The Moon Oracle cards I use here on Tarot Order are split into 3 sections, one of which is the 'Moon Goddess' section. Here, you can learn a little bit about the myth surrounding each Goddess. ISHTAR Ishtar was one of the most powerful goddesses in the Assyrian pantheon, said by some to be the daughter of Sin and by others the daughter of Anu. Those who held her to be the daughter of Sin regarded her as a war goddess and those who held she was the daughter of Anu regarded her as a goddess of love. The warrior Ishtar was always represented in a chariot drawn by seven fierce lions, and holding a how in her hand. She was known as 'The Lady of Battles'. As the goddess of love and voluptuousness she was no more gentle - she would show irritability and violence on every occasoin in which her desires were thwarted. In her youth Ishtar loved Tammuz the god of harvest. Her love was said to have caused his death. Consumed by grief, Ishtar descended into the underworld in the hope of rescuing Tammuz. At each of the gates of the seven precincts, she removed an article of clothing. On arrival in the underworld Ishtar was taken prisoner. During her time of imprisonment no creatures engaged in acts of procreation on earth, causing desolation, and in heaven there was great sorrow. Sin, Ishtar's father, asked Ea to help him rescue her and Ereshkigal, queen of the underworld, was forced to release Ishtar by means of a spell concocted by Ea. She was sprinkled with the water of life and, retrieving her garments at each of the seven gates, she returned to freedom. ARTEMIS Traditionally the patroness of young girls, the virgin huntress, mistress of all wild creatures, Artemis - like many of her sister goddesses - ranged in temperament from cruel and vindictive to gentle and gracious. She was born the day after her twin brother Apollo and like him was a deity of sudden death. She chose Arcadia as her place to live and in this mountainous region was accompanied by her pack of hounds and numerous oceanids and nymphs. It was dangerous to look upon her and Actaeon was killed by his own hunting dogs after innocently stumbling upon her while she and her maidens were bathing in a pool. The only male that took the eye of Artemis was Orion, but the relationship was not destined to bear fruit. Apollo set a challenge for his sister's skill with the bow. The target - a small distant object at sea which the unerring eye of Artemis did not fail to hit - was revealed to be the stronger swimming Orion. Artemis had shot him through the head. Another less accidental version of Orion's demise was that he inadvertently touched Artemis while accompanying her on a hunting trip. For this affront she ordered a willing scorpion to sting him to death. In contrast to her devotion to the energetic and sometimes harsh outdoor life of hunting and the chase, Artemis permitted herself the luxery of more gentle entertainment. Like Apollo she was musical and, leaving her bow at the door of her brother's palace at Delphi, she, dressed in gracious style, would often join the choir of muses and graces. VENUS Venus was the Roman goddess of love, beauty, marriage and laughter. Generally held to be the daughter of Jupiter and Dione, she was also said to have been born out of the foam of the ocean from which she was carried by the west wind to the shores of Cyprus. According to this belief, Horae discovered her there and took her to show the gods whom she enthralled with her amazing beauty. She had many names. As Venus Genetrix she was respected as the mother of the hero Aeneas, the founder of the Roman people. Under the name of Venus Felix, she was known as the bringer of good fortune and as Venus Victrix, the bringer of victory. She was the wife of Vulcan, the rather ugly god of volcanic fire and metal work, but was not particularly faithful to him. She took many lovers, notably Mars, Mercury and the handsome shepherd Adonis, and indulged in secretive assignations in the name of love. Her romance with the hot blodded Mars was consummated under the protection of Mars' guard Alectryon, who nevertheless failed in his duties on one occasion, allowing Apollo to discover the lovers. Their assignation was exposed to the ridicule and disapproval of all the other gods and goddesses. From the liason of Mars and Venus there were many offspring, notably a son Cupid, and a daughter named Harmonia. ATHENE Athene was one of the most revered godesses in the Greek pantheon. In Roman mythology she was known as Pallas Athena or Minerva. Athene sprang fully grown and armoured from the forehead of her father, the god Zeus, and was his favourite child. He gave her his shielf, his buckler and his principle weapon, the thunderbolt. A virgin goddess, she was also named Parthenos ('maiden'). A warrior goddess, she delighted in battle and took part in the war against the giants. She not only supported the Greeks in the Trojan War but physically joined them in their fight - a fearsome sight mounted on the chariot of Diomedes. She also protected heroes whom she deemed worthy of her esteem. She helped Hercules when he was engaged upon his twelve labours, aided Perseus in his fight with the terrible Gorgon, and protected Odysseus on his journey back from Troy. The most important temple devoted to her was the Parthenon at Athens, which was said to be built in honour of her gift of the olive tree to the Athenians. Athene protected cities as well as individuals. She was the goddess of architecture, of industry and the arts, and, in later mythology, of wisdom - her emblem was the owl. Athene was also a patron of the agricultural arts and of the crafts of women, especially spinning and weaving. Her ability in spinning was challenged by Arachne, who wove a beautiful tapestry depicting the life and loves of the gods. Antry, Athene transformed her into a spider condemned to go on spinning forever. Among her many gifts to mankind were in