Separating Fact from Myth: Asherah and Idol Worship. Molech represented the male principle of life and reproduction while Ashtoreth represented the female principle of fertility. Molech, fire-god of ancient Canaan She is linked with war, sexuality and fertility. Her role. It is best to understand these rituals as a religious act of devotion to the goddess rather than as sex per se. ), Hosea, Isaiah, and Jeremiah thundered that Yahweh alone deserved the people?s allegiance. Many sorcerers claimed to have the ability to cast out demons (Acts 8:9-24, 13:6-12), as did some Pharisees. Mighty Duke, I humbly invoke you from the depths of Hell into the Realm of Man. There is one thing they all have in common: the desire for fast or immediate results through magical means, rather than having to practice for weeks, months or even years before receiving the results through their own practice. Sacred Marriage Astarte is the Phenician name of the primitive Semitic mother-goddess, out of which the most important of the Semitic deities were developed. His mistress, the fertility goddess Asherah, gave birth to many gods, including a powerful god named Baal ("Lord"). Herodotus, however, is an unreliable reporter, which is why scholars debate the historicity of this practice. She is sometimes referred to as the Lady of the Date Clusters. xxxi. Could the God who had led them out of Egypt and through the wilderness also provide fertile farms in the Promised Land? Systems of Transliteration Citation of Proper Names. CONCLUSION'Though today our gods'such as money, power, and possessions, are less "personalized" than in ancient times, the temptations for us are no less enticing. According to the New Unger's Bible Dictionary: "The word Easter is of Saxon origin, Eastra, the goddess of spring, in whose honour sacrifices were offered about Passover time each year. How to do Black Magic: Full Guide (Spells, Curses, Protection Circle..), Obtain knowledge and secrets on any topic that requires study and research. Baal worship was all about using ritual to control . As a part of this ritual, women were obliged to sacrifice either their hair or their chastity. Black magic: the magic of evil In the mind of the public, there is not one form of magic, but two:White magicand black magic. Click here for our comprehensive article on ancient Mesopotamia. 12:31, 18:9-10). Most children and families who color or hide Easter eggs as part of their Resurrection Sunday tradition have no knowledge of the origin of these traditions. And it is one of the oldest Middle Eastern aspects of the great Goddess, dating to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Kronos is the north African name for Molech. Some devotees may have found the presence of a female divine figure compelling in an otherwise male-dominated religious environment. Moloch worship is essentially identical with worship of Chemosh of Moab, Cronus-Kronos of Carthage and Melkart-Melqart of Tyre. By summoning Aphrodite you can improve your love life in many ways. I conduct summoning rituals for clients - https://occultist.net/product/ritual-for-hire/, To learn more about practical magick, get my latest book "The Psy-Mage Compendium" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ouvops, If youre into ceremonial magick, youve seen plenty of grimoires and other magic books describing various demons. Lit." This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ishtar-Mesopotamian-goddess, Ancient Origins - Love is a Battlefield: The Legend of Ishtar, First Goddess of Love and War, Oracc - Ancient Mesopotamian Gods and Goddesses - Itar. Once Astaroth has appeared in your mind either as a male or a female demon, explain your situation to the demon and humbly ask for the answers or powers you want and for what purpose. She was ruler of all spirits of the dead, who lived in heaven in bodies of light and were visible on earth as stars. The priestess or a female members of the community represented Asherah. Throughout the Israelites? It was because it included sexual rituals, and sacrifices of firstborn children and newborn animals to her. In their forty years of wilderness wandering and backsliding, wicked stony-hearted rebellious Israel chose the wrong god and the wrong tabernacle. The Egyptians had a religion of duality and Seth was the opposite of three other major gods; Osiris, Horus and Ra. Who was Asherah / Ashtoreth? Seeker of Wisdom and Keeper of Time! 133-165, x. 12). This was viewed as an offering to the fertility goddess. Ashtoreth was the goddess of war and fertility, called Ishtar by Assyrians and Babylonians, called Astarte by Greeks and Romans and called Tanith by North Africans. We enter it unconsciously, we can control our dream for a short time as we are aware of what is happening in it, but then the unconscious dreaming continues, or we, Read More Two Ways to Astral Project & The Demon That Unlocks the PowerContinue, Fellow occultists, I am happy to announce that my new grimoire, Goetia Rising, is now available on Amazon: This is a small book, as a proper grimoire ought to be. Begin visualizing energy emanating from the light and pouring itself into you. All of the following may be true: Astarte is the title of the Cypriot goddess whose Greek name is Aphrodite. Ishtar is the Akkadian counterpart of the West Semitic goddess Astarte. In the Hebrew Bible, the worship of Astarte is repeatedly condemned, an indication that for at least some ancient Israelites, the cult of Astarte held great appeal. Astaroth is often invoked in necromantic divination rituals for this purpose. Yet it is packed with high-powered rituals that are seeing the light of day for the first time in this century. She had her own priests and prophets. 