The Goddess Directory

Bhuvaneshvari

July 17, 2026

Queen of the Universe

Bhuvaneshvari is a goddess from Hindu mythology whose name means Queen of the Universe. She belongs to the ten Mahavidyas, a group of fierce and esoteric goddesses central to the tantric traditions, each one a different face of the divine feminine and a different path toward liberation. Bhuvaneshvari governs abundance and nourishment, and her teachings center on oneness with the universe.

Her origin sits within the wider story of the Mahavidyas, who emerged from Sati to remind Shiva of Shakti’s power after he tried to leave her presence. Each of the ten goddesses took on a distinct form and teaching. Bhuvaneshvari’s teaching centers on Akasha, the infinite space from which all creation emerges. She protects everything that has taken form, and she remains the ground from which it all continues to unfold.

She is often pictured with a golden or reddish complexion, seated on a lotus with the sun rising behind her. She wears a crown and carries a noose and a goad in two of her hands, while her other two hands offer blessing and protection to those who approach her.

I’m enjoying learning more about the ten mahavidyas, as I knew little about Hindu mythology before I was commissioned for this piece. I now plan to create all ten mahavidya altar cards.

Call to Bhuvaneshvari for guidance in releasing your mind and soul from its confines and limitations. The universe is within you, not somewhere separate that you reach toward. Her teachings can unleash your limitless creativity and generosity, and bring in the natural abundance of the cosmos, so long as you stay aligned with the greater good.

To sit with Bhuvaneshvari is to remember that you are not separate from the vastness you seek. She teaches that abundance flows freely once the mind stops narrowing itself, and that the space you carry inside you has already made room for everything you are becoming.

BHUVANESHVARI
Goddess Bhuvaneshvari is from Hindu mythology. Her name means Queen of the Universe. She is one of the ten fierce and esoteric mahavidya goddesses who are central to the tantric traditions. She is goddess of abundance and nourishment and teaches of oneness with the universe.
She protects all manifested creation and symbolises the Akasha, the infinite space from which all creation emerges.
Call to Bhuvaneshvari for guidance in releasing your mind and soul from its confines and limitations. The universe is within you.
With her teachings, you can unleash your limitless creativity and generosity and bring in the natural abundance of the cosmos, if you are aligned with the greater good.
Bhuvaneshvari Oracle by The Coventina Press

The Coventina Press

Head over to The Coventina Press where you can find all my current goddess artwork, including the Bhuvaneshvari Oracle Altar card to add to your collection.
Befana

July 9, 2026

The Old Woman Who Brings the Gifts

Befana is an Italian folklore figure who visits children on the eve of Epiphany, the night of January 5th. She flies on a broomstick and slips down chimneys, filling stockings with candy for children who have been good and a lump of coal for those who have not. She is often pictured as an old woman in a patched shawl, carrying a sack over her shoulder and a broom in her hand.

Befana Oracle Card by The Coventina Press

Her roots reach back further than the Christian story attached to her now. Befana traces to Strenia, a Roman goddess tied to the new year and to purification. The Romans held a festival called Strenae around the new year, where people exchanged gifts of figs, honey, and branches as tokens of good fortune. Strenia watched over that exchange, and her name is likely the root of Befana’s own.

As Christianity spread through Italy, Strenia’s gift giving folded into the story of the Three Magi. Legend says the Magi stopped at an old woman’s house on their way to visit the newborn Christ and asked her to join them. She refused, busy with her housework, but changed her mind too late. She has searched for the child ever since, leaving gifts for children along her way in case one of them is him.

That older, wilder shape never fully left her. She flies a broom rather than walking a road, and some tellings give her witch-like features, a hooked nose, a hunched back, soot on her face from years of chimneys. She belongs to the same old family as other broom-riding women who once carried the turning of the year on their backs.