the plough, the flute, the potter's wheel, and the arts of taming wild animals, building ships and making shoes. HERA Hera's reign with the rampant Zeus was continuous domestic quarrel with celestial thundering as the crockery flew perpetually across the divine living room. Usually represents as a modest and noble matron, her crown defines her role as respected queen of the pantheon. Temples in which to worship her were more often than not built at the top of the very highest mountains in order to be as near as possible to her elevated presence. Zeus first approached Hera disguised as a cuckoo. It was winter and Hera took pity on the cold and drenched cuckoo she came upon. Carefully picking up the bird, she placed it against her breast to warm it. Immediately, the cuckoo resumed its normal form and she found herself fighting for her honour with an over-amorous Zeus. The union was only consummated when he promised to marry her. Goddess of women, marriage and maternity, Hera represents the most idealised type of wife. She and Zeua had four children - Ares, Hephaestus, Ilythia and Hebe - and she remained a constant and faithful wife despite the infidelities of her misbehaving husband. Racked by jealousy, she tried to control him and failed. Zeua punished her severely by beating her or binding her and suspending her from the skies whenever she tried to revolt. She tried to emulate his ability to produce children unaided like Athene but only managed to produce the monstrous beast Typhon. Finally, she submitted, confining her wrath at Zeus's misdemeanours to the many females with whom he dallied and to the children of her rivals. Their reward was usually death, pain, imprisonment or banishment. Such actions did not, however, deter Zeus from pursuing other women. ISIS Isis was the daughter of Geb and Nut, deities of the Earth and sky. When her husband-brother Osiris became king of Egypt she took on the role of teacher to her subjects. She taught them to weave and spin, grind flour and practise simple medicine. She introduced the concept of marriage to regularise the relationships of men and women. During her husbands journeys to far away places to civilise of nations she took on the role of regent., governing wisely and with great care. When Osiris was slain by his cunning brother, Set, she was consumed by grief and immediately set off to search for the body. Eventually she found the coffer containing the body within the trunk of a Tamarisk tree and took it to the swamps of Buto where she hid it. However, Set found the body and cut it into fourteen pieces. Isis was given great words of power by the god Thoth, so when she found the body of her husband in pieces she was able to restore him to life, and was united with him. As a result of this embrace, she conceived and later gave birth to the child Horus. She fled into hiding with her son, warding off all dangers with her magical powers. She stayed in hiding until her son was old enough to take his rightful place as ruler of Egypt. Isis had great magical powers and was the only divinity to discover the secret name of Ra. Rare amongst the world's goddesses, Isis was positive, modest, active, loving, faithful, civilised and sensitive. DEMETER Demeter was one of the ancient popular goddesses, symbolising the eternal mother. Her beloved daughter Persephone was abducted by the god of the Underworld, Hades. Demeter was distraught and immediately set off in search of her offspring. During her travels she met the over-lustful Poseidon. Not appreciating his advances, Demeter changed herself into a mare and hid herself amongst the browsing herd of horses belonging to give King Oncus. Poseidon, who was not to be thus deflected from his purpose, changed himself into a stallion, followed her into the herd and succeeded in his passionate intent. When she realised what had happened, Demeter was understandably furious and got rid of her intense anger by washing it away in the River Ladon. Demeter later gave birth to a stallion with a black mane and a strange daughter whose name was not to be mentioned by anyone other than the Mysteries. She was referred to as Core, "the girl". Whilst Demeter continued, in great sadness, to search for her daughter, Persephone, the earth was suffering famine - no crops were growing and all plant life had died. To prevent disaster, Zeus sent Hermes to rescue Persephone but cunning Hades fed her pomegranate seeds making her marriage tie to him permanent. Zeus renegotiated and eventually it was agreed that Demeter's daughter would live with Hades for only one third of the year. Demeter gave the gift of corn in thanks for those who had helped her. GAIA Gaia, the earth mother, existed before time began and gave birth to time. After the universe had been created all that remained was for it to be peopled. So Gaia united with her son Uranus to give birth to the first race of gods - the twelve Titans, six female and six male. Next they created the one eyed Cyclopes and finally she bore three monsters, which were known as the Hecatoncheires. These were horrific creatures with heads and from whose shoulders sprang fifty pairs of arms. Uranus was so horrified by them that as soon as they were born he imprisoned them deep within the earth. At first Gaia mourned the loss of the Hecatoncheires and then she grew angry at her husband. She plotted with her last born Titan, Cronus, to mutilate Uranus while he slept. He severed his father's genitals with a sickle and threw them into the sea. From Uranus's wound black blood dropped onto the earth. Where the drops fell, the earth gave birth to the Furies, monstrous giants and also the ash-tree nymphs, the Meliae. Aphrodite was born out of the white foam that formed in the sea from the debris that surfaced. When the other gods became supreme at Olympus, Gaia still retained her power and was respected by the gods and goddesses. Gaia presided over marriages, cared