Posted on

Working with the Hindu Mother goddess of Abundance, sovereignty, and Beauty; Lakshmi

As one of the Great Mother goddesses, Lakshmi guides us from the darkness to the light. She helps us move from a mindset rooted in fear and lack into a mindset of love, abundance, and generosity. The Goddess Lakshmi is a beautiful Hindu goddess and one of the most prominent and worshipped one of the pantheon on top of that. She is one of the many forms of shakti or feminine energy. Lakshmi provides all kinds of abundance, such as wealth, happiness, beauty, and splendor. She gives, protects and nourishes. She holds the promise of material fulfilment and contentment. She is described as restless, and whimsical yet maternal full of boundless love. She is seen with her arms raised to bless and to grant those who put in the work. Lakshmi shows us how to transcend material wealth for spiritual progress. She is also the goddess of power, sovereignty, and helping lord Vishnu grant salvation. Lakshmi is the divine power and creative force of the universe that transforms dreams into reality. She is prakriti, the perfect creation: self-sustaining, self-contained Nature. She is maya, the delightful delusion, the dream-like expression of divinity that makes life comprehensible, full of beauty and truly worth living. She is shakti, energy, boundless, bountiful and overflowing with fertilty. To work with her is to rejoice in the wonders, beauty, and abundance of life. We call on Lakshmi to access the ocean of abundance that lies within, to find our radiant inner beauty, and to guide us on the path of our dharma. Join me in this blogpost, allowing Lakshmi to open the doors for you to a life brimming with prosperity, fulfillment, and over flowing with the glittering coins from her hands with divine grace and beauty.

Who is Lakshmi?

Lakshmi is one of the most important deities in Hinduism. She is considered the household goddess, meaning she is the most important deity to the family unit and home. She, is always present in the home and is worshiped daily. Her name comes from the word Laksya, meaning aim or goal. She is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. She is not only the goddess of prosperity, wealth, but also purity, generosity, and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. She is the wife of Vishnu. It is said she has taken different forms in order to be with him in each of his incarnations. Another important aspect about her is along with the goddesses Parvati and Saraswati, Lakshmi forms the divine trinity known as the Tridevi.

Lakshmi has many, many names as well. Her many epithets and names are listed below:

  • Padma: lotus dweller
  • Kamala: lotus dweller
  • Padmapriya: One who likes lotuses
  • Padmamaladhara devi: One who wears a garland of lotuses
  • Padmamukhi: One whose face is as beautiful as a lotus
  • Padmakshi: One whose eyes are as beautiful as a lotus
  • Padmahasta: One who holds a lotus
  • Padmasundari: One who is as beautiful as a lotus
  • Vishnupriya: One who is the beloved of Vishnu
  • Ulkavahini: One who rides an owl

Even more names of her are: Manushri, Chakrika, Kamalika, Lalima, Kalyani, Nandika, Rujula, Vaishnavi, Samruddhi, Narayani, Bhargavi, Sridevi, Chanchala, Jalaja, Madhavi, Sujata, Shreya and Aiswarya. She is also referred to as Jaganmaatha (‘Mother of the Universe’) in Shri Mahalakshmi Ashtakam. Rama and Indira are popular

Maha-Lakshmi- Mother goddess of creation

There are many different forms that Lakhsmi takes and is worshipped as each with their own unique purpose and energy. One of the most popular ones is when she is Maha-Lakshmi. Lakshmi is often differentiated from Maha-Lakshmi. While the former is the consort of Vishnu and the goddess of wealth, Maha-Lakshmi is viewed as an autonomous entity, the supreme embodiment of the mother-goddess. When worshipped as Maha-Lakshmi, Lakshmi is not visualized as a beautiful goddess seated on a lotus, pot in hand, but like a virginal warrior-goddess riding a lion, much like Durga.

Ancient Pancharatra texts that talk about Maha-Lakshmi consider her to be the root of all creation. In the beginning, they say, the cosmic soul—the unfathomable unmanifest Narayana—desired to create the cosmos. But he did not have the resources to do so. As he pondered over this problem, his dormant energy, his shakti, burst forth in a blinding light, manifesting as Maha-Lakshmi. Maha-Lakshmi placed the seed of divine desire in the palm of her hand and unleashed the dynamic forces of creation until the three worlds took shape and all forms of life came forth.

Lakshmi the goddess of abundance

Lakshmi embodies the abundance of nature and people celebrate her to invite the wealth of fertile lands. She is the embodiment of prosperity, her allure drawing souls like moths to a celestial flame. With eyes like lotus petals and a smile that births a thousand blessings, she dances upon golden lotus blooms. Her presence brings abundance; her touch turns poverty into opulence. Wherever Lakshmi treads, wealth follows, and her devotees that show true respect will thrive.

Lakshmi inspires us to contemplate the double meaning of abundance – abundance in the material realm and abundance in the spiritual realm. Lakshmi doesn’t tell us to let go of our aspirations and ambitions. It’s the opposite actually, Lakshmi is the one we pray to for guidance and help when we want to succeed in the material world. When we want abundance in the form of worldly success. Lakshmi is the goddess of prosperity, but earned prosperity. Lakshmi is on the side of the honest, good, and hard working. Lakshmi teaches us that good luck doesn’t come to those who wait, but to those who work for it and invite it into their lives by positive and hard working actions. We all have the ability to connect to the natural flow of abundance but, we must put in the movement of energy to get there.

The eight forms of Lakshmi

In Hinduism, Lakshmi is believed to have eight forms or manifestations, known as the Ashtalakshmi. Each form represents a different aspect of wealth, prosperity, and well-being. Each of these eight forms of Lakshmi is revered and worshipped in Hinduism for the blessings they bring in various aspects of life. The eight forms of Lakshmi are listed below.

  • Adi Lakshmi – The first form of Lakshmi, Adi Lakshmi, represents the primal energy of the universe and is associated with spiritual wealth.
  • Dhana Lakshmi – This form of Lakshmi is associated with material wealth and prosperity, and is often depicted holding a pot of gold or other treasures.
  • Dhanya Lakshmi – Dhanya Lakshmi is the goddess of agricultural wealth and is associated with crops, food, and nourishment.
  • Gaja Lakshmi – This form of Lakshmi is associated with power, strength, and courage. Gaja Lakshmi is often depicted riding on an elephant and holding lotus flowers.
  • Santana Lakshmi – Santana Lakshmi is the goddess of progeny and is associated with fertility, motherhood, and children.
  • Veera Lakshmi – This form of Lakshmi represents valor, bravery, and courage. Veera Lakshmi is often depicted holding a sword and shield.
  • Vidya Lakshmi – Vidya Lakshmi is the goddess of knowledge and wisdom, and is associated with learning, education, and the arts.
  • Vijaya Lakshmi – This form of Lakshmi is associated with victory, success, and accomplishment. Vijaya Lakshmi is often depicted holding a lotus flower and a sword, symbolizing success and determination.

Lakshmi the goddess of sovereignty

In Hinduism, Goddess Lakshmi is often associated with sovereignty, meaning she is considered the giver of not just wealth and prosperity, but also royal power and authority. This has made her a revered figure by kings and rulers who sought her blessings for their reign for 1000s of years. In this role she is known as Shreedevi, this is when the goddess makes kings out of men, bestowing them with sovereignty, splendor and royal authority. In this form, she is Vishnu’s shakti, the source of his divine power, which helps him to protect the universe by granting and handing out his salvation.

Lakshmi the goddess of beauty

Only Goddess Lakshmi is depicted as the epitome of beauty in Hindu scriptures because she is the most beautiful goddess according to all. No one is equal to her. She is the source of all beauty. Everyone gets beauty by her grace. She is viewed as not only the goddess of beauty, but also sweetness, purity and loveliness. Her grace and beauty made her into a beacon of light, attracting gods and demons alike. Radiating feminine warmth and love, she was so full of abundance and exquisite beauty. When Lakshmi emerged from the churning and milky ocean, all of the gods fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. They couldn’t take their eyes off her. One by one, they even started to court her and use all their fancy superpowers to try and seduce her until she finally chose her husband Lord Vishnu.