Befana asks nothing grand of the households she visits. She sweeps the floor before she leaves, a small act said to sweep away the troubles of the old year. She rewards ordinary goodness in children rather than heroic deeds, and she keeps her searching gentle rather than sorrowful. To sit with Befana is to remember that the new year begins with small kindnesses, a swept floor, a full stocking, a door left open for whoever might still be looking for the way.

Befana
Befana is a kindly gift-giving witch who flies through the skies on Epiphany eve. She is still very popular in Italy but this little old witch was once better known as the Goddess Strenia.
Strenia is the ancient Roman Goddess of the New Year. As the goddess of gifts, she brings with her prosperity, abundance and pleasure. Perhaps that is why she is still looked upon kindly unlike many other crone goddesses.
But a crone she is, a dark goddess who stands at a crossroad. The new year which brings with it joy and new beginnings is also a time for purification. A time to sweep away the old with your broom and with the help of her magic bring in your desires for the new year.

Call to Befana with gifts of honey and twigs. Call in her abundance but dont forget to sweep away the old before you start a new.’
The Coventina Press – Befana Oracle Card

The Coventina Press

Head over to The Coventina Press where you can find all my current goddess artwork, including the Befana Oracle Altar card to add to your collection.
Athena

July 8, 2026

Athena

Greek goddess of wisdom and strategic war

Athena is a Greek goddess of wisdom, good counsel , strategic warfare and crafts. She is counted among the Twelve Olympians who ruled from Mount Olympus. She carried a spear and shield, and wore the aegis, a breastplate bearing the head of Medusa. Wisdom, courage, and clear judgment all fell under her domain, and she held her place as one of the most respected among the Olympian gods.

Athena by The Coventina Press

Athenas Birth

Athena was born fully grown, armored, and shouting a war cry, straight from the head of Zeus. She was never a child. Her birth came out of a prophecy. Zeus, her father had taken the Titaness Metis as a lover, and word came that any son of hers would grow strong enough to overthrow him, just as he had overthrown his own father. Zeus swallowed Metis whole to stop the prophecy from unfolding. She was already pregnant with Athena, and the child grew inside him instead. When the time came, Zeus suffered a splitting headache, and Hephaestus split his skull open with an axe to ease it. Athena stepped out, fully grown.

Athenas Attributes

She ruled over wisdom and strategic warfare, the kind of fighting that depends on a clear mind rather than blind rage. Her half brother Ares embodied the chaos and bloodlust of battle but Athena was a General. But she is not only a warrior. She is also the goddess of intellectual pursuits, art and crafts, strategy and justice. She is the protector of cities and heroes. Athens took her name after she won a contest against Poseidon by gifting the city an olive tree. The tree offered food, oil, and wood, and the people chose her gift over Poseidon’s saltwater spring. It says something about her that her offering was practical and lasting rather than flashy.

She kept close companions among mortals. Odysseus received her favor throughout his long journey home, and she guided craftsmen, weavers, and inventors as much as kings and soldiers. Her sacred creature was the owl, a bird that sees clearly in the dark. Her tree was the olive, humble and useful, feeding people for generations.

Athena never married and bore no children in the traditional sense. She was self-possessed, courageous and strong. A woman complete on her own terms. She fought fiercely for those under her protection and rewarded cleverness and hard work wherever she found it.

Oracle Altar Card Athena

ATHENA
Greek goddess Athena is one of the twelve Olympians. Athena is the goddess of wisdom and war. Her birth was a little unorthodox as she leapt fully grown and armored from her fathers forehead after he swallowed her mother.
Athena has a long list of attributes. She is a goddess of intellectual pursuits, art and crafts, strategy and justice as well as a warrior, courageous and strong.
Athena is the voice of reason and rational thinking. She is logical, fair and fearless.
Call to Athena, for guidance and wisdom when in conflict or indecision.
She can help you gain clarity, assertiveness and resilience when you are in the trenches, whether it be a matter of justice, an artistic endeavour or strategic warfare.