65:1-5 for an example of Israel's participating in the pagan practices of the Canaanites.) Obtain a deeper knowledge of magic with my latest book The Psy-Mage Compendium. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Bible Charts and Maps, PO Box 171053, Austin, TX 78717 International Standard Version Solomon pursued Astarte, the Sidonian goddess, and Milcom, that detestable Ammonite idol. 21.". Pan was associated with Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and orgies, whose worshipers continued many of the sexual rites of the Old Testament gods of the Baal cult. The "Sunrise Service" is still an intragal part of Easter today. It was designed like an old fashioned pot-bellied stove, with the belly as the firebox. This practice became the basis for religious prostitution (1 Kings 14:23-24). My New Grimoire Goetia Rising is Now Available! Baal has also been portrayed seated on a throne, possibly as the king or lord of the gods. Abraham lived in the Negev desert, where God made his covenant of blood with him and sealed it with circumcision. This is the site where the original Tammuz died. Rituals connected to the worship of Ishtar/Inanna include a Sacred Marriage in which a male ruler is identified with Dumuzi. Ishtar, (Akkadian), Sumerian Inanna, in Mesopotamian religion, goddess of war and sexual love. Astarte was also worshipped in private homes, and her statues were placed in shrines or on altars in the home. 7:5, 12:2-3; 2 Kings 16:4, 17:10; Jer. Pagans practiced "sympathetic magic", that is, they believed they could influence the gods' actions by performing the behavior they wished the gods to demonstrate. That the Hebrew God is the best known of all gods worshiped in the world today needs no explanation. They may represent the goddess Asherah and were used, especially by women, in a "popular" form of worship distinct from the official worship of Yahweh. As recounted by the English monk Bede, the 7th-8th century "father of English history," the former pagans in England called . The adjective spiritual was inserted by the translators because in their opinion this is not a reference to literal prostitution but figuratively compares idolatry to prostitution. This struggle to be totally committed to God is of vital importance to us today as well. The power attributed to her in war may have arisen from her connection with storms. Inanna was also a fertility figure, and, as goddess of the storehouse and the bride of the god Dumuzi-Amaushumgalana, who represented the growth and fecundity of the date palm, she was characterized as young, beautiful, and impulsivenever as helpmate or mother. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. ), the king "tore down the quarters of the male shrine prostitutes, which were in the temple of the Lord and where women . According to the Jewish Encyclopedia, the Hebrews first learned Baal worship from the agricultural Canaanites. In Phoenicia, several states including Byblos, Tyre and Sidon were among the centers of worship for Astarte. The land was fertile beyond anything the Hebrew nomads had ever seen. 5; II Kings xxiii. We're talking cow's horns of course, as Astarte is a sexy cow and ritual prostitution is always on offer. This could be in order to deceive the magician, with the goal of extracting his energy. 4, xii. Although historical and archaeological communities still debate Moloch's identity and influence, he seems to have been a god of the Canaanites, which was a religion born out of a combination of ancient Semitic faiths.. What's known about Moloch largely comes from Judaic texts outlawing the worship of him and the writings of ancient Greek and Roman authors. What did Paul mean when he used the Greek word arsenokoitai? ( The first is the Assyrian crisis, discussed here. ) English: Astarte, a Semitic goddess whose name appears in the Bible as Ashtoreth. The leader of the gods, Zeus (Jupiter to the Romans), took on the role of Baal, the god of weather or storms. Astarte was a goddess honored in the Eastern Mediterranean area, before being renamed by the Greeks. In the Lemegeton, he appears as either a beautiful or an ugly angel, riding a dragon and holding a viper. Or would the fertility god of Canaan have to be honored? The name Attart is a feminine form of the name Attar, a god known from Ugarit and South Arabian sources, and associated with the morning star. Melech, Mo-lech, Milcom, Melkom, Moloch, Molek, Malec, Malik, Melek, Malkum, Melqart, Melkart, Milk, Melqarth, Kronos, Cronus. This reflects the strong anti-gay beliefs of Dallas Theological Seminary (which trained some of the folks associated with the NET Bible). A trace of this among the Hebrews appears in Deut. Baal's worshipers appeased him by offering sacrifices, usually animals such as sheep or bulls (1 Kings 18:23). The cult of Astarte spread westward from Phoenicia into ancient Greece, Rome and as far as the British Isles. Gay Christian 101 - Presenting accurate biblical and historical info defending LGBT Christians from those who rip verses out of context to condemn. Moses met God in a burning bush in the desert, where he learned the greatness of God's name and received his commission to bring the Hebrews out of Egypt. