Medusa

FromChthonia

Start listening View podcast show

Medusa

FromChthonia

ratings:

Length:

58 minutes

Released:

Jul 28, 2019

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Medusa is well-known in literature, art, and film as the snaky-haired woman who turns anyone who looks at her to stone. But Medusa, like similar monstrous ancient female beings, represents two different things to the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Released:

Jul 28, 2019

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Explore the world of the Dark Feminine in myth, religion, folklore, and magic.

Skip carousel

Hecate (Part 2): This week's episode continues our discussion from last week on the goddess of witchcraft, ghosts, crossroads, and magic. In this episode we look at the chthonic Hecate, as well as the "Hekate Soteria" of the Middle Platonists, looking at the... by Chthonia
52 min listen
Hecate (Part 1): Hecate is the quintessential chthonic deity, as queen of ghosts and witches. But Hecate's origins and associations are complex; part 1 of a 2-part podcast deals with what we know about her origins as a beneficent goddess associated with protection and... by Chthonia
60 min listen
Lilith: Explores the folklore behind the alleged first wife of Adam, who is associated with seduction, temptation, and producing demons with unsuspecting men on one hand, and is a symbol of feminine autonomy on the other. by Chthonia
60 min listen
Introduction to the Tantric Goddesses: It's 2020, and we are starting the new year with a series on the Tantric goddesses–the Mahavidyas, the Matrikas, the Navadurgs, and similar dark Hindu mothers. This episode offers an introduction to Hindu prayer, worship, the meaning of Tantra, and my... by Chthonia
79 min listen
Frau Perchta and Gryla: It's the last podcast of the year, during the 12 days of Christmas—a good time to discuss 2 Christmas "witches" that seek out naughty children—and adults—to either cannibalize them or cut them open and stuff them full of straw. It's Austria's Frau... by Chthonia
43 min listen
Medusa: Medusa is well-known in literature, art, and film as the snaky-haired woman who turns anyone who looks at her to stone. But Medusa, like similar monstrous ancient female beings, represents two different things to the ancient Greeks and Romans. by Chthonia
58 min listen
Innana, Ishtar and Ereshkigal: We look at Babylonian, Akkadian and Sumerian goddesses of love, war, and the underworld, with a particular look at the ancient story of the Descent of Inanna. by Chthonia
45 min listen
Dhumavati: Continuing our Mahavidyas series, Dhumavati is an inauspicious goddess associated with old age, poverty, and sickness. But she is also the goddess of the Void between Death and Life, and plays an important role in teaching us to stay in the present. by Chthonia
58 min listen
Nightmares and Night Hag Syndrome: This episode explores the origins of the term "nightmare" and its connection to the feminine "demonic", and the phenomenon of sleep paralysis (also called Night Hag Syndrome) from a mythological and psychoanalytical point of view. by Chthonia
58 min listen
Black Madonnas: This week I'm joined by Elen Jones, who is also known as the Spiral Priestess on Facebook, and the creator of the Voices of the Dark Mothers cards, to talk about Black Madonnas. These Catholic and Orthodox images feature a dark-skinned Virgin and... by Chthonia
60 min listen
Chinnamasta: In our continued series on the Das Mahavidyas, we look this week at Chinnamasta, the self-decapitating goddess. Her image is gruesome and somewhat shocking; however she represents a sublime reality about life and death. by Chthonia
55 min listen
Dark Olympians: Artemis: As one of the 12 Olympian gods, we don't tend to think of Artemis as chthonic. However, her original pre-Greek role and some of her attributes relating to violent death in children and wild animals connect her to the realm of death and the liminal. by Chthonia
52 min listen
The Erinyes (Furies): The Erinyes are often viewed as ladies of punishment, or manifestations of guilt, with their snaky hair and monstrous appearance. But the Erinyes were not originally monsters, and have a beneficent side as well. by Chthonia
53 min listen
The Mother Goddess: We think of mother goddesses as being gentle and loving, but ancient mother goddess worship had a dark side. This first episode looks at ancient mother goddesses of the Near East. by Chthonia
57 min listen
