Love is a Many Splendored Thing and So Are Its Feminine Incarnations.
From Dharamsala to Brussels, Valentine’s Day resonates globally with its celebration of love. Whether rooted in the St. Valentine’s legacy or masking the Pagan Lupercalia festival, the universal themes of love and fertility persist. Today, we focus on the feminine embodiments of love worldwide, embracing the hope that love and life will triumph. Celebrate love for oneself and others by exploring our free film collection, Voices for Change.
By Heidi Basch-Harod and Erin Pedersen
The Goddess Oshun of West Africa.
Oshun is a goddess of love, fertility, and beauty in the Yoruba religion of West Africa. She is associated with rivers, especially the Oshun River in Nigeria. Dressed in yellow and gold, she is known for her love of music and dance.
Source: Tea and Rosemary
Freyja of the Norse Mythological Tradition.
Freyja is the goddess of love, fertility, and war in Norse mythology. She is associated with beauty, sexuality, and gold. Invoked in love spells and fertility rituals, she is also considered a protector of women and children.
Source: Tea and Rosemary
Rati is the Hindu Goddess of Love.
Rati is the Hindu goddess of love, beauty, and sexual desire, and is believed to be the embodiment of feminine beauty and grace. A symbol of abundance and prosperity, she is also associated with fertility. Wearing a crown of flowers and adorned with jewelry, she has the power to arouse desire and passion in people’s hearts.
Source: Tea and Rosemary
Awhinui of Maori Tradition.
Awhinui symbolizes Māori women who remain open-hearted, embracing all and giving unconditional love and support, despite all her hard times. Her likeness can be made from ōnewa (a dark grey stone), fashioned into an amulet and threaded through with a cord.
Source: Garland Magazine & Te Aka Maori Dictionary
Xochiquetzal the Mother of All Humanity.
In Aztec mythology, Xochiquetzal is the goddess of love, art, dance, and music. She is represented by the dove. Those who were faithful to her would spend eternity in her paradise. It is believed that all of the different races and languages came from her children, hence she became Mother of the World.
Questions to Our Readers
What’s your definition of love? What is the power of love in your own words, or in the lyrics of your favorite song?
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