Family and Origin

Like most deities of Hindu mythology, Lakshmi’s origin story has many different versions. In her first incarnation, according to the Puranas, she was the daughter of the sage Bhrigu and his wife Khyati. Next, probably the best-known version featuring her birth, says she was born from the stirring of the primordial milky ocean by the gods and demons. It starts with a battle between “good” (the gods) and “evi”l (the demons). Lakshmi supported Indra, the god of war, in his battle against the demons. He successfully fought them off with her blessing until one day Indra was given a garland of flowers by a sage. He was not interested in the flowers and flung them aside. Lakshmi did not approve of this arrogant display so she left the gods’ world and entered the Milky Ocean.

After she left, the gods started to be less successful in most of their pursuits. People stopped making the offerings and the demons started to take over the world. Especially Indra needed Lakshmi’s blessing and support. He knew he was to blame for the problems after all. He went to Vishnu to ask for guidance. Vishnu and Indra gathered the gods together and they started to churn the Milky Ocean. After 1000 years, treasures began to rise, including an immortality elixir and lakshmi on her lotus. She helped restore the gods’ power and success in vanquishing the demons and restore the people’s reverence towards the gods.

Myths and legends

Lakshmi is present in quite a few myths and legends across multiple texts, religions and regions I couldn’t list them all. I talk about a few of the main ones throughout the blogpost. But, one of my favorite stories of Lakshmi personifies an attitude of generosity, compassion, and empathy. As the story goes, Lakshmi and her husband Vishnu were the manifest deities at a wealthy temple for the high-caste in Varanasi, India. One year, during the festival of Diwali, Lakshmi decided to visit the town’s untouchables ( less fortunate/ homeless) and bestow the untouchables ( less fortunate/ homeless) with food and money. Her generosity extended to both those who worshipped her and those who did not. A beautiful reminder that we are all worthy, whether we (or others) deem us to be worthy. Upon learning that Lakshmi has been spending time with the untouchables( less fortunate/ homeless), Vishnu becomes angry with her. She immediately flees and goes to live with a group of sweepers. Upon Lakshmi’s arrival, the sweeper community begins to prosper, there is an abundance of food and there is enough money for the sweepers to fix-up their homes. While the sweepers are being lifted up out of poverty Vishnu’s temple is falling into ruins, the community stops bringing offerings, and the surrounding trees begin to wither. Out of desperation, Vishnu finds Lakshmi and begs her to return. She obliges on one condition, that he may never restrict her ability to share her blessings again.

Worship of Lakshmi

Lakshmi has a long history of worship testified by the fact that her first hymn, the Shri Shukta, was added to the Rig Veda, the oldest and most revered of Hindu scriptures, somewhere between 1000 and 500 BC. People often worship Lakshmi at home for good luck in India and other regions of the world. In India, not only Hindus but also Buddhists and Jains worship and call too Lakshmi. Lakshmi is especially popular with women when it comes to her worship. She is thought to bless mothers seeking children and extending her maternal love. It is believed that Lakshmi goes only to those houses which are clean and where the people are hardworking. She does not visit the places which are unclean/dirty or where the people are lazy. When she is worshipped on her own, it is as the goddess of prosperity and luck; when she is worshipped with Vishnu, (her husband) it is in her role as mediator between us and him by handing out salvation.

Goddess Lakshmi’s Day; Friday
Fridays hold a place of significance in Hindu tradition as the chosen day to honor and invoke the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi. Known as “Shukravar” in Sanskrit, Fridays are dedicated to this revered deity who symbolizes wealth, fortune, and prosperity, When we perform rituals and practices on Fridays it is believed it creates a special connection with Lakshmi’s energy. Amplifying the potency of their intentions by her guiding us into the flow of abundance with her grace. This emphasis on Fridays as Lakshmi’s day underlines her role as the bestower of material abundance and spiritual well-being, making it an opportune time to seek her blessings.

Diwali

The festival of Diwali is the main festival dedicated to honoring her, though for many she is worshipped daily and all year round. Diwali, also known as Deepavali, or Deepawali, it is a festival that holds a profound place in the heart of Lakshmi’s worship. Diwali, at it’s heart, celebrates the victory of light over darkness, “good over evil”, and knowledge over ignorance. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is typically celebrated over a period of five days, following the darkest day of the month after the new moon. Each day of the five day festival has its own significance and rituals.

Diwali celebrates the story and myth of the Ramayana in which Sita (an incarnation of Lakshmi) is stolen from Lord Rama by the demon Ravana. After the epic battle in which Rama won Sita back, the people lit candles along their path home to guide the way. So during Diwali, people light candles to guide Lakshmi into their homes. So, that she will bless them with good fortune in the upcoming year. Diwali is a time of profound significance and delightful customs. Families come together for prayer, feasting, and the exchange of blessings, while the night sky comes alive with fireworks, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness. I personally have celebrated this festival every year for the past 4 years. Every year those lights end up guiding in so much abundance no matter where my finances are at, they drastically increases after those nights. Two days before Diwali the festival of Dhantares also celebrates Lakshmi. People start new businesses and buy gold.

What does Lakshmi look like?

She is typically seated on an 8-petaled lotus. Lakshmi has four arms, each one signifying a transformative quality in human life:

  • The first arm symbolizes dharma – living a moral and ethical life in accordance with cosmic laws.
  • The second arm symbolizes .
  • The third stands for artha – material, natural abundance.
  • The fourth arm represents moksha – self-actualization.

In two of her hands, she is holding 2 lotuses, and in the other 2 hands, she is creating 2 mudras: abhaya (assurance) mudra and varada (giving) mudra. She is usually dressed in red or gold. She has long wavy hair. Often two elephants are by her side, anointing her with water. Cascades of gold coins are seen flowing from her hands, suggesting that those who worship her gain wealth.

The way she is depicted matters on which incarnation of her she is meant to represent. Like if Lakshmi is pictured as dark in complexion, it is to show that she is the consort of Vishnu. If golden yellow, that shows her as the source of all wealth. If white, she represents the purest form of Prakarti (nature) from which the universe had developed. The pinkish complexion, which is more common, reflects her compassion for creatures, since she is the mother of all. The lotuses, in various stages of blooming, represent the worlds and beings in various stages of evolution.

Lakshmi and duality

Since I am a grey witch every single energy I work with I look at how it can help me maintain balance and how it can represent the cosmic energy of duality. Many may overlook the duality of Lakshmi because, she is seen mainly as a mother goddess of “light” being the goddess of abundance, beauty, and prosperity. But, there is a duality aspect of her written about directly in sacred texts. The Vaishnava legends claim that Alakshmi the twin of Lakshmi is the embodiment of Halahala. She is the goddess of misfortune and strife. When both Goddesses are known in balanced measure, there is sobriety and Tantric focus between the dualities in our lives. Understanding the wisdom of the balance between wealth and poverty is the key to the door of true abundance and wealth in our lives. Lakshmi and her older sister help us to live within and understand the place of both within the universe and life.

Correspondences To Connect To Lakshmi

First, what is a correspondence? A correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be an archetype energy , or the zodiac energy the moon is currently, or a deity, like I will list below for you to use with Lakshmi .Follow your intuition and use what speaks to you!

  • Animal-Elephant, owl, cat
  • Planet-Venus
  • Element-Water
  • Sex-Feminine
  • Symbol- lotus, rice, coins, gold, the churning ocean,
  • colors-red, gold, yellow, orange
  • Day of the week: Friday
  • Lucky number: 9
  • Themes-devotion, luck, wealth, relationships, prosperity, love, the harvest and autumn, beauty, sovereignty, creation, fertility, motherhood, success, fortune, purity, Perseverance, giving and receiving, generosity, compassion, spiritual awakening, grace, charm, success in business
  • Herbs- basil, tulsi, Hibiscus, sandalwood, lotus, mugwort, wormwood, rose, cinnamon, calendula, bay leaves,
  • Stones/ crystals- pearls, peridot, green aventurine, rose quartz, moss agate, Jade, Malachite, Green Tourmaline, Carnelian, Red Jasper, Citrine, Tangerine Quartz, pyrite
  • Tarot card- Empress, wheel of fortune

How To Know Lakshmi Is Calling To Work With You

I get asked this question every time I write or teach about a goddess. Remember, signs and messages appear in many different ways and are unique to the individual. It’s ultimately up to you to discern by opening up your clares, paying attention and listening to your intuition. Also, remember you can choose to work with her as well even if you don’t feel her calling to you. You can be the one to begin building that relationship by reaching out. Below is a list of some ways that you may know she is reaching out to you.

