Gods/goddesses of body image?

[SailleSeeker]

I've been trying to deal with some issues of body image lately, and while I feel that I get a general sort of support with this from the deities that I already have a relationship with, I'm starting to wonder if this might be a good opportunity to work with a god or goddess who has a particular interest in this kind of thing. Trouble is, I'm not really sure where to look; I've mostly studied Celtic mythology in the past but I'm not really sure if I'm going to find who I'm looking for there, though I keep finding the Morrigan popping up in my thoughts and meditations - I'm starting to wonder if maybe this is a call to work on the fear aspect of my body image issues?
I dunno - I know what kind of UPG I'm having, but I don't know where to start looking to go further than UPG for study. Anybody have any advice?

[morganxpage]

One Goddess who comes to mind is the Thelemic Babalon. I can see Her being helpful in learning to love (and lust for) your own body as it is. Of course, She might also be a bit... unforgiving, and maybe a little overly sexual. :lol:

[RavenStars]

I've run into a number of meditations and ritual references to the Willendorf Goddess. They are all body positive. I'm pretty sure that Deb Lipp in "Elements of Ritual" has a ritual affirming the female body.

The web site Sacred Source http://www.sacredsource.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AC has a statue of the Acheulian Goddess. I can't imagine that She wouldn't be interesting to work with!

Hope this helps.

[morganxpage]

I've run into a number of meditations and ritual references to the Willendorf Goddess. They are all body positive. I'm pretty sure that Deb Lipp in "Elements of Ritual" has a ritual affirming the female body.

The web site Sacred Source http://www.sacredsource.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AC has a statue of the Acheulian Goddess. I can't imagine that She wouldn't be interesting to work with!

Hope this helps.

The problem I have with the Willendorf "Goddess" is that we're assuming that she is a Goddess. Correct me if I'm wrong, but (as far as I know) there isn't any actual proof that this statuette was ever worshipped. For all we know, it could've just been a piece of random art, or a child's toy.

Of course, from the Chaote's point of view, one could still work with the Willendorf "Goddess" anyways, as by now it's accumulated massive amounts of belief energy from all of the 20th century Goddess worshippers who've adopted Her. *shrugs*

[Philosophia]

Why not try various Goddesses or Gods of love? Self love is what comes to mind here, so maybe Venus or Aphrodite?

[Fiamma]

The problem I have with the Willendorf "Goddess" is that we're assuming that she is a Goddess. Correct me if I'm wrong, but (as far as I know) there isn't any actual proof that this statuette was ever worshipped. For all we know, it could've just been a piece of random art, or a child's toy.

Of course, from the Chaote's point of view, one could still work with the Willendorf "Goddess" anyways, as by now it's accumulated massive amounts of belief energy from all of the 20th century Goddess worshippers who've adopted Her. *shrugs*


many scholars and archaeologists have stopped calling her the Venus of Wilendorf and are calling her the Woman of Wilendorf.

some theorize that she may have been a symbol of richness and abundance because she is so fat.

[Nitefalle]

I think the Morrigan is a good place to start, as she will help with self confidence, no matter your body type. But for body image help, I would suggest Amaterasu, the Japanese goddess of the Sun. She was a whole lot of woman, but she still stripped down naked in front of all the other gods and got her funk on to cheer up another god that had gone into depressive hiding. The other gods were cheering her on and enjoying the spectacle, which is what brought the hiding god out of the cave. She cheered everyone up.

[SailleSeeker]

Thanks for the suggestions, everybody! I've got some research to do :) I'm especially interested in learning about some of these goddesses I haven't heard of... neato :)

I've started reading Dianne Sylvan's The Body Sacred recently, and she's coming up with some suggestions for deities that one might want to approach for help and advice in different aspects of self-image and body awareness situations. I have Deb Lipp's book - I'd forgotten about that - I'll check that out, too.

I'm interested in theories of "we make gods out of figures that may not have been divine for these other civilizations through our own attribution of divine status to them" sorts of things - we talked about this idea in the Goddess Traditions class that I took this past semester at my college, but the discussion was focused on some specific issues (that section was pretty much "Intro to Marija Gimbutas" and "Intro to Why People Think Marija Gimbutas's Work is Bad Scholarship" without talking about many other archaeologists/anthropologists/authors). I'd be interested to read some Chaote...

[Sage Rainsong]

If I may recommend a book, check out Crafting the Body Divine by Yasmine Galenorn. I can't praise this book enough. It is very practical and highly mystical at the same time. It also has tips on working with various deities associated with beauty.
http://www.mysticwicks.com/shop/shop.php?c=mw05&n=1000&i=1580911048&x=Crafting_the_Body_Divine_Ritual_Movement_and_Body_Art

Also if the Morrigan keeps popping up in your mind you should persue it IMHO. She seems like the kind of goddess that could teach you to value yourself.

[morganxpage]

I'd be interested to read some Chaote...

Well, the best works on Chaos Magic(k) would probably be Liber Null & Psychonaut by Peter J. Carroll. But also, dealing specifically with this sort of pop culture entity (the Willendorf "Goddess" being only a Goddess via modern "popular" feminist culture) a good book would be Taylor Ellwood's Pop Culture Magick. There's a lot of good information in that one about working with "new" entities.

[cheddarsox]

Thanks for the suggestions, everybody! I've got some research to do :) I'm especially interested in learning about some of these goddesses I haven't heard of... neato :)

I've started reading Dianne Sylvan's The Body Sacred recently, and she's coming up with some suggestions for deities that one might want to approach for help and advice in different aspects of self-image and body awareness situations. I have Deb Lipp's book - I'd forgotten about that - I'll check that out, too.