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art: "Although there existed no single state theology, the major gods reflect local geographical concerns about the fertility of the earth and the importance of water as well as relationships to the sky and the underworld." Cleitarchus, an ancient historian, around 315 BC, gives this description of a fire god at Carthage. One of the most unusual practices Herodotus details is the that of sacred prostitution, which he observes in the ancient city of Babylon. God specifically appointed the tribe of Levi as his special servants, in place of the firstborn of the Israelites, so they had no excuse for offering their children (Num. The Phoenicians called her Astarte, the Assyrians worshiped her as Ishtar, and the Philistines had a temple of Asherah ( 1 Samuel 31:10 ). Sacred prostitution involved temple priestesses of Inanna/Ishtar having ritual sex with male visitors to the temple, again releasing the divine fertile energy. But regardless of the appearance of the demon, the behavior, benefits and the dangers associated will the demon will be similar in every case. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The God Seth Facts. God prohibited Israel from adopting the cultic sexual fertility goddess worship of Egypt and Canaan, Lev 18:3, 20:23. Ashtarte. Discover the Bible in light of its historical and cultural context! In Cyprus she was an ancient divinity with origins linked to the worship of the powers of life; a goddess of fertility who was worshiped on the island since the Iron Age, and whom the Cypriots presumably did not at that time call Aphrodite. These female figurines are associated with domestic religious rituals. Astaroth's Description in Grimoires. Moreover, Astarte had a temple that was shared with Eshmun, in Sidon. Astarte, Asherah and Ba alat Gebal, who were sent to Elus, eventually became his wives. A few Biblical passages make a reference to the worship of a Queen of Heaven, who may have been Astarte. In art and texts, Ishtar is depicted supporting favored rulers in battle. When summoning Astaroth, its important to hold a silver ring in front of your face to protect yourself from his vile breath, which can otherwise cause serious physical ailments. Hebrew culture viewed the sea as evil and destructive, so Baal?s promise to prevent storms and control the sea, as well as his ability to produce abundant harvests, made him attractive to the Israelites. With this preliminary information in mind, here are the 2 best rituals for summoning Astaroth: Astaroth is a powerful demon with a significant historical influence. . A shrine of this goddess was found also in the city of Askelon in Philistia (Herodotus, i. A nude woman holding lilies or sometimes wearing a Philistine helmet. Hire me to perform an Astaroth ritual for you: 13 Best Demons to Summon (Summoning Rituals Included! The Encyclopedia of Witches, Witchcraft and Wicca, Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses. For that reason, God and Moses prohibited Israel from worshiping Moloch in Leviticus 18:21 and 20:2, 3, 4, 5. Light a candle and turn off all the other lights, Stare into the candlelight and quiet your mind. 3). Rituals and Ceremonies Wiccans and Pagans have a number of rituals and celebrations. Keep in mind that the appearance of the demon is closely linked with the preconceived notion that the summoner has of the demon. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Seth was one of the five Osirian gods. Demon possession was a topic of much fascination. . Some scholars hold Astarte was a prototype of the Virgin Mary. Wigington, Patti. 10:20-21), we can be sure these practices continued and were a temptation to many. What we do know reveals dark, seductive practices that continued to entice the people God had chosen to be his witnesses.THE ORIGINS OF JUDAISM. Astaroth is the teacher of all the sciences especially skilled in the liberal sciences. The Feast of Astarte began by welcoming and celebrating the sunrise on the Vernal Equinox. Recite an invocation. We also participate in becomealivinggod.com affiliate program. Entire civilizations bowed to his different manifestations in centuries past. The earliest deity recognized by the peoples of the ancient Near East was the creator god El. Participation in these sects was highly secretive, and few details of their ceremonies survive. However, even among those who . It can be very difficult to distinguish between West Semitic spirits because of their tradition of addressing spirits by both a personal name and an honorific. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. He also has terrible breath. Johanna H. Stuckey, University Professor Emerita, York University, says of Astarte. Her traditional Phoenician offerings included clothing stained with menstrual blood. "Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? 28, note). Employing both material and textual evidence, it is argued that her worship at sea and at port required a degree of religious competency of seamen that served as crew and combatants on trading vessels and military vessels, respectively. As early as 1450 BC, as they wandered in the wilderness, Israel was worshiping Moloch, even before they entered the land of Canaan. Baal is portrayed as a man with the head and horns of a bull, an image similar to that in biblical accounts. Sacred prostitution has many different characteristics depending on the region, class and the religious ideals of the period and the place, and consequently can have many different definitions. Astarte is the title for a completely independent spirit, perhaps Anats sister. With this preliminary information in mind, here are the 2 best rituals for summoning Astaroth: The Candlelight Invocation Light a candle and turn off all the other lights Stare into the candlelight and quiet your mind Recite an invocation. Wigington, Patti. Part of her cult worship probably included temple prostitution. . 5 When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod; 2 then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and placed it beside Dagon.