Atargatis

I used to frequently dream about a woman. The mother I wish I had (no offense to my own mom), the woman I wanted to grow to be, the friend I needed right then and there. The dreams were similar but never the same. The woman would be there in some sort of natural setting sometimes loosely robed or nude, long wavy brown hair flowing other times she had a fin instead of legs but with the same hair and face as always. Whatever her physical form there was always something otherworldly about her. In my dreams she emanated a sort of glow and the border of her and her surroundings was usually blurred. I remember dreaming her as young as six. My Catholic upbringing had me attributing her to the virgin Mary...until she sprouted fins that is. I dreamed her for years, always taking comfort in the goddess who somewhat resembled me who had been there my entire life but I didn't yet know who she was. I spent years searching for a goddess that fit the description and it wasn't until I was in my mid twenties before I came across the mention of the Syrian goddess Atargatis.

Atargatis to my knowledge is not a widely known goddess. She is a Syrian goddess of fertility and protection. She is often associated with Doves (for love) and Fish (for fertility) though she is sometimes also shown with lions (protection). There were many ancient cities which she was said to protect and she was often shown with a male consort. Although she was versatile and highly revered among the ancient Syrians few today know her, or perhaps we all know her. Atargatis is a well traveled godess. As people in the ancient world came to Syria they took home with them Atargatis or at the very least thought of her as being the same as one or more of their own goddesses. By the Greek she was said to be Aphrodite or even Hera, Artemis or Rhea. In Rome she was called the Syrian Goddess but was considered similar to Venus. She was also compared to Isis in Egypt though I can also see a bit of an overlap with Bast in function if not in form. She has a rich history and in ancient Syria she was highly popular with many temples and cult centers.

Today she is overshadowed by her Greek, Roman and Egyptian sisters despite having similar characteristics and having the kick ass quality of being a sometimes mermaid. In fact, if she would not have chosen me many years ago I doubt I would know who she is.

She is a very versatile goddess, being a fierce protector, a goddess of fertility and in my experience a goddess of beauty. She is also associated with both water and earth. I for one find her easy to work with because I can see myself in her. She isn't very demanding and in fact didn't mind that for so many years I did not know her name. I simply called her my no name goddess. She is a great nurturer. I have learned many things through the dreams in which she was a vital part, but I always learned things exactly when I needed to know them, never beforehand.

I pay tribute to and worship Atargatis because I want to. She doesn't require this of me and I feel as though she treats me the same whether I do or not. I usually use a dagger with a mermaid on it as a representation of her. The dagger was given to me by a friend who knew I liked mermaids and thought the one on the dagger looked a little like me. It somehow seemed to fit its current use so I just went with it.  I have her on my shelf. I often lay before her seashells, river or ocean rocks, sea glass or feathers. Sometimes I even give her flowers for a few days. When the mood strikes I light a tea light in front of her. I talk to her. I know that inside everyone is something divine and I feel that which is in her in me. I also sometimes feel it in the words and actions of other people.

I don't necessarily work with her as mush as I live my life and she is a part of it. She is not a jealous goddess and I have worked with other deities, some of whom I will discuss in the coming weeks, she is the easiest one for me personally to work with.