Bhagalamukhi: Bhagalamukhi means "crane-faced"; however, she is not portrayed as a crane, and equally mysterious is her connection to the color yellow, which seems to provide a connection to Vishnu. She is known as the Paralyzer; we look at the deeper meaning of... by Chthonia
44 min listen
Introduction to the Tantric Goddesses 3: Sri Cakra: This is the last of an "introduction" to the goddesses, focusing on the Sri Cakra or Sri Yantra, an important symbol representing Shakti/Devi and the creation of the entire universe. It is the central Tantric symbol of the Sri Vidya branch of... by Chthonia
45 min listen
Matangi: In the wake of fears of the Coronavirus, I thought it would be timely to discuss Matangi, one of the Mahavidyas associated with pollution and impurity. Matangi shows us how the Divine is present in the impure–and the unwanted. by Chthonia
52 min listen
Persephone: Persephone is Queen of the Greek Underworld, and the story of her abduction by Hades and the search for her by her mother Demeter is an important story in Greek mythology–and a myth often pointed to for its portrayal of rape in myth. But there's more... by Chthonia
46 min listen
Tara: This week's episode looks at the Hindu goddess Tara, listed as the second Mahavidya in traditional order. Unlike the tender Buddhist Tara, this Tantric goddess is associated with the fire of cremation and has a fierce appearance. However, they are... by Chthonia
50 min listen
The Morrigan (Special Episode): In honor of Samhain (Halloween), I am posting an extra episode this week. Aepril Schaile (Aepril's Arcana, Aeprilschaile.com) and I talk about the Morrigan, Irish goddess of war, sexuality, and sovereignty. The Morrigan is said to guard the gate to... by Chthonia
56 min listen
Sekhmet: This episode looks at the Egyptian goddess Sekhmet, who is considered to be an aspect of the goddess Hathor, and sometimes also the goddess Bast. She is the "eye of Ra", and represents the destructive wrath of the "noonday sun" that burns up... by Chthonia
38 min listen
Santa Muerte: This episode looks at the "Holy Death", the Latin American saint condemned by the Catholic Church, but venerated by about 12 million people, making her second in popularity to St. Jude in Mexico. As a champion of marginalized people, there are... by Chthonia
50 min listen
Pomba Gira: This week we look at Pomba Gira, sometimes a single term for a powerful female spirit, at other times the title of a group of spirits. A spirit with many avatars, most notably Maria Molambo (Maria of the Trash), Pomba Gira is a highly sexualized and... by Chthonia
64 min listen
Intro to Tantric Goddesses 2: Sri Chandi Path: This episode continues to provide context for our 6-month long discussion of dark Hindu goddesses, looking at the Sri Chandi Path, the Sri Devi Bhagavatam, and the Devi Upanishad as sources on the fierce divine feminine in Hinduism, and particularly... by Chthonia
56 min listen
Kamala: This is the last podcast on the Das Mahavidyas. This week we look at Kamala, the Tantric manifestation of Mahalakshmi. While Lakshmi is associated with her husband Vishnu and a model of obedience, Kamala is wholly independent of any spouse, and has a... by Chthonia
48 min listen
Taweret: We end the month of November with a look at the Egyptian goddess Taweret, a hippopotamus goddess who was the wife of Set and a ferocious protector of children. Like many dark goddesses, her attributes seemed to change over time, making her more... by Chthonia
41 min listen
Baba Yaga: I talk with Dr. Joanna Madloch about the Slavic witch Baba Yaga. Joanna grew up in Poland with traditional Slavic folklore, and we discuss the common motifs and meanings of the old witch who lives in the forest, in a house that moves, and is only... by Chthonia
49 min listen
Bhairavi: This week's episode is about the Goddess of Destruction and consort of Bhairava, the destructive aspect of Shiva. As with our other Mahavidyas, Bhairavi also has powerful life-affirming aspects. by Chthonia
42 min listen
The Hanging Virgins: Greek mythology has a curious number of stories about young girls who kill themselves or are taken away due to sexual transgressions before marriage. We look at these stories, and their possible importance. by Chthonia
46 min listen
Circe (Kirke): The sorceress Circe, daughter of the sun god Helios, is known for her dangerous magic, turning men into animals. But there is more than meets the eye–Circe is the perfect Jungian Anima figure. by Chthonia
48 min listen