The Coventina Press

Head over to The Coventina Press where you can find all my current goddess artwork, including the Athena Oracle Altar card to add to your collection.
Baba Yaga

July 24, 2025

Wood witch, ogres and guardian of the forest. Baba Yaga hails from Slavic folklore. She lives in a magical hut which moves about on chicken legs.
She is often portrayed as a hideous old witch who devours children and she even rides with Death in her flying mortar. However she is both good and bad, light and shadow. Baba yaga is untamed and unapologetic, a wild woman who will help you on your quest if she believes you are true and strong of heart.
Call to Baba Yaga only if you are ready to change as she does not suffer fools lightly. Her help may be painful and bitter but will always be what you need, even if you struggle to face it. If you can accept your darkness, wisdom and healing will follow.
The Coventina Press – Baba Yaga Oracle Card

The Mythology of Baba Yaga

Deep in the forest of Russia, Poland and the Balkans, you can hear tell of Baba Yaga and the legends surrounding her. Her tales have endured thousands of years. Her name as ancient origins, Baba meaning old woman or grandmother and Yaga derived from an ancient word for snake or serpent. She is a wild primordial feminine force whose appearance is frightful. She has iron teeth that can gnaw through bones, a long nose and wild grey hair. Her chicken-legged home spins through the forest and when it settles a fence of human bones surrounds it.

Baba Yaga dwells at the boundary between worlds – between life and death, between civilized and wild. She enjoys testing those who would come to her for help with impossible tasks and riddling questions.

She has a mortar and pestle that serve both as a cauldron and chariot, grinding herbs for potions by day and soaring through the skies at night. The pestle steers while she sweeps away her tracks with a silver birch broom, leaving no trace for those who might follow. She knows the language of animals, the secrets of plants that heal and harm, and the true names of spirits that others dare not speak.

There are many tales of Baba Yaga and in all of them, those that seek her aid, must prove their worth. She may make you sort poppy seeds from the earth or weave moonbeams into cloth. The tasks are never what they appear on the surface, as they are tests of character, determination and grit. She rewards those of pure heart with gifts, but she destroys the greedy, the lazy and the false.

The Baba Yaga oracle card is available to buy in the shop!
Hecate

July 4, 2025

Hecate: A Guide to the Underworld and Inner Wisdom

Hecate is an ancient goddess. It is believed she predates the Olympians gods, and was originally worshipped as an Earth Mother in Caria, Asia Minor long and was then later syncretized into the Greek pantheon. She is often seen as a triple goddess and that is because she is goddess over many different domains and the journey she has been on as changed her worship immensely. Her three aspects are connected and yet very separate from each other and they evolve as her worship changes through the ages.

She was first and foremost, a Great Goddess, a universal figure of worship and there were many temples and cults in her place of origin. After Zeus and the pantheon arrived from the Indo- european relighion, she still found a place in the pantheon and was highly respected as a goddess of liminal spaces and the in-between. She was classed as one of the titans, but not of the original twelve. She was extremely powerful but stood alone, apart from the major gods and goddess of the Greek pantheon. She became a goddess worshipped at transformative times and transitions. They would worship her at childbirth, marriage, death for example. She was a bridge, a messenger between mortals and gods. She connected the three male domains (sky, sea and underworld) together and passed easily between all the worlds. She has now shifted from Universal goddess, an earth mother to a liminal goddess, her second role. Her third aspect is as a chthonic goddess. Which is how she is most well regarded in modern times. As she was worshipped in transitions and transformations, she became associated with magic, witchcraft, death and the underworld. She was worshipped at crossroads where the unfortunate dead where often buried and she became connected and associated with ghosts and was known as the mistress of souls. She now as three different faces, but she is still only one powerful ancient goddess.

HECATE
Hecate is a truly ancient triple goddess, who predates even Greek Mythology. She is the Goddess of magic and moonlight, of witch-craft and ghosts.
Her mysterious presence is felt most in the liminal spaces, the inbetween where the veil is thin. She will call to you at the gates, the crossroads of this world and your life. Hecate is the escort to the dead on their journey to the underworld.

