Freya—Freya is the goddess of the Norse pantheon most associated with Venus and Aphrodite. In planetary magick, Friday is the day of Venus, yet in English it is derived from Freya’s day, though evidence suggests Friday belongs to Frigga, wife of Odin. Freya and Frigga are often erroneously linked and equated, as they belong to two different races of gods. Many magicians believe Freya to simply be a Northern Venus. While she encompasses issues of love and attraction, as well as sexuality, she is much more than that. Her name means “lady,” and she is the foremost goddess of the race of nature gods named the Vanir. Even after the Vanir battled the sky gods, the Aesir, and lost, Freya still retained power and prominence, being “adopted” by the Aesir through a battle trade along with her brother. She is a goddess of magick, mysteries, sexual power, and prophecy. She can be benign and she can be fierce. She weeps over the loss of her husband, and her tears that hit the water become amber, while the tears that hit the land become gold.
Freyr—Freyr, or Frey, is the brother to Freya and known as “Lord” amongst the Vanir. He is a god of fertility, virility, and the land. Some see him as the god of the phallus, the embodiment of male virility. Freyr is the god who bestows the blessings on the land and pleasure among mortals. He can be called upon for all blessings, including love, romance, sex, and pleasure.
Guinevere—In the Arthurian mythos, Queen Guinevere is the wife of King Arthur, though in many Witchcraft and goddess traditions Guinevere is seen as an embodiment of the goddess of the land, fertility, and sovereignty. A Venusian and Earth figure to the King’s Martial and Sun archetype, we can look to Guinevere as a goddess figure in her own right, even if modern tradition usually depicts her as human. Older Arthurian lore actually implies she is a faery queen, with there being three distinct Guineveres who are seasonally “captured” by an evil king, ushering in seasons of wither, not unlike the tales of Persephone with Hades. In many Celtic traditions, the old gods, such as the Tuatha de Danann, are considered faery folk with the rise of Christianity, not to displace the image of the monotheistic Christian god but to retain the interesting semidivine characters. As the myths are retold, they become more and more human, making it hard to see who is a god and who isn’t. Most of the Arthurian characters are attaining a semidivine mythic status in Neopaganism. While her most popular stories end in tragedy with her betrayal through an affair with Lancelot, modern Pagans believe there are deeper, truer stories of this goddess, telling of the mysteries and sovereignty of the land and how, through love between king and queen, these mysteries can be experienced and healing brought to the land and its people.
Hathor—Hathor is the cow-headed goddess of ancient Egypt, seen as the patron of joy and pleasure, and having roles as mother, wife, and lover. She is one of the most popular gods of ancient Egypt, with many festivals in her honor. She was originally linked with the Milky Way, just as the cow is linked with life-giving milk, but later Hathor was identified with other goddesses, such as the gentle side of the bloodthirsty lion goddess Sekhmet and the horned form of Isis.
Hera—The later Greek myths do not paint Hera as a very loving goddess. Most of what we now learn of Hera involves the difficult aspects of her relationships with Zeus and her stepchildren. She sought revenge on Zeus for his infidelity through punishing and tormenting his children from these affairs, yet she and her Roman counterpart Juno are the Greek and Roman patrons of marriage respectively. The month of June was named after Juno and seen by some as the best month to be married to assure her blessings. The cow, peacock, and cuckoo bird are sacred to Hera. Scholars and Pagans alike speculate that she was a great mother goddess before being absorbed into Greek culture under the guise of Zeus’s wife, and that the theme of jealousy was to undercut her own importance. The work of scholar J. J. Bachofen (1815–1887), along with the vast array of ancient temple sites and earliest Greek buildings, suggests a place of greater importance in early and pre-Greek culture, contrasting sharply to her later depictions. From speaking with Pagans practicing a variety of Greek-inspired forms of Witchcraft, I know that my personal experience of Hera in ritual is much different from the later Homeric depictions of her. As long as you show her respect, I’ve found her quite pleasant and willing to help in love and marriage magick.
Inanna—In the Sumerian pantheon, Inanna is the queen of heaven and earth. Though not specifically a love deity, she is a combination of both earth goddess of fertility and star/sky goddess, and many believe she is the oldest root source of other goddesses such as Astarte, Ishtar, and Aphrodite. Her consort is Dumuzi, a shepherd and vegetation god, and their union is viewed as symbolic both of natural forces coming together and of the tantric sexual practices of her priestesses. In her eyes, Dumuzi later betrays her by his lack of concern over her disappearance into the underworld, and many modern women have used the image of Inanna as the empowered woman as a spiritual aid during breakups and divorces.
Ishtar—Ishtar is the Assyrian and Babylonian counterpart to the older goddess Inanna. She, too, is a goddess of love, fertility, and war, considered the embodiment of the planet Venus. Like Inanna, she has a story of descent into the underworld, shedding pieces of clothing as she descends, until she arrives naked in the underworld. It was the later discovery of the Inanna myths that clarified many points in the Ishtar version for scholars. In her myths, she has a strange relationship with the hero Gilgamesh, both desiring him as a lover and, when he refuses, treating him as an antagonist. Perhaps she is more a tutelary goddess, teaching him through adversity. Her worship is strongly associated with sacred prostitution, dancing, and singing.