More Episodes from Chthonia

Skip carousel

Agdistis: the Root of Masculine and Feminine Separation: This week's topic is a loaded one! Agdistis is a Phrygian hermaphroditic daimon that is so powerful the gods fear them, and Agdistis is castrated and becomes female only, with the discarded member becoming either an almond or pomegranate tree. This... by Chthonia
67 min listen
Queen Medb (Maeve): the Threat of Female Sovereignty: In this week's episode we look at Queen Medb of Connacht in Ireland, who was legendary for her seductive power, her warlike nature, and her political power among the High Kings. Notorious for having several lovers in addition to whoever was her... by Chthonia
70 min listen
The Fates: Moirai, Keres, Norns, and Spirits of Destiny: Check out the Divine Feminine App! Click at the link below to view and register for free, or download the app on your phone. https://thedfapp.com/v2/dashboard#a_aid=Chthonia Website: https://chthonia.net Patreon: https://patreon.com/chthonia Social... by Chthonia
62 min listen
Julian of Norwich: God the Mother Theology: Check out the Divine Feminine App! Click at the link below to view and register for free, or download the app on your phone. https://thedfapp.com/v2/dashboard#a_aid=Chthonia Website: https://chthonia.net Patreon: https://patreon.com/chthonia Social... by Chthonia
54 min listen
Hildegard of Bingen: Doctrine of the Divine Feminine in Nature: This week we continue the series on Female Christian Mystics with the polymath saint Hildegard of Bingen. Hildegard began having spiritual visions at age 3, and was in a convent by age 8, where she was taught to read and write in Latin. She was an... by Chthonia
60 min listen
Whats War Got to Do With It? : Love Goddesses and the Dark Feminine: In honor of Valentine's Day this past week, this podcast takes a look at 4 goddesses of love and desire: Aphrodite, Ishtar, Freya, and Rati. Love goddesses are often war goddesses as well, or at least have strong connections to war--why is that the... by Chthonia
74 min listen
Brigid: Fiery Goddess of the Celts: In this week's podcast we look at my namesake, the goddess Brigid, as we have just passed Imbolc (also known as Brigid's Day). This episode focuses on the goddess rather than the saint, though there are obvious crossovers between the two. Brigid is... by Chthonia
62 min listen
Catherine of Siena: a Mystical Union of Flesh: This week we continue our series on Christian female mystics with a look at St. Catherine of Siena. St. Catherine is an incredibly complex figure, who at once represents the Christian feminine ideal of the Virgin, while also defining her mystical... by Chthonia
55 min listen
Teresa of Avila: the Dangerous Ecstasy of Divine Union: Happy 2024! We start off the new year with the first podcast in the Female Christian Mystics series by looking at St. Teresa of Jesus, better known as Teresa of Avila. Teresa died in 1582 and was canonized a saint in 1622; she was made a Doctor of the... by Chthonia
66 min listen
Despoina: Mistress of the Eleusian Mysteries: We end 2023 with a look at Despoina, an obscure Arcadian goddess associated with this title which means "Mistress". Often connected to Kore/Persephone, Artemis and Hecate, this child of Demeter and Poseidon holds a powerful secret and a name that... by Chthonia
58 min listen
Lussi: Santa Lucia's Dark Predecessor: Just in time for Santa Lucia's Day (13 December) we look at Lussi, the sorceress who rides with her ghoulish brood at the Solstice, bringing destruction to homes unprepared for the coming winter, carrying off naughty children, and those who mistreated... by Chthonia
47 min listen
Yuki-onna: the Spirit of Winter: As we head into the winter season, we round out the last few podcasts of the year with a discussion of the Japanese "snow woman" Yuki-onna. Like many of our Dark Feminine figures, she has both gentle and terrifying aspects; she can fall in love and... by Chthonia
61 min listen
Female Jinn: Ghula and Si'lat: Jinn are spirits created from fire that are part of Arabic and Islamic folklore. A full discussion of the Jinn would take many episodes, so in this podcast I discuss what Jinn are and what is known about their origins, their place in Islamic... by Chthonia
75 min listen
Eisheth Zenunim: Female Personification of Sin: This week we are talking about Eisheth Zenunim, "queen of harlots" who is considered the personification of sin in the Zohar, and one of the 4 wives of Samael. We discuss Eisheth's relationship to the serpent in the Garden of Eden as well as to... by Chthonia
58 min listen
