#deity guide

[bodhi-devotee]

Leto: Goddess of Modesty or of Mystery?

“you can sit with gentle Leto, and simply be. the light always finds it’s way through the clouds.”

i am not a religious authority. i encourage you to double check all points before they are accepted as fact! this details my experience meditating on and researching the titan goddess Leto. anything that is speculative and not verifiable as fact will be italicized!!!

Leto is a beloved titan goddess, but of what? ancient texts regarding her lack the plentiful stories that other deities are afforded, so we must look at genealogy for deeper insight. as laid out in hesiod’s ‘theogony’, Leto’s mother is Phoibe, the embodiment of bright intellect. her grandfather on both sides is Heaven embodied, Ouranos. her sister is Asteria, goddess of stars, who went on to bare the mysterious Hekate. Leto herself gave birth to two of the most important gods in hellenic polytheistic belief, two gods whose domains serve as stark contrast against one another; Artemis and Apollon. though the imagery was not present when they first entered the greek scene, Leto’s children have grown to represent the moon and the sun respectively. i think the first thing we can put together about Leto is this: unless she’s a wild outlier in the family tree, we can confidently place her as a titan of light and radiance (and mystery as well— more on that in a moment).

the type of light is never specified in historical texts or art. is Leto’s radiance that of daytime or of the night? some argue that if both Leto and Asteria represent prophetic light, Asteria must be the light of night given that she is of the stars, and Leto must embody the light of day. this is not the theory i buy into. in my worship Leto’s presence feels stronger at night, and i associate her with the stars, moon, and nighttime. but, she is present during the day as well. i sense a strong connection between her and the specific light of a cloudy day, the illumination of the land through a soft grey haze. maybe this could be reminiscent of light (or sight) piercing through a veil, which Leto is consistently shown wearing. so, she is a titan of light be it night or day. what else is there to this fascinating goddess?

we can look at her name’s roots, possibly diriving from the word ‘lethô’: to move unseen. as mentioned above, Leto is almost always depicted veiled and dressed modestly. she is labeled as gentle and demure, but she is not meek. the most commonly accepted interpretation of her domain is that of modesty, motherhood, and soft femininity. while i think that must have been a large factor of her worship given the culture of ancient greece, we do sweet Leto a major disservice by stopping the interpretation there.

i think her veiling, her name possibly meaning “to move unseen”, and the cherry on top: her family ties to divination and other oracular magic (Apollon, Zeus, Phoibe, Asteria) all point to her also having domain over foresight, prophecy, intellect and insight, specifically through the lenses of mystery, and of what is quiet and unseen. i view her veiling and hidden nature as less of a statement on womanhood, and moreso indicative of an elusive magical property to the titan. i believe she can be called on for help in magic and mysteries, and looked to for prophetic knowledge. i am not denying Leto’s role as a goddess of mothers, marriage, and of children. i worship those aspects of her as well, but i believe packaging her up and selling her as an exclusively mother/fertility goddess is false advertising.

so, who is Leto? Leto the unseen, gentle and motherly, modest and beautiful, is also Leto of mystery, of radiance, of light piercing through veils, of insight and prophecy.

as a buddhist, i find her energy to be extremely helpful in honing stillness and non-reaction. there is kinetic energy in the quiet, there are answers and magic in softness. sometimes you don’t need to leave a huge mark on the world to prove you matter. you don’t have to scream from the mountain tops to prove you were here. you can sit with gentle Leto, and simply be. the light always finds its way through the clouds.

coming up next is the SECOND half of this dive into Leto, which will be titled: ‘Leto: of Refuge, Duality, and Transformation.’ it will take more time and research and write but i am very excited! thank you to the person who asked about my thoughts on Leto as this has spurred such a deepening of our connection. i’m enjoying spending time with Leto as i write about her grace and presence. please let me know if you have any questions or additions of your own!!!

[sabazium]

Symbols & offerings

A list of all the symbols of Basileus Zagreus that would also be suitable for offerings. Compiled from original matches and from personal experience of interactions.

