Ancient Goddess Magic: Invoking the Queens of the Heavens, by Vanessa Lavallée
Destiny Books, 1644116456, 176 pages, November 2024
Those who feel connected to the stars most likely have learned about the mythology of the Greek and Roman pantheons, or perhaps even the ancient Mayan, Native American, or Vedic stories of the skies. But even deeper, layered in history, are celestial roots of influential goddesses that once held very important roles in ancient religions.
Ancient Goddess Magic: Invoking the Queens of the Heavens by Vanessa Lavallée is a fascinating exploration into the world of goddess worship and astral magic, offering modern readers a chance to create spiritual practices based upon thousand-year old religious practices and recall the connection of the divine feminine to the constellations above. In this book, Lavallée, who holds a master’s degree in ancient religion, weaves back together the relationship between goddesses and the astral realm, sharing with readers a much-needed remembrance of the many faces of the goddess, shining among the stars, that can still be drawn upon today.
“The constellations and stars that were revered by our ancestors continue to exist, but they don’t learn about them as much as we did before, and we certainly do not know where they are in the firmament. This simple fact is the reason why we tend to analyze the ancient world through a sense that has forgotten that deities were once very present and real for our ancestors.”1
Lavallée begins the book by sharing her path towards exploring ancient goddess history and astral magic. Within the Preface, she explains her background (she’s currently writing a thesis “about the demonic feminine”2 (so cool!) and along the way noticed the connection ancient goddesses had with patterns and symbols associated with specific stars and constellations. Recognizing entire books could be dedicated to this each goddess, Lavallée chose “goddesses and their respective celestial bodies according to the types of magic and power they hold”3 to categorize the ancient goddesses into four types: Creatrix, Warrior, Healer, and Lady of the Sea.
In the Introduction, Lavallée liberates the goddess from the narratives of archeologists in the 19th and 20th century, which “assumed that all goddesses found in the Mediterranean and Europe were fertility deities”4. She explores how values and perspective have shifted overtime, from the symbolic and mythological significance of the stars that began in the Upper Paleolithic era to the prevalence of an anthropomorphic male deity that has come to dominate religion. This section was absolutely fascinating, especially as someone who feels a deep connection to the Goddess. The history of how ancient goddess worship shifted, whether it be from a patriarchal perspective pushing aside the feminine or a modern reductionist lens of their power, was revitalizing to discover.
“Most Goddesses, meanwhile, were, for quite some time, more often associated with the heavenly skies, especially the night sky—before the male sky gods overturned their sovereignty.”5
The following chapters are each dedicated to one of the goddess categories. At the start of the chapter, there is a list of the goddesses covered, a quote, and a table that tells the celestial bodies, symbols, season, and symbolic message associated with the type of goddess. Depending on the goddess type, Lavallée covers six to ten goddesses within each chapter, covering their mythology, history, and influence in their culture. She also describes religious syncretism and how some goddesses shifted into others with the rise and falls of different cultures. The goddesses described come from a variety of cultures too—Mesopotamia, Phoenician, Egyptian, Canaanite—as well as general locations, such as Allat from the “pre-Islamic Arabian Peninsula.”6. This is interesting to read about because it shows how goddesses can transcend cultures, which shift and evolve through time, and remain tied to the land and sky of the region.
Throughout the chapter, there is added text that shares information beyond the scope of the specific goddesses. Some examples of these are “Relationship of Hecate to the Hittite Sun Goddess of Arinna”7, “Eagle Lore in the Ancient Worldview”8, “Sirius, Guardian of the Milky Way”9, and “The Legend of Corona Borealis”10. Then at the end of the chapter, Lavallée shares the symbolic message for the goddess-type along with ideas on how to work with that face of the goddess.
The final chapter, “Celestial Healing”, is rituals that Lavallée has adapted for modern readers based on ancient sources. The first one is modeled from mîs-pî, “the washing of the mouth”11, which was described on cuneiform dating back to ancient Mesopotamia, done to breathe life into a new effigy of a deity. The second one is another Mesopotamian ritual to invite protective spirits, called lamassu, into figurines. Lavallée also shares invocations for the Creatrix, Warrior, Healer, Lady of the Sea, and Queen of Heavens. Other rituals include dream incubation under the stars, taking a celestial bath, purifying and protecting the home, and making peace with death. The step-by-step instructions given by Lavallée ensure all readers can successfully perform these rituals or ceremonies with ease.
One of the greatest strengths of this book is Lavallée’s ability to blend historical scholarship with practical spirituality. Her writing is both scholarly and accessible, providing a well-rounded perspective on the subject matter. All of the content is well researched and up to date in regard to modern religious studies. Lavallée quotes or refers to the writing of other scholars and authors, pointing readers in the direction of other material they can explore to learn more. There’s a long bibliography at the end of the book, along with a detailed index to find just what you’re looking for, if needed.
Additionally, the book’s inclusive approach, embracing goddesses from various cultures, adds a rich diversity that broadens the reader’s understanding of goddess spirituality through time. As someone who aspires to be a scholar of goddess worship, and thus has read countless books on the subject, this has been one of the most awakening and well-written ones I’ve ever come across. For the past few months, I have let myself linger while reading, taking the time to immerse myself in the celestial magic of the goddesses Lavallée shares and doing my own research. This book has been a springboard for revelation, inspiring dozens of pages written in my journal.
Overall, Ancient Goddess Magic is a valuable resource for anyone interested in exploring the world of goddess worship and celestial magic. Vanessa Lavallée’s insightful approach combines historical knowledge with practical application, sharing with readers how they can draw upon the strength of the goddess in their own lives. This book is extremely relevant for anyone who wants to learn more about goddesses throughout time, especially since the ancient goddesses tend to be overlooked for the more popular Western goddesses. I can say with confidence, this has been one of the best books of 2024 that I’ve read!
Alanna Kali is an astrologer, numerologist, and pioneer spirit that loves to explore life through the lens of depth psychology. She has a passion for studying the humanities and social trends. Her academic work is centered upon reuniting body, mind, and spirit through eco-psychology. She loves reading, spending time in nature, and travel.