  • She appears to you in a vision, dream, meditation, or prayer
  • You start to see her symbols like the lotus flower or elephant popping up in your life often like in media, books, or your daily life
  • You get gifted something that is related to her
  • You hear her name randomly throughout the day or think of her often
  • You are seeking more abundance and prosperity in your life
  • You feel drawn to volunteer and serve others in a generous way
  • You are seeking help with fertility and/or motherhood
  • You have a new desire to have children
  • You hear her chants or mantras often around you
  • You receive sudden unexpected positive changes in your life, like receiving good news about finances
  • You are feeling more in tune with your own beauty, grace, and charm
  • You find coins around you often especially gold ones
  • You keep finding lost money in your purse, home, or pockets
  • You recently have been experiencing unexpected abundance in your life
  • Your business suddenly has an increase in sales and/or traffic or you feel inspired to start a new business
  • Birds start nesting near your home
  • You suddenly have black ants coming into your house and making a swarm and eating something
  • You hear the sound of a conch shell after waking up in the morning
  • You feel drawn to the churning muddy waters where the lotus flowers can grow
  • You feel drawn to working with her consort and husband Lord Vishnu
  • You feel drawn to work with love magic or beauty spells
  • You feel drawn to lighting candles for her in November/ October for Diwali

Ways To Work With and Connect To Lakshmi

Everyone’s relationship with deities is different and we all work with and believe in them differently. You might believe in multiple gods and goddesses and work with them each as though they are close, personal friends. Or maybe you believe the old gods are reflections of Universal energy and simply archetype energies that you can learn a lesson from. However you incorporate deities in your practice is up to you. If you need help to figure this out you can purchase my eBook here on the Introduction to working with pagan deities.

But here are some ideas to get you started on ways to work with Lakshmi. Remember; it’s important to approach her with respect, reverence, gratitude and by building a relationship with her. Every time you work with a deity it is an even energetic exchange; which means what you put into your intention when working with them and building your relationship to them is what you get back.

Study, get to know her

As with every deity I have ever written about or taught about, The first way to get to know a deity, specifically a goddess like Lakshmi; is to study all you can about her. Look at the different versions of her origin, and how when she was born every deity fell in love with her. Even study and learn about her dear husband, Lord Vishnu she loves so much she follows him life after life. Try to understand all the different versions of her you can connect to for every area of abundance in your life. You can even, study the culture, region, and worship of the people of India where she is from. Plus the religions she helps shapes in many different texts like Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. The more you study and learn the better! When working with a deity it is all about building a true relationship with them and you do this first by getting to know who they are.

Lakshmi Puja (Ritual)
One of the number one ways you can connect to Lakshmi is to carry out a Lakshmi puja, a goddess-honoring ceremony. The purpose of Lakshmi Puja is to honor the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi, and to seek her blessings for good fortune and success. Lakshmi Puja is a central ritual during Diwali, the festival of lights, and is considered essential to the celebration. See a break down of how to do this ritual below.

  • Arranging a special altar with a statue or portrait of Lakshmi and symbolic gifts such jewels, flowers, sweets, and gold coins.
  • pre-ritual washing and dressing in clean clothing.
  • Ghee lamp or white candle lighting.
  • Offering the goddess food, flowers, and incense.
  • Reciting other religious songs or the Lakshmi mantra.
  • Exiting the puja feeling appreciative and respectful.

Chant her name or sing her mantras

Engaging in a regular chanting practice of the Lakshmi mantra requires dedication and focus. Find a quiet and peaceful space where you can sit comfortably. Begin by taking a few deep breaths to center yourself, and then softly and rhythmically chant the mantra. Allow your voice to flow naturally, and let the vibrations resonate within you. As you chant, visualize the energy of abundance and prosperity flowing into your life, guided by the benevolent presence of Goddess Lakshmi. Consistency is key; integrating this practice into your routine can lead to a deeper connection with Lakshmi’s energy and a more profound sense of prosperity consciousness.

Chanting Lakshmi mantras is not just a vocal exercise; it’s a spiritual practice that bridges the gap between the practitioner and the divine energy of abundance. As the mantra flows through your being, it recalibrates your vibrational frequency to resonate with Lakshmi’s blessings. This practice becomes a powerful tool to invite wealth and prosperity into your life while fostering a deeper connection with the goddess’s energy.

You can chant her name or sing a mantra to her, like this one: Om Shreem Mahalakshmiyei Svaha

  • Om is the sound of the universe– the beginning, middle and end. This epic sound which starts many chants as it recognizes the divinity (starting with Ganesh- click here to see why) and is the bij mantra of the Crown Chakra
  • shreem is Lakshmi’s bij mantra and is also associated with the the Third Eye Chakra
  • maha is a heart-felt term of endearment and reverence
  • yei is a shakti activating syllable
  • svaha marks the end of a mantra and literally means “well said” in a fire ceremony (havan), small grains (samagri) are thrown into the fire with the word svaha at end of each mantra

It’s recommended that you chant it at least 108 times using a mala

Acts of kindness and charity

One way to align with her energy is by practicing acts of kindness and charity. Just as Lakshmi’s blessings are meant to be shared, offering assistance to those in need becomes a way to honor her and create a cycle of abundance. Engaging in philanthropic endeavors and sharing your wealth – whether material or emotional – not only benefits others but also channels the flow of Lakshmi’s blessings back to you.

  • Volunteer your time at a local charity
  • Perform a random act of kindness to a stranger
  • Ask a colleague if they need any help
  • Donate money to a cause you care about
  • Check-in on a friend going through a hard time
  • Turn your phone off and have a proper conversation with a loved one
  • Offer to walk the dog or cook a meal for a struggling neighbor
  • Donate some unwanted items to a local charity store
  • Make your family’s favorite meal for dinner tonight
  • Next time you go to the cinema, let your partner/friend choose the movie
  • Give someone an unexpected (but sincere) compliment
  • Make a gift or card for the next birthday in your calendar
  • Offer to teach a skill you have for free
  • Give someone you care about a shoulder rub

Ask for her aid in Abundance, wealth, and fertility spells

One of the main energies Lakshmi guides us to connect with is the ocean of abundance we have access to all around us. So, why not call on her to aid you in boosting your abundance, wealth, and fertility spells. There are many different ways you can do this. From invoking her in your circle as you cast, carving a sigil that represents her into your candles, using her correspondences and symbols, or saying a prayer from her before you do your spell work. There are countless abundance spells you can cast and do to get some ideas check out my guide full of them here. My personal favorite to include her in is adding her image to my prosperity bowl in my home and for my business. When I began asking her to aid in my abundance spells the amount of coins flowing into my life was drastically multiplied and so many new things and projects began to bloom.

Call on Lakshmi during shadow work

Just like with every other deity I have ever written or taught about shadow work is a phenomenal way to connect to and work with the goddess Lakshmi. This might not seem obvious to many especially since she is seen more as a deity of “light”. But, I really love to call on Lakshmi when I am needing help in boosting my self worth and seeing the beauty in myself. On top of that she is great to use when you are having a hard time seeing the beauty around you and in your life. Lastly, you can call on her to help you understand why you may be having a hard time connecting to the generous flow of abundance in life . Doing this can have a profound change in the intentions you set and the manifestations you can have bloom into your life.

If you would like to learn more about shadow work you can purchase my eBook here; you can book me for a 1:1 session as your guide here;  and you can watch my free class previously taught on it through Divination here. And don’t forget to register for new 6 week workshop series Embracing your shadow here!

Dedicate Altar Space

Set aside some space in honor of Lakshmi. This can be an elaborate large altar or as simple as a small shelf or corner of a counter. Place a representation of Lakshmi there; be sure to cleanse the space before you invite her in. Include all of her colors, her symbols, and representations of abundance and beauty. Plus add any of her other correspondences you can use to connect to her. This will be a container that reminds you to connect with her and her energy. To allow you a container of maternal abundant, successful, and beautiful energy to connect to in your life. I also recommned if you are really needing abundance in your life add her to an altar specifically for abundance or place her altar in your place of business as well.

Offerings

Everyone loves receiving gifts, and that includes deities like Lakshmi. You don’t have to give her offerings every day, but when you feel it is appropriate. I highly recommend gifting them on Friday. You can place these offerings at your altar. You can also give her offerings when performing any work to connect to her like meditation, prayer, visualization, and spell work. Below I will list some of the best offerings you can give her, but keep in mind these are just some ideas from my own personal experience with her and her corresponding energies. Just follow your intuition.

