Ishtar, the Babylonian goddess of love ... Gaia, the ancient Greek earth mother ... Xochiquetzal, the Aztec goddess of flowers, dance, and song ... Parvati, the Hindu goddess of fertility ... Venus, the Roman goddess of love... This fascinating and enlightening book describes a total of 25 female deities worshipped by different cultures, and explains the powers attributed to them by their believers. It also presents more than 50 rituals that readers can perform for their own personal benefit. Each rite is related to one of the goddesses, and all apply to important events in everybody's life. Love, bereavement, prosperity, healing, protection, and even an invocation for sunny weather are among the many subjects of these rituals. Still other rituals are prescribed to help individuals meet personal emotional needs, including patience, compassion, strength, humility, forgiveness, and a release of inhibitions. Whether seeking personal inspiration or exploring the theologies of diverse and distant cultures, readers will find a fascinating mix of mythology, history, folklore, and practical advice brought together in lavishly illustrated page