Table of Contents
Poem: A Gift in the Shadows ix
Introduction: Darkness and the Dark Goddess 1
Identifying with the Dark Goddess 5
Part I The Dark Goddess 15
Who is the Dark Goddess? 17
The Dark Goddess and the Shadow Self 20
Inanna's Descent into the Underworld 23
Descent, Death and the Dark Goddess 28
Descending into the Great Below 35
Part II Meeting the Dark Goddess 43
Poem: Hail to the Dark Goddess 45
Thirteen Aspects of the Dark Goddess 47
Tiamat: The Original Creatrix 49
Sekhmet the Powerful 55
Lilith: The Original Wild Woman 64
The Gorgon Medusa 73
Morgan le Fay: A Transforming Illusion 81
Kali: The Hindu Dark Mother 92
Oya: Mother of the Nine 103
Hekate of the Crossroads 109
Persephone: Queen of the Shadows 116
Nephthys: The Egyptian Goddess of Silence 124
Ereshkigal: Judge of the Great Below 136
Hel: Norse Goddess of the Dead 145
Baba Yaga: The Slavic Initiator 153
Rising from the Underworld 162
Part III Working with the Dark Goddess 167
Poem: Ode to Hel 169
Commencing the Journey 171
Gifts from the Dark Goddess 177
Dark Goddess Workings 181
Connecting with the Dark Goddess 181
Ways of Exploring Your Shadow Self 183
Making a Shadow Mask 184
Making, Cleansing and Using a Scrying Mirror 185
Dark Moon Ritual 187
Spell for Breaking the Habit of Negative Thinking 188
Crafting a Binding Poppet 190
Diminishing Another's Power 193
Banishing Spell 194
An Assortment of Incense Recipes 196
Herbal Dream Pillow 199
Poem: Call to Hekate 201
My Personal Encounters with the Dark Goddess 202
Continuing the Journey 209
About the Author 210
About the Artist 212
Endnotes 213
Bibliography 225
Index 227
