The Goddess Companion
If you’re looking for an in-depth daily devotional book for Goddess studies, Patricia Monaghan’s The Goddess Companion: Daily Meditations on the Feminine Spirit may be just what you’re after. Like Telesco’s 365 Goddess, it covers a different goddess each and every day. Rather than focus on the nuts and bolts of each goddess and incorporating spellwork, as Telesco does, however, Monaghan focuses more on the spiritual qualities of each goddess and how they apply to us.
Various poets, hymns, prayers and songs are incorporated during each day’s devotion. For example, in today’s highlight there is a poem by the Roman poet, Silvae: “Diana crowns herself and her hunting dos with flowers, puts away her arrows…” This refers to the corresponding festival of the date, Nemoralia, the festival of Diana. Accordingly, every day in the book has a piece of meditative literature that parallels the goddess of that day.
These quotations, or prayers, are taking from global sources and multiple faiths, including Christianity. 68 different cultures are included altogether, including ones from ancient Sumeria and babylonia, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, the Americas and of course, classical Rome and Greece.
Below the offered prayer, Monaghan shares her thoughts for the day, which often include affirmations, philosophy behind the goddess of the day, or advice about incorporating the goddess into your life. For example, on August 16, she ends the passage with the affirmation, “We are marvelous, we are astonishing, we are beautiful, just as we are.” The quote follows a prayer for Aphrodite, and a writing regarding the beauty of women—particularly large women.
The back of the text contains several indices to explore each goddess by name, region or subject; this is particularly helpful if you are seeking help with something specific, such as “liberation” or “wisdom,” or you simply want to find the passage on your patron goddess.
It’s a fantastic book for daily prayer, devotion, or even simply expanding your knowledge on goddess studies. With the beauty of such classical works highlighted within, it’s considered one of the deeper companions available, compared with “fluffier” texts, and is both well-researched and well written. Though the language is richer than in some daily texts, it’s still quite relevant and accessible, making it good for both experienced pagans as well as people new to the goddess. Keep The Goddess Companion on your nightstand or next to your altar for daily meditation and reflection, or on your desk for food for thought while journaling.