Symbols: ༒︎ Crescent moon Represent new beginnings and changes. Just like the moon grows from a crescent to a full circle, it symbolizes things that can grow or change in our lives. People also see it as a sign of hope because it means something new can start. ༒︎ Raw meat Represent untapped potential, personal growth and transformation while also symbolizing sacrifice, resilience and primal instincts. ༒︎ Blades Often reflecting power, strength, and even spiritual significance. Historically, blades have been associated with power, authority, and the ability to cut through obstacles, both literally and figuratively. Symbolize divine intervention or the forces of justice. ༒︎ Heart Represent the physical organ that sustains life, emotions, love, and the soul. It's seen as the center of feeling, courage, and a mystical link to the divine. ༒︎ Blood Represent life, vitality, family and sacrifice, but also death, guilt, and repentance. Blood is a life-giving force, associated with the cyclical nature of life. ༒︎ Fangs Symbolize ferocity, danger, and power, often representing the wildness of nature or the supernatural. In some cultures, fangs can also symbolize a connection to death or divine power. ༒︎ Sprite lightning Represent streak of awareness, cosmic force, flash of ideas. ༒︎ Ouroboros Represent eternal cyclical renewal, life, death, and rebirth, and the unity of all things. Expresses the unity of all things, material and spiritual, which never disappear but perpetually change form in an eternal cycle of destruction and re-creation.

Plants: ༒︎ Forget-me-nots Symbols of true love, remembrance, and lasting connections. They represent a promise to remember someone, and are often given as tokens of affection and devotion. ༒︎ Alcea rosea Represent ambition and spirituality. Its tall stature and ability to grow in diverse conditions can also symbolize ambition and strength. Additionally, its prolific seed production is linked to abundance, the cycle of rebirth, and fertility. ༒︎ Viburnum tinus Associated with love, loyalty, and perseverance. In addition, it is seen as a symbol of protection and peace. The plant's ability to bloom in winter and its drought tolerance also symbolize resilience and perseverance. ༒︎ Lemon flowers Symbolize purity, renewal, healing, sympathy, divination. Represent longevity and purification.

Fruits: ༒︎ Pears Associated with comfort, health, and prosperity. ༒︎ Lemons Signify wit, uniqueness, friendship, freshness and purity. ༒︎ Pomegranates Representing abundance, and resurrection. It's numerous seeds are a strong visual metaphor for life and potential, while its red color associated with passion, blood, and death, bridge between life and the afterlife. ༒︎ Figs Represent knowledge, enlightenment and prosperity, often associated with the bounty of nature and the cycle of life.

Animals: ༒︎ Serpents & dragons Represent fertility, health, or a creative life force, guardianship, connected with venom and medicine, good fortune, power and wisdom.  ༒︎ Black panthers Symbolizes mystery, power, and the ability to move through the world with quiet confidence. Often representing power, strength, and independence. It symbolizes leadership and unity, associated with awakening of inner forces. ༒︎ Horses Represent concepts like power, freedom, grace, and nobility,  journeys between worlds. ༒︎ Mockingbird Stands for individuality and following your song, freedom of expression. ༒︎ Kingfisher Represent a blend of tranquility and dynamism, as well as a connection to the natural world and the spiritual realm. It's viewed as a symbol of peace, prosperity and a sign of good luck.

Gemstones: ༒︎ Sapphires Associated with nobility, sincerity, truth, faithfulness, and wisdom. They have been used in royal and religious settings for centuries, symbolizing both royalty and divine connections. ༒︎ Rubies Associated with love, passion, courage, strength, and protection. ༒︎ Tsavorite Symbolizes prosperity, benevolence, vitality, and compassion. Its lush green color is linked to nature, abundance, and renewal. ༒︎ Smoky quartz Associated with grounding, protection, and emotional healing. Its smoky hue represents its connection to the earth, while its transparency speaks to clarity and light. ༒︎ Watermelon Tourmaline Symbolize a balance of heart and mind, encouraging love, compassion, and emotional healing.