I'm interested in theories of "we make gods out of figures that may not have been divine for these other civilizations through our own attribution of divine status to them" sorts of things - we talked about this idea in the Goddess Traditions class that I took this past semester at my college, but the discussion was focused on some specific issues (that section was pretty much "Intro to Marija Gimbutas" and "Intro to Why People Think Marija Gimbutas's Work is Bad Scholarship" without talking about many other archaeologists/anthropologists/authors). I'd be interested to read some Chaote...


I'm not sure if your interest is mostly personal or scholarly but here is something from my own experience. I was a sexually abused child, my mom used to put my on diets and rail me about my weight (even though I wasn't even pudgy, I thought I was, but photos of me as a kid say otherwise) So I entered adulthood with a lot of hate and body issues. I felt my body had betrayed me in puberty by getting "fat" in certain places and making me a sexual object...etc.

What was most healing for me...was to get pregnant, work with midwives, have my babies at home, no "method" other than nature, and breastfeed. All of a sudden my body was NOT all those things others said or how they had used it. All the parts and pieces were functioning amazingly and doing exactly what they were intended for. My body brought forth my children, and nourished them, how could I not love it for that?

I'm not recommending anyone go out and get pregnant just for that reason...but perhaps using a deity that has those aspects, or focusing on those aspects of self...all the wonderful ways that our body functions on our behalf...might help.

Also...studying anatomy/phisiology/nutrition etc has also really helped me gain tremendous understanding and respect for my body. I used to, out of ignorance, wonder why my body "did me that way", but by learning more about how it functions...I really appreciate it and the wonder that it is.

Learning how to work with it, and not see it as the enemy has transformed my life. I am a pantheist, so I don't look as the body as something seperate, lesser or merely housing for the soul. I see them as unified, one unable to function without the other. I used to see it as a drag, holding me back, now I view it as the very thing that allows me to be. I am much nicer to it now and take better care of it.

cheddar

[morganxpage]

I'm not sure if your interest is mostly personal or scholarly but here is something from my own experience. I was a sexually abused child, my mom used to put my on diets and rail me about my weight (even though I wasn't even pudgy, I thought I was, but photos of me as a kid say otherwise) So I entered adulthood with a lot of hate and body issues. I felt my body had betrayed me in puberty by getting "fat" in certain places and making me a sexual object...etc.

What was most healing for me...was to get pregnant, work with midwives, have my babies at home, no "method" other than nature, and breastfeed. All of a sudden my body was NOT all those things others said or how they had used it. All the parts and pieces were functioning amazingly and doing exactly what they were intended for. My body brought forth my children, and nourished them, how could I not love it for that?

I'm not recommending anyone go out and get pregnant just for that reason...but perhaps using a deity that has those aspects, or focusing on those aspects of self...all the wonderful ways that our body functions on our behalf...might help.

Also...studying anatomy/phisiology/nutrition etc has also really helped me gain tremendous understanding and respect for my body. I used to, out of ignorance, wonder why my body "did me that way", but by learning more about how it functions...I really appreciate it and the wonder that it is.

Learning how to work with it, and not see it as the enemy has transformed my life. I am a pantheist, so I don't look as the body as something seperate, lesser or merely housing for the soul. I see them as unified, one unable to function without the other. I used to see it as a drag, holding me back, now I view it as the very thing that allows me to be. I am much nicer to it now and take better care of it.

cheddar

I'd be a bit wary of working with a fertility Deity if I didn't want to get pregnant. Some Deities can take the whole fertility thing a bit... literally. :lol:

[SailleSeeker]

I've been paying attention to the feelings I get when I think about these things over the past few days - what keeps coming back to me, now, is sort of like what you're describing, Cheddarsox. The best way I can think of to describe it is a message of seeing my body as something natural and beautiful as it is, as a part of the Earth - a very earth-goddess-y message. I get the feeling of a distinct voice in it, though I'm not quite sure Who it is yet; I'm comfortable with taking the time for Her to tell me (it's definitely a Her). I've been putting things on my altar that make me think of Her as I run across them, going through my room and random stuff I have - some of my green and blue pottery bowls, a blue-green ceramic tealight holder with moons and stars cut out in it, white candles. I'm also really starting to connect my love of the smell of lavender with... whatever this process is. Something's definitely in the mix... guess I'll see what it is :)

Thank you all so much - reading other peoples' reflections has been helping me get a better mental handle on what I am and am not feeling in connection with these issues :) Thank you for sharing!

[Duwayitheru]

But for body image help, I would suggest Amaterasu, the Japanese goddess of the Sun. She was a whole lot of woman, but she still stripped down naked in front of all the other gods and got her funk on to cheer up another god that had gone into depressive hiding. The other gods were cheering her on and enjoying the spectacle, which is what brought the hiding god out of the cave. She cheered everyone up.

Actually, it was Amaterasu who was hiding in the cave. It was Uzume who hung up a mirror, and then danced around causing all the other Gods to laugh. Their laughter made Amaterasu curious, and she peeked out, and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. She came out to go look at herself closer, and everyone grabbed her and pulled her out so she would bring light back to the world.

[_Banbha_]

Also if the Morrigan keeps popping up in your mind you should persue it IMHO. She seems like the kind of goddess that could teach you to value yourself.

Oh yeah, and then some. She is also a shapeshifter extraordinaire. :hehehehe:

Both in animal and human form: from an old crone/hag to young and beautiful. She rewarded men who showed her respect and favor as crone and never mind about the other guys. Some of Her dealings with Cu in The Tain are the most famous examples of this aspect of Her myths.

There are some great threads here in G&G about Her. I can add some of my own links later if you like. The Morrighan is (are) very ancient and has (have) healing and earthy aspects as well if your thinking she might be all or only about the strong connections to battle and fate. :)