  • Flowers: Flowers like lotus, marigold, rose, chrysanthemum, bael leaves and Hibiscus
  • Fruits
  • Sweets: Homemade sweets like laddoos or barfis represent joy and sweetness. Rice kheer is considered a favorite of Lakshmi.
  • Puffed rice and batasha:
  • Coins: Gold and silver coins
  • Uncooked rice
  • Diyas
  • Honey
  • Betel leaves
  • Jaggery: Offered if lotus flowers are not available.
  • Amla: Also known as Indian gooseberry
  • Incense
  • Jasmine oil

Meditation and visualization

One of the best ways to channel divine energy and tap into goddesses like Lakshmi is through meditation and visualization. These practices allow you to open up and receive/ connect to divine energy in a very intuitive, clear, and transformative way. You will find a plethora of guided meditations on YouTube that will lead you to your spirit guide or god/goddess. Try those if you have a hard time meditating on your own. I have many classes on YouTube as well on previous deities you can watch where I even summon and guide you to them in sacred container.

Prayer

One very powerful way to connect to a deity is through prayer. Things to Pray for: abundance, beauty, love, prosperity, wealth, gratitude, success in business, spiritual awakening, fertility for a child, aid in motherhood, and self worth. Below are a few prayers I like to use but, you can find many across texts and the internet plus you can always create your own.

Beautiful goddess seated on a chariot,
Delighted by songs on lustful elephants,
Bedecked with lotuses, pearls and gems,
Lustrous as fire, radiant as gold,
Resplendent as the sun, calm as the moon,
Mistress of cows and horses —
Take away poverty and misfortune
Bring joy, riches, harvest and children.

Prayer Of Gratitude

Maha Lakshmi I thank you for the growing sense of abundance flowing through, for the richness of the earth and clarity of the winds cleansing my soul from within.

Sri Ganesh, may I continue to seek your guidance, give honor and praise to insurmountable obstacles which help me to release, trust and grow. May I always honor the goddess within and give glory and thanks to my divine mother and father.

And as I rise to greet a new day, may I always remember the source of my abundance and wealth flows from deep within and no man or material resource can hinder this progress of peace, love and joy. And So It Is.

Other ways to connect to Lakshmi

  • Use the lotus in mediation, and spell work
  • ask for her aid in love spells and spells focused on strengthen relationships ( I have some on both my Pinterest and my Patreon)
  • clean, purify, and decorate your home
  • Light diyas or candles to guide her blessings into your home especially for the celebration of Diwali and on a Friday night
  • Ask for her aid when doing divination like water scrying, tarot, or fire gazing
  • Keep a coin with her image on it especially a gold coin in your wallet to attract wealth
  • If you have a brick and mortar business add a gold coin with her image on it to your register
  • Set SMART goals and work towards them
  • If you run an online business add an image of her to your site or shop page
  • Place candle with her sigil on it and/ or an image of her near your threshold and give offerings to it or light the candle every Friday to call her blessing of abundance into your home
  • fill your home with as many candles lit as you can for the nights of the diwali festival
  • Spend time in nature, with children, or with animals nurturing your maternal side
  • Write down three things you’re grateful for each day
  • Place Sea Shells or Cowries at Home
  • Speak affirmations of abundance every day
  • Write at least 3 things you are grateful for every day
  • Work with and worship Lord Vishnu
  • Donate your time to a charity or your money to a cause you care about
  • Add a lotus seed mala to your practice or altar
  • Worship and work with her elder sister Alakshmi
  • Elemental magic with the element of water or fire
  • Work with the planet Venus

Why work with Lakshmi?

Our ability to give and receive freely depends deeply on our own personal beliefs that we are worthy of love, worthy of gifts, and that others too are worthy of these same gifts. Lakshmi helps us learn these lessons. Lakshmi really is a deity of deep abundance as well. She has saved my life and my family more times than I can count. She does this by reconnecting me to the flow of abundance we all have the right too. If only we put in to work and we remember we are worthy to receive it all. Whenever I find myself getting stuck in feelings of fear of not having enough or lack I can feel the Universe pulling back. To the point of taking so much from me I would almost end up on the streets. But when I call on Lakshmi to help me drop back into the space of abundance, gratitude, and worthiness, I feel the support of the Universe, and her guide me back to the current of abundance. Allowing me access to the flow of coins she controls in her hands.

As I have shown you in this blogpost, Lakshmi offers a route to spiritual fulfillment and overall well-being that goes beyond the domain of material wealth. Through an awareness of her energy and worship of her complex personality, we can access the transforming potential of her gifts and apply them to our everyday lives. The goddess Lakshmi inspires and leads us on our path toward abundance, balance, and the ultimate realization of the divine inside. Whether we recite her mantras, ask for her assistance in our spell work, or embody her attributes. As we welcome her brilliance, may we too turn into the energy of her unending kindness, generosity, and elegance.

To help you align to with the flow of abundance click the link below to start working on gratitude as well . We must me thankful for what we already have in order to receive more. Click this link to get access to my FREE gratitude shadow work journal and a 7 day gratitude challenge in this previous blogpost.

Posted on

Working With The Primordial Greek Goddess of Night and Chaos; Nyx

In the beginning of it all there was nothing, a swirling void of darkness and energy. This energy itself was chaos a void or gap in existence. It was all there was. It’s from this intangible nothingness and this void that you have Nyx emerging within the Greek mythology. Greek mythology consists of several different generations of deities. The most well-known and most commonly worshiped historically were the Olympians. Before these came the Titans and before even them were the; Protogenoi. The Protogenoi were the primordial gods like Nyx. According to Greek mythology these primordial gods each represented a different aspect of existence, together they formed the building blocks of the early universe. Nyx represented the darkness, night, and chaos and she played an essential role in shaping the universe and birthing several other important primordial gods. Her power was almost unmatchable and even Zeus the father of the Olympian gods cowered in fear of her. Nyx is the gentle queen of the night, the guardian of shadows, the mother of all that is hidden and sacred. She teaches us to embrace the darkness, not as something to fear, but as a space where we can find ourselves, where we can discover the deepest truths, and where we awaken the collective to the power of chaos and the night. Come join me as we walk in the shadows towards the primordial void of wisdom to learn more about Nyx in this blogpost.

Who is Nyx?

When darkness falls and envelops us in the velvety blackness of night and we hear a women whisper calling our name. That is the goddess Nyx there to give us comfort. wisdom, and pull us into the energy of chaos weaving existence into reality all around us. Nyx is an illusive, mysterious deity associated with the Night, darkness, chaos, creation, destruction, divination (particularly oracular trance and prophecy), love, motherhood, and the mysteries. She held dominion over the shadowy realms and everything that occurred under her dark veil. She was known to govern dreams, prophecies, and the passage of time during night creating the cycle of time in life. She plays an integral role to each one of our lives as the mother of many gods and beings. Each child she birthed holds sway over fundamental human experiences. Since she is a primordial deity, arising from Chaos at the beginning of time she holds a unique place among the gods. She gets to have complete independence and autonomy. She is not subservient to the will of other gods but holds her own unique place in the cosmos. We see this in her stories as she doesn’t interact with many deities outside of her family. Hades, the underworld ruler, was the only other god who used to have rare conversations with her.

Nyx the goddess of Night

Nyx is the very personification of night in Greek mythology and a formidable goddess in her own right. Her name itself literally even translates to mean night. It comes from the Ancient Greek word Nýx, which means “night”. As the first goddess of the night, she existed before creation, representing the shadowy veil that enveloped the universe in its infancy. Nyx is said to have mastered darkness manipulation, which gives her control over the veil of darkness that covers the world at night by controlling the speed and rotation of the planets. As the goddess of night and darkness, she represents the unseen and hidden aspects of existence, embodying the enigma of the night sky and the mysteries of the subconscious.

Nyx the primordial goddess of creation

Although Nyx is the goddess of chaos and destruction she’s also THE goddess of creation. I mean she is the ancestress of every deity. Let me say it again, she is the mother of every deity, the source they all go back to. Since she was there before creation, existing in the weaving energies of chaos. She existed long before Gaia became Mother Earth and Uranus became the sky even. Naturally since she is the primordial mother, Nyx has a very nurturing, comforting and caring side. We see her many times depicted as a motherly figure, offering comfort and protection to favored heroes and those who seek her aid during the night. She was also particularly close to her own children as we see her ask for their assistance with different types of tasks as well, like the story with her son deceit.