Lakshmi—Lakshmi is the Hindu goddess of blessings, wife to Shiva and beloved by Hindus. She shares traits with Aphrodite/Venus, both being born out of a foamy ocean. Ceremonial magicians looking to the Hindu pantheon relate Lakshmi to the Venusian godforms for this reason, as she is generally charitable and good-natured as the goddess of material fortune and beauty, and can be called upon in matters of love and romance. One of her main symbols is the lotus, and she is depicted seated or standing in a lotus, holding lotus flowers, often with four arms.
Morrighan—Though most Neopagans tend to look at the Morrighan as the dark goddess of war and battlefields, she also has associations as a goddess of the land, fertility, and sexuality. Seen as a triple goddess—as Anu, Babd, and Macha or Babd, Macha, and Nemain—some of the attributes of these figures lend themselves to the goddess of the land and sexual union. Her later evolution into the Morgan le Fay figure definitely indicates her as an enchantress. You can draw parallels between the Morrighan and Middle Eastern goddesses such as Astarte and Ishtar as goddesses of both love and war and initiators of heroes. Her relationship with the tragic hero Cu Chulainn is similar to Ishtar’s relationship with Gilgamesh.
Venus—Venus is the Roman counterpart of the Greek Aphrodite, so much so that the two are now most often seen as identical. Venus experienced a resurgence in popularity after the Roman Empire though works of art from the Renaissance.
The Temple of Love
One of the experiences that has been most helpful to those coming to me, seeking a deeper relationship with the divinities of love, is to visit the Temple of Love. Many “places” exist on the inner planes that are available to the sincere seeker. When doing my own personal work with a goddess of love, this vision came to me. Since then, I’ve shared it with others in workshops and private sessions, and many people have had the opportunity to have a profound personal experience with the goddess, whoever is right for them.
The image of the Temple of Love is a psychic amalgam of many places that have existed historically. We know many of the goddesses of love had temples dedicated to them, where rituals of healing, sensuality, and sexuality took place. It is the origin of the “temple prostitutes,” who were not prostitutes in the modern sense but temple priestesses fulfilling a sacred function in a society very different from ours today, where sexuality and spirituality had not been se
parated.
This meditation seems to combine such ideas from the temples of Astarte and Aphrodite in the ancient world with the Venusian correspondences of modern ceremonial magick. Qabalistic magick traditions tell us that each planet is related to a sephira, a point on the qabalistic Tree of Life. Each sephira has its own temple on the inner planes corresponding to its function. Perhaps this Temple of Love is an expression of this Venusian temple associated with the sephira called Netzach. Netzach means “victory” and refers to the victory of love, or nature, over all.
Use this pathworking to find your own expression of divine love from the Goddess and to further your own exploration and understanding of what a healthy relationship is. To set the mood, you can burn a green or pink candle and rose or red sandalwood incense if you desire.
exercise} Journey to the Temple of Love
1.Perform steps 1–5 from the mirror affirmations exercise on page 10.
2.Imagine the mirror before you. You don’t need a physical mirror to gaze into, but remember the mirror from the mirror affirmations exercise. If using a physical mirror (silver or black) is more helpful for you, then by all means use it. Mirrors are sacred to Venus and can be used as a gateway to her. Even if you don’t “see” a mirror in your mind’s eye, feel it. Sense it. Know that a psychic mirror is there before you, and it is able to transform into a gateway, leading you to your heart’s desire.
3.Ask the powers of the universe, your own higher self and guides, to go to the Temple of Love. Ask the mirror to become a gateway to this temple so you can learn more about the mysteries and power of love.
4.Imagine the mirror’s image of yourself shifting like ripples across a pond, distorting the image. Soon it opens up and becomes a gateway. Pass through the gateway and find yourself in a tunnel.
5.The tunnel is warm and wet, but not unpleasant. Water drips from the roof, down the sides. You reach out to touch the water, to feel it, and bring your fingers to your lips to taste it. You taste a faint amount of iron, like the Earth Mother’s blood flows through this tunnel. Or it might have a coppery taste, for copper is the metal of Venus.
6.You continue forward, toward a light at the end of the tunnel; it’s a soft and gentle white light, flickering as if generated by candles or torches. You come into the light and move through it, finding yourself in the Temple of Love.
7.Look around. What do you see? To most, this appears as a lavish Old World temple, adorned with jewels and precious metals. It could be entirely constructed by human hands or carved right out of a cavern, working with the natural shapes and curves of the rock. In particular, copper, green, and pink are the dominant colors of the minerals, fabrics, and flowers. Flickering lights from torches, candles, and oil lamps guide the way, and you smell the sweet scents of both flowers and burning resins of incense, slightly intoxicating you. You can see or hear the flow of water, with a fountain or waterfall built into the temple.
