TGIF, AMIRITE? Phew this week has flown by so fast. I’m proud of myself for having made it this far! Now, onto our daily correspondence for the fifth day of the week.
Our English word for Friday comes from “Day of Frigg,” the Norse goddess who was associated with the Roman Venus, whose name was given to a few of the Romance derivatives of this day, vendredi in French and viernes in Spanish. In Islamic culture, Friday is the holy day of the week as Saturday is for those of the Jewish religion, and Sunday for Christians.
Frigg is the wife of Odin, and is associated with foreknowledge and wisdom. Many believe too that she is linked to the goddess Freyja, however this connection is not absolute or certain. Frigg and Freyja are at the same time separate and distinct, yet each of them is also likened to the Roman Venus (Greek Aphrodite) as they share the characteristics concerning, love, beauty, sexuality, fertility, and femininity.
In Hinduism, Friday is dedicated to the Mother Goddess, who goes by many names. It is a very auspicious day, and the Shukravar vrat is one of the most difficult and strenuous to observe. The food of choice is sweets and white colored foods such as milk, these are traditionally eaten in her honor.
This day, ruled by such powerful goddesses is auspicious for spells concerning love and romance, or perhaps if this applies to you, marriage and pregnancy, or even simple friendship and other familial relationships.
Because it is, for many people, the last day of the work week (and even those who work weekends, Fridays tend to be the best day of the week), Fridays tend to be our day to let loose and have fun. We go out very often on Fridays to wrap up the week, and I think it’s because of the energies we pull from Venus. On the flip side of that, Fridays are also great days to get home and rip off your bra (no judgement here) and put your feet up with a glass of wine and so well-deserved YOU time! Just because the goddesses of love and fertility are letting their hair down on this day, doesn’t mean we can’t put ours up and relax in a bath. It goes the same no matter which gender you identify or don’t identify with, everyone needs to feel self-pampered and there is no doubt Fridays are just the perfect day to do such.
Speaking of gender and sexual identity- because it such a broad spectrum, never fear that it is only heteronormal relationships we may honor on this day. And, if you’re ever feeling lost or unsure, just remember that in the Chinese Traditional religion, Tu Shen is a god who presides over and protects homosexual relationships. Baimei Shen is another interesting one, but I won’t go into detail. I want to keep this as PG as possible so you were duly warned.
That is what is so wonderful about many aspects of paganism and pre-Christian religions. Sexuality was never so specific. It doesn’t have to be for you, either. There were virgin deities (Athena, Artemis), deities who had a little too much fun (Jupiter, Dionysus, Freyja), and deities who were in healthy monogamous relationships (Persephone <3 Hades).
Friday is a day to honor YOU and through honoring yourself, you honor the goddesses of this day.
Animals; boar, cat, falcon, rabbit
Colors; aqua, copper, coral, red, white
Crystals; blue lace agate, coral, rose quartz
Energies; beauty, fertility, friendship, harmony, love, lust, marriage, passion, peace, romance, sexuality
Foods; apples, apricot, cardamom, milk, strawberries, sweet foods, thyme
Goddesses; Adi Parashakti, Aphrodite, Chuangmu, Freyja, Hathor, Ishtar, Rati
Gods; Eros, Kama, Min, Pan, Tu Shen, Yue Lao (I especially love his story)
Plants; carnation, germanium, goldenrod, hibiscus, iris, lilac, magnolia, rose, violet
