Goddess Phoebe. War or Peace. The Choice is Ours
Summary of Contents: Phoebe in Mythology | Arrival and Appearance | Peace and War | Love and Hate | How Women Came to Be on Planet Earth | Phoebe and the World Community
Festival Day - 2. April.
Phoebe in Mythology
Goddess Phoebe is listed among the Titan sisterhood, her epithet was “The Bright” and because of this, legends linked her as a lunar deity.
Hesiod in his list of who the Gods are, what they do and to whom they are related - Theogony, described Phoebe as “gold crowned” and related her as partner of Titan god Coeus, sister of Rhea.
Some sources named Phoebe among the patron goddesses of the Delphic oracle.
Hesiod also blamed Phoebe's nephew Prometheus for the appalling catastrophe of women's arrival on earth. Although the cause of every problem, they saved our planet and restored the human race.
Goddesses, Gods and You
What kind of Heaven do you expect. Soft fluffy paradise of eternity, or oblivion of nothingness? Out-of-body survival expert Margo Williams discovered a surprisingly simple system of management and afterlife recycling.
There are many goddesses and gods in the community. Speaking their name aloud evidently sends a signal; creates a link to wherever they are at any given moment. If it works for you as it worked for Margo, and they respond, be respectful but be yourself. Honesty and thoughtfulness are appreciated.
Sacrifice nothing but your time. Most of them seemed approachable and appreciated being remembered.
The ancient temples that still can be found in some places, although mostly broken, are huge monumental structures; impressive sacred spaces, their scale designed to impress, to be worthy of divine visitation.
However, it is not the size and splendour of any sacred space but the sincerity of the person seeking contact.
Anywhere can be a temple.
"Is Phoebe a Titan goddess?" Nick Hammond asked out-of-body survivalist Margo Williams.
Phoebe Arrival and Appearance
"She is listed among them by Hesiod.
Her first arrival was a delicate display. Blue speckles in white light formed an outline figure of a female, changed colour to mauve then pink, to yellow, then blue.
Sweet perfume filled the air, I recognised the scent but couldn’t recall what it was.
"I heard my name, so I come," she said. The speckle lights colour sequenced but remained a female outline. It gestured. "I can take any shape in the form of light."
To prove that power the blue speckles spun apart, formed a single vertical spiralling line veiled in swirling dark mist.
"I welcome this opportunity of speaking," Phoebe continued. "You have been given ears to hear us. I am Phoebe, an Olympian goddess, a very great goddess. You are easy to draw into my light."
The sequence changed. Mauve to lush pink, into daisy yellow, tropical sea blue. Light wove in the air and spread around me. I recognised the fragrance: violets.
It grew strong, overwhelming.
"The different colours mean different things, which you will absorb." Phoebe’s outline filled in, formed body and features.
Dark brown hair worn on top of head. Skin tone darker than Rhea’s. Green eyes turned dark then blue, then nut brown in changing sequence.
Some light speckles turned green to create an off-the-shoulder gown sparkling with light. Phoebe gestured to the situation. "Here is full of love," she said. "There is power and tranquillity. Any fear experienced is soon overcome by the love."
I noticed gold streaked her hair.
"You certainly have nothing to fear from me," she continued and reached for my hand. "You pay me homage, you light incense. And for this I thank you. Come."
She pulled me out and away.
Peace and War
"In ancient times mortals who prayed to me often feared me." Phoebe's voice clear but accompanied by distant sounds of crackling.
Like firecrackers.
"There were legends but these were not all true. Mortals who do wrong can fear me."
Crackling sounds. Took a moment or two to figure out what it was. G.n-fire.
"Otherwise I am gentle. So stay on the pleasant side."
Choking dust filled the air. A city street war zone. People shouting, running; crouch-scrambling through broken doorways.
Explosive rocked the ground, timber and masonry crashed down.
Phoebe gestured for me to follow through a hole in a wall, then out into a side-street. Noise of gunfire spat through the smoke and dust, fighting sounded close. Percussive crumps of explosion pummelled the air.
Phoebe held my hand, she pulled.
Instinctively I ducked at every crack of gunfire.
Mutilated vehicles lay stranded at crazy angles, pock-marked by shrapnel and bullets. Shell-fire screamed through the air as people scurried.