But do not fear her, call to Hecate on your spiritual journeys. She will guide you to your underworld.
To the hidden depths of your soul, to your shadow self and the darkness that lies within us all.
The clarity and inner wisdom she brings comes from embracing both the light and the dark and finding the balance and harmony with both.
The Coventina Press
Achelois

July 3, 2025

Achelois : she who washes away the pain

Not much is known of Goddess Achelois, there are no stories left behind for us to read, as Greek mythology is so ancient and also widespread..it can often overlap and be contradictive. We do know that she was associated with the Dodonian Oracle, one of the oldest hellenistic oracles. When people were in pain or need assistance in an illness, it was Achelois who they sacrificed to. Her name became synonymous with the washing away of pain and healing.

Many sources I found mention Achelois as a Moon goddess and although I can’t find the link to this yet…this makes sense to me as the moon, waters and tides often represent healing and the washing away of any hurt. When I think of Achelois, I imagine the moon and the seas, the tide creeping up the shore and cleaning away of the debris. In ancient Greek, she was looked at as a source of comfort to those in pain.

The Greek Poet Tzetzes believed Achelois to be one of The Muses, goddesses who inspired human to create. It is also suggested she could be the daughter of Epione, goddess of the soothing of pain. In another connection, she is a Siren, or perhaps all the sirens, daughter of Achelous, the River God.

As with many of the minor goddesses, we have no clear picture now of who she was, and what she represented to the people of the world she knew. Regardless of this, if you want to connect with Achelois, if you want to feel her healing power, the comfort of her embrace and ask her to wash away your pain. Close your eyes. Imagine her power and if you are lucky, she will come to you.

The Achelois hand printed linocut is available to buy here and I also have a very miniature linocut print available here too
Elemental: Air

June 30, 2025

Air Energy and the Goddesses of air and breath

Air, one of the four elements of our world. Air is the element that surrounds us, and yet it is an invisible element, one only seen when it touches another. Air is a transformational energy, it moves all other elements and changes the world around us. We feel its power in the swaying of the trees, the licking of flames and the crashing of waves. Air is the very breath of life, the flow of energy, in and out. It feeds us and yet we don’t spare it a thought unless we lose it.

So what it is to be guided by air and what does it mean if the element of air is part of your energy?

Air spirits are thinkers, communicators and doers. They are intelligent and often have the ability to breeze through life and often feel like a breath of fresh air to those around them. They are cheerful by nature and enthusiastic about things they love. Being surrounded by friends and family is important to them and they are sociable and look outwards. Air spirits are often called to teach or lean towards creative self expressive. They have powerful imaginations and often think of the bigger picture, they focus on the world around them , not just their own little corner. Air spirits are good at keeping the peace and resolving conflicts, but they will stand up for their beliefs and for the beliefs of others. On the flipside air spirits can end up feeling restless, scattered, they can become mentally over-stimulated and end up staying up all night falling down rabbit holes.

Below are a few air and breath goddesses from around the world, I’ve tried to cover the different aspects of air worship and the characteristics that are make up their energy.

ARIANRHOD

Celtic goddess Arianrhod, also known as the Silver Circle. She is a sky and star goddess who lives among the stars in the Corona Borealis, a constellation that surrounds the North Star. She sails across the sky to help the souls of those that have fallen in battle. She is also the goddess of the arts, magic and manifestation. She is associated with spinning and weaving as with her silver wheel she weaves the tapestry of life.

CARDEA

Cardea is a little known roman goddess, whose name means door hinge. Although as goddess of the door hinge, she sounds unimportant, she had the power to keep out evil spirits and such she was worshipped by the general population and looked at as the protector of children.

