quenched and then rekindled. The “first fruits” festival, Kwanzaa, is held to honor the seven major deities of Yoruba.
Dreams and Visions
And Winter Solstice is a time for visions. Rhiannon, a Welsh incarnation of Epona, the Celtic Mare Goddess, rides through the dreams of her people by night, transporting them to the place between the worlds where they can create their own visions, giving them a gift of what they need most, helping them to realize their dreams.
All Hail the Winter Goddess, who brings us the Sun
Winter Solstice is a magical season that marks the journey from this year to the next, journeys of the spirit from one world to the next, and the magic of birth, death, and rebirth.
This is the longest night of the year and this night we use our circle to travel back in time. We remember what the lengthening nights meant to an agrarian people in times before easy food storage, the very young, old and pregnant were at great risk in the winter. There were many who would die in the darkness. The light would come again to warm the land. The people developed calendars. They were able to determine the nights of the Solstices and Equinoxes. When the night of the change came it was cause for a great celebration.
We, too, celebrate the rebirth, of the Sun, the Winter Goddess/God within ourselves. Rosemary, fir and pine have been placed on the altar to remind us that our souls are “evergreen”. We take the time to write descriptions of our inner selves, and try to see ourselves as we are in the so-called “real world”. We look objectively at our attachments and aversions and write down the things of both worlds that hold us back from achieving our purpose. Then we examine the ways we can “break through” them. As we warm ourselves by the yule fire, we contemplate:
- Embracing the presence of feminine energy and personality in our planet and in ourselves;
- Connecting with feminine energy and personality by consciously living with love, abundance, grace, and purposefulness.
This is the Darkness of the womb. This is the time before time itself begins. We cast our circle, we call on the Winter Goddess to bring back the Light, to warm the earth again to fruitfulness; to enlighten us.
All Hail the Winter Goddess!
Reference and recommended reading: Goddess Gift
Thanks for the reminder – and for a very good summary of relevant myths. Happy Solstice!
Fascinating read, TT. I’ve just recently posted a poem called Solstice… strange coincidence isn’t it? Hmmm…
PS: I hope you don’t mind me having tagged you for a game… the details are here:
Tony Singles last blog post..Six Random Things About Me [Trottersville #90]
Wow, TimeThief, this post has blown me away. I always enjoy my visits to your blog. Your post has been so well written and thoroughly researched, which are characteristics I’ve come to associate with your work. You set a great example for other bloggers. – Scott
Latest post:
Solstice Winter North Summer South 2008
http://www.thespiritualityblog.com/current-events/solstice-winter-north-summer-south-2008/
This is a wonderful article. I don’t know much about religions or beliefs outside of Christianity. What I do know is how to accept people for who they are and not involve religion into it. Religion tends to tangle things up and a lot of what I learned in church felt more like brainwashing.
My Christian upbringing taught me everyone else is wrong. My thirst for knowledge has taught me no one is wrong. However, you do have to dig the good stuff out from underneath the garbage.
I love this article for the knowledge I didn’t have previous to reading. This explains why you are wishing everyone a Merry or Happy Solstice. I had read quite a few books on religion outside of the one I grew up in and knew a little bit. It’s hard to grasp something you don’t completely understand. You have put understanding into something I did not or could not comprehend before so, for that, thank you.
Shirleys last blog post..Proof Positivity: Toys That Are Safe
A Luvly read..
I always try to escape winter but can’t..
I gotta bring the light..
Thnx
I love how theologies from a variety of world cultures have such a strong habit of aligning along such parallel lines. That sort of synchronicity among cultures is something that a lot of us have forgotten, I think. In many ways, we’re more alike than we would like to believe. Great post.
Gabriel – Gadfly Revolutions last blog post..The Global Oneness Project
Interesting stuff (as usual.) Happy belated solstice! Best to you & yours for 2009!
Lana Gramlichs last blog post..SkyWatch
timethief, this was my first (definitely not the last!) visit to your blog. Your research and writing inspires me. I REALLY loved reading about all the goddesses born on the solstice as I was :-) The winter holidays exude a magical mystical energy. Sarasvati has been emblematic for me ever since I lived in Mumbai (1993-94) and brought home a wooden statue – now the centerpiece of my yoga studio altar. Thanks for posting on the longest night.
carolyns last blog post..divine dissatisfaction
@Dave
Thanks for reading my blog posts throughout the year. I hope your holiday season is filled with the light of love and good cheer.
@Tony
Your poem touched me very deeply. May I have your permission to read it out loud at our Winter Solstice celebration next year please?
@Scott,
I’m so glad you liked it. The book I recommend contains much more information on the history and is a fascinating read.
@Shirley
My childhood was the same. Everything Christian was supposedly “right and true” and everything else was “wrong and untrue”. It took me years to sort through the garbage that had been pounded into my head. But it was well worth the effort to clear my head of that toxic waste and learn about other cultures and faiths.
I’m glad you like this post and would like to recommend that you read the book. It’s really interesting.
May you and your family enjoy a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in your new home. :)
@Dosox
Yes indeed this time of the year is all about bringing back the light. I hope your holiday is wonderful. Thanks for commenting. :)
@Lana
Right back at you and Charles. :)
@Carolyn
I was so excited today when I followed your trail back to your BC profile page and read your blog. I also feel a strong connection to Sarasvati, the Hindu Goddess of all arts: music, painting, sculpture, dance, and writing. She is credited with presenting the gift of writing to mankind and I consider her to be a muse. It’s great to meet you and thanks for befriending me too. :)
Wishing you warm nights and happy days during your solstice celebration. While I celebrate Christmas and the birth of Christ, I do respect others beliefs and hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
Such a great article for this time of year when we all need to quietly look at the past and think of the future for everyone in the ‘circle’. We realize we are in no way the center of it all. Throughout the ages, cultures, and beliefs, some ‘stories’ recur and bring a fundamental truth and understanding.
Thank you for putting yourself into this.
SBAs last blog post..‘Tis The Season For Bloggers Too
@Cindy
It’s wonderful to hear from you.Have a Merry Christmas.
@SBA
Indeed your observation of the circle is very astute. There are big changes coming and frankly I’m surprised at how backward and frightened many Americans are in this regard. May the circle be unbroken. May our love for one another be ever in our hearts. Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again.
Thanks for such an interesting post, TT. It was good reading and although I had heard of a few of these gods and goddesses, most I had not. I didn’t realize what runes are and following the holidays, I think I’ll need some!
BTW, thanks for stopping by and leaving such a nice comment on the festive Lucy…she appreciates it. And hope you have better luck with photos of your doggies…sounds like you have your hands full with four!
Happy Solstice, Merry (belated) Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
earthtohollys last blog post..Sleepy holidays
@reathtoholly
I’ve been thinking of getting myself runes this year and also learning about tarot. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. :)
thank you so much for reminding all of where the celebration originated along with excellent overview of the dying/rising god symbolism found in nature. The concept is similar in the East, in Hinduism, where the phases of a woman’s life mark the phases of the year, along with a male consort to make them one, neither male nor female, as the spirit is neither male nor female. Shiva is best known: creation and destruction, for w/out one, we cannot have the other. From youth, Persephone, to mature nurturer/protector, Demeter, to warrior/justice, Athena, to the wise crone, Hecate, the 4-faced or more typically triple Goddess shows her aspects. You write well.
r,k., the tricksters last blog post..Slaying Heritage
I’m so glad you like the post. Right now I have such a terrible flu or cold or whatever that I can’t think well enough to write. :(
Every time i come here I am not dissapointed, nice post
Thank you :)
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