Love and Hate.
A half mile or so along the street was open ground. A frightened old man sheltered in a shallow crater hole.
Phoebe tapped him on the shoulder. Surprised, he stood then ran and somehow, amazingly made it safely across. Vanished into a building as bullets peppered off the plaster from the walls.
We joined the stream of refugees fleeing their city. Road either side littered with discarded possessions and abandoned vehicles.
We followed a river, forest and high mountains in the distance. Came to a pretty waterside area where picnic benches remained as helpful markers of peace.
Some people made camp, washing clothes in the water.
Desperation and dejection everywhere.
"Your beautiful planet." Phoebe gestured to the local humanitarian crisis. "Life can be one thing, or the other. Much depends upon mortals themselves."
I looked to her, questioning.
"Life, the way they want," she answered.
Some philosophers claim we humans are drawn to war, but that probably wasn’t the truth among the refugees making camp. Mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, sons, daughters, sisters and brothers.
All most likely from a community led to war.
Hesiod blamed women for the problems of the world.
How Woman Came to Ruin Planet Earth
Hesiod told a story of Zeus’ feud with Phoebe’s nephew Prometheus, related how Zeus punished Prometheus’ favoured species, man with woman.
Related: Prometheus and Zeus.
He asked god Hephaestus to create a female 'formed of earth, the likeness of a shy maiden,' Hesiod described her. Clothed with silver raiments and garlanded with flowers of new-grown herbs fresh woven round a golden crown.
Pandora was her given name, and guile the hidden core of her conscience.
Sent to earth missioned with a bonus gift of a vase magic-filled with afflictions of every irritating kind. And among its many curses, an antidote of sorts - a glimmer of hope.
On seeing her, 'scatter-brained' Epimetheus instantly fell in love despite brother Prometheus’ warning about gifts from the Gods.
He asked what the vase contained. 'I dunno,' Pandora replied. 'See for yourself.' She tipped it over, spilling its contents into their world.
And so, women arrived on planet earth, Hesiod moaned. 'From her is the race of women and female kind. Of her is the deadly race and tribe of women who live among mortal men to their great trouble.'
On War and Peace
Phoebe said nothing to me of Pandora’s story, during all our time together but she showed me how things are in the human community.
Guile, it is true to say, is not exclusively an attribute of womankind.
Hesiod also described wars between the Gods. Military philosophers since claim war is the natural state of things, peace-time is simply R&R.
I didn't need to ask those refugees which state they preferred.
On no occasion did Phoebe ever make reference to war between Titans and the Olympians as Hesiod described in his narrative story.
She included herself as an Olympian goddess even though the poet did not list her among that younger generation.
I don’t know if there are factions among the Gods or fighting between them. I witnessed no evidence of ill-feeling. I only ever saw them together at peace in their gatherings and they seemed united under a single female.
No indication ever given of any division among them.
Phoebe and the World Community
Nor did Phoebe make reference to the moon, though that does not mean she isn’t associated with it. But my time spent with Selene confirmed to me at least, there is only one moon goddess.
Phoebe seemed more interested in our world.
War is about the choices we make, her message. As it was Ares'.
Phoebe showed me in that catastrophic moment by the river, people helped each other in small ways.
People living gently and caring for each other is a choice too.
'Lions and sheep' is how the war lords see collateral damage.
But not the consequence for themselves.
Phoebe didn't ever confirm if her partner is Titan god Coeus as Hesiod stated, but it may be she is Rhea’s sister.
For in that peaceful lake-side place where the refugees sought sanctuary, I made the mistake of assuming something of her nature.
"You think of me as a gentle goddess?" she asked, surprised by my answer.
True, I did think that.
"You are wrong," she responded sharply. "I am gentle with you, as you do not shirk your duties. My gentleness is only towards those whom I love."
"If I am angered, I can be as ruthless as any."
I thought about that. There are truly ruthless Gods among the monsters.
Phoebe beckoned me close. "Now, return to that shell you call a body. You do us all a great service, honouring us. My gifts to you were in the light."
"You have my blessings."
Then she was gone.
Thank you for your company on this introduction to goddess Phoebe. If you would like to know more about Margo Williams' experiences and suggestions for how to survive in the hereafter, read this book. Now available from Amazon.