8.Unlike most austere temples, the Temple of Love is inviting and comfortable. There are cushions and cots for you to lounge on, and banquets of all manner of delicacies set out before you. In the center, there is an altar for the goddess of love, and you know that you should not touch or take anything on that altar, though you may leave offerings there.
9.As you wander the temple, you might feel the presence of others there too, also seeking the mysteries of love, but their shape and form might not be clear. You might also feel the ever-present and pervading spirit of the goddess of love around you and now inside you.
10.You find at least one mirror in the temple, if not more, and think back to your mirror affirmations. Gaze into the mirror and think about your previous affirmations and how they made you feel. As you think about them, notice your self-image changing again. How does your self-image change in this mirror, revealing your true self? More importantly, how do you feel when you gaze into the mirror? Is it how you want to feel? If not, what can you do to change the image and yourself?
11.See the image of the mirror shift and change and show you someone else in your life. The mirror reveals someone else you have had a loving relationship with—a family member, friend, covenmate, lover, or partner. What does this person look like in the mirror, and is it different from how they look in the world? What does this image communicate to you through words, pictures, or feelings?
12.After experiencing the goddess’s mirror, you feel compelled to wander the temple, and you find a gateway that leads outside to a beautiful flower garden with plants, shrubs, and trees. Flowers of all shapes and sizes, all beautiful, grow here. You find roses of every type, poppies, apple blossoms, belladonna, datura, yarrow, and many more. Many of the flowers are five-petalled flowers. You find amongst the plants various raw stones and minerals—copper ingots, turquoise, emeralds, rose quartz, amber, and malachite. As you wander through the garden, a flower, stone, or other natural power catches your attention. You feel compelled to touch it or pick it up and commune with it. You might feel its energy, its blessing of spirit medicine, fill your heart and change you for the better, though you are not yet sure how. You simply know that when you see that mineral or plant again, it will be important and might even be an ally in your future magick with love, even if you don’t know what its magick is about now.
13.Return to the Temple of Love. Now, you will find one of the many faces of the goddess of love there awaiting you. Who awaits you? You might not see anyone specific, but again feel the presence of the goddess of love all around you. For some, the awaiting presence might not even be the goddess but a god of love. The figure awaits with open arms for you, literally or metaphorically, and surrounds you with love. You are filled with the blessings of love and harmony. This deity might even have advice or wisdom for you and your own quest for love. Have an open heart to feel this message. You might ask questions and receive answers from the Divine then and there, or later, through life circumstances and through the words of people who love you. The gods can speak to us through the people in our lives. Be open to the power and wisdom of love.
14.When the deity is done communing with you, you find yourself moving back through the tunnel. You come out of the tunnel, through the gateway of the mirror that is before you, and the gateway closes.
15.Perform steps 8–10 from the mirror affirmation exercise.
Journal your experience with the goddess of love, and keep her message in mind as you are on your quest for love.
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The Love of Nature
Certain substances have a history in attracting the forces of love and romance to us, and by looking at the wisdom of those who have gone before us, we can harness these natural forces to bend and shape our lives, creating the relationships we desire.
European folk magick uses simple correspondences with plants, minerals, and colors. Generally, green is used for love magick involving general happiness, a prosperous relationship, healthy children, and good love. Green is associated with the Goddess as the Lady of many folk traditions, even in the Christian era. Red is used for lust and passion, to incite a lover to action. White is used in fidelity charms to keep a lover true. Folk spells can involve clothing, string, or colored pins and candles, along with tools found in nature.
In elemental magick, the primary correspondences for love magick are the herbs and stones associated with water. Water is the element of love both spiritual and romantic. Our quest for love is depicted by the cups suit in the tarot. All substances associated with water—oceans, rivers, and lakes, as well as plants that hold a lot of water or grow better near water, and minerals with colors that are reminiscent of water—can be used for love magick.
Yet when we craft a relationship, we want something beyond romance and sentimentality. We want something that will last, with some stability. So along with our dominant water theme, our spellcraft could include the element of earth. Are you trying to
find a life partner, someone to build a home with and grow old with? Then the earth element is definitely needed. Earth is the element of stability and the home. Use roots or dark stones in your magick. Do you want something with passion and intensity? Then throw in a bit of the fire element. Fire is passion and drive and even sexuality. Use red stones and colors. Pick red, spicy, or prickly herbs. If you are just looking for a passionate affair and nothing long-lasting, then perhaps fire should be the dominant element. Do you want clear communication and someone who will not only be physically stimulating but intellectually stimulating? Then the spell should have some air element in it as well. Use flowers with a strong, stimulating smell; stones that are colored like the sky; or the traditional color of air in ceremonial magick, yellow. Make the correspondences for your spell match your intention. Choose your dominant element for the type of relationship, and then add appropriate modifying ingredients.
In planetary magick, the same rules apply. Planets are simply another way to categorize magickal energy and archetypal forces. Focus on the type of relationship you want, with the appropriate planet’s correspondences as the dominant theme in your spellcraft, and add appropriate modifiers from other planets to bring other qualities to the relationship.
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