The Goddess of Love, Sensuality and Beauty is most famous as the Greek Aphrodite even though there are as many other names for this archetype as there are countries in the world. She is often depicted as arising out of the sea on a half shell as made famous by Botticelli’s painting.
If a woman is blessed by Aphrodite, Oshun or Hathor it generally means that she will be very much at ease with her body and have a healthy, uncomplicated relationship with her sexuality. Later as she matures this may appear as almost a rather casual regard for her sexuality.
One of her most predominant traits is to love being in love but only in relatedness with another. Aphrodite is never one to have sex without a feeling of connection no matter whether it is for hour, night or year. She is also known as the Goddess of Pleasure for she loves to be pleasured. She is often attracted to either sex and follows where her heart leads.
Right from the start she will have attractiveness about her, though not necessarily a conventional beauty. As a child she may have learned to flirt with her father and his friends provided they are not threatened by this. When she reaches adolescence she will have had to learn how to bring her budding sexuality under control. She may look more physically mature than she is and because of this attract the attention of boys and men.
“Aphrodite is often mysterious and fascinatingly exotic to men and tends to be a disturbing presence in the workplace of the fatherland.”-The Goddess Within.
Therefore she may seek other forms of work such as being an entertainer or model. If she escapes from being sexually exploited by men she will learn how to use her beauty and sexually to become a seductress.
The way of the Lover The way of the Lover is the way of presence in the present moment. The Lover embraces, inspires passion, and offers eternally fulfilling unconditional love and sensual ecstasy. The Lover sees the Beloved in every face.
Through beauty, life around her sphere is brought into natural harmony. Harmony is a natural state of being in this aspect. In this state of harmony, body, mind, feelings and spirit are not in conflict, but in unity and linked to one’s essence and the larger pattern of perfection.
Harmony is merely a reflection of a higher order of reality. The Goddess of Love's transcendent function in the Mystery is that this aspect of the Goddess represents this higher order of natural harmony of which beauty is an example.
She is a goddess who knows her power, is virginal that is she is “whole unto herself” autonomous, her own boss, she knows her worth, and knows she is beautiful and irresistible. She knows the arts of love and adornment how to use them.
She is the personification love, grace and beauty, and she knows how to use her feminine allure. Confident in her sex appeal, she sees that sexual pleasure is good and something that is to be enjoyed with as many partners as one desires.
The Shadow Side of the Goddess of Love, Sensuality & Beauty
The shadow of this aspect of the Divine Feminine as it plays out in human nature may look like self-absorption, vanity, excessive focus on outer form rather than inner beauty, insensitivity to the needs and feelings of others. It may also be the use of flattery or other untruthful communication aimed at manipulating to get what one wants or compete for that which one desires.
Jealousy, comparison and insecurity are shadow aspects of this archetype in human nature. The distortions of body image are found in this archetype. She will use her beauty and sex appeal to manipulate to get what she wants. She does not trust women and will betray them if necessary.
The gateway to the Goddess of Love is found through beauty in all its aspects. "I feel. I respond. I beautify.”
A few of her other names, Venus, Hathor, Innana, Isis, Oshun (Some of this material was taken from the 13 Moon Oracle by Arielle Spielsbury).