astarte worship rituals astarte worship rituals

Ahab, with his wife's encouragement, built a temple to Baal at his capital, Samaria. Yet in spite of being so anti-gay, the NET Bible links the Mo-lech worship of Leviticus 18:21 and 20:2-5, 13, with sexual sin and with spiritual prostitution, "I will cut off from the midst of their people both him and all who follow after him in spiritual prostitution, to commit prostitution by worshiping Molech (Hebrew - to commit harlotry after Molech)." God's warning against worshiping Molech the Canaanite fire god, is given in a religious context. It landed near Byblos in a lake at Alphaca. The high priestess of the city, acting in the capacity of the fertility goddess Inanna, would have sex with the high priest or the king role-playing the fertility god Dumuzi. This struggle to be totally committed to God is of vital importance to us today as well. God spoke to his people on Mount Sinai and reestablished his covenant with them in the Ten Commandments. 5; II Kings xxiii. Molech represented the male principle of life and reproduction while Ashtoreth represented the female principle of fertility. Learn facts that you cant learn just from reading the bible Seth was the God of chaos, darkness, the desert and drought. The priest or a male member of the community represented Baal. As long as youre respectful to demons and take the preliminary precautions as mentioned here, you have nothing to fear as their primary intent is never to harm the summoner. He is also the keeper of secrets throughout time, knowing past, present and the future. Omissions? See you on the other side! By the fourth century BCE, kings of the Phoenician city-state Sidon served as priests of Astarte; their wives were her priestesses. The Bible called this practice "detestable" (Deut. A child sacrifice laid on the hands, would roll into the fire in the belly cavity. Inanna, an important goddess in the Sumerian pantheon, came to be identified with Ishtar, but it is uncertain whether Inanna is also of Semitic origin or whether, as is more likely, her similarity to Ishtar caused the two to be identified. vii. Scholars have called this sacred prostitution, although the rite was essentially performed as a devotion or prayer to the goddess to ensure fertility. Click here for our comprehensive article on ancient Mesopotamia. This action will also remove this member from your connections and send a report to the site admin. Her name appears in the Old Testament (I Kings xi. Click here for our comprehensive article on ancient Mesopotamia. The inclusion of this prohibition against Molech worship here may be due to some sexual connection of this kind, or perhaps simply to the lexical link between (zera) meaning seed, semen in v. 20 but offspring in v. Ashtoreth was the fertility goddess consort of Molech. What is the meaning of AD, BC, BCE and CE? You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. Pan was depicted as an ugly man with the horns, legs, and ears of a goat. In this way, God's incredible gift of sexuality was perverted to the most obscene public prostitution. 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. Close your eyes and let the energy youve received visualize itself as Astaroth. Cleitarchus, an ancient historian, around 315 BC, gives this description of a fire god at Carthage. Required fields are marked *. Some devotees may have found the presence of a female divine figure compelling in an otherwise male-dominated religious environment. Possibly, their desert origins led them to question God's sovereignty over fertile land. He also has terrible breath. Seeker of Wisdom and Keeper of Time! 7; 3, 5. She was known in Arabia as "Athtar," and inBabylonia as "Ishtar." The Phoenicians portrayed Astarte with cow horns, representing fertility. It is best to understand these rituals as a religious act of devotion to the goddess rather than as sex per se. . The goddess was worshiped with sexual rituals that were condemned by the prophets of the Old Testament. Interestingly, in her earlier forms, she also appears as a warrior goddess, and eventually was celebrated as Artemis. His mistress, the fertility goddess Asherah, gave birth to many gods, including a powerful god named Baal ("Lord"). This is proved by the fact that Baalim and Ashtaroth are used several times (Judges x. The pantheon in Phoenicia was generally ascribed to the Sanchuniathon. Astarte, Asherah and Ba alat Gebal, who were sent to Elus, eventually became his wives. They foretold the future by examining animal entrails or by watching flights of birds. A few Biblical passages make a reference to the worship of a Queen of Heaven, who may have been Astarte. We also participate in becomealivinggod.com affiliate program. Astarte (from Greek . These female figurines are associated with domestic religious rituals. A beautiful, sexy woman sometimes depicted with a Hathor-style hairdo. Herodotus, a Greek historian, wrote that every Babylonian woman had to attend the temple of Ishtar/Inanna and agree to sex with any male that asked her. Molech represented the male principle of life and reproduction while Ashtoreth represented the female principle of fertility. 