Blessing: Cybele is a Goddess of fertility, both in humans and animals, and of wild nature, especially forests and mountains. She was served by transvestite priests who had undergone castration, and presided over orgies and ecstatic rites. Her Mysteries were second only to the Eleusinian in antiquity. Through the shedding of blood — both that of her galli, and the bulls and rams of her great sacrifices — the earth was made fecund once more.
Epithets: Agdistis (from the Agdus rock), Dindymene (of Mount Dindymus), Idaia (of Mount Ida), Kubebe (alternate version), Magna Mater (Great Mother), Mater Deum (Mother of the Gods), Meter (Mother), Meter Oreia (Mountain Mother), Rhea (alternate name), Tmolene (of Mount Tmolus)
Equated with: Rhea, Demeter, Hera, Hekate, Isis, Sekhmet, Mut, Anat.
Associations: drum, tower crown, throne, lion, snake, aromatic herbs, cypress, opium poppy, myrrh, civet, blood
Festivals: Forthcoming
Ways to honor: Dancing and drumming are central to the worship of Cybele, often until one reaches states of ecstacy and trance-possession. Respect queer people — gays, lesbians, the transgendered, and those involved in BDSM — as they are her special children. Go to wild places — forests, mountains, and cities late at night — and look for her there. Climb a mountain. Plant a pine or an oak. Get involved with wilderness conservation. Donate your time or money to lion and wolf sanctuaries.
Ancient Texts:
Excerpt from Athenaios by Diogenes
Excerpt from The Dialogues of the Gods by Lucian
Excerpts from The Fasti by Ovid
Excerpt from Poem LXIII by Catullus
Homeric Hymn XIV (To the Mother of the Gods)
Medieval, Renaissance and Early Modern Texts: Forthcoming
Modern Texts:
Cybele by P Sufenas Virius Lupus
Lions of Kybele-Rhea by Melia Suez
Prayer to the Mistress of Animals by Rebecca Buchanan
A Prayer to the Mother of the Gods by Rebecca Buchanan
Song for Kybele by Amanda Aremisia Forrester
To Her by Lupercus Pagani
Festivals and Rituals:
Festival of Cybele by Fate
Articles:
Kybele and Castration by Melia Suez
Links: