Other Gods And Goddesses – Deities For Power

Because the deities come from so many cultures and times,it is important to invoke only the positive qualities you need and to rememberthat some did reflect dark as well as benign aspects of divinity. For example,Diana, the goddess of the Moon and the hunt, is thought by most to be asympathetic soul; but you might be surprised to learn that she would, accordingto myth, have her rejected lovers torn apart by her hounds. So, when setting upyour icons, read about them first, and decide which are the attributes that willassist your magical workings. Some deities fit into more than one category, soI have listed them under their most significant one.

DeitiesFor Power

These deities may be invoked for strength, success,energy, inspiration and increase.

Apollo

Apollo, the Greek Sun God, was twin brother of Artemis,the Moon Goddess. As god of the solar light, Apollo made the fruits of theEarth ripen, and at Delos and Delphi where heslew Python, the first crops were dedicated to him. (Python, the greatlightning serpent, was the son-consort of the Mother Goddess in her form ofDelphyne, the Womb of Creation, fertilised by Python. Python in this sensepredated all other gods and was later called the Dark Sun, Apollo’s alter ego.The Ancient Greeks rededicated his shrine to Apollo.)

Apollo was god of prophecy as well as music, poetry,archery, healing and divination. He is very strongly animus and is good for allrituals of power, ambition and inspiration, as well as those areas under hispatronage. Men tend to work better with him than women.

Aine

Aine is daughter of Manananann, CelticSea God and ruler of the Isle of Man and goddess of the cycles of the solar andlunar year. Even during the twentieth century, she was remembered on the Hillof Aine in Ireland,by torchlight processions and burning straw at midsummer and also at the oldcorn harvest, Lughnassadh, at the beginning of August. She is also linked withlove, fertility and healing.

Ama-terasuOmikami

Ama-terasu Omikami is the Ancient Japanese Sun Goddess.Her name means ‘Great August Spirit Shining in Heaven’ but she is also calledShinmet, ‘Divine Radiance’ and O-hiru-me-no-muchi, ‘Great Female Possessor ofNoon’.

She is good for female-focused Sun rituals and forceremonial magick.

Helios

The Greek god Helios, known to the Romans as Sol, wasregarded as the Sun itself. He ascended the heavens in a chariot drawn bywinged snow-white horses to give light and in the evening descended into theocean. Homer wrote:

‘Drawn in his swift chariot, he sheds light on gods and menalike; the formidable flash of his eyes pierces his golden helmet, sparklingrays glint from his breast and his brilliant helmet gives forth a dazzlingsplendour. His body is draped in shining gauze, whipped by the wind.’

He is especially associated with the life force andrenewing health and energy.

Horus

Horus was the Ancient Egyptian Sky God, represented as afalcon or a falcon-headed man. His eyes were the Sun and Moon and his wingscould extend across the entire heavens. He was frequently associated with themorning aspect of Ra, the Sun God, and worshipped as Re-Harakhte. The son ofIsis and Osiris, he is often depicted as an infant on his mother’s lap andtogether the parents and child form a trinity.

Horus brings clarity of mind and purpose and the abilityto seize upon an opportunity, and is effective for uncovering secrets,deception and illusion.

Lugh

Lugh, the Celtic ‘shining one’, who gives his name toLughnassadh, Celtic festival of the first harvest, was the young solar deitywho replaced the Dagda, father of the gods, as supreme king. He was associatedwith sacrifice, as the Sun King who was reborn each year at either themid-winter solstice or the spring equinox.

Legend has it that when Lugh arrived to join the Tuathade Danaan, he went to the palace of Tara and asked for aposition in the court. (The Tuatha de Danaan were the ancient Irish gods andgoddesses, literally ‘the tribe of Danu’, who was the creatrix goddess.) Hesaid he was a carpenter, but was told that the company of gods already had one.

Lugh then declared he was a smith but again was told thatthe deities possessed such a craftsman. He then announced that he was a poet,then in turn a warrior, historian, hero and sorcerer. Each position was filled.Lugh then demanded whether any one person could perform all these tasks as hecould. As a result, he was admitted to the Tuatha de Danaan and eventuallybecame their leader.

You can invoke Lugh especially at the time ofLughnassadh, for the reaping of benefits sown earlier in the year, but also atany time for adaptability, versatility, innovation and originality.