Includes index

"Tales of powerful female figures have been told since the beginning of time and this collection brings together 50 stories from around the world. There are loving creators, wise leaders, fearsome warriors, gentle healers, and mystical protectors, and they can each inspire you to find strength within yourself..."-

Ruling and guiding.

Inanna, Mesopotamian goddess of love and war -- Athena, goddess of wisdom and guardian of Greece -- Mami Wata, African water spirit and bringer of riches -- Nut, ancient Egyptian goddess of the sky -- Juno, mother goddess of Rome and protector of women -- Ezili Dantò, Haiti's Vodou goddess of vengeance and motherhood -- Rhiannon, Welsh queen of horses and courage -- Xiwangmu, China's Tao goddess of life, death, creation, and destruction -- Baba Yaga, villain and protector, the wicked witch of Russian folklore -- Durga, Hindu goddess of supreme power, protection, and strength --

New life.

Venus, Roman goddess of love, beauty, and victory -- Chalchiuhtlique, Aztec goddess of fresh water -- Brigid, Celtic goddess of the elements, healing, and poetry -- Pattini, Sri Lankan goddess of purity and fighter against injustice -- Ariadne, Cretan goddess of labyrinths and mazes -- Asase Yaa, West African goddess of the Earth -- Gaia, Greek Earth mother of all life -- Eve, first woman made by God -- Mawu, West African creator of the sun, the moon, and life -- Mokosh, mother of the Earth, Slavic goddess of spinning and fate --

War and death.

Lilith, Jewish demon and monster of the night -- Sekhmet, Egyptian lioness and bringer of destruction -- Diana, Roman goddess of the moon, the hunt, and wild animals -- Freyja, Norse goddess of love, war, and magic -- Izanami, Japanese goddess of death and new life -- Anat, Middle Eastern goddess of war and peace -- Hel, Norse guardian of the underworld -- Rangda, Bali's queen of demons and widow-witch -- Medusa, snake-haired demon with deadly eyes -- Kali, Hindu goddess of time, creation, and destruction --

Love and wisdom.

Mary, highest among women in Christianity and Islam -- Guanyin, Buddhist goddess of kindness and mercy -- Isis, ancient Egyptian mother and magician, wisest of women -- Hecate, ancient Greek goddess of protection and the spirit world -- Sarasvati, Hindu goddess of learning and the arts -- Tara, Buddhist mother of compassion and wisdom -- Chang'e, Chinese goddess of the moon -- Pte San Win, sacred prophet of the Lakota -- Lakshmi, Hindu goddess of wealth and fortune -- Popa Medaw, Burmese flower-eating ogress --

Animals and nature.

Sedna, Inuit mother of the sea and all its creatures -- Itzpapalotl, Aztec skeleton warrior and butterfly goddess -- Badb Catha, Irish war goddess and battle crow --- Oshun, river spirit of the Yoruba people -- Pele, Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes, fire, and lava -- Spider Mother, Native American creator of cures and good advice -- Tiamat, Babylonian sea dragon and goddess of salt water -- Amaterasu, Japanese sun goddess and mother of emperors -- Papatuanuku, Maori, Earth goddess -- Mazu, Chinese goddess of the sea -- Glossary