Family and Origin

According to Hesiod’s Theogony, Nyx is the daughter of Chaos who prior to her birth was the only being in existence, the initial void that existed before the creation of the universe. She emerged alongside her brother Erebus (Darkness) and played a crucial role in shaping the early cosmogony and everything that we know in the universe. Some even say that Nyx and Erebus hatched an egg that created the Earth, sky, and sea as well. (Orphic beliefs/ tradition) So, really we have the two of them to thank for everything in existence.

Nyx had multiple consorts and was associated with different deities in various traditions. One of her most well-known consorts was her brother, Erebus, who personified the masculine half of darkness and shadow. Nyx and Erebus were considered to be the parents of several significant deities, including Aether (the god of the upper atmosphere), Hemera (the goddess of day), and Charon (the ferryman of the Underworld), Eufrosine, Philotes, Eleos, Styx, and many more. However, like other goddesses, she created multiple descendants on her own and she had many other consorts as well. Her other known children are; Moros, Apate, Dolos, Nemesis, the Keres, the Moirai (the fates), the Hesperides, the Erinyes, Oizys, Momus, Oneiros, Hypnos, Thanatos, Geras, and Eris the goddess of discord and strife.

Myths and legends

Nyx’s appearances in myths varied but were significant and she pops up repeatedly throughout time. She was involved in both benevolent and malevolent events, emphasizing her dual nature and the importance of duality in life and the multiverse. Stories depicted her shielding favored heroes under her veil of darkness while also aiding vengeful acts or initiating treacherous schemes against others. Let’s talk about some of them below.

In Hesiod’s Theogony, Nyx is born as the personification of Night, emerging from Chaos. She couples with the personification of Darkness (Erebus) and gives birth to Doom (Moros), Death (Thanatos), Destruction (Keres), the Fate(s) (The Moirai), Retribution (Nemesis), and more. Hesiod also claims that Nyx lives in Tartarus, the Hell that exists below Hades.

In some versions of Greek mythology, Nyx protected the infant Zeus when he was being hidden from his father Cronus, who intended to devour him. Nyx shielded Zeus under the cover of darkness, allowing him to grow safely until he could eventually overthrow his father and become the ruler of the gods. We see them interact again in Homer’s Iliad, Zeus the all mighty king of the gods, fears Nyx and allows her son Hypnos to go free.

Nyx has shown up a few more times as well, in ancient poems like the Orphic Hymns: once as an Oracle and another time she’s gives birth to the Furies (Erinyes) with Hades, god of the Underworld. In addition to the Greek poems and mythos, Roman writers recorded hymns as offerings to Nyx Goddess of Night.

Nyx also has a prominent role in one version of the story of Echo, a nymph who is cursed to only repeat the words of others. According to the myth, Echo was punished by Hera after she discovered that Echo had distracted Zeus so he couldn’t catch her engaging in an extramarital affair. Nyx is said to have played a role in the curse that befell Echo, providing her with a dark and eerie echo as punishment.

Another legend I found is some say that during the Trojan War, it was Nyx who protected the spies; in fact, fugitives and thieves who run away or who move under the cover of night are her proteges. Some say they work directly for HER while others say they worship her similarly to a protective saint.

Worship of Nyx

When we look at her worship in ancient greece it seemed to go hand-in-hand with other deities. For instance, scholars and historians believe there was no central temple dedicated to Nyx at all but, we do have evidence of a cult existing being dedicated to her. But she may have been honored alongside Artemis in Ephesus, and also Diana and Proserpina in Benevento. We see her statue being found in the citadel of Megara, also known as present day Caria. The statue there is referred to as the “Oracle Nyx” standing alongside temples dedicated to Aphrodite and Dionysus. There is some speculation that referencing her as an “oracle” ties her to the power of prophesying. Whether that means the oracles called on her when they would go into their trances or not is unclear.

What does Nyx look like

When the day ends, the moon rises, and all around you is the blackness; that is Nyx in her most natural form. She is the presence and energy weaving the darkness enveloping you. There are times when Nyx will manifest in a physical, more corporeal form. When she chooses to do this, she typically resembles a large, black bird or a woman with black bird wings. Some sources claim Nyx will appear as a goth-looking woman wearing a black veil studded with stars and a torch in her lefthand.

In other depictions, she often rides a chariot of black horses or dark bulls. She rides it during nighttime with her cloak painting the sky with stars. In some depictions, two of her children, Hypnos and Thanatos, accompany her during the ride. While at other times she is depicted shown as a floating figure in a long black robe, carrying her sons Hypnos and Thanatos in her arms. For me, when she appears typically she appears as a concentrated ethereal, misty, darkness with stars swirling for her eyes and silver bands around her wrist to represent the moon.

Nyx and Tartarus

Nyx lives in the depths of Tartarus, one of the darkest areas of the underworld. Some sources even suggest that the dark misty air around Tartarus is Erebus himself, her husband and brother. Some other deities also live in the same region of the underworld like her children Hemera and Aether where they made the changing from day to night possible.

Every night Nyx would emerge out of the cave with Erebus and block out the light emitted from Aether, which brings night and darkness into the world. In the morning, Hemera would come out from Tartarus and blow away the darkness of the night. But, the mother and daughter can’t be seen together at the same time with one being night and the other being daylight. So, in other words, as soon as the darkness fades away, Nyx would return to her abode and leave her daughter there to shine.

Nyx and her relationship to Hecate/Hekate

Hecate is often invoked alongside Nyx in modern worship, with the two goddesses of darkness seen as powerful allies and companions in the world of the night. While they are companions of the darkness they do still have very distinct and separate roles. Nyx, is the primordial goddess of night, emerging from Chaos at the beginning of time. She is the personification of the night and holds power over darkness, dreams, and the mysteries of the unseen. While Hecate, on the other hand, is younger and according to some even Nyx’s daughter. She is often associated with magic, witchcraft, and the crossroads. She is considered a liminal deity, bridging the realms of the living, the dead, and the divine. To learn more about Hecate/Hekate check out my class with DiviNation Academy about her here.

Nyx and duality

Since I am a grey witch every single energy I work with I look at how it can help me maintain balance and how it can represent the cosmic energy of duality. Nyx’s dual nature as both nurturing and formidable is the first thing that comes to mind when working with her. She is deeply nurturing to her many children and you feel that in the darkness she envelopes you in it as you look into the mysteries of your own soul and the wisdom of the cosmos. While on the other hand she is such a primordial and formidable power you are in nothing but awe as she guides you into the void of ancient cosmic wisdom. This wisdom is so primordial it takes you back to the heart of the collective where you are reminded of how small you are in the fabric of existence. She represents the duality of light and dark, creation and destruction, and peace and fear. Reminding us that darkness is both a source of fear and the unknown, but also a time for rest and renewal.

Correspondences To Connect To Nyx

First, what is a correspondence? A correspondence is an item or symbol that is meant to connect you to a specific energy thru it’s representation. It is seen also as an item to respect, honor, and venerate that energy as well whether it be an archetype energy , or the zodiac energy the moon is currently, or a deity, like I will list below for you to use .Follow your intuition and use what speaks to you!

  • Animal- Owl, bats, black horses, black cat, nocturnal creatures
  • Planet-The moon
  • Element- all elements
  • Sex- Feminine
  • Symbol- Night sky/ darkness, mist, stars, the moon, chariot, black veil
  • colors- black, dark blue, silver, white
  • Themes-darkness, hidden secrets, mysteries, chaos, wisdom, transformation, Cyclicality, creation, destruction, motherhood, fertility, divine feminine, night, dreams, protection
  • Herbs- moonflower, cinnamon, peppermint, mugwort, lavender, poppy, jasmine, honeysuckle, nightshade ,Queen of the Night, Ref Flare Water Lily, Dragon Fruit Cactus, Evening Primrose
  • Stones/ crystals- labradorite, lapis lazuli, moonstone, agate, snowflake obsidian, black tourmaline, onyx, selenite
  • Tarot card- the moon, the chariot, the star, the priestess

How To Know Nyx Is Calling To Work With You

I get asked this question every time I write or teach about a goddess and even though some consider her a monster, for many witches and pagans, myself included she comes to them as a goddess. Remember, signs and messages appear in many different ways and are unique to the individual. It’s ultimately up to you to discern by opening up your clares, paying attention and listening to your intuition. Also, remember you can choose to work with her as well even if you don’t feel her calling to you. You can be the one to begin building that relationship by reaching out. Below is a list of some ways that you may know she is reaching out to you.

