Earth Based Goddesses for Beginners

As we get deeper into Spring, we can better appreciate the plentiful benefits the season brings us.

The warm weather and sudden reappearance of fresh plants and green leaves give us a newfound appreciation for nature and all the Earth provides us. Appreciation of the Earth goes back centuries, symbolized most commonly in the form of goddesses. The representation of Earth is special in how it is so frequently tied to goddesses and female figureheads, in contrast to the abundance of gods we usually see in mythology. The dichotomy of nurturing warmth and strong defensiveness seen in Earth-based goddesses is fascinating and has so many ties to our cultural history in ways we may not even realize. Today, we’d like to talk about three different Earth-based goddesses whose effects ripple today in our society.

Gaia (Greek)

Gaia is probably the most familiar of Earth-based goddesses, being the personification of the very Earth itself. However, the title of Mother Earth is more modern, with Gaia’s true title and legacy, in most tellings, being the mother of all life itself. A great deal of the elemental figures we recognize from Greek mythology were birthed from Gaia; most notably, she is the mother of Uranus, the god of the sky, but she also birthed such iconic figures as the Cyclops, the sea gods, and the Titans, who have since been depicted everywhere from the films such as Clash of the Titans and Hercules, to the God of War franchise. Most depictions of Gaia in modern art reinforce her imagery as a mother, with her either handing her child, Erichtonius, to fellow goddess, Athena, or reclining upon the Earth in a protective manner. Despite such deep connections to her children, however, Gaia still stands high on her own merits. Aside from being worshipped as the spiritual embodiment of Earth by modern Neopagans, she is also viewed by certain scholars as the original deity of the Oracle at Delphi. While the idea of Mother Earth keeping us safe is comforting, it’s important to remember that Gaia is equally notable for how her legacy and lineage inspired our mythology to this day.

Sif (Norse)

Sif is most probably known to modern culture as one of Thor’s fiercely loyal warriors in the Marvel movies. However, in Norse tradition, Sif is Thor’s wife and is known for her symbolic ties to the crops of Norse people, represented by her beautiful golden hair, the color of wheat. While Sif isn’t heavily featured in most Norse tales, one infamous exception involves her hair being shorn off by Loki, damaging the crop fields as a result. In all tellings, Sif is inextricably tied with fertility, growth, and fidelity. Much like the nurturing image of Gaia, Sif’s connections to the growth of crops are shown in everything from the health of her hair being responsible for the strength of the wheat to people baking bread with plenty of grains to ask Sif for help. Like many other Earth-based goddesses, the legacy of Sif is also deeply bound with seasons, as some said she controlled the light in the sky itself, as well as the changing of the seasons. The legacy of Sif is sadly small, having changed a lot over time. But her name still lives on, from a volcano on Venus to blockbuster movies. And while we may not see Tom Hiddleston brandishing a pair of scissors on screen anytime soon, we can still remember the goddess responsible for the nourishment of the Norse people.

Spider Grandmother (Native American)

When discussing things related to the Earth as we now know it, one has to acknowledge the indispensable legacy of the Native Americans. The Earth as we recognize is indebted to their culture, and that idea is reflected in their Earth goddess, the Spider Grandmother. She has different meanings in different tribes, most notably the Hopi and Navajo. In Hopi mythology, she is depicted as either a timeless woman or a literal spider, who is seen as a wise leader, who provides medicinal cures and advice to those who seek her. In her tale of creation, she is seen as responsible for creating Earth, its creatures, and man and woman, all of whom she gave a soul, and then separated into tribes. In Navajo mythology, the Spider Woman is not seen as the creator of Earth and humanity, but rather its constant helper. In Navajo tales, the Spider Woman serves as a teacher, showing the people practical skills, such as making yarn from wool, weaving, and agriculture, in order to best prepare for winter. Once again, the theme of protection arises, telling an enduring story of how the goddesses and symbols of Earth go out of their way to protect and provide for us, and reminding us that we should do our best to return the favor and take care of our Earth, for goddesses sake.