Aphrodite is known as the Goddess who offers great Love, beauty and harmony to the world. Aphrodite’s first appearance takes us to the Levantine island of Cyprus wherein she appears upon the shores in all her splendor. She is a predecessor of Ishtar, a cousin of Hathor, Oshun, Astarte and Asherah. Aphrodite is the carrier of Life Force essence; she is the energy which renews and begets all life. 

As Goddess of sensual sovereignty, Aphrodite encourages us to follow our desires, but requires us to do some reckoning with the shadow of that. It is through understanding her three forms~Ourania, Pandemos and Apostrophia, that we may truly connect with her guidance. Aphrodite Ourania represents heavenly, cosmic Love. Aphrodite Pandemos represents earthly love, friendship, community and humanity. Lastly, perhaps most importantly, is Aphrodite Apostrophia, she who turns herself away. Representing the process of going inward to process the grief involved with loss, rejection and endings.