  • If you work best at night or are a night owl
  • You find yourself going and gazing up at the black starry night often
  • You feel a pull to work with darkness and chaos
  • Chaos magic is part of your path and practice
  • You are interested in working with deities of death
  • You feel drawn to any of her children in your life and practice like the three fates, Thanatos, nemesis, moros, Hypnos, etc.
  • You hear a feminine whisper calling your name in the night, the dark, or the shadows
  • She appears to you in a vision, dream, meditation, or prayer
  • You start to see her symbols like the moon, or chariot popping up in your life often like in media, books, or your daily life
  • You get gifted something that is related to her
  • You hear her name randomly throughout the day or think of her often
  • If you experience an awakening under the moonlight in the darkness of night
  • You are an old soul
  • You are a mystic seeking ancient primordial cosmic knowlege
  • You are seeking to understand duality and balance your life
  • You are feeling the pull of shadow work

Ways To Work With and Connect To Nyx

Everyone’s relationship with deities is different and we all work with and believe in them differently. You might believe in multiple gods and goddesses and work with them each as though they are close, personal friends. Or maybe you believe the old gods are reflections of Universal energy and simply archetype energies that you can learn a lesson from. However you incorporate deities in your practice is up to you. If you need help to figure this out you can purchase my eBook here on the Introduction to working with pagan deities.

But here are some ideas to get you started on ways to work with Nyx. Remember; it’s important to approach her with respect, reverence, gratitude and by building a relationship with her. Every time you work with a deity it is an even energetic exchange; which means what you put into your intention when working with them and building your relationship to them is what you get back.

Study, get to know her

As with every deity I have ever written about or taught about, The first way to get to know a deity, specifically a goddess like Nyx is to study all you can about her. Look at the different versions of her origin, and how she is the mother to so many deities that are integral to our human experience. Try to grasp and understand how truly old she is and the power she had over others. Including the fear she instilled in deities like Zeus himself. You can even, study the culture, region, and worship of the people of Greece where she is from. The more you study and learn the better! When working with a deity it is all about building a true relationship with them and you do this first by getting to know who they are.

Call on Nyx during shadow work

Just like with every other deity I have ever written or taught about shadow work is a phenomenal way to connect to and work with the goddess Nyx. Nyx’s association with night and darkness is seen as a representation of the mysteries of the unseen and the hidden aspects of the self. She is the mother of mysteries, of all that is hidden and profound. Ask Nyx to help you explore your own shadows, embrace your inner darkness, and gain insights from your subconscious through the practice of shadow work.

If you would like to learn more about shadow work you can purchase my eBook here; you can book me for a 1:1 session as your guide here;  and you can watch my free class previously taught on it through Divination here. And don’t forget to register for new 6 week workshop series Embracing your shadow here!

Working with Dreams and aid in sleep

As the deity governing dreams, Nyx is often called upon in dream-related spell work and divination. It is said she can help you have some really prophetic dreams. I can’t attest to this as I don’t have access to the dream world ever so, I don’t work with dream magic. But, you can still ask for her guidance to interpret dreams, enhance dream recall, or even induce lucid dreaming for spiritual exploration. You can add her sigil to a spell bag to assist with dream recall, having sweet dreams, and helping you go to sleep and then place it under your bed or pillow welcoming her into your dream realm. In addition, ask Nyx to visit you in your dreams and teach you lessons that you currently need to learn. Then record every encounter with her in your journal, book of shadows, or grimoire.

Dedicate Altar Space

Set aside some space in honor of Nyx. This can be an elaborate large altar or as simple as a small shelf or corner of a counter. Place a representation of Nyx there; be sure to cleanse the space before you invite her in. Include all of her colors, her symbols, and representations of the night and any of her other correspondences you can use to connect to her. This will be a container that reminds you to connect with her and her energy. To allow you a container of primordial chaotic and creative energy to connect too.

Include her in Lunar Magic

The night is intimately linked with the moon, and Nyx’s connection to the nocturnal sky aligns her with lunar energies. lunar magic plays a crucial role, and Nyx is sometimes invoked during Full Moon rituals for heightened intuition, spiritual growth, and transformation. While on the other hand she is also invoked during the new moon for creativity, manifestation, and helping you connect to chaos from which you were born from. To learn all about Lunar magic and how you can add her to it, you can read my guide all about here and take a look at the entire page all about the moon as well!

Divination and Prophecy

As the goddess of night and the unknown, Nyx is associated with divination and the ability to gain insights into the future. In witchcraft practices, she may be invoked when performing divination rituals, seeking guidance from the higher realms, or exploring one’s destiny.

Meditation and visualization

One of the best ways to channel divine energy and tap into goddesses like Nyx is through meditation and visualization. These practices allow you to open up and receive/ connect to divine energy in a very intuitive, clear, and transformative way. You will find a plethora of guided meditations on YouTube that will lead you to your spirit guide or god/goddess.. Try those if you have a hard time meditating on your own. I have many classes on YouTube as well on previous deities you can watch where I even summon and guide you to them in sacred container.

Offerings

Everyone loves receiving gifts, and that includes deities like Nyx. You don’t have to give her offerings every day, but when you feel it is appropriate. You can place these offerings at your altar or simply leave them for her outside in the dark under the moonlight. Even better leave it at the mouth of dark cave as well. You can also give her offerings when performing any work to connect to her like meditation, prayer, visualization, and spell work. Below I will list some of the best offerings you can give her, but keep in mind these are just some ideas from my own personal experience with her and her corresponding energies. Just follow your intuition.

  • Milk
  • Items with stars on it
  • Moonwater
  • Owl figurines
  • things you have created like poems, pieces, of art
  • red wine
  • Coffee beans
  • Dark chocolate
  • Eggs
  • Dark colored feathers
  • things with the symbol of the moon on it
  • poppy seeds
  • black mirror
  • black veil
  • Images of her or statues of her
  • moon cakes
  • black and blue candles

Ritual for when you feel lost or stuck

You can call on Nyx for rituals when you feel lost or stuck in life with no light to guide you. Let Nyx grab your hand and guide you through the darkness and illuminate the way. This ritual is meant to bring inner peace and clarity regarding your problems through the goddess of night. To perform this ritual, you have to start meditating with Nyx while enhancing the clarity of your thoughts.

  • Use light incense like Sandalwood or Rosemary
  • Keep the room dark and quiet and perform the ritual at night, preferably under the full moon.
  • Close your eyes and focus on breathing.
  • Call for Nyx and start explaining your situation.
  • Listen to her as she illuminates the way

Prayers

One very powerful way to connect to a deity is through prayer. Things to Pray for: protection, power, understanding and unlocking your own personal power, fertility, transformation, shedding an identity, fertility, creativity, the darkness, chaos, time, accessing the unknown, truth, motherhood, and connecting to your soul.

“Nyx, mother of the night, mother of sleep, mother of death:
Might your darkness embrace me
Might your energy caress me
Might you be mine and Might I be yours
Blessed be.“

“Lady of the Night, Nyx of Shadow and Mystery,
We honor you and ask for your presence in this sacred space.
May your wisdom guide us in the darkness,
Your intuition lead us to hidden truths,
And your power protect us from all that would harm us.
Nyx of the Night, be with us now and always.
Hail and blessed be.”

Other ways to work with Nyx

  • Call on her to aid in fertility magic
  • Make works of art, write poetry or sing songs as an offering to Nyx
  • Go stargazing
  • Take a midnight stroll and listen to what you hear
  • Learn astrology
  • Call on her to aid in protection magic
  • call on her in chaos magic or transformation magic
  • Have a moon garden
  • Moonlight bathing
  • Auto scripting
  • Astral projection
  • Create a spell jar to connect to her and add it to your bedroom or altar
  • Create a simmer pot for peaceful and restful sleep and add her sigil to the front of the pot
  • Invoke her during Samhain
  • Ask her to guide you into the underworld
  • Ancestral magic and generational healing

Why work with Nyx

So, after all we have talked about why should you work with Nyx? Picture the very fabric of the universe in its infancy. Before there was anything and anyone. The multiverse a blank canvas waiting to be created. Here you find Nyx, an elemental, primordial, divine force personifying darkness and night. She emerges from Chaos, the swirling void of nothingness, as one of the first beings in existence, making her a primordial goddess of immense power. Now, ask yourself why wouldn’t you want to work with her? Why wouldn’t you want to call to the very beginning of time, the universe and the existence of everything in reality including the personification of your very own soul? On top of her connection to chaos, her connection to night and darkness is something worth working with. Remember, night is more than just the absence of light. It is a realm all of it’s own. A container where mysteries dwell and where wisdom is born. In the heart of darkness, Nyx reigns. Her domain is not one of fear, but of profound possibility, growth, and transformation. There is so much wisdom that comes only when we allow ourselves to sink into the quiet places of our soul. Nyx teaches us that there is beauty in the unseen, that there is power in what we do not yet know.