IRIS

Greek goddess Iris is the personification of the rainbow. She served as a messenger of the Gods. She could communicate with both Gods and mortals and helped to bridge the gap between the too. Her beautiful air energy helped those around her communicate clearly and she was able to keep the peace and resolve conflicts by teaching empathy. She was also the handmaiden to Hera, who as the Queen of the heavens is also an air spirit.

NUT

Goddess Nuit pronounced ‘newt’ is an Egyptian goddess of the sky and all heavenly bodies. It was believed that all celestial beings including the sun and the moon would make their way across her body during the day. She represents death and rebirth and the beautiful cycle of life. She looks over and protects your loved ones who have passed.

If you are interested in knowing more about Nut, I have a blog post all about her – Nut

I will definitely be exploring air energy more in my journey. Their ability to see clearly, communicate wisely and also their social nature inspires me and although I am an Earth spirit, through and through, we could all do with harnessing that air from time to time.

Artwork listed, links below!

Air Spirit linocut

Goddess Nuit Linocut
Elemental : Earth

June 30, 2025

Earth Energy and the Goddesses of earth and wood

Earth, one of the four elements of our world. The very foundation of all things, the matter of the universe. If you touch the ground you walk on, you can feel its stability, its unmoving strength. You can see its fertility, as life spring from it, and eventually all life is interred within it. So what is it to be guided my earth and what does it mean if the element of earth is part of your energy?

Earth spirit energy is stable, reliable and determined. They find peace out in nature, but also at home and at the hearth. They often have a calling to heal and care for others especially through nature, They have the ability to hold space for others and can take on responsibilities. They want to make the world around them a better place. Earth spirits are steady people, rock solid, and are private with their emotions and keep what they feel to themselves. They would only share their inner selves if it was necessary. Imagine how slowly the earth changes and turns and you can picture an earth spirit slowly, methodical going through life. The flipside of earth energy can be so steadfast it becomes stubborn, adamant and they can find it difficult to compromise especially regarding their principles. At work they can be perfectionists, and can be critical of themselves and of others. They also can become stuck if a change is needed.

Below are a few earth and wood goddesses from around the world, I’ve tried to cover the different aspects of earth worship and the characteristics that are make up their energy.

DEMETER

Greek Goddess Demeter is best known in relation to her daughter Persephone. She is the goddess of the harvest and agriculture. After Persephone, who is also an Earth spirit, was kidnapped, she became goddess of the seasons as in her joy the world blooms and in her sadness the world around her hibernates. She has a deep connection to the world of nature around her but she is was also very determined to get her daughter back and refused to keep caring for the world without her. Steadfast in her principles she did eventually get her back, for half the year at least. I have written a full post on Demeter which you can find here – Demeter

MOTHER EARTH

Earth mother, the eternal ever fruitful source of all life on our planet. Ever present in ancient religions around the world she has many names. Gaia, Pachamama, Terra Mater, Prithvi. A symbol of life and fertility. She teaches the importance of harmony and respect for the Earth and its gifts. Pachamama, translates Earth Mother. She is a fertility goddess revered by Incan people and is still an important feature of religion in Peru today. She protects the inhabitants of her land and nourishes them if balance can be maintained. She teaches the importance of harmony and respect for the Earth and its gifts and the belief that if we take too much, the Earth will fight back with natural disasters and famine. Gifts are regularly offered to her in a ritual named ‘pago a la tierra’ – payment to the earth.

I have a full detailed post on Gaia and a post on Pachamama here.

ARTEMIS

Artemis is an ancient Greek Goddess, Goddess of Wilderness- Artemis felt most at home in the wild,

roaming the mountains and forests and being at peace with the animals that lived there. She never tried to harness or use nature for any purpose. She protected the wild and the animals from the outside world.

Her and her companions would bath in the rivers and rest in peace from the hostility of the world around them. If you would like to know more about Artemis, I have a blog post dedicated to her – Artemis

SPIDER GRANDMOTHER

Spider Grandmother is the Earth mother in many native american cultures. with Tawa the sun god they created the Earth and everything in it. She created woman and man and gave them their cultures and traditions to follow. She is known as an wise old woman, a healer, a leader who gives advice and who helps people on their path.

