Vered’s Blog

This week is the first week of spring. So the Goddess that came to me today in my meditation was the most appropriate one for this season of life, where everything is springing out and bursting into life.

The Goddess is – Aphrodite.

I have known Aphrodite for so long and have worked with her for some time. However, when I sat today to write my blog about her I found so many new things and meanings to her importance in our daily lives of modern women that I have decided to dedicate to her the next few entries.

So, be patient with me as I go along about discovering the power of Aphrodite in our times.

All lovers of classical mythology are familiar with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Unfortunately, popular culture presents Aphrodite simply as a deity of petty desires. However contrary to such belief, Aphrodite was a unique and powerful deity whose influence was recognized in many areas of life.

The Greeks were not the first to name a goddess of love and worship her with a cult. In fact, Aphrodite’s origins can be traced back to similar goddesses of other civilizations.

Herodotus asserts Aphrodite’s development from Ishtar-Astarte, the ancient Semitic goddess of love. Many similarities exist between the two goddesses to support such a statement. As Astarte was called the Queen of Heaven by her followers, Aphrodite was called Urania, meaning Celestial or Heavenly.

In addition, Astarte was worshipped with offerings of incense and the sacrifice of doves, practices which are attributed only to the cult of Aphrodite. Prostitution was a notorious characteristic of the cults of both deities. (Burkert) One of the most prominent parallels is that between Aphrodite’s son-lover Adonis and Ishtar’s consort Tammuz.

It is believed that Aphrodite was brought from Phoenecia to Greece by way of Cyprus. This is reinforced in literature, as Aphrodite’s mythical “home” is Cyprus. A monumental temple to Aphrodite also stands in Paphos on that island.

The Romans also adopted Aphrodite and she is known as Venus. The Norwegian Mythology called her Freya and Branwen in the Celtic tradition. This shows us how ancient this Goddess is and shows that her message and her energy transcended cultures, geographical zones and even time.

Next time we will learn how Aphrodite became a symbol of the turning point in human consciousness.

For meanwhile you can do your own reserach about her and learn about this amazing Goddess.

Have a magical day!