Nantosuelta is Gaulish Goddess known as being a Goddess of Earth, Fire, and Water, of abundance, prosperity, of the home and hearth, and a deity I have worked with for many years.
According to French local legend, in 1858 a girl had a vision of a 'Goddess type' in Lourdes, France, near a grotto in an area which was said to have been sacred to Nantosuelta and whose followers worshipped her there in ancient times. After this girl had her vision, the water suddenly took on incredible healing powers, and this was seen to be a sign that the Goddess was very much still present in the area she was once honoured. Hence, she is associated with the element of water and of healing.
Occasionally these depictions show her with Sucellus, believed to be the God of agriculture and wine and also her counterpart.
Scholars are not sure of the exact meaning of the name Nantosuelta; the two most commonly championed explanations are 'She of the winding river' (which again, shows her connection to the water element) and 'She of the sun-drenched valley'.
According to French local legend, in 1858 a girl had a vision of a 'Goddess type' in Lourdes, France, near a grotto in an area which was said to have been sacred to Nantosuelta and whose followers worshipped her there in ancient times. After this girl had her vision, the water suddenly took on incredible healing powers, and this was seen to be a sign that the Goddess was very much still present in the area she was once honoured. Hence, she is associated with the element of water and of healing.
Occasionally these depictions show her with Sucellus, believed to be the God of agriculture and wine and also her counterpart.
Scholars are not sure of the exact meaning of the name Nantosuelta; the two most commonly championed explanations are 'She of the winding river' (which again, shows her connection to the water element) and 'She of the sun-drenched valley'.
There are two commonly associated interpretations of the meaning of 'the sun-drenched valley'. Some believe that it symbolises warmth, or 'plenty', or her association of fire (similar to the Goddess Sulis). However, it can also be read in the context of 'the sun-drenched valley' being the sun-drenched realms of the netherworld. This is also supported by the fact that Nantosuelta has also been shown to be depicted with a crow, prompting comparisons between her and the Goddess Morrigan and connotations of death, This may hint at her possibly being a psychopomp - a deity or Spirit whose job it is to guide the souls of the recently deceased to the Underworld.
Several inscriptions and depictions of her have been discovered in France which give us some clues as to other aspects of her divinity. One of her most prominent associations is that of the home and hearth. For example, she is often shown holding what looks like a long pole with a small house on top of it and a patara (a libation bowl), the contents of which she is pouring onto a cylindrical altar (which potentially hints at an association with blessings or abundance). Other depictions have also shown her holding a pot or a beehive, which again could show links to the hearth and home. As such, she is a great deity for kitchen witches who want to work more with the water element, and also a great one to incorporate into any magic concerning the home, and family.
The association of the home and the iconography associated with her (such as the bee) also connects her with nature, well-being, and prosperity.
From my unsubstantiated personal gnosis, I feel a very strong association with the hearth and home through her, abundance in general, nature, and moving through the veil to otherworlds (I always feel her much more strongly during the autumn months, often associated with the thinning of the veil). I often work with her to help cleanse and protect my house, house hunting, decorating and renovations, food magick, and in helping through the transformation from the summer months to the winter months.
Great tools and such to work with to help you connect to the energy of this deity include food and drink, honey, coins, the cornucopia, candles, leaves, and he colours red, orange, and brown.
Several inscriptions and depictions of her have been discovered in France which give us some clues as to other aspects of her divinity. One of her most prominent associations is that of the home and hearth. For example, she is often shown holding what looks like a long pole with a small house on top of it and a patara (a libation bowl), the contents of which she is pouring onto a cylindrical altar (which potentially hints at an association with blessings or abundance). Other depictions have also shown her holding a pot or a beehive, which again could show links to the hearth and home. As such, she is a great deity for kitchen witches who want to work more with the water element, and also a great one to incorporate into any magic concerning the home, and family.
The association of the home and the iconography associated with her (such as the bee) also connects her with nature, well-being, and prosperity.
From my unsubstantiated personal gnosis, I feel a very strong association with the hearth and home through her, abundance in general, nature, and moving through the veil to otherworlds (I always feel her much more strongly during the autumn months, often associated with the thinning of the veil). I often work with her to help cleanse and protect my house, house hunting, decorating and renovations, food magick, and in helping through the transformation from the summer months to the winter months.
Great tools and such to work with to help you connect to the energy of this deity include food and drink, honey, coins, the cornucopia, candles, leaves, and he colours red, orange, and brown.