3:6,13; Ezek. Asherah (Hebrew ), also spelled Ashera, was a major northwest Semitic mother goddess, appearing also in Akkadian sources as Ashratu, in Hittite as Asherdu and in Ugaritic as Athirat. 10:20-21), we can be sure these practices continued and were a temptation to many. Bibl. If one is clearly oriented towards good, the other has much darker goals. He is one of the three supreme evil Demons, with Beelzebub and Lucifer, in the Grimoire Verum and Grand Grimoire, which date from about the 18th century. The first risk is health related. In Cyprus, the Phoenicians arrived around BCE and built temples in Astarte's honor; it was here that she first became identified with the Greek goddess Aphrodite. Pictorial representations often show her naked. Hence, the goddess Astarte was commonly depicted as having horns or the crescent moon on her head. The history of Israel was inextricably linked to pagan worship, which God abhorred and prohibited his followers from having anything to do with. She is linked with war, sexuality and fertility. If you are trying to schedule a speaking engagement for Ray Vander Laan, please email Alison at [emailprotected], That the World May Know Ministries (TTWMK), Only recently have scholars begun to unravel the complex religious rituals of Israel's Canaanite neighbors. Place your hand with a silver ring under your nose. At times of crisis, Baal's followers sacrificed their children, apparently the firstborn of the community, to gain personal prosperity. Astarte is the Phenician name of the primitive Semitic mother-goddess, out of which the most important of the Semitic deities were developed. For that reason, God and Moses prohibited Israel from worshiping Moloch in Leviticus 18:21 and 20:2, 3, 4, 5. Unique Circular Format see more in less space. 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. Her traditional Phoenician offerings included clothing stained with menstrual blood. 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. Lev 20:2-5; 2 Kgs 23:10, etc.). She was also flanked by several sphinxes, and there was a bowl held just underneath her pierced breasts. The problem is a difficult one, the references to the cult in the Old Testament being so few and so vague. 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. Solomon followed Astarte (the goddess of the Sidonians) and Milcom (the disgusting idol of the Ammonites). Astarte is the Hellenized form of the Middle Eastern goddess Ashtoreth, a form of Ishtar, worshipped from the Bronze Age through classical antiquity. Hear the prayer of Your servant and friend! Participation in these sects was highly secretive, and few details of their ceremonies survive. Once youre ready to end the ritual, go back into the portal, up the stairways and walk around the dark citadel/cathedral CLOCKWISE 7 times, less or more. Ashtaroth is mentioned 12 times in the Old Testament. But this didn't happen immediately. more. The reaction against Baal and Astarte, inaugurated by the Prophets, had a profound effect upon the moral life of Israel (see "Jour. The word translated Mo-lech or Moloch (the spelling varies), occurs multiple times in the Bible, in Leviticus 18:21, 20:2, 3, 4, 5, 1 Kings 11:7, 2 Kings 23:10, Jeremiah 32:35, Amos 5:25-26, Acts 7:42-43. Astarte is a fierce warrior goddess and the goddess of sexual love (eros) and fertility. ii-v.). Astarte is called in these passages "the abomination of the Zidonians," because, as the inscriptions of Tabnith and Eshmunazer show, she was the chief divinity of that city (see Hoffmann, "Phnizische Inschriften," 57, and "C. I. S." No. Sacred Marriage and Sacred Prostitution in Ancient Mesopotamia. Easter egg activities . 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. In the many myths and stories involving Inanna in ancient Mesopotamia, Inanna does not appear as either wife or mother. Asherah, the moon goddess, was the principal female deity worshiped by ancient Syrians, Phoenicians, and Canaanites. This is the most opportune time to ask questions about the past, present and future. We don't think of ourselves as idol worshipers, yet we struggle to serve God alone in every part of our lives. Systems of Transliteration Citation of Proper Names. - Amos 5:25-26 and Acts 7:42-43. Annual Spring time fertility rituals are associated worship of the Mother Goddess and Tammuz, the reincarnation of her husband. Learn about covens and degree systems, initiation, Sabbat and Esbat rites, and other milestones such as handfastings, birth, and death. The first recorded mention of Astartes name dates back to 1478 B.C.E., but her cult was already well established by then. As the practice was recounted only in literature, it is unclear whether it was purely symbolic or an actual reenactment. Would you prefer to share this page with others by linking to it? then. 