Exploring the elements through personality and goddess has been so interesting to me. I am an Earth spirit through and through but having the ability to harness other elemental energy from time to time can only be a good thing.

List of prints available in the shop from this post, links below

Demeter

Pachamama

Gaia

Artemis

Back with more goddesses soon, bye
Elemental : Water

June 30, 2025

Water Energy and the Goddesses of water and waves

Water, one of the four elements of our world. Water surrounds us, in the oceans, rivers and streams. It springs out the earth and cascades down waterfalls. It’s the pouring rain. It flows freely with a graceful yet dynamic energy that can not be contained. Water has the ability to heal, purify and has a cleansing energy. Most civilizations were established next to water. It’s importance is all encompassing, It is the giver of all life, but also has the power to destroy through floods, droughts and drowning.

In most cultures water is a feminine energy and is strongly linked to the moon. Water is connected to our emotions, empathy, fertility, and to our dreams. It is an intuitive energy that flows through us. There are many water goddesses, goddess of the oceans, of springs and wells. River goddesses and goddess who harness water energy to heal. So what is it to be guided by water and what does it mean if the element of water is part of your energy?

Water spirits are deep and soulful. They are compassionate , have mountains of empathy and are emotionally sensitive to energies around them. In work, they are often called to bring art, love, music and joy into the world or find themselves in a healing profession from their desire to heal the world. They have an unrivalled ability to heal those around them and are highly intuitive. Often intelligent, frank and quick-witted. Although they always think twice before they speak. There are two types of water. Flowing water and still water and as such, you will have water spirits who are active, restless and impatient. Whereas still water spirits are calm, silent and stay at home. On the flip side water personalities can struggle to make decisions, feel emotions too intensely and get lost in a tidal wave of feelings. They can be insecure and fear is an emotion that follows them everywhere. They may need extra time and space alone.

Below are a few water and wave goddesses from around the world. I’ve tried to cover the different aspects of water worship and the elements that make up their energy.

CLIODNA

Celtic goddess of the sea and the otherworld. Daughter of the sea god Manannan. She was a fairy queen of the otherworld who aspects are beauty, passion and love. She fell in ,I’ve with a mortal man and left the otherworld to be with him but her father enchanted her to fall asleep by the sea and she was carried away on the ninth wave. She is the waves that crash onto the shores of Ireland. Every ninth wave is sacred to her and is always the strongest. It is believed that if you cast a pearl in a double shell into the ninth wave she will grant a wish for you. She has three birds who eat fruit from the otherworld and whose songs can heal the sick.

COVENTINA

Coventina is a British/Germanic Goddess of natural springs and wells. Her aspects are abundance, healing, renewal and inspiration. Not much is known of Coventina, but she is a goddess close to my heart and I have a blog post dedicated to her here.

TETHYS

Greek Titan Tethys was born to Uranus and Gaea, the personifications of heaven and earth. Tethys is the personification of fresh water. She appears in classic literature and as a figure in Roman art, especially in the baths. She is portrayed as a nurturing goddess unlike most titans. Tethys was also the wife of Oceanus, the personification of salt-water and together they made over 6000 water spirits and nymphs, all of the oceanids and river spirits.Tethys mosaic

I will definitely be exploring water energy more in my journey, that beautiful deep emotional energy is very powerful. And although I am an Earth spirit, through and through, we could all do with harnessing that water from time to time.

Linocuts available in the shop that are mentioned in this post are linked below!

Water Spirit linocut

Water spirit greeting card

Coventina Blue linocut print

Coventina Black linocut print

Coventina Blue greeting card

Coventina Black greeting card
Elemental : FIRE

June 30, 2025

Fire Energy and the Goddesses of fire and flame.

