Gaia (or Gaea) is the goddess in Greek mythology who personifies Mother Earth. Many Wiccans and Neopagans worship Gaia both spiritually and as a way of preserving the earth. Let’s get to know Gaia better!
Gaia Symbols and Correspondences »
Chant to Gaia
Gaia’s Devotional Prayer
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Who is Gaia?
Gaia is the primordial mother-goddess and progenitor of the Titans, Typhon and many other children, and she is considered the mother of all life on Earth. Gaia is also considered the actual Life Force of the Earth whose essence keeps it alive.
Gaia was a very powerful Protogenoi Deity with power over the Earth. The Protogenoi in Greek Mythology, are immortals who were the first beings to come into existence. The first and main protogenos was Khaos (Chaos).
Hesiod’s Theogony tells:
“…after Chaos, wide-bosomed Gaia (Earth) arose to be the everlasting seat of the immortals who possess Olympus above. And after Gaia came dim Tartarus in the depth of the wide-pathed Earth, and next Eros the god of love.”
Cult of Gaia
Gaia is normally depicted as a full-bosomed, matronly woman, which is meant to symbolize her fertility. She is often shown clothed in green, which further emphasizes this symbolism. Moreover, she is occasionally shown accompanied by fruits or the personification of the seasons, signifying her role as an agricultural goddess.
Oaths sworn in the name of Gaia, in ancient Greece, were considered the most binding of all. In ancient times, Gaia was mainly worshipped alongside Demeter and as a part of the cult of Demeter, and does not seem to have had a separate cult.
Today, the goddess Gaia is usually represented as a pregnant woman of great beauty. Some depict her as an elder woman covered in trees, but full of life as is the Earth.
Modern Gaianism
Gaianism is an earth-centered philosophical, spiritual, holistic, scientifically-rational, opinion that shares expressions with various religions such as earth religions and paganism while not identifying exclusively with any specific one.
Ottawa, Canada: Display of unique topiary sculptures made up of thousands of tiny plants.
Practitioners of Gaianism are called “Gaians”, or sometimes Gaianists. Followers typically approach the philosophy with the perspective that we should honor the earth, reduce or soften the human impact on the earth, and be respectful of all life on earth. The latter perspective is extended to all forms of life such as plant, animal, or human, and followers will often try to maintain a close relationship with the planet
Divine Qualities of Gaia
Goddess Gaia is the creative source of all life, matter, nature and divinities. The entire vegetable kingdom with its many shades and colors. Germination, livelihood, expansion, interconnection, and prophecy define Gaia.
Cornwall, Englang: Gaia marble sculpture.
Early Greeks dedicated a mountain sanctuary to her, where a high priestess called Pythia lived; this place is commonly known as the Oracle of Delphi, which later became a temple for Apollo.
Gaia corresponds to the card “The World” in Tarot, which shows a goddess and symbolizes accomplishment, completion, fulfilment, sense of belonging, wholeness.
She has unparalelled powers over nature, reigning over animals, the seasons, the weather, and the creation of life. The Goddess reminds us of the interconnecedness of the world and the importance of living in harmony with the environment, as well as with other human beings.