Echidna: This week we look at Echidna, the mother of monsters in Greek mythology. Echnidna is said to be the mother of the Sphinx, the Chimera, the Lernean Hydra, and Cerberus among others. She is identified with Python, the dragon slain by Apollo at what... by Chthonia
48 min listen
Anath: This episode looks at the third goddess in our Canaanite trilogy, the warrior goddess Anath, the sister or helpmate of the Canaanite deity Ba'al Hadad. Anath's attributes and role with respect to the Israelites is contested, as is her role as a... by Chthonia
59 min listen
Asherah: This week I examine the Canaanite mother goddess represented by a sacred tree, and according to some archaeological evidence and speculation, may have been the wife of the Biblical god Yahweh. The episode looks at this theory as well as the origins of... by Chthonia
63 min listen
Astarte: This week we look at Astarte, wife of Baal, goddess of love, hunting and war. We take a dive into Canaanite religion and its relationship to early Judaic religion, including her mentions in the Baal Cycle and the Bible, as well as her later role in... by Chthonia
61 min listen
Ammit, Egyptian Devourer of the Dead: This week we look at the Ancient Egyptian chimeric demoness called Ammit. Having the head of a crocodile, the hindquarters of a hippopotamus, and the forequarters of a lion, Ammit stands beside Anubis waiting to devour the hearts and souls of the... by Chthonia
46 min listen
Agrat Bat Mahlat: This week we look at the "Dancing Demon" of Talmudic and Kabbalistic literature, one of the 4 wives of archangel Samael, and an "angel of sacred prostitution". Lilith is viewed as her competitor, and sometimes as her mother and grandmother, though her... by Chthonia
55 min listen
Poludnica: Poludnica, also known as Lady Midday and the Noonwraith, is a demon of the harvest who punishes those who do not rest at noontime. She has various names throughout Eastern Europe, and is represented as a woman in a white dress, sometimes with a... by Chthonia
61 min listen
Succubus: This week's podcast talks about the succubus, a female demon that is said to have sex with men while they sleep, and her male counterpart, the incubus. There is some version of the succubus in almost every culture; we will look at the medieval view of... by Chthonia
63 min listen
The Gorgons: I have talked about the Gorgon Medusa on this podcast in the past; today's episode looks at all three Gorgons, Stheno, Euryale, and Medusa. This is a deep dive into the psychological meaning of the Gorgons and other similar daimons, and their... by Chthonia
57 min listen
Chthonia Conversations: Talking Slavic Creation and Afterlife with Joanna Madloch: We finally have a new Chthonia Conversation, and Joanna Madloch is back! We dive into Slavic theogony (creation mythology) and conceptions of the afterlife in the stories of Perun, Veles, and their offspring. Joanna sent me a few names in chat, that... by Chthonia
64 min listen
Dybbuks: In the first part of the 2000s, there were paranormal TV shows and movies made about the Dybbuk (or Dibbuk), an evil spirit from Judaic folklore that can possess a person. The idea of the "Dybbuk Box" that cursed its owners gained urban folktale... by Chthonia
55 min listen
Lamashtu: This episode looks at the Babylonian goddess Lamashtu, who may be one of the earliest examples of a vampiric goddess who hunts humans and feeds on flesh, particularly that of unborn children. While we may expect such a goddess to be classed as a... by Chthonia
45 min listen
Valkyries: This week's episode is about the Valkyries, the "choosers of the slain" who bring warriors to Odin's Valhalla, to fight at the "twilight of the gods," Ragnarok. We look at the original role of the Valkyries as "demonic" feasters on the dead flesh of... by Chthonia
56 min listen
Latawica: This episode explores the Latawica, female spirits of the aborted or stillborn in Slavic mythology. The term Latawica is also used in connection with "loose" women, as these spirits that appear as half bird and half human can also shapeshift into... by Chthonia
47 min listen
Murrain (Plague) Maiden: This week's podcast is a long one--I talk about the Murrain Maiden, also called the Plague Maiden, or Morowa Dziewica. When she enters a town waving her red handkerchief, the residents are doomed. This podcast gets into the imagery of the Murrain... by Chthonia
84 min listen
Chthonia Conversations: Talking Embodiment with Orryelle Defenestrate Bascule by Chthonia
68 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

Medusa

Medusa

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Chthonia