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. Asherah was worshiped in various ways, including through ritual sex. 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. It is also the Greek name of Ishtar, who is a Mesopotamian Semitic goddess. Kronos is the north African name for Molech. This was a trick that Epigeius made to Elus, although it failed to work. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. 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. 45, 47). Unfortunately, more and more people are learning this, Read More How to do Black Magic: Full Guide (Spells, Curses, Protection Circle..)Continue, Ive received a couple of requests from my readers to share a Bathin summoning ritual. As for the land of Carthage, the goddess Tanit was worshipped along with Astarte. 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. a fire god worshiped throughout the ancient near East and North Africa, by Canaanites and Philistines, Arameans and Semitic peoples and later, Phoenicians. 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. The people of Israel developed their faith in the wilderness. Astaroth is a grand duke and treasurer of Hell and commands 40 Legions of Demons. Yet it is packed with high-powered rituals that are seeing the light of day for the first time in this century. She holds a bowl beneath her breasts, which are pierced so that milk placed in the statuette flowed from her breasts into the bowl. 4, 18, where the lambs are called the "ashtarot" of the flock. side by side, while in Upper Egypt the Hebrews considered the goddess the divine consort still in the fifth century BC, The same as in the temples of Ishtar and Inanna, the sacred marriage and temple prostitution were prominent features of the cult, of which Yahweh also complained, Astarte was a beautiful goddess as well as a dangerous one. . Scholars have yet to settle on the question of whether sacred prostitution took place. Many, if not all, of the Old Testament gods had disappeared, at least in name, by the time of Jesus. Phoenician religion was inspired by the powers and processes of nature. 13) as "Ashtoreth," a distortion of "Ashtart," made after the analogy of "Bosheth" (compare Jastrow, in "Jour. Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 simply do not address modern gay and lesbian relationships. Astarte was very popular in Old Testament times and traveled far and wide, starting up in business all over the place with the help of her consort and . Astaroth also encourages slothfulness and laziness so be sure to thank him and finish the ritual properly. For example, sects that worship Hera and/or Themis may include worship of Aphrodite, but encourage monogamy and stress her role in committed relationships and marriage. Practicing occultist and writer with a particular interest in summoning magic. Now, I present you with the opportunity to REQUEST A RITUAL directly on this website. x. no doubt seen what wayward Israel has done. Many sorcerers claimed to have the ability to cast out demons (Acts 8:9-24, 13:6-12), as did some Pharisees. Both of these sacred sexual practices existed for thousands of years in Mesopotamia. You must keep a silver ring close to your face when youre summoning Astaroth to protect yourself from his putrid and corrosive breath. Click here to find out more about this unique and fun Bible study tool! How should modern Christians interpret Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13? Many ancient peoples practiced magic. The power attributed to her in war may have arisen from her connection with storms. California Do not sell my personal information. Seth was one of the five Osirian gods. Canaanite religion, a fertility or nature religion, reflected the major concerns of the populace - increase and productivity. Instead, God intended to forbid Israel, His people, from practicing the same sex religious rites with which the ancient Canaanites worshiped their fertility goddess. Jeremiah (vii. 4, lxvi. Some scholars have proposed that these figurines were dedicated by women desiring to be pregnant or nursing children. Clearly, though the names of the gods had changed, the people?s worship practices had not. 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. Solomon is said to have built a high place to her near Jerusalem, which was removed during Josiah's reform (I Kings xi. When youre done, end the ritual along these lines: Thank you mighty Astaroth for lending me your powers and knowledge. Please allow a few minutes for this process to complete. Mesopotamian Women and Their Social Roles, Mesopotamian Religion: Gods, Practice, And Priests. Blow out the candle and go into another room. . Astarte is one of the names that was commonly linked with the female divinity of the people during the early Bronze Age. This practice became the basis for religious prostitution (1 Kings 14:23-24). According to legend, Astarte descended to earth as a fiery star. The Phoenicians called her Astarte, the Assyrians worshiped her as Ishtar, and the Philistines had a temple of Asherah ( 1 Samuel 31:10 ). 