[sinfully-devoted]

Prince Vassago

So, Prince Vassago is the third demon that's recorded in the Lesser Key of Solomon, and he is described to be of good nature, the same nature as Agares (the second recorded demon inside the book). Furthermore, he is said to be the one who presides over the past and the future, of those things lost or hidden.  He is commander of 26 legions. 

Unfortunately, not much less is known about Prince Vassago. No other mentions, or passages of him. People who work with or worship him, consequently, have very little to work with, as they will either have to go off of that information, or entrust others who've contacted him (and so each experience might differ to the individual). Regardless, having worshipped him for a bit now and worked with him regarding divination, I also corroborate that he is indeed of a good nature — but at the same time, he still is powerful and inspires respect in me.  

Arcan

Hello! Popping in to talk about my personal experience with Prince Vassago. He's actually one of the most recent deities I've added to my roster to worship! Mod Arcan was the one who actually got me into fully worshipping him. It has largely been through divination itself;  and let me tell you, he does NOT sugarcoat things. No - Vassago speaks directly to you. I feel like I've been read through hell when I ask him for a reading! While all divination involves interpretation, he's a being that seems deadset on getting a clear message to me. When I do offer to him, to thank him for the readings, it's usually the closest food I have on hand - and most recently, it was very high quality! Like, imported Spanish olives stuffed with peppers. I'm very excited to see how my journey with Prince Vassago continues. 

Leviathan

[childof-the-stars]

Subtle devotional acts for lady Aphrodite

OG poster: @etherealwitchery on TikTok

[acrystalwitch]

(From research but also from my own workings with him. This isn’t meant to be strictly historical this is more for pagans wanting to work with him. There will be a lot of UPG or SPG)

A small summary of Freyr…or, Frey, Yngvi-Freyr and many other names.

He is a Norse god who was heavily worshipped as a fertility god, as well as a god of good weather good harvest and kingship.

Freyr and his twin sister Freya along with their Father Njörðr were originally from the group of gods that rivaled the Æsir called the Vanir.

Not much is told about their time with the Vanir though, their story mainly starts with them moving to Asgard as a deal made between the two rivaling groups of gods.

Freyr has a wife, a giantess named Gerd who he cares for deeply.

He is a fierce protector of women and it is even said that when he is around weapons literally won’t work on women. Swords would break against their skin.

He is also the ruler of Alfheim land of the elves.

Freyr is mentioned in the Prose Edda and Poetic Edda multiple times.

My personal experience with him:

I was searching for a deity to reach out to after Skadi left and she’d given me a message to work with a deity who had a warmer energy. I think she already had Freyr in mind.

He really has been a warm energy. He feels like laying down in tall grass and making flower crowns with friends while you braid each others hair. He also feels like the hot sweat of a hard day of work, and feeling happy after you’ve done something you’re proud of.

He’s helped me with a lot of my struggles as a transgender man. I worry often about the features of me that are still “too feminine” and he has been there for me and helped teach me the ways to embrace the feminine sides of me. He’s such a positive influence and he shows up some of the most often in my meditations.

Offerings for Freyr

Wildflowers/local flowers

Flower crowns

Bread

Alcohol (mead, beer)

Images of boar (he has a golden boar Gullinbursti)

Ship in a bottle/ship imagery (he has a ship Skíðblaðnir that can shrink and fit in his pocket)

Crystals that represent fertility

Citrine

Phallic imagery has also always been a very popular offering/way of worshipping him

Candle colors: white, gold, yellow, green, red

Non physical offerings:

Go on a nature walk/(disability friendly version watch a YouTube video of a nature walk or a virtual tour of a national park)

Make flower crowns

Make a filling meal with lots of fruit and veggies and grains

Write him poetry

Meditate together

Protect and stand up for women

Gardening/learning about plants

Working out (I don’t personally do this for him since I have 3 other deities I already dedicate workouts to but he is good for this as well!)

All in all I think Freyr is a fantastic deity to have around. His energy is warm and so is he. I’m sure he can be very serious at times as well when he needs to be. But in my experience I’ve just felt only comfort when I go to him. Him and Thor are like the sunshine boys of my personal pantheon.

