Belisama is a UK deity most often associated with the river Ribble in the UK. Her associations are often listed as being that of lakes and rivers, fire, craft, war, bravery, force and light. Her name is often said to mean 'the very bright', from which we can see where the associations of fire and light come from. However, this has come under question, and an alternative theory put forward that her name actually means 'the strong', and through this we can see where the associations of war, bravery, and force could come from.
With the coming of the Romans, Belisama was conflated with Minerva, and depictions of Minerva yet dedicated to Belisama have been found. Minerva was the Roman Goddess of war, victory, and the arts, so again we can see where Belisama may have taken on the attributes of war, bravery, and the arts - perhaps through this twinning rather than them being attributes of Belisama herself. Otherwise, most of what we know about her is speculation, such as her being associated with the moon as well as light, and her consort being the God Belenus.
Whilst Belisama is mostly associated with the river Ribble in the UK, there has been evidence of her worship in other places. For example, she is mentioned in a Gaulish inscription which can be found at Vaison-la-Romaine in Provence (France), where a nemeton (a natural sacred space) was dedicated to her.
With the coming of the Romans, Belisama was conflated with Minerva, and depictions of Minerva yet dedicated to Belisama have been found. Minerva was the Roman Goddess of war, victory, and the arts, so again we can see where Belisama may have taken on the attributes of war, bravery, and the arts - perhaps through this twinning rather than them being attributes of Belisama herself. Otherwise, most of what we know about her is speculation, such as her being associated with the moon as well as light, and her consort being the God Belenus.
Whilst Belisama is mostly associated with the river Ribble in the UK, there has been evidence of her worship in other places. For example, she is mentioned in a Gaulish inscription which can be found at Vaison-la-Romaine in Provence (France), where a nemeton (a natural sacred space) was dedicated to her.
Whilst there is not much historical evidence which tells us how Belisama was worshipped, she is a deity that I personally work with. I personally feel the association of the sun very strongly with her, and she embodies its strength, energy, and vitality. She is a great deity to call upon to bring light into your life, to help you find confidence, and to seek out and then make the most of the opportunities available to you. She is a great source of inspiration for those in a position of leadership, helping you lead with power, cunning, and integrity.
As a Goddess associated with bravery and warfare, I find she is also a great deity to work with where strategy is needed, especially if you have a goal in mind and are wondering how to achieve it. She can help you understand the steps that need to be taken and the work which needs to be done, and help you find the motivation to move forward in achieving those goals. This corresponds well with her function as a river Goddess; as the river is constantly moving and flowing, so too is the energy of this deity, and a great one to tap into when you need to focus on progressing in any aspect of life. Her light can not only lead you on your way forward, but also illuminate anything that may be hidden from your sight, helping bring clarity and truth to situations where you may be unsure as to your next move, or where you don't have all of the information you need to make an informed decision.
Whilst Minerva was associated with crafting, I personally don't see Belisama associated with crafting in the sense of the physical act of creation. However, I find her great to invoke when you want to tap into your general creative expression, giving you the confidence you need to truly tap into, and express yourself, in any way which feels most comfortable to you - this could be through your words, art, music, or any other form that allows you to embrace your own inner power.
One of the main symbols associated with Belisama is the sun, but other symbols and tools you could use to connect with this Goddess include water, candles, the sword, the crystal Citrine, and the herb Rue. She is a great deity to connect with during Beltane, where the sun is at its most powerful, and the colours associated with her are yellow, orange, and blue.
As a Goddess associated with bravery and warfare, I find she is also a great deity to work with where strategy is needed, especially if you have a goal in mind and are wondering how to achieve it. She can help you understand the steps that need to be taken and the work which needs to be done, and help you find the motivation to move forward in achieving those goals. This corresponds well with her function as a river Goddess; as the river is constantly moving and flowing, so too is the energy of this deity, and a great one to tap into when you need to focus on progressing in any aspect of life. Her light can not only lead you on your way forward, but also illuminate anything that may be hidden from your sight, helping bring clarity and truth to situations where you may be unsure as to your next move, or where you don't have all of the information you need to make an informed decision.
Whilst Minerva was associated with crafting, I personally don't see Belisama associated with crafting in the sense of the physical act of creation. However, I find her great to invoke when you want to tap into your general creative expression, giving you the confidence you need to truly tap into, and express yourself, in any way which feels most comfortable to you - this could be through your words, art, music, or any other form that allows you to embrace your own inner power.
One of the main symbols associated with Belisama is the sun, but other symbols and tools you could use to connect with this Goddess include water, candles, the sword, the crystal Citrine, and the herb Rue. She is a great deity to connect with during Beltane, where the sun is at its most powerful, and the colours associated with her are yellow, orange, and blue.
