21 Days of Goddesses til’ Imbolc
Day 3 — Ertha (matron of witches, the hearth, kinship, health, longevity )
Ertha rules fertility, the hearth, the home, domestic life, and the Wild Hunt. She is the matron of witches and peace envoys. The many names by which she was known in northern Europe include Erda, Eartha, Hertha, Herta, Hretha, Hrethra, Bertha, Nerthus, and Rheda or Rhede. Erthaís titles include Mother Earth, and Peace Bringer.
Evergreens, especially fir boughs, are sacred to Ertha. Hrethmonath, the month of March, is sacred to her. Ertha is celebrated at Winter Solstice, Spring Equinox, and on May 1. At Winter Solstice yeast cakes called Erthaís slippersí were once baked. The goddess was said to have visited houses on the night of the Solstice, by descending through the smoke in chimneys, and filled the slippers with small gifts for the members of each household.
Invoke Ertha by any of her names for peace, prosperity, hospitality, fertility, abundance, grounding, witchcraft, magic, diplomacy, earth magic, peace missions, household matters, hearth magic, kitchen witchcraft, and for divination, especially when fir boughs are burned. Sacred groves and altars built of flat stones are appropriate places for Erthaís worship or invocation. The smoke from burning fir boughs is traditionally used to invite her presence, and her assistance with divination.
Herta, mysterious Germanic goddess, was eventually Demonized as a Queen of Witches, a leader of the Wild Hunt. Although little information regarding Herta survives, her name remains sacred and familiar, as it is the one given our planet, Earth. Tacitus called Herta Mater Terra: “Mother Earth.” Archaeological evidence suggests that Denmark was the epicentre of her worship. Herta possessed a sanctuary amid groves on Rügen Island, in the Baltic Sea, now modern Germany, but once ruled by Danes. Rügen’s highest point is still called Hertaburg. Ruins of Hertha Castle near Herta Lake on Rügen Island are believed to be remnants of her shrine.
Any light source or burning incense can symbolize Hertha’s presence today.
Hertha’s themes are rebirth, kinship, health, longevity and tradition. Her symbols are dormant trees and snow. In ancient times, on this day people venerated Hertha, the Teutonic Goddess of fertility, domesticated animals, magic and nature. In Germanic tradition, Hertha descended through the smoke of any fire today and brought gifts, much like an early Santa Claus figure (giving Her solar associations too). Her connection to nature has survived in the name for our planet: Earth.
Ertha, the Germanic Earth Goddess as depicted by the Roman historian Tacitus
“ Nothing remarkable occurs in any of these tribes [of northern Germany], except that they unite in the worship of Hertha [Ertha], or Mother Earth. They believe that she interposes in the affairs of men, and visits the different nations in her chariot. On an island of the ocean stands a sacred and unviolated grove, in which is a consecrated chariot, covered with a veil, which the priest alone is permitted to touch. He becomes conscious of the entrance of the goddess into this secret recess; and with profound veneration attends the vehicle, which is drawn by yoked cows. At this season all is joy; and every place which the goddess deigns to visit is a scene of festivity. No wars are undertaken; arms are untouched; and every hostile weapon is shut up. At this time, only peace abroad and at home are known.”
Hertha is another name for the ancient Germanic earth Goddess, Patricia Monaghan wrote that “no legends survive of the Germanic Goddess from whom we get our word for earth. It is known, however, that She was worshiped into historic times, when plows were carried in Christian Shrovetide processions in honor of the earth’s fertility. Hertha was also frequently invoked by medieval witches as their special patron” (p. 152).
According to Roman reports, the statue of Herta was ritually removed from her shrine and bathed in the lake several times a year. Herta’s rites were secret and little else is known.
Herta has apparently not left home. According to local lore, a beautiful woman emerges from the woods on full-moon nights to bathe in Herta Lake accompanied by female attendants. Once in the water, they may become invisible but are heard splashing. They eventually reappear to disappear back into the woods. These spectral bathers do not welcome company. It is considered dangerous to witness them. Allegedly observers feel magically compelled to enter the deep lake where they drown. Local rumour says that at least one person drowns annually, suggesting that Herta may be collecting human sacrifices.
She appears in Norse mythology as Nerthus (Earth), sister-wife of Njord (Sea). The Vanir practice marriage between siblings similar to the ancient Egyptians (Isis and Osiris; Set and Nephthys). Njord and his children, Freya and Freyr, went to live in Asgard as Vanir representatives/hostages. Nerthus is his first wife and their mother, but because the Aesir disapprove of marriage between siblings, she remained behind on her island sanctuary. (Alternatively she just didn’t want to go.) Eventually, Odin, that inveterate traveller, came calling: the result was the Valkyries, daughters of Nerthus and Odin, representing the true union of Aesir and Vanir.
Manifestation:
In her later guise as witch-goddess, Herta rides a deer crowned with hops. She uses a stalk of valerian as a riding crop. (Both plants are profound sedatives and sleep-inducers.)
Sacred date:
One of her ancient festivals coincided with the vernal equinox. Whom the eighth day of July, day 189, is dedicated.
Sacred site:
Rügen Island in the Baltic Sea: a deep black lake on the island was once surrounded by beech forests. Herta’s sacred grove was allegedly beside this lake.
References:
Patricia Telesco, “365 Goddess: a daily guide to the magic and inspiration of the goddess”.