for the sick and was the most prominent of the oracles for the great divinatory centre at Delphi. From the earth at Delphi issued a strange breath or wind that gave men the gift of prophecy. She was known as Gaia, universal mother, who blesses men with fair children and all the pleasant fruits of the earth. LILITH Lilith's character is full of contradictions, interweaving a multitude of legends and traditions. According to Jewish scriptures she was created with Adam. Refusing to comply with Adams demand that she should submit herself to him, she fled from him using the Ineffable Name of God. Adam complained of his loneliness to God, who created Eve in response, and the "fall" and expulsion from Eden followed. Adam, blaming the fall on Eve, separated from her, and for awhile was reunited with Lilith, before finally returning to Eve. Lilith bore Adam a number of children in this interval, who became the demons. After Adams's reconciliation with Eve, Lilith assumed the queenship of the demons; in some versions she is the consort of Samael, in others she remains unpartnered. As the queen of demons, she was said to kill babies in their cribs in the first days of their life. Stripped of the overlay of medieval mysticism and demonology, Lilith emerges as the first independent feminine spirit. The image of the rebellious woman demanding equality was too uncomfortable for early male dominated society, and therefore they sought to plunge her into the depths of demon hood as the archetype of the "bad woman". Only now may the image of Lilith be revealed in a new light as the first woman, equal to man, and a free, independent, creative spirit. KALI Kalia Ma is just one of many personas of the wife of Siva. This goddess assumed many guises in her work - the destruction of demons that challenged the gods. In the name of Parvati she was perceived as a beautiful young woman her spoke with her husband of love and lofty metaphysically subjects. As horrific Kali she fought with the chief of the army of demons, Raktavija. She struck him many times with her powerful weapons but each drop of his blood that fell to the earth gave birth to a thousand powerful giants. To stop the creation of the giants, Kali was forced to drink every drop of Raktavija's blood until the chief demon was totally defeated. After conquering her adversary she was so elated she danced a dance of joy so enthusiastically the whole earth shook. The other gods pleaded with her husband to ask her to stop but she was so crazed with blood and the excitement that she stamped Siva to death. She was distraught when she discovered the result of her madness. Despite her horrifying appearance she was venerated and even became attractive to her followers. She represents both creative and destructive energy. The Cult of Kali is linked with the Tantric practices that seek to control our sexual nature. HECATE Although a Moon goddess, Hecate was considered one of the most important divinities of the Underworld. She was powerful in the sky as well as the earth, and in her better moods gave men riches, wisdom and victory. Earliest references to her described her as the daughter of Nyx, or Ancient Night, but later she was pronounced the daughter of Zeus and Hera. Hecate stole a pot of rouge from her mother to give to Europa. To escape her mother's wrath she fled to earth , staying at the home of a woman who had just given birth. Although patroness of midwives, she was said as a result of this contact to be unclean. To cleanse her, Cabiri took her to the Underworld and plunged her into the River Acheron, and from then on she stayed in the Underworld. She travelled with her pack of sacred hounds and was usually met by mortals at her favourite place - a crossroads. Because of her love of remote and dark places she was invoked as the "Distant One", protectress of travellers in such unwelcoming places. Symbolically she was usually depicted with three faces, representing her ability to divine and comprehend the mysteries of the following: Past, Present and Future; birth, life and death; heaven, earth and underworld; maiden, wife and widow. FREYA In Norse mythology the aurora is associated with the beautiful goddess, Freya. She was goddess of sex and fertility and also of war and wealth. She was daughter of the sea god Njord, and younger sister of Frey. She was the wife of Od, or Odin, and had two daughters by him Hnoss and Gersemi. Freya lived in the sumptuous palace of Folkvang. Every time she went with Odin to the field of battle, she was entitled to bring back with her half the deceased warriors. The remaining half of the slain heroes belonged by rights to Odin who took them to Valhalla. Those chosen by Freya would be entertained at her palace. Supreme commander of the Valkyries, Freya would sometimes serve Odin's warriors at Valhalla with beer. Freya was the possessor of the precious Brisings' necklace. In a workshop in a grotto near her palace lived four dwarves famous for their work with metals. When she visited their workshop one day she saw the most beautiful gold and jewelled necklace the dwarves had made and offered to buy it from them. They laughed at her offer but said that she could have the necklace if she slept with each of them in turn. She wanted the jewel so much that she agreed to their price and became owner of the necklace. The necklace was then stolen from her by Loki. When she complained to Odin he reproached her and told her that to regain it she must provoke a war between two kings and sustain it by resuscitating the slain heroes at the end of each day. She did so and regained the necklace. She was said to own a magical feather coat that she could use to fly between the different worlds. Her chariot was drawn by cats. She had a talent for witchcraft and when she came to Asgard she instructed the gods about magic charms and potions.

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