| ~ SISTERS IN FREYA'S MOON ~ THE GODDESS ASHTORETH/ASHERAH Goddess of the moon and fertility Goddess of the sea BY NIKIAH |
| How delightful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much more pleasing is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your ointment than any spice!... Your plants are an orchard of pomegranates with choice fruits, with henna and nard, nard and saffron, cannabis and cinnamon, with every kind of incense tree..."(Song of Songs 4:8-14) “ I am Black but I am Beautiful, Oh you daughters of Israel”. |
| Image from: Sacred source |
Ashtoreth is the name I most love of the many names given to the
goddess also known as Asherah, and so I have chosen to alternate her
names Asherah and Ashtoreth throughout my writings on her.
I was first drawn to Astoreth as a part of seeking answers to my parents
chosen religion. This is the religion I was raised in and it is the religion I
left at the age of 15. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have always in my mind
been very close in relation to the Jewish faith and I always wondered why
my parents chose it over being Jewish. I felt a need to reclaim some of
my chosen path, because choosing to leave in the way that I did was a
very serious decison for me and meant loosing my family and
community. At the tender age of 15 I found myself living on my own.
Many years later after the birth of my son I discovered the goddess
Inanna in a book I was reading called Mother Mysteries By : Marian
Tonder-Hansen. This book changed how I viewed myself and I began to
relate and attune to the goddess Inanna, whom it is said could also be yet
another name for Asherah. Looking back and doing deep digging on this
goddess I can now see that my choice of Ashtoreth was a perfect re-
claiming second name for me and I am honored to have it as part of me.
Ashtoreth in all of her aspects came to represent a reclaiming for me, a
taking back the feminine goddess in myself and leaving behind the
patriarcal religion I was raised in.
The Goddess Asherah.
In the 15th century BC Asherah was a goddess of many names and many
meanings. Ashtoreth, Astarte, Ishtar and even Inanna, Atharath, Elath,
Eliat are some of her many names. She was also known as the mother of
the Goddess Anath and consort of Yahweh, moon goddess to the
Phoenicians, and to the Syrian’s she was the goddess of love, fertility
and renewal. She was also known as “she who walked the sea” and
Queen of heaven and earth. Asherah was associated with the Tree of Life.
Some would say that the translation of her name means "sacred grove".
Asherah was also widely known in the Middle Eastern world as a
Goddess of Healing. She was removed forcibly from the Old Testament
Hebrew Scriptures around 400 or 500 B.C.
Ashtoreth had many things that were sacred to her; she is often shown
as standing with an Ibex or lion on either side of her.
Ashtoreth was made into many artistic forms sometimes as statues or
pillars as well as being stamped on amulets. It could be that the women
would wear these amulets during childbirth for protection and love from
the goddess.
Asherah was often made as a wooden carving on the ground beside
homes in those who worshipped her. She was also made into clay
statues without legs, thus representing her as a tree. Idols of her were
found also in forests, carved into trees, or on poles beside altars
dedicated to her at the side of main roads.
goddess also known as Asherah, and so I have chosen to alternate her
names Asherah and Ashtoreth throughout my writings on her.
I was first drawn to Astoreth as a part of seeking answers to my parents
chosen religion. This is the religion I was raised in and it is the religion I
left at the age of 15. The Jehovah’s Witnesses have always in my mind
been very close in relation to the Jewish faith and I always wondered why
my parents chose it over being Jewish. I felt a need to reclaim some of
my chosen path, because choosing to leave in the way that I did was a
very serious decison for me and meant loosing my family and
community. At the tender age of 15 I found myself living on my own.
Many years later after the birth of my son I discovered the goddess
Inanna in a book I was reading called Mother Mysteries By : Marian
Tonder-Hansen. This book changed how I viewed myself and I began to
relate and attune to the goddess Inanna, whom it is said could also be yet
another name for Asherah. Looking back and doing deep digging on this
goddess I can now see that my choice of Ashtoreth was a perfect re-
claiming second name for me and I am honored to have it as part of me.
Ashtoreth in all of her aspects came to represent a reclaiming for me, a
taking back the feminine goddess in myself and leaving behind the
patriarcal religion I was raised in.
The Goddess Asherah.
In the 15th century BC Asherah was a goddess of many names and many
meanings. Ashtoreth, Astarte, Ishtar and even Inanna, Atharath, Elath,
Eliat are some of her many names. She was also known as the mother of
the Goddess Anath and consort of Yahweh, moon goddess to the
Phoenicians, and to the Syrian’s she was the goddess of love, fertility
and renewal. She was also known as “she who walked the sea” and
Queen of heaven and earth. Asherah was associated with the Tree of Life.
Some would say that the translation of her name means "sacred grove".
Asherah was also widely known in the Middle Eastern world as a
Goddess of Healing. She was removed forcibly from the Old Testament
Hebrew Scriptures around 400 or 500 B.C.
Ashtoreth had many things that were sacred to her; she is often shown
as standing with an Ibex or lion on either side of her.