Posted on 6 Comments

Deities of spooky season; gods and goddesses of the dead, transition and the afterlife

As the leaves begin to fall and the air turns crisp, the festivals like Samhain, Halloween, and the day of the dead beckons us into the realm of shadows, transformation, and magic. During these festivals its common for many witches and pagans to work with and celebrate deities that connect to and represent the energies central to the reflective and transitional celebrations. This season and it’s celebrations are full of magic, and there are many gods and goddesses who embody its transitional energy. Spooky season during Autumn, specifically the months of October and November, is a really important time in pagan culture and there are plenty of spooky gods and goddesses to work with or worship, depending on your practice, festivals, and celebrations. Let’s take a walk through the veil that is thinned now, allowing us access to our ancestors, the dead, and the otherworld. To take the time to pause, reflect, and truly connect to those who have come before us while we meet SOME of those deities together in this post today.

Persephone

In Greek mythology, Persephone is the goddess of agriculture, the spring, the Underworld, duality, and the wife of Hades. Prior to her marriage with Hades she was known as Kore, which means “daughter” or “maiden”. I find this to be crucial to her story and representation of rebirth, because, before she grabbed power in her marriage to Hades, the gods hadn’t even given her a name or her own place of power. Which makes no sense to me because she was born from two of the most powerful deities. Persephone is the daughter of Zeus, the chief god, and Demeter, the goddess of agriculture. For her to have such little power, be sheltered, and not have her own place of power within the pantheon was in injustice she would rectify through the power of rebirth and duality by becoming Hades wife. Persephone’s journey into the Underworld each autumn mirrors the cycle of life, death, and rebirth that Samhain embodies. As the wife of Hades, Persephone governs the realm of the dead by his side with grace, compassion, and might. Persephone’s presence in the Underworld brings a sense of balance between life and death. While Mabon aka the fall equinox marks Persephone’s descent into the underworld Samhain marks her rightfully ascending to her throne as the queen of the underworld. Working with her this spooky season you can call her as guide into the underworld and communicating with the your ancestors on the other side. Along with using her example to ascend to your own throne and grab your rightful true place of power.

To learn all about this alluring, intriguing, and transitional goddess, and see her story in a whole new light. Plus meet her in a guided meditation you can watch my class all about her here!

Hades

Since we’ve named him already alongside his beloved wife we can’t forget about the Greek god of the underworld himself; Hades (pluto). Hades is the god and king of the Greek Underworld, which gives him power and control over the souls who reside there. Hades, name translates to “unseen” or “sightless”, which really connects him the energy of transition, rebirth, and the liminal space . Connecting to him during this time of year to allow us to walk in and out of the liminal space that is created during this spooky season by the thinning veil. Hades’ father Cronus attempted to swallow him whole to destroy him forever but, in the end he failed. Allowing Hades to truly feel comfortable in the belly of the darkness that is the underworld beyond the veil. Calling on him during this spooky season will give you a calm, reassuring, and compassionate hand guiding you to your loved ones who reside now in his lands.

To learn more about him and meet him you can watch my class on him with Divination Academy here.

Hekate

To some she is Hecate, others Hekate. For many, she comes without a name revealing herself during times of great personal pain and loss. To others she the triple goddess. There is much to learn about Hecate from the written records, but for a witch to truly know Hecate, we need to experience her.
Hecate is a complex goddess with a long history. Hecate is an ancient Greek Goddess often associated with the Underworld, witchcraft, necromancy, crossroads, the spiritual realm, and the moon and so much more. She is the Goddess of Witchcraft, a guide along the path, and the universal Keeper of the Keys. The Guide who leads us back to our soul. And she is a face of The Great Mother, creatrix and destroyer of all. She is a liminal spirit – she guards the thresholds between the human and spirit world. She is the bringer of power and healing. She spins the wheel of time, weaving her magic and mystery throughout. The fiery spark that lives in all the universe. Working with her during this spooky season allows her to hold the torch for you as you walk to the crossroads with your ancestors by your side to choose your path for the next year ahead.

To learn more about her and meet her at the crossroads you can watch my class on her with Divination Academy here.

Osiris

Osiris is one of the most important deities in the Egyptian pantheon, he was the first son born to the god of earth geb and sky Nut. He was the Original ruler of the underworld until his wife Isis took over after his death at the hands of his own brother Set. Osiris was not only the ruler of the dead but also the power that granted all life from the underworld, from sprouting vegetation to the annual flood of the Nile River. He’s the god of fertility, resurrection, and the afterlife. Osiris is super important in the Egyptian underworld, called the Duat. He’s not only a god of the afterlife but, he is the one whom judges all the souls. When someone dies, their soul goes on a journey through the Duat, facing all sorts of challenges. Until The big moment at the end when the “Weighing of the Heart” ceremony takes place. They weigh the person’s heart against the feather of Ma’at, who stands for truth and justice. Osiris is there, watching and presiding over the entire thing. Being the one whom listens to the scales and judges each soul with fairness for all. Working with him this spooky season can give you a chance to look at the weight of your own heart through reflection and do the inner work to still try and tip that eternal scale in your favor.

Lady Hel

The ruler of Helheim. Hel Goddess of the Dead, daughter of Loki, is much more than a mysterious name and looming, shadowy presence. She is a deity of immense complexity, but one that is worth learning from. Hel, also called Hella and Hela, is the daughter of the trickster god Loki and the witch-giantess Angrboda in Norse mythology. Along with her brothers, the wolf Fenrir and the snake Jörmungandr, she was raised by her mother in a place called Járnviðr, the Iron Wood. She rules over the land of the dead, under one of the 3 roots of Yggdrasil, called Helheim. Yes, she is terrifying to behold, as the legends go, yet she brings transformation and paves the way for creation after destruction. When she manifests, she appears as a half-dead half-alive woman, showing the paradox between life and death. The polarity, that is needed for the Universe to continue on. Hel’s spiritual powers include death (physical and metaphorical), the afterlife, protection, transformation, omens, wisdom, mystery and ancestral connection. Work with her this spooky season to learn more about ancestors, shadow work, and to explore your fears about death and the afterlife.

To learn more about her and meet her you can watch my class on her with Divination Academy here.

The Morrigan

The Morrigan is the Celtic Goddess known as many things and she takes center stage during spooky season specifically . The Phantom Queen on the battlefield. The crow that soars above the wreckage and ruin. The seeress, the warrior, the protector. Her presence is a reminder of the thinning veil between the worlds and the mysteries that lie beyond. The Celtic Goddess of War is mysterious and dangerous, and chooses who she aids carefully. the Morrigan is intimately linked to the concepts of fate and prophecy. In Celtic mythology, she is believed to possess the ability to shape and determine the destinies of individuals and even entire kingdoms. Her prophetic powers grant her the ability to foresee battles and events, influencing the outcomes and playing a crucial role in the unfolding of history. The Morrigan’s role as a weaver of fate emphasizes the delicate balance between free will and the forces that guide our lives both in this one and the next. During Samhain, She is said to guide the souls of the departed and can offer protection to those who seek her aid in navigating the realms beyond. Work with her during this spooky season to protect you as work with your ancestors and energies beyond the veil. If your lucky she may even allow you a glimpse into your upcoming year.

To learn more about her and meet her you can watch my class on her with Divination Academy here.

Lilith

For 4,000 years Lilith has wandered the earth. Lilith is a “Dark” Goddess, she is one of incredible power, charisma, and persuasion. She is a mistress of the divine feminine and a true seductress. She is a Queen of Darkness and understands the powerful energies that sleep in the night and can bend them to her will. She hears the dark whispers of the forgotten night. The sleeping Dark mother who calls to the creatures of the nights and nurtures them in blankets of moonlight. She is Lilith, the Dark Mother and she is incredible to work with!