If you feel like he’s reaching out to you it could come just from having an interest in him that you can’t shake, or seeing things associated to him often. If you feel like he’s for you, reach out to him through your preferred divination method or clairsense to confirm and see if he truly is wanting to work together. Or just set up a little altar for him and have a place in your practice for worshiping him if that feels more correct for you 💛

[coinandcandle]

The Morrigan Deity Guide

This is a re-do in the "deity deep dive" format of my original Morrigan post!

Who is The Morrigan?

The Morrigan is the ancient Irish Triple, or tripartite, of war and death, but she is also goddess of sovereignty, the land, and prophecy.

The name Morrigan, or Morrigu, is the anglicized version of the Gaelic name Mór-Ríoghain, which means "Great Queen" in modern Irish.

The old name has been linked to the proto-indo-european word Mór (terror) and Ríoghain could relate to the Latin word Regina (queen). (Wiktionary)

It’s debated whether she is one deity with three aspects or if these three aspects are sisters that create a triple goddess.

If they are sisters, their names are likely Macha, Nemain, and The Morrigan, their collective title being The Morrigu or The Morrigna. (The spelling of these will differ throughout your research if you choose to do your own after this post)

Their names could also be Macha, Nemain, and Badb, though the name “Badb” may have been a title for spirits/gods who wrought havoc on the battlefields and incited terror in the opposing side. (See “The Ancient Irish Goddess of War” in references for more info).

Other names involved with these sisters are Anand and Fea.

It’s not unlikely that The Morrigan’s identity would change between the many different groups in Ireland throughout time.

Parents and Siblings

Her mother is Ernmas, father is unknown.

Siblings have included Ériu, Banba, and Fódla, who make up the triple goddess of spirit and sovereignty of Ireland.

As well as Gnim, Coscar, Fiacha, and Ollom, as her brothers.

Lovers or Partners

The Dagda, with whom her relationship is of great importance for the Irish holiday Samhain.

In some iterations of her lore the Morrigan falls for Irish Hero Cú Chulainn but her feelings are not returned.

Children

Mechi, who has three hearts that each contain a serpent.

Epithets

The Goddess of Death

Morrígu

The Morrighan

The Great Queen

Phantom Queen

Badb-Catha

Nightmare Queen

The Washer at the Ford

Notes

Due to the many myths and legends surrounding The Morrigan and she is also associated with the Fae and the Banshee—a creature that generally takes on the form of an old woman who wails in mourning to announce the coming death of someone in the family.

The Morrigan is most notoriously a shape shifter and deity of magic.

In modern day paganism and witchcraft, some choose to worship The Morrigan as one deity with the sisters as aspects, others choose to worship her as a triple goddess consisting of three sisters. Neither of these can be said to be entirely right or wrong and vary from person to person, even from an academic point of view.

Though there are similar beings throughout Celtic mythology, The Morrigan is unique to Irish mythology.

Stories that prominently feature the Morrígan include Táin Bó Cúailgne (The Cattle Raid of Cooley), Cath Maige Tuired (The First and Second Battles of Moytura), and Lebor Gabála Érenn (The Book of the Taking of Ireland). (Mythopedia)

Fulacht na Mór Ríoghna (Cooking Pit of the Morrígan) in County Tipperary, and two hills in County Meath known as Da Cích na Morrígna (Two Breasts of the Morrígan) are both locations in Ireland linked to The Morrigan.

Modern Deity Work

Correspondences

Disclaimer - Many of these are not traditional or historic correspondences nor do they need to be. However, any correspondence that can be considered traditional will be marked with a (T).

Rocks/Stone/Crystals

Obsidian

Onyx

Silver

Carnelian

Deep green, black and red stones/crystals

Herbs/Plants

Dragon’s Blood

Apples

Nightshade

Roses

Cedar

Cloves

Mugwort

Belladonna

Juniper

Animals

Crow (T)

Eel (T)

Cow (T)

Horse (T)

Wolf (T)

Raven

Symbols

Triple spiral

Crow

Offerings

Blood (be careful with this please!!)

