Mistress of Animals

A Livestream Class with Yeshe Matthews

Time and Room Not Chosen Yet for This Class

The title Potnia Theron, meaning “Mistress of Animals” appears in early Greek art and mythology, particularly in Minoan, Mycenaean, and later Greek texts. It is not so much the name of a single being as it is a reference to a goddess in her power, at one with and symbolized by her accompaniment by wild and often dangerous animals. She dwells in caves, sits on thrones of stone in the mountains, stalks prey through the forest primeval, flys with the birds and runs with the herds.

Many of us work with animal spirits, but what does that really mean? It can mean so many things: animal sanctuary work, animal rescue, animal meditations and magic, animal reiki, studying magical animal lore, and being of service in the natural world. As kitten/cat rescue and special needs petsitting are both part of my own sacred work, this subject is near and dear to me, and I know it is to many of us.

In this workshop we will:

- examine numerous examples of the Potnia Theron archetype in world mythology, from the theriomorphic animal headed deities of ancient Egypt to the shapeshifters of Old Europe to the Idaean Mountain Mother of Anatolia.

- explore methods of taking a sacred animal ally relationship to the next level, eg. “I know that mountain lion is my protector spirit, but what does that mean in everyday life?”

- devise a personal devotional path that incorporates animal allies with elemental and deity rituals

- make practical and magical plans to help animals stay wild, free, and safe in our ever-modernising world.

Don’t miss this chance to commune with humanity’s most ancient Mother of fur, feather, and claw!