She is a healer and a lover and one who can provide comfort and support to those in need. Her night energies provide rest and comfort and she can inspire those who work with her with dreams. She empowers those she works with. She can awaken our power and help us to claim who we are and our space and become the people we desire to be. She reminds us of our truth and the powerful individuals that we are. Lilith is not bad or evil. Lilith is the voice inside of you telling you to act when you feel you’ve been treated unfairly by the patriarchy. She is the voice that says it’s not only ok but good to enjoy sex and your sensuality. She is the voice calling for the divine feminine in each one of us to stand up and fight for our power. Working with her this spooky season while the veil is thin can help you to get in touch with your inner wild woman, your divine feminine and let her raging power out!

To learn more about her you can read my previous post all about her here.

cernunnos

cernunnos the Celtic god of the harvest is the heart of Samhain celebrations. Often depicted with antlers or horns upon his head, he is a symbol of the untamed wildness of the natural world. As the god of life, death, and rebirth, cernunnos perfectly embodies the cyclical nature of existence that Samhain celebrates. During Samhain ,cernunnos’ energy is palpable. He represents the harvest’s end and the descent into winter’s slumber, a reflection of the fading light and the approaching darkness. His influence extends to the realm of the spirits, as he guides departed souls through the veil between life and death. Work with him this spooky season to connect your heart back to the wild parts of who you are. while giving thanks for the harvest that will keep you alive during the long cold and dark winter months ahead.

Oya

Mighty Oya, a Yoruban Orisha or Goddess, of mighty transformation and change controls the rain, winds, and storms. She’s mothering, powerful, and has a strong desire to help women through their struggles to transform. Oya represents the crone phase of the Triple Goddess and is closely associated with death and rebirth, another symbol of transformation. Allow Oya to blow her winds of change around your life to bring about something greater this spooky season.

Dionysus

Dionysus is a Greek god most well known for his wine-loving ways, but there’s SO much more to him than what’s on the surface. He is the Greek god of wine, intoxication, sacred polarity, ecstatic trance, dance and theatrical performance, sacred hallucinogens, and masked processions and festivals. He is a very unique god in the Greek pantheon because, he isn’t thought to be one of the original Olympians. But, to have originated from Thrace as a titan and later was added to the pantheon. He not only wasn’t part of the original 13 deities of the Greek pantheon but, he is said to be twice-born. Before he became Dionysus he was born to Zeus and Persephone as their son Zagreus. His story is one of death, sacrifice, transformation, and rebirth which is why he is such a great deity to work with during this spooky season. Use him and his love of wine to help you connect to the deepest shadows of yourself to allow rebirth and connect to the spirits in the underworld.

If you would like to learn more about his first life as Zagreus, what his story means and how he can show up in your life join the Modgepodgemystic Mysteries my patreon community today where I share my journey with him.

Baba Yaga

To modern witches and Slavic pagans, Baba Yaga is a witch goddess who lives deep in a birch forest moving from place to place among the trees in her hut she calls home on top of giant chicken legs. From time to time when she needs to gather more supplies you might catch a glimpse of her flying by up in the sky from her magical mortar and pestle. She’s a wild and untamed old woman, often seen as a hag or crone, but can transform herself into a beautiful woman to manipulate or trick someone if she desires. Baba Yaga is a goddess of wisdom, healing, transformation, death, rebirth, renewal and autumn/winter. When healing is needed, whether it’s from colds/flu or emotional healing, Baba Yaga can offer healing often in the form of herbal teas brewed by herself. Calling on her during this spooky season can lead you through the veil to her skull fenced lined home. To peer into her cauldron and gain the most ancient ancestral wisdom she guards.

To learn more about her you can read my previous post here.

Santa Muerte

Santa Muerte, also known as the Bony Lady, “Holy Death,” “The White Lady,” and “La Hueseda” is a special saint with a deep connection to the essence of death. Santisima Muerte emerges from the depths of history, tracing her origins to the sacred traditions of the ancient Aztecs. Her compelling narrative intertwines with the tapestry of life and death, offering solace and guidance to those who seek her enigmatic presence. Today she is a female folk saint and deity in Mexican folk Catholicism and paganism. She is a personification of death, but is also associated with healing, protection, and safe passage to the afterlife. Santa Muerte is not just about death; she also holds sway over the spirit world and mystical dimensions. This allows people to connect with the spirits of the deceased and other mystical beings. Because death has the power to transform our consciousness, she’s considered a powerful spirit for magic, helping people develop wisdom, strength, and awareness.

During this spooky season she is the patron saint who is at the heart of The Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos. Which is a national holiday when the souls of the dead are thought to return to enjoy the pleasures of life as well as the closeness of family and friends. Rather than a somber occasion, the Day of the Dead is intended to be a bright and joyous one. People gather to celebrate the spirits of their deceased loved ones and the lives that they lived. This celebration is not only believed to strengthen the bonds of the family but is also an opportunity to ask the dead for their assistance and protection. Work with Santa Muerte this spooky season to remind you of the love and joy you shared with your passed loves instead of making it a sad and somber affair.

To learn more about her you can check out this class all about her at Divination Academy.

How to connect to and work with these deities

Everyone’s relationship with deities is different and we all work with and believe in them differently. You might believe in multiple gods and goddesses and work with them each as though they are close, personal friends. Or maybe you believe the gods are reflections of Universal energy and simply archetype energies that you can learn a lesson from. However you incorporate deities in your practice is up to you. But here are some ideas to get you started on ways to work with any or all of these deities of the fall. Remember; it’s important to approach them with respect, reverence, gratitude and by building a relationship with them. Every time you work with a deity it is an even energetic exchange; which means what you put into your intention when working with them and building your relationship to them is what you get back. Don’t forget to check out my shop and for an eBook to help you explore how you view deities more and coming soon my deep devotionals prerecorded workshop series will be available for purchase.

  • Research, study and read about who they are, where they come from, and their myths and legends
  • Refresh your altar and add any of them to it. Or create a new one. Use any of the correspondences listed for each deity above that resonates with you!
  • Cast spells to help with personal transition or transformation allowing the deities of the transitional season to guide you through the process
  • Call on them to assist you with different types of divination like, tarot, pendulum readings, runes, or throwing bones while the veil is thin (Don’t forget to check out my free virtual tarot event)
  • Cast spells or host rituals including them to connect to, communicate with, or venerate passed loved and ancestors long since gone
  • Call on hekate/hecate at the crossroads to make a key decision in your life with the veil thinned
  • Practice liminal magic working with the veil and have your magic be amplified by the assistance of the deities who travel and/or live there the most
  • Leave offerings for them at graveyards, or cemeteries thanking them for protecting and guiding the souls who are resting there
  • Use their correspondences and energies in protection spells especially for ones for your home
  • Save them a plate and a seat at your dumb supper with your ancestors
  • add their sigil when you make a pentagram wreath and hang on your door, your hearth, or your altar
  • Prepare winter stores of food with kitchen magic and add their sigils to your recipes and jars to protect your food storage jars
  • Create a spell jar for them and add them to your altars or place them somewhere in your home
  • Shadow work focusing on death, rebirth, transition, and your relationship to your ancestral lines.  If you would like to learn more about shadow work you can purchase my eBook here;  you can book me for a 1:1 session as your guide here; and you can watch my free class previously taught on it through Divination here.
  • Call on them to be your guide as you walk through the veil to the other side
  • Envision them and their energy as you meditate and contemplate your relationship with life, death, and the afterlife
  • Invite them to your circle and castings when performing graveyard magic
  • Include them in your celebrations for any festivals like Samhain, all souls day , and dias de los Muertos
  • Ask them for assistance as guides into past life regression work, and healing generational wounds
  • Ask them to assist you with working through a grieving process and understanding death and dying
  • Add their sigil to your candles to be used during your candle ceremony to honor your ancestors this spooky season

Conclusion

However you choose to work with the deities of this spooky season, whether it be when celebrating Samhain, all souls day, or Dias de los Muertos be open and prepared for the darkness, rebirth, and transformation this season has. They will do this for you by being a guiding hand as you walk side by side with the ancients and your passed loved ones through the thinning veil. Leading you to a liminal space of healing, remembrance, and death. Allowing you to shed your current skin as a new cycle begins with their divine guidance and, support, until this new journey ends.