Ashtoreth was made into many artistic forms sometimes as statues or
pillars as well as being stamped on amulets. It could be that the women
would wear these amulets during childbirth for protection and love from
the goddess.
Asherah was often made as a wooden carving on the ground beside
homes in those who worshipped her. She was also made into clay
statues without legs, thus representing her as a tree. Idols of her were
found also in forests, carved into trees, or on poles beside altars
dedicated to her at the side of main roads.
Some have said that Asherah was a sacred prostitute but as I
continued my study of her, I found more that she was worshiped
by women that were sacred prostitutes themselves as a
goddess of love and fertility, believing that she would bring them
prosperity and grace.
Many Hebrew households had altars dedicated to the goddess
Asherah, and many images of her were found in the ruins of their
kitchens. Perhaps families believed that she would bring them
blessings or even help them to achieve their dreams.
It is my hypothesis that women would bring her image to their
births for strength. Being known as a goddess of the moon and
as someone who has the power to walk on water, it makes
sense to me that she also had powers to help women and their
babies during the watery depths of amniotic fluid, and life
giving birth.
Once a year there was a festival in her name where children
would gather feathers and small stones as offerings to the
goddess. Women would bake a small loaf of bread marked to the
goddess with raisins and take it to here alter or sacred groove.
"Raisin cakes: offerings to the fertility goddess Ashera, the
female counterpart of Baal; cf Jer 7:18; 44:19."
continued my study of her, I found more that she was worshiped
by women that were sacred prostitutes themselves as a
goddess of love and fertility, believing that she would bring them
prosperity and grace.
Many Hebrew households had altars dedicated to the goddess
Asherah, and many images of her were found in the ruins of their
kitchens. Perhaps families believed that she would bring them
blessings or even help them to achieve their dreams.
It is my hypothesis that women would bring her image to their
births for strength. Being known as a goddess of the moon and
as someone who has the power to walk on water, it makes
sense to me that she also had powers to help women and their
babies during the watery depths of amniotic fluid, and life
giving birth.
Once a year there was a festival in her name where children
would gather feathers and small stones as offerings to the
goddess. Women would bake a small loaf of bread marked to the
goddess with raisins and take it to here alter or sacred groove.
"Raisin cakes: offerings to the fertility goddess Ashera, the
female counterpart of Baal; cf Jer 7:18; 44:19."
| http://www.queendido.org/astarte.jpg |
Ritual to the goddess Ashtoreth:
Because there are no real documented rituals to the goddess Asherah I
have made a simple one to honor of her. This ritual can be used to
embody and reclaim Asherah into your life, to bring her more fully back
into the world:
What you will need:
Lilies in a vase of water,
Two white candles and two blue candles.
The oils of rosemary and sandalwood, 5 drops of each to grind with
white sage.
A small pot of sand or earth from outside.
Athame and a rose quartz crystal point.
A small journal to write in and a pen.
Anoint and dress the candles with this mixture and place the sage at the
base of each wick. This ritual is best if done on a waxing moon,
immediately after the full moon, and preferably only one to two days after.
Ground energies and cast a circle lighting each candle deosil and chant:
Asherah, Astarte, Inanna, Ishtar,
Goddess of the moon and the wa-ter.
REPEAT
Asherah, Astarte, Inanna, Ishtar,
Goddess of the moon and the wa-ter.
Asherah, goddess of many names I call on you today to honor your
namesake. I ask that you might shine upon me so that I can see the ways
of the moon and walk a clear path. Help me to honor myself and walk in
my own truths as you once did.
Sit in quiet meditation listening to your inner wisdom, begin with a
journey into ancient times, looking for signs along the way, and the
goddess.
When you find her, this is your time to ask any questions you may have.
Sit until you have your answers and when you are ready, slowly come
out of your meditation and sit quietly until you feel like writing. Write
down any symbols you saw along the way or answers that came to you.
Thank the goddess and release energy with palms to the ground.
Open the circle, and drink a small glass of grape juice.
Leave the blue candles brining in a safe place until they are finished
{they are for the asherah}
Enjoy the glow of working with such a powerful goddess.
Because there are no real documented rituals to the goddess Asherah I
have made a simple one to honor of her. This ritual can be used to
embody and reclaim Asherah into your life, to bring her more fully back
into the world:
What you will need:
Lilies in a vase of water,
Two white candles and two blue candles.
The oils of rosemary and sandalwood, 5 drops of each to grind with
white sage.
A small pot of sand or earth from outside.
Athame and a rose quartz crystal point.
A small journal to write in and a pen.
Anoint and dress the candles with this mixture and place the sage at the
base of each wick. This ritual is best if done on a waxing moon,
immediately after the full moon, and preferably only one to two days after.
Ground energies and cast a circle lighting each candle deosil and chant:
Asherah, Astarte, Inanna, Ishtar,
Goddess of the moon and the wa-ter.
REPEAT
Asherah, Astarte, Inanna, Ishtar,
Goddess of the moon and the wa-ter.
Asherah, goddess of many names I call on you today to honor your
namesake. I ask that you might shine upon me so that I can see the ways
of the moon and walk a clear path. Help me to honor myself and walk in
my own truths as you once did.