Wine or Mead

The stones and herbs listed above

Imagery of the animals or symbols listed above

Food that you’ve made or a portion of your meal

Jewelry

Art made of her or inspired by her

Coins

Honey

Dark chocolate

Candles and/or wax melts; incense

Meat

Milk

Note: If you’d like your offering to be a bit more traditional, try burying it or sending it down a stream, but only if it is safe for the environment if you do so!

Acts of Devotion

Exercise/Work out (especially if it's challenging!)

Activism

Read/write poetry for her

Research her

Celebrate Samhain

Take up a competitive sport or activity

Standing up for yourself

Keep in mind that these are only some ideas for offerings and correspondences! Items and activities that connect you to her in a more personal way are just as good, and often better, than those you find on the internet. As with any relationship, feel it out, ask questions, and be attentive and receptive!

References and Further Reading

The Morrigan - World History Encyclopedia

The Ancient Irish Goddess of War by WM Hennessey (via Sacred-Texts)

The Morrigan - Druidry.org

The Book of the Great Queen by Morpheus Ravenna

The Morrigan - Mythopedia (Mythopedia also has a bunch of references and further reading of their own that I suggest you look at if you’d like to do your own research!)

[blackcatsnpickles]

Hi, just a kindly reminder... You don't have to look "witchy" if you're a witch. I REPEAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOOK "WITCHY" IF YOU'RE A WITCH. Have a lovely day my loves✨💜✨

[everything-is-by-design]

Katerina Morningstar’s Deity Guide: Yeshua

(Collage made by myself - original pictures I do not own)

Today’s deity is Yeshua, known in the western world as Jesus. However, Yeshua feels right. It flows better. Anyway, no hate for Christian witches. I resonate with Yeshua and his kind light. He gives me comfort and love and I hope I can shed some light on him in this post.

Representation:

Kindness and appreciation for the earth and all her children

Compassion towards yourself

Encouraging people to embrace their spiritual gifts

Loving others and welcoming them into your home (within reason, Yeshua wants you to help and he doesn’t want you to risk your safety and mental health)

Connection to one’s higher self while staying rooted

Inner balance

Peace

Giving to others (a part of Yeshua is in all people so if you are feeding one person, you are feeding him too)

Helping the environment in any way possible (Yeshua protects our mother earth and appreciates even the smallest bit of help to keep her healthy)

The purist most divine love (Yeshua wants you to experience his love and heaven’s as well towards not only yourself but to your relationships both platonic and romantic)

Unconditional love and forgiveness

Gratitude towards the little things

Type: Human/Divine Celestial Entity Hybrid

Light: Pale pinks and yellows - Yeshua’s light feels warm and fuzzy on my spirit, it is full of love and kindness and hope.

Wings: None that I can perceive

Good or Evil: I really don’t like the good and evil category because all beings have two sides. Yeshua is beyond goodness. He is peace incarnate. When he walks, flowers bloom. Yeshua is not aggressive or violent, however, he will protect you from harm with a golden pink net if you ask. Yeshua is protective of his chosen/flock and you can feel his heat when something attempts to harm one of them.

Offerings:

Bread (homemade is the best - if you can infuse hope into the bread as you bake it then Yeshua will return it to your body as a blessing)

Sparkling wine or any white wine that is sweet (perrier in place of wine if you can’t consume alcohol)

Pomegranates

Mangos

Lemons

Feathers that have fallen out naturally (smaller, more fluffy ones are ideal)

Meditation

Gold

Poetry & art

Honey

Flowers: Cherry Blossom & Magnolia’s

Incense: Citrus, Sugar & Spice, Rose

Colours:

Pale pink

Pale yellow

Ivory (on occasion)

Music: Anything soft or zen-like. You can even use sound apps with rain or thunderstorms or waves.

Animals:

Sparrows

Deer

Lambs

Planet: Jupiter

When To Work With Yeshua:

Early afternoon

Early evening

When it is warm out but not too hot

Season: Spring

Festival: Imbolc & Ostara

Many blessings, love and light.

-Katerina Morningstar