Fire, one of the four elements of our world. Fire has played such an important role in our evolutionary history that it makes sense that fire worship as always been with us. The importance of the sun, the warmth from the family hearth, and the power of volcanoes and lightning are all represented in fire. The craft of the blacksmiths, iron, warfare and metal tools. The ability of fire to mold and create but also to destroy and burn gives it immense power and a whole wealth of gods and goddesses characterize this element. So what it is to be guided by fire and what does it mean if the element of fire is part of your energy?

Fire spirits burns bright. In play, they are adventurous, brave, energetic and outgoing. They have a youthful spirit regardless of age and are often progressive and excitable. In work, they have natural leadership qualities, feel passionate and actively pursue their goals. They may have a burning desire to create, inspire or lead and they can often feel a calling to deliver an important message to the world. On the flip side all of this passion, this brightness can become destructive. Fire spirits can sometimes be brash, chaotic, disruptive, irresponsible and unreliable. Just like fire can keep you warm but also burn, fire energy needs to be channeled with thought and care.

Below are a few fire and flame goddesses from around the world, I’ve tried to cover the different aspects of fire worship and the characteristics that are make up their energy.

PELE

Goddess Pele by The Coventina Press

Goddess of volcanoes, fire and lightning. She who shapes the sacred land of Hawaii. Pele is loved but also feared on the islands. Many choose not to say her name in case she is listening. Pele is beautiful, passionate, fiery and full of energy and impatience. Her love is powerful and deep but can cause great pain to her and those around her. Her spirit, like the volcano that she inhabits is volatile and can be wrathful if she is hurt. Legend says Pele will curse any who steal from her and many Hawaiian rocks have been returned to the island by people who believe they now have bad luck for stealing from her. For more information on Pele, read this post. www.thecoventinapress.co.uk/post/goddess-pele-of-hawaii

SEKHMET

Sekhmet is an Egyptian goddess, whose name mean ‘she who is powerful’. She was created with the fire of the sun, from Ra’s eye as he looked upon the Earth. She was the fire, the weapon that would destroy you for your disobedience. Goddess of the hot desert sun, war, the plague and chaos. She was definitely a Goddess to be feared, however she was also a healer and for her friends she could divert the plagues and cure any illness. She was the patron of all healers and the protector of the Pharaohs.

HESTIA

Hestia. Greek goddess of the hearth fire and one of the twelve Olympians. Worship of Hestia was centered on the hearth, both at home and as a sacrificial fire. In ancient greece, fire was essential in the household for warmth, food and sacrificial offerings and Hestia was the divine personification of the hearth fire. She was everywhere and all important, but hers was not the burning bright fire of destruction but the warming fire of home and hospitality and she was loved and respected by all.

DRAUPADI

Draupadi, Hindu goddess of fire. She was born from the sacrificial fires themselves. She is the heroic princess from the Hindu epic of Mahabharata. Draupadi is a complicated goddess, known for being full of romance, charisma, intrigue and mystery. She displays all the exuberance of a fire spirit. Draupadi was strong-willed and stubborn but in all the best ways. A woman with unbending will, proud and angry with the strength to bear the trials and tribulations life threw at her and there were many.

GABIJA

Goddess Gabija is the fire spirit in Lithuanian mythology. Many of the rituals and traditions surrounding Gabija are still practiced today and fire is sacred to all Lithuanians. Gabija is a feminine energy and the women of the household would protect the scared hearth fire. This included banking it at night, feeding her and making sure only the right materials were given to her. She would never be disrespected or insulted, as Gabija could walk, burning everything in her path.

I will definitely be exploring fire energy more in my journey as I find the fine line between creative power and destructive power fascinating. And although I am an Earth spirit, through and through, we could all do with harnessing that fire from time to time.

Links to linocuts mentioned in this post below!

Fire spirit linocut print

Fire spirit Greeting card

Pele linocut print

Pele Greeting card