Sit in quiet meditation listening to your inner wisdom, begin with a
journey into ancient times, looking for signs along the way, and the
goddess.
When you find her, this is your time to ask any questions you may have.
Sit until you have your answers and when you are ready, slowly come
out of your meditation and sit quietly until you feel like writing. Write
down any symbols you saw along the way or answers that came to you.
Thank the goddess and release energy with palms to the ground.
Open the circle, and drink a small glass of grape juice.
Leave the blue candles brining in a safe place until they are finished
{they are for the asherah}
Enjoy the glow of working with such a powerful goddess.
| This is my original piece of art. Classic Asherah. |
Song; "For Our Great Mother Lives"
~~from:
"She Lives! The Return of Our Great Mother" by Judith Laura
http://www.judithlaura.com/slgm.html
For our Great Mother lives
Sing praises to Her name
Who was and is forever changing and the same.
In her we can be whole.
In her we can be free.
She was and is and shall forever blessed be.
My favorite quote about Ashtoreth was written by Raphael Patai in the
book The Hebrew Goddess. I feel that it shows the depth and intricacies
of this goddess, it reminds me that there is always more to learn and
discover about her mysteries.
“And then there's the matter of the Cherubim that sat atop the Ark of the
Covenant in the Holy of Holies. Fashioned by Phoenician craftsmen for
Solomon and Ahab, an ivory tablet shows two winged females facing each
other. And one tablet shows male and female members of the Cherubim
embracing in an explicitly sexual position that embarrassed later Jewish
historians ... and even the pagans were shocked when they saw it for the first
time. [The Star of David, two triangles "embracing" became the coded
symbol for God & Goddess locked in a "creating" posture....!
This cult of the feminine goddess, though often repressed, remained a part of
the faith of the Jewish people. Goddesses answered the need for mother,
lover, queen, intercessor ... and even today, lingers cryptically in the
traditional Hebrew Sabbath invocation."
~~from:
"She Lives! The Return of Our Great Mother" by Judith Laura
http://www.judithlaura.com/slgm.html
For our Great Mother lives
Sing praises to Her name
Who was and is forever changing and the same.
In her we can be whole.
In her we can be free.
She was and is and shall forever blessed be.
My favorite quote about Ashtoreth was written by Raphael Patai in the
book The Hebrew Goddess. I feel that it shows the depth and intricacies
of this goddess, it reminds me that there is always more to learn and
discover about her mysteries.
“And then there's the matter of the Cherubim that sat atop the Ark of the
Covenant in the Holy of Holies. Fashioned by Phoenician craftsmen for
Solomon and Ahab, an ivory tablet shows two winged females facing each
other. And one tablet shows male and female members of the Cherubim
embracing in an explicitly sexual position that embarrassed later Jewish
historians ... and even the pagans were shocked when they saw it for the first
time. [The Star of David, two triangles "embracing" became the coded
symbol for God & Goddess locked in a "creating" posture....!
This cult of the feminine goddess, though often repressed, remained a part of
the faith of the Jewish people. Goddesses answered the need for mother,
lover, queen, intercessor ... and even today, lingers cryptically in the
traditional Hebrew Sabbath invocation."
References:
Books
The Hebrew Goddess by Raphael Patai
The Cult of Asherah in Ancient Israel and Judah: Evidence for a Hebrew Goddess. By
JUDITH M. HADLEY
Asherah and the Cult of Yahweh in Israel By: Saul M.Olyan
365 Goddess By: Patricia Telesco
Once and Future Goddess By: Elinor Gadon
Web-site references:
http://www.goddessmyths.com/Paintings%201999-2000.html
http://northernway.org/hgoddess.html
http://www.spiralgoddess.com/Asherah.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asherah
http://www.abaxion.com/stash.htm
http://www.topical-bible-studies.org/37-0012.htm
http://www.geocities.com/geifodd/ashtoreth.html
http://www.dhushara.com/book/god/canaan.htm#anchor1623141
http://natibqadish.org/inner_sanctuary.htm
http://www.goddessmyths.com/Paintings%201999-2000.html
Books
The Hebrew Goddess by Raphael Patai
The Cult of Asherah in Ancient Israel and Judah: Evidence for a Hebrew Goddess. By
JUDITH M. HADLEY
Asherah and the Cult of Yahweh in Israel By: Saul M.Olyan
365 Goddess By: Patricia Telesco
Once and Future Goddess By: Elinor Gadon
Web-site references:
http://www.goddessmyths.com/Paintings%201999-2000.html
http://northernway.org/hgoddess.html
http://www.spiralgoddess.com/Asherah.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asherah
http://www.abaxion.com/stash.htm
http://www.topical-bible-studies.org/37-0012.htm
http://www.geocities.com/geifodd/ashtoreth.html
http://www.dhushara.com/book/god/canaan.htm#anchor1623141
http://natibqadish.org/inner_sanctuary.htm
http://www.goddessmyths.com/Paintings%201999-2000.html
| Copyright ©NIKIAH,2005 |
| From Sacred Source.com |