Atargatis - The First Mermaid

Dewi Sri is not your usual goddess of grain and harvest. Born as a gift to the King of the Gods, her beauty becomes seen as a liability. Dewi Sri embraces her own power to transcend her trauma and transform her physical body into a bounty of earthly treasures for mankind. Her greatest of these will be the padi, or rice plant.

The powerful emotions of human life can lead to great transformations. Atargatis' story is a reminder of how deep emotions are part of the beauty of human experience. Alongside this is the wonder of the natural world and the magic that we can find within it for healing and nurturing.

The world and it's people live in a balance that is both fragile and all encompassing. This has been understood by humans since the dawn of time. Sekhmet takes us back to Ancient Egypt where a universal law of balance and justice exists. Known as Ma'at, it is the foundation energy set by the great father, Ra, to protect and maintain his creation. When this energy is threatened, Ra sends his daughter, Sekhmet to correct the balance and set a precedence for the people of the world.

Amaterasu is the Japanese Goddess of Light. When Amaterasu is grief stricken and hides from the world, her entire family unites to call her back. Such is the importance of light for the world to survive.

Urania is the youngest of the nine muses of Ancient Greece. Each muse had their own unique gift to inspire creativity and expression. For Urania, this would be astronomy- the study of the heavens, through which astronomers would reveal the majesty of the universe and our place within it.

Rabi'a's life begins with a promise from Allah that she will lead others to God's loving embrace. Through hardship and dedication, Rabi'a fulfills this promise. Shedding her ego, expectations and earthly attachments, Rabi'a fills her life with the pursuit to know Allah more deeply each day, inspiring others to follow her path.

Anna Perenna's story would have been lost within those of her sibling's Pygmalion and Dido if not for her role in the Plebeian Succession of Ancient Rome. Anna Perenna's journey from royalty to immortal nymph then into a Goddess is an inspiring tale of courage and wisdom.

Oshun is an Orisha, a goddess of the Yoruba pantheon of gods. Her story is another that reminds us of how the divine feminine connects humankind to nature, and how that connection is needed for balance. Oshun is still celebrated across the globe, with dances to ask that she bless the rivers and waterways needed for our survival. Even Beyonce has played tribute to Oshun, with her flowing yellow dress and surging waters in her Lemonade video album.

Born of the tears of Avalokiteshvara, Green Tara with her sister White Tara, stayed upon the Earth to guide and support people with their journey to enlightenment. White Tara does this by radiating love and compassion, reminding us all of the infinite love we are born of. While Green Tara reminds us that while we are part of this world and its physical energies, we can act with awareness and with the divine energies within us.

Listen to Part One at https://www.spreaker.com/user/8255993/thecla-part-oneThecla's story comes from a time when Christianity was beginning to find it's place in the world. In a time when life for women was designed around domestic duties and motherhood, she broke from the expected to carve the life she chose. This is beautifully expressed when she baptises herself to receive the seal of God whom she dedicates her life to. Thecla reminds us of how the strength of one's passion can make anything possible.