17, 18) and Ezekiel (viii. Some scholars hold Astarte was a prototype of the Virgin Mary. And it was through he flattery of, to build a house on Saphon, a mountain situated in the sides of the north, In spite of her maiden and mother titles Anat was an aggressive goddess who slew Baal enemies. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. In this manifestation her symbol is a star with 6, 8, or 16 rays within a circle. Therefore, it should be taken with the utmost seriousness. Bibl. Astarte (from Greek (Astrte)) is the name of a major goddess as known from Northwestern Semitic regions, cognate in name, origin and functions with the goddess Ishtar in Mesopotamian texts. And if Astarte is not close . Believing the sexual union of Baal and Asherah produced fertility, their worshipers engaged in immoral sex to cause the gods to join together, ensuring good harvests. Astarte was a goddess honored in the Eastern Mediterranean area, before being renamed by the Greeks. Molech, fire-god of ancient Canaan Romans 1 describes ancient shrine prostitution, not gays and lesbians. The Phoenicians portrayed Astarte with cow horns, representing fertility. Astarte Worship Rituals The worship rituals of Astrate include making offerings to the goddess at her temple, which is located in the city of Babylon. Given this cultural, historical and religious context, it becomes clear that God did not intend to forbid a loving, committed gay relationship or gay marriage between two men or two women. Their names together are the . But let our friendship extend beyond the limitations oftime and space. It is now unknown exactly how the Phoenicians comprehended her identity, which is unfortunate as they are most closely associated with herthe ones, as traders and master navigators, who carried her veneration (and statues) to their colonies in Europe, Africa, and islands in between. He was known by many names, all signifying the same false god. Phoenician Goddess of Fertility and Sexual Pleasure. The religious Canaanites worshiped a fertility goddess named Ashtoreth. Lend me your powers at this time! Why is Cybele vital to understanding Romans 1? Melech, Mo-lech, Milcom, Melkom, Moloch, Molek, Malec, Malik, Melek, Malkum, Melqart, Melkart, Milk, Melqarth, Kronos, Cronus. Mighty Duke, I humbly invoke you from the depths of Hell into the Realm of Man. Astarte is mentioned nine times in the Jewish Bible. Moreover, Astarte had a temple that was shared with Eshmun, in Sidon. It is also the Greek name of Ishtar, who is a Mesopotamian Semitic goddess. She was also the goddess of rain and thunderstormsleading to her association with An, the sky godand was often pictured with the lion, whose roar resembled thunder. Tammuz also is her son/consort as he is with Ishtar. The "Sunrise Service" is still an intragal part of Easter today. She was the consort of the chief deity El and the mother of 70 other gods. How to do Black Magic: Full Guide (Spells, Curses, Protection Circle..), Obtain knowledge and secrets on any topic that requires study and research. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Sacred prostitution involved temple priestesses of Inanna/Ishtar having ritual sex with male visitors to the temple, again releasing the divine fertile energy. Continue to stare into the candlelight. vii. For instance, there were coins in Sidon that included the symbol with a chariot where a globe or stone appears, and this represented Astarte. Elath, literarily Lady, is a title for the spirit named Asherah. Bibliography: J. Selden, De dis Syris, ii, 2, London, 1617; F. Mnter, Die Religion der Carthager, pp. The center of her cult was in Tyre, but also included Carthage, Malta, Eryx (Sicily), and Kition (Cyprus). When Ashtoreth is mentioned in scripture, she is linked to Molech, (also called Milcom in the Bible). Astaroth is a demon that evolved from the ancient Phoenician mother goddess of fertility Astarte, and the Akkadian goddess of war and sexual love Ishtar. 6:13). Sit in a lotus meditation pose on the floor, Meditate until your mind is empty and relaxed, Visualize a large, dark citadel, monastery or cathedral, Walk around it seven times counter-clockwise (notice the walls, windows, any special features, the main gate..) while silently repeating Hail Astaroth, As you reach the main gate on your seventh circle, enter inside, You will find yourself on a dark stairway spiraling downwards, As you go down the dark stairway you will notice a fiery, infernal light emanating from below the stairway, Go through the portal and you will find yourself in a peaceful, green, endless field, Astaroth will be on the field, approach him while visualizing yourself keeping the silver ring under your nose and greet him humbly, Now is your chance to ask Astaroth all you wanted to know and to receive his well-informed answers.